Dou Rongding hails from Pingling in Fufeng. His father, Dou Shan, was the Grand Minister of the Zhou Dynasty; his uncle, Dou Chi, served as the Grand Tutor during the Kaihuang era. Dou Rongding was a calm and experienced individual with great leadership abilities, tall and imposing, sporting a handsome beard, and skilled in horseback archery.
During the reign of Emperor Wen of Wei, he served as an imperial guard. Later, Emperor Taizu of Zhou took notice of him at first sight, recognizing him as a talented individual, and granted him the title of General of Pingdong, along with the title of Yijun County, with a fief of 300 households. Once, during a battle with the Qi army in Beimang, Dou Rongding and the Duke of Runan, Yuwen Shenqing, led two thousand elite cavalry to charge the enemy, managing to repel the Qi army. For his achievements in this battle, he was promoted to Shang Yitong.
Later, he joined Emperor Wuyuan in battles against the Tujue Mu Gan tribe and also attacked the Bingzhou of the Qi country, for which he was rewarded with 300 bolts of cloth by the emperor. He inherited his father's title and became the Duke of Yongfu County, with a fief of one thousand households, and he was promoted to the position of Kaifu, as well as appointed as the Governor of Zhongzhou. Later, after helping Emperor Wu to pacify the Qi country, he was promoted again, becoming the General of the Front and Chief Officer of the Jifei. His wife was Princess Ancheng, the sister of the founding emperor, Gaozu. The relationship between Emperor Gaozu and Dou Rongding was particularly close when they were young, with a deep bond between them. Dou Rongding also saw that Emperor Gaozu would become the emperor in the future, so their relationship remained particularly strong.
When Emperor Gaozu became the Prime Minister and took charge of the palace guards, he sent Dou Rongding to guard the Tian Tai, responsible for guarding the two weapon caches at the palace gates, often residing in the palace. When the rebellion of Wei Jiong was just suppressed, the court was worried about the situation in Shandong, so Dou Rongding was sent to serve as the governor of Luozhou to keep the peace there. In total, the emperor rewarded him with 4,000 bolts of silk and a Western Liang band.
After Emperor Gaozu ascended to the throne, Dou Rongding came to pay his respects. Emperor Gaozu looked at the civil and military officials in the court and said, "I have always disliked frivolous people since I was young. The only person I can relate to is Dou Rongding!" The emperor happily rewarded him with three hundred horses, eighty families to serve him, and then let him go. Later, Dou Rongding was dismissed for committing a minor offense. However, since he was related to Princess Chang, Emperor Gaozu quickly appointed him as the Right Martial Marquis. The emperor often dropped by his place, showering him with lavish gifts, even having the Imperial Kitchen send him a sheep every day, along with various precious foods.
Because Dou Rongding had made contributions in assisting the emperor in ascending to the throne, the emperor promoted him to the position of Grand Minister and Governor of Ningzhou. Not long after, he was reappointed as the Right Martial Marquis. He was then appointed as the Governor of Qinzhou, and the emperor also rewarded him with a set of musical instruments from the Wu region. Later, the Tujue chief Shabolü led an invasion at the border with his troops. The emperor appointed Dou Rongding as the Marshal of the expedition, commanding nine general managers and leading thirty thousand infantry and cavalry from Liangzhou. They fought the Tujue people at Gaoyue Plain, with neither side gaining the upper hand. The place lacked water, and the soldiers were extremely thirsty, with some even drinking horse blood, leading to the deaths of thousands of soldiers. Dou Rongding sighed deeply, and to everyone's surprise, it started raining soon after, lifting the spirits of the troops.
