Li Yuantong hails from Jingyang, Shaanxi. His father, Li Jing, served as a soldier under Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou and fell in love with a dark-skinned maid in the household, who gave birth to Li Yuantong. Li Jing did not acknowledge his son, so Li Yuantong grew up in isolation and poverty, and later went to serve Yang Jian (later Emperor Wen of Sui). After Yang Jian became Duke of Sui, he promoted Li Yuantong to the position of a military officer.
At first, when Yang Jian was young, he would always assign Li Yuantong to oversee the kitchen whenever he hosted guests for meals. Li Yuantong was diligent and serious, and the kitchen staff held him in high regard and dared not overstep. Only the wet nurse of the crown prince, who was favored, held Li Yuantong in contempt. Before the guests had been served, she would often come to the kitchen demanding things, and when Li Yuantong refused, she would insist. Li Yuantong got angry and had the cook give her a severe beating, leading her to wail loudly, that echoed throughout the house, terrifying the officials and servants. After the guests left, Yang Jian learned of the incident, called Li Yuantong over, and had him sit down to eat, bestowing special favor upon him from that point forward, believing him to be capable of great responsibilities. After Yang Jian became Prime Minister, he appointed Li Yuantong to the title of Marquis of Huaichang.
After some time, Li Yuantong was appointed to the position of commander and promoted to the title of Xin'anzi. Yang Jian had great trust in him, considering him a close confidant. Li Yuantong was strong, agile, and skilled in martial arts. The princes of the Zhou dynasty were all wary of Yang Jian and constantly sought to harm him, but it was Li Yuantong who consistently protected him and aided him in evading danger on multiple occasions. Yang Jian was very grateful to him, so he included him in political matters, first appointing him as the Commander of Xiangzhou, and later also as the Left Trusted Aide, and then promoted him to Shang Yitong. After Yang Jian became emperor, he appointed Li Yuantong as the Minister of the Interior, concurrently serving as the Left Guard Colonel, and bestowed upon him the title of Count. Li Yuantong later held positions such as Left and Right Privy Councillor, Yellow Gate Attendant, Left Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and even acted as the acting Minister of Justice, gaining the emperor's trust. He later served as the General of the Left Yiwu Guard as well.
During the Sui Dynasty's attack on the Chen Dynasty, Li Yuantong served as the commander and followed Yang Su to lead troops from Xinzhou. Due to his achievements, he was promoted to Grand General, appointed as the Marquis of Wan'an County, and appointed as the Chief of Staff in Yangzhou, later transferred to the Chief of Staff in Bingzhou. Prince Yang Jun of Qin was kind-hearted but made decisions slowly, so many matters in the mansion were decided by Li Yuantong. Later, Li Yuantong returned to the court and served as the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, the Inspector of Granaries, and then promoted to Minister of Justice. Several years later, he returned to Bingzhou as the Chief of Staff. Prince Yang Jun of Qin was reprimanded by the emperor for his extravagance, and Li Yuantong was dismissed from his position as a result. Shortly after, he was appointed as the acting Minister of Justice. During the Reign of Ren Shou, he was ennobled as a Duke for his merits. When Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, he appointed him as the Minister of War. When Emperor Yang of Sui went to Yangzhou, he left Li Yuantong to defend the capital. Li Yuantong dealt with the issue of Yu Wenshu encroaching on farmland, and Yu Wenshu accused Li Yuantong of accepting bribes. Emperor Yang of Sui was infuriated, summoned Li Yuantong to the capital, Luoyang, and thus dismissed him from his official position. Li Yuantong became overly anxious, fell ill, and passed away. After his death, he was posthumously granted the title of Duke, and his title remained unchanged. His son, Li Xiaochang, served as the magistrate of Huayin County during the Daye era.
Chen Mao, a native of Yishi, Shanxi, was from a poor family. He was known for his integrity, respectfulness, and caution, and was greatly respected by his fellow villagers. His grandfather served as a Duke of Sui and took him in as his aide, treating him just as well as Yuantong. Whenever he was tasked with family matters, he managed them to the Duke's satisfaction, who admired him greatly. Later, he followed the Duke to Jinzhou to fight against the Qi army. Facing numerous enemies, the Duke planned to confront them personally, but Chen Mao prevented him by grabbing the reins of the Duke's horse. The Duke was angry and slashed his forehead with his sword, causing blood to stream down his face, but Chen Mao refused to back down. The Duke was touched by his loyalty, apologized to him, and respected him even more. Eventually, Chen Mao rose to the rank of Senior Officer.
After the Duke became the Prime Minister, he trusted Chen Mao very much and treated him as a confidant. When the Duke became the Emperor, he conferred the title of Baron of Weicheng County upon Chen Mao and often tasked him with handling confidential affairs. Chen Mao held this position for more than a decade, later being transferred to the governorship of Yizhou, promoted to Minister of Imperial Stables, and his title was raised to Count. Several years later, Chen Mao passed away while in office. His son, Chen Zheng, inherited his title.
