Once upon a time, there was a man named Wang Chang, whose courtesy name was 'Lang,' from the city of Handan in the state of Zhao. He was originally a fortune teller who knew a bit about astronomy and astrology, and always felt that Hebei had the presence of an emperor. At that time, there was a nobleman in Zhao named Lin, who was curious and liked fortune-telling and physiognomy. He navigated between Zhao and Wei, knew many influential figures in the martial arts world, and was on good terms with Wang Lang.
At first, Wang Mang seized control of the Han Dynasty, and a man claiming to be the son of Emperor Cheng of Han named Liu Ziyu appeared in Chang'an, but was soon killed by Wang Mang. Seizing this opportunity, Wang Lang pretended to be the real Liu Ziyu and crafted a tale: "My mother was a singer for Emperor Cheng of Han. She suddenly died in the palace, and after a while, yellow mist rose from her body. Half a day later, she miraculously revived and then became pregnant. She gave birth to me in an inn. Empress Zhao sought to harm me, so she secretly replaced me with another child, which allowed me to survive. When I was twelve, a fortune teller named Li Manqing took me to Shu; at seventeen, I arrived in Danyang; at twenty, I returned to Chang'an; later, I traveled to Zhongshan and between Yan and Zhao, waiting for the opportune moment." The more Lin and others heard this, the more they felt it was plausible, so they conspired with the wealthy men of Zhao, Li Yu and Zhang Can, to plan to enthrone Wang Lang.
Coincidentally, at that time, there were whispers among the people that the Chimei Army was about to cross the river. Lin and the others took this opportunity to leak word that the Chimei Army was on the way, and enthroning Liu Ziyu was to calm the people's fears. To their surprise, many common folks actually bought into it.
In December of the year 23 AD, Lin Rong and his companions entered Handan City early in the morning with hundreds of chariots and cavalry, went straight to the palace, and proclaimed Wang Lang emperor. Lin Rong himself became the prime minister, Li Yu became the Grand Marshal, and Zhang Can became the Grand General. They then sent troops to attack Youzhou and Jizhou. Following this, they issued a decree to the various states and counties, which stated: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I am Liu Ziyu, the son of the late Emperor Xiaocheng. Previously, due to the chaos instigated by the Zhao family and the usurpation and killings carried out by Wang Mang, I was sheltered by loyalists of the Han Dynasty, which allowed me to survive by hiding near the Yellow River and concealing my identity between the states of Zhao and Wei. Wang Mang's usurpation is worthy of death, and Heaven has blessed the Han Dynasty, thus enabling Prefect Zhai Yi of Dongzhou and Marquis Liu Xin of Yan Xiang to lead troops against Wang Mang, fighting between the lands of the Huns and the Hans. People everywhere know I am hiding among them. The Liu clan from Mount Nan Yue has become our vanguard. Observing celestial signs, I have determined that the time has come, so I will ascend the throne and declare myself emperor on the day of Renchen this month, in the palace of the Zhao state. Auspicious signs were abundant, and it even rained on my ascension day. Throughout history, the succession of a nation has always been passed down from father to son, an unchanging truth. The Holy Duke (referring to Liu Xiu) is still unaware of my existence, so for now, I will use the title of emperor temporarily. All the righteous individuals who rise in support of me will be granted land and enjoy wealth and honor, and their descendants will also be blessed. I have already ordered the Holy Duke, Prefect Zhai, and those who have merited, to come to my palace as soon as possible. I suspect that the governors of the various states and counties were appointed by the Holy Duke and may be unaware of my history, so they may not know what to do. The strong will assert themselves, while the weak will hesitate. Now, over half the people are suffering, and my heart is heavy with sorrow, so I have dispatched messengers to deliver this decree."
The reason Wang Lang was able to declare himself emperor was that the people were eager for the revival of the Han Dynasty, and many claimed that Zhai Yi was still alive, so they all supported him, in accordance with the people's wishes. As a result, regions north of Zhao and west of Liaodong all surrendered to Wang Lang.
