Qifu Hui, courtesy name Linghe, was a member of the Xianbei ethnic group from Mayi, Shanxi. His grandfather Qifu Zhou was the Silver Green Grand Minister of the Wei Dynasty, and his father Qifu Zuan was the Golden Purple Grand Minister, both of whom were former leaders of the Xianbei tribe. Qifu Hui was spirited from a young age, upright in character, skilled in horseback archery, and fond of raising eagles and hunting dogs.
During the reign of Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi, he served as the Left Chancellor of the Executive, later promoted to General for Suppressing Bandits, and gradually rose to the position of Right Guard General and Minister of Rites, finally being granted the title of Duke of Yongning County and later the Prince of Yimin Commandery. His brother Qifu Guihe was also ennobled as a prince for his military achievements, making them both princes, basking in their glory!
After Northern Zhou Emperor Wu conquered Northern Qi, Qifu Hui was appointed as the General of Pacification and Grand General of the Household, later serving as the Right Division Junior Officer of the Jifei, and then promoted to Senior Officer of Xiongqu. When Yang Jian was Prime Minister, Qifu Hui, together with Wei Xiaokuan, defeated Yu Dun in Wuzhi, winning the battle. As a result, he was granted the position of Grand General and rewarded with 800 rolls of silk. Following the suppression of the rebellious Wei Jiong, he was promoted to Grand General of the State, enfeoffed as Duke of Xihe Commandery with a fief of 3,000 households, and further rewarded with 2,300 rolls of silk. He once wanted to pass on his titles to his brother, but the court did not agree, and many admired his sense of honor.
After Yang Jian declared himself emperor, he appointed Qifu Hui as the Caozhou Governor. The customs in Caozhou were quite poor, with the common people often hiding their population and wealth, and household registrations being falsified. Upon his arrival, Qifu Hui conducted a thorough investigation and discovered tens of thousands of unreported households. He was later reassigned to Liangzhou as the Commander-in-Chief. At that time, the Turks often raided the border, but Qifu Hui bolstered border defenses and deployed scouts, which made the Turks wary and reluctant to invade.
After more than a year, he was reassigned as the Governor of Qizhou and identified thousands of households that had underreported their population. He was later promoted to Governor of Shouzhou. In that year, he was reassigned as Governor of Qizhou once more. After working for several years, he was promoted to Governor of Xuzhou. By then, he was already over seventy years old, and he submitted a request for retirement to the court, but it was not approved. Soon after, he was transferred to Jingzhou as the governor, also overseeing the military affairs of Tanzhou, Guizhou, and another twenty-nine states. The local customs in Jingzhou were quite lax, but Qifu Hui led by example, promoting frugality and simplicity, greatly improving the local customs. Legend has it that he once saw someone fishing with a bamboo basket, and he bought the fish with his own money and released them, demonstrating his kind-hearted nature! The common people held him in high regard, referring to his fiefdom as "Xihugonggu."
Later, he was transferred to the position of Governor of Qinzhou. After Emperor Yang of Sui took the throne, he was appointed as the Administrator of Tianshui. In the fifth year of Daye, Emperor Yang of Sui campaigned against the Tuyuhun. Because Tianshui County was close to the border, the people were under significant strain. In addition, Emperor Yang of Sui was on a western tour, and due to poorly maintained roads and inadequate food supplies, Emperor Yang of Sui was furious and ordered his execution. Seeing that his hair had turned white, his life was spared, but he was stripped of his position. Ultimately, he passed away at home.
Zhang Wei's birthplace is unknown. His father, Zhang Chen, served as the Prefect of Hongnong in the Wei Kingdom. From a young age, Zhang Wei was known for his good looks and ambition, skilled in horseback riding and archery, and significantly stronger than most. During the Zhou Dynasty, he took part in numerous military campaigns, rising in rank to Pillar of the State and Intendant of Jingzhao, and was granted the title of Duke of Changshou County with a fief of one thousand households.
Later, Wang Qian rebelled, and Emperor Gaozu appointed Zhang Wei as the commander of the expeditionary force to quell his rebellion alongside General Liang Rui. When the army reached Tonggu, Wang Qian's general, Li Sanwang, commanded elite troops to defend the position. Liang Rui ordered Zhang Wei to lead the vanguard. At first, Li Sanwang kept the camp gates closed and refused to fight. Zhang Wei ordered his men to loudly insult them, provoking them into battle. Li Sanwang's troops indeed came out, and Zhang Wei commanded the warriors to bravely attack. Li Sanwang's army was defeated, and the main forces followed closely behind, leading to the capture and execution of over four thousand soldiers.
As the army moved towards Kaiyuan, Wang Qian's general Zhao Yan led a hundred thousand troops and camped thirty miles away. Zhang Wei blazed a trail through the mountains, launching a flanking attack on Zhao Yan. Zhao Yan was defeated and fled. Zhang Wei pursued him to Chengdu, where he engaged in a major battle with Wang Qian, serving as the commander of the central army. Once Wang Qian was defeated, Zhang Wei was promoted to the title of Grand General and appointed as the governor of Luzhou. After Emperor Gaozu ascended the throne following his abdication, Zhang Wei successively served as the governor of Youzhou and Luozhou, with the title of Duke of Jinxi. He was then appointed as the Prefect of the Hebei Circuit and later oversaw the affairs of the Prince of Jin's court. Several years later, he was appointed as the governor of Qingzhou, and the court honored him with eighty thousand coins, five hundred measures of rice, and three hundred bolts of silk in various colors.
