Zhang Dinghe, courtesy name Chumi, was from Chang'an. He grew up in poverty but had big dreams. He started out as a minor official. During the campaign against the Chen Dynasty, Zhang Dinghe wanted to join the battle, but he didn't have any money. His wife had the dress she wore on their wedding day, and Zhang Dinghe wanted to sell it, but his wife wouldn’t let him. So he decided to go by himself. Thanks to his military successes, he was given the title of Yitong Sanqi and was rewarded with thousands of pieces of silk, which ultimately led him to leave his wife.
Later, because of his numerous military exploits, he was promoted and became the Kaifu Yitong Sanqi and the Biaoqi Jiangjun. He fought the Turks alongside General Li Chong, always leading from the front. He got shot in the neck by a Turk, but he stuffed grass into the wound to stop the bleeding and kept fighting calmly, eventually driving the Turks away. The emperor was really impressed and sent medicine, even coming to check on him himself. Zhang Dinghe was promoted to Grand General of the Zhuguo, given the title of Marquis of Wu'an County, and rewarded with two thousand pieces of cloth, two good horses, and one hundred taels of gold.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, Zhang Dinghe was appointed as the Governor of Yizhou, then transferred to be the Prefect of Henan. He did a great job as a governor and was loved by the locals. A little over a year later, he was called back to court and appointed as the Grand General of the Left Garrison. He then went with the emperor to fight the Tuyuhun, and they reached Fuyuanchuan. The Tuyuhun leader ran away with a handful of cavalry, and a guy named Wang pretended to be the Tuyuhun leader, hiding out on Chawozhen Mountain. The emperor told Zhang Dinghe to take the army and go after him.
When fighting the enemy, Zhang Dinghe felt that the enemy was few in number, so he shouted for them to surrender, but the enemy refused. Zhang Ding did not wear armor and rushed directly up the mountain, but the enemy lay in ambush in the valley, shooting arrows indiscriminately. Zhang Ding was struck by an arrow and died. His deputy, Liu Wujian, continued to fight and killed all the enemies. The emperor was very sad about this and cried, posthumously bestowing upon Zhang Ding the title of Grand Master of Splendor. When the feudal system was reformed, he was granted the title of Marquis of Wuan, posthumously named Zhuangwu. The court also rewarded his family with one thousand pieces of silk and one thousand shi of rice. His son succeeded to the title and later became a Grand Master of Splendor as well.
Zhang Xuan, whose courtesy name was Wenyi, claimed to be from Qinghe and lived in Huaiyin. He especially liked to read military books and was particularly skilled in using knives and shields. During the Zhou Dynasty, a fellow townsman named Guo Ziyi secretly summoned bandits from the State of Chen. Zhang Xuan's father originally wanted to lead the clan to fight but hesitated a bit. Zhang Xuan supported his father's plan, and they successfully defeated the bandits, earning him a reputation for bravery and decisiveness. Later, he became a chief scribe.
When Gaozu became Chancellor, he appointed Zhang Xuan as the Grand Commander, responsible for local militias. When He Ruobi was stationed in Shou Chun, Zhang Xuan often acted as a spy for him and made notable contributions during the campaign to subdue the Chen Dynasty. He was promoted to the position of General of the Guards, granted the title of Marquis of Wen'an County, with a fief consisting of eight hundred households, awarded two thousand five hundred pieces of silk and two thousand five hundred shi of grain. A year later, he commanded the navy and defeated the rebel Ze Ziyu at Jingkou and the rebel Xue Zijian in Hezhou.
The court summoned him to the capital and appointed him to the Grand General. Emperor Gaozu also let him sit at the imperial table to eat together, saying to him, "You are like my son, and I am your father. Today we gather together to show that we're like family." Later, he was rewarded with thousands of bolts of silk, as well as green armor and full-body armor adorned with animal motifs. He then followed Yang Su to campaign in the Jiangbiao region, defeating Gao Zhihui in Kuaiji and Wu Shihua in Linhai.
He was promoted to Grand General and rewarded with sixty slaves and three hundred pieces of silk. He successively served as the governor of Fuzhou, Xianzhou, and Qizhou, serving with distinction. In the 18th year of the Kaihuang era, he was appointed as the commander of the campaign and followed Prince Yang Liang to campaign in Liaodong. While other armies sustained heavy casualties, only Zhang Yuan's army remained unscathed. Emperor Gaozu held him in high regard and rewarded him with 250 pieces of cloth. During the Renshou era, he was transferred to the position of governor of Tanzhou and passed away three years later while in office. His son was known for his filial piety.
