Cui Zhongfang, courtesy name "Buqi," is from Anping, Hebei. His grandfather Cui Xiaofen served as the Governor of Jingzhou during the Northern Wei Dynasty, and his father Cui Xuanyou served as the Minister of Works in the Northern Zhou Dynasty. Zhongfang loved reading from a young age and excelled in both literature and martial arts. At the age of fifteen, Emperor Taizu of the Northern Zhou noticed him and allowed him to study with his own sons. At that time, Gaozu was also there, so Zhongfang developed a close relationship with Gaozu from a young age.
Later, Cui Zhongfang passed the imperial examination and became an officer under Jin Gong Yuwen Hu. He was later promoted to the position of a scribe, then to the position of Minister of Works, and along with Husi Zheng, Liu Min, and others, he revised the rites and regulations. Due to his military achievements, he was appointed General Who Pacifies the East and Grand Master of Ceremonies, and was granted the title of Baron of Shicheng County with a fief of three hundred households. At that time, Emperor Wu secretly plotted to eliminate the Northern Qi Dynasty, and Zhongfang presented twenty strategies, which astonished Emperor Wu. Later, he collaborated with Junior Interior Minister Zhao Fen to revise various regulations and systems.
Following that, he accompanied Emperor Wu in attacking Jinzhou. The deputy general of Northern Qi, Cui Jingsong, requested cooperation from both inside and outside, and Zhongfang, along with Duan Wenzhen and others, climbed the city wall to provide support, successfully capturing Jinzhou. This event is documented in the Biography of Duan Wenzhen. Afterwards, he was tasked with persuading the surrender of four cities, including Yicheng, all of which were successful. He was appointed General of the Guards of the Three Dukes, and his title was elevated to Marquis of Fanyang County. Later, as Chief Military Officer, he followed Duke Tan Wang Gui in capturing the Chen general Wu Mingche in Luliang, many of which were his strategies.
After Emperor Xuan succeeded to the throne, Cui Zhongfang was appointed as Junior Interior Minister and was sent on a mission to Huainan before returning to the court. Just as the emperor died, Gaozu became the Prime Minister, and after meeting Zhongfang, the two men shook hands tightly, both very happy, and Zhongfang fully devoted himself to Gaozu. That night, Zhongfang presented eighteen suggestions to Gaozu, and all were accepted. He recognized the trend and discreetly persuaded Gaozu to accept the Mandate of Heaven, which Gaozu followed his advice.
After the founding emperor ascended the throne, he summoned Cui Zhongfang and Gao Feng to discuss matters regarding the regnal title and the color of attire. Zhongfang said, "The Jin Dynasty represents metal virtue, the Northern Wei Dynasty represents water virtue, and the Northern Zhou Dynasty represents wood virtue. The royal family inherits the wood virtue through fire virtue, in accordance with the mandate of heaven. Moreover, when Your Majesty was born, there was a red auspicious light, so the chariots, clothing, flags, and sacrificial animals should all be red." He also advised the emperor to abolish the six ministries and suggested continuing the old system of the Han and Wei dynasties. The emperor followed his advice. Cui Zhongfang was promoted to the position of Upper Household, and soon transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture as a junior minister, with his title elevated to Duke of Angu County.
The emperor ordered him to conscript thirty thousand laborers to construct the Great Wall in the Shuofang and Lingwu regions, extending from the Yellow River in the east to Sui Prefecture in the west, and to Bochu Ridge in the south, spanning seven hundred miles. The following year, the emperor ordered him to conscript fifteen thousand laborers to build dozens of cities in the strategic border areas east of Shuofang, to defend against incursions from northern nomadic tribes.
Uncle Ding retired, believing that was the end of his career. Unexpectedly, he was appointed as the governor of Guozhou not long after. After taking office, he submitted a memorial to the court, proposing a strategy for attacking the Chen Kingdom. In the memorial, he wrote:
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I carefully studied historical records and found that in the first year of the Jin Dynasty's Taikang era, which is the Gengzi year, Emperor Wu of Jin destroyed the Wu Kingdom. Now, in the sixth year of the Kaihuang era, which is the Bingwu year, a total of three hundred and seventy years have passed. The "Spring and Autumn Baogant" says, "Every three hundred years, a king should issue a general amnesty and establish new laws." This year marks exactly three hundred years, making it an opportune moment. The Chen dynasty rebels started from the Bingzi year, and now in the Bingwu year, the clash of Zi and Wu, a conflict of yin and yang, is an inauspicious omen!
In ancient times, the historian Zhao Ye said: "The State of Chen is the descendant of Zhuanxu, associated with water, therefore it will meet its demise in the years when the Chunhuo star is ascendant." He also said: "After King Wu of Zhou defeated the Shang Dynasty, he granted the fief of Chen to Hu Gongman." In the ninth year of Duke Zhao of Lu, the State of Chen faced a calamity, and a prophecy by a figure named Bi Zao foretold: "In another five years when the Chunhuo star is ascendant, the State of Chen will perish, and the State of Chu will destroy it." The State of Chu is the descendant of Zhurong, in charge of fire, so it ultimately destroyed the State of Chen. The State of Chen inherited the incense of Shun, who is also a descendant of Zhuanxu. Although the direction of the Tai Sui is left and the direction of the year star is right, whenever the Chunhuo star is ascendant, the State of Chen will suffer disaster. In the year of Wuwu, the fortunes of the Gui and Yu clans came to a close. Although the explanations differ, the results are the same.
