Prince Hong of Hejian, with the courtesy name Bie'e, was the cousin of Emperor Gaozu. His grandfather, Emperor Gaozu, was very fond of him, but sadly, his grandfather passed away when he was still young. His father, Yuansun, lost his parents at a young age and was raised by his mother, Lady Guo, at his uncle's home. Later, when Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Zhou raised an army in Guanzhong, his father Yuansun was in Ye City at the time, fearing he might be killed by the people of Qi, he adopted his mother's surname, Guo. After his father's death, the Qi state was destroyed by the Zhou dynasty, and Hong then entered Guanzhong, where he developed a particularly close relationship with Emperor Gaozu. Emperor Gaozu took a great liking to him and even went so far as to buy him a house and some land. Hong was both intelligent and capable, excelling in civil and military matters. He followed Emperor Gaozu into battle several times, gradually rising in rank, eventually rising to the position of Supervisor of the Palace Attendants. When Emperor Gaozu served as Prime Minister, he often kept Hong by his side, placing great trust in him and treating him like a confidant. Once, when Emperor Gaozu went to the residence of King Zhao of Zhou, he was nearly in danger, and Hong stood outside the door protecting him. Later, Hong was promoted and granted the title Duke of Yongkang County. After Emperor Gaozu ascended the throne, he appointed Hong as Grand General and promoted him to Duke of a Commandery, and posthumously honored his father with the titles of Senior Minister, Prefect of the Masters of Writing, and Duke of Hejian Commandery. That same year, he named Hong the Prince of Hejian and appointed him as Grand General of the Right Guard. Over a year later, he was further promoted to Senior Minister.
At that time, the Turks were constantly raiding the borders. Hong was appointed as the commander of the army, leading tens of thousands of troops from Lingzhou to engage in battle with the Turkic army, achieving a resounding victory and slaying thousands of enemies. The emperor rewarded him with two thousand bolts of silk, appointed him as the governor of Ningzhou, and promoted him to the rank of Senior State Pillar. Hong governed Ningzhou with integrity and earned the love of the people. Several years later, he was summoned back to the capital. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed governor of Puzhou, with the authority to manage political affairs on his own. At that time, there were many bandits in the Hedong region, causing great unrest among the common folk. Hong captured over a hundred bandits and exiled them to remote areas, bringing peace to Puzhou. Whenever Prince Jin Yang Guang came to the capital, Hong served as the governor of Yangzhou; when Prince Jin returned to his fiefdom, Hong returned to Puzhou. He served in Puzhou for over ten years, achieving notable successes in governance and earning the admiration of the people. After Emperor Yang Guang succeeded to the throne, he called Hong back to the capital and appointed him as the guardian of the crown prince. A little over a year later, Hong died. In the sixth year of the Daye era, he was posthumously honored with the title King of Xun, and his son Qing inherited the title.
Qing was shrewd and good at reading the political climate. At that time, Emperor Yang Guang was suspicious of his own brothers, and Prince Teng Yang Lun and others were all deposed and exiled, but Qing managed to stay alive. He worked his way up the ranks, eventually becoming the governor of Xingyang County, where he also did well in governance. Later, Li Mi occupied Luokou Warehouse, and many counties around Xingyang sided with Li Mi. Qing led troops to resist. Li Mi sent troops to attack Xingyang several times, but couldn't take it. After more than a year, the city ran out of food and the troops were getting fewer. Li Mi sent a letter to Qing:
Ah, ever since you foolishly took the throne, it has been so many years, continuously oppressing the people, making life unbearable. Your palace may be magnificent, but it pales in comparison to your extravagance; your indulgence in luxury is excessive, but it can't compare to your cruelty. Now, everyone is raising the banner of rebellion to overthrow your tyranny. People all over the country are responding to the call, hoping to end you like the fall of the Qin dynasty, like the fall of the Shang dynasty. From the East Sea to Mount Tai, from the Yangtze River to the Huai River, everyone is responding to the call, except for Xingyang County, where you remain willfully ignorant.
