Zhou Fashang, courtesy name Demai, was from Ancheng, Runan. His grandfather, Zhou Lingqi, served as the General of the Direct Pavilion, Yiyang Prefect, and Governor of Luzhou and Guizhou during the Liang Dynasty; his father, Zhou Jiong, served as the Governor of Dingzhou and General Who Pacifies the North. Fashang was bold and had a leadership style from a young age, enjoying reading military books. At the age of eighteen, he was appointed as an Officer of the Central Army for the Chen Dynasty's Prince Chixing, and soon after was promoted to General of the Fubo. After his father's death, he took over the administration of Dingzhou, commanding his father's former troops. He earned numerous military accolades and was later promoted to General of Righteousness and Determination, Cavalry General, concurrently serving as the Prefect of Qichang County, and was granted the title of Marquis of Shanyin, with a fief of 5,000 households. Later, his brother Zhou Faseng took over as the Governor of Dingzhou.
Fashang had a strained relationship with Chen Shujian, the Prince of Changsha of the Chen Dynasty, who even went so far as to falsely accuse Fashang of plotting a rebellion. Emperor Chen Xuan ordered the arrest of Fashang's brother, Zhou Faseng, and deployed troops to apprehend Fashang. His subordinates advised him to flee to Northern Zhou, but he hesitated at that moment. His Chief Historian Yin Wen said, "General Yue Yi left the Yan Kingdom because of his hesitation! The situation is the same now, please decide quickly!" After hearing this, Fashang fled to Northern Zhou. Emperor Chen Xuan treated him exceptionally well, bestowing upon him the title of Duke of Guiyi, with a fief of one thousand households, and rewarding him with five fine horses, five courtesans, five hundred bolts of silk, and a gold belt.
General Fan Meng crossed the Yangtze River to attack Chen Zhao. Fa Shang sent his subordinate Han Ming to feign betrayal and join the Chen army, telling Fan Meng, "The soldiers under Fa Shang do not want to submit to the Northern Zhou Dynasty. They are secretly discussing and all want to defect back. If your army advances, they will definitely not resist and will turn their weapons against you on the battlefield." Fan Meng believed it to be true, so he quickly led his army to advance. Fa Shang feigned fear and hid by the riverbank. Fan Meng set his troops in formation to challenge; Fa Shang had previously concealed small boats along the river and also ambushed elite soldiers to the north of the ancient village. He then raised his flag and resisted downstream. After several skirmishes, Fa Shang pretended to retreat and flee toward the ancient village. Fan Meng left his boats and chased after him. Fa Shang ran a few miles, met up with the ambush soldiers to the north of the village, and turned back to attack Fan Meng. Fan Meng retreated to his boats, and the hidden boats by the river came out to seize their vessels and raised the flag of the Northern Zhou Dynasty. Fan Meng was defeated, escaped alone but was captured along with eight thousand of his men.
When Gaozu served as Prime Minister, Sima Xiaonan rebelled. He secretly dispatched Duan Xun, the palace governor, to lead soldiers, pretending to go to help defend, but actually wanting to take Fa Shang's city. Fa Shang saw through his trick and closed the city gates, preventing him from entering. Duan Xun then surrounded the city. At that time, the situation was critical, and the soldiers were scattered outside. Fa Shang held out with five hundred officials and civilians for twenty days. Without reinforcements, Fa Shang himself felt that he could not hold on, so he abandoned the city and fled with his troops. Sima Xiaonan captured his mother, brother, and three hundred family members, bringing them back to the Chen Dynasty.
After Gaozu became emperor, he appointed Fa Shang as the prefect of Bazhou. Fa Shang defeated the barbarian rebels in Tieshan and then fought alongside General Wang Yi against the army of the Chen dynasty. He was later promoted to be the military governor of Hengzhou, overseeing the military affairs of four provinces, and was granted the title of Duke of Qiao County with a fief consisting of two thousand households. When the emperor arrived in Luoyang, he summoned Fa Shang and rewarded him with a set of gold, silver, and jewels, five hundred pieces of colored silk, fifteen good horses, three hundred attendants, and even a ceremonial guard. Fa Shang firmly declined, but the emperor urged him to accept, saying, "You have made great contributions to the country. By giving you a ceremonial guard, I want your fellow villagers to know of my favor towards you." So Fa Shang accepted it.
Over a year later, Fa Shang was promoted to be the general manager of Huangzhou. The emperor secretly ordered him to go to Jiangnan to gather information and wait for an opportunity. When it was time to attack the Chen dynasty, Fa Shang, as the commander of the expedition, set out with thirty thousand naval troops from Fankou following Prince Xiao of Qin. The Chen dynasty's prefect of Chengzhou, Xiongmen, came out to resist, but was defeated and captured by Fa Shang. Fa Shang was subsequently promoted to the prefect of Ezhou, and shortly after, the prefect of Yongzhou, pacifying the Lingnan region. The emperor rewarded him with five hundred pieces of silk, five good horses, and three thousand five hundred soldiers from Huangzhou as his personal guards. Numerous officials from the Chen dynasty surrendered to Fa Shang in succession.
Lü Zikuang, the prefect of Dingzhou in the Chen dynasty, led a rebellion in the mountains, and Fa Shang led troops to fight against him by crossing mountains and hills. Lü Zikuang's forces gradually diminished, and with over a thousand followers, he took refuge in the mountains. His subordinates killed him and subsequently surrendered to Fa Shang. The emperor then rewarded Fa Shang with five hundred pieces of colored silk, fifty servants, silver jars, jewel belts, and ten good horses. Ten years later, Fa Shang was promoted to be the general manager of Guizhou and also served as the pacification envoy of Lingnan.
After a few years, he found himself in Beijing, serving as a palace guard. The emperor rewarded him with many things, including 300 pieces of colored silk, 500 shi of rice, and 500 pieces of silk. Not long after, a man named Li Guangshi rebelled in Guizhou, and the court dispatched Fa Shang and the Grand Preceptor Wang Shiji to quell the rebellion. Fa Shang quickly rushed to Guizhou, gathering troops from Lingnan; Shiji set out from Yuezhou, bringing troops from Lingbei, and the two armies met in Yinzhou. They engaged Li Guangshi's forces and defeated them.