Therefore, Dou Rongding led the army to launch attacks, defeating the Turkic forces several times. The Turkic forces were afraid and requested peace talks and then withdrew their troops. The emperor rewarded him with ten thousand pieces of silk, promoted him to the Duke of Anfeng, and expanded his domain by sixteen hundred households. His son, Dou Xian, was also appointed as Duke of Ankang and rewarded with five thousand pieces of silk. Over a year later, Dou Rongding was appointed as the General of the Right Guard, and soon after, he was promoted to the General of the Left Guard. The emperor wanted him to become one of the Three Excellencies of the State, but Dou Rongding wrote a letter saying, "I often reflect on the examples of Wei Qing and Huo Qubing of the Western Han Dynasty, and Liang Ji and Deng Zhi of the Eastern Han Dynasty. They all attained high positions due to their close ties with the emperor, but ultimately fell from grace because of their arrogance and extravagance. If those predecessors had shown a bit more humility, stayed away from the center of power, and declined fame and fortune, their families would not have met such tragic fates. I often learn from the experiences of my predecessors, and it fills me with fear." The emperor listened to his words and abandoned the idea.
Dou Rongding received numerous rewards throughout his life. In the sixth year of the Kaihuang period, he passed away at the age of fifty-seven. The emperor mourned him for three days, appointed Yuan Min, the General of the Left Guard, to oversee his funeral, and rewarded him with three thousand pieces of silk. The emperor told his attendants, "I had always wished for Dou Rongding to become one of the Three Excellencies, but he always declined. Now I want to posthumously appoint him as the Inspector of Jizhou, Duke of Chen, and bestow upon him the posthumous title of 'Yi.' His son, Dou Kang, inherited his titles."
This man, named Yuan Jingshan, courtesy title Baoyue, is from Luoyang, Henan. His ancestors were the Prince of Anding of the Wei Dynasty, and his father was the Prince of An of the Song Dynasty. Yuan Jingshan has been outstanding since childhood and was exceptionally talented. During the reign of Emperor Zhou Min, he followed the Grand Marshal Helan Xiang to fight the Tuyuhun and achieved great success, being appointed as the General of the Fuzheng. Later on, he fought in many battles, rising through the ranks to the position of Yitong Sanqi, and was granted the title of Duke of Wenchang County, becoming the defense commander of Weichuan.
After fighting with the people of the Qi state at Beimang Mountain, he claimed many enemy heads, which pleased the emperor, who promoted him once more and further elevated him to the Duke of Song'an County with a fief of three thousand households. When Emperor Wu pacified the Qi state, he consistently achieved military success in every battle, earning the title of Grand General, and was later granted the title of Duke of Pingyuan County with a fief of two thousand households. He was also granted a musical band, six thousand pieces of cloth, two hundred and fifty servants, and several thousand cattle and sheep.
He later became the governor of Bo Prefecture. At that time, there were people in Bo Prefecture named Wang Huiluo and Zhang Jizhen, who led a group of bandits to commit robberies everywhere. The previous officials were powerless against them. When Yuan Jingshan took office, he pursued them, and Wang Huiluo and Zhang Jizhen fled to Jiangnan. Yuan Jingshan captured hundreds of their accomplices and executed them all. He enforced strict governance in the area, and there were no more thieves around; everyone praised his governance. Chen Guoren Zhang Jingzun, after the Huainan region came under Chen Guo's control, was defeated by Ren Mannu, a general of Chen Guo, and several camps were breached. Yuan Jingshan then led troops from Qiaozhou and Yingzhou to their aid, and when Ren Mannu saw them, he hastily retreated. Later, he was summoned to serve as a court official. After Emperor Xuan succeeded to the throne, he followed the Grand Guardian Wei Xiaokuan to pacify the chaos in Huainan. The governor of Yunzhou, Yu Wenliang, plotted a rebellion and led a small contingent to launch a surprise attack on Wei Xiaokuan. Wei Xiaokuan found himself in a precarious situation and was compelled to retreat by Yu Wenliang's assault. Yuan Jingshan then led a charge with three hundred cavalry and defeated Yu Wenliang, even severing his head and presenting it as a trophy. Due to this achievement, he was once again appointed as the governor of Bo Prefecture.
