Geng Yan, whose courtesy name was Bozhao, was from Maoling in Fufeng. His ancestors moved from Julu to Maoling during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han due to holding the position of a 2,000-shi official. His father Geng Kuang, whose courtesy name was Xiayou, became a langguan due to his expertise in Confucian classics, and he also studied the Tao Te Ching with Wang Ji, a cousin of Wang Mang, under the tutelage of Anqiu Xiansheng. Later, Geng Kuang became the commander of the Shuodiao cavalry. Geng Yan loved learning from a young age and inherited his father's scholarly pursuits. He often saw the county officials inspecting the cavalry, planting flags and beating drums, practicing horseback riding and archery, which fostered his ambition to command troops and engage in battles from an early age.
After Wang Mang's failure, Emperor Guangwu Liu Xuan ascended the throne. Many generals who had fought in various campaigns exploited their accomplishments to unilaterally alter local officials and laws. Geng Kuang, having been appointed an official during Wang Mang's reign, felt increasingly uneasy about this situation. At the age of twenty-one, Geng Yan bid farewell to his father Geng Kuang and went to see Emperor Guangwu with gifts, hoping to secure a reliable position for himself. When he reached Song County, he happened upon Wang Lang, who was impersonating Liu Ziyu, the son of Emperor Cheng of Han, and had rebelled in Handan. Geng Yan conferred with his fellow officials Sun Cang and Wei Bao: "Liu Ziyu is the legitimate descendant of Emperor Cheng of Han. Why aren’t we joining him instead of coming here?" Geng Yan drew his sword and said loudly, "Liu Ziyu is a fraud and will surely be captured! We should quickly go to Chang'an, report the troop strength in Yuyang and Shanggu to the court, then go to Taiyuan and Daijun, travel back and forth for a few days, gather elite cavalry, and crush those unruly masses. Isn’t that as easy as slicing through vegetables? I can see you don’t grasp the situation at all. If we keep this up, our entire family could be wiped out!" Sun Cang and Wei Bao disagreed with Geng Yan's opinion and fled, joining Wang Lang.
It is said that Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu was in Lulu (now Gaocheng, Hebei), which prompted Yan Dao to hurry north to meet him. Liu Xiu appointed him as a minor official in the palace. Yan Dao found the military officer Zhu You and asked him to help mobilize troops to quell the rebellion in Handan. Liu Xiu smiled and said, "Young man, you have a bold plan!" and subsequently summoned him several times, treating him with particular favor.
Later, Yan Dao followed Liu Xiu north to Jixian (now Beijing). Hearing that the rebel army in Handan was approaching, Liu Xiu wanted to retreat south, so he convened his subordinates to discuss countermeasures. Yan Dao said, "The rebel army is coming from the south; we can't run south! Peng Chong, the Prefect of Yuyang, is your fellow villager, and the Prefect of Shanggu is my father. If we mobilize the troops from these two counties, we can gather ten thousand cavalry, which is more than enough to deal with the rebels in Handan!" Liu Xiu's subordinates disagreed, stating, "Even if we die, we must face south. How can we run north? Isn't this falling into a trap?" Liu Xiu pointed to Yan Dao and said, "He is my guide in the north!" Consequently, chaos erupted in Jixian, so Liu Xiu had to retreat south, and his subordinates and soldiers scattered.
Yan Dao traveled to Changping where he found Kuang, persuading him to contact Peng Chong and mobilize two thousand cavalry and one thousand infantry from each side. Yan Dao, Jing Dan, Kuang, and the troops from Yuyang formed an alliance, marching south and defeating numerous generals under Wang Lang, slaying over four hundred officials, and capturing 125 official seals, two command tokens, and 30,000 enemy heads. They subdued twenty-two counties, including Zhuo, Zhongshan, Julu, Qinghe, and Hejian, and ultimately caught up with Liu Xiu in Guang'a.
At that time, Liu Xiu was attacking Wang Lang. He heard that the troops from Yuyang and Shanggu counties were coming to support Handan, and everyone was a bit worried. However, these troops all came to pay him a visit. Liu Xiu, upon seeing them, happily said, "This great achievement belongs to all the generals and soldiers from Yuyang and Shanggu!" So, he promoted them all to deputy generals and allowed them to return to lead their own armies. Kuang was appointed as the Grand General and Marquis of Xingyi, with the power to appoint his own officers. They later participated in the capture of Handan.
Emperor Gengshi sent someone to call the Prefect of Dai County, Zhao Yong. Kuang advised Zhao Yong not to go and instead urged him to seek refuge with Liu Xiu. Liu Xiu allowed Zhao Yong to return to Dai County to continue as Prefect. After Zhao Yong returned to the north, the magistrate of Dai County, Zhang Ye, rebelled and conspired with the Xiongnu and Wuhuan for help. Liu Xiu sent Kuang's brother, Shu Wei, as the General of Hu to fight Zhang Ye, and they defeated him. Zhao Yong then took back control of Dai County. At that time, more than 200,000 bandits launched an invasion of Shanggu from the north, and Kuang and Shu led troops to defeat them, causing the bandits to flee.
While Emperor Gengshi was in power, the reputation of Emperor Guangwu became increasingly prominent. Emperor Gengshi and his ministers started to get anxious, so they sent envoys to make Guangwu Emperor King Xiao, ordering him to withdraw his troops and have those meritorious generals return to Chang'an. At the same time, Miao Zeng was appointed as the Governor of Youzhou, Wei Shun as the Prefect of Shanggu, and Cai Chong as the Prefect of Yuyang, all of which were located in the northern regions.