The following year, Liu Xiu received a proclamation from Wang Lang while in Jixian County, so he marched south to Xindu, where he gathered troops and supplies, launched an attack on Dixin County, and then attacked Bairen, but was unsuccessful. Someone suggested that instead of defending Bairen to the death, it would be wiser to capture Julu first. Liu Xiu then led his troops to besiege Julu in the northeast. Wang Rao, the governor defending Julu, held firm in the city, and Liu Xiu was unable to capture it despite several days of siege. Geng Chun suggested, "If we keep besieging Wang Rao for too long, our soldiers will wear out. It would be better to leverage our elite troops and directly attack Handan. If Wang Lang is defeated, Wang Rao will surely surrender." Liu Xiu agreed with his suggestion, leaving General Deng Man to maintain the siege of Julu, while he marched his main army to Handan and established camp at the city's north gate.
It is said that the general had been unsuccessful in several battles, so he sent the admonisher Dewey with an edict to surrender. Dewey spoke eloquently, saying that the general was the heir left behind by Emperor Cheng, implying that he should be treated well. Emperor Guangwu laughed when he heard this: "Even if Emperor Cheng were still alive, he wouldn't necessarily be able to conquer the world, much less someone impersonating him!" Dewey also wanted to obtain a marquis title. Emperor Guangwu said, "Just saving your life is good enough." Dewey insisted, "Although Handan is a small place, if we hold out together for ten days to two weeks, it should be fine. We can't just flee in shame!" After speaking, Dewey left. Hearing this, Emperor Guangwu ordered a fierce attack on Handan. Twenty days after, the general's advisor Li Li became a traitor, opened the city gates for the Han army, and Handan was captured. The general fled that night and died on the way, and later, the Han army caught up with him and killed him.
Liu Yong, from Suiyang in Liangjun, is the eighth-generation descendant of King Xiaowang of Liang. This title was passed down to his father, Liu Li. During Wang Mang's Yuan Shi period, Liu Li was closely associated with Wei Shi, a relative of Emperor Ping, and was ultimately killed by Wang Mang. After Emperor Gengshi ascended the throne, Liu Yong went to Luoyang, was appointed as the King of Liang, and established his capital in Suiyang. Upon hearing that Emperor Gengshi's regime was in chaos, Liu Yong declared himself king and rebelled, appointing his brother Liu Fang as the Grand General of Fuguo and another brother, Liu Shaogong, as the Grand Minister of Justice, also appointing him as the King of Lu. He then recruited notable figures from Pei County, including Zhou Jian, appointed them as generals, and captured a total of twenty-eight cities, including Qiyin, Shanyin, Pei County, Chudi, Huaiyang, and Runan. He also appointed Jiao Qiang, the bandit leader in Shanyang, as the General of Rampage. At that time, Dong Xian from Donghai also revolted and took control of Donghai County, while Zhang Bu quelled the unrest in the Qi region. Liu Yong appointed Dong Xian as the Grand General of Han's Wings and Zhang Bu as the Grand General of Han's Assistance, joining forces with them to control the entire eastern region. After the failure of Emperor Gengshi, Liu Yong declared himself emperor.
In the summer of the year 26 AD, Emperor Guangwu sent General Gai Yan and others to attack Tongma (Yong). Initially, Chenliu's Su Mao served as the General for the suppression of the Gengshi regime, along with Zhu Wei and others defending Luoyang. Zhu Wei surrendered to Eastern Han, and Su Mao also submitted to Emperor Guangwu, so Emperor Guangwu sent him and Gai Yan to attack Tongma together. However, the two clashed in the army, and Su Mao rebelled, assassinating the Prefect of Huaiyang, seizing several counties, occupying Guangle, and then swore loyalty to Tongma. Tongma appointed Su Mao as the Grand Marshal and King of Huaiyang. Gai Yan then besieged Suiyang and fought for several months, finally capturing Suiyang. Tongma's family escaped to Yuxian. The people of Yuxian revolted, killing Tongma's mother, wife, and children, and Tongma fled to Qiaoxian with a handful of followers.
Su Mao, Jiao Qiang, and Zhou Jian joined forces in a bid to rescue Tong Ma, but were defeated by Gai Yan. Su Mao escaped back to Guangle, while Jiao Qiang and Zhou Jian fled to Huling to hide.