However, many soldiers in Wang Shiji's army succumbed to miasma and were unable to proceed, so they stayed in Hengzhou. Only Fa Shang pressed on in pursuit of Li Guangshi. Li Guangshi, with his elite soldiers, hid in Baishidong and defended the position. Fa Shang demonstrated his prowess by capturing Li Guangshi's brothers Guanglue and Guangdu, as well as many of their family members. If the rebels surrendered, Fa Shang would return their wives and children to them. Within just over ten days, several thousand rebels surrendered. Fa Shang organized his forces and readied himself for a decisive confrontation with Li Guangshi, even leading an elite force to ambush in the woods.
As soon as the two armies engaged, Fa Shang charged towards Li Guangshi's camp with his men. The camp's defenders panicked and scattered in all directions; Li Guangshi's forces were utterly routed, and Fa Shang caught up with and killed Li Guangshi. The emperor rewarded him with 150 servants, 150 taels of gold, and 150 pounds of silver. During the Ren Shou period, the Liao people in Suizhou revolted once more, and the court appointed him as the marching general to quell the uprising, and he successfully quelled the rebellion once more.
Later, the Wuman people in Guizhou also rebelled and captured the provincial capital. The emperor ordered Fa Shang to go and attack them. When Fa Shang's army was close, the Wuman abandoned the city and retreated into the mountains. Fa Shang pursued them but was unable to catch up. So, Fa Shang sent envoys to negotiate with them, offered them official positions, feigned a troop withdrawal, and only traveled twenty miles a day. Two days later, Fa Shang secretly sent people to scout and found that the Wuman leaders had returned to their camp, celebrating with drinks. Fa Shang immediately selected thousands of foot soldiers and cavalry, launched a sudden attack, defeated them, and captured numerous leaders along with tens of thousands of men and women. The emperor rewarded him with one hundred slaves, three hundred pieces of cloth, and twenty Shu horses. After the battle, he was appointed governor of Luzhou.
After Yang Guang became emperor, he was first appointed governor of Yunzhou. Three years later, he was promoted to be the governor of Dingxiang, holding the official title of Jinziguanglu Dafu. At that time, the emperor went to Yulin for leisure, and according to custom, the ministers were required to visit the palace to pay their respects. The Minister of the Interior, Yuan Shou, proposed to the emperor, "Emperor Wu of Han went out to fight on the frontier, with banners stretching for miles on end. Now that the emperor is in Yulin, we can organize into twenty-four military units outside the imperial camp, dispatching one unit each day, thirty miles apart, with flags visible to one another and drums echoing, connected end to end, stretching for miles. This will also showcase the grandeur of our military display!"
Fashang still disagreed, saying, "No, the army should not be stretched over a thousand miles, with mountains and valleys in between. In case of any unexpected situation, the troops will become fragmented. If there is a problem in the middle, there won’t be enough time for either end to provide rescue, and the distance is simply too great. Although this is an outdated tactic, it is a strategy that will fail!" The emperor was a little unhappy and asked, "So what do you think should be done?" Fashang said, "We should form a square formation, with vigilance on all sides. The six palaces of the palace and the families of the officials should all live inside the formation. If there is really any change, we can confront the enemy directly, mobilize elite troops internally, attack from the side, use vehicles to establish a tight defense, how is this different from defending a city? If we win, we send cavalry to chase the enemy; if we lose, we rely on the camp to defend. I believe this is the safest approach." The emperor said, "Good!" So he promoted Fashang to the position of Left Guard General, and also rewarded him with a good horse and three hundred pieces of silk.
The following year, the Yi people in Qianzhou rebelled once more; they killed General Luyuan and surrounded the governor Xiaozao. The court dispatched General Fashang and General Li Jing to quell the rebellion separately.
General Fashang defeated Sido in Qingjiang, killing more than three thousand people. After the battle, he took part in the campaign against the Tuyuhun. General Fashang took an alternate route from Songzhou, chasing the scattered enemies all the way to Qinghai. The court rewarded him with one hundred servants, two hundred pieces of cloth, and seventy horses. Later, he was appointed as the governor of Dunhuang, followed by an appointment as the governor of Huining.
During the conflict in Liaodong, he led his troops by sea toward Korea. Just as Yang Xuangan was staging a rebellion, he, along with Generals Yuwen Shu and Lai Huer, defeated the rebels. Due to his significant contributions, he was promoted to Right Guanglu Dafu, and the court granted him nine hundred pieces of cloth.
At that time, there was a man named Wang Bo in Qi County, along with Meng Rang and others. They rebelled and became bandits, commanding over 100,000 men who were hiding in the Changbai Mountains. They fought many battles with them, defeating them each time. The court subsequently rewarded him with a hundred slaves and maids.
The following year, he led troops to Cangzhou again but fell seriously ill in the army. He said to the Chief Cui Junsu, "I have led troops to Cangzhou twice without achieving victory. It seems the timing just isn't right, and I am about to die. I haven't accomplished what I set out to do in life. It's really unfortunate!" After saying these words, he passed away at the age of fifty-nine. The court posthumously appointed him as the Grand General of Wuwei, with the posthumous title of "Xi." He left behind six sons, the eldest named Shaoji, who served as the magistrate of Lingshou County; the youngest son, Shaoji, was the most well-known.
Li Jing, whose courtesy name was Daoxing, was a retired official from Tianshui. His father, Li Chao, had served as the governor of Zhouzhou and Rongzhou. Li Jing was tall and strong, stronger than most, with a handsome beard, exceptional combat skills and accurate archery. He distinguished himself in the battle to pacify the Qi Kingdom and was later appointed as the General of the Righteous Three Offices. Due to his achievements in suppressing the rebellion of Wei Jiong, he was promoted to the position of Kaifu, enfeoffed as the Duke of Pingkou County, with a fief that included 1,500 households. In the ninth year of the Kaihuang reign, he followed Wang Shiji to assault the Chen Dynasty. After capturing the Chen Dynasty, he was promoted to the rank of Upper Kaifu and was rewarded with sixty slaves and maids, as well as 1,500 rolls of cloth.
Later, Gao Zhihui and others rebelled in Jiangnan, and Li Jing followed Yang Su to suppress the rebellion. He single-handedly pacified the rebellion in Cangling, and upon his return, was appointed as the governor of Fuzhou. In the seventeenth year of the Kaihuang reign, he served as the commander of the cavalry in the war in Liaodong. After the war, he was assigned to serve under the Prince of Han. The Emperor Gaozu admired his bravery and even asked him to take off his clothes to show him, saying, "With your looks and skills, you're bound to become a top official one day." He then followed Shi Wansui to Mount Dajin to fight the Turks, flanking the enemy and winning a decisive victory.