Mai Tiezhang was from Shixing, Guangdong. He was especially skilled in fighting, very strong, and could walk 500 miles in a day, running faster than a horse. He had a rugged personality, loved drinking, enjoyed making friends, was loyal, and lived by fishing and hunting, without much concern for his family's affairs. During the Taizhen era of the Chen Dynasty, he gathered a group of people and became a bandit. The Governor of Guangzhou, Ouyang Pin, captured him and presented him to the court. Mai Tiezhang became officially registered with the government and was assigned to a position as an umbrella bearer.
After the morning court session every day, he would walk more than a hundred miles and arrive in South Xuzhou at night to sneak into the city and rob. Before dawn, he would hurry back, still holding an umbrella. After doing this back and forth several times, the victims recognized him, and the local authorities reported to the court. The court officials saw Ma Tie Zhang every morning and found it hard to believe he could be a robber. Later, after several complaints, Minister Cai Zheng remarked, "This can be verified!" So, after the morning court session, the court offered a reward of one hundred taels of gold for someone to deliver an imperial decree to the governor of South Xuzhou. Ma Tie Zhang immediately went upon hearing this, set off with the decree, and arrived the next morning to report to the emperor.
The emperor said, "It's true; he has indeed become a robber!" However, the emperor also recognized his agility and found it quite a pity, so he warned him and then released him. After the fall of the Chen Dynasty, Tie Zhang moved to Qingliu County. Later, when a rebellion broke out in Jiangdong, Yang Su sent him with his iron rod, wearing a straw hat, to secretly cross the Yangtze River at night and investigate the situation and report back. He went again later but was captured by the rebels. The rebel leader Li Leng sent thirty soldiers to guard him, tied him up, and sent him to Gao Zhihui. When they reached Qingting, the guards took a break to eat and, seeing that Tie Zhang was starving, untied him to join them. Seizing the opportunity, Tie Zhang grabbed a rebel's knife, killed all the guards, cut off their noses, and brought them back to Yang Su. Yang Su was shocked by his actions.
When it was time for rewards and recognition, Tie Zhang was not promoted. Yang Su hurried back to the capital, and Tie Zhang followed him on foot, staying with Yang Su every night. Yang Su saw his loyalty and specially recommended him to the court, granting him the position of Equivalence to the Three Excellencies. Because Tie Zhang was illiterate, he was eventually sent back to his hometown. Li Che, the Duke of Chengyang, admired his bravery, and in the 16th year of Kaihuang, he was summoned to the capital and appointed as the General of the Grand Army. He followed Yang Su to the north to campaign against the Turkic tribes, and later was promoted to Kaifu.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, Prince Liang rebelled in Bingzhou, and Tie Zhang followed Yang Su to suppress the rebellion, always at the forefront of battles. He was promoted to Grand General. Shortly after, he was appointed as the Inspector of Laizhou, but he had little success. He was later transferred to the position of Governor of Runan, gradually becoming familiar with legal texts, resulting in the disappearance of thieves in the area. Once at court, the official Dou Wei mocked him, asking, "Are you surnamed Mai?" Tie Zhang cleverly replied, "There's not much difference between wheat and beans, why are you suddenly so curious?" Dou Wei was left red-faced and speechless, with people at the time admiring Tie Zhang's intelligence. He was later appointed as the Grand General of the Right Garrison, with the emperor placing great trust in him.
Feeling deeply indebted to the court, Tie Zhang always wanted to serve the country and repay the court. During the war in Liaodong, he volunteered to be the vanguard and told the doctor Wu Jingxian who was treating him, "A man's life and death are in fate's hands; how can one fear death and resort to mugwort for treatment, only to end up dying at the hands of his children?"
When preparing to cross the Liao River, he said to his three sons, "Anu, prepare a light yellow robe. I am grateful for the country's kindness; today is my day of reckoning. If I fall in battle, you will enjoy wealth and honor in the future. Remember, you must be honest and filial; you must work hard!" When they arrived at the bank of the Liao River, the bridge was not yet built, and the enemy was already approaching from the other side. Tie Zhang jumped ashore with his iron staff, fought with the enemy, and eventually died in battle. Wu Benlang, Qian Shixiong, and Meng Jinchai also died in battle, while others did not have time to react.
The emperor shed tears and sent someone to retrieve Tie Zhang's body. He issued a decree saying, "Tie Zhang was high-spirited, brave, and skilled in battle. He made great contributions in this campaign, charging into battle with unmatched bravery. Although he died in battle, his merits will always be remembered. I am deeply moved, and in memory of his loyalty and bravery, he should be given the highest honor to commend his achievements. He is posthumously granted the title of Grand Master of Splendor and Duke of Sui Guo, with the posthumous title of 'Wulie.'" His son Meng Cai inherited his title and was later appointed as Grand Master of Splendor. Meng Cai also had two brothers, Zhong Cai and Ji Cai, who were both appointed as Counselors. The court also rewarded them with a large sum of money, bestowed ornate carriages upon them, and provided them with ceremonial escorts and musical bands. Over a hundred defeated generals, including Yu Wenshu, escorted his coffin, with officials of all ranks escorting him to the outskirts. Qian Shixiong was posthumously honored with the titles of Left Grand Master of Splendor, Right Garrison General, and Marquis of Wuqiang, with the posthumous title of Gang. His son Jie succeeded him in his title. Meng Jinchai was posthumously granted the title of Right Grand Master of Splendor, and his son Shanyi inherited his office.