In the spring of the 27th year of the Yuan era, Tong Ma sent Zhang Bu to be King Qi and Dong Xian to be King Haixi. Later, Emperor Guangwu sent Grand Marshal Wu Han and others to surround Guangle to besiege Su Mao. Zhou Jian led troops to rescue Su Mao, but they ultimately suffered defeat and abandoned Guangle, fleeing back to Huling. At that moment, the people of Suiyang opened their gates to welcome Tong Ma. Wu Han, Gai Yan, and others surrounded Tong Ma with their troops. With the city's food supplies exhausted, Tong Ma, Su Mao, and Zhou Jian fled to Zan County. An Eastern Han general relentlessly pursued them, and Tong Ma's general Qing Wu killed Tong Ma, surrendered to the Eastern Han, and was enfeoffed as a marquis. Su Mao and Zhou Jian fled to Chuihui and supported Tong Ma's son Liu Yu as the King of Liang. Jiao Qiang returned to defend the western frontier.
In the autumn of the 28th year of the Yuan era, the Eastern Han sent the General of Capturing Fugitives, Ma Wu, and the cavalry general, Wang Ba, to surround Chuihui and besiege Liu Yu and Zhou Jian. Su Mao led five regiments to rescue them, and Liu Yu and Zhou Jian also fought against Ma Wu and his men, but were unsuccessful. At this time, Zhou Jian's nephew Zhou Song rebelled, closed the city gates, and refused to let them enter. Zhou Jian, Su Mao, Liu Yu, and the others all fled, with Zhou Jian dying on the way. Su Mao escaped to Xiaping and reunited with Dong Xian, while Liu Yu fled to Jiao Qiang.
In the 29th year of the Yuan era, the Eastern Han sent the cavalry general, Du Mao, to attack Jiao Qiang in the western frontier. Jiao Qiang and Liu Yu fled to Dong Xian.
At this time, the General of Pacifying the Di, Pang Meng, rebelled, defeated Gai Yan, and then joined forces with Dong Xian, proclaiming himself King of Dongping and stationing his forces north of Taoxiang.
Pang Meng is from Shanyang. At first, he deserted and blended into the army in Xiajiang. After Emperor Gengshi established his power, he appointed Pang Meng as the Governor of Jizhou and appointed him to lead the army alongside Prefect Xie Gong to defeat Wang Lang. Later, Xie Gong was later defeated, and Pang Meng defected to Emperor Guangwu. After Emperor Guangwu ascended the throne, he appointed Pang Meng as a Palace Attendant. Pang Meng was humble and compliant, earning Emperor Guangwu's trust and favor. Emperor Guangwu often said, "The person I can trust with the heavy responsibilities of the state and military power across a thousand miles is none other than Pang Meng!" Later, Emperor Guangwu appointed him as the General for Pacifying the Di and let him and Gai Yan attack Dong Xian.
At that time, the imperial decree was issued only to Gai Yan, not to Pang Meng. Pang Meng suspected Gai Yan of undermining him, and he felt increasingly uneasy, which led him to rebel. Upon hearing this, Emperor Guangwu was furious and personally led his troops to confront Pang Meng. He wrote a letter to the generals, saying, "I have always viewed Pang Meng as a cornerstone of the nation. Do you generals not find this absurd? This old traitor must be dealt with! Hurry and mobilize the troops to assemble at Suiyang!" Upon hearing that the Emperor was personally coming to confront Pang Meng, Dong Xian departed Xiapi with Liu Yu, Su Mao, Jiao Qiang, and others, and made his way back to Lanling. He dispatched Su Mao and Jiao Qiang to aid Pang Meng, and the three armies, totaling 30,000 troops, gathered, surrounding Taicheng completely.
Emperor Guangwu was at Mengdi at the time. Upon hearing the news, he left behind the baggage, taking only three thousand light cavalry and tens of thousands of infantry, and marched day and night towards Taicheng. When the army arrived at Rencheng, they were still sixty li from Taoxiang. The next day, the generals requested to attack, and the rebel army also deployed in formation to challenge, but Emperor Guangwu did not agree. Instead, he let the soldiers rest and recuperate to weaken the enemy's morale. When the people in the city heard that the emperor's army had arrived, the morale of the people soared. At that time, Wu Han and others were in Dongjun, so Emperor Guangwu sent for them. Pang Meng and others concentrated their forces and launched a fierce attack on Taicheng for more than twenty days, but the soldiers were exhausted and still failed to capture it. When Wu Han and other generals arrived, they led a large army to attack Taicheng, with Emperor Guangwu himself leading the charge and defeating the rebel army. Pang Meng, Su Mao, and Jiao Qiang abandoned their baggage and fled under the cover of night, while Dong Xian led Liu Yu and tens of thousands of troops to station in Changlu, taking his elite troops to fend off the attack from Xinyang. Emperor Guangwu first sent Wu Han to defeat Dong Xian, who retreated back to Changlu. Wu Han continued to guard Changlu, and Dong Xian, fearing for his safety, gathered thousands of remaining soldiers and stationed them in Jianyang, thirty li from Changlu.
