Xue Shixiong, courtesy name Shiying, hailed from Fenyin in Hedong, but his ancestors had moved to Guanzhong long ago. His father was Xue Hui, courtesy name Daohong, who served as an official during the Northern Zhou dynasty, eventually becoming the Governor of Jingzhou. During the Kaihuang era of the Sui dynasty, he was granted the title of Duke of Wuyin County and assigned to oversee the canal system. As he grew older, he retired to enjoy his retirement, eventually passing away at home.
Since childhood, Xue Shixiong enjoyed playing with his friends, often drawing fortifications in the dirt and having everyone take on roles in attacking and defending. If any of his friends disobeyed him, he would give them a good thrashing. The other children were all afraid of him and obediently followed his lead. His father witnessed this and commented to those around him, "This boy is destined to bring glory to our family!"
At the age of seventeen, Xue Shixiong fought alongside Emperor Wu of Zhou in battles and helped pacify the state of Qi, earning the title of Commander-in-Chief. During the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, he fought in numerous battles and made significant contributions, gradually rising through the ranks to become the General of the Right Guard.
After Emperor Yang ascended the throne, the Yi and Lao tribes in Panyu rebelled, and the Emperor sent Xue Shixiong to suppress the rebellion. Following the successful suppression, Xue Shixiong was promoted to the rank of General of the Right Guard. Later, he joined the Emperor in campaigns against the Tuyuhun and was appointed as a Senior Consultant.
Xue Shixiong was recognized for his meticulous and dedicated approach to his duties, always ensuring civilians were unharmed during conflicts, and the Emperor greatly admired him.
Once, the Emperor was chatting with his ministers and asked, "I want to promote someone good; who do you think would fit the bill?" The ministers responded, "How can we know what you're thinking?" The Emperor then said, "I want to promote Xue Shixiong." The ministers all agreed it was a good choice. The Emperor continued, "Shixiong is upright, honest, and embodies the virtues of ancient statesmen." So, he was promptly promoted to General of the Right Wing Guards.
More than a year later, the emperor sent Shixiong as the general of the Yumen Road Army to fight against the Turkic Khagan in Yiwu. When the army arrived at Yumen Pass, the Khagan broke the agreement and did not show up, so Shixiong ventured deep into the desert alone. At first, the people of Yiwu initially believed the Sui army wouldn't arrive and thus made little preparation. However, when they heard that Shixiong's army had crossed the desert, they were scared and quickly surrendered, even sending gifts of cattle and wine to the camp. Shixiong then constructed a city east of the old Yiwu, called New Yiwu, leaving Grand Master Wang Wei of the Silver Qinguanglu and more than a thousand soldiers to guard it, and then returned to the court. The emperor was very pleased, promoted Shixiong's rank, and rewarded him with many things.
Later, during the Liaodong campaign, Shixiong was appointed as the general of the Wozhu Expeditionary Army and suffered a defeat alongside Yuwenshu in Pyongyang. When retreating to Baishishan, they were surrounded by the enemy, and arrows fell like rain from all directions. Shixiong formed a square formation with the remaining soldiers, selected two hundred elite cavalry to charge first, and when the enemy slightly retreated, he pursued and eventually defeated them, safely retreating. However, the losses were heavy, and he was eventually dismissed.
The following year, the emperor launched another campaign in Liaodong, appointing Shixiong as the General of the Right Guard, with the target being the Tadun Road. When the army arrived at Wugucheng, Yang Xuange rebelled, and the army retreated. The emperor appointed Shixiong as the Northeast Road Ambassador and concurrently as the Prefect of Yanzhou, stationed in Huaiyuan. At that time, the Turks often came to raid, inflicting suffering on many border counties. The emperor tasked Shixiong with patrolling the border with troops from twelve counties before returning.
Ten years later, Shixiong followed the emperor to Liaodong, was promoted to Left Imperial Guard General, and also served as the acting governor of Zhuo Commandery. Not long after, Li Mi attacked the Eastern Capital, causing chaos in the Central Plains. The emperor ordered Shixiong to lead the elite troops from Youzhou and Jizhou to fight against Li Mi. When the army arrived in Hejian, they set up camp south of the county city. The counties of Hejian gathered their troops to support Shixiong's army, preparing to attack Dou Jiande. Dou Jiande had already moved his family away and selected a few hundred elite soldiers to launch a night attack. They first attacked the Hejian army, causing the Hejian army to flee to Shixiong's camp. At that time, heavy fog blanketed the area, making it impossible to see anything clearly. The army couldn't form ranks and scrambled to escape, resulting in a major defeat. Overcome with shame and anger, he fell ill and returned to Zhuo Commandery, dying not long after at the age of sixty-three. He left behind four sons, Wanshu, Wanshu, Wanjun, and Wanche, all known for their bravery and skill in battle.
