Lu An Guo, a native of Guangling in Yangzhou. Towards the end of the Southern Song, Lu An Guo became a general, known for his calmness, strategic thinking, and was highly appreciated by Liu Meng. In the second year of Taishi, Liu Meng led troops to Shou Chun to campaign against Yin Yan. Lu An Guo served as the General of Establishing Might and acted as Liu Meng's deputy. The army defeated Yin Yan's Chief of Staff, Du Shubao, in Hengtang, and Lu An Guo cut off the enemy's escape route, destroyed their transport vehicles, and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. Yin Yan's army was defeated and fled; Liu Meng sent Lu An Guo to pursue, and Lu An Guo was the first to arrive at Shou Chun. Yin Yan stayed behind closed doors, firmly defending the city, while Lu An Guo and General Yuan Hong camped to the south of the city, and then the rest of the army arrived one after another. Lu An Guo achieved the greatest military merit in this battle and was appointed as the Baron of Pengze County. Before he could receive this title, he was reassigned as the Baron of Zhongwu County the following year, with his fief expanded to four hundred households. He was later promoted to Ning Shuo General and Yiyang Prefect. In the fourth year of Taishi, he was again reassigned as the Baron of Xiangnan County. Later, when the northern minority tribes captured Runan and Sizhou fell, the court appointed Lu An Guo as the Commander of Military Affairs of Sizhou, Ning Shuo General, and Governor of Sizhou. In the sixth year of Taishi, a prefectural administration was established in Yiyang, and Lu An Guo continued to serve as the Prefect of Yiyang. He gradually rose in rank, becoming the General of the Right Army, and was also appointed as the Deputy General. In the second year of Yuanhui, he was appointed as the Marshal for Conquering Barbarians under Prince Jinxi, while retaining his position as Deputy General. He was later promoted to the General of Agile Cavalry. In the third year of Yuanhui, he served as the Commissioner and Commander of Military Affairs for the three provinces of Qing, Yan, and Ji along the Huai River, Deputy General, and Governor of Yanzhou. The following year, he was promoted to Champion General, and later returned to the position of General of Agile Cavalry, while also being appointed as Cavalier Attendant and General for Conquering Barbarians.
After the incident involving Shen You, Emperor Taizu sent Anguo to serve as the Governor of Xiangzhou, while he continued to hold the title of General Who Conquers the Caitiffs. Previously, Wang Yun was dismissed from his position, and Prince Wang Xi of Nanyang had not yet taken office in Xiangzhou, so Wang Yun's Chief of Ning Shuo Command, Yu Peiyu, temporarily managed the affairs of the province. The court had also sent Han Youzong, the Colonel of the Southern Zhonglang, and the Commandant of the Central Army, to lead troops to guard Xiangzhou. During Shen You's rebellion, Yu Peiyu and Han Youzong were suspicious of each other, leading to Yu Peiyu's killing of Han Youzong. Later, General Pingxi Huang Hui returned to Yingzhou and had his subordinate, Hou Bo, temporarily manage the affairs of Xiangzhou, and then killed Yu Peiyu. Hou Bo, along with Huang Hui and General Yuan Can, stirred up trouble in Shitoucheng (referring to Jiankang), and Huang Hui asked Hou Bo to take the navy to reinforce, but by the time they arrived, the enemy was already there, and they couldn't enter the city. Emperor Taizu then sent Anguo to take office in Xiangzhou and had Hou Bo arrested and killed. Not long after, Anguo's position was promoted to General of the Vanguard.
In the first year of Jianyuan, Anguo was promoted and ennobled, and he was granted an additional six hundred households as a fief. Later, he was promoted to Right Guard General and was also given the position of Court Attendant. In the second year, minority ethnic groups from the north invaded the border, so the Emperor sent Anguo to Sizhou to settle the people. The imperial decree stated: "Between Yingzhou and Sizhou, the situation is complicated due to the large population, so thorough planning is needed to determine their hierarchical relationship. The officials of these two provinces cannot handle this independently, therefore, Anguo, you are to temporarily go and manage this matter." Therefore, Anguo, in his official capacity, was appointed as the Commissioner, commanding the armies of Jingzhou, Yingzhou, and other areas to march north to suppress the enemy, stationed at the West Gate in Yiyang. Before the enemy arrived, Anguo relocated his camp to Miankou in anticipation of their arrival. Later, Anguo was subsequently granted the title of Marquis of Xiangxiang.
