Yuan Chongzu (垣崇祖), courtesy name Jingyuan, was a native of Xiapi. His family was a prominent wealthy family in the area. During the reign of Shi Hu, they moved from Luoyang to Ye City (邺城). His great-grandfather Yuan Chang served as the Minister of Personnel under the Murong De regime. His grandfather Yuan Miao surrendered to the Song Dynasty during the attack on Guanggu by Emperor Wu of Song, and later returned to Xiapi to become a general and prefect of Xinchai in Runan. His father Yuan Zhi served as a general and sacrificed his life for the country during the reign of Emperor Xiaowu of Song, and was posthumously honored as the Inspector of Jizhou.
At the age of fourteen, Chongzu demonstrated exceptional talent. His uncle, the Inspector of Yuzhou, Yuan Hu, told the family, "This child will definitely bring glory to our ancestors. None of you can hold a candle to him!" Later, the Inspector of Yuzhou, Liu Daolong, recruited him as his chief clerk, and he treated him exceptionally well. He later appointed him as the General under Prince Xin'an. During the Jinghe era, Liu Daolong requested a transfer to Liangzhou and recommended Chongzu to be the Military Advisor to the Prince of Yiyang, allowing him to accompany him and even sending him back to Xiapi to recruit soldiers.
After Emperor Ming of Song ascended to the throne, Liu Daolong was killed. Xue Andu launched a rebellion, and Emperor Ming dispatched Zhang Yong and Shen Youzhi to the north to quell the uprising. Xue Andu sent generals Pei Zulong and Li Shixiong to occupy Xiapi. Pei Zulong invited Chongzu to join forces against the enemy, but the main general of the Qingzhou reinforcements, Liu Mizhi, betrayed them and defected to Xue Andu. Pei Zulong's troops lost morale and fell apart. Chongzu secretly set out to rescue Pei Zulong with a small group of trusted followers, and they escaped to Pengcheng together. After the enemy captured Xuzhou, Chongzu became a commander for them in the Langye area and never returned to surrender. The enemy found him difficult to handle. He secretly sent someone to Pengcheng to fetch his mother, intending to escape south together, but their plan was uncovered, and the enemy took his mother hostage. Chongzu's brother-in-law, Huangfu Su, fled to Qushan with his family and Chongzu's grandmother. Chongzu then took command of Qushan with his subordinates and sent someone to surrender to the Song Dynasty court. At that time, Emperor Taizu of Song was in Huaiyin, and he appointed Chongzu as the governor of Qushan and sent his mother back to the capital. Emperor Ming also accepted his surrender. Qushan was located by the sea, with treacherous terrain, leaving the locals in a state of constant fear and unrest. Chongzu frequently moved back and forth by the water, ready to quickly sail out to sea in case of emergencies. Later, a military officer committed an offense and defected to the enemy. The defected officer informed the enemy of the situation. Cheng Gugong, the false lord of Qi and governor of East Xuzhou, had just occupied Qingzhou. Upon receiving news of the defection, he dispatched twenty thousand infantry and cavalry to attack Chongzu, camping at Luoyao, twenty li away from Qushan city. At that time, Chongzu was still sending guests off and had not returned yet. The people in the city were terrified and began to flee by boat.
After Chongzu returned, he said to his trusted aides, "The enemy's arrival this time isn't truly a large-scale attack, but rather to exploit the traitors' lies to confuse us. It would be easy to trick them. If we can get over a hundred people to come back now, we can definitely turn things around. But right now, everyone’s too scared to gather again. Quick, go two miles away and shout loudly to bring them back, shouting 'The Aitang Volunteer Army has defeated the enemy and needs reinforcements to drive them away together!'" When the people on the boat heard this, they were thrilled and rushed ashore one after another. Chongzu brought them into the city, had the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled take refuge on the island, and sent people holding two torches to climb the mountain and shout. The enemy's cavalry saw that Chongzu's side looked strong, so they retreated. Chongzu reported to Emperor Ming, "The people of northern Huai can't withstand the barbarian invasion. They all want to flee south and are eagerly waiting for it day and night. My grandfather and uncle served as officials in northern Huai, and our family members are all over the north. The people really trust us. As long as we call out, we can quickly make a name for ourselves. But my current rank is still too low to command respect. I humbly ask Your Majesty to grant me a higher title so that people far and wide will recognize me." Emperor Ming then appointed him as the Assistant General of the State and Governor of the two counties of Beilangye and Lanling. Later, a defected Sima plotted to rebel and attack the county seat, but Chongzu captured and executed him. Chongzu repeatedly presented his strategies to the court, aiming to reclaim northern Huai.
At that time, the enemy's army was formidable and was about to attack Huainan. Emperor Ming asked Chongzu what our course of action should be. Chongzu then reported: "We should send light troops deep into enemy territory, take them by surprise, and achieve great feats in battle. Even if we retreat, we can mitigate the threat posed by the enemy at our borders." Emperor Ming agreed to his suggestion. Chongzu led a few hundred troops seven hundred miles deep into enemy territory, captured the southern city, defended Mengshan, and incited local counties to rebel. The enemy led a large army to attack him. The enemy general Liang Zhan's mother was taken captive. The enemy caught Liang Zhan's mother and asked Liang Zhan to tell his subordinates: "The main army has already withdrawn, why are you staying here?" So Liang Zhan's subordinates lost morale and fled. Chongzu said to those around him: "If we retreat together now, we will definitely not escape." He chose to stay behind and fight valiantly, defeated the pursuing enemy, and then returned. Because of his long-term hard work and high achievements, he was granted the title of Marquis of Xiapu County.
