Quan Wu, courtesy name Wunang, is from Tianshui. His grandfather Quan Chao was the Governor of Qinzhou in the Wei State. His father Quan Xiqing was a military officer in the Zhou Dynasty, who fought in Bingzhou under Emperor Wuyuan against the army of Qi State and was heavily surrounded by enemies, over a hundred layers of siege! Quan Xiqing fought desperately, having run out of arrows, fought the enemy in close combat, killed many foes, and his swords and spears broke. Finally, he took off his helmet and threw it on the ground, shouting curses at the enemy: "Why don't you come and chop off my head!" In the end, he was killed by the enemy.
As a loyal descendant of loyal ministers, Quan Wu was appointed as a military officer right from the start, inheriting the title of Duke of Qi County, with a fief of 1,200 households. Quan Wu has always been resolute and powerful since he was young, with astonishing strength that enabled him to ride a horse while fully armored. It is said that he once jumped headfirst into a well and jumped out before reaching the bottom, demonstrating his agility! He fought alongside Wang Qian, captured five cities of Qi State, and gained an additional 800 households of fief. During the pacification of Qi State, he captured Shaozhou, as well as six other cities, and gained an additional three hundred households of fief.
During the reign of Emperor Xuan, Quan Wu was appointed as the Senior Officer of the Left Flank, and later promoted to Senior Military Officer. When Gaozu became Prime Minister, he kept Quan Wu close. After Gaozu became Emperor, he added five hundred households to Quan Wu's fief. Six years later, Quan Wu was appointed as the governor of Xizhou. During the war against Chen State, he served as the Chief Commander, following Prince Jin's army to Liuhe, and upon his return, he was appointed as the governor of Yuzhou. After serving as governor of Yuzhou for several years, he was promoted to Grand General and concurrently appointed as the Commander of Tanzhou due to his contributions as a founding hero. That year, a rebellion broke out in Guizhou led by Li Shixian. Quan Wu, serving as the Chief Commander, together with General Wuhou Yu Qingze, suppressed the rebellion. Unfortunately, Yu Qingze fell from grace and was executed, while Quan Wu's contributions were not recognized, and he returned to his post in the province.
Quan Wu produced a large number of gold belts and gave them to the tribal chiefs in Lingnan. Those chiefs also gave him many treasures in return, which Quan Wu gladly accepted, which made him extremely wealthy. In his later years, he finally had a son. One day, while drinking with family and friends, he became intoxicated and unilaterally pardoned the prisoners in his jurisdiction. Quan Wu often said that the remote areas of Nanyue required governance that respected local customs, putting convenience first rather than being strictly bound by the law. He also frequently complained about the severity of the laws and the challenges of being an official. The Emperor ordered an investigation into his conduct, which substantiated the claims. The Emperor was furious and ordered his execution. Quan Wu wrote a petition from prison, citing his father's death in battle for Emperor Wuyuan as a plea for mercy. As a result, the Emperor demoted him to commoner.
During the Renshou era, Quan Wu was appointed as Grand General once again, with the same fiefdom he held previously. Shortly after, he was appointed as the Right Guard of the Crown Prince. When Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, Quan Wu was appointed as the Grand General of the Right Guard of the Martial Guards. However, he was later dismissed again due to misconduct and appointed as the Inspector of Guizhou. He was soon reassigned as the Prefect of Shi'an. After a long period of time, he was summoned back to the court and appointed as the Grand General of the Right Garrison Guards, but was dismissed again due to misconduct. Quan Wu eventually died at home, leaving a son named Quan Hong.
Tu Wanxu, also known as Changxu, was a Xianbei from Dai Commandery. His father, Tu Tong, held the position of Inspector of Yingzhou during the Zhou Dynasty. Changxu demonstrated military prowess from an early age and rose through the ranks starting as General of Military Affairs and inherited the title of Duke of Yuanshou County. He participated in numerous military campaigns and steadily advanced through the ranks, ultimately becoming the Grand General and Junior Minister of War.
After Emperor Gaozu ascended the throne, he appointed him as the governor of Xiangzhou, granted him the title of Duke of Gucheng, and bestowed a fief of 2,500 households. Not long after, he was transferred to be the governor of Qingzhou, where he earned a strong reputation for his remarkable political achievements. Over a year later, the Turkic tribes invaded the border, and the court valued Chang Xu's prestige and abilities, so he was transferred to be the governor of Shuozhou, where the northern ethnic minorities feared him. Later, Emperor Gaozu secretly planned to eliminate the Chen dynasty, so he transferred Chang Xu to be the governor of Xuzhou, instructing him to prepare military supplies. When the army crossed the river to attack the Chen dynasty, Chang Xu was appointed as the marching commander, stationed alongside Duke Ge Douchi of Xihe and Hong Jing in the northern forces. After the fall of the Chen dynasty, he was appointed as the governor of Xiazhou.
