Wang Huan, styled Yansun, was from Linyi in Langya. His grandfather, Wang Senglang, served as Left Minister of Rites and Chief of the Three Departments in the Song Dynasty. His father, Wang Cui, was a Palace Attendant. Wang Huan was adopted by his uncle, Wang Qiu (who was the Minister of the Central Secretariat), hence he was called Yansun.
Initially, Wang Huan served as an Assistant of the Imperial Library, and later held positions such as Imperial Attendant to the Crown Prince, Chief Clerk to the Crown Prince of Anlu, Imperial Stablemaster, Provincial Attendant, Minister of the Imperial Library, Grand Consultant to the Prince of Guiyang, Palace Attendant, and gradually rose in ranks. In the first year of Yuanhui, he was appointed as the Chief Historian for the Expedition against the Barbarians of Prince Jinxi, concurrently serving as the Governor of Jiangxia, and later promoted to Palace Attendant to the Emperor, also concurrently holding the position of Colonel of Infantry. He was then sent to serve under Prince Jinxi as the Chief Historian of Zhenxi, and was also appointed as General of the Crown Prince's Army and Governor of Wuchang in Jiangxia. Subsequently, he was summoned by the court to serve as the Minister of Rites, and later transferred to the Ministry of Personnel.
In the early years of Shengming, he was promoted to General of the Crown Prince's Army and Intendant of Danyang.
It is said that earlier, Wang Yan's father, Wang Puyao, served as the Chief Historian of Shen Youzhi and was worried about Shen Youzhi's rebellion, so he was unable to return home. At that time, Wang Huan was working in the Ministry of Personnel, and he transferred Wang Puyao to a position in the capital, which Wang Yan greatly appreciated. Later, Wang Yan worked in the court of Emperor Shizu, while Wang Huan's cousin, Wang Yun, was involved in a rebellion. Emperor Shizu said to Wang Yan, "Wang Huan is a relative of the imperial family of the Song Dynasty, and Wang Yun is his relative. If he is involved in the rebellion, wouldn't Wang Huan have other intentions? I intend to report this to the court." Wang Yan quickly bowed and said, "Wang Huan is a cautious person and would never have ulterior motives. My parents are both in the capital, please take them as guarantees." Only then did Emperor Shizu relent.
I was appointed as the Prefect of Wuxing, with the official rank of 2,000 stones, and retained the position of General. Not long after, I was promoted to General of Conquering the Barbarians. In the first year of Jianyuan, I was promoted to Left General. The following year, I was transferred to the position of Grand Minister of Ceremonies, concurrently overseeing the army of Prince Wang of Poyang, then transferred to Attendant and Director of the Secretariat, concurrently commanding the General of Agile Cavalry. Later on, I successively served as General of Conquering the Barbarians, Chief Historian of the Prince of Linchuan, concurrently leading the Colonel of Southern Barbarians, and Interior Minister of Nanjun. In that year, I received three promotions. I formally declined the position of Colonel of Southern Barbarians in my memorial, stating: "Now that the world has just begun to stabilize, all things are flourishing, the Jing region is peaceful, and there are no disturbances in the Ba and Pu regions. As long as the people on the border live and work in peace, and the officials do their job seriously, the regions under my jurisdiction will grow more prosperous each day. I have previously worked in the western regions and witnessed their rise and fall, and recently it has just experienced war and serious destruction, making recovery difficult. Even with good policies in place, it will be hard to restore vitality quickly. Now, letting me leave important states and counties to take on the position of Colonel in a remote area, this won't strengthen the nation, but rather diminish my capabilities. Furthermore, my energy is limited, my responsibilities have increased, my workload has doubled, and the paperwork has become more cumbersome. Not only do I find this difficult to manage, I believe it would also be detrimental to the state's finances." The Emperor approved my request, so my position as Colonel of Southern Barbarians was revoked. I was then promoted to General.
