Yuan Jingshan, courtesy name Baoyue, was a native of Luoyang, Henan. His grandfather was the King of Anding of Wei, and his father was the King of An of Song. Jingshan showed great leadership skills from a young age, distinguishing himself in military ability.
During the reign of Emperor Zhou Min, he followed the Grand Marshal Helan Xiang to fight against the Tuyuhun, distinguishing himself in battle and was appointed as the General of Pacification. He later participated in numerous campaigns, gradually rising in rank to an official with the rank equivalent to a Minister, granted the title of Duke of Wenchang County, and appointed as the defense commander of Weichuan. Later, in battles against the Qi army at Beimang Mountain, he defeated many enemy soldiers, was further conferred the title of Kaifu, promoted to the Governor of Jianzhou, enfeoffed as Duke of Song'an County, and granted a fief of three thousand households.
Following the pacification of the Qi state by Emperor Wu, he was appointed as Grand General, his title changed to Duke of Pingyuan County, with a fief of two thousand households, and rewarded with a band, six thousand bolts of silk, two hundred and fifty slaves, as well as thousands of cattle and sheep.
He later served as the Commander of Bozhou. At that time, there were individuals in the state named Wang Huiluo and Zhang Jizhen, leading a group of bandits who frequently plundered. Previous governors were unable to deal with them. Upon Jingshan's arrival, he immed
When Gaozu served as Prime Minister, Yu Jiong led a rebellion with his forces. The Prefect of Yingzhou, Yuwen Zhou, secretly conspired with Yu Jiong and sent a letter to Jing Shan in an attempt to persuade him to join the uprising. Jing Shan caught the messenger sent by Yuwen Zhou and delivered the letter to the Prime Minister's residence. Gaozu was delighted and immediately promoted Jing Shan to Grand General.
Later, Sima Xiaonan launched an attack on the Chen dynasty, which sent generals Fan Yi, Ma Jie, and others to provide assistance. Jing Shan quickly mobilized five hundred light cavalry to provide support. Upon seeing Jing Shan approach, Fan Yi and his men panicked, looted the belongings of the common people, and fled. Jing Shan pursued them relentlessly, covering over three hundred miles in a single day and night, and engaged Fan Yi in battle at Zhangkou, emerging victorious in both encounters. Fan Yi and the others withdrew to Zengshan Town. The towns that had been captured by Sima Xiaonan were also recaptured by Jing Shan. Gaozu appointed him as the governor of Anzhou, elevated him to the rank of Pillar of the State, and bestowed upon him two thousand rolls of cloth. At that time, the tribes on Tongbai Mountain also stirred up trouble, and Jing Shan also managed to pacify them.
After Gaozu became emperor, he appointed Jing Shan as the Grand Marshal. In the second year, a large-scale campaign against the Chen dynasty was launched, with Jing Shan appointed as the Commander-in-Chief, leading the army under General Han Yan and Lv Zhe from Hankou. At the same time, Deng Xiaoru, the Grand Marshal, was sent with four thousand elite soldiers to attack the Chen dynasty's Zengshan Town. General Lu Lun of the Chen dynasty led the navy to rescue them, but Deng Xiaoru struck them hard and defeated them. The Chen dynasty forces were terrified, and the defenders of Zengshan and Dunyang towns abandoned their posts and fled. Jing Shan was preparing to cross the Yangtze River when Emperor Chen Xuan died, and the court ordered the troops to return. Jing Shan earned great renown this time, and his enemies were all very afraid of him. After a few years, Jing Shan was dismissed for a minor offense and died at the age of fifty-five. The court posthumously granted him the title of Governor of Liangzhou, bestowed upon him a thousand bolts of silk, and posthumously honored him with the title of Xiang. His son Cheng Shou inherited his title.
Cheng Shou excelled at archery from a young age and initially served as a guard in the palace. He was later appointed as the heir apparent to the Grand Marshal and then as the Yitong. He later served as the charioteer and cavalry commander for the Prince of Qin. After Emperor Yang Guang ascended the throne, he summoned Cheng Shou to the position of Left Guard Commandant. When Yang Xuangan rebelled, Cheng Shou joined the Minister of Justice Wei Xuan in suppressing the rebellion. In recognition of his achievements, he was promoted to Chief Officer and appointed Prefect of Xiping County.
