Xiao Huikai, hailing from Nanlanling, is the son of General Xiao Sihua. He was originally named Xiao Huikai, but later changed "Hui" to "惠." He was very elegant from a young age, widely read historical texts, and despite his prominent noble background, he led a simple life. He started out as a secretary, and his writing was as impressive as that of renowned young talents.
Xiao Huikai had interests that set him apart from most people, sometimes not speaking to colleagues for several years. His maternal grandfather, Liu Cheng, a Grand Master from Pei County, once advised him, "You are the son of a high-ranking official; you should embrace local customs, build good relationships with others, and enhance mutual feelings. Your solitary nature may invite trouble and even the dislike of others!" Xiao Huikai replied, "People should harmonize with each other; I fully understand your teachings. It's just that I have a straightforward nature and do not want to capture the essence of an ordinary person, which is like failing to draw a dragon, so I often offend others."
Later, he was appointed as a companion to the Crown Prince. He worked in the same office as Zhou Lang from Runan, and the two had a good relationship, appreciating each other due to their shared interests. He was then promoted to a position in the Water Department of the Ministry of Personnel, summoned by Prince Jun of Shixing to serve as chief clerk in the Northern Palace, and subsequently served as a historian in South Xuzhou. He was later transferred to be a friend of King Ruyin; he later served as a separate deputy in South Xuzhou, as well as a Gentleman of the Palace Library, and finally became a Grand General and Grand Marshal of Jiangxia King Yigong.
In 452 AD, I was promoted from the position of Crown Prince's Attendant to that of Yellow Gate Attendant. At that time, I had a conflict with the Palace Attendant He Yan over the issue concerning General Xu Chong. He Yan was particularly favored, and I did not bow down to him, which angered him and prompted his subordinates to accuse me.
I have no choice but to submit my resignation to the Emperor. In the resignation letter, I wrote: "Your Majesty, you have not seen my true incompetence, which is why you have allowed me to serve by your side. I feel that my abilities are limited, so I defer to Grand Tutor He on many matters and refrain from commenting on their correctness. However, privately I felt that Grand Tutor He's dismissal of General Xu Chong was somewhat questionable, so I expressed a slightly different opinion. As a result, Grand Tutor He, taking advantage of the Emperor's favor, expected me to obey him without question. He threatened those in charge of documents to delete my opinions and only keep his own. Although the Emperor is indeed wise, he ultimately did not see my point of view. Instead, because of my outspokenness, I found myself in trouble and was subsequently impeached. There's no need to be upset about it. I offended the Grand Tutor; that was my mistake, and I accept it. I don't know where I went wrong. Besides, my opinion was not problematic, and there was no basis for my impeachment. I am confident in my conscience and believe that the Emperor will understand. However, I cannot make up for my mistakes. Continuing in my position, I feel that I may be punished at any time, so I request to resign and retire."
At that time, He Yan was in favor, and my actions clearly offended him, which also displeased the Emperor. He specifically ordered relevant departments to say that I was in poor health and then dismissed me from my position.
As for Si Hua, he's usually quite disciplined and has a different approach than I do. He always thinks I am too straightforward and criticizes me often. When he saw the resignation letter I submitted, he sighed, "Oh, my son really has bad luck. Dealing with Zhou Lang (referring to He Yan) has led to this." Then, he had me whipped two hundred times. Before long, I was reappointed as the Prince's Attendant.
When Ding's father passed away, he was extremely filial and wholeheartedly took care of the funeral arrangements. His family was originally Buddhist, and for his father, he built four temples in one go: he built a temple called Changang Temple at the foot of Nangang Mountain in Nan'an; he built a temple called Chanxiang Temple in his hometown of Qu'a; he built a temple called Chanting Temple next to his father's grave in Jingkou; and he was appointed as the Marquis of Fengyang County, where he built a temple called Chanfeng Temple. He told the court officials, "My title was never high to begin with, and I have many brothers. If it is given to only one person, I would rather give it up; if it is divided equally among everyone, it would be too embarrassing. Once the temples are built, all income should be used to support the monks." Therefore, his title was not further divided.
After the mourning period was over, he was appointed as the Left Chief Historian. In the second year of Daming, he served as the Chief Historian of Beizhonglang, General Ning Shuo, and Prefect of Xiangyang under Prince Huaimao of Hailing, while also in charge of the affairs of Yongzhou. He had a distinctive approach to governance, strict and decisive in rewards and punishments, and everyone feared him. Later, he inherited the title of Marquis of Fengyang County. He was then appointed as the Chief Historian of Prince Ziluan of Xin'an, in charge of the affairs of Wujun.
His sister was to marry Prince Huifan of Guiyang, and his daughter was to marry the son of Emperor Shizu of the Song Dynasty, requiring a dowry of at least twenty million. Thus, he was appointed as the Interior Minister of Yuzhang, which allowed him to accumulate wealth freely, leading to a reputation for corruption in Yuzhang County. Later, he was transferred back to the court as the Lang of the Ministry of Personnel, but he did not take up the position and was instead appointed as the Deputy Director of the Imperial Censorate. Emperor Shizu and Liu Xiu issued a decree together, appointing Xiao Hui as the Deputy Director of the Imperial Censorate, hoping he would carry out his duties diligently. Once he assumed office, the officials were already quite intimidated by him. After he took office, all the court officials both respected and feared him.