Chen Zheng, known as Hongdao, was a talented individual, skilled in both literature and martial arts, and proficient in music and archery. He grew up in the palace and, at the age of seventeen, became a guard to the Crown Prince. At that time, there was a famous hero in the capital named Liu Jushi, who admired Chen Zheng's abilities and often played with him. Yuan Tong, the son of Yuantong, also shared a close friendship with Chen Zheng, and they interacted with Liu Jushi together. Later, when Liu Jushi committed a crime and was executed, Chen Zheng and Yuan Tong were implicated due to their association with him and faced punishment. The Emperor, in light of Chen Mao’s contributions, merely received two hundred lashes before pardoning them. After this incident, Chen Zheng had few opportunities for advancement.
During the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, Chen Zheng was appointed as an Assistant Minister, later promoted to Director of the Bureau of Military Affairs. The Emperor admired his talents and held him in high regard. When the rebellion led by Yuwen Huaji occurred, Chen Zheng was appointed as Minister of Ceremonies. Later, he sought refuge in the Tang Dynasty and eventually died while serving as the Governor of Liangzhou.
Zhang Dinghe, known as Chumi, was a native of Chang'an for ten thousand years. He came from a poor family but was very ambitious. He started as a low-ranking official. During the campaign to subdue the Chen Dynasty, Zhang Dinghe wanted to join the fight but lacked the funds. His wife still possessed the wedding dress she wore, and Zhang Dinghe wanted to sell it, but his wife refused. With no other options, Zhang Dinghe set off to war by himself.
Zhang Dinghe was promoted to the rank of Equivalent to the Rank of Three Officials for his military achievements and was rewarded with a massive reward of one thousand bolts of cloth! However, he later left his wife. He continued to excel in military accomplishments and was promoted to the position of Governor with the Rank of Three Officials and Biaoqi Jiangjun. During a battle against the Turks led by Li Chong, Zhang Dinghe was shot in the neck by the enemy, but he bravely continued fighting, which impressed the emperor so much that he personally sent medicine and visited him. Zhang Dinghe was further promoted to the rank of Zhuguo, appointed as the Marquis of Wu'an, and rewarded with more cloth, horses, and gold. He served as the Governor of Taiyuan and later as the General of the Left Imperial Guard. In a battle against the Tuyuhun, Zhang Dinghe was killed in action while leading his troops against the enemy. The enemy leader, Wang Ming, was impersonating the Tuyuhun leader. The emperor was deeply saddened by his death and posthumously awarded him the title of Guanglu Dafu. His son, Shili, inherited his title and later also became a Guanglu Dafu.
Zhang Jian, courtesy name Wenyi, claimed to be a native of Qinghe and lived in Huaiyin. He had a particular fondness for military texts and excelled in using sword and shield. During the Zhou Dynasty, a man from his hometown, Guo Ziyi, secretly lured bandits from the State of Chen. Zhang Jian's father wanted to lead his sons to fight, but was hesitant. Zhang Jian supported his father's plan and successfully defeated the bandits, earning a reputation for his bravery and decisiveness. He started as a low-ranking official in the provincial government.
After Gaozu became Prime Minister, he promoted Zhang Jian to Grand Commander, leading the local army. When He Ruobi was stationed at Shouchun, Zhang Jian frequently acted as a spy for him, making significant contributions in the campaign against the Chen Dynasty. He was later promoted to the position of Scribe of the Bureau of Military Affairs, bestowed the title of Viscount of Wen'an, with a fief comprising 800 households, and rewarded with 2,500 pieces of cloth and 2,500 dan of grain. More than a year later, he led the navy and defeated the rebel Zuo Ziyou in Jingkou, where he also defeated Xue Zijian in Hezhou.
The court summoned him back to the capital and appointed him as the Grand General. Emperor Gaozu invited him to share a meal and said, "You are like my son, and I am like your father. Today, we gather like this to demonstrate that we are like family." He was then rewarded with more than a thousand bolts of silk, as well as exquisite green armor and intricately patterned gear. He then followed Yang Su to campaign in the Jiangbei area, where he defeated Gao Zhihui in Kuaiji and Wu Shihua in Linhai.
He was promoted to the position of Grand General and was rewarded with sixty servants and three hundred rolls of silk. He had also served as the governor of Fuzhou, Xianzhou, and Qizhou, performing exceptionally well in each of these posts. In the eighteenth year of the Kaihuang era, he was appointed as the commander of the army, accompanying Prince Yang Liang on a campaign to Liaodong. While other armies suffered heavy losses, Zhang Tiezhang's army remained unscathed. The Emperor appreciated him and bestowed upon him two hundred and fifty rolls of fabric. During the Renshou era, he was transferred to Tanzhou as the commander and died three years later. His son later became a Xiaolian.
Mai Tiezhang was from Shixing, Guangdong. He was exceptionally strong and skilled in combat, capable of walking five hundred miles in a day, running like a racehorse. He had a rough personality, loved drinking, enjoyed making friends, valued loyalty, and lived by fishing and hunting, neglecting his household affairs. During the Taijian era of the Chen Dynasty, he gathered a gang and turned to a life of banditry. The Governor of Guangzhou, Ouyang Pin, captured him and presented him to the court, where Mai Tiezhang was registered as a government subject and assigned to be a parasol bearer.