Yuan Xiong, courtesy name Shilue, was from Le Du in Xiping. His grandfather Yuan Huai and father Yuan Zuan both served as the King of Longxi in the Wei Kingdom. Yuan Xiong was generous from a young age, and he was also tall and strong. He started off as a secretary in the Wei Kingdom but soon rose to the position of General of Conquering the Barbarians. Later, his father was killed by the Gao clan, so Yuan Xiong quickly fled, changed his name, and went to Chang'an. Emperor Zhou took an immediate liking to him and bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Longxi. He followed Emperor Wu of Zhou to attack the Qi Kingdom, and for his achievements, he was appointed as Chamberlain and later promoted to Marquis of Shuofang, eventually becoming the Inspector of Jizhou. At that time, the Turks frequently harassed the border, so the court appointed Yuan Xiong as Inspector of Pingzhou to defend the border. Not long after, he was appointed as the Prefect of Xuzhou.
When Gaozu assumed the position of Prime Minister, Wei Jiong rebelled. At that time, Yuan Xiong's family was in Xiangzhou, and Wei Jiong secretly tried to persuade him by writing letters, but Yuan Xiong remained unmoved. Gaozu also wrote to him saying, "Your family is in Yecheng. Although you are separated now, the rebels will be dealt with soon, and you should be able to reunite within a month at most. Don't worry, I will arrange it as soon as possible. Don't let this weigh on your spirits. Xuzhou is very important, located in the southeast, adjacent to the Wu Kingdom, and needs to be well managed. I value your talents and entrust the defense of the border to you. Make great achievements and live up to my expectations!" Wei Jiong's general Bi Yixu occupied Lanling, while Xi Pi captured Changlu and Xiayi. Yuan Xiong dispatched Liu Ren'en, the Inspector of Xuzhou, to confront Bi Yixu, and sent Yitong Liu Hong and Li Yan to attack Xi Pi, and ultimately, they were all subdued.
Chen Guo, observing the ongoing turmoil in the Central Plains, therefore dispatched generals like Chen Ji, Xiao Moha, Ren Mannu, Zhou Luohou, and Fan Yi to invade the area north of the Yangtze River, all the way from Jiangling to Shouyang. Many common folk rallied to their cause, and many towns were captured. Yuan Xiong and the generals Yu Yi of Wuzhou, He Ruobi of Yangzhou, and Yuan Jingshan of Huangzhou joined forces to defeat Chen Guo's army and reclaim lost territory. Cao Xiaoda, the governor of Dong Tongzhou, also revolted, prompting Yuan Xiong to send troops to eliminate him. Yuan Xiong was elevated to Grand General while continuing his role as the governor of Xuzhou. A few years later, he was reassigned as the governor of Huaizhou, and shortly thereafter promoted to governor of Shuozhou. Whenever the Turks attempted to raid, Yuan Xiong would capture and execute them, and the Turks feared him greatly.
When Emperor Gaozu launched his campaign against Chen Guo, he issued a royal decree, the text of which read: "To you, Xi! You, Grand General and Hero of Shuofang, have insight, understanding, and valor. You have governed Xuzhou amidst enemies and rebels, erecting military banners in Mayi and pacifying the northern tribes. Your brilliant strategies have thwarted threats from foreign borders, and your sword has calmed the fears of the people on the border. North of the desert, all benefit from your benevolence; in the Luliang region, no one is untouched by your kindness. However, the minor rebellious Chen Guo in the Jianghuai region, I now command you to lead the army to quell the southeast, thus I appoint you as the commander of the expeditionary force. Now, go forth!"