Meng Cai, courtesy name Zhileng, was a brave and resolute man, completely inheriting his father's excellent qualities. The emperor favored Meng Cai for his loyalty and sacrifice for the country, and appointed his son as General of the Imperial Guards. When chaos broke out in Jiangdu, Meng Cai's son was overwhelmed by a thirst for revenge. He and his friend Qian Jie, the Wuyalang, declared to one another, "Our ancestors have all received the emperor's grace for generations, and our family has always upheld loyalty and integrity as our family motto. Now that this traitor has killed the emperor and seized the throne, the country has fallen. What honor is left to us? What face do we have to show in this world?" As they spoke, they both cried, beat their chests and stomped their feet, and then conferred, contacting their former subordinates, planning to ambush Yuwen Huaji at Xianfu Palace. Just as they were about to take action, Chen Qian, the son of Chen Shu, a prince of the Chen Dynasty, learned of their plan and ran to inform Yuwen Huaji, which led to him and his accomplice Shen Guang being killed by Yuwen Huaji. The deaths of these loyal and righteous men were profoundly lamented.
Shen Guang, whose courtesy name was Zongchi, was from Wuxing. His father, Shen Jundao, served as an assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel during the Chen Dynasty. After the fall of the Chen Dynasty, their family moved to Chang'an. Shen Guang once served as a scholar under Crown Prince Li Yong and later became an aide to Prince Han Liu Liang. After Liu Liang's defeat in battle, Shen Guang was also dismissed. Shen Guang had been agile since childhood, especially skilled in horseback riding and acrobatics, ranking among the top in the country. He had a bit of literary flair and always dreamed of making achievements, but was not overly fixated on the small stuff. His family was very poor, with his father and brother earning a living by copying texts. Only Shen Guang was more free-spirited, often hanging out with some rowdy youths in the capital. Many people gave him money and gifts, allowing him to support his parents, eat good food, and wear fine clothes, never experiencing poverty. When the Chan Temple was being built, there was a flagpole in the temple that stood over ten zhang tall, and the rope broke, too high for anyone to reach. The monks were in a panic. Shen Guang saw this and said to the monks, "Give me the rope, I will help you put it up." The monks were both surprised and delighted and quickly gave him the rope. Shen Guang clutched the rope in his mouth, climbed up the flagpole, tied the rope, let go with both hands and feet, leapt straight down from the top, landing on his palms and then walking backward for dozens of steps. The onlookers were all amazed and admired him, dubbing him "Flying Immortal." During the Daye period, Emperor Yang of Sui summoned elite soldiers and strong generals from all over the country to attack Goguryeo, and Li Guang also participated in this expedition. Tens of thousands of soldiers set out together, and he stood out among them. Li Guang was going to the imperial palace, and over a hundred riders rode with him to Ba Bridge. He raised his cup and swore over his drink, "If I don't make a name for myself on this journey, I will die in Goguryeo and will not see you again!"
When he arrived at the Liaodong battlefield, the Sui army attacked the city, with Li Guang in charge of using the battering ram to hit the city walls. The battering ram's pole was a full fifteen zhang high, and Li Guang climbed to the top of the pole, fighting in close quarters and killing over ten enemies. The enemy rushed up to attack him together, knocking him off. Just as he was about to hit the ground, he noticed a rope hanging from the pole. Li Guang grabbed the rope and climbed back up. Emperor Yang of Sui saw this scene, was very surprised and impressed, immediately had him summoned to speak, very happy, and appointed him as a court official that day, rewarded him with a precious sword and fine horse, and often had him serve by his side, increasingly valuing him.