Our Sui Dynasty inherited the rule of the Five Dynasties, bestowed by heaven with the fire virtue and named as the Sui Dynasty, sharing the fire virtue with the State of Chu. The State of Chu is in charge of fire, Wu is Chunhuo, Wei is Chunshou, Shen is Shichen, and You is Daliang. These constellations correspond precisely to the boundaries of several countries including Zhou, Qin, Jin, and Zhao. If we send troops at this time, we can receive help from the heavens. Looking at ancient events with modern eyes, the downfall of the State of Chen is indisputable. I believe that the constellations Wu, Wei, Shen, and You represent years of significant consequence. As the saying goes, "timing is more important than geography, and geography is more important than harmony," not to mention we now have a wise monarch, virtuous ministers, a strong army, a prosperous country, and the people all united towards the court, with both humans and gods responding to us. The State of Chen is ruled by incompetence above and boiling grievances below, lacking any solid defense, and its army cannot stand against the Coalition of Nine States. Even Xia Jie and King Zhou of Shang could not stand, let alone these barbaric tribes that would dare to defy the heavens!
I suspect the court has already devised a thorough plan. I'm merely sharing my thoughts, hoping to be of help to the court. Now we just need to send elite troops to Qizhou, Hezhou, Chuzhou, Fangzhou, Wuzhou, Haizhou, and other areas south of Wuchang, and quietly draft a plan for crossing the river. Yizhou, Xinzhou, Xiangzhou, Jingzhou, Jizhou, and Yingshou should quickly construct ships, organize formations, and get ready for naval combat. The Shu Han's two rivers are the upper reaches of the Yangtze, a crucial waterway we must fight for. Although the enemy has stationed ships in Liutou, Jingmen, Yanzhou, Gong'an, Baling, Yinji, Xiashou, Qikou, and Pencheng, they're bound to converge at Hankou and the Xia Gorge for a significant naval clash. If the enemy is sure there are troops upstream and sends reinforcements, our commanders downstream need to pick a good spot to cross the river. If the enemy is only defending based on the terrain, our upstream navy can directly attack. Even though the Chen Kingdom depends on the natural defenses of the Nine Rivers and Five Lakes, they can't hold out without virtue; and while they have the armies of Jiangnan's Three Wus and the Baiyue, they can't stand on their own without grace.
After the emperor read the memorial, he was very pleased and promoted him to the position of governor of Jizhou, and then summoned him back to the court. Zhong Fang took the opportunity to present his strategic plan to the emperor, who appreciated it and rewarded him with a robe and trousers personally bestowed by the emperor, five hundred bolts of silk in various colors, and promoted him to an official position, allowing him to return only after becoming an official of the Kaifu. Later, during the large-scale campaign against the Chen dynasty, Zhong Fang was appointed as the commander of the expeditionary force, leading the troops to join forces with the Prince of Qin. After the Chen dynasty was pacified, he was dismissed from his post due to certain incidents. Not long after, he was reinstated to his position. Several years later, he was promoted to the position of governor of Huizhou. At that time, some Qiang tribes had not yet submitted to the court, and the emperor ordered Zhong Fang to conquer them. He fought over thirty battles against the Qiang tribes, pacifying various tribes such as Zizu, Sinin, Wangfang, Shetiti, Ganda, Xiaotiewei Mountain, Baimanwang, and Ruoshui. The emperor rewarded him with one hundred thirty slaves, thirty jin of gold, and a substantial amount of other goods.
Starting from the Ren Shou period, he was appointed to the position of governor of Daizhou, and after serving for several years, he was summoned back to the court. After the emperor's death, the remnants of Prince Liang's faction seized control of Lvzhou and refused to surrender. Emperor Yang of Sui ordered Zhou Luohe to attack, but Zhou Luohe was struck down by an arrow, so Emperor Yang of Sui let Zhong Fang take over the command of the army, and he captured Lvzhou in about a month. Zhong Fang was promoted to Grand General and appointed Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and shortly after transferred to Minister of the Ministry of Rites. Three years later, he was dismissed from his post again due to certain matters. He later became the National University Chancellor and then transferred to the Minister of Ceremonies. Recognizing his advanced age, the court appointed him as the governor of Shangzhou. Not long after, he resigned from his post following the death of his mother. A year later, he was appointed as the governor of Xindu, and he requested retirement in a memorial, which was granted by the emperor. Shortly after, he passed away at home at the age of seventy-six years. His son, Minshou, later became the magistrate of Dingtao.
Yu Zhongwen, courtesy name Ziwu, is the nephew of the just Duke Jianping. His father, Yu Shi, once served as the Grand Left Chancellor of the Zhou Dynasty and the Duke of Yan. Zhongwen was intelligent and clever from a young age, starting to read books at a very young age and showing an insatiable love for reading. His father was amazed and said, "This child will surely bring honor to our ancestors in the future!" At the age of nine, he met Zhou Taizu at Yunyang Palace, who asked him, "I heard you love reading; what is the use of reading?" Zhongwen replied, "The meaning of reading is to serve my father and be loyal to the monarch; that's the essence of it." Taizu was very impressed. Later, he studied "Zhou Yi" and "Three Rituals" with the scholar Li Xiang and quickly grasped their deeper meanings.
