Liu Huaizhen, courtesy name Daoyu, was from Pingyuan and was a descendant of the Prince of Kang of the Han Dynasty. His grandfather, Liu Chang, was appointed as the Administrator of Qingzhou during the time of Emperor Wu of the Song Dynasty and later rose to the rank of Assistant to the Imperial Secretary. His uncle, Liu Fengbo, served as the Governor of Chen County and Nandun County during the Song Dynasty. When Liu Huaizhen was young, he followed his uncle Liu Fengbo to Shouyang. Once, when the governor of Yuzhou, Zhao Bofu, went hunting, the common people all gathered to watch, but only Liu Huaizhen avoided looking, which surprised his uncle. His uncle said, "This child will surely bring prosperity to our Liu family in the future!" Later, he was summoned by the provincial governor to serve as a secretary.
In the twenty-eighth year of Yuanjia, the fugitive Sima Shun gathered a group of people to rebel in Dongyang. The province sent Liu Huaizhen with several thousand men to suppress the rebellion, which he quickly quelled. Emperor Wen of the Song Dynasty summoned Liu Huaizhen and asked about the process of suppressing the rebellion. Liu Huaizhen modestly credited everyone for the success and refused to take credit for himself. His family members were puzzled and asked him why, to which Liu Huaizhen replied, "Even Confucius' student Zigong was ashamed of the Battle of Chen and Cai; how could I take pride in suppressing such a small local rebellion?" At that time, everyone praised him.
Prince Jiangxia Liu Yigong was stationed at Xuyi and encountered Liu Huaizhen on the way, greatly admiring his eloquence and knowledge. He appointed him as the Commander of the Cavalry and concurrently as a Military Advisor to the Mocao. Shortly after, he was appointed as the General of Zhenwu and Prefect of Changguang. In the early years of Xiaojian, Liu Huaizhen served as the Grand Marshal's Military Advisor and the Direct Pavilion General under Liu Yigong. Liu Huaizhen came from an old aristocratic family in the north, with a prominent family background and many former students and officials. Surprisingly, he had over a thousand attendants. Emperor Xiaowu of the Song Dynasty was very surprised to hear this and discovered that some prominent families in Qingzhou and Jizhou had also secretly gathered several thousand people to attach themselves to Liu Huaizhen, which caused discontent among the local populace. Later, Liu Huaizhen was reassigned as Military Advisor to the Grand Chancellor.
In the second year of the Da Ming era, the Northern Wei army besieged Sikou City, and the Governor of Qingzhou, Yan Shibai, requested reinforcements. Emperor Xiaowu of the Song sent Liu Huaizhen to lead several thousand infantry and cavalry to rescue them. They fought against the enemy at Migou Lake, won a decisive victory, and captured seven enemy cities. Liu Huaizhen was appointed as Jianwu General, the Prefect of Leling and Hejian Counties, and granted the title of Marquis of Guangjin. The following year, Liu Huaizhen requested to return to the capital, and Emperor Xiaowu replied, "The frontier is in urgent need of talent; now is not the time for you to return to the capital." Later, Prince Jingling, Liu Dan, rebelled, and local power broker Wang Bi urged Liu Huaizhen to side with Liu Dan. Liu Huaizhen executed Wang Bi and reported the incident to the court. Emperor Xiaowu was quite pleased and appointed Liu Huaizhen as the Military Advisor to Prince Shang of Yuzhang, promoting him to the rank of Longxiang General. Initially, the emperor appointed Huaizhen as Ningshuo General, also serving as the Prefect of Dong'an and Dongguan Counties. He then led five thousand infantry and cavalry, along with Longxiang General Wang Jingze and Jiang Chan, to quell the rebellion in Shouyang. The Prefect of Lujiang, Wang Zhongzi, fled south, and the rebels sent a false Prefect of Lujiang, Liu Daowei, who set up camp with five thousand troops at Jianwu Gorge and built three cities. At this time, Huaizhen sent his forces, led by Duan Sengai, to launch a surprise attack, killing Liu Daowei with over three hundred cavalry and foot soldiers.
The army continued to advance to Jinxi, where they encountered the pretender prefect Yan Zhan holding his ground. Liu Zixun then sent General Wang Zhongqiu with ten thousand infantry to reinforce the troops. Huai Zhen promptly dispatched three thousand cavalry and infantry to engage Wang Zhongqiu, where he decisively defeated Wang Zhongqiu's forces at Moye Mountain, and then successfully captured Shouyang. Next, Huai Zhen sent Wang Jingze to defeat the generals of Yin Yan, Liu Cong, and others, overcoming their four encampments at Hengtang Shihu. They pressed on in pursuit of the enemy, finally halting at Changluomen in Shouchun. Emperor Song Ming was very pleased, promoting Huai Zhen to the positions of Yulin Supervisor and Tunqi Colonel, while maintaining his position as General. Huai Zhen requested to first pacify the rebels before accepting the promotion, declining the rewards.
Prince Jian'an Xiu Ren was deadlocked with the rebels at Nonghu, unable to determine a winner after a long battle. The Emperor summoned Huai Zhen back and appointed him to the position of General, and also conferred upon him the title of Fuguojiangjun, ordering him to lead troops to support Prince Jian'an and attack Liu Hu together. After the situation was resolved, the Emperor appointed Huai Zhen as Guerrilla General, maintaining his position as Fuguojiangjun.
