He Hong is from Runan. He was exceptionally strong and brave when he was young, possessing much more courage than the average person. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou, He Hong accompanied the emperor on multiple military expeditions and battles. Due to his numerous military achievements, he gradually rose through the ranks and eventually became the General of Chariots and Cavalry, as well as the Senior Minister of the Right, which was a very high position. At that time, the tribal leaders Ren Gongxin, Li Guoli, and others in Longzhou gathered forces to rebel, and the local magistrate, Dugu Shan, was unable to control the situation. After deliberation, the court believed that He Hong had exceptional military prowess, so they sent him to replace Dugu Shan as the governor. In less than a month, he captured Ren Gongxin and Li Guoli, killed them, and pacified the other rebels.
Later, he accompanied the emperor to attack Heyin, where he fought bravely on the battlefield and breached the west gate of Heyin City. The emperor held him in high regard and rewarded him with over a thousand pieces of cloth! He then accompanied the emperor in pacifying the Qi state, and his rank rose to Senior Minister of the Right, being appointed as the Marquis of Beiping with a fief comprising 800 households, and also appointed as the Left Gentleman of the Imperial Charities. When Zhuguo Wang Gui pacified the rebellion of Wu Mingche in Zhongzhou, He Hong also made noteworthy contributions, leading to another promotion to the rank of Kaifu and the position of Great Officer of the Household.
When Yu Jiong rebelled in Xiangzhou, the court appointed He Hong as an Expeditionary Commander and sent him to join Wei Xiaokuan in suppressing Yu Jiong. When the army arrived in Heyang, Yu Jiong's forces surrounded Huaizhou, but He Hong, together with Commander Yu Wenshu and others, successfully repelled Yu Jiong's forces. He also defeated Yu Dun, one of Yu Jiong's commanders, in Wuzhi. After pacifying Xiangzhou, He Hong was granted the title of Zhuguo, the Duke of Guangwu County, with a fief of two thousand households. In total, the emperor rewarded him with ten thousand pieces of cloth, fifty slaves, one hundred pieces of gold and silverware, and one hundred cattle and horses, which made him immensely wealthy!
At that time, Eastern Xia had just been pacified, and the situation remained unstable. Emperor Gaozu, aware of Hong Wei's widespread fame and popularity among the people, appointed him to manage the affairs of Jizhou. He governed effectively and won the hearts of the people. After a few years, the court summoned him back and appointed him as the Grand Supervisor of the Transport Canals, later promoting him to the governor of Sizhou. When the Turks invaded the border, the court appointed Hong Wei as the commander of the Northern Army to defend against the invasion. He defeated the Turkic army, driving them back into the desert before returning. He was later promoted to the governor of Xuzhou. When he passed away, he was 64 years old.
Hou Mochen Ying, styled Zundao, hailed from Daijun. His family had a long lineage of military officers, having moved south with the Wei dynasty. His father, Hou Mochen Chong, held numerous important positions during the Wei and Zhou dynasties, eventually becoming the Grand Minister of Construction. Hou Mochen Ying demonstrated great potential from a young age and was respected by his peers for his handsome appearance. Towards the end of the Wei dynasty, thanks to his father's military accomplishments, he was titled the Marquis of Guangping and later promoted to the position of Palace Attendant Supervisor with Equal Rank.
During the reign of the Zhou Wu Emperor, he accompanied Teng Wang Xiao You to quell the Hu people's rebellion in Longquan and Wencheng. He and Zhu Guo Dou Lu Ji led their armies to attack from different routes. General Hou Mochen Ying marched his army over five hundred miles and captured three of the Hu people's camps. Previously, these Hu people had rebelled, frequently plundering the border inhabitants and enslaving them. At that time, the court decreed that anyone among the Hu who dared to harbor loyal civilians would have their entire families executed and their properties confiscated. It was reported that some Hu people were hiding in a specific village, and Dou Lu Ji was inclined to execute them. General Hou Mochen Ying advised him, "When commanding troops in the field, certain orders can be adjusted based on the circumstances. Not all of these Hu people are truly rebellious; many have been compelled to rise up out of desperation. With our formidable army encroaching, the leaders of the rebellion will be afraid, and those forced to participate will also want to surrender. We should first appease them now so that we can win without fighting. If we kill them directly, it will only make them more frightened, and things will become more complicated. It is better to summon their leaders, hand over the hidden people to them, and let them surrender on their own. This way, all the Hu people will settle down." Dou Lu Ji followed his advice. The Hu people were very moved and came forward to surrender one after another, stabilizing the northern border as a result.