In the first year of Taiyu, Chongzu served as the acting governor of Xuzhou Province and was transferred to Longju Shu to guard the area south of Qushan. Chongzu suggested intercepting the water flow on flat ground to hinder the enemy's cavalry. Emperor Ming asked Liu Huaizhen, who said it could be done. Chongzu led his soldiers to block the water flow, but the construction was still unfinished. The enemy's leader said to the false Pingcheng Town General Pingyang Gong: "If the construction at Longju is completed, it will be a disgrace to our country; we must stop it at all costs!" Tens of thousands of cavalry quickly arrived. Chongzu rode a horse, holding a long spear, charging into battle, but could not withstand the enemy's attack, so he built a city to defend himself. Fortunately, it rained for over ten days, and the enemy finally retreated. The fortifications at Longju were ultimately never completed. Chongzu later served as the governor of Xuyi, Pingyang, and Donghai counties, and he retained his rank as a general throughout. He was later promoted to the rank of Sima under Prince Shao Ling of Nan Zhong, and later returned to serve as the governor of Donghai.
Initially, (Han) Chongzu met Emperor Taizu in Huaiyin. Taizu held him in high regard for his exceptional martial arts skills. Chongzu told Huang Fusu, "This is my true lord! Today I finally met a wise lord; it's truly a rare encounter!" Thus, he pledged his unwavering loyalty to him in secret. As the Yuanhui era was coming to an end, Taizu was deeply troubled and ordered Chongzu to take care of his family, entrusting the care of his family to Huang Fusu. Taizu then led several hundred troops deep into enemy territory, waiting for further orders. After the Battle of Cangwu ended, Taizu recalled Chongzu, ordered him to lead the troops back to the capital, and appointed him as a general of guerrilla forces. After dealing with the situation regarding Shen You, Chongzu was appointed as the governor of Yanzhou, Qingzhou, and Jizhou, and later promoted to Champion General and governor of Yanzhou. After Taizu ascended the throne, he said to Chongzu, "I have just obtained the world; those barbarian tribes do not yet recognize the rightful authority, and they will surely rebel, using the excuse of sending Liu Chang back to his country. The enemy will definitely attack Shou Chun; only you have the strength to withstand these bandits!" He then appointed Chongzu as the governor of Yuzhou while retaining his military title, and also bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Wangcai County, with a fief consisting of seven hundred households.
In the second year of Jianyuan, the enemy sent the pretender king of Liang, Yudoujuan, and Liu Chang to lead troops to attack Shou Chun, claiming to have a formidable force of two hundred thousand. Chongzu summoned civil and military officials for a meeting and said, "The enemy's strength far exceeds ours; we must use clever tactics to defeat them. We should build an outer city to defend against the enemy, but the outer city is vast and hard to hold without water defenses. I propose we build a dam on the Fei River, using water to flood the enemy army, creating a precarious position where we would be vulnerable on three sides. What do you all think?" Everyone said, "When the enemy invaded before, the forces of King Nanping of Song were strong and well-equipped, but because the city walls were difficult to defend, they eventually retreated to the inner city. Today's situation is more than ten times more serious than before. Historically, building a dam on the Fei River is impractical due to the challenging terrain and the likelihood of water pooling without effect. If we insist on this plan, it may not be wise." Chongzu said, "You're only looking at one side of the situation. If we abandon the outer city, the enemy will definitely occupy it, then build tall towers and arrow towers in the outer city, and lay down heavy encirclement in the inner city, with no obstacles on all sides; both the inner and outer cities will be under siege. This would effectively trap us. Defend the city walls, build a dam to block the Fei River; this is the strategy I firmly advocate!" So, Chongzu built a dam in the northwest of the city, blocking the Fei River. To the north of the dam, a small city was built, with deep trenches dug around it, and several thousand people were sent to defend it. Chongzu said to the Chief Historian Feng Yanbo, "The enemy is overambitious and shortsighted; they will surely launch a full-scale attack on the small city, trying to destroy the dam. When they see the narrow trenches and the small size of the city, they will underestimate it and swarm like ants. At that time, as long as we open the floodgates, the water will surge down like the rapids of the Three Gorges; the enemy will be thrown into disarray and overwhelmed. Isn't this achieving a great victory at a small cost?"
The enemy forces approached from the west and attacked the small city to the east of the dam. Chongzu, wearing a white gauze hat, sat in a sedan chair and ascended the city tower, personally commanding the battle. In the afternoon, Chongzu ordered the opening of the sluice gate at Xiaoshidai. The rushing water surged down, and the attacking enemy forces were washed into the moat, with thousands of soldiers and horses drowning, forcing the enemy to flee in disarray. In his early years in Huaiyin, Chongzu met the emperor and compared himself to Han Xin and Bai Qi. Everyone thought he was arrogant, but only the emperor believed in him. When news of the enemy's defeat reached the capital, the emperor told his courtiers, "Chongzu assured me that he could defeat the enemy, and he did. He always compares himself to Han Xin and Bai Qi. Now it seems that he is truly a hero!" The emperor then promoted Chongzu to commander, appointed him as General of the West, and increased his fiefdom to fifteen hundred households. When Chongzu heard that Chen Xianda and Li Anmin had increased their military bands, he requested an increase in his own military band. The emperor ordered, "Shouldn't Han Xin and Bai Qi be different?" and rewarded him with a trumpet band.