After that, the general followed the King of Qin from Xinzhou. After capturing the Chen Kingdom, he was promoted to the title of Shangzhuguo due to his achievements. His son was granted the title of Earl of Duanshi County, and he himself was appointed as the Earl of Anhua County. He was also rewarded with five thousand bolts of cloth and continued to defend Shuozhou. After two years, he submitted a request to retire, and the court summoned him back to the capital. He passed away at home at the age of seventy years. His son inherited his title and rose to the position of Yitong Sanqi. During the Deyuan period of the Sui Dynasty, he was transferred from Shangdang to the capital and appointed as an official in the Ministry of Justice. Later, during a time of great turmoil, he led troops against the rebels in Beihai and died in battle. He was posthumously elevated to the rank of Zhengyi Daifu.
Dou Luqi, styled Dingdong, was originally from Tuhe in Changli. His original surname was Murong, and he was a descendant of Murong Jing, the Prince of Beidi in the Yan Kingdom. After the failure of the Zhongshan Battle, he sought refuge with Northern Wei. People in the north referred to those who surrendered to the Wei court as "Doulu," so he adopted the surname Doulu. His grandfather, Doulu Chang, was a great general in Ruxuan Town of Northern Wei, and his father, Doulu Ning, was a general and Grand Guardian. When Dou Luqi was born, Emperor Zhou personally visited his family to offer his congratulations, just after the recent defeat of the Qi army. Emperor Zhou bestowed upon him the style name "Dingdong." Dou Luqi was intelligent and talented, with great leadership skills. When he was young, he studied at the Imperial College and had a basic understanding of literature and calligraphy. In the twelfth year of Datushu in Northern Wei, Emperor Zhou granted him the title of Marquis of Yian County in recognition of his contributions. After Emperor Min ascended the throne, he was appointed as the Xiaobo Xiaodaifu and Kaifu Yitong Sanqi, and his title was changed to Duke of Danyang County, with a fief consisting of fifteen hundred households. During the reign of Emperor Ming of Zhou, he held the position of Left Wubo Zhongdaifu. Dou Luqi felt that his knowledge was insufficiently profound, so he requested to step down and study at the Imperial College. The Emperor admired his dedication and permitted him to study while retaining his position. Not long after, the Prince of Qi, Yuwen Xian, married Dou Luqi's sister as his concubine, so the Emperor showed even greater favor towards Dou Luqi.
After Emperor Wu became emperor, he appointed him governor of Qiongzhou. Before he took office, the Shuodang Qiang people in Weiyuan revolted due to a famine. Because everyone thought he was talented and strategic, he was transferred to be the governor of Weizhou. While serving as an official in Weizhou, he implemented many policies beneficial to the people; both Han and minority ethnic groups were pleased and compliant. His benevolence spread far and wide, and many auspicious signs began to appear. The Bird and Rat Mountain, known locally as Gaowulong, is where the Wei River originates. The steep cliffs of this mountain were always lacking water, which caused great suffering to the Qiang people. However, upon his arrival, springs suddenly burst forth from the ground where his horse's hooves had trodden! White birds also flew to the hall where he worked, feeding briefly before departing, and white wolves were spotted as well. The common folk composed songs in his praise: "I have Danyang, where mountains produce jade essence. He aids my people, as divine birds soar." Everyone called these springs the Jade Essence Springs. Later, his father passed away, and he was so grief-stricken that he mourned longer than etiquette prescribed.
In the second year of the Tianhe era, he was appointed as the governor of Shaozhou, inheriting the title of Duke of Chu. Later, he was summoned by the court to serve as the Director of the Office of Heavenly Officials, and successively served as the governor of Xinzhou, Xiazhou, and Xiangzhou. After his mother's passing, he returned to the capital to observe mourning rituals. In the second year of the reign of Emperor Xuandi, he was appointed as the governor of Lizhou and promoted to Grand General. One month later, he was further honored with the title of Pillar of the Nation.
