Lai Huer, whose courtesy name was Chongshan, was a native of Jiangdu. He had remarkable abilities from a young age and enjoyed doing earth-shattering things. When he first read the Book of Songs and came across the lines "Striking the drums and dancing, actively engaging in battle" and "Wearing a lamb fur robe adorned with leopard skins, showing great martial prowess," he set the book down and exclaimed, "A great man should live like this in the world! One should fight against enemies for the country, make great achievements, and not spend their whole life farming in the fields!" His friends were shocked by his words and inspired by his ambition.
Lai Huer lived in Baitu Village, not far from the river. At that time, the situation in the Jiangnan region was still unstable, with Hero Bi stationed in Shouzhou. He often sent Lai Huer to work as a spy and later appointed him as a general. In the war to pacify the Chen Dynasty, Lai Huer made significant contributions, was promoted, and became a high-ranking official. Later, he followed Yang Su to Zhejiang to fight against Gao Zhihui. Gao Zhihui's army occupied the riverbank, with camps stretching for over a hundred miles and warships covering the river, filling the air with the deafening sounds of battle. Yang Su ordered Lai Huer to lead hundreds of light boats to directly land on the riverbank and attack the enemy camp, leading to the enemy camp's collapse. At that time, Gao Zhihui's army suffered defeat in a battle with Yang Su in the front, and the rear was also breached, leading to the dispersal of the entire army. Gao Zhihui tried to escape to the sea, but Lai Huer pursued him to Quanzhou. With no escape route, Gao Zhihui fled to the Minyue region. Lai Huer was promoted to Grand General and appointed Governor of Quanzhou.
At that time, there was a man named Sheng Daoyan who led a rebellion and caused disturbances in Quanzhou, and he was defeated by Lai Huer, who led troops to fight against him. Later, he followed Duke Pugong Li Kuan to defeat Wang Wenjin in Yi County and She County, and was promoted to the rank of General of the Column. In the third year of Renshou, he was appointed as the Prefect of Yingzhou, granted the title of Duke of Huangxian, with a fief consisting of three thousand households. Shortly after, he was further promoted to the rank of Grand General and appointed as the General of the Right Imperial Guards. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, Lai Huer was promoted to the position of Grand General of the Right Valiant Guards, and the Emperor held him in high regard. In the sixth year of Daye, he followed the Emperor to Jiangdu, where the Emperor bestowed upon him a thousand bolts of cloth to pay respects to his ancestors' tombs and host a feast for the elders of the village, bringing immense honor to the entire region. A few years later, he was promoted to the position of Grand General of the Right Vanguard.
In the Battle of Liaodong, Lai Huer commanded a fleet of ships, navigating the rough seas, and entered from Ba Water, sixty miles away from Pyongyang, where he encountered the forces of Goryeo. He led his troops in a fierce attack, decisively defeated the Goryeo army, pursued them and breached the city walls of Goryeo. The Sui army then began to plunder indiscriminately, resulting in some disarray among their ranks. Goryeo King Gao Yuan's brother Jianwu recruited five hundred brave warriors to counterattack the Sui army. Lai Huer had to retreat and established camp by the sea, waiting for an opportunity. Later, upon hearing of the defeat of Yu Wenshu and others, he returned to the capital. The following year, he led his troops from Canghai, stationed in Donglai, where Yang Xuangan launched a rebellion in Liyang, threatening Gongzhou and Luozhou. Lai Huer led his troops with Yu Wenshu and others to defeat Yang Xuangan. He was granted the title of Duke of Rongguo, with a fief of two thousand households. Ten years later, he led his troops across the sea to reach Beishecheng, where the entire Goryeo nation mobilized for battle. Lai Huer decisively defeated the Goryeo army, claiming over a thousand enemy lives. As they were on the verge of capturing Pyongyang, Goryeo King Gao Yuan was terrified and sent someone to bring the traitor Husi Zheng to the city of Liaodong, seeking to surrender. The Emperor consented and issued a decree commanding Lai Huer to return to the capital.