The Inspector of Qingzhou, Shen Wenxiu, did not obey the imperial orders. The Emperor sent his brother Shen Wenbing to reason with him and had General Huai Zhen lead three thousand infantry and cavalry to accompany Shen Wenbing. Before reaching Qingzhou, the enemy forces, led by Xue Andu, launched an attack, resulting in the fall of Xuzhou and Yanzhou, with Zhang Yong and Shen Youzhi sustaining a significant defeat at Pengcheng. The Emperor ordered General Huai Zhen to depart from Xuyi, cross the Huai River at Huaiyin to rescue Zhang Yong and the others, but the imperial forces were pursued by the enemy and ultimately forced to retreat, forcing General Huai Zhen to withdraw his troops.
In the spring of the third year, the emperor appointed General Huaizhen to temporarily act as the governor of Shanyang. Previously, the emperor sent the Inspector of Qingzhou, Ming Senghao, to the north for a campaign. Ming Senghao sent troops to Wang City to construct fortifications to pressure Shen Wenshu into surrendering. However, before they could complete the fortifications, Shen Wenshu defeated them and counterattacked Ming Senghao. The emperor then sent General Huaizhen to lead General Longxiang Wang Guangzhi with five hundred cavalry and two thousand infantry along the coast for reinforcements. By the time they reached the East Sea, Ming Senghao had already retreated to Donglai. General Huaizhen stationed his forces at Xucheng, where the soldiers were fearful, with some suggesting they secure Yuzhou first. General Huaizhen said, "You say Shen Wenshu bribed the Hu army with gold, hoping for external support. Think carefully about his allies. Can we really be sure they all listen to him? The people of Qi are counting on the court's army to rescue them. Once our army arrives, Donglai will soon receive the news. How can we let fear hold us back?" General Huaizhen continued to advance and reached Qianzhou. The acting governors of Gaomi and Pingchang fled, and General Huaizhen completed the court's mission by returning Shen Wenbing. Yet, Shen Wenshu still refused to surrender and even set fire to the houses in the city. The people rejoiced at the news of General Huaizhen's arrival.
The pseudo-governor of Changguang, Liu Taogen, stationed several thousand troops at Buzhicheng, while General Huaizhen led his troops to Yangshui. Everyone said, "Now Shen Wenshu's cavalry is everywhere; we should defend the city and wait for an opportunity." General Huaizhen replied, "Our forces are small, and supplies are running low. If we hold out stubbornly, we risk being picked off by the enemy. We should select elite troops and attack them unexpectedly." So he sent Wang Guangzhi to lead a hundred cavalry to attack Buzhicheng, capturing the city, and Liu Taogen fled. Pseudo Donglai Governor Ju Yanseng held out with a few hundred men in the city and even took the Goryeo envoy hostage. General Huaizhen sent Generals Ning Shuo, Ming Qingfu, and Wang Guangzhi together to defeat Ju Yanseng, release the Goryeo envoy, and send him back to the capital. When Shen Wenshu learned that all the cities had fallen, he sent his envoy Zhang Lingshuo to request surrender, and General Huaizhen finally returned to the court.
In the autumn, northern enemies invaded the Qi State, surrounding Licheng and Liangzou. Their cavalry even reached Dongyang, terrifying the local populace. The Governor of Jizhou, Cui Daogu, and the Governor of Yanzhou, Liu Xiubin, sent an urgent request for reinforcements. Liu Xiubin was actually Huaizhen's cousin. The court swiftly appointed Huaizhen as the Commissioner, Commander of Military Affairs in Xuyan, Deputy General of the State, General for Pacifying the Barbarians, and Governor of Xuzhou, also granting him the title of Marquis of Aixian with a fief of four hundred families, allowing him to lead more than forty land and water armies to rescue. By the time he arrived, the enemy had already captured the two cities, and the rescue operation ended. Later, the court reassigned him as the General of Ningshuo and Prefect of Jingling, then promoted him to the position of Sima of Balingwang, while also serving as the Prefect of Nanyiyang. At the same time, Prince Jianping, Xiao Jingsu, was reassigned to Jingzhou and later promoted to Right Army Sima, eventually becoming the Prefect of Nanguo and also being appointed as the General of Ningshuo.
Emperor Ming Emperor personally wrote a letter to Huai Zhen, saying, "You are loyal and upright, and I trust you completely. You are working with young people over there; don’t get too caught up in trivial gains. Jing Su’s son is decent, but he is not good at handling interpersonal relationships and often makes mistakes. You should advise him more in the future." Huai Zhen gratefully accepted the decree. Later, the emperor fell seriously ill and issued a decree to Huai Zhen stating, "You should not continue to assist Jing Su. Your talents deserve better use. Now I want to summon you to participate in the duty of the imperial palace guards." Unfortunately, the emperor passed away, and Huai Zhen became the military commander under Prince Ancheng, concurrently serving as the Governor of Nangaoping.