When Gaozu became Chancellor, the Commander of Yizhou, Wang Qian, rebelled. He defended the city and refused to back down. Wang Qian sent his generals, Da Xi Ji, Gao Anagong, Yi Fu Qian, and others, to lead an army of a hundred thousand to attack him, constructing earthen mounds, digging over seventy holes in the city walls, and even blocking the river to flood the city with water. At that time, he had only over two thousand soldiers under his leadership, resisting the enemy day and night. After more than forty days of fighting, the situation grew increasingly dire. At that moment, he suddenly employed a surprise attack strategy, defeated the enemy, killed thousands of people, and captured two thousand. Just then, the army of Liang Rui was also approaching, so the rebels retreated. Gaozu sent Zhao Zhongqing to commend him and issued a decree saying, "Your insight and talent are excellent, your bearing is impressive, and you have achieved outstanding results in managing the border regions. When the rebellion broke out in Bashu, the enemy suddenly surrounded you. You were able to defend the city and take the initiative to attack, defeating the enemy. Your loyalty, integrity, and strategic courage have greatly contributed. Therefore, I appoint you as the Governor-General and confer upon your son the title of Duke of Zhongshan."
In 582 AD, the Turks invaded the frontier, and Yang Su was appointed as the Marshal of the Northern Expedition, responsible for frontier defense. A year later, he was promoted to the Governor of Xiazhou. The Emperor held him in high regard because of his illustrious family background and significant achievements. Later, Prince Han Yang Liang married Yang Su's daughter as his concubine, further solidifying the Emperor's favor for Yang Su.
In the year 587 AD, the emperor issued an imperial decree: "Yang Su, the Grand Chancellor and Duke of Chu, led troops to quell the rebellion in Shu territory, defending the city as if it were an independent nation against the enemy. He made great contributions, possessed noble character, and was rewarded with one thousand households of land in Linjin County, Shizhou." In the year 590 AD, Yang Su was recalled to the capital due to illness. The emperor ordered all imperial princes to visit Yang Su's residence and sent eunuchs to inquire about his health, with a continuous stream of visitors. That same year, Yang Su passed away at the age of fifty-five. The emperor mourned his loss for a long time, granting him a grand funeral and assigning the Honglu Temple to handle the funeral affairs, posthumously honored with the title "Xiang." His son, Yang Xian, inherited his titles and rose to the positions of Governor of Xianzhou, Junior Minister of Justice, and General of Wu Ben. Yang Su also had a younger brother named Yang Yu.
Now, this person named Li Yu was always ambitious and had a strong character since childhood. When Prince Yang Liang was appointed as the Inspector of Bingzhou, Li Yu, who was the brother of Prince Yang Liang's consort, became a secretary in Prince Yang Liang's mansion. Later, he followed General Zhao Zhongqing to the north to fight against the Turks, achieved merit, and was appointed as a Sima, a rank equivalent to "General." When Emperor Yang Guang ascended the throne, he summoned his brother Prince Yang Liang back to the court. Prince Yang Liang, misled by Wang Kui's schemes, rebelled. Li Yu earnestly tried to advise him, but Prince Yang Liang did not listen at all. Li Yu said to his younger brother Li Yi, "I can ride back to the capital alone and save myself. This is for myself, not for the country. For now, let's play along and figure something out later." Li Yu's elder brother Li Xian, who was the Governor of Xianzhou at the time, told the emperor, "My brother Li Yu has always been upright and will never participate in rebellion. He is only forced and has no choice but to resist. Please allow me to join the army and collaborate with my brother to counter Prince Yang Liang. He's not someone we need to be afraid of!" The emperor agreed as he found this reasoning sound. Li Xian secretly sent a family member with the emperor's orders to find Li Yu and discuss a plan together.
Yang Liang led the army out of the city, on his way to Jiezhou, and left Li Yu and the chief manager Zhu Tao to guard the city. Li Yu said to Zhu Tao, "The Han King's rebellion is about to fail soon. How can I sit idly by and betray my country and family? We should go out together to resist him!" Zhu Tao was taken aback and replied, "How can you say that when the prince has entrusted such an important matter to us!" With that, he stormed off. Li Yu caught up with Zhu Tao and killed him. At that time, Yang Liang's Sima, Huangfu Dan, had been imprisoned for advising him against his actions. Li Yu rescued Huangfu Dan and, along with Huangfu Dan, Su Qinwu, Yu Wen Yongchang, Cheng Duan, Changsun Kai, Yuan Shiya, Huangfu Wenhao, and others, discussed closing the city gates to defend against Yang Liang.