Later, he and Yang Ji escorted Princess Yicheng to the Turkic tribes. When they arrived in Heng'an, they encountered Turkic invaders. At that time, the forces of Han Hong, the Governor of Daizhou, were defeated by the Turkic invaders. Li Jing led his troops to rescue them. They fought fiercely for three days, killing many Turkic warriors. For this, Li Jing was awarded three thousand bolts of cloth and appointed as the Inspector of Hanzhou. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, he did not take up the position. During the Renshou period, he was appointed as the Governor of Daizhou.
Prince Yang Liang rebelled in Bingzhou, and Li Jing led his forces to resist. Yang Liang sent Liu Hao to attack Li Jing, and the two sides clashed to the east of the city. Li Jing climbed the city tower and picked off many enemies with his arrows. He then selected elite soldiers to attack, nearly annihilating the enemy forces. Yang Liang then sent the Inspector of Lanzhou, Qiao Zhongkui, to lead thirty thousand elite soldiers to attack. Li Jing had only a few thousand soldiers under him, and the city was not strong, so they were fiercely attacked by the enemy, and the city walls collapsed one after another. Li Jing fought while repairing the city walls, and his soldiers fought valiantly, successfully repelling the enemy's assaults time and again. His Marshal Feng Xiaoci, Judicial Officer Lv Yu, and Yitong Sansi Hou Mochen Yi were all courageous and adept in battle. Li Jing knew that these generals were capable, so he delegated authority to these three, controlling the overall situation behind the scenes and occasionally encouraging the soldiers.
A month later, Governor Yang Yichen of Shuozhou led troops to reinforce, and they joined forces and defeated the enemy. Before this, in the well of Li Jing's house, lotus-like flowers grew on the well wall, and the shadow of a dragon appeared, which later transformed into an armored warrior. Under the city, a towering, god-like figure appeared, leaving footprints that were four and a half feet long. Li Jing asked the wizard, who replied, "This is an ominous sign; it seeks human blood." Li Jing was furious and drove the wizard away. A few days later, the enemy arrived, and tens of thousands perished. Later, Li Jing was summoned back to the capital, honored as a Pillar of State, appointed as the Right Martial Guard General, and rewarded with nine thousand pieces of silk, a band, and many treasures.
Although Li Jing's military talent was not top-notch, he was loyal and principled, earning the emperor's deep trust. He led troops to defeat the rebellious barbarians in Siduo, and the emperor rewarded him with eighty slaves. The following year, he defeated the Tuyuhun in Qinghai and was promoted to Grand Minister of Splendor, rewarded with sixty slaves and two thousand pieces of silk. Five years later, when the emperor visited Tianshui, Li Jing hosted a banquet for the emperor. The emperor said, "You are the master!" and allowed him to sit in the honored position above Prince Qi Yang Jian.
At Longchuan Palace, the emperor planned a grand hunting event, but for reasons left unspoken, Li Jing and the Left Martial Guard General Guo Yan were wrongly accused. The emperor was furious and ordered an investigation, which led to Li Jing's dismissal. A year later, he was reinstated and, along with Yu Wenshu and others, was responsible for selecting officials. The following year, he launched an attack on Wuli City in Goryeo and emerged victorious. The emperor bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Yuanqiu and one thousand pieces of cloth. Eight years later, he marched to Hunmidao; nine years later, he marched to Liaodong. As the army returned, Li Jing took up the rear. The Goryeo pursuers closed in, but Li Jing held them off. The emperor rewarded him with three thousand bolts of cloth and elevated him to Duke of Huaguo.
When Yang Xuangan rebelled, many ministers' sons in the court participated, except for Li Jing. The emperor said, "You are truly loyal and upright, a pillar of talent for my reign!" He even rewarded him with a beautiful concubine. The emperor always addressed Li Jing as "General Li" instead of calling him by name, showing how highly he valued him. Twelve years later, the emperor ordered Li Jing to prepare military supplies for Liaodong in Beiping and rewarded him with a royal horse named "Shizi." At that time, the bandit leader Yang Zhongxu led over ten thousand men to attack Beiping, but Li Jing led the army to a decisive victory, killing Yang Zhongxu. With banditry rampant and roads cut off, Li Jing recruited soldiers as a precaution.
The military officer Luo Yi had a personal vendetta against Li Jing and falsely accused him of planning a rebellion. The emperor sent his son to comfort Li Jing, saying, "Even if someone accuses you of plotting to seize the throne and take the capital, I will not doubt you." Later, Li Jing was besieged by Gao Kaidao, defending the city single-handedly for over a year without reinforcements. Sixty to seventy percent of the soldiers perished from foot ailments, but Li Jing comforted them, and none betrayed him. Most of the military supplies in Liaodong were in Li Jing's hands, with food and cloth piled up like mountains, but he refrained from personal gain during the turmoil. When the emperor passed away in Jiangdu, the governor of Liaoxi, Deng Hao, came to rescue with his troops, and Li Jing returned to Liucheng safely. Later, he wanted to return to Youzhou but was unfortunately killed by bandits on the way. The Khitans and Mohe people, who had received his kindness, shed tears upon hearing of his death; the people of Youzhou and Yandi still mourn him to this day. He had a son named Li Shimu.
Murong Sanzang was from the state of Yan. His father, Murong Shaozong, was a powerful figure as the Left Minister of the Ministry of Works in the state of Qi and the Chief Secretary of the Southeast District. Sanzang was intelligent and talented from a young age, skilled in military matters, fully embodying his father's exceptional qualities.
He started his career in the Qi state, beginning as a military officer in the Grand Commandant's Office, and soon rose to the position of Deputy Commander. During the Wuping era, he inherited the title of Marquis of Yanjun, with a fief of eight hundred households. That year, he first defeated the army of the Western Zhou Dynasty at Xiaoshui, then defeated the army of the Chen State at Shouyang, and was promoted to General of the Military Guards. Later, he defeated the Western Zhou army at Heyang, was promoted again to become the Grand General of the Military Guards. Not long after, he was promoted to the position of Right Guard General, and was also granted the title of Marquis of Fanyang, with a fief of one thousand households.