Hou Mo Chen Ying was later promoted to the position of Director of Military Affairs and was granted the title of Grand Minister of Valor. When Emperor Wen of Sui became Chancellor, he appointed him as the governor of Changzhou. When Emperor Wen of Sui ascended the throne, Hou Mo Chen Ying did not assume the position, but was granted the title of Grand Prefect and promoted to Shengping Jun Gong. Shortly after, he was appointed as the governor of Yanzhou. Several years later, he was transferred to be the governor of Chenzhou. During the war to pacify the Chen dynasty, he served as the commander of the army, following Prince Qin Yang Jun in launching an attack from Lushan Road. After Chen dynasty generals Xun Fashang and Chen Ji surrendered, Hou Mo Chen Ying and the army commander Duan Wenzhen crossed the Yangtze River, accepting the surrender of the Chen dynasty army. He was then appointed as the governor of Raozhou, but before taking up the position, he was transferred to Yingzhou as the governor, where he implemented good governance. After serving in Yingzhou for several years, he was removed from office due to his close ties with Prince Qin Yang Jun. The people sent him off, sobbing uncontrollably, and together they erected a monument in his honor to celebrate his integrity. Not long after, he was appointed as the acting governor of Fenzhou, and shortly after became the governor of Xingzhou. During the Renshou period, the Minister of Personnel Niu Hong was ordered to inspect Shandong, and he ranked Hou Mo Chen Ying as number one. Emperor Wen of Sui was very pleased and issued a decree praising him. At that time, the court believed that many governors and county magistrates in Lingnan were corrupt and greedy, leading to resentment and rebellion among the local populace. Therefore, they carefully selected upright officials to pacify Lingnan, and summoned Hou Mo Chen Ying to the capital. When Hou Mo Chen Ying arrived in the capital and had an audience with Emperor Wen of Sui, the Emperor discussed his life story with him, and the two shared a light-hearted conversation. A few days later, Hou Mo Chen Ying was promoted to Grand General, appointed as the commander of Guizhou, overseeing military affairs in seventeen provinces. The Emperor also bestowed numerous gifts upon him before he departed. Upon taking up his new position in Guizhou, Hou Mo Chen Ying valued benevolence, integrity, and trustworthiness. The people and minority ethnic groups held him in high regard, and many mountain tribes came to offer their loyalty to him.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended to the throne, the older brother of Hou Mochen Ying, Marquis of Liang, Hou Mochen Rui, was exiled to the frontier for crimes committed. The court feared that Hou Mochen Ying might be troubled by this, so he was summoned back to the capital. Several years later, he was appointed as the Prefect of Hengshan. That year, many regions in Lingnan and Minyue defied imperial authority. The Emperor remembered Hou Mochen Ying's past achievements in Guizhou Province, where he was trusted and supported by the local people, so he was once again appointed as the Prefect of Nanhai. Four years later, Hou Mochen Ying passed away while in office, at the age of... and was posthumously given the title "Ding." His son, Hou Mochen Qianhui, became quite renowned.
According to historical records, Du Yandong served as a soldier in Xia and the southern border, gaining numerous military honors, and later guarded the northern border, where peace reigned and there were no further invasions by the Hu. Gao Mei, when he was dying, retained his dignified spirit and despised treacherous villains, leaving behind a good reputation. Erzhu Chang showed exceptional talent from a young age, but in the end, he learned to be content. Even if his achievements were destroyed in an instant, he could rebuild them. Isn't this a sign of benevolence and wisdom?
Zhou Yao was recognized for his reliability; Dugu Xin earned widespread acclaim for his compassion toward the people; Qifu Huineng gave up the country; the territories ruled by the Hou Mochen family were well-organized. Some of these individuals knew how to govern effectively, while others practiced the way of benevolence and righteousness, all worthy of praise. Yi was demoted due to the simplicity of his tent, but he entered the court from a young age, experienced three dynasties, and eventually enjoyed a salary until his death, likely due to his straightforwardness and genuine nature.
