Zhang Yan, styled Wenyi, self-identified as being from Qinghe and lived in Huaiyin. He particularly enjoyed reading military books and was particularly skilled with the sword and shield. During the Zhou Dynasty, a man from his hometown, Guo Ziyi, secretly attracted bandits from the State of Chen. Zhang Yan's father wanted to lead the people of their clan to fight, but he hesitated. Zhang Yan supported his father's plan, which earned him a reputation for being brave and decisive. He later became the chief registrar of the province.
After Gaozu became prime minister, he promoted Zhang Yan to be the grand commander, in charge of the local militia. While He Ruobi was stationed in Shouchun, Zhang Yan often acted as a spy for him and made significant contributions in the war against the Chen Dynasty. He was promoted to the rank of General of the Armies, granted the title of Viscount of Wen'an County, and awarded a fief of 800 households, along with 2,500 bolts of silk and 2,500 measures of grain. A year later, he led the navy to defeat the rebel Zuo Ziyou in Jingkou and Xue Zijian in Hezhou.
The court summoned him back to the capital and appointed him as the Grand General. Emperor Gaozu even invited him to share a meal together at the imperial table, saying, "You are like my son, and I am your father. Today, we gather like this to show that we are like family." He was further rewarded with 1,000 pieces of silk, green armor, and full-body armor adorned with animal motifs. He then accompanied Yang Su to conquer the Jiangnan region, defeating Gao Zhihui in Kuaiji and Wu Shihua in Linhai. He was promoted to Grand General and given 60 slaves and 300 bolts of silk as rewards.
He successively served as the Inspector of Fuzhou, Xianzhou, and Qizhou, performing exceptionally well in each place. In the 18th year of the Kaihuang era, he was appointed as the Commander of the Expedition and followed Prince Yang Liang to conquer Liaodong. While other armies sustained heavy losses, Zhang Yan's army remained intact. Emperor Gaozu greatly admired him and rewarded him with 250 bolts of cloth. During the Ren Shou era, he was transferred to Tanzhou as the Commander and passed away three years later. His son also became a respected and loyal official.
Mai Tiezhang is from Shixing, Guangdong. This guy is something else—tough, brave, and strong as an ox. He can cover five hundred miles in a day, running like the wind. He's got a rough edge, loves to drink, enjoys making friends, and is fiercely loyal. He usually lives by fishing and hunting, not much of a businessman. During the Taijian era of the Chen Dynasty, he rounded up a crew and turned into a mountain bandit. The governor of Guangzhou, Ouyang Pinyu, caught him and handed him over to the court. Mai Tiezhang was registered by the government and was given the job of a royal umbrella holder.
After the morning court session, he walked more than a hundred miles and could reach South Xuzhou at night, sneaking into the city to pull off some heists. The next morning, he rushed back and continued his duties as a royal umbrella holder. After doing this back and forth more than ten times, the victims recognized him, and South Xuzhou reported to the court. The ministers of the court saw Mai Tiezhang every day and thought this was too outrageous to be true. After a few reports, Minister Cai Zheng said, "We need to look into this!" So, after the morning court session, the court forked out a hundred gold coins to bribe someone to take the imperial decree to the governor of South Xuzhou. As soon as Mai Tiezhang caught wind of the reward, he was off to deliver the decree first thing the next morning.
The emperor said, "So it's true, this kid is really a thief!" But the emperor also thought he was quick on his feet and pretty talented, so he gave him a warning and then let him off the hook.
After the fall of the Chen Dynasty, Yang Tiezhang relocated to Qingliu County. When a rebellion broke out in Jiangdong, Yang Su sent him to secretly cross the Yangtze River at night, donning a straw hat and leaning on an iron staff to gather intelligence on the rebel forces. He reported the details of what he had learned to Yang Su. Later, when he went to gather information again, he was captured by the rebels. The rebel leader Li Leng assigned thirty soldiers to guard him, bound him, and took him to see Gao Zhihui. Upon reaching Qingting, the soldiers on guard took a break to eat, and noticing he was starving, they untied him and offered him food. As a result, Yang Tiezhang seized a soldier's knife, killed all his guards, severed their noses, and took them back home. Yang Su was particularly astonished by this turn of events.