The person mentioned earlier is Yuan Jingshan. He had a younger brother named Yuan Qing, who was also quite good-looking, with a gentle personality, and was proficient in cursive and clerical calligraphy. He was initially titled Duke of Yongfu County and later held official positions as the Administrator of Hedong and the Minister of Guard. Towards the end of the Sui Dynasty, he was appointed as the Administrator of Nan County, where he was murdered by bandits. Yuan Qing also had another younger brother, Yuan Xuan, who was also skilled in cursive and clerical calligraphy and was knowledgeable about music. He served as the Administrator of Yingchuan, Nan County, and Fufeng respectively. Yuan Kang, on the other hand, was cheerful, clever, and full of ideas. After his father's death, the emperor treated him even more favorably, bestowing upon him a vast fortune in gold and silver. Yuan Kang became the Inspector of Dingzhou and also served as the Commander of Youzhou. When Sui Emperor Yang ascended the throne, Prince Han Liang rebelled, and some accused Yuan Kang of colluding with Prince Han Liang, which resulted in Yuan Kang's dismissal from his position, with his title passing to his brother Yuan Qing. When his father was Prime Minister, Wei Jiong initiated a rebellion. The Inspector of Yingzhou, Yuwen Zhou, colluded with Wei Jiong and covertly sent a letter to Jingshan, attempting to win him over. Jingshan captured the messenger sent by Yuwen Zhou and brought the letter to the Prime Minister's office. The emperor was very pleased and promoted Jingshan to Grand General. Later, Sima Xiaonan attacked the Yuzhou region of the Chen Dynasty, and the Chen Dynasty sent generals Fan Yi, Ma Jie, and others to rescue. Jingshan quickly led five hundred light cavalry to the front. Fan Yi and the others panicked, looted the civilians, and fled. Jingshan pursued them, traveling over three hundred miles in a day and a night, and fought Fan Yi at Zhangkou, winning both skirmishes. Fan Yi and his troops retreated to Zengshan Town. Jingshan recaptured all the towns taken by Sima Xiaonan. The emperor appointed him Commander of Anzhou and promoted him to the rank of Pillar of the Nation, rewarding him with two thousand bolts of cloth. During that time, the barbarians on Tongbai Mountain were causing trouble, and Jingshan pacified them.
After Gaozu became emperor, he appointed Jing Shan as the Grand Commandant. In the second year, there was a large-scale campaign against the Chen dynasty, with Jing Shan serving as the Commander-in-Chief, leading the army generals Han Yan and Lv Zhe from Hankou. At the same time, he sent Deng Xiaoru, with four thousand elite soldiers, to attack Zengshan Town in the Chen dynasty. The Chen dynasty sent General Lu Lun to lead the navy for reinforcement, but Deng Xiaoru took the initiative and triumphed over them. The Chen dynasty's forces were terrified, and the defenders of Zengshan and Dunyang towns abandoned their positions and fled. Jing Shan was preparing to cross the Yangtze River when Emperor Chen Xuan passed away, and the court ordered the troops to stand down. Jing Shan's reputation spread far and wide, and he instilled fear in his enemies. A few years later, he was dismissed due to a misstep and died at the age of fifty-five. The court posthumously appointed him as the Governor of Liangzhou, granted him one thousand bolts of silk, and posthumously conferred upon him the title "Xiang." His son Cheng Shou inherited his title.
Cheng Shou was skilled in horseback riding and archery from a young age, initially serving as a low-ranking official in the palace. He was later named the heir to the Grand Commandant and held the title of Yitong. He then served as the Commander of the Qin King's chariot cavalry. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, he was summoned to serve as the Left Guard Captain. During the rebellion of Yang Xuangan, he followed the Minister of Justice Wei Xuan to suppress the rebellion, and due to his achievements, he was promoted to Senior Consultant and appointed Prefect of Xiping County.