At that time, Emperor Guangwu lived in the Wenming Palace in Handan and rested in bed during the day. There was a man named Yan who secretly ran to Emperor Guangwu's bed and had a private conversation with him. Yan said, "Now Emperor Gengshi has messed up the country; the relationships among court officials are in disarray, the generals are each doing their own thing near the capital, and the imperial relatives are running rampant in the capital. Emperor Gengshi's orders are not getting through; the local officials are acting on their own, the common people are confused about whom to follow, and scholars can't live in peace. Robberies are rampant, with property and women being looted; many of those with gold and silver treasures cannot return. The common people are longing for the Mang Dynasty! Now there are the Tongma and Chimei uprisings, totaling over a hundred thousand people combined; Emperor Gengshi cannot deal with them. They will soon fail! You rose up in Nanyang and defeated a million-strong army; now you have pacified Hebei and occupied the fertile areas. You are the righteous leader; many people respond to your call. Just give the word, and the world can be brought to peace. This world is too important to be left in the hands of others. I've heard that envoys from the west are urging you to withdraw your troops; you absolutely must not agree! Our soldiers have taken heavy losses; I hope to return to Youzhou to recruit more elite soldiers and achieve great things."
Emperor Guangwu was very pleased to hear this and immediately appointed Yan as the Grand General, letting him and Wu Han lead the army of ten counties in Youzhou to the north. Upon arriving in Shanggu, Yan killed Wei Shun and Cai Chong, while Wu Han took out Miao Zeng. Then, Yan marched the Youzhou army south, and together with Emperor Guangwu, defeated the Tongma, Gaohu, Chimei, Qingdu, and other rebel armies, and pursued Youlai, Daqiang, Wufan, and other troops to Yuanshi. Yan consistently led the elite cavalry at the forefront, defeating the enemy decisively each time.
Emperor Guangwu pursued the enemy in victory, engaging them in fierce battle on the riverbanks, where the enemy was in a critical situation and fought desperately. At that time, the soldiers were already exhausted, leading to a major defeat and forcing a retreat to Fanyang. They took several days to regain their strength before the enemy finally withdrew. Emperor Guangwu then pursued the enemy to Rongcheng, Xiaoguangyang, and Anci, where he continued to engage in continuous battles and eventually defeated them at Ludong and Pinggu, killing over 13,000 enemy soldiers. They then pursued the remaining forces to Wuzhong and Tuyin between Youbeiping, before returning victorious. The remaining forces scattered to Liaoxi and Liaodong, some of whom were attacked by the Wuhuan and Mo tribes, leading to their near annihilation.
Upon ascending the throne, Emperor Guangwu immediately appointed Yan as the Grand General of Jiawei. Together with General Jingdan and General Chen Jun, they launched an attack on the rebels at Aocang, leading to their surrender. In Jianwu's second year, Yan was further appointed as the Marquis of Haozhi, with the fiefs of Haozhi and Meiyang counties.
In the third year of Jianwu, General Yancen led his troops out of Wuguan to attack Nanyang, quickly capturing several cities. Du Hong and his troops from Rang County also allied with General Yancen. Yan and Yancen fought a fierce battle in Rang County, achieving a significant victory, killing over 3,000 enemy soldiers, capturing more than 5,000 enemy troops alive, and seizing over 300 seals. Du Hong surrendered, while Yancen was able to escape to Dongyang with only a few cavalry soldiers.
Geng Yan followed the emperor to Chongling and took the opportunity to volunteer, stating that he wanted to go north to recover the Shanggu prefecture, where the rebellion had not yet started, pacify Peng Chong in Yuyang, capture Zhang Feng in Zhuo prefecture, and then return to recover Fuping and Huosuo. Finally, he aimed to attack Zhang Bu to completely pacify the territory of Qi. The emperor admired his ambition and agreed to his request. In the fourth year of Jianwu, the emperor ordered Geng Yan to attack Yuyang. Geng Yan, considering that his father was stationed in Shanggu and had a longstanding grudge with Peng Chong, and that his brothers were not in the capital, hesitated and felt reluctant to go alone, so he requested to return to Luoyang. The emperor replied, "General, your whole family has served the country, and wherever you go, you can defeat the enemy, achieving remarkable military success. What worries or doubts make you feel you must return to Luoyang? Moreover, you and Wang Chang are stationed together in Zhuo prefecture; think carefully about your battle strategy!" When the emperor heard that Geng Yan requested to return to the capital, he felt uneasy and sent Geng Yan's brother, Geng Shu, to serve in the palace. The emperor was very pleased and appointed Geng Kuang, Geng Yan's brother, as the Marquis of Yumei. He then ordered Geng Yan to attack Wandu, Gu'an, and over ten bandit groups in the western mountain region, all of which were defeated.
At that time, General of the Imperial Army Ji Zun was stationed in Liangxiang, while General of the Brave Cavalry Liu Xi was stationed in Yangxiang to fend off Peng Chong. Peng Chong sent his brother Chun to lead over two thousand Xiongnu cavalry, while he himself led tens of thousands of troops, splitting into two routes to attack Ji Zun and Liu Xi. The Xiongnu cavalry passed through the military stronghold, where Geng Shu suddenly attacked and defeated them, killing two Xiongnu kings, forcing Peng Chong to retreat. Geng Kuang then joined Geng Shu in attacking Peng Chong, recapturing the military stronghold. In the fifth year of Jianwu, Peng Chong died, and the Emperor deeply valued Geng Kuang's contributions, dispatching an official to greet him and granting him a mansion, enabling him to attend court sessions. At the same time, Geng Shu was appointed as the Marquis of Muping. The Emperor then sent Geng Yan and Wu Han to attack the rebel forces in Fuping and Huosuo, securing a decisive victory in Pingyuan, capturing over forty thousand people.