Later, when it was time to award honors, Yang Tiezhang's contributions went unrecognized. Yang Su raced back to the capital, and Yang Tiezhang followed him for several days, spending each night with him. Yang Su finally recognized Yang Tiezhang's talents and formally petitioned the emperor to appoint him as a Yitong Sanji official. Due to his illiteracy, he was eventually sent back to his hometown. Li Che (Chengyang Duke) held his bravery in high regard. In the sixteenth year of the Kaihuang era, the court summoned him to the capital and appointed him as a General of Chariots and Cavalry. He accompanied Yang Su northward to campaign against the Turks, and later was promoted to the position of Kaifu Yitong Sanji.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, Prince Liang of Han rebelled in Bingzhou. He followed Yang Su to suppress the rebellion, always charging at the forefront in battles. Later, he was promoted to the position of Zhu Guo. He was then appointed as the Inspector of Laizhou, but he didn't accomplish much in his role. He was later transferred to be the Prefect of Runan, gradually becoming familiar with legal texts, which made the thieves in the area vanish. Once during court, Scholar Dou Wei teased him, saying, "Is your surname Mai? What kind of surname is Mai?" Yang Tiezhang cleverly replied, "There's no difference between wheat and beans, why are you so surprised?" Dou Wei blushed and had nothing to say; everyone at the time thought he was very clever. Later, he was appointed as the Grand General of the Right Garrison, and the Emperor had special trust in him.
Old Iron Rod felt that he had received great grace from the court and always wanted to fight for the country. When it came time to fight in Liaodong, he volunteered to be at the forefront, even telling his doctor Wu Jingxian, who was treating him, "A man's life and death have their own logic; how can I let a minor illness cause my death at the hands of my children?"
When preparing to cross the Liao River, he said to his three sons, "Anu, prepare a pale yellow robe. I have received the grace of the country; today is my day of death. If I die in battle, you will be prosperous and esteemed in the future. Remember, you must be honest and filial; make sure to work hard!" By the river, with the bridge still under repair and several yards from the opposite bank, the enemy came rushing over. Iron Rod leaped onto the bank, engaged the enemy, and fell in battle. The military officers Qian Shixiong and Meng Jinchai also fell in battle, and those around them were unable to keep up.
The emperor cried for a long time over this and sent people to retrieve his body. He also issued a decree saying: "Iron Staff showed remarkable bravery and distinguished military accomplishments. In the battle in Liaodong, he charged into battle with unmatched bravery; although he died in battle, his contributions will be remembered forever. I am deeply moved and remember his loyalty; he should be given the highest honor to recognize his contributions. He is posthumously awarded the titles of Grand Master of Splendor and Duke of Sui Guo, with the posthumous title of Martial Excellence." His son Meng Cai succeeded him in his title and later became a Grand Master of Splendor. Meng Cai also had two brothers, Zhong Cai and Ji Cai, who both became Counselors. The court lavishly rewarded them and granted them a ceremonial procession with feathered banners and drums. Over a hundred defeated generals from the Battle of Pyongyang, including Yu Wen Shu, came to pay their respects, and officials below the rank of nobles were sent outside the city. Qian Shi Xiong was posthumously awarded the titles of Left Grand Master of Splendor, Right Garrison General, and Marquis of Wuqiang, with the posthumous title of Resolute. His son Jie succeeded him in his title; Meng Jin Cha was posthumously awarded the title of Right Grand Master of Splendor, and his son Shan Yi succeeded him in his position.
Meng Cai, with the courtesy name Zhileng, was a brave and resolute man, completely inheriting his father's excellent qualities. The emperor, grateful for Meng Cai's sacrifice for the country, showed exceptional kindness to his family and even bestowed the title of military officer upon his son. When turmoil broke out in Jiangdu, Meng Cai was consumed with the desire to avenge his country. He had a good relationship with Wu Yalang Qian Jie, and they remarked to one another, "Our generations have received the country's favor, and our family has always been known for loyalty and integrity. Now that treacherous officials have assassinated the emperor in defiance of heaven, the nation and its people are in ruins. We can't even show our loyalty and righteousness. What right do we have to continue living in this world?" With that, they wept and beat their chests, planning to rally their old comrades to ambush Yuwen Huaji at Xianfu Palace. Just as they were about to act, the son of Prince Chen Qian of the Chen Dynasty caught wind of their plan and tipped off Yuwen Huaji. Consequently, he and his accomplice Shen Guang were both slain by Yuwen Huaji, leaving their fellow loyalists heartbroken.