Yuan Xiong, styled Shilue, hails from Le Du in Xiping. His grandfather Yuan Huai and father Yuan Zuan both held the title of King of Longxi under the Wei Kingdom. Yuan Xiong has been known for his generosity and imposing stature since childhood. He started as a secretary in the Wei Kingdom and later rose to the rank of General of Conquering the Barbarians. Later, his father was killed by the Gao family, prompting Yuan Xiong to flee and change his name before escaping to Chang'an. Emperor Wu of the Zhou Dynasty quickly recognized his potential and bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Longxi. Subsequently, he followed Emperor Wu to fight against the Qi Kingdom and was granted the position of Kaifu for his achievements. He was re-titled Marquis of Shuofang and appointed as the Inspector of Jizhou. At that time, the Turks often invaded the border, so the court sent Yuan Xiong to Pingzhou to serve as the Inspector responsible for guarding the border. Not long after, he was appointed as the Governor of Xuzhou. When Yang Jian assumed the role of Prime Minister, Wei Jiong rebelled. At that time, Yuan Xiong's family resided in Xiangzhou, and Wei Jiong secretly reached out to him in an attempt to sway him, but Yuan Xiong resolutely ignored him. Yang Jian wrote to Yuan Xiong, stating, "Your family is currently in Ye City. Although they are presently apart, the rebel forces will soon be dealt with, and you will soon be able to reunite with your family. From today, at most, you will be able to meet in a month. Don't worry, I will find a solution. The Xuzhou region is important, serving as the southeastern gateway, situated near the Wu Kingdom, so it needs to be properly appeased. Your talent and strategy will be crucial in managing border affairs, make achievements, and not disappoint the court's expectations." Wei Jiong sent his general Bi Yixu to occupy Lanling, while Xi Pi captured Changlu and Xiayi. Yuan Xiong sent the Inspector of Xuzhou, Liu Ren'en, to confront Bi Yixu, and sent Yitong Liu Hong and Li Yan to confront Xi Pi, ultimately bringing them all under control.
Chen Chao witnessed the turmoil in the Central Plains and sent generals such as Chen Ji, Xiao Moha, Ren Mannu, Zhou Luohou, Fan Yi, and others to invade the area north of the Yangtze River, from Jiangling to Shouyang, seizing cities and territories along their route, gaining the support of many commoners. Yuan Xiong, along with the governors of Wu, Yang, and Huang Prefectures—Yu Yi, He Ruobi, and Yuan Jingshan—defeated them and reclaimed the lost lands. Cao Xiaoda, the governor of Dong Tong Prefecture, instigated a rebellion in the area, and Yuan Xiong sent troops to kill him. Yuan Xiong was promoted to Grand General and later appointed as the governor of Xu Prefecture. Several years later, he was transferred to Huai Prefecture as the governor, and later promoted to the governor of Shuo Prefecture. Whenever the Turks invaded, Yuan Xiong captured and killed them, causing the Turks to fear him.
It is said that when Emperor Gaozu launched a campaign against Chen, he personally wrote a letter to the Duke of Shuofang, praising him for his broad knowledge, decisive wisdom, and courageous valor. The Duke of Shuofang was appointed as the commander of the campaign to help quell the rebellion in the southeast. Later, Chen Ping was rewarded for his achievements, and his son was appointed as the Count of Duanshi County. Chen Ping himself was appointed as the Count of Anhua County and given rewards to continue guarding Shuo Prefecture. Two years later, he requested retirement and returned to the capital, where he passed away at the age of seventy.
His son, Chong, inherited his titles and rose to the rank of Yitong. During the Sui Dynasty, he was transferred from Shangdang to the capital and appointed as the Minister of War. During a period of turmoil, he led forces to quell the rebels in Beihai and died in battle, and was posthumously promoted to the rank of Zhengyi.