The court suspected Prince Guiyang, Xiao Xiufan, of harboring rebellious intentions. Wang Daolong, an official from the Ministry of Personnel, was ordered to read the imperial edict, appointing Huai Zhen as the Champion General and the Governor of Yuzhang. However, Huai Zhen responded, "Although Xiufan might be showing signs of rebellion, he wouldn’t dare to act impulsively. If he does rebel, I will punish him according to the law. If the court sends me, it may make him feel coerced." Therefore, Huai Zhen firmly declined and refused to accept the appointment. In the end, the court appointed him as a Yellow Gate Official, while also serving as the General of the Tiger Elite and the Grand Chief of Qingzhou. When Prince Guiyang actually rebelled, the court promoted Huai Zhen to Front General and assigned him to Shitoucheng. Later, the court appointed him as the Envoy, overseeing the military affairs of Yuzhou and Sizhou in Yingshou, the Champion General, and the Governor of Yuzhou. After Prince Jianping, Xiao Jingsu, staged a rebellion, Huai Zhen sent his son, Xiao Lingzhe, to the capital with troops to support the throne. In the first year of the Shengming era, Huai Zhen's official position was further elevated to General Conquering the Barbarians.
When Shen Youzhi created unrest in Jingzhou, there was much discussion in the court, and everyone felt uncertain. At this point, Liu Huai Zhen sent one of his aides, Zhang Hu, to the capital, Yingdu (present-day Wuhan, Hubei), to meet with Emperor Song Shizu, express his loyalty, and present his strategies.
Shen Youzhi has rebelled, and everyone thinks he should follow the river downstream and strike directly at Huanglong. However, Liu Huaizhen informed his subordinates, "Shen Youzhi is arrogant and infamous. He has been rampaging through the Jingchu region and will definitely set up an ambush in the river, then take the young emperor as a hostage to threaten the court. He won't dare to engage in direct battle; that's clear!" So, Liu Huaizhen sent his son Liu Lingzhe with thousands of cavalry and infantry to defend the capital.
Shen Youzhi sent someone to get close to Liu Huaizhen, trying to win him over. Without hesitation, Liu Huaizhen had the man killed and delivered the head to Emperor Taizu of Song. Emperor Taizu then handed the head over to Shen Youzhi as a stark warning. After that, Liu Huaizhen was promoted to the rank of Left General, granted the title of Marquis of Zhongsu County, and was granted jurisdiction over six hundred households.
When Shen Youzhi laid siege to Yingcheng, Liu Huaizhen sent the Prefect of Jianning, Zhang Mo, and the Guerrilla General, Pei Zhongmu, departing from Xiyang with over ten thousand soldiers of various ethnicities. They defeated Shen Youzhi's vanguard, commanded by Gongsun Fangping, and seized a substantial cache of weapons and equipment. In recognition of his significant achievements, Liu Huaizhen was promoted to General of the Southern Pacification, put in charge of Southern Yuzhou and Northern Xuzhou, and his fiefdom was increased to a total of one thousand households.
At the beginning, when Emperor Xiaowu was in power, Taizu (Xiao Daocheng) was still a minor official known as a chamberlain, and Huai Zhen (Xiao Sihua) was a direct minister. The two had known each other for some time and had a good relationship. Later, when Huai Zhen returned to his hometown of Qingzhou, Taizu gifted him a white steed, which had a tendency to bite and was completely unrideable. After gifting the horse, Huai Zhen returned the gesture with a gift of a hundred pieces of silk. Some people said to Huai Zhen, "Mr. Xiao, this horse cannot be ridden at all, that's why he gave it to you. You returned a hundred pieces of silk, isn't that a bit excessive?" Huai Zhen said, "Mr. Xiao is an honest and upright person; he definitely wouldn't take advantage of me for a little silk. I am now considering entrusting my future to him; why would I care about a little money?" Later, Taizu became emperor and took on the responsibilities of governing the country. He felt that Huai Zhen's official rank and salary were insufficient, so the following winter, he promoted Huai Zhen to the position of Minister of Justice while also serving as the General of the Front Army. He also had his fourth son, General Ning Shuo, Xiao Huang, take over as the Governor of Yuzhou. Some people speculated that Huai Zhen might be reluctant to be replaced by Xiao Huang, and Taizu said, "When I was just a commoner, Huai Zhen trusted me wholeheartedly; let alone now that I am the emperor, how could he possibly have any ulterior motives?" Xiao Huang had set off for several days, but the doubts persisted. The emperor sent the military commander Fang Lingmin with a hundred soldiers to escort Xiao Huang, and said to Fang Lingmin, "Some people say that Huai Zhen must have ulterior motives, but I know him very well; he would never do that. You are his fellow villager, so I'm sending you not only to protect Xiao Huang, but also to go see Huai Zhen, to demonstrate my trust." After Huai Zhen returned, he was appointed as the Right Grand Marshal. In the first year of Jianyuan, he was promoted to General of the Left Guard and appointed as an official, granted the title of Marquis of Xiaocheng, and his fief was expanded to include an additional two hundred households. In the second year, he was further appointed as a Cavalier Attendant.
Later, the Huai River and Fei River regions were invaded by enemy forces. Huai Zhen was officially appointed as the General of Pingxi, granted military authority, and marched west to Chaohu to support Shou Chun, only returning after the enemy retreated. As Huai Zhen aged and endured the hardships of long service in the Forbidden Army, he requested a less demanding position. He was reassigned as Grand Master of Splendor while retaining his title of Cavalier Attendant. In the winter of that year, the enemy launched another attack on Mount Xu, and Huai Zhen was appointed as the General Who Maintains Order and the General Who Pacifies the North. His official position remained the same, and he led troops to rescue. Before reaching the destination, the conflict subsided, and his titles of General Who Pacifies the North and General Who Maintains Order were rescinded.