Shen Guang, courtesy name Zongchi, was a native of Wuxing. His father, Shen Jundao, served as a minister in the Chen dynasty, and after the Chen dynasty fell, the whole family moved to Chang'an. Shen Guang was recommended to work at the Imperial Academy by the Crown Prince Yong. Later, he served as an aide to Prince Liang of Han, but was dismissed after Prince Liang's defeat. Shen Guang was brave and skilled in battle from a young age, excelling in horseback riding and acrobatics, making him one of the most formidable figures in the country. He had some knowledge of literature and was eager to make a name for himself, not overly concerned with trivialities. His family was very poor, while his father and brother earned a living by copying books. Shen Guang, on the other hand, was more carefree, associating with some rowdy young men in the capital. Many people gave him money and gifts, which he used to support his parents, making sure they had decent food and clothing. During the construction of the Chan Ding Temple, a flagpole over ten zhang tall suddenly snapped, and Shen Guang, biting onto the rope, climbed up the pole to secure it, astonishing the onlookers with his daring feat. During the Daye period, Emperor Yang of Sui called upon the most elite soldiers to campaign against Goguryeo, and Li Guang also participated in the war. Among the tens of thousands who went with him, his skills were among the best. Li Guang, accompanied by over a hundred guests, made a solemn vow at Baqiao Bridge before heading to the imperial palace, declaring that if he didn’t earn any fame in the war, he’d rather die in Goguryeo than return to face them 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 breach the walls. The battering ram's long pole measured fifteen zhang, and Li Guang climbed to the top of the pole, fighting the enemy on the city wall in close combat and killing more than ten people. The enemy attacked him together, knocking him down, but before he hit the ground, he happened to grab the rope hanging down from the pole of the battering ram and climbed back up. Emperor Yang of Sui saw this scene and was very surprised and impressed. He immediately sent someone to call him over to speak, very happy, and that day he appointed him as an Imperial Attendant, rewarding him with a precious sword and a good horse, often keeping him close and placing greater trust in him.
Before long, Li Guang was promoted to the rank of Zhechong Langjiang, with generous rewards and favorable treatment. The emperor often shared his own meals and clothing with him, far exceeding what others in his cohort received.
Li Guang felt a profound gratitude towards the emperor and always wanted to repay his kindness to the fullest. When there was unrest in Jiangdu, he secretly recruited warriors, preparing to seek vengeance for the emperor. Previously, the emperor favored a eunuch named Yuwen Huaji in the palace. Because Li Guang was brave and skilled in battle, Yuwen Huaji relied heavily on him, putting him in charge of the soldiers and horses in the Forbidden Army camp.
At that time, Meng Cai, Qian Jie, and others secretly planned to get rid of Yuwen Huaji, saying to Li Guang, "We have all received immense kindness from the empire. We cannot sit back and watch the country perish without doing anything. This is a disgrace to our ancestors! Now we have to bow our heads and serve our enemies, obeying their orders. It truly feels like we have lost all dignity. What’s the point of living like this? We must kill Yuwen Huaji. Even if we die, we will die without regrets. You are a man of honor; will you join us?"
Shen Guang was moved to tears and said, "This is exactly what I have been hoping for you, General, to do! I lead hundreds of followers who have all been favored by the late emperor and are now in Yuwen Huaji's camp. Avenge them will be as easy as an eagle catching a chick with these men. The legacy of future generations hinges on this one chance. I hope you can make a firm decision!" At that time, Meng Cai was a general, leading thousands of troops in the Jianghuai region. They agreed to wait until the camp was ready to depart and then launch a surprise attack on Yuwen Huaji in the early morning.
Shen Guang leaked the plan, and Chen Qian informed Yuwen Huaji. Yuwen Huaji was very afraid and said, "This Shen Guang is like a sharp iron rod; he and his men are all brave and decisive, difficult to resist. We must avoid their sharpness!" That night, Yuwen Huaji, along with his trusted confidants, fled the camp, leaving someone behind to inform Sima Dekan and the others to capture Meng Cai.