After the Emperor Shizu ascended the throne, he promoted Lü Anguo to the positions of Imperial Envoy, Cavalier Attendant, General Who Pacifies the West, Inspector of Sizhou, and also appointed him as the Prefect of Yiyang. This was quite a high position! In the second year of Yongming, he was promoted again, this time to Commander of the Military Forces of Nanyan, Yanzhou, Xuzhou, Qingzhou, and Jizhou, General Who Pacifies the North, Inspector of Southern Yanzhou, and continued to serve as Commander and Inspector of Xiangzhou. His official positions kept climbing one after another, truly rising step by step! In the fourth year of Yongming, the barbarians in Xiangchuan caused trouble, and Anguo led troops to suppress the rebellion. As a result, Anguo fell ill while suppressing the rebellion. The Emperor summoned him back to the court, appointed him as a Grand Minister of Splendor, and added the title of Cavalier Attendant. Anguo happily accepted the appointment and said to his son, "In the future, don't be like me, wearing coarse cloth and being a lowly soldier. Even this single-layered robe I'm wearing now doesn't feel dignified enough. You must become a high-ranking official wearing the red robe!" The Emperor also sent the Palace Librarian, Ru Faliang, to comfort Anguo, saying, "I have been worried about your illness. If you need anything, just say it, don't be shy." The following year, Anguo was promoted to Minister of Imperial Affairs and also appointed as the Left Leader of the Crown Prince. In the sixth year of Yongming, he was promoted to General-in-Chief. Because of his seniority and close relationship with the Emperor, Anguo continued to rise in ranks and was highly respected in the court. Shortly after, he was promoted to Cavalier Attendant, Golden Purple Grand Minister of Splendor, and Middle Judge of Yanzhou, with someone specifically assigned to assist him. The Emperor specifically instructed Ru Faliang, "I see that Lü Anguo's health is not fit for strenuous activities, and his feet have been bothering him. It's not really appropriate for him to be assisted in coming before me due to etiquette, so I cannot directly order it. He is quite sensitive about others knowing of his illness. Counsel him privately; if his health improves, there is no need for assistance, just follow the rules, but do not force him."
In the eighth year of Yongming, Anguo passed away at the age of sixty-four. The emperor posthumously conferred him the titles of Commander, General Who Pacifies the North, and Governor of Southern Yanzhou, while retaining his position as Gentleman of the Imperial Guard. He was also given a ceremonial guard and posthumously honored with the title of Marquis Su. His career can be considered quite illustrious.
There was once an old general named Quan Jingwen, courtesy name Hongda, from Wu County. He was remarkably strong in his youth. Once, he traveled out of the capital with Shen Youzhi and rested by the riverside at Ben Niu Tai. A fortune teller told them, "Both of you will become regional lords and will surely be wealthy and honored in the future!" Jingwen said to Shen Youzhi, "Only one of us can be wealthy and honored. It must be a lie if he says we will both be."
Jingwen later became a general and led troops in battles. During the Xiaojian era, he served as a Military Strategist under the Prince of Jingling and was titled Marquis of Hanshui for his achievements. He was later promoted to the position of a lower-ranking official and General of Archery. In the second year of Taishi, he was appointed as Provisional General, General Who Pacifies the Frontier, Attendant Imperial Secretary, and Military Commander. He fought alongside the former general Liu Liang and defeated rebellious forces in the east of Jinling, which led to his promotion to Chief Water Commandant and the title of Assisting the State General. He then marched north to suppress Xue Suo'er, disrupting the enemy's supply lines during the Battle of Pofu. He also fought alongside the founding emperor at Gezhong Shiliang, winning decisive victories in multiple engagements.
The southern rebels were at a standstill, so the court ordered Jing Wen to assist Liu Liang in resisting Liu Hu. They attacked and defended the city together, fighting fiercely for an extended period. Jing Wen was struck by dozens of arrows and sustained numerous injuries. After that, he was promoted to the position of Front Army General, granted the title of Marquis of Xiaoning County with a fief of six hundred households. He was later promoted to General Ning Shuo, General of the Vanguard, and Acting Assistant General, and also served as the Governor of Gaoping, the Marshal of the Zhenjun and Anxi Prefectures, and the Valiant Cavalry General. During the Yuanhui period, he served as the Inspector of Southern Yuzhou and the Prefect of Liyang, while still holding the position of Assistant General of the State. He was later promoted to General Conquering the Barbarians, Prefect of Nanlangye and Jiyin Counties, and Army Master, and shortly after was appointed as Cavalier Attendant.
In the first year of Jianyuan, because he did not participate in assisting the new emperor's accession to the throne, he was dismissed from his official position, retaining only his title of Prefect of Nanlangye, while his titles of Cavalier Attendant and General remained. He was later promoted to Grand Master of Rites, General Conquering the Barbarians, Marshal of the West for the Prince of Linchuan, and Prefect of Nanjun. He returned to court and steadily rose through the ranks, eventually becoming a Censor and Grand Master of Rites. He passed away in the ninth year of the Yongming era.