Eight years later, he became a Shizhong (a close minister to the emperor). The emperor decreed, "Hui Kai had previously worked in the Ministry of Justice, where he upheld justice, remained upright and impartial, and did not favor the powerful. I hold him in high regard! Now let him take up the post of Deputy Imperial Censor!" When his mother passed away, he resigned from his official position and returned home to observe a mourning period.
After the mourning period, he was appointed as the Commissioner overseeing military affairs in Qing and Ji provinces, the General Assisting the State, and the Governor of those provinces, but he did not assume the position. Later, he was reassigned as the Governor of Yi and Ning provinces, with his titles of Commissioner and General unchanged. Hui Kai was known for his ambition, and after arriving in Shu, he aspired to accomplish great things. He was adept at articulating his ideas, often engaging in discussions with his subordinates and local scholars about reclaiming the Mang and Yi counties, integrating them into the empire, and then pacifying the barbarian tribes, including the Pu, expanding the territory and collecting taxes. Those who heard his ideas all believed that he would soon accomplish great feats.
After Tang Taizong ascended to the throne, Hui Kai was promoted to Champion General, later rising to General Who Pacifies the West, and changed his title from "Inspector" to "Commander" (Commander having greater power). Prince Xun of Jin'an rebelled, and Hui Kai gathered his generals and staff to say, "The brilliance of the Founding Emperor of Xiangdong (referring to Tang Gaozu) and the solemnity of the Founding Emperor of Jin'an (referring to Tang Taizong), their contributions to the state are undeniable. It's just that Emperor Jinghe (referring to Tang Jingdi, i.e., Li Yuanji) is incompetent, but after all, he is the son of the Founding Emperor; there are plenty of other princes available. I now carry the legacy of the Martial and Literary Emperors (referring to Tang Gaozu and Tang Taizong) and am deeply favored by the Founding Emperor. We should immediately send troops, march for thousands of miles, and proclaim the Prince of Nine Rivers (referring to Tang Taizong) as Emperor!" So he sent the Prefect of Bajun, Fei Xinshou, to lead two thousand men eastward, only to be intercepted by Ren Shuer's uprising army from Badong. Fei Xinshou was defeated and killed, and the route to Shankou was blocked. He then sent the Prefect of Zhouchi, Cheng Fadu, to lead three thousand infantry from Liangzhou, only to be intercepted by the Di bandits led by Yang Sengsi.
At first, Hui Kai governed Shu with strict measures, often resorting to executive measures, causing the common people of Shu to be unhappy with him. Later, upon hearing of Xinshou's death and the failure to receive orders from the court, Jinyuan County rebelled first, followed by other counties, besieging Chengdu with no way out. With only two thousand soldiers in the city, the people of Shu were already unhappy with Hui Kai, so he sent them all out to fight. As a result, Xixun quickly quelled the rebellion, and the people of Shu wanted to seize the opportunity to plunder the city for rewards. Every time Hui Kai sent troops into battle, they would win, and the number of enemies killed or wounded was staggering. However, the external rebel forces kept increasing, now totaling over a hundred thousand.
At that time, the realm had already been pacified. Emperor Taizong felt that the journey to Shu was far and perilous, so he pardoned their crimes and sent Huikai's brother Huiji to Shu to announce the imperial decree. When Huiji arrived in Fuzhou, the people of Shu were intent on sacking the city and refused to let the imperial decree pass, so they blocked Huiji from proceeding. Huiji led his troops and defeated the rebel leader Ma Xinghuai and others, finally passing through. Huikai submitted, and the siege of Chengdu was lifted.
At this time, Emperor Taizong sent Huikai's relative Baoshou to Yizhou by water to offer them reassurance. Baoshou aimed to claim credit for quelling Shu and incited the people of Shu to continue rebelling. Consequently, uprisings erupted across the region, and those who had fled before gathered again. Rebel leaders Zhao Yan, Ju Wenzhang, and others camped with Baoshou sixty miles outside Chengdu, claiming to have two hundred thousand men. Huikai contemplated sending troops into battle, but his generals advised him, "It's no problem to defeat those rebels, but if we send troops to fight before the envoy arrives, how can we justify this to the court?" Huikai said, "Now that the water and land routes are blocked, we can't send memorials out. If Baoshou accuses me of not obeying the court's orders, what should we do? My motivation for engaging in battle is to secure the envoy's safe passage; if the envoy arrives safely, my loyalty will be proven."
So Huikai wrote a memorial outlining the circumstances and sent two trusted aides with the memorial, instructing them, "Wait until the rebels are defeated and the roads are open before rushing to deliver it." Then, Huikai sent the prefect of Yongning, Xiao Huixun, and the convoy commander Fei Xin to lead ten thousand troops into battle, which resulted in a decisive victory. Baoshou was captured alive and imprisoned in the county jail in Chengdu. When the court's envoy arrived, Baoshou was escorted back to the capital. The court appointed Huikai as the Grand Historian and General of the Jinning King Xiuyou and the Prefect of Nanjun, but he declined the appointment. In the fourth year of the Taishi era, Huikai made his way back to the capital.