Four years later, Huai Zhen fell seriously ill and submitted his resignation. The emperor issued an edict granting his request and awarded him additional rewards. In the summer of that year, Huai Zhen passed away at the age of sixty-three. Before his death, he instructed for a simple burial. Later, Emperor Shi Zu (Xiao Ze) posthumously appointed him as Cavalier Attendant, General Who Guards the North, and Inspector of Yongzhou, and he was posthumously honored with the title of Jing Hou.
His son, Ling Zhe, also known as Wen Ming, initially served as a Cavalier Attendant in the court, then became a military officer, a direct attendant to the Minister, and eventually became the Infantry Captain of Qi Tai. During the Jianyuan era, he experienced rapid promotions, successively serving as General Who Pacifies the Frontier, Front Military Advisor to the Prince of Linchuan, Interior Minister of Luling, Prefect of Qi Jun, and finally General of the Front Army. When his mother fell seriously ill, Ling Zhe prayed himself and dreamed of an old man in yellow clothing who said, "You can go to the South Mountain to pick some bamboo shoots to eat, and the illness will be cured right away." Ling Zhe woke up in shock, followed the advice, and sure enough, his illness was cured.
After his birth mother passed away, his stepmother, Cui Shi, and his nephew, Jing Huan, were captured by Northern Wei during the Taishi era. At that time, Zi Lingzhe was still a commoner, deeply sorrowful and refraining from music. When his father, Huai Zhen, passed away, Zi Lingzhe should have inherited the title. However, he firmly declined, explaining that his nephew was still captured in the north and his fate uncertain. The court highly regarded his decision. Zi Lingzhe poured his entire wealth into trying to ransom his stepmother and nephew, but he was unsuccessful for several years. Emperor Wendi took pity on him and sent envoys to negotiate with the Northern Wei Emperor. They were then sent back, and Zi Lingzhe finally inherited his father's title. In the early years of Yongming, he served successively as Chief Military Advisor, Counselor of the East Middle Army, and commander of the Zhongzhi Army. Later, he was appointed General of Ning Shuo, Prefect of Ba Xi and Zi Tong, and ultimately rose to the position of Left Army Sima under Prince Xiyang. In the first year of Longchang, he passed away at the age of forty-nine.
Li Anmin hailed from Chengxian in Lanling. His grandfather, Li Yi, was a military officer of the guard, and his father, Li Qinzhi, was a general in the palace, later becoming the magistrate of Xue County. Li Anmin was captured by Northern Wei in Xue County in the twenty-seventh year of Yuanjia, but he managed to escape with his men and return to the Southern Dynasties. During the Taichu era, a rebellion broke out, and the court appointed him to lead troops to quell it. Once the rebellion was suppressed, he was granted the title of General Jianwei and later served as Lu Shuang's Left Army commander. When Lu Shuang turned against the court, Li Anmin fled back to the capital and was appointed Chief Military Advisor and later promoted to General of the Left Guard. During the Daming era, Northern Wei launched invasions of Xuzhou and Yanzhou, and the court appointed Li Anmin as Sima of Jianwei Prefecture while also serving as magistrate of Wuyan County. He was later promoted to General of the Palace, leading troops to suppress rebels in Hanchuan.
Prince Xun of Jin'an rebelled, so Emperor Song Ming appointed An Min as the General of the An Min Wuwei, put him in charge of the navy, and made him a military officer in the Jian'an Prince's Bureau. An Min won battles in Zheqi, Hubai, Dipu, and Takuku, leading to his promotion to General of Accumulated Shooting and eventually becoming a military commander.
A man named Zhang Xingshi was trapped by enemies in Qianxi, running out of supplies. An Min broke through the enemy's five strongholds with hundreds of boats and delivered food to Zhang Xingshi. Shen Zhong and Wang Zhang, two pretender military commanders, tried to cut off the river at Yugui Kou, but An Min defeated them in battle. He also fought in Quewei and Jiangcheng, achieving significant achievements.
After everything was settled, Emperor Ming hosted a banquet at Xinting to reward the military leaders. They played the ancient game of Chupu and enjoyed gambling. An Min rolled the dice five times, rolling favorable results each time. Emperor Ming was amazed and told An Min, "You have the face of a nobleman, clearly destined for greatness!" When An Min was young and poor, a fortune teller predicted that he would become wealthy and even play with the emperor. Now, An Min searched for the fortune teller but couldn't find him.
Later, An Min teamed up with Zhang Yong and Shen Youzhi to attack Xue Andou in Pengcheng, but they were ultimately defeated. An Min held the line to protect Xiaopei, was promoted to Ning Shuo General, and stationed at Huaiyang City. For his contributions at Yugui Kou, he was granted the title of Lord of Shaowu County with a fief of 400 families. He then fought against the Hu people with Wu Xi and Shen Youzhi, but they were defeated at Suikou and forced to retreat to Suyu.