The Emperor ordered Yang Zhen to attack Zhang Bu. Yang Zhen gathered the defeated soldiers, formed an army, appointed officers and commanders, and then marched the troops east with Cavalry Captain Liu Xin and Taishan Prefect Chen Jun, crossing the Yellow River at Chaoyang Bridge.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Bu stationed his general Fei Yi's army in Lixia, deployed troops in Zhu'a, and established numerous camps near Zhongcheng at Mount Tai, preparing to confront Yang Zhen. After crossing the Yellow River, Yang Zhen first attacked Zhu'a, besieging the city from dawn and breaching its defenses by noon. He intentionally breached a section of the city wall, allowing Zhu'a's defenders to flee back to Zhongcheng. Upon hearing that Zhu'a had fallen, the residents of Zhongcheng were filled with fear and abandoned their camps in a panic. Fei Yi sent his brother Fei Gan to guard Juri. Yang Zhen's forces advanced on Juri, ordering soldiers to cut down a large number of trees and threatening to use them to fill the city moat.
After a few days, a defector reported that Fei Yi had heard that Yang Zhen was planning to attack Juri and was on his way to provide reinforcements. Yang Zhen ordered the army to hurry to construct siege equipment and informed all troops that a full-scale assault on Juri City would commence in three days. He discreetly released some captured soldiers to return and relay the message. These individuals informed Fei Yi of Yang Zhen's strategy, and sure enough, on the agreed day, Fei Yi personally led more than 30,000 elite soldiers to come to the rescue. Yang Zhen was pleased and said to his generals, "The reason I built siege weapons was to lure Fei Yi here. Now that he has arrived, this is exactly what I intended." So he left 3,000 men to guard Juri, led the elite soldiers to the high ground, occupied favorable terrain, and fought against Fei Yi, winning a great victory and killing Fei Yi on the spot.
Yang Zhen then displayed Fei Yi's severed head at the outskirts of Juri City, instilling great fear among the populace. Fei Gan retreated with all his troops back to Zhang Bu. Yang Zhen then seized their supplies and attacked the remaining camps that had not yet been conquered, ultimately subduing over forty camps and finally pacifying Jinan.
Now, Zhang Bu established a large encampment in Juxian and had his younger brother Zhang Lan stationed with 20,000 elite soldiers in Xi'an. The prefects of various counties led more than 10,000 people to defend Linzi, with the two locations situated forty miles apart. General Yan, on the other hand, encamped between the two cities. After assessing the situation, he noted that while Xi'an City was small, its defenses were formidable, and Zhang Lan's soldiers were elite; Linzi, despite its impressive name, was, in fact, easier to assault. So he commanded all officers to launch an assault on Xi'an in five days.
After Zhang Lan heard the news, he quickly strengthened his guard day and night, increasing his alertness. On the agreed day, in the dead of night, General Yan ordered all the generals to grab a bite to eat and head straight to Linzi at dawn. At this time, the guard Xun Liang and others were anxious, saying they should quickly attack Xi'an! General Yan said, "No. They must know that we are going to attack them in Xi'an and must be preparing day and night; they won't expect us to go to Linzi, and they'll be caught by surprise. We can take Linzi in just one day. Once we take Linzi, Xi'an will become a lone city, cutting off all contact between Zhang Lan and Zhang Bu. They will definitely flee; this is a classic case of 'killing two birds with one stone'! If we attack Xi'an first, and if we can't capture it, a prolonged siege under a fortified city will result in heavy casualties. Even if we can capture it, Zhang Lan may lead his army back to Linzi, join forces with the troops there, observe our situation, and with no supplies in the rear, within ten days, without even fighting, we’ll end up trapped. The methods you all suggested, I don't think will work." So, he ordered the attack on Linzi, and within half a day, it was taken, and then they marched into the city to station. Zhang Lan heard that Linzi had fallen; he was terrified and quickly led the remaining troops back to Juxian. General Yan instructed the entire army not to loot freely; they must wait until the infantry arrived before taking action, in order to provoke the infantry. When the infantry heard this, they laughed heartily, saying, "Before, I led more than 100,000 troops, including You Lai and Da Tong, and we could charge into the enemy camp and win battles directly. Now, we have fewer troops than Da Geng, and everyone is exhausted; what's there to be afraid of!" So, he led his three brothers Lan, Hong, Shou, as well as the leader of the original Da Tong army, Zhong Yi, with a total of 200,000 troops, arriving at the east of Linzi City, ready to take on General Yan.
General Yan first sent troops to Zishui River to encounter Chongyi. The cavalry wanted to launch a fierce attack, but General Yan was worried about dampening the enemy's morale. He ordered the infantry not to advance, intentionally feigning weakness to inflate the enemy's confidence. Then he withdrew to a small city and deployed his troops inside. The infantry, with high morale, directly attacked General Yan's camp and engaged in battle with Liu Xin and others. General Yan ascended the crumbling watchtower of the palace to observe and saw the intense battle. He personally led his elite troops from the east to charge horizontally at the infantry camp, securing a decisive victory. An arrow hit General Yan's thigh, and he used his dagger to sever it. His guards were oblivious to what had transpired. The battle did not end until evening.
The next morning, General Yan led his troops out to battle again. At this time, the emperor was in Lu, and upon hearing that General Yan was under attack by the infantry, he personally went to rescue, but had not arrived yet. Chen Jun advised General Yan, "The enemy forces are strong; it's better to close the camp gates to rest and wait for reinforcements." General Yan said, "The emperor is about to arrive; we should butcher cattle, brew wine, and await the officials. How can we let our father worry because of bandits?" So, he went to battle again, fighting from morning until night, achieving another complete victory, slaying countless enemies, leaving the city’s ditches overflowing with corpses. General Yan knew that the infantry was exhausted and on the verge of retreating, so he had troops ambushed on the left and right wings waiting for the opportunity.
At dusk, the infantry indeed retreated, and the ambushers immediately struck, chasing them to Jumei River. The road for eighty to ninety miles was strewn with corpses, and they captured more than two thousand supply vehicles. The infantry fled back to their base, and the brothers each led their troops away.