General Lai Huer summoned his troops and said, "We have already gone to war three times, and still have not been able to completely eliminate the enemy. If we go back this time, we may not have another chance in the future. Now Goryeo is already very weak, with the land barren. With our military advantage, we can quickly win by attacking them. I want to continue the attack, directly surround Pyongyang, capture their king, and return victorious." He reported back to the emperor, requesting permission to continue the war and refusing to return to the capital. Chief Historian Cui Junsu strongly urged him to reconsider, but he refused to heed the advice. Lai Huer said, "The enemy's power has already collapsed. As long as command is given to me, I can handle it. I must have the authority to make independent decisions on the battlefield. How can I ask the court for orders from afar? Any delay could mean missing our chance, wasting effort, and gaining nothing. I'd rather face punishment after taking Pyongyang than miss this opportunity for victory!" Cui Junsu warned the others, "If we follow the marshal's orders and disobey the imperial decree, it will surely be reported to the court, and we will all be punished!" The soldiers were all afraid and advised him to return, and he finally accepted the imperial decree.
In the thirteenth year of the Daye era, Lai Huer was promoted to Left Wing Guard General and was appointed to a position equivalent to a ministerial rank, as the emperor grew more trusting of him, receiving numerous rewards. Later, during the Jiangdu Incident, Yu Wen Huaji resented him and had him killed.
The eldest son, Kai, was directly appointed as a Sǎn Qí Láng and Cháo Sǎn Dàfū thanks to his father's military accomplishments. His younger brother, Hong, achieved the rank of Guǒ Yì Láng Jiàng and Jīn Zǐ Guānglù Dàfū. Hong's son, Zheng, became a Wǔ Bēn Láng Jiàng and Yòu Guānglù Dàfū. Zheng was exceptionally brave and a masterful leader of troops, defeating every bandit he faced. The bandits were especially afraid of him, and even wrote songs about him: "In a hundred battles on Changbai Mountain, ten by fifteen five long spears, not afraid of the official army of one hundred thousand, only afraid of Rónggōng's sixth son." Later, during a rebellion, the entire family was slaughtered, leaving only the youngest two sons, Heng and Ji, alive.
Yu Juluo is from Fengyi. He is over eight feet tall, immensely strong, with a booming voice that carries for hundreds of meters. He started as the emperor's personal guard when he was young and gradually rose through the ranks to become a great general. He fought alongside Prince Jin, accomplished remarkable deeds, and was rewarded with the title of Governor and 1,500 rolls of cloth. Soon after, when Shen Xuanti and Gao Zhihui rebelled in Jiangnan, Yang Su, impressed by Yu Juluo's prowess, took him to suppress the rebellion. He fought every battle brilliantly and was promoted to Governor, Count of Gaotang, and then Governor of Diezhou. After his mother died, he resigned from his position to observe mourning at home. On his way back, he happened to meet Yang Su leading troops to fight the Turks in Lingzhou. Yang Su was delighted to see him and requested the emperor to allow him to join the campaign.
During the battle with the Turks, Yu Juluo led a few cavalrymen to charge into the enemy ranks, shouting and yelling with his eyes wide open. He sent the enemy fleeing, charging back and forth with incredible bravery. For his achievements, he was titled Defender of the State and appointed as Governor of Fengzhou. Previously, the Turks often raided the border, but Yu Juluo consistently captured or killed them. From then on, the Turks were too afraid to approach the border for grazing.
At the beginning, when Emperor Yang of Sui was still a vassal king, Juluo Dizan followed him as a guard and gradually rose through the ranks to become a great general. After Emperor Yang ascended to the throne, he appointed him as General of Chariots and Cavalry. Dizan was a ruthless character, especially cruel to his subordinates. He would have people roasted alive, and if the roasting did not meet his standards, he would blind them with a skewer; if someone served him wine that was not warm enough, he would slice off their tongues. Because Emperor Yang and Dizan were from the same hometown, and out of old friendship, the Emperor could not bear to kill him. Instead, he scolded Dizan and imprisoned him, leaving him to fend for himself. Dizan returned home and took poison to end his life.
Emperor Yang, worried that Juluo might be restless and rebel, moved him to Anzhou as a governor. Over a year later, he was transferred to Zhaojun as a governor. Later, when the court convened in the Eastern Capital, Juluo attended. He was old friends with General Liang Boyin, and they often caught up. Juluo also brought many tributes from the county to offer to the Emperor, which were seized and given to high-ranking officials. The imperial censor accused Juluo of colluding with other officials, which angered Emperor Yang, resulting in both Juluo and Liang Boyin being dismissed and investigated.