Shen Guang heard the commotion in the camp, knowing that the plan had been exposed. He didn't have time to put on armor, so he immediately attacked Yuwen Huaji's camp, but returned empty-handed. He ran into his colleague Yuan Min and killed him. At that moment, Sima Dekan's army arrived and surrounded Shen Guang from all sides. Shen Guang shouted as he fought to break through the encirclement, and his followers bravely fought the enemy, decapitating dozens of enemies, forcing the rest to retreat. Sima Dekan then sent cavalry with bows and crossbows to shoot Shen Guang from the side. Shen Guang, without any armor, was ultimately shot dead. All of his hundreds of followers fought to the death, with none surrendering. Shen Guang was only twenty-eight at the time. When the warriors heard this news, they were overwhelmed with grief and shed tears.
Lai Huer, whose style name is Chongshan, is from Jiangdu. He has always had unique ideas since he was young, enjoying doing things differently and aspiring to make great achievements. When he first read the Book of Songs and came across the lines "Drumming on the drum, eagerly using weapons" and "Dressed in a lambskin robe and leopard fur, showcasing his martial prowess," he put down the book and exclaimed, "A real man should be like this! One should fight for the country and make a name for oneself; how can one just stay in the countryside farming all the time?" His friends were shocked by his words, but also admired his ambition.
Lai Huer lived in Baitu Village, very close to the river. At that time, the Jiangnan region was still unstable, with He Ruobi stationed in Shouzhou, often sending Lai Huer to work as a spy, and later even making him a general. During the war to pacify the Chen dynasty, Lai Huer made great achievements and was promoted to the position of Shang Kaifu. Later, he followed Yang Su to Zhejiang to fight against Gao Zhihui. Gao Zhihui's army occupied the riverbank, with camps stretching over a hundred miles and warships dominating the river, creating an imposing sight. Yang Su ordered Lai Huer to lead hundreds of light boats to land directly and assault the enemy camp, which they successfully captured. After suffering defeat against Yang Su, Gao Zhihui found himself with nowhere to retreat, causing his army to disperse. Gao Zhihui tried to escape to the sea, but Lai Huer pursued him to Quanzhou. With no way out, 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, but Lai Huda defeated him. He then joined Li Kuan, the Duke of Pushan, in defeating 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 and was granted the title of Duke of Huangxian, with a fief supporting three thousand households. Shortly after, he was further promoted to senior Zhu Guo and appointed as the general of the right imperial guard. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, he was promoted to the general of the right valiant guard, and the emperor held him in high regard. In the sixth year of Daye, he followed the emperor to Jiangdu, where the emperor bestowed upon him a thousand bolts of cloth, allowed him to worship his ancestors' tombs, and host a feast for the village elders. The people of the entire province greatly respected him. Several years later, he was promoted to the general of the right wing guard.
During the Liaodong Campaign, Lai Huda led warships, braved the wind and waves, entered from Basha, and encountered the Goryeo army sixty miles from Pyongyang. He led the troops in a fierce attack, defeated the Goryeo army, pursued them in victory, and approached the outskirts of Pyongyang, breaking through the defense works outside the city. He then ordered the troops to plunder everywhere, resulting in some disorder among the ranks. Goryeo King Gao Yuan's brother Jianwu recruited five hundred elite troops to attack them. Lai Huda was forced to retreat and establish camp by the sea, waiting for an opportunity. Later, upon hearing that Yu Wenshu and their forces had been defeated, he returned to the court. The following year, he departed from Canghai, and his army reached Donglai. At this time, Yang Xuangan rebelled in Liyang, attacking Gongxian and Luoyang. Lai Huda led the troops along with Yu Wenshu and others to defeat Yang Xuangan. He was titled Duke of Rongguo with a fief of two thousand households. Ten years later, he led his troops across the sea to reach Beishecheng. The Goryeo forces mobilized for battle, but Lai Huda achieved a decisive victory over the Goryeo army, killing over a thousand enemies.