At the beginning, when Hui Kai served as the record keeper in the governor's office, his colleague Xi Wei owed the people of Shu a million coins and was being pursued by the authorities for repayment. Because Hui Kai and Xi Wei had a bad relationship, Hui Kai felt embarrassed that Xi Wei was able to advance in rank with him but couldn't repay the debt together. Hui Kai felt ashamed. He gave all sixty horses in his stable to Xi Wei as payment for the debt, indicating that his feelings at the time were quite extraordinary. Previously, Liu Yu served as the governor of Yizhou, and Zhang Yue succeeded him. When Liu Yu stepped down, any subordinate who had accompanied him and wished to stay, Liu Yu would definitely force them to return. He even said to someone, "If you follow me in advancing in rank, can you really just be a gatekeeper for Zhang Yue?" When Hui Kai returned from Shu, he brought back over twenty million coins, all of which he distributed to the people on the road, keeping none for himself.
Five years later, Hui Kai was promoted to the Northern Expedition Chief and the Governor of South Donghai under Prince Guiyang Xiu Fan. That year, the Governor of Kuaiji, Cai Xingzong, inspected his jurisdiction, and Hui Kai took leave from Jingkou to return to the capital city, where they met in Qu'a. Hui Kai and Cai Xingzong previously held similar positions, and their personal relationship was good. However, due to the earlier embarrassment over the debt, Hui Kai was worried that Cai Xingzong wouldn't come to visit him on his own, so he warned his subordinates, "Make sure you don't answer if people from Kuaiji come to ask questions!" Hui Kai was always strict, and no subordinate dared to disobey. Cai Xingzong saw that Hui Kai's fleet was very impressive but didn't know whose it was, so he sent people to inquire about each boat. Hui Kai had over ten boats with two to three hundred people on board. Everyone walked past with their heads down, not answering a single one.
Later, Hui Kai served as the Cavalry Commander for Prince Xiu You of Jinping, while retaining his position as Governor. Six years later, he was promoted to the position of Minister of Finance and appointed as an Imperial Official. Hui Kai was known for his integrity and uncompromising nature, but at this point, he grew increasingly disheartened. In front of the official residence where he lived, the previously beautiful flowers and plants were removed by Hui Kai, who replaced them with poplar trees. He often said to people, "If one cannot fulfill their ambitions in life, even if they live to be a hundred years old, it is all in vain." Later, he fell seriously ill, coughing up blood continuously, with what he coughed up resembling liver and lung tissue. He was then appointed as the Chief of the Western Expedition for Prince Xiuruo of Baling, General of Ning Shuo, and Governor of Nanguo, but he had not yet assumed the position. Seven years later, Hui Kai passed away at the age of forty-nine. His son Hui Rui inherited his title, but following the abdication of the Qi dynasty, his title was revoked. Hui Kai had strained relationships with his brothers, and his brother Hui Ji was sent to Yizhou, and they never saw each other again. There were also grievances between him and his brother Hui Ming.
Yin Yan was from Changping, Chen County. His father, Yin Daoluan, was the Right Army Chief of Staff under Prince Liu Yiji of Hengyang. Yin Yan was highly regarded by the Emperor Taizu from a young age, receiving treatment similar to Prince Liu Jingwen of Langye. Initially, he served as a military officer under Prince Liu Yigong of Jiangxia in the campaign against the north, and later as the Rear Army Registrar under Prince Liu Jun of Shixing. He was then appointed as the Prefect of Poyang, Prefect of Jinxi, a historian in charge of affairs in Yuzhou, and also served as the Intendant of Luling.
Later, Zang Zhi rebelled, and Yin Yan abandoned his position as county magistrate and fled to Beiwang. Yin Yan was notably shrewd, always strategizing to safeguard himself, so he chose not to return to the capital. After the situation calmed down, he was imprisoned in the Shangfang Court and was eventually pardoned after some time. The court appointed him as the Prefect of Hailing Kingdom, but he declined the position. Later, Prince Liu Xiuxu of Linhai became the Champion General and Prefect of Wuxing, and he appointed Yin Yan as his Secretary, responsible for managing the county's affairs.