After the morning court session ended each day, he walked over a hundred miles and by nightfall would arrive in South Xuzhou, sneaking into the city under the cover of night to carry out robberies. The next morning, he would hurry back and continue his duties as a parasol bearer. After repeating this process more than ten times, the robbed victims recognized him, and South Xuzhou reported to the court. The ministers of the court saw Mai Tiezhang every day and found the situation absurd. After several complaints were made, the Minister Cai Zheng said, "This can be easily verified!" So, after the morning court session, the court issued a bounty of one hundred taels of gold to find someone to deliver an edict to the Governor of South Xuzhou. Mai Tiezhang volunteered, took the edict, and went to South Xuzhou, reporting back to the Emperor first thing the next morning. The Emperor said, "It's true, he did indeed act as a thief!" However, the Emperor recognized his agility and talent, so he gave him a warning and let him go.
After the fall of the Chen Dynasty, Yang Tiezhang relocated to Qingliu County. Later, during a rebellion in Jiangdong, Yang Su sent him to wear a straw hat and carry an iron staff, sneaking across the Yangtze River at night to gather intelligence on the rebels. He meticulously recorded the information he gathered and brought it back to report. He went to gather more information later, but was eventually captured by the rebels. The rebel leader Li Leng sent thirty soldiers to guard him, tied him up, and sent him to see Gao Zhihui. When they reached Qingting, the guards took a break to eat, and upon seeing Yang Tiezhang starving, they untied him and allowed him to eat with them. Yang Tiezhang seized the opportunity to grab a soldier's knife, killed all the guards, cut off their noses and brought them back. Yang Su was particularly taken aback by this incident.
When it came time for the rewards to be distributed, Yang Tiezhang was not mentioned. Yang Su hurried back to the capital, riding his horse at full speed. Yang Tiezhang followed him on foot, staying with him every night. Yang Su finally realized what was happening and specifically reported to the emperor, granting Yang Tiezhang the official title of Yitong Sanqi. Since Yang Tiezhang couldn't read, he was later sent back to his hometown.
Li Che, also known as Chengyang Gong, praised Yang Tiezhang for his bravery and skill in battle. In the sixteenth year of the Kaihuang era, Yang Tiezhang was summoned to the capital and appointed as the General of Chariots and Cavalry, accompanying Yang Su on a northern campaign against the Turks. He was later promoted to the rank of Marquis. When Emperor Yang of Sui became emperor, Prince Liang rebelled in Bingzhou, and Yang Tiezhang fought alongside Yang Su, always at the forefront of battle. He was promoted to Duke. He was then appointed as the Governor of Laizhou, but did not accomplish much during his tenure. Later, he was transferred to the position of Prefect of Runan, gradually familiarizing himself with the laws and regulations, leading to a significant decline in local theft.
Once during court, the official Dou Wei teased Yang Tiezhang, saying, "Your surname is Mai, what kind of surname is that supposed to be?" Yang Tiezhang witfully replied, "There is no difference between wheat and beans, why are you surprised?" Dou Wei turned red and was speechless. Everyone at the time thought Yang Tiezhang was very clever. Later, Yang Tiezhang was appointed as the General of the Right Stables, and the emperor had great trust in him.
Feeling deeply indebted to the court, Yang Tiezhang always wanted to be willing to lay down his life for the country. When it was time to fight in Liaodong, he volunteered for the position of vanguard. He then said to the doctor Wu Jingxian, who was treating him, "A man's life and death follow their own course. How can we use moxibustion and other methods to treat this trivial ailment and end up dying at the hands of our children?"
When preparing to cross the Liao River, he said to his three sons, "Anu, prepare a light yellow robe. I have received the country's favor, and today is the day of my death. If I die in battle, you will definitely be prosperous in the future. Remember, you must be honest, filial, and work hard!" When they arrived at the bank of the Liao River, the bridge wasn't finished yet, and the enemy was already approaching from several feet away. Yang Tiezhang jumped onto the shore, fought valiantly against the enemy, and ultimately fell in battle. The warriors Qian Shixiong and Meng Jinchai also died in the battle, and none of their comrades survived.
The emperor wept over this, sent someone to bring back Tie Zhang's body, and issued a decree saying: "Tie Zhang was high-spirited, brave, skilled in battle, and accomplished. During this campaign, he charged forward valiantly and was unmatched. Though he made the ultimate sacrifice, his legacy will endure. I am deeply touched by his loyalty and bravery. He deserves the highest honor to acknowledge his accomplishments. He is posthumously awarded the title of Guanglu Daifu and Duke of Sui Guo, and was given the posthumous title of Wulie." His son Meng Cai inherited his titles and was later appointed as Guanglu Daifu as well. Meng Cai also had two brothers, Zhong Cai and Ji Cai, both appointed as Zhengyi Daifu. The court granted them substantial rewards, including chariots, feathered banners, and ceremonial instruments. More than a hundred people, including the defeated General Yu Wen Shu from Pyongyang, came to bear his coffin, and officials of lower rank escorted them to the outskirts. Qian Shixiong was posthumously granted the titles of Left Guanglu Daifu, Right Tunwei General, and Marquis of Wuqiang, and was given the posthumous title of Gang. His son Jie inherited his titles, while Meng Jinchai was posthumously granted the title of Right Guanglu Daifu, and his son Shanyi succeeded him in his official position.