Later, when the Western Zhou army attacked Ye City, the Emperor of Qi, terrified, fled eastward, leaving the defense of Ye City to Murong Sancang and his men. The Qi nobles surrendered, while Murong Sancang and his men resolutely defended Ye City, resisting the Western Zhou army to the end. Following Qi's downfall, Emperor Wen of Sui summoned him and treated him well, decreeing, "Murong Sancang and his son are loyal and honorable, with a great reputation, they should be given higher official positions." So he was appointed as the Grand General of Equivalence and granted the title. That year, the Jihu people revolted, and Emperor Wen of Sui sent him to suppress the rebellion, which he quickly accomplished.
In the first year of Kaihuang, he was appointed as the Inspector of Wuzhou. Nine years later, he was appointed as the Ambassador to Liangzhou, equivalent to the highest personnel authority there. That same year, the chief of Lingnan, Wang Zhongxuan, rebelled and surrounded Guangzhou. The court appointed Wei Guang, Duke of Xiangyang, and Zhuguo as the commander of the march, with Murong Sancang as his deputy. Upon arriving in Guangzhou, they fought against the rebels, and unfortunately Wei Guang was shot by an arrow and died in battle. Therefore, the court appointed Murong Sancang as the supreme commander of military operations in Guangzhou.
Ten years later, rebels besieged Guangzhou City from all sides, and Murong Sanzang defended the city for over a month. As food ran low and arrows were exhausted, Murong Sanzang knew that they couldn't continue like this. He led his elite troops to break through the siege at night, defeated the rebels, and saved Guangzhou City. Due to this great victory, he was promoted to Grand General and was rewarded with a hundred slaves, as well as a large amount of gold and silver treasures.
Twelve years later, he was appointed as the Inspector of Kuozhou. Kuozhou was located at the western border, adjacent to the Tuyuhun tribe, and many criminals were exiled there, and many escaped. After Murong Sanzang took office, he implemented policies of reconciliation and conciliation, winning the support of the people. Many people came to seek refuge with him every day, and both officials and commoners praised him. Emperor Wen of Sui heard of his achievements and sent envoys to inquire about his situation. That year, the livestock industry in Kuozhou developed well and even presented a type of dairy product called "ti hu" to the court, for which he was rewarded with a hundred rolls of silk.
Thirteen years later, the Liangyun Mountains in Kuozhou erupted with three consecutive loud noises, a rare phenomenon that happens only once in ten thousand years. The court ordered the news to be announced nationwide and sent people to worship on the mountain. On that day, auspicious signs appeared in the sky, and wild chickens and rabbits from the mountain ran to the altar. The envoys reported these events to Emperor Wen of Sui, who was very pleased. In the fifteenth year, he was appointed as the Governor of Diezhou. At that time, the various ethnic groups in the region were often in rebellion, but Murong Sanzang quickly quelled the uprisings, ensuring that all ethnic groups could live in peace and prosperity. In the first year of the Renshou era, he was reappointed as the Lord of Henai County. In the first year of the Daye era, he was appointed as the Inspector of Hezhou. Three years later, he was promoted to the Prefect of Huainan Commandery, implementing benevolent rule throughout the region. In the same year, he was appointed as the Grand Master of Splendid Happiness. In the seventh year of the Daye era, he passed away.
Tang Sanzang's disciple Zixia once served as the county magistrate of Chanzhou. When Prince Han rebelled, Zixia remained loyal and steadfast, and his steadfast loyalty and righteousness earned him a widespread reputation.
Speaking of Xue Shixiong, courtesy name Shiyin, he hails from Fenyin in Hedong, but his ancestors later moved to Guanzhong. His father Xue Hui, courtesy name Daohong, held an official position during the Northern Zhou dynasty and rose to the position of Governor of Jingzhou. During the reign of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, he was granted the title of Duke of Wuyin County and was also in charge of canal supervision. As he aged, he retired and returned home to enjoy his later years. Xue Shixiong was different from other children since he was young. When playing games, he would draw cities in the dirt and assign other kids to play as attackers or defenders. If anyone dared to disobey him, he would give them a good beating! The other children were all afraid of him and obediently followed his commands. His father, witnessing this, remarked to others, "This kid is bound to bring honor to our family!" At the age of seventeen, Xue Shixiong followed Emperor Wu of Zhou in battles, pacifying the Qi state. Thanks to his accomplishments, he was appointed as Commander-in-Chief. During the reign of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, he fought in several battles and climbed the ranks, eventually becoming the General of the Right Guard of the Imperial Chariot. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended to the throne, the tribes in Panyu revolted, and Emperor Yang sent Xue Shixiong to suppress the rebellion. After successfully putting down the rebellion, Xue Shixiong was promoted to the position of Right Guard of the Imperial Gate. Later, he accompanied Emperor Yang to fight against the Tuyuhun tribe and was later promoted to Grand Master of the Palace. Xue Shixiong was known for being very cautious and diligent. After every battle, he made sure not to disturb the locals and always acted with integrity, earning the Emperor's admiration. One day, the Emperor casually remarked to his ministers, "I want to promote a good person; do you have any good candidates in mind?" The ministers replied, "How could we possibly know what you're thinking, Your Majesty?" The Emperor said, "The person I want to promote is Xue Shixiong." The ministers all agreed. The Emperor continued, "Shixiong is honest and upright, truly embodying the qualities of the virtuous officials of old." Therefore, the Emperor directly promoted him to General of the Right Wing Guard.
One year later, the emperor appointed Xue Shixiong as the Commander of the Yumen Dao Army to fight against the Uyghurs. When the army arrived at Yumen Pass, the Uyghur Khan broke the agreement and failed to appear, so Xue Shixiong was forced to venture deep into the desert alone. At first, the people of Yiwu believed the Sui army wouldn't arrive and were unprepared. However, upon hearing that Xue Shixiong's army had crossed the desert, they quickly surrendered and sent livestock and wine to the camp as a gesture of submission. Xue Shixiong then built a new city east of the ancient Yiwu city, called New Yiwu, leaving behind the Silver Qing Guanglu official Wang Wei and over a thousand soldiers to guard it before returning. The emperor was very pleased and promoted Xue Shixiong to the rank of Senior Counselor, rewarding him with two thousand rolls of cloth.