Wang Rengong, whose courtesy name was Yuanshi, was a native of Shanggui County, Tianshui Commandery. His grandfather, Wang Jian, was the Prefect of Fengzhou in the Zhou Dynasty, and his father, Wang Meng, was the Prefect of Shanzhou. From a young age, Wang Rengong was known for his strong and cautious personality, excelling in horseback riding and archery. When he was young, he was appointed as the chief scribe of the county, recruited by Prince Xiao of Qin to serve as a secretary, later promoted to Changdao Prefect, and eventually became the General of Chariots and Cavalry.
He followed Yang Su to Lingwu to fight against the Turks, achieved merit, and was granted the title of Upper Household Chancellor. He was rewarded with three thousand bolts of cloth. Later, he was appointed as the General of the Valiant Cavalry, in charge of the military affairs of the Prince of Shu. At that time, the rebels in the mountains rose up, and the Prince of Shu sent Wang Rengong to suppress the rebellion. He emerged victorious, and the Prince of Shu rewarded him with three hundred servants. Later, the Prince of Shu fell from grace due to a crime, causing many of his followers to be implicated. However, the emperor regarded Wang Rengong as upright and did not hold him accountable.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended to the throne, Han Prince Liang launched a rebellion, but Wang Rengong followed Yang Su to suppress it. For his achievements, he was promoted to Grand General, appointed as the Governor of Lu Province, and awarded four thousand bolts of cloth and ten courtesans. Over a year later, he was transferred to be the Inspector of Wei Province, and shortly after, appointed as the Prefect of Ji County. His remarkable political achievements earned him great affection from the people.
Later, the court summoned him back to the capital, where the Emperor offered him comfort and encouragement, and rewarded him with six hundred pieces of multicolored silk and two fine horses. He was then appointed as the Prefect of Xindu, and upon hearing this, the people of Ji County tearfully blocked his carriage, making it impossible for him to leave for several days, showing how well-liked he was locally.
During the Liaodong War, Wang Rengong took on the role of a military commander. As the Emperor returned to the capital with his army, Wang Rengong remained behind and encountered bandits on the way, leading his forces to drive off the bandits. Subsequently, he was promoted to Left Minister of Rites and rewarded with six thousand bolts of silk and forty horses.
The following year, he was tasked with leading an expedition to Fuyu. The Emperor said to him, "Many armies have not been successful in battle before, but only the army led by you defeated the enemy. The Records of the Grand Historian says 'the general of a defeated army cannot speak of bravery,' are those generals capable? Now I entrust the vanguard to you, hoping you will live up to expectations!" The Emperor also rewarded him with ten fine horses and one hundred taels of gold.
Wang Rengong advanced his troops to Xincheng, where he faced tens of thousands of enemy soldiers stationed at the city. Wang Rengong led a thousand elite cavalry to break through the enemy formation. The enemy fell back into the city, and Wang Rengong laid siege from all directions. The Emperor was very pleased upon hearing this, sent envoys to the camp to commend him, and sent many treasures. Wang Rengong was promoted to Guanglu Daifu and rewarded with five thousand bolts of silk.
Coincidentally, at this time, Yang Xuange's rebellion broke out, and Yang Xuange's nephew, General Jiang Zhongbo, also participated in the rebellion, which resulted in Wang Rengong's dismissal. Shortly after, the Turkic Khan led tens of thousands of cavalry to invade Mayi and also sent two special agents with troops to the south. At that time, the county's military strength was fewer than three thousand. Wang Rengong handpicked elite troops to launch a counterattack and defeated the enemy. The two special agents' armies were also defeated, and Wang Rengong pursued them in victory, capturing thousands of enemy soldiers' heads and killing the two special agents. The emperor was extremely pleased and rewarded him with three thousand bolts of silk.
Later, the Turks invaded Dingxiang again. Wang Rengong led four thousand troops to attack, killing more than a thousand enemies and returning triumphantly with a large number of livestock.