Meng Cai, also known as Zhileng, was a courageous and resolute person, fully embodying his father's admirable traits. The Emperor rewarded Meng Cai's family generously because of his loyalty and sacrifice for the country, even bestowing the title of General of the Imperial Guards on his son. When chaos broke out in Jiangdu, a fire of vengeance ignited within Meng Cai. He had a close relationship with his comrade Qian Jie, and they privately said, "Our family has always been loyal and upright for generations, and we have always enjoyed the Emperor's favor. Now that traitors have murdered the Emperor and usurped the throne, the nation is in turmoil. We can't even demonstrate our loyalty and righteousness. What right do we have to continue living in this world?" As they spoke, they wept and pounded their chests, resolved to contact old friends and plan an ambush on Yuwen Huaji at Xianfu Palace. Just as they were ready to act, Chen Qian, a member of the Chen royal family, rushed to inform Yuwen Huaji of their plan. As a result, he and his accomplice Shen Guang were both killed by Yuwen Huaji, leaving their loyal comrades in deep sorrow.
Shen Guang, courtesy name Zongchi, was a native of Wuxing. His father, Shen Jundao, served as a deputy minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs during the Chen dynasty. After the fall of the Chen dynasty, the entire family relocated to Chang'an. Shen Guang was recommended by the Crown Prince Yong to serve in the Imperial Academy. Later, he became an aide to Prince Han Liang. After Prince Han Liang's defeat, Shen Guang was dismissed as well. Shen Guang was agile since childhood, especially skilled in horseback riding performances, being one of the top performers in the country. He had some knowledge of literature and was eager to make achievements, not overly concerned with trivial matters. His family was very poor, with his father and brother making a living by copying books. Only Shen Guang was more free-spirited, associating with some unruly young men in the capital. Many people helped him, enabling him to take care of his parents, eat good food, wear good clothes, and never experience poverty. While the Meditation Temple was being built, there was a flagpole over ten zhang tall in the temple. When the rope suddenly broke, the monks were worried because they couldn't reach it by themselves. Shen Guang saw this and told the monks, "Give me the rope, I will help you put it up." The monks were both surprised and delighted, and quickly handed him the rope. Shen Guang bit down on the rope, climbed up the flagpole, and tied the rope at the top. After securing the rope, he used his hands and feet to leap down from the height, landing on his palms and then walking backward for several steps. The onlookers were all amazed, praising him, and nicknaming him "Flesh-Flying Immortal." During the Daye period, Emperor Yang of Sui summoned brave and skilled soldiers from all over the country to attack Goguryeo, and Li Guang also participated in this war. Among the tens of thousands who went with him, none were as impressive as he was. Li Guang was accompanied by over a hundred riders to the imperial palace, and upon reaching Baqiao, he raised his wine cup and vowed, "If I cannot establish a reputation on this journey, I will die in Goguryeo and never see you again!"
Then, he followed the emperor to besiege Liaodong, using battering rams to attack the city. The battering ram's pole was fifteen zhang long. Li Guang climbed to the top of the pole, engaged the enemy atop the city wall, and killed over ten enemy soldiers in hand-to-hand combat. The enemy launched a coordinated attack and knocked him down, but before he hit the ground, he managed to grab the rope on the battering ram's pole and climbed back up. Emperor Yang of Sui saw this and was both surprised and impressed. He immediately sent for him to speak, was very happy, and that day appointed him as a court official, rewarding him with a fine sword and an excellent horse, often having him serve by his side, placing increasing importance on him.
Before long, Li Guang was promoted to the rank of Zhechong Langjiang, with generous rewards and treatment. The emperor often rewarded him with his own food and clothes, which his peers could not hope to match. Li Guang felt deeply grateful for the emperor's kindness and was determined to repay it with all his efforts. When turmoil erupted in Jiangdu, he secretly began recruiting warriors, preparing to avenge the emperor.
Earlier, the emperor favored a eunuch in the palace named Yuwen Huaji. Yuwen Huaji viewed Shen Guang as brave and promoted him to lead the soldiers in the Imperial Guard camp. At that time, Meng Cai, Qian Jie, and others secretly planned to eliminate Yuwen Huaji. They said to Shen Guang, "We have all received great favors from the country. We cannot just sit back and watch our country perish. This would be a disgrace to our ancestors! Now we are bowing our heads in service to our enemies, following their orders. We feel ashamed and our lives feel meaningless. We must kill him. Even if we die, we won't have any regrets. You are a righteous man; will you join us?" Shen Guang was moved to tears and said, "This is exactly what I've been hoping you would do, General! I command hundreds of eunuchs, all of whom have received favors from the former emperor and are now in Yuwen Huaji's camp. Using these people for revenge will be as easy as an eagle catching a small bird. The great achievements of future generations hinge on this one moment. I hope you will do your best, General!" At that time, Meng Cai was a general commanding thousands of troops in Jianghuai. They planned to launch their attack on Yuwen Huaji at dawn, just as the camp was set to move out.
Shen Guang leaked the details of the plan, and Chen Qian informed Yuwen Huaji about it. Yuwen Huaji was terrified and said, "This Shen Guang is truly a man of steel. He and his soldiers are all brave and decisive, difficult to resist. I must steer clear of his might!" That night, Yuwen Huaji fled the camp with his trusted aide, leaving someone to inform Sima Dekan and others, asking them to arrest Meng Cai. Shen Guang heard the noise in the camp and knew that the situation had been exposed. Without time to put on armor, he immediately launched an attack on Yuwen Huaji's camp, but achieved nothing. He encountered his friend Yuan Min and killed him. At that moment, Sima Dekan's forces charged in and surrounded Shen Guang on all sides. Shen Guang shouted fiercely and broke free from the encirclement, bravely fighting alongside his men, cutting off the heads of dozens of enemies, causing the enemy to flee. Sima Dekan sent cavalry over, armed with bows and crossbows, shooting arrows from the side. Shen Guang was not wearing armor and was eventually shot dead. His hundreds of men all died in battle; not one of them surrendered. Shen Guang was only twenty-eight at the time. When the warriors heard the news, every one of them wept in sorrow.