Weizi, the brother of King Zhou of Shang, was very close to him; Xiang Bo is the uncle of Xiang Yu, and their relationship was also close, but they both left the capital to join the Zhou dynasty, leaving Xichu to join the Han dynasty. Don’t they miss their families? Don’t they long for their kin? They recognized the tide of change and knew the dynasty was about to fall, that's why they did it. Your ancestors hailed from Shandong and were surnamed Guo, not even part of the Yang clan. You only hold power today because of your family's ties to the Sui dynasty. Lou Jing and Emperor Gaozu of Han share no blood relation; Lu Bu and Dong Zhuo are even further apart, their relationships are much better than yours with your own brothers. Furthermore, you are cruel and ruthless, like a wolf stalking its prey, hating your brothers more than anyone else; even your own subordinates resent you, let alone your kin. Can you still maintain your position?
In my opinion, you should surrender quickly, open the city gates, and offer your wealth so that you can be safe and sound and carefree. You can continue to enjoy wealth and honor, become a legend for future generations, and your descendants will also benefit. Now, Shi Chong repeatedly fails in battles, and there is no way out; how long can he last? Duan Da and Wei Jin are holding firm in the eastern capital; who has time to deal with you? Once Shi Chong is defeated, Duan Da will soon fall as well. Moreover, the situation in Jiangdu is chaotic, with people indulging in pleasure, forgetting to return to the army, and facing internal and external divisions. The people are resentful, and both the people and the heavens are furious. The grain transport ships on the Yangtze River have been cut off, soldiers are hungry and in a critical situation, and it has reached a critical point. You once lit a signal fire on Li Mountain, but the vassals did not come to rescue you; you once sent out a distress signal on the Han River, but still received no response. You are alone in the city, surrounded by hostile forces, with food only enough for a month, and you have only a few hundred soldiers. What do you have to fight back with? It's impossible to find fish in the market, and relying on geese for grain transport is just a pipe dream.
The so-called heroes in the city are your trusted allies; they are thinking of killing the leader and colluding with the enemy. I'm worried that your own people might assassinate you. Despite your skills, you could be hunted down for a bounty, and it's chilling to think about it! I hope you can think carefully and plan for yourself!
When the news of the fall of Jiangdu city came, Yang Qing received the news as well, prompting him to surrender to Wang Shi Chong and change his surname to Guo. Later, Wang Shi Chong's power was dismantled, and Yang Qing returned to Luoyang in the eastern capital, changing back to the Yang surname, and King Yang Dong held no grudge against him. After Yang Dong became emperor, he appointed him as the Minister of Rites. When Wang Shi Chong tried to usurp the throne, Yang Qing was the first to stand up and advise him. After Wang Shi Chong became emperor, he made Yang Qing the Duke of Xian, and Yang Qing changed his surname back to Guo. Wang Shi Chong married his niece to him and appointed him as the Inspector of Xingzhou.
When Wang Shichong was on the verge of defeat, Yang Qing wanted to escape back to Chang'an with his wife. However, his wife said to him, "The state married you to their daughter with the hope that you would be well-treated and would wholeheartedly follow them. Now your uncle (referring to Wang Shichong) is in a critical situation, the country is also about to collapse, but you abandon our marital bond, leaving me behind, only concerned about saving yourself; I can't blame you for that. If I go to Chang'an, I'll just end up as a servant in your household—what's the point? I hope you can send me back to the Eastern Capital; think of it as a favor from you." Yang Qing disagreed. So, his wife took a bath, dressed up beautifully, and then poisoned herself. Later, Yang Qing surrendered to the Tang Dynasty, became the Governor of Yizhou, Marquis of Xun, and changed back to the Yang surname. His biological mother, Empress Yuan, was old and blind because Yang Qing betrayed Wang Shichong and was killed by Wang Shichong.
Yang Chugang was a relative of Emperor Taizong of Tang. He grew up in the north and was good at horseback riding and archery. During the Sui Dynasty, he earned the title of Shang Yitong due to his military accomplishments. After Emperor Taizong of Tang ascended the throne, he posthumously honored his father, Yang Zhongkui, with the titles of Zhuguo, Shangshu Ling, and Duke of Yicheng County; Yang Chugang inherited the title. He was appointed as the head of household affairs, responsible for supervising military matters. Later, he became the leader of the Imperial Guards of the Crown Prince and was then promoted to Left Chamberlain of the Imperial Guard. Several years later, he was appointed as the Right General of the Army. While Yang Chugang may not have had any extraordinary talents, he was upright and capable in the officialdom, earning the respect of his contemporaries. He was later appointed as the Governor of Puzhou, loved by the people, then promoted to Grand General, and finally transferred to the Governor of Qinzhou. He was posthumously honored as "Gong."