After the loss of Huibei, Emperor Ming ordered An Min to continue defending Jiaocheng. He was also appointed General Ning Shuo and an official. He stationed in Sikou, patrolling the Huai River with his navy all the way to Shou Chun. The Hu people dispatched a false Duke of Changshe with troops to harass Ruyin, but were repelled by Liu Meng, the Governor of Yuzhou. The Hu people in Jingting surrendered their city to Sheng Qinu, but An Min led the navy in a frontal assault, capturing Jingting and cutting off their supply routes. Ultimately, An Min was promoted to General Ning Shuo, Champion Sima, and Governor of Guangling, while also overseeing the affairs of Nanyuanzhou.
Legend has it that when Emperor Taizu was in Huaiyin, An Min secretly conspired with certain individuals, raising the Emperor's suspicions. He was subsequently reassigned to various positions, first as Liu Yunguan Sima, General Ningyuan, and Prefect of Jingzhao. Later, he was promoted to General Ning Shuo, Governor of Sizhou, and also served as Governor of Yiyang. However, An Min declined all these appointments, and the Emperor had no choice but to reassign him to his original position. He still refused, so the Emperor appointed him as General Ning Shuo and Governor of Shanyang.
As the Taishi era was coming to a close, the people of Huibei revolted, seeking to flee south. The Emperor sent An Min as the vanguard and to seek reinforcements, but he was unsuccessful and returned empty-handed. He was then appointed Chief of the Yueqi, and later reinstated as General Ning Shuo and Governor of Shanyang. The situation in Sanba became chaotic, with Prefect Zhang Dan abandoning Fucheng. The Emperor appointed An Min as the commander, bestowing upon him a false token, the title of Commander to Suppress the Shu Rebellion, and Assistant General to quell the unrest. Later, the five tribes of Hanzhong revolted, and the Emperor commanded An Min to return to Weixing to quell the rebellion before he returned to Xiakou.
During the Yuanhui period, Anmin was appointed as the military commander of Sizhou, the Prefect of Sizhou, and also concurrently served as the Prefect of Yiyang, with the titles of General and Commandant remaining unchanged. The Emperor specifically issued a secret edict to him, saying, "The defenses along the Jiujiang region must be reinforced; border defense must be prioritized. The reason you have been given these positions is to bolster the defense capabilities in the Yanjing region, so you must not decline!" Later, when Prince Guiyang, Xiu Fan, rebelled, Anmin led troops to battle and also sent troops to support the capital. The Emperor promoted him to Left General and also appointed him as an official. Prince Jianping Jing Su also rebelled, and Champion Huang Hui, Guerrilla General Gao Daoqing, Assistant General Cao Xinzhi, and others secretly expressed loyalty, with Gao Daoqing even leading troops to attack Jing Su. Taizu worried that Gao Daoqing might switch allegiances, so he sent Anmin and the Governor of Nanyuzhou, Duan Forong, to guard against it. Anmin arrived in Jingkou and defeated Jing Su's forces at Geqiao. After Jing Su was killed, Anmin stayed behind to handle the affairs of Southern Xuzhou. Wang Jiong, the City Bureau officer, had a good relationship with Anmin, but he stole two pieces of silk. Anmin cried and said, "It was not easy for us to come this far, and you have violated the law. This truly disappoints me!" He then executed him in front of the military gate, provided him with a proper burial, which shocked everyone in the army. Afterwards, Anmin was appointed as Champion General and Valiant Guard General, but he declined the offers. Finally, he was reassigned as General of Conquering the Barbarians and Eastern Middle General, responsible for the affairs of Kuaiji Commandery.
Anmin was set to go to the east. Emperor Taizu held a banquet to see him off and chatted with Anmin for several days, reluctant to see him leave. Anmin quietly told Taizu that the fate of the Song Dynasty was coming to an end, with various ominous signs emerging. The situation in Cangwu (referring to the rebellion at that time) was very bad, leaving Taizu deeply concerned about how to respond. Anmin suggested that Taizu support Prince Jiangxia in raising an army in the east, but Taizu did not agree, so the matter was dropped. After the rebellion in Cangwu was pacified, Taizu appointed Anmin as the commander of the northern expedition, the champion general, and the governor of Nanyanzhou Prefecture, sending him to the north to suppress the rebellion.
Later, Shen Youzhi rebelled, and Taizu summoned Anmin back, appointing him to his original position to guard Bai Xia, responsible for repairing and fortifying the city defenses. He was also promoted to General Conquering the Barbarians. Anmin led troops to the west to suppress the rebellion and was later promoted to General. By the time Anmin's army arrived at Pencheng, Shen Youzhi's rebellion had already been quelled. Therefore, Taizu appointed Anmin as the commander of the military affairs of Yiyang in Yingshou and Sizhou, the governor of Yingshou Prefecture, with his previous titles retained. In the third year of the Ming Dynasty, Anmin was promoted to Left Guard General, also serving as the Guard Officer. After Taizu ascended the throne, Anmin was appointed as the Central Commander, enfeoffed as the Marquis of Kangle, with a fief of one thousand households.
Since the beginning of the Taishi era of the Song Dynasty, there have been frequent bandits and rebellions inside and outside the court, as generals recruited their own troops and stationed them in the capital. Anmin wrote to the emperor, suggesting, "Aside from the need for a standing army in the Huaibei region, all other troops should be disbanded. If the emperor needs personal guards, there should be a limit on their numbers." The emperor accepted his advice and banned arbitrary troop recruitment. At that time, Wang Jingze was trusted by the emperor for his merits and loyalty, even discussing state secrets exclusively with Anmin. The emperor told Anmin, "As long as your name is on the document, I don't need to look at it carefully anymore." Shortly thereafter, Anmin was promoted to General of the Army.