Lai Huer, courtesy name Chongshan, was from Jiangdu. He was headstrong from a young age and aspired to accomplish great deeds. When he first encountered the Book of Songs and came across the lines "Drumming on the bronze drums, leaping and using weapons" and "Wearing goat fur and leopard skins, martial and powerful," he set the book aside and exclaimed, "A great man should live like this in the world! He should eliminate enemies for the country, achieve greatness; how can he remain in the fields, toiling away!" His friends were surprised by his words and admired his aspirations.
Lai Huer resided in Baitu Village, which was located close to the river. At that time, Jiangnan was still in turmoil; He Ruobi was stationed at Shouzhou and frequently dispatched Lai Huer as a spy. Later, he was promoted to Grand Commandant. During the campaign to suppress the Chen Dynasty, Lai Huer distinguished himself and was promoted to Governor. Later, he followed Yang Su to Zhejiang to fight against Gao Zhihui. Gao Zhihui's army occupied the riverbank, with encampments extending over a hundred miles and warships crowding the river, attacking with drums and gongs. Yang Su ordered Lai Huer to command hundreds of small, swift boats to land directly on the riverbank and raid the enemy camp, achieving a resounding victory. Gao Zhihui's forces, having previously suffered defeat against Yang Su, found themselves with nowhere to retreat and scattered. Gao Zhihui tried to escape to the sea, but Lai Huer pursued him all the way to Quanzhou. With no escape routes left, Gao Zhihui fled to the Minyue region. Lai Huer was promoted to Grand General and appointed as the Governor of Quanzhou.
At that time, a man named Sheng Daoyan led a rebellion that troubled Quanzhou. Lai Huer led his forces to crush him. Later, he joined Li Kuan, the Duke of Pushan, to defeat Wang Wenjin in Yixian and Shexian, and was elevated to the rank of Duke. In the third year of Renshou, he was appointed as the Governor of Yingzhou, titled as the Duke of Huangxian, with a fief comprising three thousand households. Shortly after, he received another promotion to Duke and was elevated to Grand General of the Right Imperial Guards. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, Lai Huer was elevated to Grand General of the Right Vanguard, and the Emperor highly esteemed him. In the sixth year of Daye, he followed the Emperor to Jiangdu, where the Emperor bestowed upon him a thousand bolts of cloth, permitted him to pay respects at his ancestors' graves, and host a banquet for the elders of the village; the locals held him in high regard. A few years later, he was promoted to Grand General of the Right Guard.
The Battle of Liaodong, with Lai Huer leading the warships, set sail towards the sea, entering from the Ba River, sixty miles from Pyongyang, where they encountered the Goryeo army. He launched a fierce attack, decisively defeating the Goryeo forces and advancing directly to the outskirts of Pyongyang, breaching the city's outer defenses. He then ordered his troops to pillage indiscriminately, causing some disarray among his ranks, and Goryeo King Gao Yuan's younger brother, Jianwu, rallied five hundred brave warriors to intercept them. Lai Huer had no choice but to retreat and camp by the sea, waiting for an opportunity. Upon hearing that Yu Wenshu and his forces had been defeated, he returned to the court. The following year, he set out from Canghai again, with the army stationed in Donglai, just as Yang Xuangan rebelled in Liyang, attacking Gong County and Luoyang. Lai Huer led the troops to defeat Yang Xuangan together with Yu Wenshu and others. He was granted the title of Duke of Rongguo, with a fief of two thousand households. Ten years later, he led the army across the sea, arriving at Beishe City, where the entire Goryeo nation mobilized for battle. Lai Huer defeated the enemy army, claiming over a thousand enemy heads. As they were on the verge of capturing Pyongyang, Goryeo King Gao Yuan was filled with dread, sending envoys to bring the traitor Husi Zheng to the outskirts of Liaodong to formally request surrender. The Emperor consented, dispatching an envoy with an edict commanding Lai Huer to return to court.
General Lai Huer gathered everyone and said, "We have conducted three military campaigns but have not been able to completely eliminate the enemy. This time, when we return, we might not get another opportunity. The Kingdom of Goryeo is already very weak; there's not even a blade of grass in the wilderness. If we continue to attack, we can quickly defeat them. I suggest we keep pressing the attack, directly surround Pyongyang, capture their king, and return in triumph." He wrote a letter requesting to continue the attack, refusing to obey the royal command. Chief Cui Junsu strongly advised against it, but he did not listen. Lai Huer said, "The enemy's power has already collapsed. Just leave it to me, and I'll take care of it. I am leading the troops outside, so I should be the one in charge. How can I follow the court's orders from afar! If we delay a little, we will miss the opportunity, waste our efforts, and have no merit. I would rather take Gao Yuan, return and accept punishment, than give up this chance for success!" Cui Junsu told everyone, "If you follow the marshal in defying the royal command, it will be reported to the court, and everyone will be punished!" The soldiers were afraid and advised him to return, and he finally obeyed the royal command.
