He Ruobi, courtesy name Fubo, was a native of Luoyang, Henan. His father He Ruodun was famous for his martial achievements and served as the Governor of Jinzhou in Northern Zhou, but was eventually killed by the powerful minister Yuwen Hu out of jealousy. On his deathbed, He Ruodun called his son He Ruobi and said, "I have always wanted to bring peace to Jiangnan, but that wish will never come true. You must fulfill this wish for me! And I died this time because of my loose tongue; you must take this as a warning and be cautious in your words and actions!" After speaking, he even used an awl to pierce He Ruobi's tongue, making him bleed, as a warning.
He Ruobi had great ambitions from a young age, was generous, skilled in archery, and could also write well, earning him quite a reputation at the time. When the Prince of Qi of Northern Zhou, Yuwen Xian, heard about him, he admired him greatly and appointed him as his aide. Not long after, he was appointed as the Duke of Tingxian County and later promoted to a higher position. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou, the Grand Councilor Wuwan Gui mentioned to the emperor, "The Crown Prince is not fit to be emperor; I have discussed this matter with He Ruobi." Wuwan Gui then called He Ruobi to inquire about it, and He Ruobi, knowing that the Crown Prince's position was stable and not something to be easily challenged, smartly replied, "The Crown Prince's virtues are ever-increasing; I see no faults." Emperor Wu didn't respond after hearing this. When He Ruobi returned, Wuwan Gui blamed him for betraying him, but He Ruobi said, "When a leader speaks carelessly, he will lose his subordinates, and when a subordinate speaks carelessly, he will lose his life. Therefore, I dare not easily comment on such matters." Later, Emperor Xuan succeeded to the throne, Wuwan Gui was killed, but He Ruobi managed to escape unscathed.
Later, He Ruobi and Wei Xiaokuan attacked the Chen Dynasty together, capturing dozens of cities, many through strategies he devised. He was later titled Duke of Xiangyi County. When Emperor Wen of Sui was the Prime Minister, Yu Jing rebelled in Ye City, and Emperor Wen worried that He Ruobi might turn against him, so he quickly sent Changsun Ping to bring him back.
After Emperor Wen of Sui ascended to the throne, he harbored ambitions of unifying Jiangnan and began searching for capable candidates. Gao Qiang remarked, "Among the civil and military officials in the court, there is no one more suitable than He Ruobi." Emperor Wen of Sui replied, "You are right!" Thus, he appointed He Ruobi as the governor of Wu Prefecture, responsible for pacifying the Chen Dynasty. He Ruobi accepted the mission with enthusiasm. He and the governor of Shou Prefecture, Yuan Xiong, jointly defended the border, serving as a crucial line of defense. He Ruobi even wrote a poem to Yuan Xiong: "Crossing the river with the valiant riders, setting up camp at Heping; let not the enemy cross; may our names be remembered."
Yang Su presented ten strategies, to which the emperor responded favorably and rewarded him with a precious sword. In the ninth year of the Kaihuang era, the Sui Dynasty initiated a large-scale offensive against the Chen Dynasty, and Yang Su was appointed as the commander of the expeditionary force.
When preparing to cross the river, Yang Su raised a toast to the river, praying, "I, Yang Su, follow the emperor's strategy, to extend the country's prestige, punish evil, save the people, eliminate wickedness, eradicate tyranny. Heaven and the Yangtze River, witness my determination! If I do good deeds, may the army cross the river successfully; if my actions go against the will of heaven, then let me be buried in the belly of a fish; I will have no complaints!"
Previously, Yang Su had requested that the garrison troops along the river gather at Liyang during shift changes. So, the Sui army displayed numerous flags and tents across the plains at Liyang. The Chen Dynasty's forces feared a major assault by the Sui army, so they mobilized all their troops and horses nationwide. When they realized it was just a garrison shift change, the troops and horses dispersed. Later, they became accustomed to this and no longer remained vigilant.
When Yang Su led the army
Yang Su's army set up camp at Baitugang in Jiangshan, and generals Lu Da, Zhou Zhian, Ren Mannu, Tian Rui, Fan Yi, Kong Fan, Xiao Moha, and others of the Chen Dynasty led their elite troops to resist. Tian Rui first attacked Yang Su's army and was driven back by Yang Su. Lu Da and the others launched consecutive attacks, resulting in Yang Su's army retreating several times. Yang Su recognized their arrogance and his soldiers' lack of discipline, so he rallied his troops to fight valiantly, ultimately securing a decisive victory. Yang Su's subordinate, Ming, an official, captured Xiao Moha, and Yang Su ordered that he be taken out and executed. Xiao Moha remained composed, and Yang Su chose to pardon him, treating him with respect.
Yang Su entered the palace of the Chen Dynasty through the Beiyemen Gate. Upon Yang Su's arrival, he ordered Chen Shubao to look at him. Chen Shubao was so terrified that he broke out in a sweat, and trembling, he bowed twice. Yang Su said to him, "As the monarch of a small country who has become a subject of a great nation, it is only proper to pay your respects. Once you enter the court, you will be granted the title of Marquis of Guiming, so there is no need to be afraid."