Before the situation was completely settled, someone reported to Yang Liang, who then led troops to attack. Li Yu, seeing Yang Liang approach, deceived his soldiers, saying, "That is the enemy's army!" Yang Liang attacked the south gate, and Li Yu sent Ji Hu soldiers to guard the city walls. The Ji Hu soldiers, unable to recognize Yang Liang, shot arrows at him. Arrows rained down. Yang Liang then attacked the west gate, where the guards were all from Binzhou and recognized him, so they opened the city gate to welcome him. Li Yu was ultimately killed, just twenty-eight years old. After Yang Liang was subdued, Yang Guang issued a decree saying, "Li Yu's loyalty should be honored. According to the country's regulations, he should be given the highest honor. Li Yu understood righteousness, disregarded family ties, took great risks, came up with a good plan, and gave up his life for the country. He should be posthumously promoted to a higher rank, given generous treatment, posthumously appointed as Grand General, titled as the Duke of Justice County, and rewarded with two thousand bolts of silk. He is posthumously honored with the title 'Min'."
The son wanted to inherit his father's title, so he went to see the emperor and was appointed as an official equivalent to the Three Excellencies. In the early years of the Daye era, new laws were enacted, and the five ranks of titles were abolished. Not long after, the emperor decreed, "The late General Yang Yu, who was able to hold his position in times of crisis, sacrificed himself for the sake of righteousness, and died for his country, his actions serve as a model and will be forever remembered. In order to honor his virtue, his merits should be worshipped, and he is posthumously granted the title of Marquis of Yongqiu Min." Thus, Yang inherited his father's title. In the later years of Daye, he was appointed as the commander of the Qian Niu Left and Right.
Yang Tong, the brother of Yang Ji, who was also known as Yang Hui, was generous and dignified. During the Zhou Dynasty, due to his father's achievements, he was granted the title of Marquis of Linzhen County, with a fief consisting of one thousand households. He was soon appointed Grand Commander and quickly promoted to Equivalent to the Three Excellencies. At that time, Prime Minister Yuwen Hu recognized his talents, assigned him to command a loyal army, and changed his title to Duke of Woye County, with a fief of four thousand seven hundred households. Later, he was conferred the title of Kaifu and served as Wubei Zhong Daifu and Governor of North Xuzhou. When Gaozu became the Prime Minister, Wei Jiong rebelled and sent his subordinate, the Governor of Juzhou, Wuman Ni, to lead troops to attack. Yang Tong counterattacked and defeated them. The emperor rewarded him with eight hundred bolts of silk and promoted him to Grand General. In the early years of the Kaihuang era, he was promoted to Duke of Nanchen County. Soon after, he was summoned to the court and continued to be responsible for security duties. More than a year later, he was appointed as the Governor of Dingzhou. He was later transferred to Governor of Xiangzhou. He married Princess Changle, the sister of Gaozu, as his wife, and from that point on, he received increasing favor from the emperor. He was subsequently promoted to Governor of Xiazhou and Hongzhou. He was renowned for his generosity and kindness throughout his career. In the seventeenth year of the Kaihuang era, he passed away at the age of fifty-nine and was posthumously titled An. He had a son named Yang Kuan.
He Ruoyi, courtesy name Daoji, was a native of Luoyang, Henan. His grandfather, He Ruofu Lian, served as the Governor of Yunzhou during the Wei Dynasty; his father, He Ruotong, was the General of the Right Guard. He Ruoyi was recognized for his strong, decisive character and considerable talent. During the Wei Dynasty, because of his father's merits, he was granted a noble title and became the Baron of Rongcheng County. He gradually rose through the ranks to become the General of the Imperial Pavilion, Grand Commander, Palace Attendant of the Imperial Secretariat, and Director of the Imperial Food Bureau.