The enemy invaded Shou Chun, reaching Ma Tou. A decree was issued for the people to embark on an expedition, accompanied by a military band. The enemy retreated, and the people advanced along the Huai River towards Shou Chun. Formerly, during the Song Dynasty, the fugitive Wang Yuanchu gathered a band at Luhe Mountain, claiming to have hands down to his knees. Despite numerous attempts by local officials, he evaded capture for over a decade. The people dispatched troops to scout, capturing Wang Yuanchu alive and executing him in Jiankang City, and appointed him as a Cavalier Attendant. That year, the enemy invaded again, prompting orders for the people to maintain the military garrisons along the Huai and Qing Si rivers. The enemy attacked Xu Mountain, Liankou, and Jiaocheng, while the people took position at the mouth of the Si River and dispatched reinforcements. After three years, the infantry crossed the Qing River and engaged the enemy at Huaiyang, defeating them. The enemy retreated, and the people suspected an ambush, sending Ma Junzhu and two hundred riders ahead as scouts while they themselves, along with military officers Zhou Panlong and Cui Wenzhong, hid in the woods. When Ma Junzhu reached Su Yu, the enemy, noticing the small numbers, dispatched thousands of riders to intercept. Ma Junzhu engaged in a delaying action, drawing the enemy towards the main army, where the people, along with Zhou Panlong and others, rushed to the rescue and fought at Sunxi Ferry. The enemy suffered a great defeat, resulting in countless casualties at Qing River. The enemy dispatched their general to deliver siege equipment to Buqiu, but General Sun Wenxian attacked and routed them, burning their equipment. When the news of the founding emperor's ascension reached the four provinces in the north of the Huai River, the people were eager to return south. People from Xuzhou, Huan Biao, and Yanzhou, Xu Mengzi, gathered tens of thousands of volunteers, seeking reinforcements. The founding emperor issued a decree stating, "The four provinces of Qing and Xu have united in righteousness. The people can lead and guide the generals." The people were slow to respond, allowing the enemy to attack, which led to the deaths of Huan Biao and others, for which the founding emperor severely chastised them. After the founding emperor's death, he was posthumously promoted to Palace Attendant. When the next emperor ascended the throne, he was promoted to General of the Guard and Intendant of Danyang. In the second year of Yongming, he was promoted to Left Deputy of the Imperial Secretariat, while retaining his generalship. The people frequently sought rewards for their covert missions and maintained a good relationship with Wang Jian, the Prefect of the Masters of Writing, which contributed to the continuation of this position. He later submitted a retirement request due to his advancing age and was appointed as a Cavalier Attendant and Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, while keeping his generalship. In the fourth year, he was appointed as General of the East and Prefect of Wuxing, while retaining his position as Cavalier Attendant. He passed away at the age of fifty-eight, leaving a legacy of one hundred thousand coins and one hundred pieces of cloth.
In Wuxing, Xiang Yu was appointed as the guardian of the county's governance, and the governor was not allowed to interfere. When the governor arrived in the county, he had to offer sacrifices to the yoked ox. The people adhered to Buddhist teachings and did not venerate the sacred ox, wearing wooden clogs while attending to the affairs. They also observed an eight-day fasting period. Eventually, the ox died and was buried beside the temple, now known as "Li Gong's Ox Tomb." After An Min's death, he was revered as a deity by later generations. The edict proclaimed: "An Min held various important positions, and his achievements were outstanding. His loyalty and integrity consistently resonated with us. He governed the region diligently and fulfilled his responsibilities. His untimely passing left us profoundly saddened. He is posthumously elevated to the title of Marquis Su, promoted to General of Zhen Dong, with a ceremonial band accompanying him. The positions of Chamberlain and Governor remain unchanged."
Wang Xuanzai, also known as Yenxiu, was from Xiapi. His grandfather was a pseudo governor of Beidi. His father was the governor of Dongguan. Xuanzai served as a consultant in the Kingdom of Jiangxia and later as a military officer under the Taizai. At the beginning of the Taishi era, he was appointed as Chief Water Officer. He followed Zhang Yong in the expedition to Pengcheng, where the army suffered a major defeat. Xuanzai led the remaining troops to defend Xiapi City against the enemy and was appointed as General of the Crown Prince. As the official army faced defeats and fear gripped the populace, Xuanzai, renowned for his integrity, was appointed as the governor of Xuzhou, with multiple military and administrative roles. He was later appointed as the Inspector of Qing and Yanzhou, retaining his military titles. In the seventh year, he returned to Xuzhou, overseeing Xuyan and Zhongli while also serving as General and Marquis. He was later promoted to General of the Left Wing and appointed as the governor of Liyang. He was then appointed as the Inspector of Liang, Southern and Northern Qin, holding the title of General of the Crown Prince and Inspector of Liang and Qin provinces. He was further promoted to General of Conquering the Barbarians and later appointed as the Inspector of Yining, Yizhou, and Jianning, with his military and administrative titles remaining unchanged.