As for Dou Luji, with the courtesy name Dingdong, he was a native of Tuhe in Changli. His original surname was Murong, and he was a descendant of Murong Jing, the Northern King of Yan. After the defeat in the Zhongshan Battle, he sought refuge in the Wei Kingdom. People from the north who surrendered to the Wei Kingdom were called "Doulu people," so he changed his surname to Doulu. His grandfather Chang was a great general in the Wei Kingdom's Rouxuan Town, and his father Ning was a pillar of the state and a Grand Protector. When Dou Luji was born, Emperor Zhou personally visited his home to offer congratulations, right after the defeat of the Qi army, so Emperor Zhou gave him the courtesy name "Dingdong." Dou Luji was intelligent and had great leadership abilities. When he was young, he studied at the Imperial College and had some knowledge of literature and calligraphy. In the twelfth year of the Wei Dynasty, Emperor Zhou granted him the title of Marquis of Yi'an County because he was a meritorious minister. After Emperor Min ascended the throne, he was appointed as a lower-ranking Grand Master of the Palace and one of the Three Excellencies, and he was granted the title of Duke of Danyang County, with a fief of 1,500 households. During the reign of Emperor Ming of Zhou, he served as the Left Martial Duke and Grand Master of the Palace. Dou Luji believed that his knowledge was not profound enough and requested to resign from his official position to study at the Lu Gate Academy. The Emperor admired him and allowed him to continue his studies while keeping his original title. Not long after, Prince Xian of Qi married Dou Luji's sister as one of his concubines, which further favored Dou Luji.
After Emperor Wu became the emperor, he appointed him as the governor of Qiongzhou. Before he could take office, the Qiang ethnic group of Weiyuan rebelled due to famine. Because everyone recognized his exceptional talent and strategic acumen, he was transferred to be the governor of Weizhou. He performed excellently in Weizhou, and both the Han people and ethnic minorities supported him. His benevolence was widely acknowledged by the people, and many auspicious signs began to appear. The locals call Niaoshu Mountain "Gaowulong," and the Wei River originates from here. This mountain is steep and inaccessible, and had previously suffered from a lack of water, causing distress to the Qiang people. However, when he rode there, springs miraculously gushed forth from the ground where his horse had trodden. Additionally, a white bird appeared at his office, nurtured its chicks, and then flew away. Even more miraculously, a white wolf appeared. The local people composed a song: "We have the governor of Danyang Commandery, and jade milk springs forth from the mountain. He saved us Han and Qiang people, and divine birds come to soar." The spring came to be known as "Jade Milk Spring." Later, his father passed away, and he was so consumed by grief that his health began to fail, exceeding the customary mourning period.
In the second year of Tianhe, he was appointed as the governor of Shaozhou and inherited the title of Duke of Chu. Later, he was summoned by the court to serve as the director of the Heavenly Officials Office, and subsequently served as the governor of Xinzhou, Xiazhou, and Xiangzhou. After his mother's passing, he returned to the capital to observe the mourning rites. In the second year of the reign of Emperor Xuandi, he was appointed as the governor of Lizhou and promoted to the rank of Grand General. One month later, he was further appointed as the Grand General of the State of Pillar.
The Emperor Gaozu became the prime minister, and the governor of Yizhou, Wang Qian, rebelled. He held the city, and Wang Qian sent his generals Daxi Ji, Gao Anagong, and Yifeng Qian, leading a hundred thousand troops to attack him. They constructed earthen mounds, dug over seventy holes in the city walls, and even blocked the river to flood the defenses. At that time, he had only about two thousand soldiers under him, yet they fought day and night. After more than forty days of fighting, the situation grew increasingly dire. At this moment, he employed a surprise attack strategy, defeated the enemy, killed several thousand people, and captured two thousand. Just then, Liang Rui's forces were also on the way, so the rebels quickly withdrew. The Emperor Gaozu sent Zhao Zhongqing to commend him and even issued a decree stating, "Your insight and talent are outstanding, your demeanor is impressive, you have governed the border regions with outstanding results. During the rebellion in Bashu, the enemy swiftly besieged your city, and you were able to defend and counterattack, defeating the enemy. Your loyalty and bravery have earned you great merit, so I hereby appoint you as the governor and grant your son the title of Duke of Zhongshan County."