Later, Yang Su was not happy because he did not personally capture Chen Shubao after Han Qinhui, so he confronted Han Qinhui and unsheathed his sword. The emperor heard that Yang Su had made great achievements and was very pleased, so he issued an edict to praise him, and this incident was recorded in "The Biography of Han Qinhui." Prince Jin believed that Yang Su had preemptively decided to battle, violating military orders, so he demoted Yang Su to a subordinate official. The emperor sent a fast horse from the post station to summon Yang Su. After seeing Yang Su, the emperor greeted and consoled him, saying, "It is your credit to pacify the Three Wu!" The emperor ordered Yang Su to take the imperial seat, rewarded him with eight thousand pieces of cloth, promoted him to the position of Shangzhuguo, and raised his title to Duke of Songguo, with a fief of three thousand households. He also rewarded him with a precious sword, belt, golden urn, golden plate, along with a pheasant tail fan and a curved cover, two thousand pieces of colored silk, two musical ensembles, and gave Chen Shubao's sister to him as a concubine. Yang Su was appointed as the Grand General of the Right Military and was soon promoted to the Grand General of the Right Martial Guard.
He Ruo Bi was a powerful figure; his brother He Ruo Long was the Duke of Wudu County, and his younger brother He Ruo Dong was the Duke of Wanrong County. The two brothers were both at the level of governor and general. He Ruo Bi's family had countless treasures, with several hundred maids and concubines wearing luxurious fabrics. People at that time were especially envious of him. He himself thought his achievements were greater than those of the ministers in the court and always wanted to be the prime minister. Later, when Yang Su became the Right Supervisor, He Ruo Bi was still a general, and he felt a deep sense of injustice, which was evident on his face. In the end, he was dismissed from office, and his resentment only deepened.
After a few years, the emperor arrested him for questioning, saying, "I appointed Gao Qiang and Yang Su as prime ministers, but you keep saying they only know how to eat; what does this mean?" He Ruobi replied, "Gao Qiang is my old friend, Yang Su is my brother-in-law; I know them, and I did say such things." The court ministers all said that He Ruobi was playing the victim and deserved to die. The emperor, considering his merits, stripped him of his position. A year later, his title was reinstated. However, the emperor still feared him and did not use him again, but he always treated He Ruobi with special favor at banquets. In the 19th year of the Kaihuang era, the emperor went to Renshou Palace to host a banquet for the nobles. He asked He Ruobi to compose a five-character poem that expressed deep resentment. After reading it, the emperor surprisingly tolerated it. Once, when the Turkic envoy came to the court, the emperor gave them bows and arrows to shoot. The Turkic envoy hit the bullseye with a single arrow. The emperor said, "Except for He Ruobi, no one else can match this." So he called He Ruobi to give it a try. He Ruobi bowed respectfully twice and said, "If I sincerely serve the country, I will hit the target with one arrow; if my intentions are not pure, then I will miss." He shot an arrow and hit the target perfectly! The emperor was overjoyed and told the Turkic envoy, "This man is a true blessing from heaven!"
When Yang Guang was still the Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace, he once asked He Ruobi: "Yang Su, Han Qinhu, and Shi Wansui are all regarded as famous generals; who is the most formidable among them?" He Ruobi said: "Yang Su is a valiant general, not a strategist; Han Qinhu is a valiant general who charges into battle, not a commander; Shi Wansui is a cavalry commander, not a great general." The Crown Prince asked: "Then who is the great general?" He Ruobi replied: "Only Your Highness can decide." In reality, He Ruobi implied he was the grand general. After Yang Guang became emperor, he became more distant and resentful towards He Ruobi. In the third year of Daye, He Ruobi accompanied the emperor on a northern expedition to Yulin. At that time, the emperor erected a grand tent capable of hosting thousands to entertain the Qimin Khan of the Turks. He Ruobi thought this was excessive and wasteful, so he privately raised concerns about this with Gao Feng, Yuwen Bi, and others. As a result, he was reported and subsequently executed at the age of sixty-four. His wife and children became slaves of the government, and his relatives and friends were all exiled to the border. He Ruobi, with his bold spirit, followed in his father's footsteps and was later appointed as a Yitong Sanqi, a title equivalent to a high-ranking official, with a significant official position as the son of a pillar state. Unfortunately, due to his competition for merit with others, he was treated as a mere slave and ultimately executed.
The history books say: when the world is not yet peaceful, sages come up with ways; when the borders are not yet secure, generals charge into battle. In the Zhou Dynasty, there were figures like Fang Shu and the Duke of Zhou; in the Han Dynasty, there were Han Xin and Peng Yue. Talented individuals like these appeared in every dynasty, not just overnight. Since the decline of the Jin Dynasty, the Central Plains were divided and isolated for about three hundred years. The Chen Dynasty relied on the natural defenses of the Yangtze River and the prestige of Jinling, believing that this was how things should be in the north and south, and that no one else should interfere. Emperor Wen of Sui believed in the mandate of heaven and aimed to unify the country. He Ruobi proposed a winning strategy with great enthusiasm, and Han Qinhu also fought bravely, each more fierce than the last, fighting with lightning speed and unmatched ferocity. The Sui Dynasty's power spread far and wide thanks to this battle.
From the perspective of fate, the rise and fall of dynasties is inevitable; from a human perspective, it all depends on the contributions of He Ruobi and Han Qinhu. In terms of talent and strategy, He Ruobi had the edge; in terms of bravery and prestige, Han Qinhu surpassed him. Compared to Wang Dao and Du Yu of the Jin Dynasty, their achievements were equally impressive. However, after achieving fame and success, He Ruobi became arrogant and complacent, and met an untimely end due to his carelessness. Had he only heeded his father's last words, he would not have met such a fate. Han Qinhu came from a long line of military generals, with a renowned name. Despite defeating enemies, he remained unscathed; he was indeed fortunate.
Prince of Guangling and Gantang, both skilled warriors with bravery and courage, were famous heroes of their time, pillars of the nation. They were truly like brothers!