In the 13th year of Daye, Lai Huer was promoted to General of the Left Yiwu Guard and was appointed as the Governor of the Palace with the title of Specially Advanced Three Excellencies. The emperor entrusted him with important tasks and bestowed countless honors upon him. Later, during the Jiangdu Incident, Yuwen Huaji resented him and had him killed.
The eldest son is Kai, who was granted the official positions of Sanqi Lang and Court Gentleman due to his father's military achievements. His younger brother Hong became a Guoyi Langjiang and a Jinsiguanglu Dafu. Hong's son Zheng rose to the ranks of Wuben Langjiang and Right Guanglu Dafu. Zheng was particularly brave and skilled at pacifying soldiers, winning battles against bandits with unmatched success. The bandits were especially afraid of him and even wrote a song about him: "On the Changbai Mountain battlefield, with ten fifteen-foot long spears, not fearing an army of ten thousand, only fearing Lord Rong's sixth son." Later, during a rebellion, the entire family met a tragic fate, except for his two youngest sons, Heng and Ji, who miraculously escaped.
Yu Juluo is from the Fengyi region. He was eight shaku tall, remarkably strong, with a voice that could be heard from hundreds of paces away when speaking. He became a personal guard of the emperor at a young age, gradually rising in rank to be granted the title of Duke and awarded fifteen hundred bolts of cloth. Not long after, when Shen Xuantuo and Gao Zhihui incited a rebellion in Jiangnan, Yang Su, impressed by Yu Juluo's bravery, requested that he join the campaign. He distinguished himself in every battle, earning further promotions to Duke and Count of Gaotang, ultimately becoming the governor of Diezhou Province. After his mother passed away, he resigned from his post to fulfill his mourning duties at home. On his way back, he happened upon Yang Su, who was leading troops to Lingzhou to fight the Turks. Yang Su was overjoyed to see him and requested his participation in the campaign. In battle, Yu Juluo charged forward with a few cavalrymen, shouting at the top of his lungs and intimidating the enemy, sending them fleeing in disarray. Due to his achievements, he was promoted to Pillar of the State and appointed as the governor of Fengzhou Province. Initially, the Turks often launched raids along the border, but Yu Juluo always managed to capture and execute them. From then on, the Turks came to fear him and no longer dared to graze their livestock near the border.
At the beginning, when Yang Guang was still a prince, Juro Dizan followed him as a guard and later rose through the ranks to become a Grand General. After Yang Guang became emperor, he appointed him as General of Chariots and Cavalry. This Dizan was a ruthless character, especially cruel, often abusing his subordinates. He would torture people, and if it didn't meet his standards, he would poke their eyes out with a skewer; if someone didn't warm his wine to his liking, he would cut off their tongues! Yang Guang, being his old master, out of old loyalty, couldn't bear to kill him, so he said to those around him, "If his brother is like this, how good can his older brother be?" So he called Juro to reprimand him, imprisoned Dizan, and left him to his own devices. Dizan returned home and took poison and ended his life.
Yang Guang was worried Juro might rebel, so he appointed him as governor of Anzhou. Over a year later, he appointed him as prefect of Zhaojun. Later, when Yang Guang convened a meeting in the Eastern Capital, Juro often visited General Liang Boyin since they were acquaintances from before. He also brought many tributes from his prefecture to present to the emperor, but Yang Guang seized them, so Juro distributed these items among the nobles. The imperial censor charged Juro and Liang Boyin with colluding with court officials, which infuriated Yang Guang, and he dismissed and investigated both of them.
Not long after, the barbarian tribes of Yuechi rebelled and invaded Zhao Jun. The court ordered Ju Luo to lead troops in plain clothes, along with the commander of Shu Jun, Duan Zhongkui, to quell the rebellion. In the ninth year of the Daye era, the court sent troops to Goguryeo and appointed Ju Luo as the commander of the Jieshi Dao Army. After returning from the war, Liu Yuanjin from Jiangnan rebelled again, and the court sent Ju Luo to lead troops to capture the rebels in the area of Kuaiji. At that time, the common people were eager for chaos, and many joined the rebel forces, as if it were a festival. Ju Luo defeated rebel leaders such as Zhu Xie and Guan Chong, winning every battle. However, the rebel forces grew stronger and regrouped after being defeated. Ju Luo feared that the war might drag on for several years, and his sons were in Luoyang and Chang'an. Seeing the chaos in the world increasing, he feared he might never return home. The eastern capital was experiencing a famine, and food prices soared. Ju Luo sent his servants to transport grain from his ships to the eastern capital to sell, along with other goods, secretly bringing back his sons. The court caught wind of something unusual and suspected Ju Luo of treason, so they sent people to investigate. After the envoy arrived and conducted inquiries, no evidence of guilt was found. The emperor then ordered the Grand Justice Liang Jingzhen to escort Ju Luo to the eastern capital. Ju Luo had a striking appearance, with mismatched eyes, which Emperor Yang Guang viewed as an ill omen and always suspected him. Liang Jingzhen flattered the emperor and reported that Ju Luo's army had collapsed like a house of cards. As a result, Ju Luo was executed in the eastern capital, and his estate was seized.