Zhou Shantu, styled Jiji, was from Yixing in Yixiang. He was very poor when he was young and earned a living by transcribing books for others. However, he was ambitious and later became the captain of the Jinling Garrison in Wu County. When Emperor Xiaowu of Song was engaged in warfare, Zhou Shantu achieved significant accomplishments and was awarded the title of Marquis of Guanzhong. Shen Sengrong, the Inspector of Yanzhou, was stationed in Xiqiu, and he knew Zhou Shantu from before, so he appointed him as his military advisor in the Jianwu Prefecture. Later, when Prince Jingling Liu Dan rebelled in Guangling, Shen Sengrong sent Zhou Shantu with two hundred men to meet with Shen Qingzhi to receive his orders. After the situation was resolved, when it came time to reward contributions, they were stifled by Dai Mingbao, a drafter from the Imperial Secretariat.
During the reign of Taishi, he was promoted to Palace General. At that time, rebellions were breaking out everywhere, and Director Wang Yu recognized Zhou Shantu's military talents. Impressed by him, he sought him out for a conversation and entrusted him to lead a hundred ships into battle. Alongside General Jiao Changsheng and others, he captured the enemy cities of Hubai and Zheqi. He was subsequently promoted to Assistant Minister and appointed General of Zhenwu. After securing victory at Nonghu, he pursued the enemy to Xiyang before he returned. Emperor Song Ming held him in high regard and rewarded him with a residence in Yuanxi. After General Zhang Yong's army suffered a major defeat while campaigning against Xue Andu in Pengcheng, Zhou Shantu gathered scattered troops, amassing over a thousand men to defend the city of Xiapi. Later, he was promoted to the positions of Supervisor of the Imperial Secretariat, Assistant Director of the Palace, and General of the Hall of State Affairs. Zhou Shantu enjoyed drinking and often made mistakes when intoxicated; Emperor Song Ming criticized him multiple times, but Zhou Shantu eventually corrected this habit. Subsequently, he was assigned to guard the new city of Qiantang.
At that time, the Huai-Xi area of Yuzhou had just been occupied by the enemy, and the court set up a new garrison in Liyang. Five years later, the court appointed Zhou Shantu as the General of Longxiang and the magistrate of Liyang, ordering him to lead the troops to guard the city. Initially, a fugitive named Tian Liu was in Linhai, who claimed to be the "King of the East Sea." He fled to a valley near Yinxian County in Kuaiji, built a camp, occupied a strategic location, and the officials and soldiers were at a loss on how to handle him. Emperor Song Ming sent Zhi Houwen to persuade him to surrender, appointing him as the General of Longxiang. Tian Liu accepted the official position and set off with his subordinates. When they reached Haiyan, he suddenly changed his mind, turned his troops loose, and went on a looting spree. That winter, he even killed Geng You, the county magistrate of Yinxian, causing widespread panic along the eastern border.
Six years later, the court ordered Zhou Shantu to deploy troops to Jiaokou and launch a vigorous search for Tian Liu. Tian Liu was ultimately killed by his own men, and other leaders, Du Lian and Mei Luosheng, each held their own territories and refused to surrender. The following year, Zhou Shantu dispatched troops to quell the rebellion, ultimately restoring order.
There was a bandit chief named Zhang Feng who declared himself king in the area of Yuzhang (modern-day Nanchang, Jiangxi), occupying Kongle Mountain with a group of people and horses, frequently ambushing and robbing travelers on the river, causing immense suffering for the locals. Military leaders Li Shuang and Cai Bao launched several attacks against him over the years, but they never managed to capture him.
Later, the military leader was replaced by Mao Jisheng, who suffered a crushing defeat against Zhang Feng in Yuzhang. The emperor had no choice but to send Shantu to suppress him. After assuming command, Shantu feigned weakness, making it seem like he had insufficient troops, and then sent his subordinate Pang Sihou to deliver a letter to Zhang Feng, claiming he wanted to meet and discuss things, promising to offer him a way out. Zhang Feng actually believed it and agreed.
So, when Zhang Feng arrived at Wangcai, Shantu had already set an ambush by the water, suddenly rushed out, and killed Zhang Feng in one swift move. More than a hundred of Zhang Feng's subordinates surrendered obediently. As a result, Shantu was appointed by the court as General of Ningshuo and commander of Liankou.
After taking office as Shan Tu, he built Xicheng in Lianshui, blocked the enemy's cavalry passage, and utilized water resources for irrigation, doing a lot of practical things for the people. In the third year of Yuanhui, he was promoted to Infantry Colonel and was also appointed as General of Jianwu. Later, he was promoted to supervise the military affairs of the four counties of Gaoping, Xiapi, Huaiyang, and Huaixi, with his official positions rising higher and higher.