As he grew older, Zhongwen was independent, ambitious, and had an elegant and outstanding demeanor, earning him the nickname "Famous Young Gentleman" among the people. He initially worked under the Prince of Zhao and soon rose to the position of the Administrator of Angu. At that time, the Ren family and Du family each lost a cow, and when they found one, both claimed it as their own. The local authorities struggled to resolve the dispute for a while. Yizhou's Chief Historian, Han Bojun, said, "Yu Angu is young but wise; we can let him make the judgment." Zhongwen said, "This is easily resolved." He had both families bring their herds of cows and then released them to see which cow the lost one would join. The cow ran into the Ren family's herd. Zhongwen secretly arranged for someone to injure the Ren family's cow, causing them great distress, while the Du family remained indifferent. Zhongwen then questioned the Du family, who confessed and left.
At that time, Provincial Governor Qu Tuteng was a follower of Yuwen Hu. He had previously committed a crime and was imprisoned, but no one dared to hold him accountable. Upon assuming office, Zhong Wen thoroughly investigated the matter and finally closed the case. People in the Shu region often said, "Your unmatched clarity in judgment and fearless spirit in the face of tyranny." Not long after, Zhong Wen was summoned by the court and appointed as an official, granted the title of Marquis of Yanshou, with a fief of 3,500 households. He followed the army on multiple expeditions, achieved great success in battles, and was eventually appointed as a General. During the reign of Emperor Xuan, he served as the Prefect of Dong Commandery.
When Emperor Gaozu served as Prime Minister, Wei Jiong rebelled and sent General Tan Rang to recover the Henan region. He also sent someone to persuade Yang Zhongwen to surrender, but Yang Zhongwen refused. Wei Jiong was very angry that Yang Zhongwen did not join his rebellion, so he sent General Yuwen Wei to attack him. Yang Zhongwen fought back and defeated Yuwen Wei's forces, killing more than five hundred enemies. For this military achievement, Yang Zhongwen was granted the title of Kaifu.
Wei Jiong then sent his general Yuwen Zhou to cross the river at Shiji, while Yuwen Wei and Zou Shao set out from Baima, both armies simultaneously attacking Yang Zhongwen. The enemy's forces grew increasingly strong, terrifying the common people, as local warlords Helian Sengjia and Jing Zizhe rallied their troops to support Wei Jiong. Yang Zhongwen realized he could not hold the city and abandoned his wife and children, fleeing the city with more than sixty cavalrymen, breaking through the western gate to escape. As the enemy pursued him, he fought while fleeing, and seventeen or eighteen of his cavalrymen died in battle. Yang Zhongwen ultimately managed to escape and reached the capital. Wei Jiong subsequently executed Yang Zhongwen's three sons and one daughter.
After Gaozu met Yang Zhongwen, he took him into the bedroom and wept for his loss. He rewarded him with five hundred bolts of brocade, two hundred taels of gold, promoted him to the title of Grand General, appointed him as the Commander-in-Chief of the Henan Road, provided him with a ceremonial escort, and sent someone to hurry to Luoyang to mobilize troops and attack Tan Rang. At that time, Wei Xiaokuan was stationed at Yongqiao to intercept Wei Jiong, and Yang Zhongwen went to see Wei Xiaokuan to discuss the battle plan.
At that time, the Commander Yuwen Xin had some doubts, so he said to Yang Zhongwen, "You just came from the capital; what do you think of the court leaders? Wei Jiong is indeed not to be feared, but I'm concerned that once things settle down, they might retaliate secretly." Yang Zhongwen was afraid that Yuwen Xin might waver, so he said to him, "The Prime Minister is generous, open-minded, and far-sighted. As long as you assist him sincerely, he will not suspect you. During my three days in the capital, I witnessed the Prime Minister perform three good deeds. It reflects that he is not an ordinary person." Yuwen Xin asked, "What are the three good deeds?" Yang Zhongwen said, "There is a man named Chen Wandi who just surrendered from the rebel army. The Prime Minister sent his brother Nandi to recruit soldiers in the countryside to join in the fight against the rebels. This reflects the Prime Minister's generosity. The senior officer Song Qian was ordered to investigate a case, and Song Qian wanted to use this opportunity to investigate other charges. The Prime Minister reprimanded him, saying, 'Those who have already been caught can naturally be investigated; why look for other charges and impact the bigger picture?' This reflects the Prime Minister's impartiality. When the Prime Minister talked about my wife and children, he couldn't help but cry. This shows the Prime Minister's kindness." Yuwen Xin felt reassured from that point onward.
Zhong Wen led his troops east of Bianzhou to Niwu, where he encountered the Jiong generals Liu Ziang and Liu Yude, and defeated them. The army camped at Liao Di, seven miles from Liangjun. Tan Rang led tens of thousands of troops, and despite Zhong Wen's weaker forces, he took the initiative to challenge Tan Rang. Tan Rang sent out all his forces to resist, while Zhong Wen pretended to retreat north, leading the enemy to become complacent. At this moment, Zhong Wen dispatched elite troops to flank from both sides, which resulted in a decisive victory over Tan Rang's army, capturing over five thousand people and beheading over seven hundred.