Later, during the war in Liaodong, Xue Shixiong was appointed as the General of the Wozhu Dao Army and faced defeat in Pyongyang alongside Yu Wenshu. When retreating to Baishishan, they were surrounded by the enemy as arrows rained down from all sides. Xue Shixiong led the exhausted army to form a defensive square formation, selected two hundred elite cavalry to charge first, and when the enemy began to falter, he pursued and ultimately defeated them, safely withdrawing. However, after suffering significant losses, Xue Shixiong was ultimately dismissed.
The following year, the emperor once again campaigned in Liaodong and appointed Xue Shixiong as the General of the Right Guard, with the objective of targeting the Tadun Dao. When the army reached Wugucheng, Yang Xuange rebelled, compelling the army to return to the capital. Upon arriving in Liucheng, the emperor appointed Xue Shixiong as the Ambassador of the Northeast Dao, concurrently serving as the Prefect of Yanjun to maintain order in Huaiyuan. At that time, the Turks frequently raided, inflicting hardship on the border counties. The emperor ordered Xue Shixiong to lead troops from twelve counties to patrol the borders before returning.
Ten years later, Xue Shixiong followed the emperor back to Liaodong, was promoted to Left Imperial Guard General, and also served as the Governor of Zhuo County. Not long after, Li Mi attacked the Eastern Capital, which led to chaos in the Central Plains. The emperor ordered Xue Shixiong to lead the elite forces from Youzhou and Jizhou to attack Li Mi. The army arrived at Hejian and camped south of the county city. The counties around Hejian rallied their troops and joined the large army led by Xue Shixiong, preparing to attack Dou Jiande together. Dou Jiande had already moved his family away and selected a few hundred elite soldiers to launch a night attack on Xue Shixiong's camp. They first attacked the Hejian troops, causing them to flee into Xue Shixiong's camp. At that time, there was heavy fog, making it impossible for the army to form ranks. They panicked and fled, leading to a significant defeat. Xue Shixiong fled into Hejian City with dozens of cavalry, became ill from shame and anger, and passed away shortly after returning to Zhuo County at sixty-three years old. His sons Wan Shu, Wan Shu, Wan Jun, and Wan Che were all renowned for their bravery and skill in battle.
Wang Rengong, styled Yuanshi, was from Tianshui, Gansu. His grandfather, Wang Jian, served as the Prefect of Fengzhou during the Zhou Dynasty, and his father, Wang Meng, was the Prefect of Shanzhou. Wang Rengong was known for his strong and cautious character from a young age, skilled in horseback riding and archery. When he was young, he was appointed as Chief Clerk. Prince Xiao of Qin summoned him to serve as a secretary, and later he was promoted to Changdao Prefect and then to Chariot and Cavalry General. He followed Yang Su to Lingwu to fight against the Turks, distinguished himself, and was granted the title of Shang Kaifu and awarded three thousand bolts of cloth. He later served as the General of the Valiant Cavalry, in charge of the military affairs of the Prince of Shu. When the Liao tribes in the mountains rebelled, the Prince of Shu sent Wang Rengong to suppress the rebellion, and he was successful. The Prince of Shu rewarded him with three hundred slaves. Later, the Prince of Shu committed a crime and was deposed, which implicated many of his former officials. However, the emperor regarded Wang Rengong as an upright man and did not investigate him for any wrongdoing.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, Han Prince Liang rebelled, and Wang Rengong followed Yang Su in suppressing the rebellion. For his achievements in this campaign, he was promoted to General, appointed as the Governor of Lüzhou, and rewarded with four thousand bolts of fabric and ten courtesans. Over a year later, he was transferred to the position of Governor of Weizhou, and shortly after was appointed as the Prefect of Jijun. He had outstanding administrative skills and was greatly loved by the people. Later, the court recalled him to the capital, where the Emperor personally met with him, offering words of comfort and encouragement, and rewarding him with six hundred bolts of multicolored silk and two fine horses. He was then appointed as the Governor of Xindu, and when the people of Jijun heard about this, they tearfully stopped his carriage for several days, showing how highly esteemed he was among the people.
During the Liaodong Campaign, Wang Rengong served as a military commander. When the Emperor returned to the capital after the campaign, Wang Rengong brought up the rear and was attacked by bandits on the way. He fought valiantly and repelled the bandits. As a result, the Emperor promoted him to Left Guanglu Grandee, rewarding him with six thousand bolts of silk and forty horses. The following year, he was appointed as a military commander again, responsible for commanding the campaign in Fuyu. The Emperor said to him, "Many armies have struggled in battle before, but your army is the only one to have defeated the enemy. The ancients said that defeated generals cannot boast of their bravery; can other generals handle it? Now I entrust the vanguard under your command, hoping you will not disappoint my expectations!" The Emperor also rewarded him with ten fine horses and one hundred taels of gold. Wang Rengong led his troops forward, arriving at Xincheng to find tens of thousands of enemy troops arranged in formation. Leading a thousand elite cavalry, he charged and defeated the enemy. The enemy fell back to the city, and Wang Rengong laid siege to them from all sides. The Emperor was very pleased when he heard the news, sending envoys to congratulate the army and bestowing many treasures upon him. Wang Rengong was promoted to Guanglu Daifu and rewarded with five thousand bolts of silk.
Coincidentally, Wang Rengong was dismissed from office due to the rebellion led by Yang Xuangan's nephew, General Wuben Langjiang Zhongbo. Shortly after, the Emperor restored Wang Rengong to his position as the Magistrate of Mayi because he was an experienced general who had achieved significant victories against the Turks. In that year, the Khan of the Turks led tens of thousands of cavalry to invade Mayi, sending two special agents to attack from the south. With fewer than three thousand troops available, Wang Rengong selected elite forces to repel the enemy, defeating them and taking thousands of enemy heads as trophies, as well as killing the two special agents. The Emperor was delighted and granted him three thousand bolts of silk. Later, when the Turks invaded Dingxiang, Wang Rengong led four thousand troops to battle, killing over a thousand enemies and returning with a large number of livestock. Amidst the chaos, as the people starved and roads became impassable, Wang Rengong changed his conduct and began accepting bribes, refusing to easily open the granaries to help the people. His subordinate, Colonel Liu Wuzhou, conspired with Wang Rengong's maid due to fear of exposure, inciting rebellion by claiming the neglect of the people. Many officials and commoners grew resentful of him. Eventually, while Wang Rengong was in his office, Liu Wuzhou and his accomplices stormed in and assassinated him, ending his life at sixty. Liu Wuzhou then opened the granaries to help the people, d
Quan Wu, courtesy name Wunan, was from Tianshui. His grandfather Quan Chao was the Qinzhou Inspector of Northern Wei. His father Quan Xiqing was appointed as a high official in Northern Zhou and once fought alongside Emperor Wuyuan against the army of Qi in Bingzhou. When surrounded by enemies, Quan Xiqing fought desperately, ran out of ammunition, fought hand-to-hand with the enemy, killed many of them, broke his swords and spears, and finally took off his armor, threw it on the ground, and shouted at the enemies: "Why don't you come and cut off my head!" In the end, he was killed by the enemies.