As the fall of Pyongyang seemed imminent, Gao Yuan, fearing defeat, sent someone to bring the traitor Huosi Zheng to surrender at the gates of Liaodong, pleading for the court's mercy. The emperor consented and issued a decree for General Lai Huer to return to the capital. Lai Huer gathered his soldiers and said, "We have failed to completely defeat the enemy in three previous battles. This might be our final opportunity. Goguryeo is now weak, the fields are barren. If we attack now, we can quickly defeat them. I propose that we continue the assault, directly surround Pyongyang, capture their king, and return in triumph!" He petitioned the court to allow the campaign to continue, defying the imperial decree. Chief Clerk Cui Junsu strongly urged him to reconsider, but he refused to listen. Lai Huer said, "The enemy's strength has already collapsed, and we can defeat them on our own. I must make decisions on the battlefield myself, rather than await orders from the court! Delaying even a moment will cause us to miss the opportunity, waste our efforts, and achieve nothing. I would rather seize Pyongyang and accept punishment upon my return than forfeit this opportunity for victory!" Cui Junsu warned everyone, "If we follow the general and disobey the imperial decree, we will surely be reported to the court and punished!" The soldiers were afraid and persuaded him to return, and he finally obeyed the imperial decree.
In the thirteenth year of the Daye era, he was promoted to Left Yiwuwei General, and subsequently promoted to the rank of Kaifu Yitong Sanqi. The emperor entrusted him with significant responsibilities and conferred numerous rewards. Later, during the Jiangdu Crisis, Yuwen Huaji envied him and orchestrated his demise.
The eldest son is called Kai. Because of his father's military achievements, he was directly appointed as a scattered cavalry attendant and a court gentleman. His younger brother Hong rose to the rank of a valiant cavalier and a grand master of the right court. Hong's son Zheng also became a valiant cavalier and a grand master of the right court. Zheng was particularly brave and had a knack for leading troops, defeating bandits in battle. The bandits feared him so much that they even composed songs in his honor: "At the battlefields of Changbai Mountain, with long spears ten by fifteen, not afraid of a hundred thousand government troops, only fearing the sixth son of Lord Rong." Later, a rebellion broke out, and their entire family was killed, leaving only the two youngest sons, Heng and Ji, to survive.
Yu Juluo was from Fengyi. He was tall and strong, standing at eight feet tall, with a powerful voice that could be heard hundreds of meters away. When he was young, he became a personal guard of the emperor and later rose to the position of a grand commander. He fought alongside the Prince of Jin, made significant contributions, was granted the title of marquis, and rewarded with fifteen hundred rolls of cloth. Not long after, Shen Xuantui, Gao Zhihui, and others rebelled in Jiangnan. Yang Su recognized Yu Juluo's formidable strength and asked him to help suppress the rebellion. He distinguished himself in every battle and was promoted to marquis and Duke of Gaotang County, eventually becoming the governor of Diezhou. After his mother passed away, he resigned from his post to observe a period of mourning at home. On his way back home, he met Yang Su, who was leading troops to Lingzhou to fight the Turks. Yang Su was thrilled to see Yu Juluo and requested him to join the expedition. When facing the enemy, Yu Juluo led a few cavalrymen charging forward, shouting loudly, and he routed the enemy, moving with agility and speed. Because of his achievements in this campaign, he was promoted to a key military leader and became the governor of Fengzhou. Previously, the Turks often raided the border, but Yu Juluo was able to capture and kill them every time. Since then, the Turks were too frightened to graze near the border.
At the beginning, when Emperor Yang of Sui was still a prince, Juluo Dizan served as his attendant and eventually rose to the position of Grand Commander. After Yang became emperor, he appointed him as General of Chariots and Cavalry. Dizan had a particularly short temper and was ruthless towards his subordinates. He would order people to roast meat, and if it wasn't done to his liking, he would blind them by poking their eyes out with a skewer; if someone didn't warm his wine properly, he would have their tongues sliced off. Because Dizan and Yang were from the same hometown, and out of old friendship, Yang couldn't bring himself to execute him, so he criticized him harshly and imprisoned him, leaving him to fend for himself. Dizan returned home and took poison to end his life.