When Zhang Wei was in Qingzhou, he paid more attention to developing his personal interests and sent his household servants to sell radishes in the marketplace, which led to their oppression of the people. The emperor was furious about this, severely reprimanded him, and dismissed him from his position. Later, when the emperor went to Mount Tai to offer sacrifices, passing through Luoyang, he said to Zhang Wei, "Since I have taken over the world, I can say I’ve trusted you completely with important tasks every time. Why haven't you taken the time to cultivate your reputation and moral character, only pursuing profits? This not only disappoints my sincerity but also damages your reputation." The emperor asked Zhang Wei again, "Where is the imperial tablet you usually hold?" Zhang Wei bowed and apologized, saying, "I have committed a crime and violated the law; I no longer have the face to hold it. I have hidden it at home." The emperor said, "Bring it." The next day, Zhang Wei presented the imperial tablet to the emperor, and the emperor said, "Even though you broke the law, your contributions are significant, and I will not forget your merits. Now I return the imperial tablet to you." Therefore, the emperor reappointed Zhang Wei as the governor of Luozhou and later appointed him as the Marquis of Xuan Cheng County. Soon after, he was transferred to be the governor of Xiangzhou, and he passed away while in office. His son, Zhang Zhi, during the Daye period, became the Wuben Langjiang.
He Hong was from Runan. He was exceptionally strong and brave from a young age. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Zhou, he followed the emperor on several military expeditions, gradually advancing through his military achievements, eventually becoming the Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, and the equivalent of the Yitong Sanqi. At that time, the leader of the barbarian tribes in Longzhou, Ren Gongxin, Li Guoli, and others gathered troops to rebel, and the governor Dugu Shan could not control the situation. After deliberation, the court believed that He Hong had great military talent and sent him to replace Dugu Shan as the governor of Longzhou. In about a month, he captured Ren Gongxin and Li Guoli, executed them publicly as a warning, and subdued the remaining rebels.
Later, He Hong followed the emperor in attacking Heyin. He fought bravely and broke through the west gate of Heyin. The emperor greatly appreciated him and rewarded him with a large quantity of cloth, totaling one thousand pieces. He then followed the emperor to pacify the state of Qi, was promoted to the position of Shang Yitong, and granted the title of Marquis of Beiping with a fief consisting of eight hundred households. He was also appointed as the Left Xuncao Xia Daifu. When the pillar state Wang Gui subdued Wu Mingche, He Hong also made contributions, further elevating his official rank to Kaifu, and then promoted to Zheshi Zhong Daifu.
When Wei Jiong rebelled in Xiangzhou, the court appointed He Hong as the commander of the army, tasking him to accompany Wei Xiaokuan in suppressing Wei Jiong. When the army arrived in Heyang, Wei Jiong sent troops to surround Huaizhou. He Hong, along with Commander Yu Wenshu and others, drove away Wei Jiong's army. He also defeated Wei Dun, one of Wei Jiong's lieutenants, in Wuzhi. After pacifying Xiangzhou, due to He Hong's significant contributions in every battle, he was designated as the Pillar State, granted the title of Duke of Guangwu County, with a fief consisting of two thousand households. In total, he received rewards of over ten thousand pieces of cloth, fifty slaves, one hundred catties of gold, one hundred catties of silver, and one hundred horses and cattle.
At that time, Dongxia had just been pacified, and the people's sentiments were still unsettled. Because of He Hong's reputation, Emperor Gaozu appointed him in charge of the affairs of Jizhou, where he excelled and gained the people's favor. After a few years, the court recalled him to the capital and appointed him as the overseer of the canal system, and later promoted to the governorship of Sizhou. When the Turks launched an invasion at the border, the court appointed He Hong as the commander of the northern army to fight against the Turks. He successfully repelled the Turks and only returned after pushing them back to the desert region. Eventually, he was promoted to the governorship of Xuzhou, and finally passed away at the age of sixty-four.
Hou Mo Chen Ying, also known as Zundao, was from Daijun. Following the migration of Wei State to the south, his family had served as high-ranking military officers for generations. His father, Hou Mo Chen Chong, held numerous important official positions during the Wei and Zhou dynasties, eventually becoming the Grand Minister of Works. From a young age, Hou Mo Chen Ying displayed the demeanor of a great general, with outstanding qualities that earned him respect from his peers. Towards the end of the reign of the Wei Dynasty, due to his father's military achievements, he was granted the title of Marquis of Guangping and later promoted to the position of Palace Supervisor.