Due to his loyalty as a descendant of loyal ministers, Quan Wu was appointed as an official from the beginning by the court, inherited the title of Duke of Qijun, and was granted a fief of 1,200 households. Quan Wu was resolute and strong-willed from a young age, with astonishing strength that enabled him to ride in full armor. He once playfully leaped into a well and sprang back out before hitting the bottom, demonstrating his agility. He fought alongside Wang Qian and captured five cities of Qi, increasing his fief by 800 households. While pacifying Qi, he captured Shaozhou and six other cities, adding another 300 households to his fief.
During the reign of Emperor Xuan, he was appointed as the Chief Commander of the Left Regiment of Jinge and later promoted to the rank of Senior General. When Gaozu was the Prime Minister, he retained Quan Wu by his side. After Gaozu became emperor, he granted Quan Wu an additional 500 households of fief. Six years later, he was appointed as the Governor of Xizhou. During the campaign against Chen, he served as the Commander-in-Chief, accompanying Prince Jin's army to Liuhe. Upon his return, he was appointed as the Governor of Yuzhou. After serving as the Governor of Yuzhou for several years, he was promoted to Grand General and simultaneously appointed as the Commander of Tanzhou due to his pioneering contributions. In that year, Li Shixian, a resident of Guizhou, rebelled, and Quan Wu, as the Commander-in-Chief, together with the Grand General Yu Qingze, suppressed the rebellion. However, Yu Qingze was killed due to his offenses, and Quan Wu's contributions were not recognized, leading him to return to his post in the province.
He manufactured a large number of gold belts to give to the chieftains of Lingnan, and those chiefs also gave him many treasures in return. Quan Wu accepted all of them, which made him very wealthy. Later in life, Quan Wu had a son. One time, while drinking with family and friends, he pardoned the prisoners in his prisons after drinking too much. Quan Wu often said that the remote areas of Nanyue needed to be governed according to local customs, prioritizing convenience, and that the laws are too strict now, making it difficult to be an official. The emperor ordered an investigation, which confirmed everything. The emperor was furious and ordered his execution. Quan Wu wrote a letter in prison, mentioning that his father died in battle for Emperor Wuyuan, and requested mercy from the emperor. As a result, the emperor stripped him of his rank and reduced him to commoner status.
During the Renshou era, he was appointed Grand Marshal again, with the same territory as before. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed Commander of the Crown Prince's Right Guard. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, he was appointed Grand General of the Right Guard but was later dismissed for an offense and appointed Governor of Guizhou. Shortly after, he was transferred to serve as Prefect of Shi'an. After a long time, he was summoned back to the court and appointed Grand General of the Right Garrison, but was soon dismissed again for another offense. He eventually passed away at home. He had a son named Quan Hong.
Tu Wanxu, courtesy name Changxu, was a Xianbei from Dai Commandery. His father, Tu Tong, served as Yingzhou's Inspector during the Zhou Dynasty. Changxu demonstrated military talent from a young age, and during the Zhou Dynasty, he rose through the ranks from Assistant General to inherit the title of Duke of Yuanshou. He participated in numerous battles, and his rank continued to rise, eventually becoming Grand General and Minister of War.
After the founding emperor ascended the throne, he appointed him as the governor of Xiangzhou, conferred on him the title of Duke of Gucheng County, and granted him a land grant of 2,500 households. Not long after, he was transferred to the position of governor of Qingzhou, where he achieved remarkable administrative achievements and had a good reputation. Over a year later, the Turks invaded the border, and the court valued his prestige and talent, so he was transferred to be the governor of Shuozhou, where the northern ethnic minorities feared him. Later, the founding emperor secretly planned to annex the Chen dynasty, so he transferred him to be the governor of Xuzhou to prepare military provisions.
When the army crossed the river to attack the Chen dynasty, he was appointed as the commander of the march, stationed with Duke Gedouling of Xihe and Hongjing on the north bank of the river. After the fall of the Chen dynasty, he was appointed as the governor of Xiazhou. When Prince Yang Guang was in the fiefdom, he had a close relationship with Yang Guang. When Yang Guang became the crown prince, he promoted him to be the Left Guard Commander.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, Prince Yang Liang was then stationed in Bingzhou. Emperor Yang was worried that Yang Liang would rebel, so he sent him to serve as the governor of Jinzhou and Jiangzhou, and gave him urgent documents. Before Chang Xu left, Yang Liang had already sent troops to occupy Puban, cutting off the bridges across the Yellow River, preventing Chang Xu from entering. Therefore, the court ordered Chang Xu to lead troops to aid Yang Su in the campaign against Yang Liang. After defeating Yang Liang, Chang Xu was appointed as the General of the Left Martial Guard.
In the early period of the Daye era, he was promoted to Guangluqing. When He Ruobi was wrongfully accused by malicious individuals, the court summoned Chang Xu to testify. Chang Xu proved He Ruobi's innocence, but he was subsequently dismissed from his position. Over a year later, he was appointed as the Prefect of Dongping. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Yang of Sui traveled to Jiangdu and passed through Dongping. Chang Xu greeted him along the way. Emperor Yang invited him to board the royal barge, and Chang Xu took the opportunity to recount his previous merits to the emperor. Emperor Yang was very pleased and appointed him as Jinzi Guanglu Dafu, with the position of prefect remaining unchanged.