Fearing that Dizan might be plotting rebellion, Yang transferred him to Anzhou as the governor. A year later, he was reassigned to Zhaojun as its prefect. Later, during a court assembly in the eastern capital, Dizan attended. He was good friends with General Liang Boyin, and they often interacted. Dizan also brought many tributes from the prefecture to offer to the emperor, which the emperor seized and then distributed among the nobles. The imperial censor accused Dizan of colluding with court officials, which infuriated Yang, resulting in the dismissal and investigation of both Dizan and Liang Boyin.
Not long after, the Yue Xi tribes rebelled and attacked the county. The court ordered Ju Luo to lead troops in civilian clothes, along with Duan Zhongkui, the commander of Shu County, to suppress the rebellion. In the ninth year of the Daye era, the Sui Dynasty launched another expedition against Goguryeo, and Ju Luo was appointed as the military commander of Jieshi Dao. Upon his return, Liu Yuanjin in Jiangnan rebelled, and the court sent Ju Luo to capture him in various counties. At that time, the common people were yearning for chaos, and many joined the ranks of bandits, as if it were a market day. Ju Luo defeated bandit leaders such as Zhu Xie and Guan Chong, winning every battle. However, the bandits grew in numbers and regrouped after defeat. Ju Luo realized the war would drag on, and his sons were in the capital city of Luoyang, witnessing the increasing chaos in the world and fearing they might never return home.
During a famine in the eastern capital, food prices soared, so Ju Luo sent his servants to transport rice to the capital for sale, secretly bringing back his sons. The court became aware of this and feared Ju Luo's intentions, so they sent investigators. After much investigation, no evidence of wrongdoing was found. The emperor then had Ju Luo escorted to the eastern capital by Liang Jingzhen, the Grand Justice. Ju Luo had a unique appearance with heterochromia, whom Emperor Yang of Sui secretly feared. Liang Jingzhen flattered the emperor, reporting that Ju Luo's army had been defeated, resulting in Ju Luo's execution in the eastern capital and his home being confiscated.
Chen Leng, also known as Changwei, was from Xiang'an, Lujiang. His grandfather Chen Shuo earned his living as a fisherman, and his father Chen Xian was notably brave in his youth, serving as an aide to Zhang Dabao. After the rebellion led by Zhang Dabao, Chen Xian was appointed as the governor of Qiaozhou. After the fall of the Chen Dynasty, Chen Xian returned home to live a life of retirement.
In the Jiangnan region, Gao Zhihui, Wang Wenjin, and others led a rebellion, and the heroes of Lujiang also joined in, as Chen Xian was their former general, and they unanimously elected him as their leader. Chen Xian was reluctant to accept, but Chen Leng urged him, saying, "Everyone has already rebelled. If you refuse them, you'll be in trouble too. It's better to pretend to agree first and then think of another way." Chen Xian followed his advice. At that time, the army of Zhuguo Li Che arrived in Dangtu. Chen Xian secretly sent Chen Leng to see Li Che, offering to act as an insider. Li Che reported this matter to the court, and the court appointed Chen Leng as Grand General, the Governor of Xuanzhou, and granted him the title of Duke of Qiao County, along with a land grant of one thousand households, also ordering Li Che to take good care of him.
Before Li Che's army could arrive, the plan was leaked, and Chen Xian was killed by his accomplices, while Chen Leng luckily escaped. The Emperor, recognizing his father's contributions, appointed him as Kaifu (Minister), and soon after put him in charge of the local militia. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, he appointed him as General of the Valiant Cavalry. In the third year of Daye, he was promoted to Wubeng General. Three years later, Chen Leng and the court official Zhang Zhenzhou led over ten thousand soldiers from Dongyang, setting sail from Yi'an to attack Liuqiu. They arrived a month later.
When the people of Liuqiu first spotted the ships, they mistook them for merchant vessels and came to the camp to do business. Chen Leng led the army ashore and sent Zhang Zhenzhou as the vanguard. The king of Liuqiu, Huansi Keladou, dispatched troops to resist, but Zhang Zhenzhou repeatedly defeated them. Chen Leng fought his way to Didan Cave. The small king of Liuqiu, Huansi Laomu, led troops to resist, but Chen Leng defeated him and killed Laomu. On that foggy, rainy day, the soldiers were quite frightened, so Chen Leng offered a white horse as a sacrifice to the sea god.