They then attacked Liangjun, where the defending general Liu Zikuan fled, abandoning the city. Zhong Wen pursued them, capturing and killing thousands, while Liu Zikuan escaped alone. Initially, while at Liao Di, many generals said, "Our army has come a long way, and both troops and horses are exhausted, so we shouldn't engage in battle." Zhong Wen ordered the troops to eat quickly, then lined up for battle. The result was a victory over the enemy, and the generals asked him, "Everyone said the army was too exhausted to fight, yet we still won. How did that happen?" Zhong Wen smiled and said, "My soldiers are all from Shandong, skilled in rapid attacks and not suited for long engagements. We took advantage of the momentum to launch a fierce attack, which is why we were able to win." The generals all found this strategy clever and hadn't thought of it themselves.
Then, they attacked Caozhou and captured the appointed governor, Li Zhongkang, along with General Fang Jin. Tan Rang stationed the remaining army in Chengwu, and another general, Gao Shiru, stationed ten thousand troops in Yongchang. Zhongwen pretended to write a letter to the local counties, saying: "The Grand General is about to arrive, so hurry up and stockpile food." Tan Rang thought Zhongwen would not arrive for a while, so he slaughtered cattle to reward the soldiers. Zhongwen realized that Tan Rang had let his guard down, so he selected elite cavalry to launch a surprise attack, arriving at Chengwu within a day and capturing the city. General Xipi Luo of Jiong stationed with a hundred thousand troops in Peixian, preparing for an attack on Xuzhou. His family was in Jinxiang. Zhongwen sent someone to impersonate Xipi Luo's messenger, telling the city lord of Jinxiang, Xu Shanjing: "Tan Rang will arrive in Jinxiang tomorrow at noon to announce the Duke of Shu's orders and reward the soldiers." The people of Jinxiang believed him and were overjoyed. Zhongwen selected elite soldiers disguised as Jiong's troops and took a shortcut to advance. Xu Shanjing saw that Zhongwen's army was approaching quickly, thinking it was Tan Rang coming, so he went out to meet them. Zhongwen captured him and took Jinxiang. Many generals urged him to massacre the city, but Zhongwen replied, "This city is where General Xipi Luo initiated his rebellion; we should treat their families kindly, so their army may surrender on their own. If we massacre the city immediately, their hope will be cut off." Everyone agreed with his reasoning.
Xipi Luo leveraged his numerical superiority to attack the official army. Zhongwen positioned his troops near the city, a few miles from the enemy army, and set up an ambush in the hemp field. As soon as the two armies clashed, the ambushing troops charged out, shouting in unison, kicking up dust that filled the air. Xipi Luo's army was defeated, and Zhongwen pursued his victory; the enemy jumped into the Zhusui River, drowning themselves and clogging the waters. Zhongwen captured Tan Rang and escorted him to the capital in a prisoner cart, pacifying the entire Henan region. Xipi Luo hid in a local's home in Xingyang, was captured, beheaded, and his head sent to the capital. Zhongwen carved a stone tablet by the Sishui River to honor his achievements.
After I entered the capital, Emperor Gaozu called me to his palace, hosted a feast for me, and was exceedingly pleased. He rewarded me with thousands of silks in various colors and ten singing girls, and appointed me as the Pillar of the State and the Grand Chancellor of Henan Province. At that time, Emperor Gaozu wished to abdicate the throne, but I declined. Not long after, my uncle, the Grand Commandant Yi, was imprisoned for committing a crime, and I was also imprisoned following accusations from officials. While in prison, I composed a memorial:
I have learned that in spring, everything grows, and in summer, everything flourishes; this is the natural order of the universe. Children must be filial, and subjects loyal; this is the unchanging principle of human relations. Previously, Wei Jiong rebelled, and people from all over responded to him. At that time, I was stationed at a crucial border fortress, a position of vital importance. I often slept on my spear and shield, vowing to fight to the last breath against the rebels. Wei Jiong had put a bounty on my head, promising me the title of Grand General and vast estates. I disregarded my wife, children, and my own life, braving the hail of bullets, I broke through the encirclement. My three sons and one daughter fell in battle, one after the other. I remained loyal and brave, rushing to the capital to serve the court.
Your Majesty, you have given me high office and generous rewards, and entrusted the army to me. At that time, there were rampant bandits in Henan, and I led eight thousand weary soldiers to quell these rebellions. I defeated Liu Kuan in Liangjun, suppressed Caozhou, recaptured Dongjun, Ancheng, Wuding, Yongchang, lifted the siege of Bozhou, and eliminated the rebel army in Xuzhou. I defeated a vastly larger force, facing a hundred thousand rebels and winning in one battle, leading to the immediate disintegration of the rebel forces in Henan. When the rebels were fighting for control and the people were displaced, my second uncle Yi Xian was in Youzhou, commanding the Yan and Zhao regions, pacifying the rebellious princes in the south, resisting the invasion of the Turks in the north, and bringing peace to the region. My fifth uncle Zhi was stationed at Heishui, neighboring Wang Qian, stopping the invasion of the barbarians and stabilizing the Shu Road. My brother Yi was acting as a governor in Huainan, defeating strong enemies, pursuing them relentlessly, and sending the enemies' heads to the capital. Wang Qian occupied both sides of the Yangtze River, with rebellions across the Three Shus. My third uncle Yi was appointed by the court to lead the campaign against the rebels. My father-in-law, uncles, and brothers all held important positions in the court, some undertaking dangerous tasks, some serving in the court guard. Our whole family is loyal and hopes to serve the court. I humbly ask Your Majesty to understand my grievances, bestow favor, and remember the merits I have made for the court in the past, even if they seem trivial; I hope Your Majesty will recognize them. In this way, even if I am like cold ashes, I can reignite; even if I am like dry bones, I can be reborn. I take the liberty of bringing these matters to Your Majesty's attention. After reading my memorial, the Emperor ordered the release of my uncle Yi and me. Not long after, the court ordered Zhongwen to station troops at Bailang Pass to guard against the Xiongnu.