During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Zhou Dynasty, he followed Prince Teng Xiao You to suppress the rebellion of the Hu people in Longquan and Wencheng. He and General Dou Lu Ji led troops to attack from different routes. Hou Mo Chen Ying advanced over five hundred miles deep into enemy territory, capturing three enemy strongholds. Previously, these Hu people had frequently rebelled, plundering the residents along the border and enslaving them. At that time, the court ordered that any Hu person who dared to hide loyal subjects would be executed. Rumors circulated that some Hu people were hiding in a village, and Dou Lu Ji planned to massacre all the villagers. Hou Mo Chen Ying advised him, saying, "General, when leading troops in the field, some orders can be adjusted based on the situation. These Hu people are not
Hou Mo Chen Ying was later promoted to be a military commander and was appointed as the Grand Minister of Zhenwei. When Emperor Wen of Sui became the Prime Minister, he appointed him as the Prefect of Changzhou. Later, when Emperor Wen of Sui ascended the throne, Hou Mo Chen Ying did not take up the post, but was instead promoted to the title of Duke of Shenping. Shortly after, he was appointed as the Prefect of Yanzhou. A few years later, he was transferred to be the Prefect of Chenzhou. In the war to pacify the Chen dynasty, he followed Prince Qin Yang Jun out of Lu Mountain as the army commander. After Chen dynasty generals Xun Fashang and Chen Ji surrendered, Hou Mo Chen Ying and the commander Duan Wenzhen crossed the Yangtze River and took command of the surrendered Chen dynasty army. He was then appointed as the Prefect of Raozhou, but before taking up the position, he was transferred to be the Prefect of Yingzhou, where he did many good deeds for the people. After serving in Yingzhou for several years, he was dismissed due to his close ties with Prince Qin Yang Jun. The people tearfully bid him farewell and erected a monument together to praise his integrity. Not long after, he was appointed as the Inspector of Fenzhou, and shortly after that, he became the Prefect 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 the top official. Emperor Wen of Sui was very pleased and issued an edict praising him. At that time, the court felt that most of the officials and county magistrates in Lingnan were corrupt, and the indigenous people were resentful, leading to frequent rebellions. Therefore, they carefully selected upright officials to restore order and thus summoned Hou Mo Chen Ying to the capital. When he arrived in the capital, he met with Emperor Wen of Sui and they reminisced about the past, laughing and enjoying each other's company. A few days later, Hou Mo Chen Ying was promoted to Grand General and appointed as the commander of Guizhou, overseeing military affairs across seventeen provinces. Emperor Wen of Sui also bestowed numerous gifts upon him before dispatching him to his new post. Hou Mo Chen Ying, after taking up his position, valued benevolence and integrity highly, making the people and minority tribes happy. Many people from mountainous and remote areas came to submit to him.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended to the throne, Hou Mochen Ying's elder brother, Duke Hou Mochen Rui of Liangguo, was exiled to the border due to a crime. The court feared Hou Mochen Ying might cause trouble, so they summoned him back to the capital. Several years later, he was appointed Prefect of Mount Heng. In that year, many areas in the Lingnan and Minyue regions defied the court's authority. Emperor Yang of Sui remembered Hou Mochen Ying's remarkable political achievements when he served as an official in Guizhou and was highly regarded by the local populace, so he appointed him as Prefect 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 very famous.
Historical records say: Du Yandong fought in Xia and the southern border, earned numerous military accolades, and later guarded the northern frontier, where the northern tribes did not dare to act recklessly. When Gao Mei was dying, he remained resolute, hating those treacherous villains, and left behind a strong legacy. Erzhu Chang showed exceptional talent from a young age but remained steadfast in his duties. He rebuilt the crumbling foundation, which exemplifies benevolence and wisdom! Zhou Yao was recognized for his reliability, while Gongsun Xin's fame spread far and wide due to his compassion for the people. Qifu Huineng relinquished control of the country, and the regions governed by the Hou Mochen family were well administered. These people, some excelled in governance, while others embodied the principles of benevolence and righteousness, and all of them deserve praise. Huineng was demoted due to the simplicity of his tent, but he entered the court at a young age, served under three successive dynasties, and eventually received a pension and lived to a ripe old age, likely due to his straightforwardness and lack of pretense.
To put it simply, Du Yandong fought in the southern regions and the Xia Dynasty (specifically, Xia Prefecture), won many battles, and was later sent to the northern frontier to be in charge. The area became peaceful, and the Hu people no longer dared to cause trouble. When Gao Mei died, he had an extraordinary presence! He despised evildoers, and his reputation remained excellent even after his death. Erzhu Chang was exceptionally intelligent from a young age, yet in the end, he managed to keep things stable despite the impending collapse, demonstrating immense wisdom and virtue! Zhou Yao earned significant recognition for his integrity; Dugu Xin was well-regarded for his compassion towards the people; Qifu Huineng even relinquished control of the entire country; the Houmochen family governed their territory effectively. Some were skilled at leadership, while others prioritized righteousness; in short, they were all highly capable individuals. Huineng was demoted due to the simplicity of his tent, but he had been involved in the court since his youth, serving under three generations of emperors, and ultimately enjoyed a worry-free and prosperous life, living to an old age, perhaps due to his sincere and genuine character.