A few days later, the emperor's carriage arrived in Linzi, where he personally inspected the army, and the courtiers gathered together. The emperor said to Geng Yan, "Han Xin laid the foundation of the Han Dynasty by capturing Lixia in the past; now General, you have conquered Zhu A, which marks the start of your distinguished career. Both of these places are on the western border of Qi State, and the achievements can be compared. However, Han Xin attacked enemies who had already surrendered, while you directly defeated strong enemies; your achievements are even more remarkable than Han Xin's! Also, Tian Heng killed Li Sheng, and later Tian Heng surrendered. Emperor Gaozu ordered the Guard not to pursue Tian Heng's grudges. Zhang Bu also killed Fu Long before; if Zhang Bu surrenders now, I will definitely order the Grand Minister to pardon his crimes; these two cases are quite similar. General, you formulated this great strategy in Nanyang before, always thinking it would be difficult to succeed, but those who have aspirations eventually achieve success!" Geng Yan then pursued Zhang Bu again, and Zhang Bu fled to Pingshou, where he was forced to surrender, bare-chested and carrying only an axe and his weapons. Geng Yan escorted Zhang Bu to the emperor's palace, then led the army into Pingshou City, raised the flags and war drums of the twelve counties, and ordered Zhang Bu's soldiers to assemble under their respective county flags. At that time, there were more than 100,000 people and over 7,000 carriages; Geng Yan disbanded them and sent them back to their hometowns. Geng Yan then led his troops to Chengyang, defeated the remnants of the Five Schools, and pacified all of Qi before returning to the capital.
Six years later, Geng Yan resisted Wei Xiao in the west, stationed his troops in Qixian. Eight years later, he accompanied the emperor to Shanglong. The following year, he and the Zhonglang General traveled to She together to split their forces and inspect the fortifications, all of which they successfully captured. Geng Yan pacified a total of forty-six counties, captured three hundred cities, and never suffered a defeat.
After twelve years, Geng Yan fell ill, and the emperor personally visited him multiple times. The emperor also promoted his brothers Geng Guang and Geng Ju to the rank of Zhonglang General. The six Geng brothers all occupied high positions, and the emperor personally sent them medicine. At that time, people considered this a great honor. After Geng Yan passed away, he was posthumously granted the title of Marquis of Lie, and his youngest son Geng Ba inherited his title.
In the thirteenth year, the emperor increased Geng Yan's land and household registration and bestowed upon him the insignia of Grand General. Later, Geng Yan resigned from the position of Grand General and served in the court as a marquis. Whenever differing opinions arose, the emperor summoned Geng Yan and asked for his advice. Geng Yan passed away at fifty-six during the first year of Yongping and was posthumously honored as the Marquis of Min. His son Geng Zhong inherited his title. Geng Zhong served as the Commandant of Cavalry, fought against the Xiongnu in the Tianshan region, and achieved significant accomplishments. After Geng Zhong passed away, his son Geng Feng inherited the title; after Geng Feng passed away, his son Geng Liang inherited the title, and Geng Liang had a son named Geng Wujin. During the Yanguang period, Geng Liang married Princess Puyang Chang, the sister of Emperor An of Han, and rose to the position of Palace Attendant. After Geng Liang passed away, his son Geng Xie inherited the title.
Marquis of Yumi Geng Ba died, and his son Geng Wenjin inherited the title. Geng Wenjin passed away, and his son Geng Xi inherited the title. Geng Xi passed away, and his son Geng Xian inherited the title, becoming the Left Commander of the Imperial Guard. Geng Xian passed away, and his son Geng Yuan inherited the title. Geng Yuan married Princess Changshe, the sister of Emperor Huan of Han, and also became the Governor of Hedong. Later, Cao Cao executed numerous members of the Geng family, but only Geng Hong, Geng Yuan’s grandson, survived.
Alas, the Geng family has experienced many rises and falls over several generations! Marquis Geng Shu of Mou Ping passed away, and his son Geng Xi inherited the title. Geng Xi married Princess Longlü, daughter of Emperor Han Xianzong. After Geng Xi's death, his son Geng Bao inherited the title. Geng Bao's sister became the consort of Prince Xiaowang of Qinghe. When Emperor An ascended the throne, he bestowed the title of Emperor upon Prince Xiaowang; his mother became Empress Xiaode, and Geng Bao's sister became a high-ranking noblewoman of Ganyuan. Given Geng Bao's close ties to the imperial family, he was appointed as the commander of the Left Cavalry of the Yulin and rose to the rank of Grand General. However, Geng Bao aligned himself with the court favorites and conspired with the Palace Attendant Fan Feng, the Emperor's wet nurse Wang Sheng, and others to frame and depose the Crown Prince, as well as falsely accuse the Grand Commandant Yang Zhen. Many people criticized him at the time. Geng Bao's son Geng Cheng inherited the title of Marquis and became the Marquis of Linlü, rising to the position of Attendant. After Emperor An's death, Empress Dowager Yan believed that Geng Bao and others were colluding with traitors and committing many wrongdoings, so she demoted Geng Bao and Geng Cheng's official positions and reduced their titles to Viscounts, sending them back to their hometown. Geng Bao took his own life on the journey home, and his fiefdom was also revoked. Later, the high-ranking noblewoman of Ganyuan repeatedly advocated for the Geng family. In the third year of the Yangjia era, Emperor Shun reappointed Geng Ji, Geng Bao's son, as the Marquis of Mouping, and made him an Attendant. Geng Heng was titled as the Viscount of Yangting, and Geng Cheng became the Yulin Zhonglangjiang. After the high-ranking noblewoman passed away, General Liang Ji demanded the treasures of the noblewoman from Geng Cheng. When Geng Cheng refused, Liang Ji became angry and had the relevant authorities impeach Geng Cheng, removing his title. Frightened, Geng Cheng fled and sought refuge in Rangdi. Several years later, Liang Ji located Geng Cheng and eliminated Geng Cheng and his entire family, totaling over ten members.