Afterwards, the weather cleared up, and Chen Ling divided the army into five routes, heading straight for the capital of the Liuguo Kingdom. Kela Dou led a few thousand people 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 Kela Dou positioned his troops behind the camp. Chen Ling concentrated his forces and attacked, fighting fiercely from dawn until dusk. Seeing the exhaustion of the troops, Kela Dou retreated into the camp. Chen Ling then filled in the moat, broke through the camp, defeated Kela Dou, captured his son Daotui, and also captured thousands of civilians, returning in triumph.
Emperor Yang of Sui was very pleased and promoted Chen Ling to Right Minister of Rites, keeping his position as Wubenlangjiang unchanged, and also promoted Zhang Zhenzhou to Jinzi Guanglu Daifu. In the battle of Liaodong, Chen Ling was promoted to Left Minister of Rites for his service in the palace. The following year, Emperor Yang of Sui again campaigned in Liaodong, while Chen Ling stayed in Donglai. When Yang Xuangan rebelled, Chen Ling led over ten thousand men to pacify Liyang, killing the governor appointed by Yang Xuangan, Yuan Wuben. He was then ordered to build warships in Jiangnan.
Upon reaching Pengcheng, the rebel leader Meng Rang commanded an army of one hundred thousand and occupied the Duliang Palace, using the Huai River as a natural barrier, firmly holding their position. Chen Ling secretly crossed the river downstream towards Jiangdu and attacked Meng Rang, defeating him. For his achievements, Chen Ling was promoted to Guanglu Daifu and titled as the Marquis of Xin'an. Later, when Emperor Yang of Sui arrived at Jiangdu Palace, Li Zitong occupied Hailing, Zuo Caixiang plundered north of the Huai River, and Du Fuwei stationed troops in Liuhe, each with tens of thousands of soldiers. Emperor Yang of Sui sent Chen Ling to lead the Imperial Guard to subdue them, securing one victory after another, and Chen Ling was promoted to Right General of the Imperial Guard. He then crossed the Qing River and launched an offensive against the rebel forces in Xuancheng.
Before long, Sui Yangdi was killed, and Yuwen Huaji led his troops north and summoned Chen Leng to defend Jiangdu. Chen Leng gathered his troops, dressed in mourning clothes, held a funeral for Sui Yangdi, following the proper rituals. He reburied Sui Yangdi under Wugongtai, leaning on a cane in mourning, touching the hearts of passersby along the way. People praised his loyalty. Later, Chen Leng was defeated by Li Zitong and fled to Du Fuwei, who feared him and soon killed him.
Wang Bian, courtesy name Jinglue, was from Pucheng, Fengyi. His family had prospered through trade. During the Northern Wei period, he supported the army with food donations and was appointed Acting Prefect of Qinghe. From a young age, Wang Bian studied military strategy, excelled in horsemanship, was generous, and harbored great ambitions.
During the Northern Zhou period, he was appointed commander-in-chief in recognition of his military achievements. During the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty, he was promoted to Grand Commandant; during the Renshou period, he was further promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry. When Han Prince Liang rebelled, he followed Yang Su in quelling the rebellion and was granted the title of Baron of Wuning County, with a fief of three hundred households. Three years later, he was promoted to Attendant of the Imperial Stables.
Later, he joined the campaign against the Tuyuhun and was appointed an Imperial Secretary. A few years later, he was promoted to the rank of Langjiang. During the Battle of Liaodong, he earned the title of Grand Master of Ceremonies for his achievements, and shortly after, he was promoted to Langjiang of Wuben.
When banditry was rampant in Shandong, a man named Wei Dao'er from Shanggu who called himself "Fei of Lishan" had over ten thousand men under his command, raiding and plundering the Yan and Zhao regions. The Emperor summoned Wang Bian to discuss strategies for suppressing the rebellion. Wang Bian analyzed the enemy's situation, earning the Emperor's admiration, who said, "If we follow your plan, what do we have to fear from the bandits?" Therefore, the Emperor dispatched three thousand infantry and cavalry to support Wang Bian's campaign, quickly defeating Wei Dao'er and rewarding him with two hundred taels of gold.