Chongzu was concerned that the northern nomadic tribes might invade the Huainan region again, so he suggested moving the troops from Xiacao to the east bank of the Huai River. That winter, the nomadic tribes did indeed plan to attack Xiacao, but upon learning that the troops had been relocated, they declared their intention to raze the old city. Everyone believed the enemy would leave troops garrisoned in the old city, but Chongzu said, "Xiacao is so close to our base, how could they possibly dare to station troops here? Their real goal is to completely destroy this old city. We're worried that if the enemy scatters and flees, we won't be able to take them all down."
As a result, the enemy's army indeed leveled Xiaocai City to the ground. Chongzu personally led the army across the Huai River to battle with the enemy, achieving a great victory by pursuing the enemy for dozens of miles and killing or capturing thousands. The Emperor sent envoys to investigate the enemy's information in Guanzhong. After the envoys returned, the Emperor ordered Chongzu, saying, "Do you think we only want you to guard Jiangdong? What we’re short on now is food. You just need to work hard to cultivate the fields, and naturally, you can pacify these rebels." The Emperor also ordered Chongzu to repair and cultivate the fields in Shaobi.
After Emperor Shizu ascended the throne, he summoned Yuan Chongzu and appointed him as a Cavalry Attendant and Left Guard General. Not long after, the Emperor ordered him to continue his original duties and granted him the title "Anxi." Later, Yuan Chongzu was promoted to the Minister of War and concurrently appointed as the General of Agile Cavalry.
Earlier, Prince Yuzhang was highly favored by the Emperor, but when Shizu was in the Eastern Palace, Yuan Chongzu did not flatter him. When Shizu returned triumphantly after quelling the rebellion, the Emperor secretly instructed him to discuss military affairs with Yuan Chongzu. At that time, Shizu was somewhat suspicious of him, but he was outwardly very polite, even hosting a banquet for him. After a few rounds of drinks, Shizu said to Yuan Chongzu, "I am not bothered by the rumors outside. From now on, I entrust all wealth and glory to you!" Yuan Chongzu quickly expressed his gratitude.
However, after Yuan Chongzu left, Shizu secretly ordered Xun Boyu to convey a decree, saying that there were urgent matters at the border that needed his immediate attention and he was not allowed to leave the Eastern Palace. Shizu suspected that Yuan Chongzu had ulterior motives and had been holding a grudge against him. Later, when Emperor Taizu passed away, Shizu was worried that Yuan Chongzu might cause trouble, so he quietly moved him away from the capital.
On the ninth day of the fourth month in the first year of Yongming, the emperor issued an edict: "Yuan Chongzu is a cruel and brutal person, with a violent temperament and no significant achievements in his youth. He was appointed only because the country was in crisis. Since the country has been peaceful, I have promoted him multiple times, but he has grown increasingly greedy and reckless. Last year, while he was in the west, he colluded with foreign forces. His treachery was known to everyone. I remember his past service to the country and hoped he would turn over a new leaf. However, he became even more defiant, conspiring with Xun Boyu to incite rebellion in the border regions. General Sun Jingyu of Ning Shuo uncovered his conspiracy and reported it to me. To root out evil, I have decided to punish him severely, arresting him immediately to uphold the dignity of the court." Yuan Chongzu died at the age of forty-four. His son, Yuan Huilong, was also exiled to Panyu and died shortly afterward.
Zhang Jing'er is from Nanyang County. His original name was Gou'er, but Emperor Song Ming thought the name was too rustic and changed it for him. His father, Zhang Chou, served as a district general and eventually became a military officer. Zhang Jing'er was skilled in horseback riding and archery from a young age, with a daring personality and a particular passion for tiger hunting, always hitting his mark. The people of Xinye in Nanyang were fond of horseback riding and archery, and Zhang Jing'er was exceptionally strong. He volunteered to join the army, first serving as a commander in Qua Shu Station, then being transferred to the prefecture as a commander, later becoming the deputy leader of the county horse team and eventually being promoted to captain. Shortly after, he was appointed as a military officer in Ningman Prefecture.
Later, he followed his fellow villager Liu Hu to lead troops to attack the barbarians in the Xiangyang Mountains, deep into the treacherous mountains. They swept through, defeating all their foes. During a battle against the barbarians in Huyang, the imperial troops retreated, and thousands of barbarian soldiers caught up. Zhang Jing'er rode alone on horseback, charging into the enemy camp, fighting fiercely in numerous skirmishes and killing many. Ultimately, he was struck by an arrow in his left armpit, and the barbarians could no longer withstand the onslaught and retreated in disarray. When General Shanyang Wang Xiuyou was stationed in Shouyang, he needed skilled horse archers, and Zhang Jing'er offered his services, which led to his appointment as a military officer in command of the White Direct Team. During the Taishi era, he was appointed as the General of Ning Shuo, transferred to the office of the General of Biaoqi, serving as a military officer and responsible for military affairs.
He once led troops to suppress the rebels of Yijia, resisting the enemy with Liu Hu at Quewei Island. Later, Emperor Ming requested the court to let him return to Nanyang. After things calmed down, he was appointed as the Prefect of Nanyang, retaining his position as a general. Earlier, when Wang Xuanmo served as the Inspector of Yongzhou, he arranged for Zhang Jing'er's family to be moved from Wuyin County. Once Zhang Jing'er assumed office, he relocated them back to Guanjun County. Three years later, the sons of Xue Andu—Xue Bailing, Xue Huanlong, and others—occupied Shunyang and Guangping, looting the areas of Yicheng and Fufeng. Inspector Wang Xiuruo of Balin dispatched Zhang Jing'er and Liu Rang, the Prefect of Xinye, to lead troops against them. Following a fierce battle, the rebels were routed and fled. Zhang Jing'er was subsequently appointed as the Prefect of Shunyang, retaining his position as a general. The barbarians in Nanyang stirred up trouble again, so the court recalled Zhang Jing'er to resume his role as Prefect of Nanyang. Upon his mother's passing, he returned home to grieve. At that time, the court suspected that Prince Guixiang, Wang Xiufan, harbored ulterior motives and secretly prepared for him, therefore, Zhang Jing'er was appointed as General of Ning Shuo and Colonel of Yueqi.