However, the realm was in chaos, the people were starving, and the roads were blocked. Wang Rengong altered his previous conduct and began to accept bribes, and was reluctant to open the granary to relieve the suffering populace. One of his subordinates, Colonel Liu Wuzhou, was involved with one of Wang Rengong's maids and feared exposure, so he planned to rebel. He often spread rumors in the county, saying, "The elders and villagers are freezing and starving to death, their bodies piling up in the ditches, while the Lord of the Wang Mansion tightly closes t
Quan Wu, styled Wunan, was from Tianshui. His grandfather Quan Chao was the Governor of Qinzhou during the Northern Wei dynasty. His father Quan Xiqing was a high-ranking official of Northern Zhou, who fought alongside Emperor Wuyuan of Northern Zhou against the Qi army in Bingzhou and was eventually surrounded by the enemy. Quan Xiqing fought bravely until his arrows ran out, then engaged the enemy in close combat, killing many of them. When his weapons were shattered, he took off his helmet and threw it on the ground, shouting curses at the enemy, "Why don't you come and cut off my head!" In the end, the enemy killed him.
As a loyal descendant of a minister, Quan Wu was appointed as a founding official from the beginning, inheriting the title of Duke of Qijun with a fief comprising 1,200 households. Quan Wu was brave and strong from a young age, with incredible strength, able to ride a horse even in full armor. He once dove headfirst into a well and sprang back out before hitting the bottom, demonstrating his agility. He fought alongside Wang Qian, capturing five cities from the Qi state, which earned him an additional fief of 800 households. During the war to pacify Qi, he captured Shaozhou and six other cities, gaining another 300 households of fief due to his achievements.
During the reign of Emperor Xuan, he was appointed as a senior officer of the Left Army of Jing, later promoted to Senior Official. When Gaozu was the Prime Minister, he kept him close. After Gaozu became Emperor, he granted Quan Wu an additional fief of 500 households. Six years later, he was appointed as the Governor of Xizhou. During the war against the Chen state, he served as the commander of the expeditionary force, accompanying the Prince of Jin in the campaign against Liuhe, and upon his return, he was appointed as the Governor of Yuzhou. He served in this position for several years and was eventually promoted to Grand General and appointed as the Governor of Tanzhou in recognition of his status as a founding hero.
That year, Li Shixian from Guizhou rebelled. Quan Wu served as the general in charge of the army and, together with General Yu Qingze, quelled the rebellion. Yu Qingze was later killed for committing a crime, but Quan Wu's contributions were not recognized, so he returned to the state. He gave many gold belts to the leaders of Lingnan, who reciprocated with many treasures. Quan Wu accepted them all and became very wealthy. In his later years, Quan Wu finally had a son. Once, while drinking with relatives and friends, he got drunk and granted pardons to the prisoners under his jurisdiction.
Quan Wu often said that the southern regions were remote, and management should align with local customs, prioritizing convenience over strict adherence to laws. He also frequently complained that the laws were overly strict and that being an official was very challenging. The emperor ordered an investigation into his actions, which confirmed everything. Enraged, the emperor ordered his execution. Quan Wu wrote a letter from prison, mentioning how his father died in battle for Emperor Wuyuan, hoping for mercy. As a result, the emperor demoted him to commoner status. During the Ren Shou period, he was appointed as a general again, with the same title and lands as before. Shortly after, he was appointed as the commander of the right guard of the prince.
After Emperor Yang of Sui came to power, he was appointed as the Grand General of the Right Guard, but was later dismissed due to a separate incident and appointed as the governor of Guizhou. Shortly after, he was reassigned as the governor of Shi'an. After a long time, he was summoned again and appointed as the Grand General of the Right Garrison, but was soon dismissed again for another incident. He ultimately passed away at home. He had a son named Quan Hong.
Tu Wanxu, styled Changxu, was a Xianbei from the Dai Commandery. His father, Tu Tong, served as the governor of Yingzhou during the Zhou Dynasty period. Changxu demonstrated exceptional military talent from a young age. During the Zhou Dynasty period, he initially served as the General of the Guard and later inherited the title of Duke of Yuanshou County. He participated in numerous military campaigns, and his rank rose steadily until he eventually became the Grand General and the Minister of Military Affairs.
After Emperor Gaozu ascended to the throne, he appointed him as the governor of Xiangzhou, titled him as the Duke of Gucheng County, and granted him a fief of 2,500 households. Not long after, he was transferred to be the governor of Qingzhou, where he excelled and made notable achievements. Over a year later, the Tuoba invaded the border, and the court recognized his prestige and ability, 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 and instructed him to prepare military supplies.