In the second year, he was appointed as the Commander of the Expedition, leading twelve generals to fight against the Xiongnu. He marched to remote areas, engaged the Xiongnu army, beheaded over a thousand enemies, and captured countless livestock. Then, they departed from the Jin River, took the White Path, and sent generals Xin Mingjin, Yuan Pang, Helan Zhi, Lu Chu, Duan Xie, and others to lead twenty thousand troops from Shengledao to the Jieshan. Upon reaching the North of Hujunchuan, they encountered the Xiongnu army, and the Xiongnu Khan, seeing Zhongwen's forces in disciplined formation, fled without engaging in battle. Zhongwen led five thousand elite cavalry to pursue, but returned without catching up.
The Emperor felt that the bureaucratic affairs of the court were overly complicated, and there were too many corrupt officials, so he tasked Zhongwen with investigating and rectifying the court's internal affairs. Zhongwen uncovered many misdeeds, and the Emperor greatly admired his wisdom and decisiveness, rewarding him generously. The Emperor had been worried that the army's transportation and supply could not keep up, so Zhongwen suggested dredging the Wei River and digging a canal. The Emperor agreed and put Zhongwen in charge of the matter.
When it was time to suppress the Chen Dynasty, he was appointed as the Commander of the Expedition again, leading the navy from Zhangshan, advancing through Hankou. Officials from the Chen Dynasty such as Xun Fashang, the Yingshou of Yingzhou, Lu Shanchengzhu Dan Fachen, and Deng Shami all requested to surrender, and Prince Qin Li Jun let Zhongwen lead the troops to accept them. Later, Gao Zhihui and others rebelled in Jiangnan, and he was appointed as the Commander of the Expedition to suppress them. At that time, the three armies faced a food shortage, and rice prices soared. Zhongwen privately sold military provisions at a discounted price, and as a result, he was dismissed.
In the following year, he was reinstated in his official position and stationed his troops in Mayi to defend against the Xiongnu. Not long after, he was dismissed once more.
Prince Jin recognized Li Zhongwen's potential as a general and always valued him highly. Later, he requested the emperor to appoint Li Zhongwen to oversee Prince Jin's military affairs. When the Turks invaded the border, Prince Jin became the marshal and allowed Li Zhongwen to command the front army, which led to a resounding victory. During the Renshou period, Li Zhongwen was appointed as the commander of the Crown Prince's Right Guard. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, Li Zhongwen was promoted to the Grand General of the Right Wing and participated in the selection of civil and military officials. He followed the emperor to campaign against Goguryeo and was promoted to the Grand Master of Splendor, gaining the emperor's particular favor.
During the Liaodong Campaign, Li Zhongwen led the army along the Lelang route. The army camped at Wugucheng, where Li Zhongwen placed thousands of emaciated horses and donkeys behind the army. He then led the main army eastward, and when the Goguryeo forces launched a surprise attack on their supply line, Li Zhongwen led a counterattack and defeated the Goguryeo army. When they reached the Yalu River, Goguryeo General Yizhi Wende pretended to surrender and came to Li Zhongwen's camp. Li Zhongwen had received prior secret orders that if he encountered the Goguryeo king or Yizhi Wende, he was to capture them. When Yizhi Wende arrived, Li Zhongwen was on the verge of capturing him, but the Deputy Right Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Liu Shilong, vehemently opposed the action, so Li Zhongwen ultimately decided to let Yizhi Wende go.
Later, Li Zhongwen regretted it and sent someone to mislead Yizhi Wende, saying, "There are still people discussing this matter; you can come over again." Yizhi Wende ignored him and crossed the river. Li Zhongwen selected cavalry to cross the river and chase after him, defeating the enemy in every battle. Yizhi Wende wrote a poem to Li Zhongwen: "Investigating astronomy, clever calculation of geography. Having achieved great victories, I am content to let things be." Li Zhongwen replied to him in a letter, but Yizhi Wende burned his camp and fled. At this time, Yu Wenshu ran out of provisions and wanted to retreat, but Li Zhongwen suggested they pursue Yizhi Wende with elite troops to earn distinction. Yu Wenshu strongly opposed, and Li Zhongwen angrily said, "General, you lead a hundred thousand troops, but can't defeat a small enemy. How can you face the emperor! Besides, I have no merit in this expedition." Yu Wenshu shouted, "How can you be so sure there's no merit in this?" Li Zhongwen said, "When Zhou Yafu was a general, the emperor saw that his army remained unchanged. This shows that the army is united and can achieve success. Now everyone has their own thoughts; how can we win battles!"