In the year 582 AD, the Turkic tribes invaded the frontier, and Yang Su was appointed as the Marshal of the Northern Marches, responsible for defending against external enemies. A year later, he was promoted to the governor of Xiazhou Province. The emperor held his distinguished family and remarkable military accomplishments in high regard. Later, Prince Han Yang Liang married Yang Su's daughter as his consort, further solidifying the emperor's favor toward Yang Su.
In the year 587 AD, the emperor proclaimed: "The governor and Duke of Chu, Yang Su, during the rebellion in the Shu region, he steadfastly resisted the rebels, defended the city, as if he were facing a foreign enemy. His contributions are substantial, and his loyalty and integrity are commendable, so he is rewarded with a thousand households of land and their inhabitants in Linqing County, Shizhou."
In the year 589 AD, Yang Su was summoned back to the capital because of illness. The emperor ordered all the princes to visit Yang Su's residence and sent eunuchs to inquire about his condition continuously. That same year, Yang Su passed away at the age of fifty-five. The emperor grieved for his passing for a long time, bestowing generous funeral expenses and appointing an official from the Honglu Temple to handle his funeral, and posthumously honored him with the title Duke Xiang. His son Yang Xian inherited his title and eventually rose to the positions of Governor of Xianzhou, Grand Minister of Justice, and Military Officer of Wuben. Yang Su also had a younger brother named Yang Yu.
Now, Mr. Yu had been ambitious and principled since childhood. Han Wang Liang was sent to serve as Governor of Bingzhou, and as Mr. Yu was the brother-in-law of Han Wang Liang, he was arranged to be the registrar in the prince's mansion. Later, he followed General Zhao Zhongqing to the north to fight against the Turks and distinguished himself, being appointed as a Deputy of the Three Excellencies.
When the founding emperor passed away and the Yang Emperor ascended the throne, Han Wang Liang was summoned back to the capital. Han Wang Liang, swayed by the counsel of court advisor Wang Kui, rebelled. Mr. Yu earnestly tried to dissuade him, but Han Wang Liang refused to listen. So Mr. Yu said to his brother Yi, "I could ride back to the capital alone and maybe save my own skin. But that would be for myself, not for the country! For now, let's play along and come up with a plan." Mr. Yu's brother, Xian, who was the Governor of Xianzhou at the time, told the emperor, "My brother Yu has always been a man of principle and would never take part in a rebellion. He’s been backed into a corner and has no choice but to resist. Please let me lead troops to support him; Han Wang Liang should not be a concern!" The emperor saw the sense in this and agreed. Xian secretly sent a family member with the emperor's orders to meet Mr. Yu and discuss a plan together.
Han Wang Liang left the city to head for Jiezhou, leaving Mr. Yu and General Zhu Tao to guard the city. Mr. Yu told Zhu Tao, "Han Wang is in rebellion and will soon be defeated. How can I just sit here and wait to be killed, betraying my country and family? We should resist him with our troops!" Zhu Tao was shocked and said, "The king has entrusted such an important matter to us; how can you say this!" After saying this, he stormed off. Mr. Yu caught up to him and killed him. At that time, Han Wang Liang's strategist, Huangfu Dan, was imprisoned for advising against the rebellion. Mr. Yu rescued Huangfu Dan, and together with him, Pan Shi Hou Su Qinwu, Yuwen Yongchang, Yitong Cheng Duan, Changsun Kai, Cheqi Ancheng Hou Yuanshiya, and Yuanwu Ling Huangfu Wenhao, they closed the city to resist Han Wang Liang. Before the situation could stabilize, someone tipped off Han Wang Liang. Han Wang Liang suddenly attacked. Mr. Yu saw Han Wang Liang coming and deceived his soldiers, saying, "That's the enemy army!" Han Wang Liang attacked the south gate of the city. Mr. Yu sent Jihu people to guard the city walls, but they couldn't recognize Han Wang Liang and fired arrows at him like rain. Han Wang Liang then attacked the west gate, where the guards were all from Bingzhou and recognized him, so they opened the gate to welcome him. Mr. Yu was ultimately killed at just twenty-eight years old. After Han Wang Liang's rebellion was suppressed, Emperor Yang issued an edict saying, "To honor his illustrious reputation, uphold the country's traditions, grant him the honors he deserves, and celebrate his example. Mr. Yu understood righteousness deeply, disregarded kinship, risked great danger, and was the first to offer advice to resist the rebellion, abandoning allegiance to the rebels and sacrificing himself for the country. He should be given generous treatment. He was posthumously appointed Grand General, granted the title Duke of Justice County, awarded two thousand bolts of silk, and given the posthumous title Min."