After Emperor Shizu ascended the throne, he appointed me as the Right Chancellor. Subsequently, I also took on the roles of Military Commissioner of Xiangzhou, Former General of the Front, and Governor of Xiangzhou. In the second year of Yongming, I was transferred to the position of Cavalier Attendant and Governor of Jiangzhou. Upon my arrival, I reformed the military organization in Jiangzhou. In the fourth year of Yongming, I was promoted to Right Chancellor while retaining my position as Chief Justice of the province. I had no academic talent, only relying on my ability to handle affairs to be valued. Later, I was further promoted to Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, while still retaining the position of Chief Justice. A registrar named Wang Zhi was recommended to me by the Ministry of Personnel official Kong Xiu, using my name to recommend the registrar Yu Gongxi for promotion. Wang Zhi was subsequently removed from office.
In the sixth year of Yongming, Wang Huan was promoted to Cavalier Attendant and also took on the role of General of the Vanguard. He wanted to invite the Emperor to visit his residence. At that time, the Emperor was a devout Buddhist and practiced vegetarianism, ensuring no animals were harmed in his meals. The Emperor sent Wang Yan to convey to Wang Huan, "Two years ago, I stopped visiting the homes of ministers casually due to the matter of killing animals. I cannot comply with your request." After the passing of Wang Jian, the Emperor appointed Wang Huan as the Prefect of the Imperial Secretariat and sought Wang Yan's opinion. At that time, Wang Yan held a high position, and both he and Wang Huan showed mutual respect. Wang Yan replied to the Emperor, "Liu Shilong has a high reputation, so it may not be suitable to rank Wang Huan after him." Therefore, Wang Huan was reassigned as Left Chancellor and also given the additional position of Censor. He was later sent to serve as Commander-in-Chief, Cavalier Attendant, General Who Pacifies the North, Governor of Yongzhou, overseeing the military affairs of the four states of Qin in the north and south, as well as Yingtian, Sizhou, and Suixian counties. The Emperor explicitly instructed Wang Yan, "Wang Huan is particularly devout in his faith in Buddhism, almost to an extreme. While serving in other regions, this could potentially interfere with his responsibilities. If you encounter him, gently remind him, but do not mention that it was my suggestion." The Emperor heard that the soldiers on the northern border were in tattered clothing, so he sent three thousand sets of clothes for Wang Huan to distribute among them.
At the age of eleven, Wang Huan killed the Chief of Ning Man, Liu Xingzu. The emperor was furious and sent Deputy Censor Kong Zhigui to investigate the matter. Kong Zhigui reported that Governor of Yongzhou Wang Huan alleged that he had arrested Assistant Magistrate Liu Xingzu, claiming that "Liu Xingzu incited the mountain tribesmen, plotted rebellion, spread rumors and slander, and spoke rudely." He subsequently ordered Liu Xingzu to be escorted to the capital. Later, Wang Huan realized his report was false and, fearing exposure, killed Liu Xingzu in prison, even fabricating that Liu Xingzu had committed suicide. Liu Xingzu's wounds had not yet healed, yet the truth was already coming to light.
Liu Ni was Xingzu's student. He went to the court to appeal, saying, "Xingzu and Huan used to work together, but they were not on good terms. After General Zhu led troops to defeat the tribesmen last year, Xingzu reported to the court and presented the memorial to Huan, which caused Huan to hold a grudge against Xingzu. If Xingzu is guilty, there should be evidence among the people, but the public is calm, and there is no evidence to support any such claims. Ten years ago, on September 18th, Huan sent thirty soldiers to arrest Xingzu and throw him into prison. The tribesmen in Anding County were corrupt, and Xingzu knew about their activities, so he reported it, but Huan ignored it. Later, Xingzu was arrested and thrown into prison, and Huan even had those tribesmen guard him in prison. Before his death, Xingzu secretly wrote on a piece of lacquerware in prison, saying he was innocent and requesting the court to allow him to go to the capital to defend himself; even if it meant dying a thousand times, he would gladly do so."
Liu Ni said again, "Huan has strictly forbidden Xingzu from contacting the outside world, seeking an excuse to kill him and silence the gossip." He also said, "Huan has long wanted to do this. His third son, Biao, follows him in the state, participating in everything, inciting trouble, and plotting to get rid of Xingzu." Liu Ni also said, "Someone poisoned the porridge at Xingzu's home. After just two bites, he sensed something was off and quickly vomited. Everyone who ate the porridge had diarrhea. Xingzu shouted, 'The porridge is poisoned!' Everyone nearby knew." Liu Ni concluded, "Huan's trial of Xingzu was rushed, and the verdict was utterly nonsensical. On November 21st, Huan sent a jailer to notify Xingzu's family that he had died by hanging in prison. When his body was brought home, his family found that his neck was only slightly injured, his shoulders were bruised, and his lower body was mangled, clearly not consistent with death by hanging. Family and neighbors witnessed that it was not a suicide."