Chen Leng, courtesy name Changwei, was from Xiang'an, Lujiang. His grandfather Chen Shuo earned a living as a fisherman. His father Chen Xian was brave and skilled in battle when he was young and served as an aide to Zhang Dabao. After Zhang Dabao rebelled, Chen Xian was appointed as the Prefect of Qiaozhou. After the fall of the Chen dynasty, Chen Xian returned home and lived a life of leisure. Later, Gao Zhihui, Wang Wenjin, and others rebelled in Jiangnan, and the heroes of Lujiang rallied to the cause. Because Chen Xian was their former leader, they nominated him as their leader. Chen Xian was reluctant to accept, but Chen Leng advised him, saying, "Everyone is joining the rebellion; refusing will only bring trouble to yourself. It's better to pretend to agree first and then think of a solution." Chen Xian listened to his words. At this time, the army of Zhuguo Li Che arrived in Dangtu. Chen Xian secretly sent Chen Leng to see Li Che, requesting to be an informant. Li Che reported this to the court, and the court appointed Chen Leng as the Grand General, governor of Xuanzhou, Duke of Qiao, with a fief of a thousand households, and ordered Li Che to treat him well.
Li Che's army had not yet arrived, but the plan leaked. Chen Xi was killed by his accomplices, but Chen Leng managed to escape. The Emperor, considering his father's merits, appointed him as a Prefect and soon put him in command of local troops. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, he appointed Chen Leng as the General of Cavalry. In the third year of the Daye era, he was promoted to Wubeng Langjiang. Three years later, he led over ten thousand Dongyang soldiers with the court official Zhang Zhenzhou from Yi'an to attack Liuqiu. They reached their destination a month later. The people of Liuqiu mistook the ships for merchant vessels and came to the camp to trade. Chen Leng led everyone ashore and sent Zhang Zhenzhou as the vanguard. The king of Liuqiu, Huan Sikela, sent troops to resist, but Zhang Zhenzhou repeatedly defeated them. When Chen Leng arrived at Ditan Cave, the Liuqiu prince, Huan Silaomo, led his troops to resist, but Chen Leng defeated him and killed him. On a foggy rainy day, the soldiers were afraid, so Chen Leng offered a white horse as a sacrifice to the sea god. The weather cleared up afterwards, and Chen Leng divided his army into five routes, heading straight for the capital of Liuqiu. Huan Sikela led thousands of men to resist, but Chen Leng sent Zhang Zhenzhou as the vanguard to drive them away. Chen Leng pursued them to their camp, where Huan Sikela set up his defenses. Chen Leng concentrated his forces and attacked, fighting fiercely from morning unti
Emperor Yang of Sui was very pleased, promoting Chen Leng to the position of Right Minister of Rites, while Wuben Langjiang remained unchanged, and Zhang Zhenzhou was also promoted to Jinzi Guanglu Daifu. During the Liaodong campaign, Chen Leng was promoted to Left Minister of Rites for his service as a guard. The following year, Emperor Yang once again campaigned against Liaodong, while Chen Leng stayed behind in Donglai. During the rebellion of Yang Xuangan, Chen Leng led over ten thousand troops to pacify Liyang, killing Yuan Wuben, the governor appointed by Yang Xuangan. He was later commanded to build warships in Jiangnan. Upon reaching Pengcheng, the rebel leader Meng Rang commanded a hundred thousand troops, occupied Duliang Palace, blocked the Huai River and held their position. Chen Leng secretly crossed the Huai River at a lower point, arrived in Jiangdu, attacked Meng Rang, and defeated him. For his accomplishments, Chen Leng was promoted to Guanglu Daifu and granted the title of Marquis of Xin'an. Later, Emperor Yang arrived at the Jiangdu Palace; shortly after, Li Zitong occupied Hailing, Zuo Caixiang raided the areas north of the Huai River, and Du Fuwei stationed troops in Liuhe, each with tens of thousands of soldiers. Emperor Yang sent Chen Leng to lead the guards to suppress them, achieving multiple victories. Chen Leng was promoted to Right General of the Imperial Guards. He crossed the Qing River and attacked the rebels in Xuancheng. Soon after, Emperor Yang was killed, Yuwen Huaji led his troops north, and summoned Chen Leng to guard Jiangdu. Chen Leng gathered the people, dressed in white, he mourned for Emperor Yang, arranged the funeral procession, and reburied Emperor Yang at Wugongtai. He walked with a cane, mourning along the way, touching passersby with his grief, and he received praise from people for his loyalty. Later, Chen Leng faced defeat at the hands of Li Zitong and fled to Du Fuwei, who, wary of him, soon had him killed.
Wang Bian, courtesy name Jinglue, was from Pucheng in Fengyi. His ancestors made a fortune in business. During the Northern Wei period, he donated grain to support the army and was appointed as the acting Taishou of Qinghe. Wang Bian studied military tactics at a young age, especially excelling in equestrian archery, and was known for his generosity and ambition.
During the Northern Zhou period, he was appointed as a military commander due to his military achievements. During the reign of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, he was promoted to Grand Commander; during the Renshou period, he was further promoted to General of Cavalry and Chariots. When Prince Liang of Han rebelled, he followed Yang Su in suppressing the rebellion and was granted the title of Lord of Wuning County, with a fief of three hundred households. Three years later, he was promoted to Chief of the Imperial Stables.
