Hou Mo Chen Ying, styled Zundao, was a native of Dai County. After the Wei Kingdom moved south, his family had been high-ranking military officials for generations. His father, Hou Mo Chen Chong, held many important official positions between the Wei and Zhou dynasties, and eventually served as the Grand Minister of Works. Hou Mo Chen Ying showed the demeanor of a great general from a young age, and was handsome and admired by his peers. As the Wei Dynasty was nearing its end, due to his father's military achievements, he was conferred the title of Marquis of Guangping, and later promoted to the position of Prefect of the Palace Secretariat.
During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Zhou Dynasty, he followed Prince Teng You to quell the rebellious tribes in Longquan and Wencheng. He and General Doulou Ji led their troops from different directions. Marching over five hundred li with his troops, Hou Mo Chen Ying captured three enemy camps in quick succession. Previously, these rebellious tribes had frequently raided and enslaved the people living on the border. The court issued a decree that any tribesman who harbored civilians would face execution and have their property confiscated. There were reports that some civilians were hidden in a particular tribal village, and Doulou Ji planned to kill everyone in that village. However, Hou Mo Chen Ying stepped in and said, "Generals in the field have the discretion to adapt orders based on the situation. Not all of these tribesmen are true rebels; many were compelled to join. With our army closing in, the leaders of the rebellion are afraid, and those forced to join will consider surrendering. We should first pacify them, calming the rebellion without bloodshed. Killing them outright will only heighten their fear and complicate things further. It would be wiser to call their leaders, return the hidden civilians, and allow them to surrender voluntarily, ensuring the peace of all the tribesmen." Doulou Ji accepted his advice. The tribesmen were moved by this gesture and came forward to surrender, resulting in stability along the northern border.
Later, Hou Mo Chen Ying was promoted to be the Minister of Military Affairs and further appointed as the Grand Master of the Zhenwei. When Emperor Wen of Sui became Chancellor, he appointed him as the Governor of Changzhou. When Emperor Wen of Sui ascended to the throne, Hou Mo Chen Ying did not take up the position but was further appointed as the Duke of Shengping. Not long after, he was appointed as the Governor of Yanzhou. Several years later, he was transferred to be the Governor of Chenzhou. During the campaign against the Chen Dynasty, he served as the commander of the army, following Prince Qin Yang Jun to lead troops from Lushan Road. After the surrender of Chen Dynasty generals Xun Fashang and Chen Ji, Hou Mo Chen Ying and the commander of the army, Duan Wenzhen, crossed the Yangtze River to reassure those who had just surrendered. He was then appointed as the Governor of Raozhou, but before taking up the position, he was transferred to be the Governor of Yingzhou, where he performed many acts of kindness for the people. After serving in Yingzhou for several years, he was dismissed from his post because of his close ties with Prince Qin Yang Jun. The people bid him farewell, all in tears, and even erected a monument together to praise his integrity. Not long after, he was appointed as the acting governor of Fenzhou, and then became the Governor of Xingzhou.
During the Renshou period, the Minister of Personnel, Niu Hong, was ordered to inspect Shandong and ranked Hou Mo Chen Ying as the top official. Emperor Wen of Sui was very pleased and issued an edict to commend him. At that time, the court felt that most of the prefects and county magistrates in Lingnan were greedy and despicable, and the people from the minority tribes were resentful and rebellious, so they carefully selected honest officials to win their trust. Therefore, the court summoned Hou Mo Chen Ying back to the capital. When Hou Mo Chen Ying entered the palace to meet the emperor, Emperor Wen of Sui and he shared a lively conversation. After a few days, Hou Mo Chen Ying was promoted to Grand General, appointed as the Commander of Guizhou, responsible for military affairs across seventeen provinces. Emperor Wen of Sui also granted him many rewards before letting him take up his new position. In Guizhou, Hou Mo Chen Ying placed great emphasis on benevolence, virtue, and integrity, and he earned the respect of both the local populace and minority groups. Many minority groups from mountainous areas came to pledge their loyalty to him.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended to the throne, Hou Mochen Rui, the older brother of Hou Mochen Ying, Duke of Liangguo, was exiled to the border for his crimes. The court feared that Hou Mochen Ying might cause trouble, so they summoned him back to the capital. Several years later, he was appointed as the governor of Hengshan. In that year, many areas in the Lingnan and Minyue regions were defying the court. Emperor Yang of Sui remembered the good deeds that Hou Mochen Ying had done in Guizhou, which earned him the trust of the local people, so he appointed him as the governor of Nanhai again. Four years later, Hou Mochen Ying died in office and was posthumously given the title "Ding." His son, Hou Mochen Qianhui, was also well-known.
Historical records state that Du Yandong served on the borders of Xia and Nan, earning numerous military accolades and guarding the northern frontier, preventing the northern tribes from acting recklessly. When Gao Mei was on his deathbed, his spirit was resolute. He detested those treacherous villains and ultimately left behind a good reputation. Look at Erzhu Chang, who had extraordinary talents from a young age, but eventually learned to be content and happy; even if his accomplishments were lost, he could rebuild them. Isn't that a display of both kindness and wisdom?
Zhou Yao was recognized for his reliability, Dugu Xin's reputation spread far and wide for his compassion towards the people, and Qifu Huineng was able to relinquish state power, allowing the Hou Mochen family to govern the region. Some were proficient in pastoral ways, while others followed the path of benevolence and righteousness; they all had commendable qualities. Huineng was demoted for having a simple tent, but he entered the court at a young age, served as an official in three dynasties, and eventually enjoyed wealth and status, passing away peacefully. Perhaps this was because he acted according to his nature, never pretending or being artificial.