When Prince Jin Yang Guang was a vassal, he had a good relationship with Chang Xu. When Yang Guang became the Crown Prince, he appointed Chang Xu as his Left Guard Commander. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, Prince Han Yang Liang was stationed in Bingzhou. Emperor Yang of Sui was worried that Yang Liang would rebel, so he sent Chang Xu to serve as the inspector of Jinzhou and Jiangzhou, with urgent orders sent by courier. Before Chang Xu could leave, Yang Liang had already sent troops to occupy Puban, cutting off the bridge over the Yellow River and blocking Chang Xu's entry. Therefore, the court ordered Chang Xu to lead troops to aid Yang Su in the campaign against Yang Liang. After defeating Yang Liang, Chang Xu was appointed as the Left Martial Guard General.
In the early years of the Daye period, Chang Xu was promoted to Guangluqing. When He Ruobi was wrongfully accused, the court summoned Chang Xu to testify. Chang Xu proved He Ruobi's innocence, but was ultimately dismissed from his post. Over a year later, he was appointed as the Prefect of Dongping. Not long after, Emperor Yang of Sui arrived in Jiangdu and traveled through Dongping. Chang Xu welcomed him on the roadside. Emperor Yang of Sui ordered Chang Xu to board the dragon boat, where Chang Xu knelt in gratitude and recounted past events. Emperor Yang of Sui was pleased and appointed him as Grand Master of Golden Purple Guanglu, with no change in his position as Prefect.
During the Liaodong Campaign, Chang Xu requested to serve as the vanguard. Emperor Yang of Sui appreciated him and appointed him General of the Left Garrison, leading tens of thousands of troops to Gaima Road. After the battle, he remained in Huaiyuan, where he was promoted to Left Guanglu Daifu. At that time, Liu Yuanjin rebelled in Jiangnan and attacked Runzhou, so Emperor Yang of Sui dispatched Chang Xu to quell the rebellion. Chang Xu led his army to Yangzijin, where Liu Yuanjin was preparing to cross the Maopu River. Chang Xu's forces repelled the attack. Chang Xu crossed the Yangtze River and established a camp with the river at his back. The following morning, Liu Yuanjin launched another attack but was again defeated by Chang Xu. Liu Yuanjin lifted the siege of Runzhou and retreated. Chang Xu stationed in Qu'a, where Liu Yuanjin regrouped to resist. Chang Xu took the initiative to attack, and before Liu Yuanjin could properly form his troops, Chang Xu led the cavalry to charge, leading to a rout of the enemy. Tens of thousands drowned in the river. Liu Yuanjin escaped at night and returned to his camp. The impostors Zhu Xie and Guan Chong were stationed in Piling, with their camps extending over a hundred li. Chang Xu pursued and defeated them again. The enemy retreated to Huangshan. Chang Xu marched to surround Huangshan, and the enemy was left with no choice but to surrender. Liu Yuanjin and Zhu Xie narrowly escaped. Chang Xu personally killed over 5,000, including Guan Chong and General Lu Yi, and captured more than 30,000 of their children, sending them to Jiangdu Palace. He subsequently lifted the siege of Kuaiji. Liu Yuanjin seized Jian'an, and Emperor Yang of Sui ordered Chang Xu to suppress him. However, due to his exhausted soldiers, Chang Xu requested to rest and wait until the next spring to launch an attack. Emperor Yang of Sui was displeased and secretly searched for Chang Xu's faults. Upon receiving reports of Chang Xu's cowardice and defiance of imperial orders, his rank was stripped, and he was relegated to Jian'an. Shortly after, he was summoned back to the imperial court. Frustrated, Chang Xu returned to Yongjia, where he eventually succumbed to illness.
Dong Chun, courtesy name Dehou, is from Chengji, Gansu. His grandfather Dong He was the Left Guard of the Prince of Wei, and his father Dong Sheng was the Grand General of the Zhou Dynasty. Dong Chun has been strong since childhood and excels in horseback riding and archery. He served as an official in the Zhou Dynasty, holding positions such as Senior Officer of the Imperial Secretariat and Junior Master of the Stables, and was granted the title of Baron of Gushi County with a fief of 200 households. He accompanied Emperor Wu in subduing the Qi Kingdom and was honored with the title of Yitong for his achievements, then promoted to the title of Marquis of Daxing County with a fief of 800 households. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended to the throne, Dong Chun was subsequently elevated to Duke of Hanqu County and later advanced to General of Cavalry. He was later reappointed as Grand Marshal in recognition of his military accomplishments. Towards the end of the Kaihuang period of the Sui Dynasty, as a senior minister, Dong Chun was promoted to Left Guard General, and shortly after was reappointed as Duke of Shunzheng County.