When the army crossed the river to attack the Chen dynasty, Chang Xu was appointed as the commander, stationed in the north of the river alongside Duke Gedouling of Xihe and Hong Jing. After the fall of the Chen dynasty, he was appointed as the governor of Xiazhou. When Yang Guang was still a prince, he had a good relationship with Chang Xu. Later, when Yang Guang became the emperor, he appointed Chang Xu as the Left General. After Yang Guang became the emperor, Prince Han, Yang Liang, was stationed in Bingzhou. The emperor was worried that Yang Liang would rebel, so he sent Chang Xu to be the inspector of Jinzhou and Jiangzhou and sent him urgent orders. Before Chang Xu left, Yang Liang had already sent troops to occupy Puban and even cut off the river bridge, blocking Chang Xu's entry.
The emperor ordered Chang Xu to lead troops to assist Yang Su in attacking Yang Liang. After defeating Yang Liang, Chang Xu was appointed as the Left Martial General. In the early years of the Daye era, he was promoted to the position of Guangluqing. When He Ruobi was framed by villains, the emperor summoned Chang Xu to testify. Chang Xu proved He Ruobi's innocence but was instead dismissed from office. Over a year later, he was appointed as the Prefect of Dongping. Not long after, when the emperor went to Jiangdu and passed through Dongping, Chang Xu welcomed him on the road. The emperor asked him to board the dragon boat, and Chang Xu took the opportunity to recount past events to the emperor. The emperor was pleased and appointed him as the Grand Master of Guanglu with the Golden Purple title, while retaining his position as prefect.
During the Liaodong Campaign, Zhang Xu requested to be the vanguard. The emperor admired him and appointed him as the General of the Left Imperial Guard, leading tens of thousands of troops to march from Gaimadao. After the war, he remained in Huaiyuan, where he was promoted to Left Guanglu Daifu. At this time, Liu Yuanjin rebelled in Jiangnan and attacked Runzhou, so the emperor sent Zhang Xu to suppress him. Zhang Xu led his troops to Yangzijin, where Liu Yuanjin was preparing to cross the Maopu River. Zhang Xu's forces drove him back. After crossing the Yangtze River, Zhang Xu set up camp with his back to the river. The next morning, Liu Yuanjin launched another attack but was defeated again by Zhang Xu. Liu Yuanjin was forced to lift the siege of Runzhou and retreat. Zhang Xu stationed his forces at Qu'a, where Liu Yuanjin set up camp to resist. Zhang Xu provoked Liu Yuanjin into battle; before Liu Yuanjin's troops could form up, Zhang Xu led his cavalry to charge, causing Liu Yuanjin's army to be defeated, with tens of thousands jumping into the river to escape. Liu Yuanjin escaped at night and returned to his camp. The officials of the usurping dynasty, Zhu Xie, Guan Chong, and others, were stationed in Pilin, with their camp extending over a hundred li. Zhang Xu pursued them and defeated them again. The enemy retreated to Huangshan Mountain. Zhang Xu surrounded Huangshan, and the enemy was compelled to surrender. Liu Yuanjin and Zhu Xie managed to escape. Zhang Xu killed generals Guan Chong and Lu Yi, along with over five thousand soldiers, on the battlefield, capturing over thirty thousand men, women, and children, whom he sent to Jiangdu Palace as captives. Subsequently, Zhang Xu lifted the siege of Kuaiji. Liu Yuanjin occupied Jian'an again, and the emperor ordered Zhang Xu to suppress him. Zhang Xu reported that his soldiers were exhausted and requested to delay the campaign until the following spring. The emperor was displeased and discreetly sought to find faults in Zhang Xu. The authorities reported that Zhang Xu was cowardly and defied the imperial decree, resulting in his dismissal and exile to Jian'an as a commoner. Soon after, a decree was issued summoning him to the imperial court. Disheartened by his failures in the court, Zhang Xu fell ill and died shortly after returning to Yongjia.
Dong Chun, courtesy name De Hou, was from Chengji, Gansu. His grandfather Dong He was the Left Guard General of the Wei Kingdom, and his father Dong Sheng was the Grand General of the Zhou Dynasty. Dong Chun was strong as a child and excelled in horseback riding and archery. He served as a Senior Officer of the Imperial Guard and a Junior Minister of the Imperial Stables in the Zhou Dynasty, and was granted the title of Baron of Gushi with a fief of two hundred households. He served under Emperor Wu in the campaign against the Qi Kingdom and was awarded the title of Yitong in recognition of his achievements, with his rank elevated to Marquis of Daxing and his fief expanded to eight hundred households. During the reign of Emperor Yang Jian (also known as Emperor Yang of the Sui) of the Sui Dynasty, his title was further elevated to Duke of Hanqu, and he gradually advanced to the rank of General of the Valiant Cavalry. He was later promoted to a higher official position due to his military achievements. Towards the end of the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty, given Dong Chun's experience as a general, he was promoted to the rank of Left Guard General, and shortly after, he was reappointed as Duke of Shunzheng.