During the Liaodong Campaign, Zhang Xu volunteered to serve as the vanguard. Emperor Yang appreciated him and appointed him as the Grand General of the Left Garrison, leading tens of thousands of cavalry and infantry forces to Gaima Road. After the battle, he remained in Huaiyuan and was promoted to the position of Left Guanglu Daifu. At that time, Liu Yuanjin rebelled in Jiangnan and attacked Runzhou, so Emperor Yang sent Zhang Xu to suppress him.
Zhang Xu led his army to Yangzijin, where Liu Yuanjin was about to cross the river at Maopu. Zhang Xu attacked, driving Liu Yuanjin back. Zhang Xu crossed the Yangtze River and established his camp with the river at his back. The next morning, Liu Yuanjin attacked again but was defeated by Zhang Xu. Liu Yuanjin was forced to lift the siege of Runzhou and retreat. Zhang Xu marched to Qu'a, and Liu Yuanjin built a camp to resist. Zhang Xu provoked Liu Yuanjin to battle, and as soon as Liu Yuanjin's formation was not set, Zhang Xu led the cavalry to charge, causing the enemy to flee in defeat, with tens of thousands jumping into the river and dying. Liu Yuanjin escaped at night and returned to his camp.
The self-proclaimed Pushe of Shu, Zhu Xie, Guan Chong, and others were stationed in Pilin, with a continuous line of camps stretching over a hundred li. Zhang Xu pursued and defeated them again, forcing the enemy to retreat to Huangshan. Zhang Xu besieged Huangshan, and the enemy had no choice but to surrender. Liu Yuanjin and Zhu Xie managed to slip away. Zhang Xu killed over 5,000 people, including Guan Chong and General Lu Yi, capturing over 30,000 of their family members and sending them to Jiangdu Palace. He also lifted the siege of Kuaiji.
Liu Yuanjin occupied Jian'an again, and Emperor Yang ordered Zhang Xu to suppress him. Zhang Xu requested to rest his exhausted soldiers and wait until the next spring to launch another attack. Emperor Yang was unhappy and secretly searched for Zhang Xu's faults. The relevant department reported that Zhang Xu was cowardly and defied imperial orders, so he was dismissed as a commoner and sent to garrison Jian'an. Shortly after, the court issued a decree summoning him to the imperial presence. Zhang Xu, feeling disheartened, returned to Yongjia, where he fell ill and eventually died.
Dong Chun, courtesy name Dehou, was from Chengji, Gansu. His grandfather Dong He served as the Left Guard Commander of the Crown Prince of the Wei Kingdom, and his father Dong Sheng was a pillar of the Zhou Dynasty. Dong Chun was strong since childhood and excelled in horseback riding and archery. During the Zhou Dynasty, he held positions as a Senior Officer of the Imperial Stables and a Junior Officer in charge of chariots and horses, and was granted the title of Baron of Gushi County with an increased fief of two hundred households. He followed Emperor Wu in pacifying the Qi Kingdom and was granted the title of Yitong for his contributions, subsequently elevated to the rank of Marquis of Daxing County, with an increased fief of eight hundred households. After Emperor Gaozu ascended the throne, he was subsequently promoted to Duke of Hanqu County and gradually rose to the position of General of the Swift Cavalry due to his military accomplishments. Later, he was appointed as a Senior Grand Minister due to his military achievements. Towards the end of Emperor Wen's reign during the Kaihuang period of the Sui Dynasty, as Dong Chun was a veteran official, he was promoted to Left Guard General, and shortly after was subsequently enfeoffed as Duke of Shunzheng County.
Dong Chun was appointed as the commander-in-chief and deputy governor of Hebei and followed Yang Su to suppress the rebellion in Bingzhou led by Han Wang Liang. Due to his meritorious service, he was honored as a pillar of the state, promoted to the rank of duke, and his fief was increased to two thousand households. Later, he was promoted to the Left Backup General, and the emperor rewarded him with ten concubines and five thousand bolts of silk. Several years later, he was promoted to the Left Valiant Guard General and appointed as the military governor of Pengcheng. When Prince Qi, Yang Jian, committed an offense, Dong Chun, who had a close relationship with him, was questioned by the emperor: "How did you, starting as a low-ranking official, collude with my son in an attempt to sow discord between us?" Dong Chun replied, "I originally hailed from humble beginnings and possessed only average abilities. I am grateful for Your Majesty's appreciation and promotion. The late emperor valued my cautious and meticulous work, showing me more favor than deserved. Your Majesty continued to place trust in me, enabling my rise to the rank of general. I only wish to repay the kindness of the state with the time I have remaining. I paid many visits to Prince Qi because the late emperor and empress often held Prince Yuande and Prince Qi on their laps at Renshou Palace, and would tell me, 'Take good care of these two boys and remember my words.' Following the late emperor's orders, I visited Prince Qi every time I entered the palace during breaks. I truly cannot forget the late emperor's words. Your Majesty was also present beside the late emperor at that time." The emperor's demeanor softened, and he said, "So that's how it is." He then granted Dong Chun a pardon.
After a few days, Dong Chun was appointed governor of Wenshan. Over a year later, the Turks invaded the frontier, and because Dong Chun was an old general, the court reassigned him as governor of Yulin. Whenever the enemy dared to cross the border, Dong Chun immediately led his troops to repel them. At that time, the bandit leaders Zhang Dabiao and Zong Shimu from Pengcheng gathered tens of thousands of troops and occupied Xuanbo Mountain, burning, killing, and looting throughout Xuzhou and Yanzhou. The emperor commanded Dong Chun to confront them. Initially, Dong Chun kept the gates closed and refrained from engaging the enemy. The bandits provoked him many times, but Dong Chun refused to fight. Thinking that Dong Chun was timid and hesitant, the bandits plundered extensively. Dong Chun selected elite troops to attack, engaging in a decisive battle with the bandits in Changlu, achieving a great victory by decapitating over ten thousand enemies and piling their heads into a mound. The bandit leader Wei Qilin led more than ten thousand troops to occupy Shanfu, but Dong Chun launched another attack and defeated them again. Later, the emperor launched another campaign to Liaodong and appointed Dong Chun as the governor of Pengcheng. The bandit Peng Xiaocai from Donghai led a few thousand men to plunder Huairen County, fled to Yishui, and occupied Wubuji Mountain. Dong Chun led his elite soldiers to pursue and captured Peng Xiaocai alive on the battlefield, where he was quartered and executed, which led the rest of the bandits to scatter and flee. At that time, the populace was in turmoil, with banditry on the rise. Although Dong Chun won many battles, bandits continued to emerge across the region. Some people wrongly accused Dong Chun of being cowardly and weak, unable to quell the rebellion. The emperor, furious, ordered Dong Chun to be taken in chains to the eastern capital. Witnessing the emperor's fury, the court officials condemned Dong Chun to death to appease the imperial decree, and Dong Chun ultimately met his death.