Once, someone dug up Huan Wen's tomb and found many treasures. Some of the treasures were given to Shan Tu in an attempt to curry favor with him, but Shan Tu confiscated the treasures and immediately reported it to the authorities. Because of his integrity, he was later promoted to Left Zhonglang General.
During the reign of Emperor Gaozu, Shan Tu secretly told him, "Shen Youzhi has long been plotting wrongdoing; you must be careful and guard against him!" Emperor Gaozu chuckled and nodded in agreement. Later, the Prince of Wuling was appointed as the Inspector of Yingzhou, and Emperor Gaozu had Shan Tu lead the troops to escort him. Afterwards, Emperor Wu and Prince Jin Xi Xie Xie returned from Yingzhou, with Shan Tu covering the rear.
Shen Youzhi rebelled, and Emperor Wu was appointed as the Western Expedition Commander, appointing Shan Tu as his deputy. Emperor Wu stationed in Pencheng, and everyone felt that the city was too small and hard to defend, suggesting a return to the capital. However, Shan Tu said, "We currently occupy the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and can receive support from all sides. As long as everyone works together, this difficulty is nothing we can't handle! The city may be small, but it's not a big problem!" Emperor Wu then had the city's military officers Liu Jie and Chen Yuan follow Shan Tu's command. Shan Tu immediately ordered the taking apart of the planks from passing ships to build watchtowers and set up water barriers, completing everything in ten days. Emperor Wu was quite pleased.
As a result, he was appointed as the General of the Vanguard, further appointed as General Ning Shuo, and finally promoted to Assistant General. Shen Youzhi attacked Yingzhou City, and Emperor Wu asked Shan Tu to gauge the situation. Shan Tu said, "I used to live next to Shen Youzhi, so I know him pretty well. He is ruthless and unscrupulous, incapable of winning people's loyalty. If he keeps his army stationed in a strong city for a long time, it will only speed up the breakdown within his ranks."
Shen Youzhi was indeed defeated. Later, General Huang Hui, leading over a hundred lightly equipped soldiers, approached Pencheng by boat along the river, shouting. The people in Pencheng were initially frightened, but soon realized it was General Huang Hui returning in triumph, and only then did they feel relieved. The Emperor remarked to Shantu, "You have truly fulfilled the words of Duke Zhou; your foresight is remarkable."
After returning to the capital, Emperor Taizu sent Shantu to lead the army to garrison the capital, and he was responsible for all troop movements. Later, Shantu was promoted to General of Guerrilla Warfare and continued to assist the Emperor. In the first year of Jianyuan, he was granted the title of Marquis of Guangjin County, with a fief of three hundred households. He was then appointed as Acting General, Supervisor of Yanzhou, Qingzhou, Jizhou, Xuzhou, Donghai Commandery, Qushan Military, Ning Shuo General, and Governor of Yanzhou, and he was well-supported by the local people. In the second year, he was promoted to Assistant General. In the autumn of that year, when the enemy invaded, the Emperor believed the enemy would not launch an attack from Huaiyin, so he ordered Shantu, "I give you my full trust and authority. I know that you are good at pacifying the borders, managing the army with discipline, responding to changes, and devising strategies. Those cowards might not fight with courage, but you, as a great man, do not need to rely on them." Indeed, the enemy attacked Qushan but was defeated by Xuanyuan Du and Lu Shao. The enemy retreated to Huaiyang. At this time, a rebellion erupted in the four northern provinces, and the Emperor sent Shantu from the Huai River to Qinghe, hurrying day and night to provide support. The Emperor again ordered Shantu, "You should do your best to command the army, handle all affairs, and always be cautious. Only through united efforts can we succeed in significant matters; even mountains can be toppled. But in using troops, ensure there are no worries in the rear; if the rear is stable and safe, then close your eyes and strike hard; there is no enemy that cannot be defeated. My policies are as solid as cast gold, waiting for you to accomplish great things! If you fail to pacify these four provinces on this occasion, it would be a shame to bear the title of 'great man'! Utilize your talents wisely; do not let others steal your credit!" When Shantu arrived, the rebel army had already been wiped out by the enemy, and he returned with three hundred households to Huaiyin. He petitioned to move the capital of Donghai Commandery to Liankou, and he established Yangping Commandery in Shibie; both requests were approved.
After Emperor Shizu ascended the throne, Shan Tu was appointed as the General of Jingling Wang Zhenbei, concurrently serving as the Governor of Nanping Chang, while maintaining his position as a general. Because of his previous merits in Bencheng, he frequently visited the court and was deeply trusted by the Emperor. The deity of Fengmiao in Yixiang County was from the Deng clan, who had previously served as a county magistrate and was believed to have manifested after death. Shan Tu requested the Emperor to bestow the title of Fuguo General upon the deity. The Emperor replied, "Just give him some dog meat; why bother with a title?" Later, Shan Tu was reassigned as Huangmen Lang, in charge of the security for the Yulin Four Xiang. Shan Tu built a villa in Xinlin, where he often left early and returned late. The Emperor told him, "You have already stepped down from commanding ten thousand men, yet you often travel outside the city. From now on, when you go to the villa, you can bring some people to protect you, just to be safe." When Shan Tu fell ill, the Emperor personally inquired about his condition and sent imperial physicians to treat him and deliver medicine. In the first year of Yongming, Shan Tu passed away at the age of sixty-four. The Emperor issued a decree granting him a set of court robes and an additional garment.