The court launched a new investigation, and Duliutian Wenxi from Yongzhou also submitted a statement similar to Liu Ni's. Xingzu endured torture in prison, desperately hoping for the imperial decree. When the decree finally arrived, he was overjoyed—how could he possibly have committed suicide then? The decree arrived on the 19th, but Xingzu died on the 21st. It’s evident from the investigation that this was fabricated. The court sent people to execute the decree, but Huan refused to comply. All accusations against Xingzu were fabricated by Huan himself. He even slandered former Prime Minister Chen Xianda, defamed the court, and his crimes were of a grave nature. Huan's son Biao followed his father to guard the area privately, daring to violate the royal law, and his crimes should also be punished with the death penalty.
The Emperor dispatched Imperial Secretary Lu Wenxian and General Cao Daogang, with five hundred soldiers to apprehend Wang Huan. At the same time, he ordered Marshal Cao Hu from Zhenxi to make his way from Jiangling to Xiangyang to meet them.
Wang Huan's son, Wang Biao, is a ruthless character; Wang Huan is completely unable to rein him in. Wang Huan's son-in-law, Yin Rui, is fearful of attracting trouble, so he advised Wang Huan: "Cao Daogang and Lv Wenxian are here now; they didn't bring an imperial decree, and they might be here to plot something. It would be best to arrest them first and then quickly send someone to inform the emperor." Wang Huan followed his advice. Wang Biao immediately gathered more than a thousand people from the state, broke open the treasury, retrieved weapons, and distributed armor, forming a defensive position in the South Hall and closing the city gates to defend. Wang Huan's student, Zheng Yu, knelt and urged him to go out to meet the imperial envoys. Wang Huan said, "I am not rebelling; I just want to send someone to report my innocence. I am just worried that Cao Daogang and Lv Wenxian will take advantage of the situation, so I am temporarily closing the doors." Wang Biao led his troops into battle against Cao Hu's army; his accomplice, Fan Hu, surrendered to the imperial army with two hundred people. Wang Biao was defeated and fled back to the city. The local populace also rose in rebellion, attacking the west gate of the city. Wang Biao ascended the city gate to defend it, successfully repelling them. Wang Huan's Sima, Huang Yao, and Ning Man Chief, Pei Shuye, rebelled against Wang Huan inside the city. When Wang Huan learned that the army was attacking, he retreated to the inner chamber to pray; before he could rise, he was slain by soldiers. He died at the age of fifty-nine. Wang Biao, along with his brothers Wang Shuang, Wang Bi, and Yin Rui, were all executed.
The emperor's edict stated: "The rebel Wang Huan has been treacherous and rebellious since childhood. He puts on a facade of honesty and diligence, but in reality, he is cunning and vicious, bringing harm to his community and ruining his reputation. The court promoted him to be an official and sent him to Fan'a as a governor, but under his administration, there was disarray, and the laws were poorly enforced. His son Wang Biao is even more arrogant and domineering; the father and son are cut from the same cloth. Chief Historian Liu Xingzu of Ningman is loyal to the court and often advised Wang Huan. However, Wang Huan, due to disagreements with Liu Xingzu, falsely accused Liu Xingzu of slander and imprisoned him before notifying the court. I have seen through Wang Huan's hypocrisy and deceit, so I ordered Liu Xingzu to be sent back to the capital. Wang Huan, fearing that his treachery would be exposed, had him killed in secret. After Wang Huan's deceit was exposed, the court sent envoys to investigate, but Wang Huan actually resisted the court's orders with troops. The imperial might was swift as lightning, and the righteous warriors fought valiantly against the enemies. In less than half a day, the criminals were captured, order was restored, and tranquility returned to Hannan. Except for the officials involved in the rebellion and those who were coerced into wrongdoing, the rest were spared from punishment." Yin's eldest son, the Prince's Middle Son Yin Rong, and Yin Rong's brother, the Minister's Attendant Middle Vanguard Yin Chen, were executed in the capital. The other grandchildren received clemency.