His brother, Yang Chule, served as the Governor of Luozhou, but when Prince Han Yang Liang rebelled, the court suspected them of having ulterior motives, leading to their removal from office and a lack of reappointment.
Yang Zichong is the distant cousin of the founding emperor. His father, Yang Pensheng, was posthumously honored as the Governor of Jingzhou. Yang Zichong loved studying from a young age, read many books, and had a distinguished demeanor. He enjoyed forming friendships with capable individuals. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui, he was appointed as a Ceremonial Official, serving as a General of Chariots and Cavalry, often on duty guarding the palace. Later, he became the Minister of the Gate.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, Yang Zichong was promoted several times, eventually becoming the General of the Palace Guard, but was dismissed due to his errors. Shortly after, he was appointed as an Acting General. Once, when Emperor Yang went to Fenyang Palace for leisure, Yang Zichong anticipated that the Turks would attack and repeatedly urged the emperor to return to the capital early, but the emperor did not listen to him. As expected, the siege of Yanmen Pass took place. After the enemy retreated, the emperor was furious, saying, "Yang Zichong is timid and fearful, making unfounded demands, disturbing the morale of the army. He cannot hold the position of the Palace Guard again!" Therefore, Yang Zichong was demoted to be the Prefect of Lishi County. However, during his time as Prefect of Lishi County, his administration was still effective, earning a good reputation.
Since the Yanmen Pass incident, the Turks regularly invaded the border, and a bandit chief named Liu Liuer led his men to rob near Lishi County. Yang Zichong petitioned the court to dispatch troops to suppress them, but the emperor was enraged once more and ordered Yang Zichong to inspect the Great Wall. Yang Zichong traveled over a hundred miles and found that all routes were blocked, unable to proceed, so he had to return. At that time, the common folk were enduring famine, and many resorted to robbery. Yang Zichong captured and executed thousands. Over a year later, Liang Shidou from Shuofang and Liu Wuzhou from Mayi rebelled, and the local Huns in Lishi County also rose in rebellion. Yang Zichong was deeply concerned and wanted to return to the capital to request support, so he took hundreds of trusted followers and made his way to the capital from Mengmen Pass.
Halfway there, before the supplies had crossed the river, officials from several counties west of the river killed their superiors and fled to Liang Shidu. The road was also cut off, so Yang Zichong had to retreat to Lishi. The people he brought with him heard that there was a rebellion in Taiyuan and were unwilling to return to the city, so they all deserted. Yang Zichong arrested and killed the parents, brothers, and relatives of these deserters. A few days later, the rebels attacked the city at night, and the city's heroes also joined the rebels. The city fell, and Yang Zichong was killed by his adversaries.
As for Duke De Xiong, his original name was Hui, and he was a descendant of the founding emperor of the Zhou Dynasty. His father, Shao, held official positions in the Zhou Dynasty, serving as the governor of eight provinces and the lord of Tangcheng County. He was granted a surname, becoming known as Chilv Yinshi. Duke De Xiong was handsome and elegant, radiating grace in every movement, clearly a person of distinction. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Zhou, he became a senior official in the Crown Prince's court. Once, when Emperor Wu of Zhou went to Yunyang Palace, Prince Wei rebelled and attacked the Sizhang Gate with his troops. Duke De Xiong bravely stepped forward and repelled them. For his achievements, he was promoted to a higher position, becoming an official of the upper court and was granted the title of Duke of Wuyang County with a fief of 1,000 households. He continued to rise in rank, eventually becoming the senior official of the Right Guard. During the reign of Daxiang, he was further ennobled as Duke of Hanguo with a fief of 5,000 households.