Before long, Li Guang was promoted to the position of Zhechong General, and the rewards and privileges he received improved significantly. The emperor frequently shared his own meals and clothes with him, and his colleagues couldn't compare with him at all. Shen Guang felt immense gratitude towards the emperor and always wanted to repay his kindness with all his might. When there was turmoil in Jiangdu, he secretly gathered righteous men, intending to avenge the emperor. Previously, the emperor had favored a eunuch in the palace named Yuwen Huaji. Because Shen Guang was brave and skilled in battle, Yuwen Huaji employed him, put him in charge of the Imperial Guards, and stationed him in the palace. At this time, Meng Cai, Qian Jie, and others secretly planned to eliminate Yuwen Huaji, saying to Shen Guang, "We have all received great kindness from the country. We can't just stand by and watch our country fall without fighting back. This is something the ancients would be ashamed of! Now we are bowing our heads serving our enemies, listening to his commands, feeling that we have lost face. What's the point of living like this? We must kill him. Even if we die, we will have no regrets. You’re a man of honor; will you join us?"
Shen Guang was so moved that tears streamed down his face, saying, "This is exactly what I hoped you, General, would do! I command hundreds of Imperial Guards, who all enjoyed the late emperor's favor, and they are now in Yuwen Huaji's camp. Avenge with these men would be as easy as an eagle catching a small bird. This one action could lead to a great achievement for generations to come; I hope you will strive for it!" At that time, Meng Cai was a general, leading several thousand soldiers in the Jianghuai region. It was agreed that when the camp was about to depart, they would launch a surprise attack on Yuwen Huaji at dawn. Unfortunately, Shen Guang leaked the plan, and Chen Qian told Yuwen Huaji about it. Yuwen Huaji was filled with fear and said, "This Shen Guang is a formidable opponent; I have faced him in battle before, and his bravery and decisiveness are unmatched. We must avoid his edge!" That night, he fled the camp with his trusted confidants, leaving someone to inform Sima Dekan and others, ordering them to lead troops to capture Meng Cai.
When Shen Guang heard the commotion in the camp, he realized the plan had been compromised. Without time to put on armor, he rushed into Yuwen Huaji's camp but returned empty-handed. He unexpectedly encountered his friend Yuan Min and killed him. At that moment, Sima Dekan's forces arrived and surrounded Shen Guang completely. Shen Guang shouted loudly and broke out of the encirclement. His Imperial Guards bravely fought the enemy, decapitating dozens of enemy soldiers and forcing the enemy to retreat in panic. Sima Dekan then sent cavalry, armed with bows and crossbows, to shoot arrows from the side. Without armor, Shen Guang was ultimately shot and killed. All of his men fought bravely and perished in battle; not one surrendered. Shen Guang was only twenty-eight years old at the time. When the warriors learned of this, not a single one could hold back their tears for him.
Lai Huer, whose courtesy name is Chongshan, is a native of Jiangdu. He has always been very capable since he was young and enjoys doing extraordinary things. When he first read the Book of Songs, he came across the lines "Drumming the big drums, leaping and using weapons" and "Dressed in a lamb-fur robe and leopard skin, strong and powerful," and he put down the book and exclaimed, "A great man should be like this! One should eliminate enemies for the country, make achievements, how can a man spend his whole life just farming the land!" The people around him were shocked by his words and inspired by his ambition.
Lai Huer lived in Baitu Village next to the river. Back then, the situation in Jiangnan was quite unstable. He Ruobi was stationed in Shouzhou and often sent Lai Huer on spy missions. Later, he was even appointed as a grand commander. In the war to pacify the Chen dynasty, Lai Huer made great achievements and was promoted to the position of Shang Kefu. Later, he followed Yang Su to Zhejiang to fight against Gao Zhihui. Gao Zhihui's army occupied the river bank, with camps stretching for over a hundred miles, warships densely covering the river surface, and the battle cries echoing through the heavens. Yang Su ordered Lai Huer to lead hundreds of light boats to directly land on the river bank and attack the enemy camp, leading to a resounding victory. Before that, Gao Zhihui had fought against Yang Su and failed, with nowhere to hide, his army dispersed. Gao Zhihui tried to escape to the sea, but Lai Huer chased him to Quanzhou. With nowhere left to run, Gao Zhihui fled to the Minyue region. Lai Huer was promoted to Grand General and appointed as the governor of Quanzhou.
At that time, there was a man named Sheng Daoyan who led a rebellion and harassed Quanzhou. Lai Huda brought his troops to defeat him. He then joined Li Kuan, the Duke of Pushan, to defeat Wang Wenjin in Yixian and Shexian, and was promoted to the rank of Zhu Guo. In the third year of Renshou, he was appointed as the governor of Yingzhou, granted the title of Duke of Huangxian, with a fief that included three thousand households. Shortly after, he was promoted to the rank of Zhu Guo and became the Right Imperial Guard General. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, he was promoted to the Right Valiant Guard Grand General, and the emperor held him in high regard. In the sixth year of Daye, he followed the emperor to Jiangdu, where the emperor rewarded him with a thousand bolts of cloth, permitted him to pay respects at his ancestors' graves, and feasted the local elders, which brought honor to the entire province. A few years later, he was promoted to the Right Wing Guard Grand General.