Zhou Panlong, originally from Beilanling, was part of Dongping Prefecture during the Song Dynasty. He was known for his great courage and exceptional skills in horseback riding and archery. At the beginning of the Taishi period, he joined the army to combat bandits in Zheqi, consistently leading the charge and showing remarkable bravery. Eventually, he climbed the ranks, becoming Longxiang General and Jishe General, and was even granted the title of Viscount of Jin'an County, with a land grant supporting four hundred households.
In the second year of Yuanhui, there was chaos in Guiyang, with bandits rebelling. At that time, Zhou Panlong served as the official responsible for the cavalry and the commander of the horse troops, serving under the emperor and stationed in Xinting. He and the cavalry colonel Huang Hui marched out of the city to face the bandits to the south, before retreating back to the city to mount a joint defense. After the fighting subsided, he was appointed Prefect of South Dongguan and was also promoted to General of the Front Army, later rising to the rank of General of the Valiant Cavalry. In the first year of Shengming, he was appointed Acting General, Commander of Military Affairs in Guangdong and Guangxi, General Conquering the Caitiffs, General Who Pacifies the Southern Tribes, and Governor of Guangzhou. Before he could assume his post, he took part in the Battle of Shitoucheng. The following year, Shen Youzhi was subdued, and the Governor of Sizhou, Yao Daohe, was suspected of treachery and was subsequently dealt with. Zhou Panlong was then appointed as the Commander of Military Affairs in Sizhou, Governor of Sizhou, while retaining his titles of Acting General. He was granted the title of Marquis of Dunyang. After the Emperor ascended the throne, Zhou Panlong's title was elevated to Right General.
In the second year of Jianyuan, northern enemies invaded Shou Chun. Zhou Panlong was appointed as the military commander with acting authority to assist the Governor of Yuzhou, Yuan Chongzu, in using a strategy of breaching the dam to flood the enemy. Zhou Panlong led the infantry and cavalry under Deputy General Zhang Ni to fight bravely in Xize, killing tens of thousands of enemy troops and capturing vast amounts of cattle, horses, and military supplies. The emperor was greatly pleased to hear this and issued a decree saying, "Those vile enemies have brought this upon themselves by daring to invade Shou Chun. Generals Chongzu and Panlong quickly led a volunteer army into battle, seizing the opportunity to strike the enemy by land and water, leading to countless enemy casualties. The war quickly ended, and the western territories were swiftly subdued. This was entirely due to the generals following orders and fighting valiantly. Their contributions are remarkable and should be promptly rewarded, hereby commended." The emperor also rewarded Zhou Panlong's cherished concubine, Lady Du, with twenty gold hairpins and a pair of tweezers, and personally penned a letter stating, "A reward for Zhou Gong's Ah Du." Later, Zhou Panlong was promoted to the position of Left Leader of the Crown Prince and was granted the power of holding the imperial seal, while retaining his position as military commander unchanged.
The following year, the enemy attacked Huaiyang and besieged Jiaocheng. Previously, the emperor had sent the military commander Cheng Mai to defend Jiaocheng, where he announced to everyone, "I am now going to defend Jiaocheng, so my son will be able to become the crown prince in the future." When asked why he said this, Cheng Mai replied, "Jiaocheng and the enemy face each other across the river; it is very dangerous. How could I let the enemy feel emboldened to advance south? If I don't fall to the enemy, I will definitely defeat them. Even if my son does not become a filial son, he can still become the crown prince!" As a result, the enemy heavily besieged Cheng Mai, and the emperor dispatched General Li Anmin as the commander to rescue him. The emperor also ordered Panlong, "Jiaocheng and Liankou are under attack again; there are no enemy forces on the western road. Take the cavalry and infantry to Huaiyin to assist General Li. Zhongli has few ships, so they can transport supplies for a few days, and the soldiers can march along the Huai River to reach there."