Han Wangliang rebelled in Bingzhou. The court appointed Dong Chun as the commander of the army and the deputy pacification commissioner of Hebei. Together with Yang Su, they pacified the rebellion. Due to his achievements, Dong Chun was honored as a pillar of the state, his title was elevated to Duke, and his fief was increased to two thousand households. He was then promoted to the position of Left General, and the emperor rewarded him with ten singing girls and five thousand pieces of silk. Several years later, Dong Chun was promoted to Left Valiant Guard General and appointed as the garrison commander of Pengcheng. Prince Qi, Yang Jian, erred, and Dong Chun was questioned by the emperor for his close ties with Prince Qi. Dong Chun replied, "I originally came from humble beginnings, thanks to the emperor's promotion. The late emperor appreciated my careful handling of affairs, and his favor was beyond measure. Your Majesty, you also trusted me and allowed me to reach the position of general. I hope to repay the state's kindness in my remaining years. I visited Prince Qi on several occasions because the late emperor and empress used to live in Renshou Palace, holding Prince Yuande and Prince Qi on their knees, and said to me, 'Take good care of these two boys and remember my words.' Following the late emperor's instructions, whenever I had time off, I always visited Prince Qi at the palace. I truly cannot forget the late emperor's words. At that time, Your Majesty was also by the late emperor's side." Upon hearing this, the emperor's demeanor softened, and he said, "Ah, I see." As a result, Dong Chun was pardoned.
A few days later, Dong Chun was appointed governor of Wenshan. Over a year later, the Turks crossed the border, and because Dong Chun was an old general, the court transferred him to Yulin to serve as governor. Whenever the Turks invaded the border, Dong Chun immediately led his troops to repel them. At that time, the bandit leaders from Pengcheng, Zhang Dabiao and Zong Shimu, led tens of thousands of troops to occupy Xuanboshan, burning, killing, and looting across Xuzhou and Yanzhou. The emperor ordered Dong Chun to suppress them. At first, Dong Chun kept his camp gates firmly shut and did not engage the bandits in battle. Despite repeated provocations from the bandits, Dong Chun refused to fight, causing the bandits to think he was cowardly and unprepared, so they looted freely. Dong Chun selected elite troops and engaged the bandits in battle at Changlu, achieving a great victory, beheading over ten thousand enemies, stacking their heads into a mound. The bandit leader Wei Qilin led over ten thousand troops to occupy Shanfu, but Dong Chun launched another attack and defeated them again. Later, the emperor launched another campaign in Liaodong and appointed Dong Chun as the governor of Pengcheng. The bandit Peng Xiaocai led a few thousand men to plunder Huairen County, escaped to Yishui, and occupied Wubuji Mountain. Dong Chun led his elite soldiers to pursue them, captured Peng Xiaocai alive on the battlefield, and had him executed by being torn apart by horses. The remaining bandits scattered and fled. At that time, the people were in turmoil, with an increasing number of thieves and bandits emerging. Despite Dong Chun's repeated victories in battle, bandits continued to rise up in various regions. Some falsely accused Dong Chun of cowardice and ineptitude, unable to pacify the bandits. The emperor, enraged, ordered Dong Chun to be brought to the eastern capital. Seeing the emperor's anger, the relevant authorities sentenced Dong Chun to death in line with the emperor's wishes, and Dong Chun was ultimately put to death.
Zhao Cai, courtesy name Xiaocai, hailed from Zhangye in Gansu. His grandfather Zhao Kui was the Grand Minister of Yinqing Guanglu in the Wei Kingdom and the Prefect of Shunzheng during the Zhou Dynasty; his father Zhao Shou was the Prefect of Shunzheng during the Zhou Dynasty. Zhao Cai was brave and skilled in battle from a young age, excelling in horsemanship and archery. He had a rough and tough personality, who didn’t care much for etiquette. During the Zhou Dynasty, he held the position of Senior Yuzheng Officer. After Emperor Yang Jian of the Sui Dynasty declared himself emperor, Zhao Cai, thanks to his numerous military accomplishments, rose through the ranks to become the San Si of the Yitong. He later served Prince Jin Yang Guang, and after Jin Wang became the Crown Prince, he was appointed as the Right Yuhou Commander. After Emperor Yang Guang ascended the throne, Zhao Cai was promoted to the Left Beishen Biaoqi, and later to the Right Xiaowei General. As he was an old minister of Yang Guang from the fiefdom, Yang Guang became closer to him, and Zhao Cai always worked diligently, demonstrating outstanding performance, and was promoted to the Right Houwei General within a year.