Han Wang Liang rebelled in Bingzhou, and the court appointed Dong Chun as the commander of the marching army and the deputy pacifier of Hebei Province. He followed Yang Su to suppress the rebellion. Due to his achievements, he was appointed as a pillar of the state, promoted to the rank of county duke, and his fief was increased to two thousand households. Later, he was promoted to the General of the Left Guard, and the emperor also rewarded him with ten singing girls and five thousand bolts of silk. Several years later, Dong Chun was promoted to the General of the Left Valiant Guard and the governor of Pengcheng. Prince Qi Yang Jian committed an offense, and Dong Chun, due to his close ties with Prince Qi, was questioned by the emperor: "How did you, from a small official to the current general, seek to curry favor with my son and try to sow discord between us father and son?" Dong Chun said: "I originally came from humble beginnings and was elevated through your favor. The late emperor appreciated my careful handling of affairs, and his rewards exceeded my merits. Your Majesty has also trusted me and allowed me to reach the position of general. I only wish to spend the rest of my life repaying the state's kindness. I have visited Prince Qi several times because when the late emperor was in Renshou Palace, he once held Crown Prince Yuande and Prince Qi in his arms and said to me: 'Take good care of these two children and do not forget my words.' I am following the late emperor's last words, and whenever I have time off, I go to the palace to see the two princes. I truly cannot forget the late emperor's words. At that time, Your Majesty was also by the late emperor's side." The emperor's expression softened as he replied, "So that's how it is." He then allowed Dong Chun to leave.
After a few days, Dong Chun was appointed governor of Wenshan. Over a year later, the Turks invaded the border, and since Dong Chun was an experienced general, the court transferred him to Yulin as the governor. Whenever the Turks dared to invade, Dong Chun would immediately lead his troops to drive them back. At that time, the bandit leaders Zhang Dabiao and Zong Shimu from Pengcheng gathered tens of thousands of troops and occupied Xuanbo Mountain, plundering in areas such as Xuzhou and Yanzhou. The emperor ordered Dong Chun to take action against them. At first, Dong Chun hesitated to engage in battle, and the bandits provoked him several times, but Dong Chun did not send out his troops. The bandits thought Dong Chun was cowardly and timid, so they looted extensively. Dong Chun selected elite troops to attack, won a decisive victory against the bandits in Changlu, beheading over ten thousand enemies, and piled up their heads for all to see. The bandit leader Wei Qilin led over ten thousand troops to occupy Danfu, but Dong Chun led his troops to attack and defeated them once again. Later, the emperor mounted another campaign to Liaodong and appointed Dong Chun as the governor of Pengcheng. The bandit Peng Xiaocai from Donghai led a few thousand bandits to plunder Huairen County, fled to Yishui, and occupied Wubuji Mountain. Dong Chun led his elite soldiers to pursue, captured Peng Xiaocai alive on the battlefield, and had him executed by being torn apart by horses, while the remaining bandits scattered and fled. At that time, the people's hearts were filled with unrest, and the number of bandits continued to rise. Although Dong Chun had won several battles, bandits continued to rise in various places. Some people falsely accused Dong Chun of being cowardly and ineffective, unable to pacify the banditry. The emperor, furious, had Dong Chun escorted to the eastern capital city. Sensing the emperor's fury, the officials sentenced Dong Chun to death, and Dong Chun was ultimately executed.
Zhao Cai, courtesy name Xiaocai, was from Zhangye and Jiuquan in Gansu. His grandfather, Zhao Kui, was the Silver-Blue Grand Minister of Wei and the Prefect of Lelang; his father, Zhao Shou, was the Prefect of Shunzheng during the Northern Zhou dynasty. Zhao Cai was brave and skilled in battle from a young age, excelling in archery, but he had a rough personality and did not understand etiquette. During the Northern Zhou dynasty, he was a Senior Official of the Imperial Carriage. After Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, declared himself emperor, Zhao Cai was promoted due to his military achievements, eventually becoming the Minister of Rites. He later served Prince Jin, Yang Guang, and was appointed as the Right Guard Commander. After Emperor Yang Guang ascended the throne, Zhao Cai was promoted to the Left Cavalry Commander and later to the Right General of the Valiant Guards. As an old minister from the imperial residence during Emperor Yang Guang's time as a prince, the emperor became increasingly close to him, and Zhao Cai worked diligently, showing exceptional dedication. Over a year later, he was promoted to the Right Vanguard Guard General. Later, Emperor Yang Guang led a campaign against the Tuyuhun, appointing Zhao Cai as the commander of the expedition. He led troops including Liu Quan, the Commandant of Guards, and Ming Ya, the Minister of War, from Hehe Road to encounter and defeat the Tuyuhun army. For this military achievement, Zhao Cai was promoted to Golden Purple Grand Minister. In the Liaodong campaign, he led two expeditions from Jieshi Road. Upon his return, he was appointed as the Left Vanguard Guard General, and shortly after, he was promoted to the Right Vanguard Guard Grand General. Whenever Emperor Yang Guang went on tours, Zhao Cai always served as the scout, enforcing the law rigorously and without favoritism. If he encountered violations by the relatives of high-ranking officials on the road, Zhao Cai would rebuke them sternly, regardless of their status. Although many disliked his no-nonsense approach, they couldn't help but respect him for his principles.