Not long after, the Yue Xi barbarian tribes rebelled and attacked Zhao County. The court ordered Ju Luo to lead his troops dressed in civilian clothes, together with Duan Zhongkui, the prefect of Shu Jun, to suppress the rebellion, which was successfully suppressed. In the ninth year of Daye, Emperor Yang of Sui again launched a campaign against Goguryeo, appointing Ju Luo as the commander of the Jieshi Dao army. Upon his return, Liu Yuanjin in Jiangnan rebelled, and the court again ordered Ju Luo to lead troops to capture the rebels in Kuaiji and other areas. At that time, the common people were yearning for chaos, joining the rebels in droves, much like going to a market. Ju Luo defeated rebel leaders such as Zhu Xie and Guan Chong, winning every battle. However, the rebel forces grew stronger and regrouped after each defeat. Ju Luo feared that this war might drag on for several years, and his sons were in Luoyang and Chang'an. Seeing the increasing chaos in the world, he feared he might not be able to return in the future.
At that time, Dongdu was suffering from famine, and food prices skyrocketed. Ju Luo sent his servants to transport the family's grain to Dongdu for sale, and also smuggled some other goods, secretly bringing his son over. The court began to sense something was off and worried that Ju Luo might have rebellious intentions, so they sent people to investigate. Despite thorough inquiries, no evidence of wrongdoing by Ju Luo was found. The emperor then sent Grand Justice Liang Jingzhen to bring Ju Luo to Dongdu. Ju Luo was said to be a remarkable man, rumored to have two pupils in each eye, which made the emperor secretly wary. Liang Jingzhen flattered the emperor by falsely reporting that Ju Luo's army had been defeated, and subsequently had Ju Luo executed in Dongdu, confiscating his assets.
Chen Leng, courtesy name Changwei, was from Xiang'an, Lujiang. His grandfather Chen Shuo made a living by fishing, and his father Chen Xian was a brave warrior when he was young, serving as an aide to Zhang Dabao. When Zhang Dabao led a rebellion, Chen Xian was appointed as the governor of Qiaozhou. After the fall of the Chen dynasty, Chen Xian returned home and retired. Later, Gao Zhihui and Wang Wenjin rebelled in Jiangnan, and the heroes of Lujiang also took up arms in response, as Chen Xian was their former leader, and they elected him as their leader. Although Chen Xian wanted to refuse, Chen Leng persuaded him, saying, "Everyone has already rebelled. If you refuse them, trouble will also fall on you. It's better to pretend to agree with them and then think of another solution." Chen Xian followed his advice.
At that time, the army of Zhuguo Li Che arrived in Dangtu. Chen Xian secretly sent Chen Leng to see Li Che, requesting his assistance. Li Che reported this to the court, and the court appointed Chen Leng as Grand General, Governor of Xuanzhou, and bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Qiao, with a fief of a thousand families, and also ordered Li Che to treat him well. However, before Li Che's army arrived, the plan was leaked, and Chen Xian was killed by his accomplices, while Chen Leng managed to flee. Due to his father's connections, the court appointed him as an official, and soon after put him in charge of the local militia. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, he appointed him as General of the Valiant Cavalry. In the third year of the Daye period, he was appointed as General of Martial Valor.
Three years later, Chen Ling and the court official Zhang Zhenzhou led more than 10,000 soldiers from Dongyang, departing from Yi'an, sailing out to sea to campaign against the country of Liqiu. One month later, they arrived at Liqiu. When the people of Liqiu first spotted the ships, they thought they were merchant ships and came to the military camp to do business. Chen Ling led the army ashore, with Zhang Zhenzhou leading the vanguard. The king of Liqiu, Huan Sikeda, sent troops to fight back, but Zhang Zhenzhou defeated them multiple times. Chen Ling advanced to Dimetang, where the Liqiu prince, Huan Silaomo, led troops to resist, but Chen Ling defeated him and killed Silaomo. On a foggy and rainy day, the soldiers were all very scared, so Chen Ling offered a white horse as a sacrifice to the sea god. After the weather cleared, Chen Ling divided the army into five routes and marched straight toward the capital of Liqiu. Sikeda led thousands of troops to resist, but Chen Ling sent Zhang Zhenzhou as the vanguard and defeated them. Chen Ling pursued the enemy and chased them all the way to their camp, where Sikeda positioned his troops. Chen Ling concentrated his forces and attacked, fighting fiercely from dawn until dusk. When Sikeda saw that his troops were tired, he withdrew to the camp. Chen Ling then filled the moat and breached the camp, killed Sikeda, captured his son Daotui, and captured thousands of soldiers and civilians, returning home in triumph.