Initially, the emperor believed that Li Zhongwen was strategic, so he had other armies follow his orders. Therefore, Yu Wenshu and others had to follow his advice and continue forward. When they reached the Sa River, Yu Wenshu retreated due to low morale of the soldiers, and the army ultimately faced defeat. The emperor blamed his subordinates, and the generals shifted all the blame onto Li Zhongwen. The emperor was furious, released the other generals, but only arrested Li Zhongwen. Li Zhongwen fell seriously ill from worry and anger and was finally released only after his condition deteriorated. He eventually died at home at the age of sixty-eight. He authored thirty volumes of "Han Shu Kan Fan" and another thirty of "Lue Lan." He had nine sons, among whom Qin Ming was the most famous.
Yang Yi, courtesy name Yuanwu, was tall and stood at a full eight feet. He was handsome, with clear eyebrows and bright eyes. Yuwen Hu, the Grand Chancellor of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, immediately took a liking to him and married his daughter to him. Shortly afterward, thanks to his father's accomplishments, Yang Yi was granted the title of Marquis of Xinye County, with a fief consisting of three thousand households. He was later promoted to Grand Commander, then further promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry and appointed Inspector of Yizhou. During the reign of Emperor Da Xiang, he served as the naval commander and fought alongside Wei Xiaokuan in the Huainan region. Yang Yi led his forces, including Yuan Shaogui and Mao Meng, into the Huai River from Yingkou. The defending chief of the Chen Dynasty, Pan Shen, abandoned his camp and fled, and together, Yang Yi and Wei Xiaokuan captured Shouyang. They then surrounded Xieshi, where the defending general Xu Yue surrendered in fear. Consequently, Yang Yi was appointed Inspector of Dongguangzhou.
During the rebellion of Wei Jiong, the chief administrator Zhao Wenbiao was at odds with Yang Yi at that time, and Yang Yi wanted to get rid of him. So Yang Yi lay in the bedroom, pretending to be seriously ill, and told the people around him, "I get very scared when I see two or three people approaching; I want to attack them, but I can't control myself." Whenever guests came to visit, Yang Yi would send them away. Yang Yi's illness worsened, and when Zhao Wenbiao went to visit, Yang Yi had his servants block Zhao Wenbiao at the gate, allowing only him to enter. Yang Yi suddenly sprang up, drew his sword, and killed Zhao Wenbiao, then shouted, "Zhao Wenbiao conspired with Wei Jiong to rebel, so I killed him!" None of his soldiers dared to act. At that time, Emperor Gaozu was still concerned that Yang Yi might cause more trouble since the rebellion of Wei Jiong was not yet fully suppressed, so he offered him reassurance and encouragement and appointed him as the chief administrator of Wuzhou. Chen Dynasty generals Qian Mao led thousands of soldiers to attack Jiangyang, and Yang Yi fought back and drove them away. The Chen Dynasty then sent generals Chen Ji, Zhou Luohou, Yan He'er, and others to attack Yang Yi, but Yang Yi resisted and repelled them, and the court rewarded him with hundreds of bolts of silk. After Emperor Gaozu abdicated, Zhao Wenbiao's brother went to the court to complain, saying his brother was innocent. The Emperor ordered an investigation, and the Grand Tutor Dou Chi and others believed that Yang Yi should be executed. However, considering the merits of the Yang family for generations, the Emperor granted him a special pardon, demoting him only to a lower rank. Later, Yang Yi inherited the title of Duke of Yan, with a fief that included 16,000 households. Soon after falling ill, he resigned from his position. In the seventh year of the Kaihuang era, he was appointed Inspector of Zezhou. A few years later, he was relieved of his duties and passed away in his home. His son, Yang Shiqian, succeeded him as Duke.
It is said that this man, Xi, whose courtesy name was Bofu. His father, that is Xi's father, served as an official in the Zhou Dynasty, reaching the rank of Grand Guardian of Youzhou and Duke of Ren, which was quite an achievement! His grandfather, who was Xi's great-grandfather, once served as the Prime Minister. Later, Wei Jiong rebelled and sent agents to lure Xi's father into joining the rebellion. As a result, Xi's father immediately captured the messengers and sent them to Chang'an, which delighted his grandfather. When his grandfather became the emperor, Xi's father attended court, and the emperor personally welcomed him, and the two chatted happily for a long time. Within a few days, his father was appointed Grand Commandant. Unfortunately, the good times were short-lived, and more than a year later, Xi's father passed away and was posthumously granted the title Duke Mu.
Xi has been very capable and responsible since he was young. He served as a minor official in the Zhou Dynasty, starting out as a small Right Ministerial Officer. Before long, he was promoted to Minister of Ceremony, then commanded the Right Imperial Guards, and later became a junior aide. During the reign of Emperor Wu, he followed Prince Xian of Qi to defeat the Qi army in Luoyang, achieved great merit, was granted the title of Count of Fengning County, with a fief consisting of five hundred households. He then helped the emperor pacify Qi, rising to the position of Kaifu, and was subsequently granted the title of Duke of Liyang County, with a fief increased to twelve hundred households, and appointed to the position of Minister of Justice. After Emperor Xuan ascended the throne, he was promoted to Right Xuncao and later commanded the Right Loyalty and Righteousness. When his grandfather served as prime minister, he was appointed Kaifu as well. When his grandfather became emperor, Xi was promoted to Grand General and appointed as the Governor of Bianzhou, earning outstanding achievements and a stellar reputation. The emperor was pleased to hear this and issued an edict in his praise, rewarding him with a hundred bolts of silk. He was later further promoted to Grand General, with his title elevated to Duke. He was subsequently appointed as the Governor of Shaozhou, where he served for several years and was greatly beloved by the locals. Later, he was appointed as the Commander of Jiangling, but the people of Shaozhou, led by Zhang Yuan and others, submitted a joint petition to the court, requesting the emperor to let Xi stay. After reading the petition, the emperor was touched and ultimately ordered his return to Shaozhou, much to the joy of the locals who came out to celebrate. He later served as the Governors of Luozhou and Xiongzhou, achieving significant political success and winning the people's trust. Due to illness, he was recalled to the capital by the court. During the Renshou era, he passed away at home and was posthumously granted the title of Duke of Jing. He is survived by a son named Zhiben.