When the incident in Guiyang erupted, Taizu (Cao Cao) stationed his troops in Xinting. The bandits and our troops had already clashed. Xiu Fan (the Governor of Guiyang), dressed in white, sat in a carriage to offer comfort to the soldiers below. Noticing his few guards, Jing Er (Huang Jing) and Huang Hui said to Taizu, "The defenses in Guiyang are weak. If we feign surrender to win his trust, we can surely capture him!" Taizu replied, "If you can pull this off, I will reward you with the title of Provincial Governor."
Jing Er and Huang Hui exited the city via the southern gate, running all the way while shouting their surrender. Xiu Fan, pleased, called them over to the carriage. Huang Hui conveyed Taizu's secret message to Xiu Fan, who took it at face value. When Xiu Fan turned around and saw Jing Er, Jing Er seized the knife from Xiu Fan's guard and beheaded him. Hundreds of Xiu Fan's guards fled in fear, and Jing Er rode back to Xinting holding Xiu Fan's head. Afterwards, Jing Er was promoted to Cavalry General and additionally appointed as General of the State.
Taizu felt that Jing Er's rank was still too low and was reluctant to appoint him as the commander of the crucial city of Xiangyang. Jing Er kept requesting, which eventually swayed Taizu. Taizu said, "Do you know Shen Youzhi's intentions in Jingzhou? If we don't send Jing Er to guard against him, it could pose a threat to us." Taizu chuckled and remained silent, ultimately appointing Jing Er as the Commissioner, Commander of Military Affairs of Yong and Liang Provinces, Yingsi and Yijun, while maintaining his title of General, and also granted him the title of Marquis of Xiangyang County with a fief of two thousand households.
The troops stationed at Miankou, Jing'er crossed the river in a small boat to visit King Xie of Jinxi. However, they encountered a strong wind on the river, and the boat capsized! The strong soldiers swam to safety, leaving two small officials trapped in the cabin, shouting for help! Jing'er managed to grab one with each hand, and as the boat overturned, they miraculously managed to stay afloat, drifting for dozens of miles before being rescued. He later received a replacement for his lost ceremonial staff.
When Shen Youzhi heard that Liu Jing'er was coming, he sent people to secretly observe. Seeing the grand reception of the military in Yongzhou, he feared a surprise attack, so he secretly strengthened his defenses. When Liu Jing'er arrived in the town, he established a good relationship with Shen Youzhi, lavishing gifts upon him. After learning some information about Shen Youzhi, Liu Jing'er secretly informed the Emperor. Shen Youzhi received a letter from the Emperor regarding the confidential selection of local officials. Shen Youzhi showed it to Liu Jing'er, hoping to create distrust between them, but Liu Jing'er remained loyal.
In the later years of Yuanhui, Xiangyang experienced a major flood, with the water level rising several feet high, causing heavy losses to the people and the city. The Emperor wrote to Shen Youzhi, urging him to quickly aid the disaster victims and provide loans, but Shen Youzhi paid no heed to it. Liu Jing'er had a good relationship with Liu Rangbing, Shen Youzhi's Sima. When Cangwu County was abolished, Liu Jing'er suspected that Shen Youzhi would take advantage of this opportunity to rebel, so he secretly asked Liu Rangbing. Liu Rangbing did not say anything, only sent Liu Jing'er a single stirrup. Liu Jing'er then made preparations.
In the winter of the first year of the Shengming era, Shen Youzhi did rebel as expected and even sent someone to inform Liu Jing'er. Liu Jing'er warmly welcomed the messenger and hosted a banquet for him, saying, "Why did Lord Shen suddenly send you here? This could cost you your life!" After saying this, he had the messenger executed right there in the hall, gathered his troops, monitored Shen Youzhi's movements, and prepared to attack Jiangling.
At that time, Shen Youzhi wrote a letter to the Emperor, in which he stated:
I heard that fish forget each other in the rivers, and people forget each other in the Tao; our situation can be said to be like this. During the Ming Dynasty, I received the favor of the Emperor and had the honor to serve by his side. Our friendship was deep, and our loyalty was like gold and stone; we shared clothes and meals together. But later, we encountered the chaos and tyranny of the Jinghe era. I was heartbroken, and my body became frail; the suffering was beyond words. I feared I might be executed by you, and you worried about being exterminated by your officials. But we remained resolute, supporting each other through crises and striving to survive. The heavens always favor the good; this is not false. Our bond began because of our deep feelings. When the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty ascended the throne, everyone else died, and only you and I survived, favored by heaven. We were as close as brothers, respecting each other like ancient monarchs and ministers. The Emperor appreciated our loyalty and kept us close. On the day of the Emperor's death, I was entrusted with great responsibilities and received honors and high positions. Although my feelings are not as deep as those of the ancients, I vow to repay the Emperor's kindness, even at the cost of my life. Unfortunately, my aspirations were not realized before the late Emperor passed away, and my wishes were shattered. Since then, we have almost lost contact, not just out of suspicion, but also as a natural consequence. Whenever I think of the past, I weep bitterly at the paper; how could I possibly blame you? There are some things I have to tell you.