Zhao Cai, courtesy name Xiaocai, was from Zhangye, Gansu, and Jiuquan. His grandfather Zhao Kui was the Silver and Blue Grand Minister of Rites and the Le Lang Taishou of the Wei Kingdom; his father Zhao Shou was the Governor of Shunzheng during the Zhou Dynasty. Zhao Cai was brave and an exceptional horse archer from a young age, possessing a rough and tough personality and not paying much attention to etiquette. During the Zhou Dynasty, he served as a Senior Official of the Imperial Carriage. After the founding of the Sui Dynasty by Emperor Yang Jian, Zhao Cai rose through the ranks due to his military achievements, eventually becoming the Grand Minister of Ceremonies. He served under Prince Jin Yang Guang, and after Yang Guang became the Crown Prince, Zhao Cai was appointed as the Right Commanding Officer. After Yang Guang became Emperor (Emperor Yang of Sui), Zhao Cai was promoted to the Left Cavalry Commander and later to the Right Xiaowei General. Due to his previous service as a veteran official from the Emperor's court, Emperor Yang of Sui became increasingly close to him. Zhao Cai worked tirelessly and without complaint, earning a good reputation in various positions. Over a year later, he was promoted to the Right Houwei General. When Emperor Yang of Sui campaigned against the Tuyuhun, Zhao Cai was appointed as the Chief Military Commander, leading Liu Quan, the Minister of Imperial Guards, Ming Ya, the Minister of the Ministry of War, and others to set out from the Hehe Road. They encountered the Tuyuhun army and defeated them, leading to Zhao Cai being promoted to the Jinsi Guanglu Daifu. During the campaign in Liaodong, he set out twice from the Jieshi Road, and upon his return, he was appointed as the Left Houwei General, soon after rising to the Right Houwei Grand General. Whenever Emperor Yang of Sui went on tours, Zhao Cai always served as the scout, strictly enforcing the rules without favoritism. If he encountered the family members of officials violating the prohibitions, Zhao Cai would rebuke them harshly, even implicating many others. While many considered him overly harsh, no one dared to challenge him due to his strong adherence to principles.
When he was ten years old, Emperor Yang of Sui visited Fenyang Palace and left Zhao Cai to guard Luoyang, the Eastern Capital. Twelve years later, Emperor Yang was in Luoyang, preparing to go to Jiangdu. Zhao Cai saw that the situation was critical, the people were exhausted, the treasury was virtually empty, banditry was rampant, laws were failing to be enforced, and he was worried that the country was in danger. Recognizing his favor with the Emperor, he couldn't stand by and watch the country fall apart, so he advised, "The people are exhausted, the treasury is empty, bandits are rampant, and laws are not enforced. I hope Your Majesty will return to the capital to bring stability to the people. Although I am foolish, I dare to plead with my life!" Emperor Yang was furious and handed Zhao Cai over to his subordinates for punishment. After ten days, Emperor Yang's anger began to subside and he ordered Zhao Cai's release. Emperor Yang still went to Jiangdu, treating Zhao Cai with even greater favor.
After arriving in Jiangdu, the food supply ran out, the soldiers lost morale, and officials such as Yu Shiji and Yuan Chong repeatedly urged Emperor Yang to head to Danyang. In court, Zhao Cai strongly urged a return to the capital, while Yu Shiji pushed for crossing the river. Emperor Yang stayed silent, and Zhao Cai and Yu Shiji argued before leaving. When Yuwen Huaji assassinated the emperor, Zhao Cai was in the northern gardens. Yuwen Huaji sent Xiao Guo Xide Fang with a forged edict to arrest him. Upon hearing the edict, Zhao Cai stepped forward, and Xide Fang ordered his subordinates to seize him and bring him to Yuwen Huaji. Yuwen Huaji told Zhao Cai, "Today's matter can only be handled this way. I hope you won't hold it against me." Zhao Cai remained silent. Yuwen Huaji, frustrated by Zhao Cai's silence, contemplated killing him, but ultimately released him three days later. Zhao Cai retained his original position, feeling frustrated and discontented.
Zhao Cai once requested that the eighteen people (including Yang Shilan) who participated in the rebellion drink at the banquet hosted by Yu Wenhua, and Yu Wenhua agreed. Zhao Cai raised his glass and said, "These eighteen people can only do this once; there won't be a next time!" No one else said anything. When they arrived in Liaocheng, Zhao Cai fell ill. Soon after, Yu Wenhua was defeated by Dou Jiande, and Zhao Cai was captured again. He felt very resentful and died a few days later at the age of seventy-three.
During the Ren Shou and Da Ye eras of the Sui Dynasty, there were two generals named Lan Xingyu and Helan Fan, both of whom were Marquis Generals known for their integrity, courage to speak out against authority, and were famous for their competence.
Historical records state that Luo Hou, Fa Shang, Li Jing, Shi Xiong, and Murong Sanzang all relied on their bravery and skills in battle to achieve wealth and status in the country during times of war, all of which they fought for themselves. Ren Gong, who initially served as an official in Ji County due to his honesty and competence, rose in rank. However, when he arrived in Mayi, he fell from grace due to greed and stinginess; very few people can start well and finish well; it's a pity! Tu Wanxu and Dong Chun both rose to high positions and wealth because of their past accomplishments. Wanxu was reprimanded for requesting an end to the war, while Dong Chun was executed based on false accusations.
In the later years of the Da Ye period of the Sui Dynasty, banditry was rampant, making it hard to maintain order. Immorality and tyranny prevailed, and no one could control it! Though Zhao Cai was somewhat undisciplined, he had noble aspirations, was upright, and firmly resisted Shi Ji's suggestions, demonstrating his principles and unwillingness to simply follow others. Quan Wu usually acted inappropriately, did not abide by laws and regulations, and was eventually dismissed and humiliated; he only had himself to blame!