Afterwards, he served as the Deputy Prefect of Yu Province, served as the Household Clerk to the Grand Chancellor, also served as the Commandant of Danyang, Left Minister of the Ministry of Works, Privy Treasurer, and the Champion General of Prince Liu Xiufang of Xunyang, responsible for the affairs of Southern Yu Province. Following Liu Xiufang's promotions, Yin Yan also rose to the position of Right General, and later was transferred to serve as the Left General under Prince Liu Xiuruo of Balin. In the year 465 AD, Xie Yan was appointed as a Yellow Gate Attendant, later transferred to serve as the Chief of Staff and Prefect of Nanliang Commandery under Prince Liu Xiuyou of Shanyang. After Liu Xiuyou entered the capital, Xie Yan continued to be in charge of the affairs of the Prefecture. In the year 466 AD, the court wanted Liu Xiuyou to serve as the Governor of Jingzhou, and at the same time, wanted the Ministry of Personnel official Zhang Dai to serve as the Inspector of Yu Province. However, Prince Liu Zixun of Jin'an rebelled, and the court immediately appointed Xie Yan as the Commander of Military Operations in Yu Province, Sizhou, Nan Yu Province, and Liang Commandery, as the General of Establishing Martial Might, Inspector of Yu Province, and appointed him as the Prefect of West Ruyin, Pang Daolong, as his Chief Clerk, and the General of the Palace, Liu Shun, as his Marshal. Liu Shun persuaded Xie Yan to join Liu Zixun's faction. Xie Yan, who had been living in the capital, was inclined to heed Liu Shun's advice. However, some local figures, including the former Right Army Aide Du Shubao, the former Prefects of Chen and Nandun Commanderies, Huangfu Daolie, the cousin of Huangfu Daolie and former Prefect of Matou Commandery, Huangfu Jingdu, the former Prefects of Runan and Yingchuan Commanderies, Pang Tiansheng, and the former Magistrate of Suiyang County, Xiahou Jizi, all advised Xie Yan to rebel. Xie Yan himself had no troops, with only a few followers, and was unable to act independently, so he could only be manipulated by Du Shubao and his associates. The court sent Attendant Cavalry Commander Lü Lun to lead troops for support, and Prince Liu Xiuyou of Shanyang also sent Middle Army Aide Zheng Yuan to persuade Xie Yan to surrender. Upon their arrival, they allied with Du Shubao. Du Shubao, the son of Du Tan, had great influence in the area and had control over both internal and external military affairs.
Bu Tiansheng, the Prefect of Yiyang, joined Liu Zixun's rebellion; he also cut off the military horses from Liangzhou and seized more than a hundred horses. Su Senghu, the magistrate of Biancheng, led the uprising and killed Bu Tiansheng, and sent his head to the capital. The emperor was pleased and appointed him as the Dragon Cavalry General, Marquis of Jianxing County, with a fief of three hundred households. Around the same time, General Suirong Zhou Jing, Prefect of Runan and Xinchai Commanderies, led a rebellion in Xuanhu, rallying over a thousand people. Yuan Yi wrote a letter to trick Zhou Jing's Sima, Chang Zhenqi from Runan, and even sent him a gold bell as a token of trust. Chang Zhenqi killed Zhou Jing that same day and sent his head to Yuan Yi, who then appointed Chang Zhenqi as the Prefect of both Runan and Xinchai Commanderies. The court posthumously restored Zhou Jing to his former position and appointed Pang Mengqiu, the Interior Minister of Yiyang, as the Inspector of Sizhou, concurrently making him the Prefect of Sui Commandery. Pang Mengqiu declined the appointment and also joined Liu Zixun's rebellion. Liu Zixun summoned Pang Mengqiu to Xunyang and had Pang Mengqiu's son Pang Dingguang act as the acting magistrate of Yiyang Commandery. Li Shimin was aware that Li Yan was putting pressure on the local populace; though he couldn't fully resolve the issue, he aimed to stabilize the situation first. Therefore, he appointed Li Yan's brother, Li Yuan, as the Right Chief Historian and appointed Li Yan's son Li Mai as the Attendant Cavalry of King Xiuyou of Shanyang. Li Shimin also dispatched envoys to appoint Li Yan as the Assistant General of the State, later promoting him to Inspector of Yuzhou, giving him authority over several counties in Nanyu. Du Shubao requested to serve as Li Yan's deputy; Pang Daolong was concerned that Li Yan might rebel, so he submitted a memorial requesting that Li Yan be sent to Xunyang. Li Yan appointed Du Shubao as his Chief Historian, also making him Prefect of Liang Commandery. King Xiuyou of Shanyang went to the capital to meet the emperor, while his family stayed in Shouyang; Li Yan ensured they had daily necessities and took great care of them.
In the second year of the first month, Li Shimin sent General of the Assistant State Liu Wei to lead General of Ning Shuo Lu Anguo to the west to attack Li Yan. Prince Shanyang Xiuyou was stationed in Liyang, commanding various armies. At that time, the Prefect of Xuzhou, Xue Andu, also rebelled in Pengcheng. Li Shimin offered rewards for capturing Li Yan and Xue Andu, promising that whoever captures them will be appointed as a county marquis, with a reward of 2,000 pieces of cloth and silk each. In February, Liu Wei's army advanced to Xiaoxian. At the beginning, the commander of Hefei and the Prefect of Nanruyin, Xue Yuanbao, abandoned the city and defected to Li Zixun, while the former prefect Zhu Fuzhi chose to surrender. Li Yan sent troops to attack Zhu Fuzhi, who was defeated and fled. Li Yan appointed his former right army officer, Pei Ji, as the Prefect of Nanruyin, and Li Shimin officially appointed him. The county magistrate of Xiang County, Xu Daolian, also led two hundred people to surrender, and Li Shimin then appointed him as the Prefect of Matou. In March, Li Shimin sent General Liu Huaizhen of Ning Shuo, Duan Sengai, and General Jiang Chan of Long Xiang to lead three armies of infantry and cavalry to reinforce Liu Wei's campaign against Li Yan. The leader of the rebel forces, Huang Hui, recruited over a thousand soldiers from Jiangxi and Chu, killed the Prefect of Matou appointed by Li Zixun, and was appointed as the General of Long Xiang. Zheng Mo from Huai Xi, who had previously served as a court attendant, led his children and the people and troops from various counties in Huai You to rebel in Chen County, amassing a force of ten thousand. Li Shimin appointed him as the governor of Sizhou. Later, Zheng Mo fought against the enemy in Huai Xi, was defeated and killed in action, and was posthumously honored with the title of Champion General.