Shen Youzhi's troubles, Xuan Zai rose in rebellion and pledged his loyalty, advancing to the position of General of the Rear, and was made Viscount of E County. He was appointed Cavalry Supervisor, leading the Rear Army, but before he was officially appointed, in the first year of Jianyuan, he was appointed Left Minister of the People, while keeping the title of Viscount of E County. When the enemy moved, the Governor of Southern Yanzhou, Wang Jingze, fled to the capital, and Xuan Zai was sent to lead Guangling, promoted to General Who Pacifies the North, given the title of Acting Lieutenant, and tasked with overseeing affairs in Southern Yanzhou, maintaining his original position. Once the situation stabilized, he was appointed Household Counsellor and Cavalry Commander. In the fourth year of Yongming, he was appointed Commissioner Overseeing Military Affairs in Yanzhou along the Huai River, General Who Pacifies the North, and Inspector of Yanzhou. He died in the sixth year at the age of seventy-six, posthumously named Liezhi.
Xuan Zai had a fondness for Daoist arts and refined his scholarly pursuits, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the Liang and Yi regions, still remembered in the Western regions to this day. His younger cousin, Xuan Mozhi, served during the reign of Emperor Ming of Song, becoming a Gentleman of the Yellow Gate, and disrespected the founding emperor. During an audience with the founding emperor, Xuan Mozhi remarked to Prince Yuchang, "Objects in the tent move with the person sleeping." The founding emperor took offense but kept his composure. In the first year of Jianyuan, he was appointed General of the Crown Army and Prefect of Yongjia, but when he knelt before the throne, he did not follow proper etiquette and was marked for punishment. The matter was reported to the founding emperor, who summoned Xuan Mozhi to the Eastern Palace and handed him over to the Minister of Justice for execution. The messenger informed the emperor, "The father is shamed, so the son must die. Xuan Mozhi was arrogant and disrespectful towards the court, so I have taken him into custody." The founding emperor replied, "Speak to the Gentleman, this is not worthy of consideration!" Upon hearing of Xuan Mozhi's death, the founding emperor fell silent.
Xuan Mozhi's brother, Kuan, held the same rank as Xuan Mozhi as regional governors during the Song era. Despite his brother's misconduct, Kuan was still treated with respect. Kuan initially served as Magistrate of Sui County during the Taishi period, but when rebellion broke out in the western regions and his father Xuan Mozhi was in the capital, Kuan abandoned his post and returned to the capital. Emperor Ming rewarded him and sent him with Zhang Yong to suppress Xue Andu. Kuan declined, citing that his mother was still alive and held captive by the rebels in the west, requesting permission to go there. He successfully recaptured Sui County, executed the false Magistrate Liu Shinian, and rescued his mother. Emperor Ming praised him for his actions and had a portrait painted of Kuan. In the beginning of Jianyuan, he was appointed Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary and Household Counsellor, leading the Vanguard General. In the first year of Yongming, he was appointed Grand Minister. He was dismissed from his position for slaughtering a cow on his property. He was later restored to the position of Household Counsellor. He passed away in the third year.
Xuan Miao, courtesy name Yan Yuan, has a younger brother named Xuan Zai. At first, he held a minor official position in the army as a military advisor to the Cavalry March, and later became the Left General of Accumulated Crossbows for the Crown Prince and the Archery Prefect. During the early years of the Taishi period, he was promoted to the position of Assistant General, overseeing Qinghe County and Guangchuan County, and later became Inspector of Youzhou.
Later, when Shen Wenxiu, the Inspector of Qingzhou, rebelled, Xuan Miao wanted to return to the court but was afraid of being attacked by Shen Wenxiu's men on the way, so he first went to see Shen Wenxiu, claiming he needed to find a safe place to camp. Shen Wenxiu allowed him to camp outside the city. Xuan Miao immediately built a camp, and at night, he quietly led his troops southward to seek refuge with the court. By the time Shen Wenxiu caught up with him the next morning, it was already too late. The Emperor was very pleased and appointed him as Commissioner, Commander of Qingzhou, and Inspector of Qingzhou, while retaining his military position.
Later, when the Emperor was stationed in Huaiyin, he became a bit angry with Xuan Miao and sent someone to write him a letter, trying to win him over. Xuan Miao's Chief Clerk, Fang Shu'an, advised him not to pay attention to the Emperor. On his way back to the capital after stepping down, the Emperor sent someone to intercept him, wanting to have a talk with him. Although Xuan Miao agreed, he later led his troops directly back to the capital. Upon arriving in the capital, he informed the Emperor that the Emperor's intentions in Huaiyin were not as they seemed. Although the Emperor was a bit angry, he did not blame him. Later, the Emperor appointed him as the Marshal of the Cavalry, Champion General, and Governor of Mount Tai. Xuan Miao was quite scared at the time, but the Emperor continued to be as kind to him as ever. He was later promoted to the position of Cavalier Attendant, General of Agile Cavalry, and retained the title of Champion General. He was then appointed as Commissioner, Commander of Liangzhou, Military Commander of Nanqin Prefecture, General of Conquering the Barbarians, Inspector of the Western Frontier, Inspector of Liangzhou, and Inspector of Nanqin Prefecture, holding local government positions at the same time as his brother. The Emperor also granted him the title of Marquis of Heyang. In the first year of the Jianyuan period, he was promoted to Right General, and his marquis title stayed the same.