Yin Rui, courtesy name Wenzhi, was a native of Chen County and the seventh great-grandson of Yin Rong, the Grand Master of the Jin Dynasty. In the late years of the Yuanjia era of the Song Dynasty, his grandfather Yin Yuansu was killed due to involvement in the "Taichu Incident." Yin Rui, who was not yet born at the time, should have been executed as well, but his great-grandfather Wang Senglang pleaded on his behalf with Emperor Xiaowu of the Song, sparing him from death. Yin Rui was very knowledgeable in literature and eloquent in speech. Minister Chu Yuan held him in high regard and said, "Among the descendants of the Yin family who migrated from Jingzhou, none are your equal." Yin Rui humbly replied, "The Yin family has indeed declined and is not as good as before. If your praise is false, it is not worth accepting; if your praise is true, it should not be heard." Later, Yin Huan became the Inspector of Yongzhou and recommended Yin Rui to be his Chief Historian.
Yin Rui's father, Yin Heng, courtesy name Zhaodu, was also a descendant of Yin Rong. He was the grandson of Yin Jingren, the Minister of Works of the Song Dynasty. Yin Heng and his father Yin Daojin both had the demeanor of ancient scholars, and therefore were looked down upon by people at that time; similar incidents occurred more than once. In the early Taiqi period of the Song Dynasty, Yin Heng served as the Minister of Revenue. Due to frequent illnesses of both him and his father, they faced accusations from the relevant authorities. Emperor Ming of Song decreed, "Yin Daojin has been weak and sickly throughout his life, with no other faults. Yin Heng, due to his incompetence and negligence, has long hindered the normal promotion of officials. He was demoted to Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary while concurrently holding the position of Colonel." Yin Heng later rose to higher official positions and eventually became a Grand Master of the Golden Purple Light. He passed away in the Jianwu era.
Yin Huan's younger brother, Yin Xiong, had a daughter who became the consort of Liu Huang, the Prince of Changsha. Emperor Shizu of the Song Dynasty decreed, "Although Yin Huan committed a serious crime of treason, the consort of Prince Changsha and her children are now grown, and Yin Huan was also adopted. There may have been similar precedents in the past, so an exception can be made to prevent their separation." Yin Huan also had a younger brother named Yin Hui.
Shu Su was a cavalry general in the Song Dynasty, whose courtesy name was Jing Wenzhi. When he was young, he became a secretary and a personal attendant to the Crown Prince, and later was promoted to be a personal attendant in the Imperial Library. Jing Wenzhi made an exceptional promotion for him, which resulted in him waiting a year before he could officially take office. Jing Wenzhi was granted the title of Marquis of Jiang'an, while Shu inherited his father's title and became a fifth-rank noble of Shiping County. He was later promoted to Deputy Secretary and Right Chief Historian of the Ministry of Works. As the Song Yuanhui era was coming to an end, he held various positions, including General of Ning Shuo, Chief Historian for the Prince of Jianping's Northern Expedition, Prefect of South Donghai, Gentleman of the Yellow Gate, and Prefect of Dongyang.