Recently, I received a letter from Xianzize, in which he mentioned receiving your letter. The letter stated that you have made significant contributions to ensuring peace and stability in the country, a feat that ordinary people like us can hardly fathom. Subsequently, I received a secret edict from the Empress Dowager, commending your clandestine strategies and decisive actions. However, even if the hat is old and tattered, it still carries the weight of respect for your position. By aligning yourself with the ministers and removing traitors, you have safeguarded your own position. You might consider figures like Long Feng and Bi Gan to be foolish. Significant matters such as succession shouldn't be openly deliberated, but Yuan and Chu are your long-time allies, while Liu is a close relative of the royal family. Their territories are fertile, and their status and reputation are high. If even they are not part of the discussions, who else can you confide in? Throughout history, dynasties have come and gone, with foolish rulers being succeeded by wise ones. This is not something unique to the Great Song Dynasty. Many historical events are documented in records; allow me to share some with you.
Esteemed gentlemen, let us deliberate together. We should first report to the Empress Dowager, obtain her decree, and then act. When the time comes, we should leave the palace according to royal etiquette. How can you trust the words of scoundrels and so blatantly disregard righteousness? What on earth is happening? The "Classic of Filial Piety" says: "The methods used to serve one's father should also be used to serve the ruler." Even in the name of the state, this is unacceptable. Do you not understand the relationship between ruler and subject, father and son? You are even concerned that your family might be in jeopardy, luring him with titles and rewards. Those scoundrels are utterly lawless, brazenly committing regicide. While I may not be learned, I have consulted ancient texts. Has any minister ever committed such an act as what we see today? Once the truth comes to light, heads will roll. While the living may be despised, what fault lies with the dead? Furthermore, there are rewards for those who report treason; from which code does this rule derive? Every minister is filled with shock and regret. The people across the land are heartbroken, and travelers weep and bleed as they pass. Even funerals are neglected, leaving maggots to crawl at the doorstep. Has there ever been such a disgrace in history? Though Wei is weak, it still has loyal ministers like Hong Yan. Unexpectedly, our Song Dynasty lacks such individuals. I sigh deeply, feeling extremely uncomfortable, unable to control myself. How do you differ from those who have murdered their monarch? Hearts are fickle and will soon become the source of the people's lamentations. As a prince, do you not find this troubling? In the metaphor of "Xiqi Field," is there truly any difference? Guan Zhong once said, if the ruler is wrong, the minister should advise. You dismiss his counsel and willingly embrace the crime of Cui Zhu's regicide. How despicable!
In the past, when Tai Jia was restored to the throne, Yi Yin never doubted him. The King of Changyi made countless mistakes, and even Huo Guang, when entrusted with governance, had to discuss matters in court before the king was deposed. Due to Emperor Tang's grace, commentators do not view this as holding the monarch hostage. Although Huan Wen had ambitions to usurp the throne, the moral decay in Haixi and the collapse of human relationships justified his removal, and he was still treated with respect. Despite Huan Wen's great power and lack of rivals, he still feared leaving a bad reputation, as the people were dissatisfied and unwilling to support him. Yi Yin and Huo Guang had reputations that surpassed the integrity of ordinary courtiers, and the Huan family managed to avoid coercion. All these events are recorded in history books and are quite easy to understand; do I really need to spell them out for you? You often claim to be on par with Yi Wu and Shu Xiang, so why have you committed acts worse than Jie and Zhì today?
The emperor is wise, the world is peaceful, everyone is celebrating; what a wonderful day for selfless public service! But you are plundering the palace's singing girls, seizing the treasures of the national treasury, taking all these treasures of gold and silver to your own home, even replacing court officials with your own cronies, and even going so far as to wear armor to enter the palace, handing over the palace's door locks to your own family to take care of. Have you forgotten the lessons of Mencius and Confucius? Would Wang Xizhi, Xie An, Tao Yuanming, and Yu Xin do such things? Moreover, when Zhu Yuanzhang was emperor, he only used his own trusted aides; you are no royal relative; how can you be so audacious? Your son guards the city, your father lives in the east mansion, one family holding two high-ranking positions with generous salaries—how does that differ from those treacherous ministers? I know you are heavily guarded and full of suspicion, using words to placate those from afar, actually to guard against your own people. If your character can gain the trust of the people, even the barbarian states can confide in you, but if you act unreasonably and disregard the rules, even if the city is strong, it cannot be defended. Did the state of Wen not rely on weapons for self-defense, yet still meet its demise? Wu Qi once said, "If righteousness and ritual are not maintained, the people on the boat will all become enemies." You lack the loyalty of Wu Zixu, yet harbor a greedy heart and desire to rebel; I would rather abandon my tolerance for you.
They all say loyal ministers come from filial sons; where has your loyalty and filial piety disappeared? You embezzle the national treasury's gold and silver treasures to bribe and curry favor with people, steal the country's titles to gain the favor of the powerful, and you reward and punish clearly, only treating those who support you well. This method is not sustainable at all; once you fall from power, it will backfire on you. Moreover, those who benefit from your favor are not grateful; the wise do not condone your actions. You are powerless to control evil or stop conspiracies and schemes; it's truly disheartening! We are thousands of miles apart, with no chance to meet; I wonder if we'll ever meet again. I have heard that wise men in ancient times would cut off relationships and never speak ill of others; I just want to candidly share my principles with you as a way of saying goodbye. Writing up to here, I am filled with emotion, shedding tears in both my public and private life; I hope you don't mind what I have said before. But the eyes of the world are clear; your actions cannot be hidden from anyone. You should also understand that you have reached a point of no return; things will soon be exposed. Emperor Taizu wrote a letter to You Zhi at Dunxinting: Hello! Your letter makes me quite embarrassed; our relationship is not deep enough to make me feel ashamed. Why beat around the bush and test me? I began my official career young, not with ambitions of greatness, but was influenced by Zilu's idea of "not choosing positions based on the officials," so I've never been choosy about my official roles. I gained the emperor's appreciation during Emperor Wen's reign and further favor during Emperor Xiaowu's; therefore, I am very grateful and have not been able to reflect on myself properly.