Emperor Gaozu became Chancellor, and Bi Wangxian, the governor of Yongzhou, wanted to rebel. At that time, Prince Dexiong was a subordinate officer, and he learned about Bi Wangxian's plot and quickly informed Emperor Gaozu. Bi Wangxian was killed, and Prince Dexiong was rewarded for this merit, being appointed as Pillar of State, governor of Yongzhou, and also serving as Minister of the Household. When Emperor Xuan of Zhou passed away, many princes were restless, so the court allowed Prince Dexiong to escort the coffin with six thousand cavalry to the tomb. Later, he was promoted to a higher rank and became Senior Pillar of State. After Emperor Gaozu became emperor, he appointed Prince Dexiong as Left Guard General, also serving as Minister of the Imperial Clan. Not long after, he was promoted to Right Guard General and took part in court affairs. He was then granted the title of Prince Guangping, with a fief consisting of five thousand households, and his father's title of Marquis of Hanguo was also granted to one of his sons. Prince Dexiong also requested the court to appoint his brother Shigui as an official, which was granted. Someone reported that Gao Feng was colluding with Prince Dexiong, and the emperor directly questioned Prince Dexiong. Prince Dexiong replied, "I serve in the palace every day, and you, Your Majesty, are always by my side. If I truly colluded with Gao Feng, how could you possibly be unaware? You are wise and personally oversee state affairs; Gao Feng is fair in his actions and follows the law. This is a matter of clear loyalty and betrayal; please consider this, Your Majesty!" Emperor Gaozu found his argument reasonable. At that time, Prince Dexiong was extremely powerful and influential, and he, Gao Feng, Yu Qingze, and Su Wei were collectively known as the "Four Nobles."
Yuwen Xiong was highly respected by people from all walks of life, and everyone greatly admired him. However, the Emperor was wary of his fame and popularity, fearing that he might control the military power, so he tried to weaken his authority in every way possible. Therefore, the Emperor issued an edict appointing Yuwen Xiong as the Minister of State. On the surface, it seemed very honorable, but in reality, it was a way to indirectly strip him of power. The original text of the edict was: "In the ninth year of Emperor Kaiping, on the first day of the eighth month, the Emperor said: 'Oh, how I wish! You are the Grand Preceptor, Grand General of the Left Guard, Minister of the Imperial Clan, and Prince of Guangping. You possess a broad and generous demeanor, your position and prestige are prominent. You have been in charge of the military for ten years, both inside and outside, working hard and making significant contributions. Remembering your past loyalty and achievements, your rank and privileges have been increased. The people look up to you, and you should sincerely fulfill your duties and uphold your reputation. Therefore, I appoint you as the Minister of State. Follow this decree! Embrace the imperial favor and be careful not to disappoint!' This means that although it appears to praise his achievements, in reality, it is a way to remove him from his position of military power. After being relieved of his actual power, Yuwen Xiong simply closed his doors and no longer interacted with the outside world. Not long after, he was granted the title of Prince of Qingzhang. During the Renshou era, the Emperor felt that the title 'Qingzhang' was unworthy of Yuwen Xiong's status and reputation, so he had the relevant officials bring out a map and pointed to Ande County, saying to his ministers: 'The name of this place is more befitting of his reputation and accomplishments!' Therefore, Yuwen Xiong's title was changed to Prince of Ande.
During the Era of Daye, Yuwen Xiong was appointed as the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince. Later, after the Crown Prince Yuande passed away, he was temporarily appointed as the Governor of Zhengzhou, then transferred to be the Governor of Huaizhou a year later, and then promoted to the Prefect of Jingzhao. Later, when the Emperor personally led an expedition against the Tuyuhun, Yuwen Xiong was appointed to command the military forces in the Jiaohedao area. After the war ended, Yuwen Xiong was bestowed the title of Prince Guan. However, he immediately submitted a memorial requesting to abdicate the title, stating in the memorial: "I was fortunate to receive the Emperor's grace in my early years and was able to enter the court to serve. Although luck played a part, my abilities are indeed limited, and my virtues are insufficient. It is truly shameful to be ranked among the highest officials. The late Emperor favored me greatly, and Your Majesty has been exceptionally gracious to me. I have long held high positions but have always worried that my virtues do not match my position. How can I continue to enjoy such honor and privilege, and steal such glory! I am filled with fear and trepidation and truly cannot accept this. In ancient times, Liu Jia was granted the title of prince without holding a position higher than the third rank; Cao Hong was a general without a title higher than the fifth rank. Moreover, my title already surpasses that of a prince, and the position of Prefect of Jingzhao is only second to the imperial family. I genuinely do not know how to navigate this situation, fearing it may invite criticism. Thus, I respectfully take the liberty to implore Your Majesty to revoke the decree and allow me to retreat to my original position. I implore Your Majesty to understand my loyalty and forgive my foolishness. I have repeatedly offended the divine will, sweating with anxiety." However, the Emperor did not approve his request.