Cheng Mai fought valiantly against the enemy, personally killing countless foes. One morning, he woke up to discover that he had lost several liters of blood from his hand, and he met his end in battle that day. The son of Panlong, Feng Shu, led just over two hundred men and charged into the enemy formation all by himself. Tens of thousands of enemy cavalry surrounded him from the left and right flanks. At that moment, a cavalryman rode back to report that Feng Shu had fallen. Panlong was having a meal when he suddenly dropped his chopsticks, mounted his horse, brandished his long spear, and charged straight into the enemy formation, shouting, "The Duke of Zhou has come!" The enemy had always feared Panlong's reputation for bravery and immediately dispersed. Meanwhile, Feng Shu had already slain many enemies and broken out of the encirclement, but Panlong remained unaware and continued fighting in all directions, with no one daring to stop him. Noticing that his father had not appeared for some time, Feng Shu leaped back into the enemy formation. Father and son galloped through the enemy forces, leading to a resounding defeat. The father and son gained renown across the North. Although Panlong was thin and weak, and not good with words, he was brave and decisive in battle, surpassing all other generals.
In the first year of Yongming, he was promoted to General of Barbarian Conquest and Governor of Nanlangye. Three years later, he was promoted to General of the Right Guard and appointed to a government position. Five years later, he was transferred to the position of Grand Marshal, promoted to General of Barbarian Conquest, and Governor of Jiyang. The Emperor frequently held military exercises, always having Panlong command the cavalry and lead them in spear combat. Later, due to illness, he was appointed as Grand Master of Splendor. Shortly after, he was appointed as Commissioner, Commander of Military Affairs in Yanzhou and Along the Huai River, General Pacifying the North, Governor of Yanzhou, and was granted the title of Marquis.
General Zhang Pu, the commander defending Jiaocheng, secretly conspired with the enemy. One day, in dense fog, he seized the opportunity to lead over twenty enemy soldiers, disguising their true intentions by pretending to go to Qinghe to gather firewood. The boat arrived at the east gate of the city, and they hid under the boat. The city's defenders were oblivious, and they went ashore and rushed directly towards the city gate.
General Huangfu Zhongxian of Shoucheng, along with more than thirty people including Meng Lingbao, engaged the enemy at the city gate, killing three of them, while the others jumped into the water to escape their injuries. However, thousands of enemy cavalry and infantry had already arrived outside the city, blocking the gate. General Wang Senqing of Huaiyin led five hundred men to their aid, and the enemy then retreated.
Later, the officials reported this incident to the court, and Zhang Pu was punished by the court, dressed in white and temporarily dismissed from his position. However, shortly thereafter, court officials petitioned to restore his position, and he was appointed as the Prefect of Dongping.
General Panlong was old and weak, stating that he could no longer guard the border, so he requested to resign, and the emperor granted his request. He later held the positions of Cavalier Attendant and Grandee of the Palace. One day, the emperor jested, "How does wearing fur compare to wearing a helmet?" General Panlong replied, "This fur came from the helmet!" Eleven years later, General Panlong passed away at the age of seventy-nine. The court posthumously conferred upon him the titles of General of Anbei and Inspector of Yanzhou.
Speaking of this fellow, he was extremely powerful and skilled in martial arts, charging around and pillaging wherever he went while following Emperor Panlong into battle. Later, Emperor Shizu dispatched him eastward to take on Tang Yu Zhi. Although he was bold, he still had some fear of the Emperor, so he kept his men in line and didn’t dare to step out of bounds. Later, he was appointed as the Director of the Eastern Palace. Yulin, located in Xizhou, was where he volunteered to go. After the Emperor ascended the throne, he and General Cao Daogang became one of the Emperor's trusted confidants. Daogang was appointed as the General of the Valiant Cavalry, and later promoted to Crown General. As for this fellow, he was first appointed as Guerrilla General and later promoted to General of State Assistance. The two of them were also responsible for the palace's direct guard. Not long after, the Emperor wanted to promote Daogang to Huangmen Lang, but Gaozong (the Emperor's son) strongly objected, but the Emperor ignored him. This fellow had excellent horse riding skills, and the Emperor even learned horseback archery from him, taking a particular liking to him, even allowing him to enter the harem. Later, he was also appointed as the Governor of Huailing and the Zheng of Yanzhou. Daogang also climbed the ranks to become the Governor of Nanpuyang.