In the second year, the pirate chief Gao Shida from Bohai proclaimed himself the "Lord of the East Sea," with a following of tens of thousands. The Emperor again ordered Wang Bian to launch an attack, and Wang Bian repeatedly defeated Gao Shida's forces. At that time, the Emperor was in the Jiangdu Palace. Upon hearing this, he immediately sent for Wang Bian, rewarded him generously, and sent him to govern Xindu. Gao Shida fought against Wang Bian again and was defeated. The Emperor issued a decree praising Wang Bian's military achievements.
At that time, the bandit chieftains Hao Xiaode, Sun Xuanya, Shi Jikang, Dou Jiande, Wei Dao'er, and others each occupied territories with armies ranging from tens of thousands to a few thousand, wreaking havoc across the Hebei region. Wang Bian led his troops in a campaign and remained undefeated, instilling fear in the various bandits.
Later, Zhai Rang instigated a rebellion in Xuzhou and Yuzhou. Wang Bian led his troops to attack and defeated Zhai Rang's army multiple times. Zhai Rang later occupied Luokou Warehouse with Li Mi. Wang Bian and Wang Shichong then joined forces to attack Li Mi, and the two sides were locked in a standoff at Luoshui for over a year.
Wang Bian led his soldiers to break through Li Mi's army, pursued them in victory, and broke through the outer fence of Li Mi's camp. With the enemy's army scattered, Wang Bian prepared to storm the city, but Wang Shichong, fearing exhausted soldiers, sounded the retreat signal, granting Li Mi's forces a chance to regroup. The official army was defeated, and Wang Bian, unable to turn the tide, arrived at Luoshui, where the bridge had been destroyed. Unable to cross, he dismounted and waded into the water. As he reached the center of the river, he was swept away by the current and fell off his horse, drowning. At that moment, clad in heavy armor and surrounded by defeated soldiers, he was unable to remount and ultimately drowned.
Wang Bian passed away at the age of fifty-six, leaving his soldiers and officers in deep mourning.
Hosiman from Henan was a bold and resolute figure, whose fame rivaled that of Wang Bian. During the reign of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, he accompanied Wei Xuan on a campaign against Yang Xuangan, won many battles, and earned considerable merit. When Yang Xuangan was defeated and fled, Hosiman led a few cavalry soldiers to catch up with him, driving Yang Xuangan to desperation and eventually taking his own life. This brought Hosiman into the limelight, and he was directly appointed as a Wuben General.
Later, the Turkic Khagan laid siege to Yanmen Pass, and Hosiman charged into battle, sending the Turkic forces into a rout. Every time the enemy approached, he was the first to charge forward and fight, sometimes even dismounting and sitting on the ground, drawing a powerful bow to shoot down the enemy, each of whom fell instantly. As a result, the Turks dared not approach the city walls, and more than ten days later, they retreated—a testament to Hosiman's prowess! He then continued to fight against bandits, constantly achieving success, and eventually rose to the rank of general.
At that time, there were several other generals, such as Lu Yuan, Fan Gui, and Feng Xiaoci, who were also celebrated commanders in their own right. However, most of their exploits have faded into obscurity, so they are not well recorded in historical accounts.
Historical accounts remark: only during the eras of Zhang Hou, Zhou Bo, and Guan Ying could they realize their ambitions; during the struggle between Cao Cao and Liu Bei for supremacy, it was only during the time of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei that they could become famous. Therefore, achieving fame requires seizing the moment when a nation is being shaped, and building a career must coincide with the turmoil of the country. This act of climbing the social ladder and achieving success has always existed. People like Yuantong, Hu'er, Dinghe, and Tiezhang were all heroes of their time, but were confined by poverty and insignificance. They were largely unnoticed in their youth; who would have guessed they harbored such lofty ambitions? In the end, they all emerged from the mire, attained success, realized their dreams, and fulfilled their life aspirations. Without the right timing, how could they have accomplished this?
Although Juluo was wronged, it was not his fault; Wang Bian sacrificed himself for his country, demonstrating unwavering loyalty; Chen Leng donned mourning attire for Wang Bian's funeral, touching the hearts of all who passed by; such profound loyalty! Meng Cai, Qian Jie, Shen Guang, and others, who repaid kindness and never forgot their friends in times of peril, even though they may not have accomplished great deeds, their spirit deserves recognition!