Duan Wenzhen was a native of Beihai Qi. His grandfather, Duan Shou, was the Governor of Cangzhou during the Wei Dynasty; his father, Duan Wei, was the Governors of Taizhou, Hezhou, Ganzhou, and Weizhou during the Zhou Dynasty. Duan Wenzhen had always been exceptionally strong and fearless since childhood, possessing a strong character and a keen sense of right and wrong. He initially served as a trusted aide to Yuwen Hu, who recognized his abilities and promoted him to the position of commander of the Central and Foreign Army.
Later, Emperor Wu attacked the King of Haichang of Northern Qi, Weixiang Gui, who was in Jinzhou at the time, with his subordinates, Hou Ziqin and Cui Jingsong, providing support from within the city. Duan Wenzhen, holding a long spear, was the first to scale the city wall and, together with Cui Zhongfang and others, led the assault on the city. Duan Wenzhen followed Cui Jingsong to Weixiang Gui, drew his sword to threaten him, which intimidated Weixiang Gui into submission, resulting in the capture of the city. The Emperor was extremely pleased and rewarded him with a thousand bolts of cloth. He then captured the cities of Wenhou, Huagu, and Gaobi, all of which were all due to his bravery.
When attacking the city of Banzhou, he led his troops to break through the east gate, stormed into the city, and made the Prince of Ande of Northern Qi, Yanzong, surrender out of fear. Due to his previous military achievements, the court initially planned to promote him to a higher official position, but after being framed by someone, he faced punishment and was later appointed as the Shang Yitong, being bestowed with the title of Duke of Xiangguo County, with a fief consisting of one thousand households. After capturing Yedu, he received a reward of two thousand bolts of brocade. He later followed Prince Teng to fight the Jihu, defeating them. He also served as the Biejia of Xiangzhou and the Chief Steward of Yangzhou. Later, he entered the court and served as a Tian Guandu Shangshi, accompanying Wei Xiaokuan in pacifying the Huainan region.
During the rebellion of Wei Jiong, Wenzhen's mother, wife, and children were in Yedu. Wei Jiong sent envoys to persuade Wenzhen to join him, but Wenzhen disregarded this and sought refuge directly with Gaozu. Gaozu admired him and appointed him as an official in the Prime Minister's office, also entrusting him with the responsibility of palace security.
Later, Sima Xiaonan fled to seek refuge with the Chen dynasty. Gaozu then sent Wen Zhen to stabilize the situation in the Huainan region. Upon his return, Gaozu promoted him to be an Assistant Guard Officer and also served as the Deputy Minister of the Interior. Not long after, he followed Daxi Zhen to fight against the rebellious barbarians, won the battle, and was granted a position with the title of Kaifu. Over a year later, he was promoted to be the Minister of Rites.
Prince Wei Shuang went north to fight against the Turks, with Wen Zhen as his Chief Historian. However, due to falsification of military achievements, Wen Zhen was dismissed from his position. Later, he was appointed as the governor of Shizhou and Hezhou, where he performed well and was loved by the people. He was later promoted to be the governor of Lanzhou and was granted the title of Duke of Longgang.
When the Turks invaded the border again, Wen Zhen, as the commander, led the troops to defeat them, chasing them all the way to Juyan Pass before returning. Nine years later, the court launched a major military campaign against the Chen dynasty, and Wen Zhen was appointed as the Marshal under the Prince of Qin, as well as the commander. After the fall of the Chen dynasty, he was appointed as the governor of Yangzhou, and later transferred to Bingzhou as the governor. Following the death of his mother, he resigned from his official position.
Not long after, the court requested his return to service, but he refused. Several years later, he was appointed as the governor of Yunzhou, and later became the Grand Marshal. In the nineteenth year, the Turks invaded the border again, and Wen Zhen, as the commander, fought against them, encountering Da Tou Khan on the Plains of Wo and defeating them.
Wen Zhen had a good relationship with Wang Shiji in the past. When Wen Zhen went on a northern expedition, Wang Shiji even sent him camels and horses. However, upon Wen Zhen's return, Wang Shiji was executed for his crimes, and Wen Zhen's previous merits were not taken into account due to his association with Wang Shiji. The following year, Wen Zhen led troops to defend Lingzhou against the Turks but returned without encountering the enemy.
Later, the tribes of Yue Xi rebelled, and Wen Zhen went to suppress the rebellion and won. The court rewarded him with two hundred servants. During the Ren Shou period, the Liao tribe in Jiazhou also rebelled, and Wen Zhen led troops to attack them. The army was ambushed in a valley, surrounded from front to back, unable to assist one another, and was defeated. However, Wen Zhen regrouped his scattered troops and launched a surprise counterattack, ultimately winning the battle.