Later, a renegade named Li Wunu rebelled in the Liangzhou area and seized Baima Fortress. Xuan Miao led around seven or eight hundred men to launch an attack but was ultimately unsuccessful. Feeling in danger himself, he sent a messenger to feign surrender to Li Wunu, informing him, "General Wang's forces are weak; he left his concubines in the city and fled with two beautiful concubines." Delighted, Li Wunu led a light army to attack the city. However, he fell into Xuan Miao's trap and was defeated, forcing Li Wunu to flee. Upon hearing this, the Emperor remarked, "Xuan Miao did not disappoint my expectations!" Later, Xuan Miao was appointed General of the Conqueror, Marshal of the Changsha Prince's Army, and Governor of Nandonghai, eventually rising to the position of Minister of the Imperial Clan. After the Emperor ascended the throne, he was first appointed Right General and Marshal of the Prince of Yuzhang, and later sent to be Champion General and Interior Minister of Linchuan, holding the rank of 2,000 stones. He later returned to the court and served as Marshal of the Vanguard, Cavalier Attendant, and Right Rate of the Crown Prince. In the seventh year of the Yongming era, he was appointed Commissioner, Commander of the Yanzhou Military Affairs, General of the North Pacification, and Inspector of Yanzhou. Before taking office, he was promoted to Grand Marshal and also awarded the title of General. In the eighth year of Yongming, he was transferred to Grand Minister, then promoted to Cavalier Attendant and Right Guard General, and subsequently sent to serve as Commissioner, Supervisor of the Xuzhou Military Affairs, General of the North Pacification, and Inspector of Xuzhou. In the eleventh year of Yongming, the monk Fazhi from Lianhua Temple in Jiankang and a local named Zhou Panlong led a rebellion, attacking the city's west gate at night with over four hundred men. They climbed the ladder onto the city wall, shot and killed the city garrison officer, Tang Ying, and then broke into the city. The city's defenders, including Geng Hu, Xu Siqing, and Dong Wendin, held their ground until dawn, when he led over a hundred men to the city wall gate and launched a counterattack, capturing Fazhi, Zhou Panlong, and others. As a consequence, he was dismissed from his post because of this incident.
After Emperor Yulin ascended the throne, he was appointed as the General of the Guard, later promoted to the position of General Who Maintains Order, General of Pacification in the West, and Governor of Liyang and Nanqiao. In the first year of Yanxing, he was also granted the title of Cavalier Attendant, and shortly after was transferred to the position of Central Guard General. Emperor Gaozong sent him to Jiangzhou to kill Prince Mao of Jin'an, but he strongly declined to go. Later, he was sent to Guangling to bring back Prince Jing of Anlu, and this time he had no choice but to obey the order. The court also provided him with a band and assistants. In the first year of Jianwu, he was promoted to the position of General Who Maintains Order, Commander of Military Affairs for the five provinces of Nanyan, Yanyan, Xuyan, Qing, and Ji, General Who Maintains Peace in the North, and Inspector of Nanyan Province, and later transferred to the position of Guard General, with the additional title of Cavalier Attendant. In the fourth year of Jianwu, he passed away at the age of seventy-two. The court posthumously appointed him as General Who Maintains Peace in the North and Inspector of Yongzhou, with the posthumous title of Zhuanghou.
His cousin, Wang Wenhe, was the grandson of the older brother of General Wang Zhongde of the Song Dynasty. During the Jinghe period, he served as the Chief Clerk of the Northern Expedition under Prince Yi of Yiyang. When Prince Yi of Yiyang was defeated in Pengcheng and fled to the enemy side, with his army scattered, only Wang Wenhe escorted him to the border. Prince Yi of Yiyang said to him, "Everyone has fled, and you still have an elderly mother to take care of, why don't you leave?" Only then did Wang Wenhe depart. During the Shengming period, he served as the Interior Minister of Balin. When Shen You rebelled, Wang Wenhe killed Shen You's messenger, quickly reported the news to Emperor Shizu, and then abandoned his post and fled to Yingcheng. During the Yongming period, he successively served as Inspector of the provinces of Qing, Ji, Yan, and Yi, and ultimately attained the rank of General Who Maintains Peace in the North.
The history books say: the Song Dynasty was nearing its end, chaos reigned everywhere, and everyone was thinking about fighting for control of the country, each with their own agendas. Therefore, military forces were stalled in the Fan and Yue regions, and each state and county was watching the situation. These sons were all experienced generals, with extensive experience, fighting alongside the founding emperor to establish the dynasty. Their ages and positions varied, some even older than the founding emperor, but they all sincerely assisted the monarch, risking their lives for the nation, traveling great distances. It can be seen from this that their selection was not made lightly, and indeed it shows that the people support them. The Geng family has maintained a legacy of loyalty and integrity for generations, never engaging in unscrupulous activities, so they have never been suspected by the court.
In praise: the urgent message from Xiaocheng galloped tirelessly, and the land was divided, first to recommend the Geng family. The Geng brothers are intelligent and wise, humble and respectful, comparable to the famous Ding and Wei families in history. The Li family assisted the eastern region, with strategies as intricate as divine calculations. The Wang family was honest and incorruptible, and their reputation for integrity has endured. The Geng family is known for their simplicity and integrity, and they pledged their loyalty to the court at an early stage.