After becoming friends with you, our bond deepened. I have always wanted to emulate the loyalty and patriotism of the ancients, prioritizing national affairs. We drink and chat together, help each other, and even facilitated a marriage alliance between our families. Our trust and loyalty run deep, so who could sow discord between us? During the Jinghe era, the court was in disarray, and I was very worried. When Emperor Ming ascended the throne and peace reigned, I opened my heart to you to discuss national affairs. Through thick and thin, we stood together.
During the Yuanhui era, someone spoke ill of me in front of Gao Daoqing, hoping to have me punished by the court. The Emperor had already ordered my punishment, and the courtiers remained silent, observing each other in secret. Due to our close bond and shared hardships, I risked my life to seek your help. I risked defying the Emperor's orders to show you the letter, not because I feared his authority, but out of consideration for our friendship. You accused me of bribing in secret, which is a grave injustice that I find utterly incomprehensible.
Previously, I had Wang Siwen deliver official documents from the court to you, all related to national affairs. Take a look and see if we’re on the same page. I have always been open to others' opinions and would discuss any ideas with you first. Our way of handling things always leads to misunderstandings. You mistakenly thought I wrote to you for no reason, as if testing you. If we could be more open with each other, we could avoid these misunderstandings, preventing suspicion and preserving our relationship. Your letter reaffirming our alliance was received, and I replied sincerely, hoping our friendship would be as solid as gold and stone.
Now that things have escalated like this, who’s the one talking behind our backs?
In the last years of Yuanhui, the court's influence had already waned, and sacrifices could not be carried out normally. You must have heard about these situations, so I don't need to elaborate. The Empress Dowager was very worried, and according to the previous edicts, the plans for rebuilding and dismantling have fallen to me. Abolishing incompetence and establishing wisdom was the rule from before, stabilizing the country and consolidating the state; what shame do I have before my ancestors? The abdication and enthronement of emperors have their procedures, which you also agreed with. If you say there are flaws in my abdication this time, what do you have to say about it? Granting him the title of Prince, can that be considered disrespectful? Emperor Jinghe had no proper status; is that really worse than this? Long Feng was a commoner, but Yi Yin and Huo Guang were ministers of the state; their situations are different and cannot be compared; this is not something I should consider. Promotions and titles come with rewards; I've enjoyed such honors before. Conspiring to achieve merit, Emperor Ming also did so. These are all lessons from the past; who dares to say it's wrong?
Some say I have plundered palace maids on a large scale, looted treasures from the heavenly treasury, and enriched my own private treasury with gold and silver objects. If it was deliberately setting traps to lure others, it still doesn't compare to this accusation; if it was deceiving the people, are all the people in the world blind? As long as one's heart is clear, there is nothing to be overly concerned about. Granting military power was done according to old practices; do those who guard the borders, have outstanding merits, and can enter and exit the palace freely without the need for guards, not deserve to be equipped with guards? The concerns that trouble me aren't just for my own benefit! I only accepted this favor and worked diligently to handle government affairs. The administration of the Zhu Fang region, the court ministers all agreed with my methods, and I also believe my contributions are insignificant, not disgracing any official position in any province. Moreover, in the Wei and Jin dynasties, the emperor's relatives served as local officials, with the Cao family appointed to Yuzhou and the Ma family to Sizhou; has that ever happened before? I accepted this position with a clear conscience.
Yuan Can has taken Shitoucheng, yet you claim I am in the wrong. You frequently express dissatisfaction and displeasure; is that really the case?! Yuan Can and Liu Bing, who have been deeply favored by the court, once the country was stabilized, have not thought to serve the country, but instead secretly colluded with you to create chaos in the city. Do they even care about the state of affairs? Fortunately, the blessings of our ancestors were upon us, and my forces, along with Chu Yuan's, worked together to swiftly quell the rebellion. I imagine that after hearing this news, you must feel quite lonely and frustrated. My son serves as an attendant in the court, boasting that our family has enjoyed imperial favor for two generations. It’s indeed a bit excessive to speak without thought. The evaluations of my words by ancient scholars, such as Tao Yuanming and Yu Xin, have faced significant criticism. Can you genuinely use such words to reproach me? While comparing me to Yi Wu and Shu Qi may be acceptable, claiming I am on par with Jie and Zhi is truly slanderous!