In the first year of Longchang, Feng Shu was appointed as a Gentleman of the Yellow Gate. Before he could take office, he was sent to serve as a General, Commander overseeing military affairs in the provinces of Qing and Ji, Champion General, and Governor of Qingzhou. At that time, the emperor was considering how to get rid of several prime ministers, so he sent Feng Shu as an external aid. At the same time, Dao Gang was promoted to be the Central Commander of the provinces of Qing and Ji, with no change in his original position. Feng Shu took the opportunity to ask the emperor for rewards, wanting to be made a Marquis of a thousand households, which the emperor agreed to. However, when Emperor Gaozong took over the government, he felt that this matter was inappropriate and only granted Feng Shu the title of a noble of Qujiang County, with three hundred households. Upon hearing this, Feng Shu was furious, pulled out his sword in front of everyone, glaring with a murderous look. Emperor Gaozong had to do a lot of persuading to calm him down, and he reluctantly accepted the reward. After bidding farewell to the emperor, Feng Shu was preparing to lead his troops when Emperor Gaozong, fearing that he would be difficult to control once he left, conspired with Xiao Chen to falsely summon Feng Shu to the palace and have him brutally beaten to death by a group of strong men. Then it was announced that "Feng Shu was disrespectful to the court." The emperor had no choice but to agree. On the day when Gaozong overthrew the emperor, Dao Gang was on duty in the Zhi Ge Sheng. Xiao Chen rushed in pretending to discuss matters with Dao Gang, and then the ambush troops stormed in, stabbing him in the chest and killing him on the spot. After that, they stormed into the palace and overthrew the emperor. Feng Shu's younger brother Zishi Xiong was appointed as the Governor of the West River during the Yongyuan period. After the Chen Xianda incident, Zishi Xiong executed the Governor of Guangzhou, Xiao Jichang, accusing Xiao Jichang of colluding with rebels, and even sent Xiao Jichang's head to the capital. Later, the Governor of Guangzhou, Yan Fan, launched a campaign against him and ultimately killed him.
Wang Guangzhi, also known as Linzhi, was a native of Pei County. Since childhood, he enjoyed riding horses and shooting arrows, possessing agility and great strength. He initially served as the captain of the cavalry. During the Song Dynasty's Daming era, he was promoted to county magistrate due to his achievements, and later served as a General in the imperial palace, General of Dragon Cavalry, General of Strong Crossbows, Middle Cavalry Officer, and Governor of Nanqiao, with his official position steadily rising.
At the beginning of the Taishi period, he was appointed as the General of Ning Shuo and the military commander, accompanying General Ning Shuo Liu Huaizhen to Shou Chun to confront Yin Yan. Yin Yan's general Liu Cong constructed fortifications to defend, and the two sides were at a stalemate for several days. Yin Yan sent the Chief Secretary Du Shubao to lead five thousand men and five hundred grain carts to support Liu Cong. Liu Huaizhen then sent Wang Guangzhi, military commander Xin Qingzu, Huang Hui, Qian Daolian, and others to intercept them at Hengtang. Du Shubao set up camp to resist, and Wang Guangzhi and his men charged into the enemy camp, fighting from afternoon until sunset, defeating the enemy and killing over a thousand troops. The enemy then retreated, and Wang Guangzhi's men also burned their grain carts. Upon hearing this news, Liu Cong quickly abandoned their defenses and fled.
Around the same time, a rebellion broke out in Hefei, as the official army faced repeated enemy assaults. Commander Liu Meng convened a meeting of various military commanders to strategize countermeasures. Wang Guangzhi said, "Please give me the general's horse, and I will go and quell the rebellion in Hefei!" Liu Meng gave his horse to Wang Guangzhi, who conquered Hefei just three days later, successfully quelling the rebellion. After that, he accompanied Liu Huaizhen to quell the rebels in Northern Huai.
At this time, Emperor Ming sent the Inspector of Qingzhou, Ming Senghao, to the north to lead a military campaign. When he reached the Three Cities, he was attacked by Shen Wenxiu. Wang Guangzhi led more than three thousand infantry and cavalry troops to provide naval support, and eventually both sides withdrew. Wang Guangzhi then led troops to attack Liu Taogen, the Prefect of Changguang, arranged by Shen Wenxiu. Liu Taogen deserted the city and escaped. After the battle ended, Wang Guangzhi was appointed as the County Lord of Anman with a fief of three hundred households, and later changed to County Lord of Puqi. He was then appointed as the General of Jianwei and the Prefect of Nanyang, but he did not assume the post. He was then appointed as the Colonel of Yueqi, the General of Longxiang, and the Prefect of Zhongli. Later he was promoted to General of the Left Army and appointed as the General of Ningshuo and the Prefect of Gaoping. He was later appointed as the General of Guerrilla while retaining the position of General of Ningshuo. He was also appointed as the Supervisor of Military Affairs and the General of the Champion.
During the campaign against Song Jianping, Wang Guangzhi first captured Jingkou and was therefore appointed as the County Lord of Ningdu with a fief of five hundred households. After the abolition of Cangwu Commandery, Taizu appointed Wang Guangzhi as the Acting General, Supervisor of Military Affairs in Xuzhou, Inspector of Xuzhou, and Prefect of Zhongli, while retaining the position of General of the Champion.