In this month, Liu Shun, Liu Lun, Huangfu Daolie, and Pang Tiansheng led eight thousand infantry and cavalry and set up camp at Wantang, three hundred miles away from Shouyang. Cai Man led a large force and camped just a few miles from Liu Shun. They ran into rain along the way and did not arrive until the next morning. Before the camp could be properly set up, Liu Shun wanted to seize the opportunity to attack Cai Man. At that time, all the troops dispatched by Cai You were under the control of Cai Man, but Huangfu Daolie and Liu Lun were directly sent by the court. Liu Shun, being of humble origins, was not suitable to command them, so only these two forces refused to follow his orders. At this point, Huangfu Daolie and Liu Lun had disagreements, and Liu Shun had no choice but to abandon his plan to act alone. Later, Cai Man's camp was gradually established, and they could no longer launch an attack, resulting in a stalemate between the two sides.
In April, Cai Man's aide-de-camp Wang Qi, the former bandit officer Zhen Dan, and five others secretly defected to Liu Shun's side. Consequently, Liu Shun launched an attack against Cai Man. Liu Shun's leader Fan Sengzhen and Cai Man's cavalry chief Biaoqi Zhongbing officer Duan Sengai clashed in a mounted battle. The two fought fiercely atop their horses, and Fan Sengzhen killed Duan Sengai, and he was later posthumously promoted to the rank of a cavalry captain. Duan Sengai was famous for his bravery in the army, and his death instilled fear in the entire army. The emperor subsequently dispatched Grand Commandant Sima Yuanhong to provide reinforcements, while infantry captain Pang Shen supported Pei Ji in defending Hefei.
At first, Zhou Bofu, a man from Huainan, persuaded Xiu You to revolt. Xiu You did not agree, but after repeated requests from Zhou Bofu, he eventually consented to let him go. Zhou Bofu, leaning on a cane, went alone to Anfeng and recruited more than eight hundred people, forming a guerrilla unit in the Huai West region. Cai Youan, the magistrate stationed in Yiyang, sent General Guo Cisun to attack Zhou Bofu in Jinqiu, and Cai Youan also sent Middle Army Adjutant Du Shubao to support Guo Cisun. Consequently, Guo Cisun and his men were defeated by Zhou Bofu and all drowned themselves. The emperor later appointed Zhou Bofu as a Cavalry Assistant.
Shubao initially believed that the army in Liyang wouldn't resume their attack after halting, and that once Liu Shun and his men arrived, they would surely collapse, so he only brought a month's worth of supplies. However, when they faced off with Chen Wen, they ran out of supplies and needed to request assistance from Shubao. Shubao sent fifteen hundred carts of grain to Liu Shun, along with five thousand elite soldiers as escorts.
Upon hearing this, Chen Wen's deputy, Lu Anguo, said, "Liu Shun has eight thousand elite soldiers, and our numbers are not even half of his. The power imbalance is too obvious. If we continue like this, we won't be able to hold our ground. We are now relying on their food running out soon, while we still have reserves. If Shubao's grain arrives, not only will we not be able to fight anymore, we won't be able to hold out for long ourselves. The best option now is to ambush their grain carts and take them by surprise. If we can take the grain carts, they will run away on their own without us having to fight." Chen Wen agreed with Lu Anguo's assessment and ordered the soldiers to guard the camp wearily, selecting over a thousand elite soldiers to be handed over to Lu Anguo and military commander Huang Hui to take a shortcut and ambush Liu Shun's supply convoy at Hengtang.
Lü Anguo had just set off, estimating that Shu Bao would arrive soon. They had only brought two days' worth of cooked food. After finishing their meal, Shu Bao had not yet arrived, and the soldiers wanted to retreat. Lü Anguo said, "You all had breakfast this morning; the grain carts will definitely arrive tonight. If it doesn't arrive, we can always leave later in the evening." Shu Bao did arrive, arranging the rice carts into a formation. Shu Bao himself positioned himself as a scout on the periphery, while the leader Yang Zhonghuai led five hundred men at the front, encountering Lü Anguo, Huang Hui, and their group. Yang Zhonghuai's men wanted to retreat back to Shu Bao and attack Lü Anguo together. Yang Zhonghuai said, "If the enemy comes and we don't fight, what are we waiting for? Besides, the main forces are right behind us, only three to five miles away. Once we engage, won't they arrive immediately?" So they charged into battle. Huang Hui led elite soldiers from the Huainan and Chu regions, outnumbering their opponents by twice as many. They swiftly defeated Yang Zhonghuai and his troops. During the battle, Yang Zhonghuai was killed, and the five hundred men he brought were all killed in action. By the time Shu Bao arrived, the bodies of Yang Zhonghuai and his soldiers lay scattered across the ground. Huang Hui's men wanted to capitalize on their victory, but Lü Anguo said, "They are already fleeing; there is no need to chase them further." They retreated thirty miles to establish a camp, sent cavalry to scout at night, and indeed discovered that Shu Bao had abandoned the grain carts and made his escape. Lü Anguo immediately led troops over, burned the grain carts, and returned with over two thousand cattle. When Liu Shun learned that the grain carts had been burned and that Shu Bao had fled, on the night of May 1st, the army disbanded and retreated to Shouyang, then fled to Huai Xi to seek refuge with Chang Zhenqi. It was only then that Chen Yue officially began the attack.