In the Liaodong Campaign, Lai Huda led the fleet to the sea, entered from Ba Shui, and encountered the Goryeo army, located sixty miles from Pyongyang. He led the troops in a fierce attack, defeated the Goryeo army, pursued them, and approached the outskirts of Pyongyang, breaking through the external defenses. The army then began to plunder recklessly, resulting in some disarray among the ranks. The brother of Goryeo King Gao Yuan, Jianwu, recruited five hundred brave warriors to intercept them. Lai Huda was forced to retreat and set up camp by the sea, waiting for an opportunity. Later, upon hearing that Yu Wenshu and others were defeated, he withdrew his troops and returned home. The following year, he launched an expedition from Canghai, and his army advanced towards Gong County and Luoyang. At this time, Yang Xuangan rebelled in Liyang, and Lai Huda led his troops together with Yu Wenshu and others to defeat them. He was granted the title of Duke of Rongguo, with a fief of two thousand households. Ten years later, he led his troops across the sea to Baesha City, where the entire Goryeo nation mobilized for battle. Lai Huda defeated the Goryeo army, with over a thousand enemy soldiers captured.
As soon as Pyongyang was about to be captured, Gao Yuan felt apprehensive. He sent someone to escort the traitor Hu Si Zheng to the gates of Liaodong City and submitted a memorial requesting surrender. The emperor agreed and sent a decree ordering Lai Huer to return to the capital. Lai Huer called everyone together and said, "We have gone to war three times and have not been able to suppress the rebellion. This time, going back, we may not have another chance. Now Goguryeo is already very weak; the fields are barren. We can overpower them with our forces, and we could take them down in just a few days. I propose we continue the assault and surround Pyongyang directly, capturing their king and returning in triumph." He reported back to the emperor, insisting on continuing the attack and refusing to comply with the decree. Chief Historian Cui Jun Su strongly advised against it, but was unsuccessful. Lai Huer said, "The enemy's forces have already crumbled; as long as I am fully in charge, I can handle it. I am leading the troops outside; I should have the power to make decisions. How can I ask the court for everything from afar? If we delay for a while, we will lose the opportunity; it will be a waste of effort. I would rather seize Pyongyang and return to face punishment than give up this opportunity for success!" Cui Jun Su warned everyone, "If you follow the marshal in defying the imperial edict, you will definitely be reported to the court, and everyone will be punished!" The soldiers, fearful, urged him to return, and he finally obeyed the decree. Thirteen years later, he was promoted to General of the Left Yiwuwei and appointed as a General of the Household of the Prince. The emperor entrusted him with significant responsibilities and rewarded him handsomely. Later, during the Jiangdu Incident, Yuwen Huaji, harboring resentment, had him executed.
The eldest son is named Kai. Because of his father's military achievements, he was directly appointed as a Scattered Cavalry Officer and a Court Attendant. His younger brother, Hong, rose to the rank of Brave General and Noble Court Official. Hong's son, Zheng, became a Valiant General and a Right Noble Court Official. Zheng was exceptionally brave and a skilled leader, always defeating bandits in battle. The bandits feared him so much that they even wrote songs about him: "On the Changbai Mountain, a hundred battles were fought, wielding long spears in groups of ten and fifteen. Not afraid of the hundred thousand imperial troops, only afraid of Rong Gong's Sixth Lang." Eventually, a rebellion erupted, and the entire family was slaughtered, leaving only the two youngest sons, Heng and Ji, to survive.
Yu Juluo, a native of Fengyi, was over eight feet tall, immensely strong, and had a loud voice that could be heard hundreds of steps away. He became a personal guard to the Emperor while still young, gradually rising through the ranks to become a Grand Marshal. He fought alongside the Prince of Jin, where he achieved great success, earning the title of Kaifu and a reward of fifteen hundred rolls of cloth. Soon after, Shen Xuantui, Gao Zhihui, and others rebelled in Jiangnan. Yang Su, seeing Yu Juluo's impressive bravery, requested his assistance in suppressing the rebellion. Yu Juluo distinguished himself in every battle, earning further promotions to Kaifu, Duke of Gaotang County, and eventually becoming the Governor of Diezhou. After his mother passed away, he resigned from his official duties to mourn at home. When he returned to Fufeng, he encountered Yang Su leading troops to Lingzhou to fight the Turks, and Yang Su was delighted to have him join the expedition. In battle, Yu Juluo led a few cavalrymen, shouting loudly and intimidating the enemy, sending them into disarray. Due to his achievements in this campaign, he was promoted to Zhuguo and made Governor of Fengzhou. Previously, the Turks often raided the border, but after Yu Juluo captured or killed them in every encounter, they became so scared that they didn’t dare to return to the border to graze their livestock.