When Emperor Taizu of the Zhou Dynasty occupied the Guanzhong region, he summoned He Ruoyi to serve by his side. Once, Emperor Taizu sent him to Xingcheng, where there was internal conflict within the Ruru tribe, with some people stationed north of the Yellow River. He Ruoyi appealed to both reason and emotion to persuade them to submit to the Zhou Dynasty, which led to the surrender of over ten thousand households. Emperor Taizu greatly appreciated him and rewarded him with one hundred taels of gold and silver. Later, Northern Qi sent their attendant Yang Chang to forge ties with the Ruru tribe. Emperor Taizu was worried they might unite and threaten the border, so he sent He Ruoyi to negotiate with the Ruru tribe. He Ruoyi offered them substantial bribes to gain their trust, and the Ruru tribe believed him, thus forming an alliance with the Zhou Dynasty and handing over Yang Chang to He Ruoyi. Emperor Taizu was pleased and appointed him as the Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, the Equal of Three Excellencies, and the Chief Minister of Lueyang County.
After Emperor Min of the Zhou Dynasty ascended the throne, he appointed He Ruoyi as the Grand Master of Shooting, reassigned him as the Viscount of Bacheeng County, and soon thereafter added the title of Kaifu. He subsequently served as the Governor of Lingzhou and Shaozhou, the Administrator of Yuanzhou and Xinzhou, distinguishing himself in every role. His brother, He Ruodun, once served as the Administrator of Jinzhou but was later wrongfully accused and executed. This incident implicated He Ruoyi, resulting in his removal from office.
When Emperor Wu came into power and took control, he summoned He Ruoyi back and appointed him as the governor of Xiongzhou. During the war to pacify Northern Qi, He Ruoyi led his troops out of Hangu Pass, first capturing Luoyang. He was then appointed as the governor of Luozhou and granted the title of Marquis of Jianwei. The Prince of Fanyang from Northern Qi, Gao Shaoyi, fled to the Turks, and He Ruoyi pursued him. They battled at Mayi, where He Ruoyi ultimately captured Gao Shaoyi. For his accomplishments in this battle, he was promoted to Grand General. After Emperor Gaozu became Prime Minister, he appointed He Ruoyi as the governor of Bozhou and quickly sent him to take up his post. He simultaneously held back Sima Xiaonan in the west and resisted Yu Jiong in the east. Later, the governor of Shenzhou, Li Hui, rebelled, and He Ruoyi suppressed him, resulting in his promotion to Duke of Fanyang and the position of Grand General.
At the beginning of the Kaihuang era, he was appointed Right Martial Guard General. Later, when Prince Hong of Hejian went to the north to campaign against the Turks, He Ruoyi was appointed Vice Marshal. After the war ended, he was promoted to Left Martial Guard Grand General. However, due to a slight indiscretion, he was dismissed. Over a year later, he was appointed governor of Huazhou, then transferred to Fuzhou, and granted the title of Duke of Hailing. He was then reassigned as the governor of Jingzhou. At that time, the Turks frequently harassed the border, and the court valued his previous reputation, appointing him as the governor of Lingzhou and promoting him to Grand General of the Pillar State. Although he was advanced in age, his body remained robust, and he could still wear heavy armor and ride a horse, which made the Turks fear him. After a few years, he requested retirement, which the emperor granted. He was quite wealthy and built a villa in the countryside, planting many fruit trees. He often invited friends for get-togethers with music and dance performances. He passed away at home at the age of seventy-seven. His son inherited his titles and lands.
His eldest son, Xie, served as the General of the Cavalry; Xie's younger brother, Xiang, is the Commandant of the Chariots; Xiang's younger brother, Yu, was the General of Chariots and Cavalry; his brother's son, Bi, has a separate biography as well.
Historical records state that figures like Yu Yi and Dou Rongding had marital ties with the nobility of Nanyang, while others maintained ties with old acquaintances from Fengyi. They seized the opportunity and received significant rewards. Through their military achievements, they stabilized the country, secured generous rewards, retained their official positions, and ensured benefits for their descendants. They were like a fire that kept getting fueled, constantly consolidating their positions; truly remarkable! Dou Lu Yu sacrificed himself for the country in a moment of crisis; Yin Shi Shi remained steadfastly loyal even during the nation's decline. If those loyal martyrs who have passed could be aware, they would surely feel they lived up to their monarchs and parents.