Ah, how unpredictable life is! The narrative mentions: Han Xin, known as the Marquis of Huaiyin, accurately analyzed Xiang Yu and judged the situation correctly, so he knew that Liu Bang would ultimately take over the world. Geng Yan made decisions in Hebei and formulated strategies in Nanyang, which further suggested that Emperor Guangwu would eventually succeed. However, even though Geng Yan conquered the entire Qi region himself, he no longer had any major achievements. Did he lack ambition? Or was the situation at the time not allowing him to advance further? The Geng family had been generals for three generations, which is considered taboo in Daoist philosophy, but the Geng clan has continued to thrive based on their achievements and reputation. Were they waging war to end violence? Why was the Geng family so prosperous? It truly leaves one pondering endlessly!
National Uncle, also known as Dou Rong, became an attendant to the emperor in the fourth year of Jianwu's reign. Emperor Guangwu thought he was capable, so he promoted him to the position of Attendant of the Yellow Gate, and later he was promoted to the position of Sheshe Xiaowei. In the seventh year of Jianwu, the position of Sheshe Xiaowei was discontinued, and he was appointed as the Duke of the Imperial Stables. After his father passed away, he should have inherited the title according to tradition, but he submitted a memorial stating that his father favored his younger brother Dou Ba more, and voluntarily requested his brother to inherit, which the emperor consented to. Afterwards, he served as county magistrate in Dunqiu, Yangzhai, and Shangcai, where he received praise from local officials and the populace. Later, he was summoned to serve as the General of the Five Officials' Household.
At that time, the Wuhuan and Xianbei tribes frequently harassed the border. Dou Rong had many ideas about border affairs and often made suggestions to the emperor, who greatly valued him. Later, the Xiongnu Chanyu Huhanye proclaimed himself as the Chanyu of Huhanye and pledged allegiance to the Han dynasty, requesting tribute and assistance against the northern Xiongnu. This matter was brought before the court officials for discussion. Most people felt that the empire had just been pacified and its strength was depleted, making it hard to discern the true intentions of these minority tribes, leading them to believe they should not agree. Only Dou Rong said, "I believe we should accept their request like Emperor Xiaoxuan did, let them defend against the Xianbei in the east and the Xiongnu in the north, rallying all minority tribes to restore stability in the border regions, ending the border conflicts; this is a strategy for lasting peace!" The emperor accepted his suggestion and officially appointed Bi as the Southern Chanyu. From then on, the Wuhuan and Xianbei tribes kept the border secure, and the northern Xiongnu retreated far away, resulting in greater stability along the borders. In the 27th year of Jianwu, Dou Rong succeeded Feng Qin as the Grand Minister of Agriculture. He also suggested to the emperor to establish the General of the Northern Expeditions and the Left and Right Commanders stationed in the Wuyuan region to prevent any fleeing Xiongnu. In the first year of Yongping, Dou Rong passed away. Emperor Ming of Han fondly remembered Dou Rong's counsel and later indeed established the General of the Northern Expeditions and the Left and Right Commanders, just as Dou Rong had suggested. Dou Rong was survived by two sons: Dou Bing and Dou Kui.
Dou Bing, courtesy name Bochu, was tall and had an eight-foot waist. He was well-read and particularly skilled in explaining the "Simafa" (Strategies of Sima), with extensive knowledge of military strategy. Due to his father's connections, he became a court official and often advised the emperor on military strategies. He always said that the root of the country's financial waste and border troubles lay with the Xiongnu. To defeat the enemy, one must take the initiative and attack, which is how strong nations operate. Emperor Ming of Han had originally planned to launch a northern expedition and secretly agreed with his views. During the Yongping era, the emperor called him to the palace, inquired about his previous recommendations and strategies, and appointed him as a ceremonial minister, trusting him greatly. Whenever the court ministers discussed matters, the emperor often called Dou Bing to the palace to discuss the border situation and often adopted his suggestions.
In the fifteenth year of Yongping, Dou Bing was appointed as the Commandant of Cavalry. In the sixteenth year of Yongping, he was joined by Vice Commandant of Cavalry Qin Peng and Commandant of Chariots Dou Gu to lead an expedition against the Northern Xiongnu. The Xiongnu fled, and they achieved victory without fighting.
In the summer of 17 BC, the court ordered Duan Bing and Geng Gu to lead 14,000 cavalry to attack Cheshi again. Cheshi had a king and a former king, with the former king being the king's son, and their palaces were more than 500 miles apart. Geng Gu thought the journey to attack the king was too far, given the tough terrain and harsh conditions, so he wanted to attack the former king first. However, Dou Bing disagreed, insisting they should attack the king first to cut off the root of their power, which would force the former king to surrender. Geng Gu was indecisive. Dou Bing suddenly stood up and declared, "We should attack the king first!" He then mounted his horse, led the troops north, and the other troops had no choice but to follow suit. They plundered their way through, slaughtering thousands and capturing over 100,000 cattle and horses. Terrified, the king came out to meet Dou Bing with a few hundred riders.
At this time, Geng Gu's Sima Su'an wanted to credit all the achievements to Geng Gu, so he quickly ran to An De and said, "Among the noble generals of the Han Dynasty, only the Chariot Commander, the Emperor's brother-in-law who holds the title of Marquis of Tong, should be the first to surrender." Upon hearing this, An De hurried back and sent other generals to greet Duan Bing. When Duan Bing heard this, he was furious, put on his armor, mounted his horse, led his elite cavalry straight to Geng Gu's camp, and shouted loudly, "The King of Cheshi has surrendered, but has not yet arrived. I'm going to cut off his head!" Geng Gu was startled and said, "Don't act impulsively; you'll mess things up!" Duan Bing replied loudly, "Accepting a surrender is just like fighting a battle—there's no room for ambiguity!" After speaking, he rushed over. An De, terrified, ran out, took off his hat, and clung to the horse's leg in surrender. Duan Bing was about to take An De to Geng Gu when the former king also came to surrender. In this way, the Cheshi Kingdom was subdued, and the army returned in triumph.