At first, when Emperor Yang of Sui was still a prince, Zan Jurodi followed him as a guard, rising through the ranks to eventually become a Generalissimo. After Yang became emperor, he appointed Zan as the General of Chariots and Cavalry. Zan was a ruthless character, especially cruel, often abusing his subordinates. It is said that he would roast people, and if it didn't meet his standards, he would poke their eyes out with a skewer; if someone didn't warm his wine properly, he would slice off their tongue! Since Yang had known him for a long time and couldn't bear to kill him, he said to his ministers, "If his younger brother is like this, how much worse could his older brother be?" He then gave Zan a severe reprimand, imprisoned him, and left him to fend for himself. Zan returned home and took poison to end his life.
Yang was worried about Zan's discontent and any potential rebellious thoughts, so he appointed him governor of Anzhou. Over a year later, he transferred him to Zhaojun as a prefect. Later, at a conference in the eastern capital, Zan attended. He had often met General Liang Boyin previously, and they had frequent interactions. Zan also brought many gifts from his prefecture to present to the emperor, which the emperor confiscated and distributed among the nobles. The imperial censor accused Zan of colluding with officials in the court, which infuriated the emperor, who then dismissed both Zan and Liang from their posts.
Not long after, the Yue Xiu Fei Shan rebellion broke out, and they came to attack the county. The court ordered Ju Luo to wear civilian clothes while leading troops, along with the Shu Jun prefect Duan Zhongkui, to jointly quell the rebellion. In the ninth year of the Daye era, Emperor Yang of Sui again launched a campaign against Goguryeo, appointing Ju Luo as the general of the Jieshi Dao forces. Upon his return, Liu Yuanjin in Jiangnan rebelled, and the court again ordered Ju Luo to lead troops to capture the rebels in the Kuaiji area. During this period, many common people were considering rebellion, joining the ranks of bandits as if they were heading to a market. Ju Luo defeated bandit leaders such as Zhu Xie and Guan Chong, winning every battle. However, the bandit forces continued to swell and regroup despite their defeats. Ju Luo felt the war was never-ending, with his sons still in the capital, Luoyang, and seeing the world becoming increasingly chaotic, he feared he may never be able to return home.
The eastern capital was experiencing a famine, and food prices soared. Ju Luo dispatched household servants to transport food from his estate to sell in the eastern capital, while also secretly arranging for his sons to come. The court grew suspicious and feared that Ju Luo harbored rebellious intentions, so they sent people to investigate. Despite their repeated inquiries, they found no evidence of wrongdoing. The Emperor then commanded Grand Justice Liang Jingzhen to apprehend Ju Luo and escort him to the eastern capital. Ju Luo had a distinctive appearance due to his heterochromia, which made the Emperor wary of him. Liang Jingzhen sought the Emperor's favor by claiming that Ju Luo had suffered military defeats, resulting in Ju Luo's execution in the eastern capital and the confiscation of his estate.
Chen Leng, also known as Changwei, was a native of Xiang'an County in Lujiang Commandery. His grandfather Chen Shuo earned a living as a fisherman. His father Chen Xian was a valiant warrior in his youth and once served as an aide under Zhang Dabao. After Zhang Dabao rebelled, Chen Xian was appointed as the Governor of Qiaozhou. After the Chen dynasty fell, Chen Xian returned home and lived a life of leisure. Later, Gao Zhihui, Wang Wenjin, and others rebelled in Jiangnan, and the heroes of Lujiang rallied to the cause. Since Chen Xian was their former leader, they chose him as their leader. Chen Xian wanted to refuse, but Chen Leng urged him, "Since everyone is rebelling, refusing them will only bring trouble upon ourselves. It’s wiser to feign agreement for now and devise a different plan later." Chen Xian followed his advice.
At that time, the forces of Grand General Li Che, known as the Pillar of the State, arrived in Dangtu. Chen Xian secretly sent Chen Leng to see Li Che, asking for his cooperation. Li Che reported this to the court, and the court appointed Chen Leng as the Grand General, Inspector of Xuanzhou, and granted him the title of Duke of Qiao County, with a fief comprising one thousand households. The court also ordered Li Che to receive him well. However, before Li Che's army arrived, the plan was compromised, and Chen Xian was murdered by his associates, while Chen Leng managed to escape by chance. Due to Chen Xian's relationship, the court appointed Chen Leng as a Palace Official, and soon after assigned him to lead the local militia. When Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, he appointed Chen Leng as General of the Valiant Cavalry. In the third year of Daye, he was appointed as the Marquis of Wuben.