Later, Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty took on the role of military governor, and the Minister of Personnel, Zhang Dai, recommended Shu Su to serve as the Chief Clerk and submitted the appointment documents. Emperor Taizu smiled and said to Zhang Dai, "This person can be said to have had a good reputation for a long time." Later, Shu Su was promoted to Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary and General of Valiant Cavalry. He was sent as an envoy to Yixing to serve as the Governor, where he arrested the county official, Chen Boxi, and sent him to Yangxian Prison with the intent to execute him. The county magistrate, Kong Tuo, did not know what crime Chen Boxi had committed and refused to listen to Shu Su, so this matter was reported to the court, resulting in Shu Su being demoted and was forced to work in plain clothes. He was later promoted to Palace Attendant to the Crown Prince, leading the Valiant Cavalry, and then promoted to Chief Clerk and concurrently Palace Attendant. When Emperor Taizu went hunting and shooting wild chickens, Shu Su, being a devout Buddhist, claimed to be ill and did not accompany him. He was then appointed Minister of the Left, but due to his elderly mother's request, he resigned and was then appointed General of Tranquilizing the Frontier, Grand Marshal Chief Clerk, and Governor of Huailing. He later served as the Prefect of Xuancheng, with a rank equivalent to 2,000 bushels. In the first year of Longchang, he was promoted to General Assisting the State and Chief Historian to the Grand Tutor, but he did not accept this appointment. He subsequently served as General of the Guard, Interior Minister of Yuzhang, and his title was promoted to General Pacifying the Caitiffs. He was later dismissed from office for committing an offense. He then served as General of the Guard, Chief Clerk of the Left of the Minister Over the Masses, and Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, accompanying the army on expeditions. He then served as General Pacifying the Caitiffs, Chief Clerk of the Mounted Cavalry, and was later promoted to Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary and Grand Minister of Ceremonies. In the first year of Yongyuan, Shu Su passed away at the age of fifty-three, posthumously honored with the title Jingzi. Shu Su's daughter married the Prince of Anlu, the favorite son of Emperor Taizu. In the third year of Yongming, the Prince of Anlu married, and Shu Su and his wife fulfilled the customary duties of the bride's family. Emperor Taizu sent Crown Prince Wen Hui to accompany the Prince of Anlu to Shu Su's home for a banquet celebration, with court officials, dressed in formal attire, coming to offer their congratulations. People at the time were envious of the honor of their family.
Zhang Chong, courtesy name Siyue, was a native of Wu County in Wu Commandery. His father, Zhang Jian, held the position of Gentleman of the Imperial Secretariat. Zhang Chong was adopted by his cousin Jing Yin, the Palace Attendant, nicknamed Zha; his father, Zhang Shao, had the nickname Li. Emperor Wen of the Song Dynasty once jokingly asked Jing Yin, "How is Zha? How is Li?" Jing Yin replied, "Li is the ancestor of all kinds of fruits; how could I possibly compare myself to it!"
Chong was particularly responsible from a young age and served as the Registrar of Bizhou. He fought in battles alongside his uncle, General Yong, and later became General of Suiyuan and Prefect of Xuyi. Once, when General Yong attacked Pengcheng, they encountered heavy snowfall, causing many soldiers to have their toes frozen off. Chong also lost all his toes. He was later appointed as the Gentleman of the Carriages in the Imperial Secretariat and accompanied Prince Guiyang to fight in the south, becoming General of Zhenwei. He was then promoted to Army Consultant of the Western Expedition, but he did not take the position. He was further promoted to the Attendant Officer of the Western Expedition, Tongzhilang, and later served as the Army Advisor of the Prince of Wuling, Chief of Changshui, and was then appointed as the General of Ning Shuo, without any change in rank. He was later promoted to General of the Left Army and additionally appointed as General of Ning Shuo and Deputy General of the State. Chong had been involved in battles from a young age, and his abilities were highly valued by the court, hence he held important positions in the military. He was later dispatched to serve as the Prefect of Matou and then transferred to Xuyi as the Prefect, retaining the position of Deputy General of the State. In the sixth year of Yongming, he was promoted to the Marshal of the Crown Prince of Xiyang. In the eighth year of Yongming, he was granted an honorary title, overseeing the affairs of the Inspector of Qing and Ji provinces, with no change in his military position. When Chong's father passed away, he left a will that stated, "During my sacrifices, only use local specialties from our hometown; no sacrificial animals are needed." At that time, Chong was stationed far away, but whenever there was a sacrifice, he would return to his ancestral home in Wu, personally gathering fruits and vegetables, and tearfully paying his respects to his father. He was later promoted to the position of Inspector.