In the autumn of the second year, Emperor Han Suzong ascended to the throne, appointing Duan Bing as the General of the Western Expedition, ordering him to inspect the border of Liangzhou, comfort and reward the Qiang and Hu people stationed at the border, and then stationed in Jiuquan to support the Wujijiaowei.
In the first year of Jianchu, Duan Bing was appointed as the General of the Liaodong Expedition. He served for seven years, and the Xiongnu people greatly admired and trusted him. Later, he was summoned back to the court to serve as the Commandant of the Imperial Guards, gaining the Emperor's trust and favor. Whenever the Emperor visited the counties or palaces, Duan Bing always accompanied the Emperor with his guard. The Emperor even appointed all three of his sons as court officials. In the second year of Zhanghe, Duan Bing was appointed once again as the General of the Western Expedition, assisting the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Dou Xian, in defeating the Northern Xiongnu, as noted in "The Biography of Dou Xian." Finally, Duan Bing was granted the title of Marquis of Meiyang, with a fief of three thousand households.
He has a brave and robust character and is efficient and decisive in handling matters. In battle and during marches, he always leads the charge, donning his armor; even when resting, he doesn't set up camp; instead, he sends scouts to gather intelligence, clarifying objectives and issuing commands. When an alarm sounds, the army can quickly form ranks, and the soldiers are willing to go to great lengths for him. He held the position of Guanglu Xun for two years, succeeding Huan Yu. He passed away in the summer of his second year in office, at the age of over fifty. The court bestowed a fine coffin and jade burial garments upon him, sent royal craftsmen to build his tomb, sounded gongs to announce his passage, and dispatched over five hundred cavalrymen to escort his burial. He was posthumously honored as "Henghou." When the Xiongnu learned of his death, the entire nation mourned; some even wept uncontrollably, blood pouring from their faces.
His eldest son, Chong, succeeded him in title. Later, Dou Xian was dismissed from office, and due to his close ties with the Dou family, his title was also revoked, ultimately becoming the Prefect of Han Yang.
His great-grandson, Ji, earned a good reputation from a young age and was summoned to serve in the government. Cao Cao held him in high regard, and he gradually advanced to the position of Shao Fu. Ji suspected Cao Cao of wanting to usurp the Han throne. In the 23rd year of the Jian'an era, he conspired with Imperial Physician Ling Ji Ping and Minister of Justice Wei Huang to take up arms against Cao Cao, but the conspiracy failed, leading to the annihilation of his entire family. At that time, many prominent families were implicated and destroyed because of their ties to the Ji family.
Kui, styled Ding Gong, was very courageous from a young age. In the first year of Yongyuan, he served as the acting Sima of the chariot and cavalry general Dou Xian, participating in the war against the Xiongnu in the north, and later was promoted to Cavalry Commander. Three years later, Dou Xian once again led troops to Hexi, appointing Kui as the Grand General and Left Colonel. Leading eight hundred elite cavalry, he set out from Juyan Pass and headed straight to the court of the Northern Chanyu, killing over five thousand, including Enshi and Mingwang, at Jinwei Mountain, while the Chanyu fled with only a handful of cavalry. They captured a vast amount of Xiongnu treasures, returning after a journey of over five thousand li, a distance never before reached by Han Dynasty troops. Therefore, Kui was granted the title of Marquis of Suyi. Later, the Northern Chanyu's younger brother, King Zuo Lu Li, rebelled and declared himself Chanyu, leading over twenty thousand men from eight tribes to the shores of Pulei Sea, sending envoys to the Han Dynasty seeking peace. The court appointed Kui as General of the Household Affairs, tasking him with escorting these Xiongnu envoys. After Dou Xian was dismissed from his post, Kui was also dismissed and his title was stripped. He first served as the Chief of Changshui and was later promoted to Governor of Wuyuan, and then transferred to Governor of Liaodong. In the first year of Yuanxing, the Mo people invaded the Liaodong Commandery, and he led troops to pursue and kill the enemy leader. In the third year of Yongchu, the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu Tan rebelled, and the court ordered him to lead Xianbei troops and troops from various commanderies to station at Yanmen Pass, together with the chariot and cavalry general He Xi to suppress the rebels. He Xi assigned him to lead the vanguard and also sent his Sima Geng Pu and Liu Zhi to lead two thousand men and horses to advance alongside him.
Upon arriving at the old city of the tributary state, the Chanyu sent Wang Rilü of Dayan with over three thousand men to intercept the Han army. He personally attacked the enemy's left flank, ordering the Xianbei troops to attack the right flank, causing the enemy to break and flee. The Han army pursued and killed over a thousand men, including six enemy kings, capturing over a thousand Qionglu carts, as well as a large number of horses and livestock. Many of the Xianbei horses were tired and sick, which led to their desertion. Because he failed to completely annihilate the enemy, he was transferred from Liaodong to serve as the Prefect of Yunzhong, later becoming the General of the Pacification of Liaodong.
This man was brave and imposing, often clashing with Colonel Zheng Jian of the Xiongnu. In the first year of Yuanchu, he was imprisoned by the court due to conflicts with Zheng Jian, and was ultimately sentenced to a reduced punishment of two hundred lashes. During the Jianguang period, he was appointed as the General of the Pacification of Liaodong. At that time, the Xianbei people attacked and killed the Prefect of Yunzhong, Cheng Yan, and besieged the Wuhuan Captain Xu Chang in Macheng. He and the Governor of Youzhou, Pang Can, went to rescue them, chasing the enemy beyond the border and then returning. Later, he was dismissed from his position for violating the law, and ultimately passed away at home.