Later, he followed Emperor Yang Guang to campaign against the Tuyuhun, serving as the Commander of the March, leading Weiweiqing Liu Quan, Military Department Attendant Ming Ya, and others departing from Hehedao, and encountering the Tuyuhun army, securing a decisive victory. For this military achievement, he was promoted to the Jinziguang Lu Daifu title. During the Liaodong campaign, he led the army on two expeditions from Jieshidao. Upon his return, he was appointed as the Left Houwei General, and soon after promoted to the Right Houwei Grand General. At that time, whenever Emperor Yang Guang conducted inspection tours, Zhao Cai always served as the scout, strictly enforcing the rules without favoritism. If he encountered the family members of high-ranking officials violating the prohibitions on the road, Zhao Cai would sternly reprimand them without hesitation. Although many considered him overly blunt, he insisted on his principles, and no one could challenge him.
During Emperor Yang of Sui's ten-year reign, he once visited the Fenyang Palace and left Zhao Cai to oversee the Eastern Capital, Luoyang. Twelve years later, while Emperor Yang was in Luoyang preparing to go to Jiangdu, Zhao Cai saw that the people were in distress, the national treasury was depleted, banditry was rampant, and the laws had broken down. He advised the emperor to return to the capital to pacify the people, offering his life as a guarantee. Emperor Yang was furious and turned Zhao Cai over to his subordinates. Ten days later, Emperor Yang calmed down and released him. However, he still went to Jiangdu, but subsequently treated Zhao Cai with greater favor.
As the food in Jiangdu was running out and the soldiers were losing morale, officials such as Yu Shiji and Yuan Chong repeatedly advised Emperor Yang to go to Danyang. During a court discussion on this matter, Zhao Cai strongly advocated for returning to the capital, while Yu Shiji insisted on crossing the river. Emperor Yang remained silent, resulting in a heated argument between Zhao Cai and Yu Shiji, which caused them to part ways unhappily. When Yuwen Huaji staged a rebellion and assassinated the emperor, Zhao Cai was in the northern park. Yuwen Huaji sent his subordinate Xiao Guo Xide Fang to forge an edict to arrest him. Upon hearing the edict, Zhao Cai came out and was captured and brought before Yuwen Huaji. Yuwen Huaji told Zhao Cai, "Today's events must conclude this way; I hope you will not take it to heart." Zhao Cai remained silent. Yuwen Huaji, infuriated by Zhao Cai's silence, contemplated executing him, but released him three days later. Zhao Cai remained in his original position, feeling increasingly frustrated and disheartened.
Zhao Cai once urged 18 co-conspirators, including Yang Shilan, to drink together at a banquet hosted by Yu Wenhua. Yu Wenhua agreed. Zhao Cai raised his glass and said, "This is a one-time deal for the 18 of us; let's not have any other issues." No one else spoke a word. When they reached Liaocheng, Zhao Cai fell ill. Shortly after, Yu Wenhua was defeated by Dou Jiande, and Zhao Cai was captured. He felt very discontented and died a few days later at the age of 73.
During the Renshou and Daye periods, two figures, Lan Xingyu and Helan Fan, were both generals. They were known for their integrity and courage to stand up to authority.
Historical records say that Luo Hou, Fa Shang, Li Jing, Shi Xiong, and Murong Sanzang all gained wealth and prestige through their bravery and military skills during times of war in the country. They earned their success through their own efforts. Ren Gong initially served as an official in Jijun due to his honesty and capability, but later fell from grace in Mayi due to greed and stinginess. It's rare for anyone to see things through to the end; what a pity! Tu Wanxu and Dong Chun both received high positions and rewards for their past achievements. Tu Wanxu was criticized for requesting an end to the war, while Dong Chun was falsely accused and killed.
In the later years of the Daye period, thieves were rampant, and lawlessness ran rampant. People felt powerless to resist. Although Zhao Cai was not particularly polite, he had a strong sense of justice and firmly refused to compromise on suggestions from Shiji. Quan Wuping acted recklessly and ignored the law, ultimately being stripped of his position and humiliated, which was entirely his own doing.