Three years later, Chen Ling and court official Zhang Zhenzhou led over ten thousand soldiers from Dongyang, departing from Yian by boat to attack the Kingdom of Liukiu, arriving one month later. When the people of Liukiu first spotted the ships, they thought they were merchant vessels and came to the military camp to trade. Chen Ling led the troops ashore, with Zhang Zhenzhou as the vanguard. The king of Liukiu, Huan Sikela Dou, sent troops to resist, but Zhang Zhenzhou repeatedly defeated them. Chen Ling fought until reaching Dimaitang, where the prince Huan Silaomo mounted a defense. Chen Ling defeated him and slain Silaomo. On a foggy, rainy day, the soldiers were filled with fear, so Chen Ling sacrificed a white horse to the Sea God. Afterward, the weather cleared, and Chen Ling divided the army into five divisions, heading directly for the capital of Liukiu. Huan Sikela Dou led several thousand men to resist, but Chen Ling sent Zhang Zhenzhou as the vanguard to drive them away. Chen Ling pursued them all the way to their camp, where Huan Sikela Dou prepared his defenses. Chen Ling concentrated his forces to attack, engaging in fierce combat from dawn until dusk. Noticing his troops were exhausted, Huan Sikela Dou retreated into the camp. Chen Ling then filled the moat and breached the camp, killed Huan Sikela Dou, captured his son Daotui, and returned with thousands of men and women as prisoners.
Emperor Yang of Sui was very pleased, promoting Chen Leng to the position of Right Guanglu Dafu, while the position of Wubeng General remained unchanged, and Zhang Zhenzhou was appointed as Jinzi Guanglu Dafu. During the Liaodong Campaign, Chen Leng was promoted to Left Minister of Guanglu for his service in the palace guard. The following year, Emperor Yang of Sui once again campaigned in Liaodong, leaving Chen Leng in charge of Donglai. When Yang Xuangan rebelled, Chen Leng led over ten thousand troops to pacify Liyang, killing the governor appointed by Yang Xuangan. He was then ordered to build warships in Jiangnan. Upon reaching Pengcheng, the rebel leader Meng Rang, commanding an army of a hundred thousand, occupied Duliang Palace, relying on the Huai River for defense. Chen Leng crossed the Huai River downstream, reached Jiangdu, and attacked Meng Rang, defeating him. For his military achievements, Chen Leng was promoted to Guanglu Dafu and granted the title of Marquis of Xin'an.
Later, Emperor Yang of Sui arrived at Jiangdu Palace, but Li Zitong occupied Hailing shortly after, Zuo Caixiang plundered Huainan, and Du Fuwei stationed troops in Liuhé, with tens of thousands of troops from various factions. Emperor Yang of Sui sent Chen Leng to lead the palace guards to suppress them, achieving victory after victory. Chen Leng was promoted to Right Yùwèi General. He crossed the Qing River and attacked the rebels in Xuancheng. Shortly after, Emperor Yang of Sui was killed, and Yuwen Huaji led his army north, summoning Chen Leng to guard Jiangdu. Chen Leng gathered the people to mourn Emperor Yang of Sui, wearing mourning clothes, preparing the funeral procession, moving Emperor Yang of Sui's remains to Wugongtai, and escorting the funeral with a cane, his grief and loyalty moved the passersby. People praised him for his loyalty. Later, Chen Leng was defeated by Li Zitong and fled to Du Fuwei, who soon grew wary of him and had him executed.
Wang Bian, with the style name Jinglue, was a native of Pucheng, Fengyi. His ancestors became wealthy through business. During the Northern Wei period, Wang Bian donated grain to support the army and was appointed as the acting Governor of Qinghe. Wang Bian studied military strategy from a young age, excelled in mounted archery, was generous, and had great ambitions.
During the Northern Zhou period, he was awarded the position of Supreme Commander based on his military achievements. During the reign of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, he was promoted to Grand General; during the Renshou period, he was further promoted to General of Cavalry and Chariots. When Prince Liang of the Han Dynasty rebelled, he followed Yang Su in suppressing the rebellion and was granted the title of Marquis of Wuning County with a fief of three hundred households. Three years later, he was promoted to the position of Master of the Imperial Stables.
Later, he accompanied the army in conquering the Tuyuhun and was appointed as a Court Counselor. Several years later, he was promoted to the rank of General of Eagle Standard. During the Battle of Liaodong, he was awarded the title of Grand Councilor for his meritorious deeds, and shortly after was promoted to the rank of General of Eagle Standard. At that time, bandits were rampant in the Shandong region, with a bandit named Wei Dao'er who called himself "Li Shanfei" leading over ten thousand men to plunder in the Yan and Zhao regions. The Emperor summoned Wang Bian to his side and, while seated on the imperial couch, asked for strategies to quell the rebellion. Wang Bian analyzed the situation of the enemy, and the Emperor praised him highly, saying, "If we follow your plan, what is there to fear from these bandits!" Therefore, the Emperor sent three thousand infantry and cavalry to accompany Wang Bian on the expedition, which led to a resounding victory, and the Emperor bestowed numerous gifts upon him, including two hundred taels of gold.