I said you don't attend court; this is friendly advice. As for whether you’ll attend court or not, I think I still need to ask you again. You enjoy the grace of the former emperor, defending the Western Province. At the time of Dinghu, all the people in the world submitted to you, but you lived a life of indulgence and dreams, still thinking of rebellion and insulting the court. Prince Jinxi, as the brother of the emperor, took over your post, but you blocked the roads and prevented any receptions, looked down on the royal family, drove away the troops, all sent to the west, leaving only some old and weak soldiers in Yingdu. Before you went to conquer Maocao, you hadn’t even fought yet, but you sparked a rebellion; not to mention that Jingzhou is rich in resources, and since you became the governor, what good things have you contributed? Good horses and strong soldiers, you must have quite a few of those, right? The best leather and silk, all acquired through bribery; how much tribute has been paid? I’ve only heard that the court occasionally receives your tributes. When Guiyang was in turmoil, you just stood by, thinking you could live carefree like the Marquis of the West. Fortunately, the former emperor passed away, and your ambitions came crashing down. You even recruited fugitives, blocked officials from traveling, built warships, probed military vessels, always treated the court as a target, sharpening your knives, eager for chaos in the world; is this how a subject should be? You don't even obey the imperial decrees; the decrees are just waste paper to you. You ignore the imperial favor, obstruct the orders, dismiss the county officials appointed by the court, drive them away, and prohibit them from returning to the capital. Those villains who escape abroad, you chase them for miles, but recruit rebel generals instead, and reward them generously when they arrive. The empress dowager sent people to Shu to buy horses and treasures, but you intercepted them all for yourself; these things are well known to all. The wise and martial emperor, celebrated throughout the world, with distant regions paying tribute and celebrating, but you delayed for a hundred days before sending someone; dragging things out like this, do you still need evidence? Not attending court is one thing; who would blame you? But you even turn around and blame others; now that’s just too much! Now you lead troops to spy on the elephant stables, pointing your long spear at the Wei palace; isn’t this making loyal ministers and filial sons heartbroken? Your virtuous son Yuan Yan, I rescued him from the tiger’s jaws and sent him west; this was arranged by me. I still remember the old days, and I won’t bring up your shortcomings.
You even disregarded the etiquette of rulers and their subjects, not to mention the friendship between us? What's done is done; I won’t advise you any further. Now the imperial army is heading west, and I worry for you! Jing'er reported the battle situation to the Grand Emperor, who was overjoyed and promptly promoted him, bestowing upon him the title of Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, appointing him as Commander, and assigning him an escort. After Youzhi was defeated in Yingcheng and fled in panic, his son Yuan Yan, along with Chief Clerk Jiang Ge and Attendant Fu Xuan, defended Jiangling City. When Jing'er's army arrived at Baishui, Yuan Yan heard cranes outside the city and thought the enemy was coming, so he was scared and wanted to flee. That night, Jiang Ge and Fu Xuan secretly opened the city gate and fled, which threw the city into chaos. Yuan Yan also fled to Chongzhou and was eventually killed. The common folk began looting each other. After Jing'er arrived at Jiangling, he executed all of Youzhi's relatives and friends, plundered their homes and seized their wealth, amounting to hundreds of thousands, which Jing'er kept for himself. Youzhi hung himself in Tangzhu Village, and the local residents sent his head to Jingzhou. Jing'er had people carry it with a shield and a blue umbrella, parading it around the city before finally sending it to the capital. As a result, Jing'er was promoted to General of the West, granted a dukedom, with his fiefdom expanded to four thousand households.
Jinger built a house to the west of Xiangyang City and amassed considerable wealth. He also wanted to relocate Uncle Yang's "Falling Tears Stele" to his doorstep and set up a platform. His subordinates advised him, "The virtue of Grand Tutor Yang will be remembered for generations; his stele should not be moved." Jinger replied, "Who is Grand Tutor Yang? I don't know him!" Jinger's younger brother, Gonger, did not want to become an official and lived in Shangbao Village, leading a life like an ordinary person. Jinger treated him exceptionally well, and Gonger would visit Jinger every month before heading back. In fact, Gonger’s original name was Zhu'er, a name he changed at Jinger's request.
After Wang Jinger killed Shen You, he sent someone to inform the prefect of Sui County, Liu Daozong, to assemble troops, totaling about a thousand people, and set up camp. The governor of Sizhou, Yao Dahe, did not execute Shen You's messenger, but secretly ordered Liu Daozong to withdraw the troops. Later, Shen You surrounded Yingzhou City, and Yao Dahe sent troops to Jiacheng as reinforcements for Yingzhou City. After the situation calmed down, Yao Dahe received rewards in accordance with the regulations. Wang Jinger reported all these situations in detail to the court. In the first year of Jianyuan, Emperor Taizu of Song ordered relevant departments to impeach Yao Dahe's crimes, and he was eventually killed. Yao Dahe, whose courtesy name was Jingyong, was the grandson of Yao Xing, a chieftain of the Qiang. His father, Yao Wanshou, once served as the false General Who Guards the East, later surrendered to Emperor Wu of Song, and died in the position of Cavalier Attendant. Yao Dahe initially served as the Anbei Attendant to Emperor Xiaowu, had a good reputation, and read many historical books. He often boasted, "My grandfather was an emperor, my father was an emperor, and I almost became a crown prince." During the Yuanhui period, he served as a Guerrilla General and followed Emperor Taizu of Song in defeating the rebel army at Xinting, earning merit and being appointed as the Marshal of the Pacification Army, later being sent as the governor of Sizhou. However, his indecisiveness ultimately led to his execution.