Emperor Yang of Sui was very pleased, promoting Chen Leng to the position of Right Minister of Rites, while Wu Ben Langjiang retained his position, and also promoting Zhang Zhenzhou to Jinzi Guanglu Daifu. During the Liaodong War, Chen Leng was promoted to Left Minister of Rites for his meritorious service as a guard in the palace. The following year, Emperor Yang of Sui again campaigned in Liaodong, appointing Chen Leng as the garrison commander of Donglai. When Yang Xuangan rebelled, Chen Leng led over ten thousand troops to quell the unrest in Liyang, killing the governor appointed by Yang Xuangan, Yuan Wuben. He was then commanded to construct warships in Jiangnan. Upon reaching Pengcheng, the rebel leader Meng Rang commanded an army of a hundred thousand, occupying Duliang Palace and defending the Huai River. Chen Leng secretly crossed the river downstream to reach Jiangdu, leading his forces to engage Meng Rang and defeating him. For this feat, Chen Leng was promoted to Minister of Rites and granted the title of Marquis Xin'an.
Later, Emperor Yang of Sui arrived at Jiangdu Palace; shortly thereafter, Li Zitong took control of Hailing, Zuo Caixiang plundered north of the Huai River, and Du Fuwei stationed troops in Liuhé, with tens of thousands of soldiers from various factions. Emperor Yang of Sui sent Chen Leng to lead the palace guards to suppress them, achieving numerous victories and promoting Chen Leng to Right Yùwèi General. He then crossed the Qing River to attack the rebels in Xuancheng. Soon after, Emperor Yang of Sui was killed, and Yuwen Huaji led troops north, summoning Chen Leng to guard Jiangdu. Chen Leng gathered his troops, donned white clothing, and mourned Emperor Yang of Sui, holding a ceremony to have Emperor Yang of Sui reburied at Wugongtai. He walked with a cane at the funeral, his sorrowful demeanor moving the passersby, who praised his loyalty. Later, Chen Leng was defeated by Li Zitong and fled to Du Fuwei, who, fearing him, soon had him killed.
Wang Bian, with the courtesy name Jinglue, was a native of Pucheng in Fengyi. His ancestors made a fortune through business. During the Northern Wei period, Wang Bian once donated food to support the army and was appointed as the Prefect of Qinghe. Wang Bian studied military strategy at a young age, especially excelling in equestrian archery. He was generous and ambitious.
During the Northern Zhou period, he was appointed as the Commander-in-Chief due to his military achievements. In the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty, he was promoted to Grand Commandant; during the Renshou era, he was further promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry. When Prince Liang of Han rebelled, he followed Yang Su in suppressing the rebellion and was granted the title of Baron of Wuning County with a fief of three hundred households. Three years later, he was promoted to Shangshe Fengyu.
Later, he accompanied the army to campaign against the Tuyuhun and was appointed as an Imperial Secretary. Several years later, he was promoted to Yingyang Langjiang. During the campaign in Liaodong, he was further promoted to Grand Counselor and soon became a Wuben Langjiang. At that time, banditry was rampant in Shandong, led by a leader named Wei Dao'er, who called himself "Lishan Fei" and commanded over ten thousand men to plunder in the Yan and Zhao regions. The Emperor summoned Wang Bian to inquire about strategies to suppress the rebellion. Wang Bian analyzed the situation of the bandits, and the Emperor was highly impressed, saying, "If we follow your plan, what do the bandits have to fear?" As a result, the Emperor sent three thousand troops under Wang Bian's command, achieving a resounding victory, and rewarding him with two hundred taels of gold.