It is said that Yuwen Shubao summoned the common folk and scattered troops, secured the city gates, and defended the city himself. Yuwen Wen, on the other hand, set up camp outside the city with his army, while Huang Hui oversaw the construction of a pontoon bridge by the river. Shubao sent three thousand infantry and cavalry to destroy the pontoon bridge and tear down the fence at Xiaoxiandai. However, they were ambushed by Huang Hui, suffered a crushing defeat, and had their ships and fences burned.
Xiuyou wrote a letter to Yuwen Yan, saying, "My dear brother, you are refined and scholarly, not suited for military matters. Your reputation and status are well-known, and you should not have any ill-conceived notions. The recent events were likely thrust upon you by those scoundrels, and you’ve been left with no choice but to maintain your honor. The army has now reached the city; you are isolated and helpless, and disasters and failures are looming. Remembering our past friendship, I can’t help but feel distressed. The Emperor is known for his kindness and generosity, and his benevolence is recognized far and wide; he cherishes the people and abhors bloodshed. Look at Gu Chen and Wang Yuesheng; their armies were defeated, and they fled everywhere, begging for mercy in disarray. The Emperor forgave them and allowed them to live peacefully at home. Now the army is at your doorstep; there’s nothing standing in your way, not to mention your city is in shambles, your forces are weak, and there have been heavy casualties. Why keep holding out? If you open the city gates and surrender, I assure you’ll have endless glory and riches; your generals and officials of all ranks will be saved. Why put the people through suffering and endanger yourself? Think about it: if you resist, you’ll end up executed in the east market, all gray-haired. Is it really worth it? Everything I’ve said is true, as clear as day." The Emperor also dispatched Wang Daolong with a decree to pardon Yuwen Yan's offenses.
I wrote to Yan, saying: "In the past, the emperor was debauched and tyrannical, acting immorally, incompetent and brutal, evil and dangerous. The ministers who dared to speak out were silenced, resulting in the desecration of tombs, the execution of officials, and rampant cruelty. At that time, everyone was fearful and uneasy, unable to protect themselves, and the people yearned for someone to restore order. I was in charge of the defenses and witnessed everything firsthand. The emperor has been wise and martial, commanding with precision, quickly quelling the rebellion and ending the war, allowing the people to live in peace and prosperity. He turned the tide, and his accomplishments are unmatched. Yet, there are still skeptics everywhere, leading to your rebellion. The court sent troops to suppress it, but you always refuse. Your family has been prominent for generations, with a great reputation. Even if you participated in the rebellion, the court has still shown you leniency. Your brother was promoted to a high position, and your son also joined the army and served in the court. Recently, you launched an attack on Wantang based on Liu Shun's strategy, but then retreated without resolving the issue. The emperor has favored me with the command of a general. I have heard of your reputation before and have some understanding of your character. Now the emperor's reputation is spreading far and wide, and the three forces are weakening. The outcome is becoming increasingly clear. Wang Yushi just arrived a few days ago, bringing letters from the emperor, the general, your brother, and son, all of which I have sent over. For centuries, the court has never offered such a sweeping amnesty. Now it has come to this point. Furthermore, the court is advocating for justice and political reform. How can we mislead the people with deceitful rhetoric and betray the trust of the realm? I trust you understand this without needing further explanation. If you remain obstinate and resist at all costs, we will have no choice but to resort to force and punish you in accordance with the law. Then, your family may have no one to worship or tend to the graves. You will tarnish the reputation of a loyal minister and fail in your duty as a filial son, losing both fame and fortune with no chance for regret. These words come from the heart, and I hope you will give them serious consideration."
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Yan did not actually have any rebellious intentions, but due to his insufficient strength, Shubao and others were inclined to surrender. They sent multiple letters seeking peace, but due to differing opinions, they were unable to reach a consensus. Therefore, the plan to surrender was continually thwarted, and the city's defenses grew stronger. The uprising of Tian Yizhi, a tribal leader from the western mountains of Yiyang, attacked Guo Que at Yiyang. The court appointed Tian Yizhi as the General of Assistance, responsible for the affairs of the western mountains of Yiyang. In June, I constructed a long siege line, finally encircling the enemy. Tian Yizhi led over ten thousand tribal soldiers to assault Pang Dingguang at Yiyang, and Pang Dingguang sent his cousin Wensheng to mount a defense, but was ultimately defeated by Tian Yizhi, resulting in Pang Dingguang's death. Tian Yizhi surrounded the city of Yiyang. Pang Dingguang sought assistance from Zixun. Since Pang Dingguang's father, Meng Qiu, served as the governor of Sizhou, Zixun led five thousand elite soldiers to rescue Yiyang and lifted the siege of Shouyang as well. Chang Zhenqi sent three thousand men from Xuanhu to support Pang Dingguang, stationed at Liushui. Tian Yizhi, fearing confrontation, fled at the first sign of danger. Meng Qiu capitalized on his victory and advanced toward Shouyang.