Ten years later, Emperor Yang of Sui went on an inspection tour to Fenyang Palace, leaving Zhao Cai in charge of the Eastern Capital, Luoyang. Twelve years later, Emperor Yang of Sui was in Luoyang, preparing to go to Jiangdu. Zhao Cai noticed the suffering of the people, the national treasury was depleted, banditry was rampant, and the laws had broken down. He hoped that the Emperor would return to the capital to stabilize the people. Although he considered himself foolish, he dared to counsel with his life on the line! Emperor Yang of Sui was furious and handed Zhao Cai over to his officials for punishment. Ten days later, Emperor Yang of Sui calmed down somewhat and released him. Emperor Yang of Sui still went to Jiangdu, showing Zhao Cai greater favor. At that time, the food supplies in Jiangdu had run out, and the soldiers were losing morale. The Minister of the Interior, Yu Shiji, and the Director of the Imperial Secretariat, Yuan Chong, advised Emperor Yang of Sui to go to Danyang. Emperor Yang of Sui discussed this issue in court, with Zhao Cai strongly advocating for a return to the capital, while Yu Shiji passionately advocated for crossing the river. Emperor Yang of Sui remained silent throughout, and Zhao Cai and Yu Shiji argued and departed.
When Yuwen Huaji was in the process of assassinating the emperor, Zhao Cai was in the northern part of the garden. Yuwen Huaji sent Xide Fang, the envoy Xiaoguo, to chase him with a forged decree. After hearing the decree, Zhao Cai came out, and Xide Fang ordered his men to capture him and bring him to Yuwen Huaji. Yuwen Huaji said to Zhao Cai, "Today's matter can only end like this; I hope you don't take it to heart." Zhao Cai remained silent. Yuwen Huaji considered killing him due to Zhao Cai's silence, but he released him three days later. Zhao Cai still held his former position, feeling increasingly frustrated. Zhao Cai once urged eighteen conspirators at Yuwen Huaji's banquet, including Yang Shilan, to drink, and Yuwen Huaji agreed. Zhao Cai raised his glass and said, "With eighteen people, this can only happen once; let’s not do it again." None of the others said a word. When they arrived in Liaocheng, Zhao Cai fell seriously ill. Shortly after, Yuwen Huaji was defeated by Dou Jiande, and Zhao Cai was captured again. Growing increasingly discontented, he died a few days later at the age of seventy-three years.
During the Ren Shou and Da Ye periods, there were two people, one named Lan Xingyu and the other named Helan Fan, both were renowned military generals. They were upright and outspoken, fearless in the face of power, and had a good reputation for their outstanding work.
According to historical records: Luo Hou, Fa Shang, Li Jing, Shi Xiong, and Murong Sanzang, they relied on their bravery and skill in battle to make contributions to the country during times of war, thereby earning wealth and status through their own merits. Rengong, at first, worked as an official in Ji County and rose in rank due to his integrity and competence, but when he moved to Mayi, he ultimately fell due to his greed and stinginess. Few can see things through to the end; it is truly a pity! Tu Wanxu and Dong Chun, both initially attained high positions and substantial rewards for their accomplishments. Wanxu was reprimanded for advocating an end to the war, while Dong Chun was falsely accused and subsequently executed.
In the later years of the Da Ye period, bandits were rampant, and no one could rein them in! Brutal punishments ran rampant, and people were utterly powerless to resist! Although Zhao Cai was rough around the edges and lacking in manners, he had strong ambitions, was principled, and stood his ground. He resolutely rejected Shi Ji's advice, making it clear he would not compromise! Quan Wu, who often acted recklessly and disregarded the law, was ultimately removed from his position and got what he deserved!