My son was willing to inherit my title and was later appointed as Assistant Minister. In the early stage of Daye, new laws were promulgated, and the five ranks of nobility were abolished at the same time. Not long after, the emperor issued a decree saying, "The late Grand General, Lord Yang Yu, the Benevolent Duke, faced danger without fear, sacrificed himself for righteousness, set an example for the country, and his achievements will last forever. His descendants are talented and virtuous, and should be honored. He is posthumously conferred the title of Marquis Min of Yongqiu." As a result, my son was able to inherit my title. In the later years of Daye, he was appointed to the position of Left and Right Qian Niu.
My younger brother Tong, with the style name Pingdong, also had another name called Hui. He was generous and exceptionally talented. During the Zhou Dynasty, thanks to our father's achievements, he was granted the title of Marquis of Linzhen County, with a fief consisting of one thousand households. He was then appointed as the Grand Commandant and went on to serve successively as Assistant Minister. Prime Minister Yuwen Hu recognized his talents, allowed him to command trusted troops, and reassigned him the title of Duke of Woye County, with a fief of four thousand seven hundred households. Later, he was also appointed to the position of Kaifu Assistant Minister, serving as Wuben Zhong Dafu and Governor of North Xuzhou. When Gaozu became Chancellor, Wei Jiong rebelled and sent his subordinate, Juzhou Governor Wuwanni, to attack. My brother Tong counterattacked and defeated them. The emperor rewarded him with eight hundred bolts of silk and promoted him to Grand General. In the early period of Kaihuang, he was further promoted to Duke of Nanchen County. Shortly after, he was summoned back to the court to oversee the imperial guards in his original capacity. Over a year later, he was appointed as Governor of Dingzhou. He was later reassigned as Governor of Xiangzhou. He married Princess Changle of Gaozu and enjoyed the emperor's growing favor. He was later promoted to General of Xiazhou and General of Hongzhou. He was renowned for his kindness and benevolence in every role he undertook. He passed away at the age of fifty-nine, after seventeen years of service, and was posthumously named An. He was survived by a son named Kuan.
He Ruoyi, courtesy name Daoji, was from Luoyang, Henan. His grandfather He Ruofu Lian was the Yunzhou Governor of Northern Wei; his father He Ruotong was the Right Guard General. He Ruoyi was a strong and decisive person, very strategic. During the Northern Wei period, due to his father's merits, he was titled the Baron of Rongcheng County. Later on, he steadily rose in ranks, holding positions such as General of the Direct Pavilion, Grand Commander, Attendant of the Imperial Secretariat, and Director of the Imperial Food Palace.
After Emperor Zhou gained control of the Guanzhong region, he recruited He Ruoyi to work by his side. Once, Emperor Zhou sent him to Xingcheng, where there were internal conflicts within the Ruru tribe, with a faction stationed north of the Yellow River. He Ruoyi reasoned with them and persuaded them to submit to the Zhou Dynasty, resulting in over ten thousand households surrendering. Emperor Zhou greatly admired him and rewarded him with one hundred taels of gold and silver. Later, Northern Qi sent their attendant Yang Chang to establish relations with the Ruru tribe, but Emperor Zhou was concerned about them uniting and becoming a border threat, so he sent He Ruoyi to meet with the Ruru tribe. He Ruoyi offered substantial bribes to win their trust, and the Ruru tribe believed him, thus forming an alliance with the Zhou Dynasty and handing over Yang Chang to He Ruoyi. Emperor Zhou was very pleased and promoted him to Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, Equal to the Three Lords, and Prefect of Luoyang.