After Emperor Yulin ascended the throne, Chong was promoted to General Champion. After Emperor Ming ascended the throne, he replaced Chong with Wang Hongfan, the Governor of Jinshou. Chong was appointed as a Yellow Gate Attendant and promoted to General of Conquest. In the second year of Jianwu, a minority ethnic group from the north invaded the Huai-Si region. The court ordered Chong to lead troops, granting him the power of military command to oversee the armies of Qing and Ji provinces, marching north to attack the enemy without changing his official position. The enemy focused their forces to attack Sizhou, Qingzhou, and Xuzhou. The court ordered troops to be dispatched to scatter the enemy forces. Chong sent General Sang Xizu to launch an attack from Zhakou, capturing the three enemy cities of Jianling, Yima, and Houqiu, killing numerous enemies and seizing abundant spoils. He then joined forces with Wang Hongfan and sent General Cui Jiyuan to attack the enemy's Jicheng, successfully occupying the city. Chong also sent General Du Senghu to capture the enemy's Hukeng, Fengshi, and Jiqiu, returning with prisoners and supplies. Upon reaching Hegou, enemy reinforcements arrived and ambushed them on the road. Du Senghu fought valiantly and secured a decisive victory.
That year, he was transferred to the position of Colonel of the North Central Army under Prince Luling, with the additional title of Champion General. Before he could take office, Duke Fengcheng, Yao Chang, was appointed as the Governor of Yuzhou. Considering that the war was not yet over, the Emperor appointed him as Chief of Staff for Conquering the Lu and Prefect of Nanliang County. In the first year of Yongtai, he was appointed as Chief of Staff for the Vanguard of Prince Jiangxia. After Donghunhou ascended the throne, he was assigned to an external mission to serve as Chief of Staff for Conquering Prince Jian'an, Assistant General, Governor of Jiangxia, and in charge of the affairs of Yingzhou and Fuzhou. In the first year of Yongyuan, he was promoted to Commissioner and Military Commander in Yuzhou, and Governor of Yuzhou, succeeding Pei Shuye. However, he never took office. The following year, he was promoted to Commissioner of Military Affairs for Southern Yanzhou, Yanzhou, Xuzhou, Qingzhou, and Jizhou, Assistant General, and Governor of Southern Yanzhou, while retaining his previous duties. When the Inspector of Sizhou, Shen Xizu, passed away, he took over the position and became Commissioner of Military Affairs in Sizhou, Champion General, and Governor of Sizhou. Later, after Pei Shuye surrendered to the enemy in Shouchun, he was again appointed as Commissioner of Military Affairs for Southern Yanzhou, Yanzhou, Xuzhou, Qingzhou, and Jizhou, Governor of Southern Yanzhou, Commissioner, and General, but once again did not assume his duties. When the situation with Cui Huijing settled and Prince Jian'an Bao Yin was summoned back to the capital, he was appointed as Commissioner of Military Affairs in Yingzhou and Sizhou, Governor of Yingzhou, Commissioner, and General, while retaining his previous duties. Within a year, he was consecutively appointed Governor of four provinces, finally taking office. In the winter of that year, he was promoted to Conquering General, granted the title of Marquis of Dingxiang, and awarded a fief of one thousand households.
King Liang rebelled, and Duke Donghun dispatched General Xue Yuansi and Chief Ji Rongbo to lead an army and more than 140 grain ships to aid him in resisting the advancing enemy. Taking lessons from Liu Shanyang's defeat, Xue Yuansi doubted his willingness to fight, so he remained at Xiakoupu. Upon hearing that King Liang's forces were nearing, Xue Yuansi and Rongbo entered Yingcheng together. At that time, Fang Sengji, the Prefect of Jingling, was recalled to Yingzhou, and Duke Donghun ordered him to remain in Lushan and appointed him as the Cavalry General. Fang Sengji said to him, "Although I have not received the court's favor, I have received the grace of the late emperor. Just like trees, the ones that provide shelter do not break their branches. I really want to do my little bit." He held Fang Sengji's loyalty and righteousness in high regard, and the two became allies, vowing to stand together against the enemy. They split their forces for defense and sent General Sun Lezu to assist Fang Sengji in occupying the shore of Lushan, building fortifications, and preparing to resist.