Three years later, the court summoned Wang Jing'er to serve as the General of the Imperial Guard, while still retaining his position as a courtier. Wang Jing'er, coming from a military background, was unfamiliar with court etiquette. Upon hearing that he was to be transferred to the capital, he secluded himself in a secret chamber, repeatedly practicing bowing, hand gestures, and responses in front of an empty space, practicing bowing all day long. His concubine secretly peeked through the door crack and couldn't help but laugh. After Song Taizu ascended the throne, he appointed Wang Jing'er as the Palace Attendant and General of the Central Army. Since Wang Jing'er had reached the peak of his official career, he retained his original title. In the second year of Jianyuan, Wang Jing'er was promoted to Cavalry Supervisor and General of the Chariot, and a historian was assigned to assist him. After Song Taizu's death, Wang Jing'er secretly wept at home, saying, "It's a pity that the emperor has passed away. The crown prince is still young, and I can't help much!" Song Taizu's posthumous edict conferred Wang Jing'er the title of Grand Minister of the Three Offices, but when the appointment was imminent, he said to his singing maid, "After I take office, I will set up the Huangge." As he spoke, he even imitated the sound of drumbeats. After taking office, Wang Jing'er joked with him and called him Chu Yuan. Wang Jing'er said, "The position I earned through my military achievements will never make an impression like Chu Yuan did at Hualin Pavilion." Wang Jing'er was very angry about this. Wang Jing'er initially couldn't read, but after becoming a local official, he began to study and read the "Classic of Filial Piety" and the "Analects of Confucius." At the Xinlin Cilao Temple, he had his maidservant pray to the gods for him and referred to himself as one of the Three Dukes. Still, he felt quite content. When he first got a band of musicians, he felt too shy to play right away.
He first married a woman from the Mao family and had a son named Daowen. Later, he cast aside his first wife to marry Shang, who was beautiful. Shang remained in their house in Xiangyang and did not accompany him. Jing'er was worried that she wouldn't come, so he brought all his family members to the capital. He went to see the Emperor Shizu, but the Emperor didn't even greet him, which left Jing'er feeling anxious. After the death of Yuan Chongzu, Jing'er became even more afraid. His wife said to him, "Before, I dreamt that my palms burned with heat, and then you obtained Nanyang Commandery. During the Yuanhui era, I dreamt that half of my body was hot, and you obtained Benzhou. Now I dreamt that my whole body is hot!" A eunuch overheard this and reported it to the Emperor. The news reached the Emperor Shizu's ears.
Jing'er also sent people to contact the barbarians in the south, which aroused the Emperor's suspicions about his motives. In the first year of Yongming, the Emperor commanded the court officials to conduct a fasting ceremony at Huayuan Palace, where Jing'er was taken into custody. Jing'er's companion Lei Zhongxian realized something was amiss and wept as he held Jing'er. Jing'er took off his hat and sable fur coat, threw them on the ground, and said, "These are the very things that led to my downfall!" Before long, Jing'er was executed.
The imperial edict reads: "Jing Er, this fool born of barbarians, is incompetent, lacking ambition. During the chaos of the late Song Dynasty, he gradually rose through the ranks from a soldier due to his battlefield skills, obtaining an undeserved high position. However, he was foolish and arrogant, never knowing restraint, becoming increasingly proud and conceited. After being appointed to the local government, he harbored treasonous intentions. Despite my leniency towards him in the past, hoping he would mend his ways, he reached the rank of Three Dukes, a position of great power, yet accomplished nothing of merit, instead engaging in numerous conspiracies. From last year until now, his crimes have become increasingly severe. Generals Jing Ze and An Min, who served him, warned him of his viciousness and deceit, predicting he would turn against the court. I thought kindness and favor could change his nature, but recently his crimes have become more evident. Relying on the influence of his son stationed in the west, he colluded with barbarians, attempting to disrupt the Fan and Xia regions. He misled the people with sorcerous words, seeking to create auspicious signs, secretly plotting to seize the throne.
From the founding of the country, signs of treachery emerged, becoming more evident during the era of inheriting the throne. Such actions cannot be tolerated! It goes against the will of heaven; his treachery has been exposed. The commoner Tang Tianhuo, who encountered barbarians in his trade, discovered his treacherous plans, and the letters from messengers confirmed this. Therefore, I have arrested him and dealt with him in accordance with the law; his accomplices have all been pardoned." His son Dao Wen, the Interior Minister of Wuling, Dao Chang, the Military Officer of the Conquest, and his brother Dao Xiu were all executed, only his youngest son Dao Qing was pardoned.
Several years later, the Emperor and Prince Yuzhang held a three-day feast at Qushui. A boat capsized in front of the imperial seat, prompting the Emperor to recall Jing Er and regret his execution. "The boat capsized in front of the imperial seat," the Emperor thus remembered Jing Er and regretted killing him.
Gong'er has become an Assistant Minister. After hearing the news of Jing'er's defeat in Xiangyang, he escaped into the territory of the barbarians with dozens of cavalrymen and could not be captured. He later turned himself in, and the emperor pardoned him.
Historians have noted that in times of peace, military generals must either naively earn others' trust or cleverly devise ways to protect themselves. As long as they have no guilt in their hearts and act with integrity, the emperor will naturally be tolerant. Chóngzǔ has long harbored resentment against the court, while Jìng'er had deep suspicions about the Chu Kingdom. Although the dynasty was just beginning to rise, both met their ends under harsh laws. If their mistakes weren't borne out of anger, then there's nothing to be thankful for, and there's nothing worth pursuing in fame and fortune.
Praise: Chóngzǔ aspired to be a general, dreaming of fighting and achieving glory everywhere; he planned to launch an attack on Huainan and ultimately achieved military success in Yuzhou. Jìng'er served as an official in Yongzhou, but remained constantly wary of the Chu Kingdom. They both toiled for the country, mobilized troops on several occasions, but in the end, they ended up with a fate akin to "cooking the dog and hiding the bow." It is truly ironic that they were both court generals, yet their fates were completely different!