Later, he accompanied the army in campaigns against the Tuyuhun and was appointed as a court official. Several years later, he was promoted to the rank of Eagle Soaring General. In the battle of Liaodong, he was awarded the title of Grand Counselor for his achievements, and shortly after was promoted to General of Martial Prowess.
When bandits were rampant in Shandong, a man named Wei Dao'er from Shanggu claimed to be "Fei of Lishan," with over ten thousand men under his command, pillaging in the Yan and Zhao regions. The Emperor summoned Wang Bian to discuss strategies for suppressing the rebellion. Wang Bian analyzed the situation of the bandits, and the Emperor was very impressed, saying, "If we follow your plan, what do we have to fear from these bandits?" Therefore, the Emperor appointed him to lead three thousand troops to suppress the bandits, leading to a decisive victory, and the Emperor generously rewarded him with two hundred taels of gold.
The following year, the pirate leader Gao Shida of Bohai proclaimed himself as the "Duke of the East Sea," with tens of thousands of men under his command. The Emperor once again sent Wang Bian to suppress him, and Wang Bian defeated Gao Shida's army multiple times. The Emperor, who was in Jiangdu Palace at the time, immediately summoned him back upon hearing the news. After meeting with Wang Bian, the Emperor rewarded him generously and sent him to lead the campaign in Xindu. Gao Shida was defeated once again in battle against Wang Bian, and the Emperor issued a decree praising Wang Bian's merit.
At that time, bandit leaders like Hao Xiaode, Sun Xuanya, Shi Jikang, Dou Jiande, and Wei Dao'er each controlled their own territories, with some having only a few thousand troops and others as many as one hundred thousand, all engaging in pillaging in the Hebei region. Wang Bian led the troops in campaigns, winning every battle, striking fear into these bandits.
Later, Zhai Rang stirred up trouble in the Xuzhou and Yuzhou regions. Wang Bian went to put him down and managed to defeat Zhai Rang's forces several times. Eventually, Zhai Rang and Li Mi occupied Luokou Warehouse together. Wang Bian teamed up with Wang Shichong to take on Li Mi, and the two sides faced off at Luoshui for more than a year.
Wang Bian led his troops to break through Li Mi's forces, pursued them in triumph, and smashed through the outer defenses of Li Mi's camp. Li Mi's army was already crumbling, and Wang Bian's forces were on the verge of storming the city in victory. However, Wang Shichong, not realizing the situation and worried that his soldiers were too exhausted, ordered a retreat by sounding the horn. As a result, the remaining soldiers of Li Mi seized the opportunity and launched a counterattack. The imperial army was in complete disarray, unable to regroup. Wang Bian rushed to the bank of Luoshui, but the bridge was destroyed, leaving him no choice but to wade through the river. As he reached the middle of the river, the current swept his warhorse away. Wang Bian, clad in heavy armor and surrounded by retreating soldiers, found himself unable to get back up. Ultimately, he drowned. He was fifty-six at the time. His soldiers mourned him deeply.
Hus Wan Shan from Henan was a brave and decisive warrior, just as famous as Wang Bian. During the reign of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, he accompanied Wei Xuan in the campaign against Yang Xuange, fought numerous battles, and earned great accolades. When Yang Xuange was defeated and fled, Hus Wan Shan and a handful of others caught up, cornering him until he had no choice but to take his own life. This incident catapulted Hus Wan Shan to fame, and he was appointed as the Wubeng Lang General.
Later, the Turkic Khagan besieged Yanmen Pass, and Husi Wanshan led the charge, sending the Turkic army into a rout. Every time the enemy charged, he was the first to meet them in battle, sometimes even dismounting and sitting on the ground, pulling his strong bow to shoot and kill the enemy, hitting every target. In this way, the Turkic forces dared not approach the city walls, and after more than ten days, they retreated, all thanks to the credit of Husi Wanshan! After that, he repeatedly attacked mountain bandits, earned military accolades, and finally rose to the rank of general.
At that time, there were a few other notable generals, Lu Yuan, Fan Gui, and Feng Xiaoci, who were also famous military leaders and participated in battles many times. However, their deeds have been forgotten by history, so there is no record of them in historical books.
Historical records note that during the Chu-Han conflict, it was only during this time that Zhou Bo, the Marquis of Jiang, and Guan Ying were able to realize their ambitions; during the struggle between Cao Cao and Liu Bei for dominance, it was only then that Guan Yu and Zhang Fei became famous. Therefore, gaining fame must align with the times when the world is settling, and making accomplishments must align with periods of national upheaval. There are many historical figures who attached themselves to the powerful. Individuals like Yuantong, Huer, Dinghe, and Tiezhang were all elite warriors of their time, yet they found themselves trapped in poverty and obscurity. In their youth, when they were still unknown, who could have guessed they harbored such great ambitions? In the end, they were able to overcome adversity, rise to prominence, fulfill their wishes, and satisfy their ambitions, all depending on whether they had the opportunity!
Although Julo was wronged, it was not his fault; Wang Bian sacrificed himself for the country, with high aspirations to serve the nation; Chen Leng, dressed in plain clothes, mourned Wang Bian's death, moving passers-by with his grief, demonstrating admirable loyalty. Meng Cai, Qian Jie, and Shen Guang were grateful and loyal, always remembering their master in times of peril. Although they did not achieve great feats, their loyalty and righteousness are equally commendable!