Speaking of Gong, his courtesy name was Bozong, and he was the son of Guang, the younger brother of the emperor. He lost his father at a young age. He had a bold and strategic personality, suitable for a military commander. In the winter of the seventeenth year of Yongping, he joined forces with Cavalry Commander Liu Zhang to attack the Che Shi and was appointed as Sima. Together with Attendant Cavalry Dou Gu and his cousin, Attendant Cavalry Bing, they defeated the Che Shi and compelled them to surrender. The court then established two official positions, the Protector-General of the Western Regions and Colonel of Wujia, and appointed him as Colonel of Wujia stationed in Jinpu City of the Houwang tribe. The courtier Guan Chong was also appointed as Colonel of Wujia and stationed in Liuzhong City of the Qianwang tribe, each with several hundred soldiers. Upon taking office, he wrote a letter to the Wusun, displaying the might of the Han Dynasty. The people under the Great Kunmi were very pleased and sent valuable gifts, including fine horses and precious items given to the princess during Emperor Xuan's reign, and requested that their sons be sent to serve the emperor in attendance. He then sent people with gold and silver treasures to welcome the prince of Wusun to the Han Dynasty.
In the following March, the Northern Xiongnu sent their King Zuo Luli with twenty thousand cavalry to attack the Che Shi. The court sent Sima with three hundred soldiers to rescue them, but they were utterly defeated by many Xiongnu cavalry on the way.
The Xiongnu then defeated the King of the Che Shi, Ande, and attacked Jinpu City. General Gong fought to the death on the city walls, coating poison on the arrowheads and shouting to the Xiongnu, "The Han's arrows are divine!" He then used powerful crossbows to shoot at them. When the Xiongnu saw the wounds from the arrows, which were bubbling, they were terrified. Just then, a storm hit, and General Gong took advantage of it to attack them, taking down many Xiongnu soldiers. Terrified, the Xiongnu said to each other, "The soldiers of the Han army are divine soldiers, terrifying!" And so, they retreated.
General Gong discovered a small waterway next to Shule City that could be used for defense. In May, he led his troops to occupy the area. In July, the Xiongnu attacked Gong again. Gong recruited thousands of volunteers and directly confronted the Xiongnu cavalry, forcing them to scatter and flee. The Xiongnu then blocked the waterway near the city. Despite digging a 15-zhang deep well, the soldiers were thirsty and hungry, resorting to drinking the juice extracted from horse manure. General Gong looked up to the heavens with a sigh and prayed for water, and soon a spring gushed out. The soldiers cheered, and Gong had them splash water in front of the Xiongnu, who, believing it was a divine miracle, retreated. At the same time, Yanqi and Kucha attacked Protector-General Chen Mu, while the Northern Xiongnu besieged Guan Chong in Liuzhong. With Emperor Xian of Han dead and no reinforcements arriving, the Cheshi rebels teamed up with the Xiongnu to attack Gong. However, with the help of a Han woman who discreetly provided Gong with information and food, Gong and his soldiers repelled the attacks. After months of hardship, they resorted to boiling their armor and crossbows to eat the leather lining. Despite their dire circumstances, Gong and his soldiers remained united, facing life and death together. As time went on, some perished, leaving only a few dozen survivors.
The Chanyu knew that Gong was at the end of his rope and wanted him to surrender, so he sent envoys to persuade Gong to surrender, saying: "If you surrender, I will appoint you as the King of Baiwu and give you a princess to marry." Gong tricked the envoy into entering the city, personally killed him, and then hung his body on the city wall for public display. When the Xiongnu officials saw this, they wept and fled. The Chanyu, enraged, increased troops to besiege Gong, but still could not defeat him.
At first, Guan Chong wrote a letter requesting reinforcements. At that time, Tang Suzong had just ascended to the throne and summoned his ministers to discuss the matter. Sikong Diwu Lun believed they should not be rescued. Situ Baoyu said: "Now, sending people to such a dangerous place and abandoning them in an emergency situation will encourage the barbarians outside and chill the hearts of those loyal subjects who are willing to die for the emperor. Even if we ignore this for now, what will the emperor do if the Xiongnu invade again? Furthermore, the two armies in Guanzhong have been reduced to just a few dozen men each. The Xiongnu have besieged them for over ten days without success. This is the result of their full efforts in fighting against a more numerous enemy! We can order the Prefects of Dunhuang and Jiuquan to each lead two thousand elite cavalry, bring additional banners, take a shortcut, and quickly advance to relieve them from the siege. The Xiongnu are already exhausted and will likely avoid a direct confrontation. Within forty days, it will be enough for them to safely retreat back to the pass." The emperor believed that Baoyu's words made sense.
Therefore, General Geng Bing was dispatched to guard Jiuquan, temporarily assuming the role of Prefect; Qin Peng and envoys Wang Meng and Huangfu Yuan led the troops from Zhangye, Jiuquan, Dunhuang, and Shanshan, totaling more than seven thousand men. In the first month of the Jianchu era, they attacked Cheshi with Liu Zhong, assaulted Jiaohe City, beheaded 3,800 enemies, captured over 3,000, and seized 37,000 camels, donkeys, horses, cattle, and sheep. The northern Xiongnu were terrified and fled, while Cheshi surrendered to the court.