At first, Chang Zhenqi sent Zhou Dang and Yuan Shibao to lead hundreds of people to deliver weapons to Yan. Shibao was very brave and fought fiercely against many enemies, so he was assigned to guard the north gate. He then led his soldiers to open the city gate, attacked my camp, and rushed into my tent; I barely managed to escape, and Shibao took my clothes and hat before leaving. I then constructed a long barricade, built a pathway for assault at the southeast corner, and started filling the moat with grass and mud. There stood a tall building at the southeast corner, and Zhao Fajin proposed, "If we want to attack, we must first take it down. If it collapses, it will not only cause casualties among the soldiers but also affect morale." I accepted his advice. The sheer number of people throwing dirt prompted those inside the city to shoot rockets at them. Before the grass could burn, the mud quickly followed, and after a day or two, the moat would be reduced to just two or three inches thick. Zhao Fajin then suggested using iron pellets to fill it. The iron pellets were very smooth and flowed in through the cracks, causing the grass to burn. Within two days, the grass burned out. I then constructed large dirt-carrying carts covered with cowhide, with three hundred people pushing them to fill the moat. Yu Yizhi, Yan's registrar, made a ramming vehicle to ram the dirt-carrying carts with stones, and the carts were all damaged.
At first, Wang Zizhong, the Governor of Lujiang, abandoned his territory and fled to Xunyang. The people of Lujiang rose up in rebellion. Xiuyou sent the Assistant Cavalry Attendant, Lu Youzhi, to provide assistance. Liu Hu sent his subordinate, General Xue Daobiao of Fuguo, across the river to incite the barbarians to launch a surprise attack on Liyang from Lujiang. Lu Youzhi's forces were too weak, so he withdrew to Qiaocheng. Xiu Ren, the Prince of Jian'an, then dispatched Registrar Shen Lingchong to swiftly take control of strategic positions in Lujiang. Xue Daobiao showed up a day late, and Lu Youzhi rushed from Qiaocheng to support, and the two faced off against the enemy there.
In July, Pang Mengqiu reached Yiyang, and the court dispatched Generals Lv Anguo, Yuan Hong, and Long Xiang, along with General Chen Xianda and Lieutenant Meng Ciyang, to resist him. Pang Mengqiu's deputy general Lv Xingshou was an old acquaintance of Lv Anguo and chose to surrender along with his troops. Lv Anguo pursued Pang Mengqiu and defeated him at Liao Tan. The rebel leader, Chen Zhun, also defeated him again at the Ruo River. Pang Mengqiu was left with no choice but to flee to Yiyang; however, he found that Yiyang was already occupied by Wang Tanshan, the son of Wang Xuanmo, so Pang Mengqiu ultimately escaped to the tribal regions. Zheng Shuju from Huai Xi also rebelled, defeated Chang Zhenqi, and took over as the Governor of North Yuzhou.
In August, Huangfu Daolie, Liu Lun, and twenty-one others heard that Meng Qiu was defeated in battle, so they opened the city gates and surrendered together. Qian then wrote a letter to Yan, saying, "Liu Lun has surrendered and told me everything. You have been involved in all sorts of chaos before, but your heart has always been loyal, and you have silently endured the suffering while refraining from military actions. Last winter, many confused individuals were promoted, not for the sake of the country, and demotion offers no support. The court has not singled you out, and you have nothing to be ashamed of. Cheng Tianzuo has surrendered with the entire city, Pang Meng Qiu has fled, Liu Hu is trapped in Qianxi, and Yuan Yi cannot win in battle. They cannot hold out much longer. In the south, there is a rebellion with sixteen states and a million soldiers, winning every battle since early spring. With Yuan Yi's weak forces in the south and your solitary city in the north, it is impossible to build a career. The court is currently loose in control and undergoing major reforms, as I have been reporting to you. Your trusted confidants like Liu Lun have surrendered not out of resentment towards you, but because they understand the situation. It is clear that failure awaits those who oppose the world's armies with a ragtag group. Even the confused would not do such a thing, especially someone of your noble lineage. Must you leave a lifelong regret? I am writing to you again out of concern for the important city of Huazhou, now overrun with weeds, and the sorrow of your estate being wiped out in a day. If you secure the treasury, open the gates, and inform the soldiers of the situation, send a letter as a gesture of sincerity, and then surrender by riding a plain carriage and white horse, if you are harmed or your descendants are injured, the heavens and earth will bear witness to my words. I'll leave it at that."