In the second year, the pirate leader Gao Shida of Bohai self-proclaimed 'Lord of the East Sea,' commanding over ten thousand men. The emperor once again ordered Wang Bian to go and attack, and Wang Bian repeatedly defeated the enemy forces. At that time, the emperor was at the Jiangdu Palace. Upon hearing this, he immediately summoned Wang Bian, rewarded him with generous gifts, and sent him to govern Xindu. Gao Shida once again battled Wang Bian and was subsequently defeated. The emperor issued a decree praising Wang Bian's achievements. At that time, leaders such as Hao Xiaode, Sun Xuanya, Shi Jikang, Dou Jiande, and Wei Dao'er each occupied their own territories, with troops ranging from tens of thousands to a few thousand, all engaged in burning, killing, and plundering across Hebei. Wang Bian led his troops into battle, achieving victory every time, causing these bandits to tremble in fear.
Later, Zhai Rang launched attacks on Xuzhou and Yuzhou. Wang Bian confronted him with his troops, defeating Zhai Rang's army multiple times. Zhai Rang later joined forces with Li Mi to occupy Luokou Granary. Wang Bian and Wang Shichong together attacked Li Mi, and the two sides faced off at Luoshui, remaining deadlocked for over a year. Wang Bian and his soldiers broke through Li Mi's camp, pursued the victory, and broke through the outer fence. Li Mi's army began to collapse, and Wang Bian was about to take advantage and attack the city. However, Wang Shichong, fearing that the soldiers were too exhausted, ordered the retreat, only to be attacked by Li Mi's army in turn. The official army suffered a major defeat that could not be salvaged. Wang Bian ran to the bank of the Luoshui, only to find that the bridge was broken and he could not cross the river. He had to wade through the water. When he reached the middle of the river, he was swept away by the current and fell from his horse. At that time, Wang Bian was in heavy armor, and as the defeated soldiers crowded around, he could not climb back onto his horse. He ultimately drowned in the river.
Wang Bian passed away at the age of fifty-six. The soldiers mourned his loss deeply.
Husi Wanshan, a native of Henan, was an especially brave and resolute person, with a reputation nearly as renowned as that of Wang Bian. During the reign of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, he followed Wei Xuan to suppress Yang Xuangan, fought many battles, and earned significant accolades. When Yang Xuangan was defeated and fled, Husi Wanshan chased after him with a few cavalry soldiers. With no option but to take his own life, Yang Xuangan had no way out. From then on, Husi Wanshan's fame skyrocketed, and he was appointed as a military officer.
Later, the Turkic leader Shibikan besieged Yanmen Pass. Husi Wanshan fought bravely and defeated the enemy, causing the Turkic forces to flee in all directions. Every time the enemy charged, he was always at the forefront, standing firm against the enemy's onslaught. Sometimes, he would even dismount and sit on the ground, draw his strong bow, and strike them down. As a result, the Turkic forces dared not come near the city walls, and after more than ten days, they withdrew their troops, all thanks to Husi Wanshan's contributions. He continued to suppress mountain bandits, gaining further accolades, and eventually rose to the rank of general.
At that time, there were several other generals, such as Lu Yuan, Fan Gui, and Feng Xiaoci, who also participated in battles and earned their own renown. However, many of their exploits have faded into obscurity, so they are not well recorded in historical books.
Historians say: during the Chu-Han contention, Marquis of Jiangzhou Zhou Bo and Guan Ying could only display their talents; during the struggle for supremacy between Cao Cao and Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei could make their mark. It can be seen that achieving fame often hinges on seizing the right moment when the world is just settling, and achieving merit and success requires catching the time when the country is in turmoil. Throughout history, there have always been those who seek to rise to power. People like Yuantong, Huer, Dinghe, and Tiezhang were all heroes of their time, but they were confined to poverty and anonymity. When they were unknown, who would have known of their lofty aspirations? In the end, they were able to overcome their hardships, achieve their ambitions, and fulfill their lifelong wishes, all thanks to seizing the right opportunities!
Although Juluo was wrongfully accused, it was not his fault; Wang Bian gave his life for the country, in the fight against formidable foes, his loyalty and devotion to the country were unwavering; Chen Leng dressed in mourning clothes to honor Wang Bian, his sorrow moved those who passed by, a truly admirable act of righteousness! Meng Cai, Qian Jie, Shen Guang, and others, showing gratitude and remembering old friends, staying true to themselves in times of crisis, even though they may not have achieved great success, their aspirations are commendable as well!