Geng Guanchong has passed away. When General Meng and his men heard about it, they decided to return with their troops. Previously, Geng Gong sent military officer Fan Qiang to Dunhuang to fetch the soldiers' winter uniforms. Fan Qiang was accompanying General Wang Meng beyond the border. Fan Qiang insisted on meeting Geng Gong, and the other generals were hesitant to leave first. So, two thousand men were assigned to Fan Qiang to go north to meet Geng Gong. They encountered heavy snow over a foot deep, and the troops struggled to arrive. The city heard the sound of soldiers and horses in the middle of the night, thinking the Xiongnu had come, and they were terrified. Fan Qiang shouted from afar, "I am Fan Qiang! The Han Dynasty has sent troops to meet the Colonel!" The people in the city all cheered, opened the city gates, and cried tears of joy. The next day, they all returned together. The Xiongnu soldiers chased them, engaging in skirmishes along the way. The soldiers were already hungry and tired, and when they set out from Shule, there were twenty-six of them, but many had perished or been injured along the way. Three months later, they reached Yumen Pass with only thirteen survivors. Their clothes and shoes were tattered, they were thin and weak, appearing worn and weary. General Zheng Zhong washed them and provided clean clothes for Geng Gong and his men. He then wrote to the court, "General Geng Gong led a small number of soldiers to defend the isolated city, surrounded by the Xiongnu, facing tens of thousands of enemy troops for several months or even more than a year, exhausted both physically and mentally. They dug for water, boiled crossbow arrows to fill their hunger, in a dire situation with scant hope of survival. They killed and wounded thousands of Xiongnu troops, ultimately preserving their loyalty and bravery, upholding the honor of the Great Han. General Geng Gong's loyalty and righteousness are rare both in ancient times and today! He deserves to be awarded a high title to motivate the soldiers."
After Geng Gong arrived in Luoyang, Bao Yu reported to the court that Geng Gong's moral integrity exceeded that of Su Wu, and he should be heavily rewarded. Therefore, the court appointed him as the Cavalry Commander, Geng Gong's Marshal Shi Xiu was appointed as the Prefect of Luoyang, Zhang Feng as the Marshal of Yong Camp, military officer Fan Qiang as the Co-Prefect, and the remaining nine were all appointed to the Imperial Guards. Geng Gong's mother had passed away earlier, and when he returned to the court, he followed the ritual to handle the funeral for his mother. The court also ordered the General of the Five Officials to send beef and wine, allowing him to be exempt from the customary mourning period.
Next year, I will be transferred to the position of Colonel of Changshui. However, that autumn, the Qiang tribes of Jincheng and Longxi revolted. I quickly wrote a memorial, detailing my thoughts and strategies to the emperor, who summoned me to inquire about the situation. The emperor then sent me with three thousand soldiers from the Five Colonels to assist General Cheqi Ma Fang in suppressing the Western Qiang. I stationed at Fuhan and engaged in multiple battles with the Qiang people.
The following autumn, the Shaodang Qiang surrendered, Ma Fang returned to the capital, and I stayed behind to continue fighting those who had not surrendered. I captured more than a thousand enemy combatants, seized more than forty thousand cattle and sheep, and thirteen Qiang factions, amounting to tens of thousands of individuals, surrendered to me. When I first arrived in Longxi, I submitted a memorial to the emperor, stating, "Former Duke Anfeng Dou Rong had a deep understanding of the Qiang and Hu peoples' mindset when he was in the Western Province. Now, the current Grand Herald, Gu, is his descendant. His merits in the previous attack on Baishan were outstanding among the three military divisions. He should be given an important official position to pacify the various tribes in Liangzhou. Let General Cheqi Ma Fang station troops in Hanyang to demonstrate our power." As a result, I incurred Ma Fang's displeasure.
When Ma Fang returned to the capital, the camp officer, Li Tan, was ordered to report to the emperor that I was neglecting my military duties and voicing my grievances. The emperor became angry, had me arrested and thrown into prison, stripped me of my official position, and sent me back to my hometown, where I ultimately passed away.
My son Pu has been appointed as the Commander of the Tiger Teeth in Jingzhao. In the second year of the Yuan era, he fought against the rebellious Qiang people in Dingxi City, but the army was defeated, and he lost his life in battle. The Emperor then appointed my grandsons Hong and Ye as attendants.
Ye, styled Jiyu. When Emperor Shun of Han just ascended the throne, he became the General of the Wuhuan. At that time, the Xianbei people frequently harassed the border and even killed the Governor of Daijun. Ye led the Wuhuan people and soldiers from various counties to conduct an expedition, achieving a resounding victory over the Xianbei. The Xianbei were so terrified that tens of thousands surrendered in Liaodong. Since then, every time he went to war, he won, and his reputation struck fear in the north. Later, he was promoted to General of Liaodong.
The Geng family, from the revival of the Eastern Han Dynasty to the end of Jian'an, produced two great generals, nine generals, thirteen ministers, husbands of three princesses, nineteen marquises, as well as dozens of centurions, protectors of the Qiang, governors, and officials of the rank of two thousand shi. The rise and fall of the Geng family mirrored that of the Han Dynasty.
The first time I read "The Biography of Su Wu," I was deeply moved by Su Wu's spirit of never bringing shame to the Han Dynasty in the harsh environment of the Northern Sea. Later, when I read about Geng Gong in Shule, I couldn't help but cry, overwhelmed with emotion. Ah, sacrificing one's life for justice to such an extent! In the past, Cao Zikang defended his position with reason in Kemei, and Sima Xiangru displayed the majesty of the Great Han outside the river. They all sought to resolve the crisis of their time, putting personal life and death aside! I feel that people like Su Wu and Geng Gong should be given honor and preferential treatment for generations from the state. However, the benefits of Su Wu's legacy did not extend to his descendants, and Geng Gong eventually ended up as an ordinary commoner. Reading poems praising their achievements, I feel a deep sense of regret.
"The poem praises: Skilled in military strategy and combat, adept at cartography and troop leadership. They went to reclaim the deserters from Yan and assembled the Han forces. They requested a banquet at the Zhao temple, celebrating with the entire city. Kuang and Shu also played their part, achieving notable success. This forms part of the nation's long-term strategy, pacifying the fierce Xiongnu, calming the sentiments of the Hu people, thoroughly dismantling the power of the Xiongnu. General Bozong's accomplishments are remarkable, like a dry wellspring bursting forth anew."