Wen Zhen was known for his integrity and never resorted to flattery. Initially, when his army was stationed in Yizhou, he went to see King Yang Xiu with a disrespectful attitude, which displeased him. After this defeat, Yang Xiu submitted a memorial accusing Wen Zhen. The Minister of Public Works, Su Wei, also had conflicts with Wen Zhen and seized the opportunity to accuse him falsely, resulting in Wen Zhen being dismissed from his position.
Later, Yang Xiu was deposed, and Wen Zhen petitioned Emperor Gaozu, who comforted him and appointed him as Grand General. Shortly after, he was appointed as the Governor of Lingzhou.
When Emperor Yang of Sui became emperor, he appointed Yang Wen Zhen as Minister of War, treating him exceptionally well. Later, when they went to attack the Tuyuhun, Yang Wen Zhen was responsible for overseeing the troops stationed on the snowy mountains, with the camp stretching over three hundred li, connecting to the east with the army of Yang Yi Chen and to the west with the army of Zhang Shou, collectively besieging the leader of Tuyuhun in Fu Yuan Valley. Due to this military achievement, Yang Wen Zhen was promoted and became the Right Guanglu Daifu (an official title).
Later, the emperor went to Jiangdu for leisure and put Yang Wenzhen in charge of the political affairs of Jiangdu. Yang Wenzhen remembered that the founding emperor had previously welcomed the Turkic Khan Qimin to settle within our borders, even marrying a princess to him and giving him a mountain of rewards. During the Daye era, the rewards to Qimin Khan became even more generous. Yang Wenzhen feared that Qimin Khan had ulterior motives and would inevitably become a threat to the nation. So he wrote to the emperor, saying: "I've learned that the ancient strategy for ruling a country is to befriend distant states while keeping a watchful eye on those close by, to prevent foreign tribes from disturbing the Central Plains. King Xuan of Zhou repelled the Di tribes, and Qin Shi Huang built the Great Wall as part of long-term strategies that we must not forget. Now the country is accepting Qimin Khan, providing him with food, weapons, land, and convenience. In my opinion, this is very unwise. Why? Because the nature of these outsiders lacks any sense of kinship; they only know greed. When they're weak, they seek your protection, but when they grow strong, they turn on you. I may not be an expert, but I've heard of Liu Yao from the Jin Dynasty and Hou Jing from the Liang Dynasty—these are well-known cautionary tales. In my view, Qimin Khan will surely become a disaster for the country in the future. I suggest we promptly send them back beyond our borders. We should then set up beacon towers along the border, reinforce our defenses, and stay vigilant—this is the only way to ensure lasting peace!"
At that time, there was a military officer called Husi Zheng, who was in charge of military affairs. Yang Wenzhen knew Husi Zheng was incompetent and not to be trusted, so he repeatedly raised this concern with the emperor, but the emperor ignored him.
Once, this general, while fighting in Liaodong, was appointed as the Grand General of the Left Guard and was ordered to march from Nansudao. However, he fell gravely ill during the journey and wrote to the emperor, saying: "I am a mediocre person with modest abilities. I am very fortunate to live in a prosperous era and to be promoted by the emperor beyond my qualifications, holding a much higher position than my colleagues. However, my abilities are simply not sufficient. I have already enjoyed too much grace and cannot stop thinking about the state's kindness, keeping me awake at night. I have always wished to repay the court, even if it means barking like a dog. However, I neglected to take care of my health, and my illness has worsened. I am overwhelmed with guilt and am about to depart this world without peace! I humbly share my thoughts with you. The fools in Liaodong have yet to face severe punishment. The six armies of the expedition are personally commanded by you. However, those barbarians are cunning and must be guarded against. They may profess surrender, but they are secretly plotting betrayal. They have countless schemes in secret, so do not easily trust them. The rain has just fallen, time must not be wasted. I urge you to order the army to depart immediately, advancing by land and water, catching them by surprise so that we can seize Pyongyang. If we can completely eliminate their main forces, the other cities will surely surrender without resistance. If not subdued in
The eldest son is named Quan, and he became a military general. The second son is named Lun, who became well-known for his chivalrous deeds in his youth. Wencao, Wen Zhen's younger brother, became a military general during the Daye period and was known for his strength and strictness. The emperor instructed him to oversee the scholars in the Secretariat and ensure they studied. At that time, most of those scholars were refined, so Wencao often punished them, totaling over a thousand times, which drew significant criticism from many. Historical records say: Zhong Fang had both literary talent and military strategy and was very strategic. His strategy for attacking the Chen kingdom was indeed very profound, and his accomplishments were substantial and not mere rhetoric! Zhong Wen was well-versed in many books and believed himself to be quite talented. When Wei Jiong rebelled, he earned notable merits and was promoted and utilized multiple times thereafter. The defeat in the Liaodong campaign led to significant losses for the army, like a massive tree on the verge of toppling, but the soldiers cannot bear the blame entirely. Wen Zhen was valued for his courage and maintained the ambitions of a true gentleman from a young age, frequently speaking his mind and providing counsel, repeatedly seen as loyal and upright. His rise to high office and generous rewards were well-earned.