It is said that during the war in Liaodong, this general, with the official title of General of the Left Yiyang Guard, was ordered to march to Liaodong. As a result, he died in Luhe Town at the age of seventy-one. The emperor even suspended court for a day in his honor and specifically assigned the Honglu Temple to handle his funeral. After reviewing his merits and demerits, relevant departments suggested giving him the posthumous title 'Yi'. The emperor said, "He was upright, noble in character, and his virtue surpassed that of everyone else." Therefore, he was posthumously awarded the title of "De" and was also posthumously granted ten county magistrate titles, namely Situ, Xiangguo, Wuan, Bohai, Qinghe, Shangdang, Hejian, Jibei, Gaomi, and Jiyin.
This general's son was named Gongren and rose to the position of Minister of Personnel Affairs. Gongren's younger brother was named Chen, who was gentle, kind, and well-educated, and had served as Inspector of Yizhou and Prefect of Huainan. After their father's death, he was promoted to Minister of the Interior. During the Liaodong campaign, the emperor stationed Chen in Linhai, responsible for overseeing various affairs. Later, Yang Xuangan rebelled, and Yang Xuangan's brother, Yang Xuanzong, fled from the palace to join his brother. Along the way, he met Chen. Chen avoided others and secretly spoke with Yang Xuanzong for a long time, and the two met several times afterwards. Liu Xiuwen, the Inspector of the Interior, reported this incident. At that time, Chen's brother Gongren, who was the Minister of Personnel Affairs, was leading troops outside. For this reason, the emperor temporarily suppressed the investigation and did not look into it further. Chen, filled with fear, ultimately died from the shock. Chen also had another brother named Xu, who became a Cavalry Attendant.
This general also had a younger brother named Da, courtesy name Shida. He was intelligent and knowledgeable from a young age, with an upright character. During the Zhou Dynasty, he held official positions and achieved the rank of Yitong, Assistant Minister of Personnel, and was also granted the title of Marquis of Suining County. After the founding emperor ascended the throne, he was appointed as an Attendant of the Yellow Gate, and his title was also elevated. At the time when the Tuyuhun invaded the border, the court appointed Yuan Xie as the Marshal and Da as the General. After the war ended, he also served as the Assistant Minister of Personnel and was additionally appointed as the Yitong of the Three Departments. Over a year later, he was promoted to the Imperial Secretary and then sent to serve as the Inspector of Shan, Zheng, and Zhao provinces, where he excelled in his duties. After the Chen Dynasty was pacified and the country unified, the court wanted to select the most outstanding local officials, and Da ranked first. The emperor rewarded him with five hundred bolts of assorted silk and a golden belt, promoted him to the Minister of Works, and elevated his rank. Da was generous and had an impressive demeanor. Yang Su often said, "Only Yang Da embodies both the demeanor and moral character of a true gentleman." He was also involved in the planning and designing of the imperial tombs for the Empress Xian and the founding emperor. When Yang Guang became emperor, he appointed Da as an Imperial Counselor and allowed him to continue serving as the Deputy Supervisor of the Eastern Capital, demonstrating his special trust in him. Later, during the campaign in Liaodong, he was appointed as the Right Military Guard General, and his rank was promoted to Left Guanglu Daifu. He died in battle at the age of sixty-two. The emperor mourned his loss for a long time, posthumously honored him with the titles of Minister of Personnel and Marquis of Shi'an, and conferred upon him the posthumous title of "Gong," rewarding him with three hundred and fifty rolls of cloth and silk.
The historical records comment: Emperor Gaozu Yang Jian initially moved the capital to Chang'an when the people's sentiments were still unsettled. In order to solidify his rule, he promoted relatives with the same surname to stabilize the country, so Prince Yang Hong of Hejian and Prince Yang Xiong of Guande both made significant contributions to the establishment of the dynasty. As for Yang Qing, he was merely an ordinary relative to the emperor, lacking any special favor, yet he managed to secure high positions and wealth throughout his life, basking in luxury and prestige. Yang Qing, only concerned about his own survival, had feelings toward his family and relatives that shifted like the wind, treating his biological mother as if she were trash. In the end, he met a fitting end, leading to his death and the extinction of his clan. Look at those who ascend to high positions and enjoy riches and honor; that’s all thanks to their benevolence!