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Xue Daobiao was still in Lujiang, as Liu Hu divided his troops once more and marched towards Shouyang and Hefei with a grand display. The court sent Xu Daolian to rush to Hefei to support Pei Jiwen, and also dispatched Huang Hui, Meng Ciyang, as well as the cavalry commander Duan Forong and the military general Wang Guang to reinforce later. Xue Daobiao and his men attacked Hefei; before the court's reinforcements arrived, Hefei had already fallen to Xue Daobiao. Pei Jiwen and the military general Ye Qingzu fought to the death and ultimately died on the battlefield. The court quickly dispatched Yuan Hong to command the various forces against Hefei.
This month, Liu Hu was defeated and retreated, and Xunyang was also pacified. The emperor sent Shubao to Yancheng to see his uncle Jiwen, informing him that the situation in the realm had stabilized and advising him to surrender. Jiwen said, "I believe you, but I am afraid of being deceived!" Jiwen confined his son Xihun and did not allow him to contact the outside world. Anyone who dared to pass on a message would be killed on the spot. At that time, Jiwen's son, Yanzi Miao, was in the capital Jiankang. The emperor sent Miao to see his father and tell him that the rebels in the south had been pacified. Miao set off from Jiankang with military escort along the way. Some suggested that Miao should meet privately with his uncle Yuan to alleviate the concerns of the townspeople, but the emperor did not agree. When Miao arrived in Yancheng, Jiwen and others indeed became suspicious, and the city's defenses were tightened. In October, Xue Daobiao broke out of the siege, fled to Huaixi with a dozen cavalry, and sought refuge with Chang Zhenqi, while Xue Yuanbao surrendered to the court.
Before this, Prefect Yan Zhanzhi of Jinxi seized the county seat and also participated in the rebellion. At that moment, Shen Lingchong attacked him from Lujiang. Yan Zhanzhi did not know that Sun Yang had already been defeated, so he fiercely defended the city and refused to yield. Shen Lingchong had a report detailing Liu Hu's defeat written on a cart, then feigned a retreat and fled, leaving the cart behind. Yan Zhanzhi was taken aback upon seeing the report and fled that night. In November, Chang Zhenqi sought to surrender, worried that the court might reject him, so he sought help from Suolu. The emperor immediately appointed Chang Zhenqi as the Sizhou Inspector while also serving as the Taishou of Runan and Xincai. Suolu also sent the pretender general Zhang Qiongqi to lead ten thousand cavalry to come to the rescue. In December, Suolu's army arrived in Runan, and Chang Zhenqi opened the city gates to welcome them. The residents of the seven counties in Huai Xi fled south overnight, and Liu Shun also abandoned Suolu and surrendered to the court.
The southern rebel forces surrendered, and Emperor Taizong sent them all to Yan City to communicate with the townspeople, which caused the morale of the townspeople to plummet. Yan City was about to surrender, so they first sent out the family members of Xiu You, then opened the city gates. At that time, the Yan City defender was unwell and had to be carried on a wooden stretcher, along with the other generals, to submit to their punishment. Emperor Taizong comforted them, did not kill anyone, and returned all their belongings, goods, and supplies in full, from the generals to the soldiers. The enemy cavalry arrived to rescue Yan City, but upon reaching Shi Shui and learning that the city had fallen, they ran to attack Yiyang, killed and looted thousands of people, then fled. Yuan Shibao later revolted again and sought refuge with Chang Zhenqi.
For his contributions to pacifying Yancheng, Liu Huaizhen was appointed as the Marquis of Ai County, with a fief consisting of four hundred households; Yuan Hong was appointed as the Marquis of Lexiang County, Meng Ciyang was appointed as the Viscount of You County, Wang Guangzhi was appointed as the Viscount of Puqi County, Chen Xianda was appointed as the Viscount of Pengze County, and Lv Anguo was appointed as the Viscount of Zhongwu County, all with a fief of three hundred households; Huang Hui was appointed as the Baron of Geyang County, with a fief of two hundred households. Then the defenders of Yancheng and the false seal of office were sent back to the capital together.
After some time, he was appointed as an advisor in Wang Jingwen's Southern Consultation Army while also serving as the Junior Prefect. In the first year of the Taiyu era, he was appointed as the Junior Prefect and promoted to the position of Attendant. Later, in the first year of Emperor Feidi Yuanhui's reign, he died at the age of fifty-nine. He had a gentle and quiet personality, with few desires, knowledgeable about the affairs of the previous dynasty, and deeply devoted to his elder brother, renowned for his reputation and morals since a young age. When he was besieged in Shouyang, he was greatly admired by the city's residents. The Governor of Yangzhou, Wang Jingwen, the General of the West, Cai Xingzong, and the Minister of Works, Chu Yuan, all had close ties with him.
Historical records state: To find loyal ministers, one should look for them among filial sons, because their characters are similar. In the past, Qifang advised his monarch but exhibited behavior that abandoned his parents; Deng You had noble character but showed love to his stepson. Although their ways of filial piety were different and their expressions of emotions varied, their feelings for their parents and siblings were equally profound and unbiased. Huikai, although very respectful to his relatives, had prominent conflicts among his brothers, with conflicting feelings of filial piety and brotherly love in his heart, as steep and perilous as mountains and rivers; this illustrates the point.