In February of the following year, King Liang set out from Miankou with his troops and surrounded Lushan City. He also dispatched Cao Jingzong and other generals to cross the river and assault Yingcheng. Before fully crossing the river, the defender of Yingcheng, Xiao Chong, sent Chen Guangjing and other soldiers out of the city to fight, but were quickly defeated by King Liang's forces; Chen Guangjing was killed, and Xiao Chong himself remained inside the city. Cao Jingzong subsequently seized Shiqiaopu, and the army continued to advance, all the way up to Jiahu. Duke Donghun dispatched thirteen armies, led by the Prefects of Baxi and Zitong, to relieve Yingcheng, but found themselves unable to advance past Jiahu, forcing them to establish a stronghold there, raise beacons, and light fires in response from the city. However, the two forces engaged separately and were unable to provide mutual support.
Xiao Chong later died from illness, and his subordinates Yuan Si, Rong Bo, as well as Xiao Chong's son Xiao Zi, along with the Chief Clerk Cheng Mao, defended Yingcheng together. Dong Hunhou posthumously appointed Xiao Chong as Cavalier Attendant and General of the Guards, and granted Yuan Si and Wu Ziyang the power of Jiedushi. At this time, the Jiang River rose dramatically, flooding Jiahu City, and the Liang army attacked on large warships, leading to the defeat and scattering of Wu Ziyang and his men. With a shortage of food in Lushan City, soldiers caught small fish along the riverbank to stave off hunger, while secretly preparing light boats to escape to Xiakou. The Prince of Liang sent a detachment to block their escape route and prevent them from fleeing. Fang Sengji also succumbed to illness, and Sun Lezu could no longer endure, so Lushan City surrendered.
Yingcheng was besieged for more than two hundred days, suffering heavy casualties among civilians and soldiers, with seven to eight hundred households perishing. Two days after Lushan City fell, Cheng Mao and Yuan Si discussed their surrender and sent Xiao Zi to draft a letter to the Prince of Liang. Fang Changyu, a former subordinate of Xiao Chong and the Magistrate of Qingzhou, said to Xiao Zi, "Our former lord (Xiao Chong) embodied loyalty and righteousness, with steadfast integrity like pine and bamboo. All you need to do now is stay calm and do your best, just as if you were chopping firewood. If fate dictates failure, then wear a headscarf and await your fate, following our lord (Xiao Chong). If you now follow these people's scheme to surrender, not only will the people of Yingzhou lose their respect for you, but the Prince of Liang may also refuse your surrender." Two days after Lushan City fell, Yuan Si and the others led Yingcheng to surrender.
Dong Hunhou appointed Cheng Mao as the governor of the two provinces of Yingsi, General Who Aids the Nation, and the governor of Yingshou. He appointed Yuan Si as the governor of Yongliang, Nanzheng, and the four provinces of Beiqin, as well as the Jingling of Yingsi, Sizhou of Suijun, General of Guanjun, and the governor of Yongzhou, both holding power. At this time, the cities of Ying and Lu had surrendered, with casualties mounting to staggering numbers, but there was no rebellion or escape. People compared the besiegement of Xiao Chong and Fang Sengji to that of Zang Hong. Dong Hunhou posthumously promoted Fang Sengji to the position of governor of Yizhou.
It is said that during the Yongming period, Xi Qian, the county magistrate of Xincai, was recommended and promoted by Imperial Secretary Wang Rong. His father, Xi Gongmu, who used to be the Sima of Zhenxi, was tragically killed by Marquis Fu Hou. When Xi Qian was stationed in Pancheng, he heard that the righteous army was coming, and he immediately declared, "Our family has been loyal for generations; even in death, we will remain steadfast!" As a result, he ultimately met his death at the hands of Chen Bozhi.
Historical commentators note that Shi Que abandoned his son to uphold the family principle of impartiality; Bao Yong surrendered only in his old age, showing that he understood the situation. Wang Huan remained unwaveringly loyal, and his actions reflect the strict laws of the court; Zhang Chong failed to comprehend the will of heaven, persisted in the wrong path, and ultimately led to failure. Although their reasons for contributing to the country's downfall differed, the ultimate result was the same—defeat and disgrace.
In the end, historical records conclude that the Wang family had been officials in the north for generations, but Xi Qian could not preserve the family business. This ultimately led to the decline of the family, with no more glory. Zhang Chong defended the city to the bitter end, meeting his demise in a chaotic and disorganized fashion. Regrettably, they realized their mistakes too late and possessed a limited understanding.