After Emperor Min ascended the throne, he appointed He Ruoyi as the Grand Master of Archery, changed his title to Viscount of Bache, then promoted him to Left Palace Count, and shortly after, bestowed upon him the title of Kaifu. He then successively served as the Governors of Lingzhou and Shaozhou, as well as the Prefects of Yuanzhou and Xinzhou, performing excellently in these positions. His brother He Ruodun once served as the Prefect of Jinzhou but he was later wrongfully accused and executed. This incident implicated He Ruoyi, leading to his dismissal from office.
After Emperor Wu ascended to the throne, he summoned He Ruoyi back to court and appointed him as the Administrator of Xiongzhou. During the campaign against Northern Qi, He Ruoyi led his troops out of Hangu Pass, first capturing Luoyang. He was then appointed as the governor of Luozhou and granted the title of Marquis of Jianwei. The Prince of Fanyang from Northern Qi, Gao Shaoyi, fled to the Turks, and He Ruoyi pursued him. They clashed in Mayi, where He Ruoyi ultimately captured Gao Shaoyi. For this military achievement, He Ruoyi was promoted to Grand General. Later, when Gao Zu became Prime Minister, he appointed He Ruoyi as the general of Bozhou and ordered him to quickly take up his post. He not only prevented Sima Xiaonan from advancing westward but also resisted Wei Jiong's eastern invasion. When the governor of Shenzhou, Li Hui, rebelled, He Ruoyi went to suppress the rebellion. After successfully suppressing the rebellion, he was enfeoffed as Duke of Fanyang and appointed as Grand General.
At the onset of the Kaihuang era, he was appointed as the Right Martial Guard General. Later, when Prince Hong of Hejian went on a campaign to the north to attack the Turks, he was appointed as the Vice Marshal. Upon returning from the battle, he was promoted again and became the Left Martial Guard Grand General. However, he was later dismissed for a minor offense. Over a year later, he was appointed as the governor of Huazhou, and shortly after transferred to Fuzhou as the governor, and was enfeoffed as Duke of Hailing, before being transferred to Jingzhou as the governor.
At that time, the Turks frequently harassed the border. The court valued his previous reputation and appointed him as the governor of Lingzhou, promoting his rank and making him the Grand General of Zhuguo. By then, he was already quite old, but his body was still strong, and he could still wear heavy armor and ride a horse, causing fear among the Turks. After a few years, he submitted a request for retirement, which the emperor approved. He was affluent and constructed a villa in the countryside, planting many fruit trees. He often invited friends for gatherings, featuring song and dance performances, creating a joyful atmosphere. He ultimately passed away peacefully at home at the age of seventy-seven. His son inherited his title.
His eldest son is named Xie, who became a General of Cavalry; Xie's younger brother is named Xiang, who held the position of Commandant of the Imperial Carriage; Xiang's younger brother is named Yu, who became a General of Cavalry. His elder brother's son is named Bi, who is noted in separate records.
Historical records state: People like Yu Yi and Dou Rongding had family ties with influential figures in Nanyang, while some had friendships with old friends in Fengyi. They all seized their opportunities and were greatly valued. They stabilized the country with their military achievements, received generous rewards for their merits, secured their official positions, and benefited their descendants. Like a fire continually fed with fuel, they continuously strengthened their positions, truly impressive! Dou Luyu sacrificed his life for the country in times of peril; Yin Shishi remained loyal and steadfast during the nation's trials. If those loyal and righteous subjects who have passed on were aware, they would have honored their monarch and their parents.