The following year, the pirate leader Gao Shida of Bohai self-proclaimed as "Donghai Gong," with tens of thousands of men under his command. The Emperor once again ordered Wang Bian to campaign against him, and Wang Bian defeated Gao Shida's army multiple times. At that time, the Emperor was in Jiangdu Palace, and upon hearing the battle reports, immediately summoned Wang Bian back. Upon meeting, the Emperor rewarded him with many gifts and sent him to oversee military operations in Xindu. Gao Shida once again faced off against Wang Bian and was ultimately defeated, leading the Emperor to issue a decree praising Wang Bian's contributions.
At that time, bandit leaders such as Hao Xiaode, Sun Xuanya, Shi Jikang, Dou Jiande, and Wei Dao'er each occupied their own territories, with some commanding a few thousand troops and others as many as a hundred thousand. They were wreaking havoc through burning, killing, and plundering across Hebei. Wang Bian led his troops to quell them, winning every battle and causing these bandits to tremble in fear. Later, Zhai Rang rebelled in the areas of Xuzhou and Yuzhou. Wang Bian was dispatched to quell him, achieving multiple victories against Zhai Rang's forces. Zhai Rang later took control of the Luokou Warehouse alongside Li Mi. Wang Bian and Wang Shichong joined forces to attack Li Mi, and the two sides confronted each other at Luoshui for over a year.
Wang Bian led his soldiers to storm Li Mi's camp, pursued them relentlessly, and broke through the outer barriers. Li Mi's army was already in disarray, and Wang Bian was about to attack the city with triumph, but Wang Shichong, worried that the soldiers were too fatigued, ordered a retreat by sounding the gong. This allowed Li Mi's forces to regroup and gain a critical advantage. The imperial forces suffered a crushing defeat and were scattered. Wang Bian rushed to the bank of Luoshui and found that the bridge was broken, rendering it impassable, so he was forced to wade through the river. When he reached the river's midpoint, he was knocked off his horse by the turmoil, and his horse was startled. Wang Bian, wearing heavy armor and surrounded by defeated soldiers, was unable to mount again and tragically drowned in Luoshui. He was just fifty-six when he died, and the troops mourned deeply.
Husi Wanshan was from Henan, notably brave and decisive, with a reputation that rivaled Wang Bian's. During the reign of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, he accompanied Wei Xuan in the campaign against Yang Xuangan and achieved numerous victories. After Yang Xuangan fled, Husi Wanshan pursued him with a small contingent, and Yang Xuangan, with no escape, took his own life. Following this event, Husi Wanshan's fame skyrocketed, and he was appointed as a Wubeng Langjiang.
Later, the Turks besieged Yanmen Pass, and Husiman Shan bravely fought the enemy, causing the Turkic army to scatter. Whenever the enemy charged, he would lead the way, sometimes even dismounting to sit on the ground, drawing his powerful bow to shoot down the enemy, and every enemy he hit fell. In this way, the Turks, deterred from approaching the city walls, retreated after more than ten days, all thanks to Husiman Shan's efforts. After that, he repeatedly attacked bandits, made many contributions, and finally rose to the rank of general.
At that time, there were several renowned generals, Lu Yuan, Fan Gui, and Feng Xiaoci. They were all generals who had fought in many battles and were famous throughout the world. However, most of their exploits have been lost to history, so they are not recorded in the history books.
Historians note that during the Chu-Han conflict, Marquis Zhang Bo and Guan Ying were able to display their talents; when Cao Cao and Liu Bei were fighting for the world, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei became famous. Thus, one must seize fame when the world is at peace, and achievements must be made when the country is in turmoil. This is like fish that ride on the back of a dragon; there are examples of this for generations.
People like Yuantong, Huer, Dinghe, and Tie Zhang were famous warriors at the time but were trapped in poverty and obscurity. Who would have guessed at their lofty ambitions while they remained unknown? In the end, they were able to overcome adversity, find success, realize their dreams, and fulfill their ambitions, all because they seized the opportunity!
Julu sought to blame him, though it was not his fault; Wang Bian sacrificed himself for the country, his loyalty was unwavering; Chen Leng wore mourning clothes to mourn for him, moving the passersby on the road; this act of righteousness is genuinely moving! Meng Cai, Qian Jie, Shen Guang, and others repaid kindness, never forgetting their friends in times of danger. Although they did not achieve any merit, their spirit deserves recognition!