When the incident involving Shen You occurred, Guang stayed in the capital. He first pacified the rebellion in Shitoucheng and then set up camp with Taizu at the New Pavilion in Jiankang. Later, he was promoted to General of Conquering the Barbarians. Taizu killed Huang Hui, and Huang Hui's younger brother, Huang Si, his cousin, Ma, and his nephew, Nu, all fled. Taizu wrote to Guang, saying, "Although Huang Hui has some minor merits, his crimes are too great to tolerate. He even requested to use two large and small carts as the ceremonial vehicles for the Inspector, and I helped him with that, but then he wanted to have the wheels of the carts painted with patterns. His other crimes are countless, and you know them well. Now, proceed with the legal proceedings!" Then he let Guang go to Jiangxi to arrest Huang Si and others.
In the first year of Jianyuan, Guang was granted the title of marquis with a fief of one thousand households. Later, he was promoted to be a Gentleman of the Imperial Court and General of the Left Army. When nomadic tribes from the north invaded, in the second year, the court granted Guang the title of military governor and sent him to the Huai River region. Guang's family resided in Pengcheng and Pei County, so he requested permission from the court to recruit troops from his hometown, then launched an attack on Pengcheng from the north. The court agreed. Therefore, Guang was appointed as the Commissioner-in-Chief, Commander of Military Affairs in Huai North, General for Pacifying the North, and Inspector of Xuzhou. However, Guang crossed the Huai River with his troops but accomplished little, and was eventually dismissed due to poor performance. Shortly after, he was appointed as General Who Conquers the Barbarians and was also given the titles of Gentleman of the Imperial Court and Chief of the Right Commandant of the Crown Prince.
After Emperor Shizu ascended the throne, Guang was successively appointed as the Marshal of the Army of Changsha King, Administrator of South Donghai, Marshal of the Ministry of Works, Magistrate of Xunyang County, Administrator of South Xincai, Marshal of the North Central Army of the Prince of Anlu, and Prefect of Guangling, while his military rank remained unchanged. Later, he was sent to serve as the Commissioner-in-Chief, Commander of Military Affairs in Xuzhou, and Inspector of Xuzhou, with his military rank unchanged. Upon returning to the court, he was appointed as Grand Minister of Rites, General of the Left Wing, and Marshal of the Ministry of Works. He was subsequently promoted to General of the Right Guard, and later transferred to be Gentleman of the Imperial Court and Former General. Emperor Shizu recognized Guang's son Zhenguo's exceptional abilities and said to Guang, "You are quite the old crab!" Guang replied, "I dare not accept the praise." The emperor laughed heartily. Later, the court appointed him as General of the Agile Cavalry, but he did not accept the position.
In the eleventh year, the nomadic tribes from the north began to act restlessly again, so the court leveraged Guang's reputation to recruit soldiers. By the beginning of Longchang, he was promoted to be an Imperial Clerk and General of the Left Guard. At that time, the Inspector of Yuzhou, Cui Huijing, secretly colluded with the nomadic tribes from the north, harboring ulterior motives and seeking to create chaos.
In the first year of Yanxing, the court appointed Guangzhi as the holder of the imperial edict, the governor of Yuzhou and the military commander of Yingshou, and the General of the West. Because he participated in the deposition of Yulin Xun, his land grant increased by three hundred households. Emperor Gaozong wanted to eliminate some princes, so he sent Guangzhi to Jiangyang to conquer Prince Zijing of Anlu, and also provided him with a ceremonial guard. After the situation was resolved, Guangzhi was reassigned as the holder of the imperial edict, the imperial attendant, the commander of military affairs in Jiangzhou, the General of Zhen Nan, and the governor of Jiangzhou. He was also appointed as the Duke of Yingcheng County, and his land grant increased to two thousand households.
In the second year of Jianwu, the nomadic tribes in the north surrounded Sizhou. The court sent Guangzhi to supervise Sizhou in launching an attack to rescue the besieged cities. Before Guangzhi had traveled more than one hundred li, the enemy retreated on their own, so he returned. The following year, he was promoted to the imperial attendant and the General of the Town Army, and was also accompanied by a ceremonial guard. Four years later, he passed away at seventy-three. He was posthumously appointed as the imperial attendant and the General of the Chariot, with the posthumous title of Duke Zhuang.
Historians note that the defense of cities by nobles and ministers is the cornerstone of national stability. They must have a long-term familiarity with military affairs and cannot rely on the outcome of one or two battles to judge a hero. An Guo and others have served the court for many years, with remarkable military achievements, and they are adept at reading the political landscape and aligning themselves with the powerful. General Panlong is known for his bravery and exceptional combat skills, distinguishing himself among the three armies, and the Xiongnu's fear of him even surpasses that of General Li Guang! Truly impressive!
Praise: An Guo, the old general, collaborated to defend the nation, protect Jiujiang, and support the court. General Panlong defeated countless enemies and utterly routed the Hu cavalry. In his later years, Guangzhi continued to don his battle armor, commanding thousands of troops.