Emperor Fan was over a hundred miles away from the capital. Those generals all advised the emperor to attack, but he did not agree. He knew that the five armies were running low on supplies, and the army would inevitably have to retreat. So he ordered everyone to hold their ground and wait for the enemy to crumble. After a while, the supplies of the five armies had indeed run out, and Xian led his troops in their retreat. The emperor then took command and surrounded Xian from all sides. After three days of fighting, Xian's army suffered another defeat, and his soldiers scattered. The emperor sent Wu Han to pursue; Jiao Qiang surrendered with his subordinates, Su Mao escaped to Zhang Bu, and Xian and Pang Meng fled to Mount Zeng. After a few days, the soldiers heard that Xian was still around, and they began to gather in small groups, amassing a few hundred cavalry, and welcomed Xian back to Tancheng with enthusiasm. Wu Han launched another attack on Tancheng and captured the city, prompting Xian and Pang Meng to flee to Xu City to take refuge. Liu Yu disappeared, and his soldier Gao Hu beheaded him and surrendered, leading to the region of Liangdi being fully pacified.
Wu Han besieged Xu City. The next year, the food in the city ran out, and Xian and Pang Meng secretly came out and attacked Ganyu. Langye Prefect Chen Jun attacked them, and Xian and Pang Meng fled into the swamp. Just as Wu Han captured Xu City, he also apprehended Xian and Pang Meng's families. Xian wept and apologized to his soldiers, saying, "My wife and children have been captured! Oh, how you have suffered all this time!" He then took a handful of cavalry and slipped away at night, attempting to find a secret route to surrender. However, Wu Han's officer Han Zhan caught up with Xian and killed him, while Fang Yu also killed Pang Meng. Their severed heads were sent to Luoyang. Han Zhan was granted the title of marquis, while Fang Yu was made a marquis within the Passes.
Zhang Bu, styled Wengong, was not a local of Langye. When the Han army rose up, Zhang Bu gathered several thousand troops, attacking nearby county cities and capturing several cities. He proclaimed himself the General of the Five Mighty Forces and occupied Langye Commandery.
The Emperor Gengshi dispatched Prince Hong of Wei Commandery as the Prefect of Langye, but Zhang Bu resisted, preventing Prince Hong from entering. Prince Hong then issued a proclamation, persuading officials and people to surrender, recapturing six counties including Ganyu, gathering several thousand troops, and fought Zhang Bu in battle, but was defeated. At that time, the Prince of Liang, Liu Yong, who believed he had been appointed by the Emperor Gengshi, saw Zhang Bu's strong troops and took it upon himself to appoint Zhang Bu as Grand General of Han and Marquis of Zhongjie, allowing him to command Qingzhou and Xuzhou to subdue those who disobeyed orders. Zhang Bu, eager for the title, accepted. He then reorganized the army in Juxian, appointed his brother Hong as the Guard General, Hong's brother Lan as the Grand General of Xuanwu, and Lan's brother Shou as the Prefect of Gaomi. He also sent troops to attack Taishan Commandery, Donglai Commandery, Chengyang Commandery, Jiaodong Commandery, Beihai Commandery, Jinan Commandery, Qi Commandery, and other areas, all of which surrendered to him.
Zhang Bu's territory expanded, and his forces grew stronger. Prince Hong was worried that Zhang Bu's power might become fragmented, so he visited Zhang Bu to persuade him to take the right path. Zhang Bu set up a formation, summoned Prince Hong, and angrily said, "What wrong have I done to warrant your attack?" Prince Hong, holding a sword, said, "The Prefect is following the orders of the court, while you, Wengong, are amassing troops and acting recklessly. I am attacking rebels, not you." Zhang Bu remained silent for a long time, then knelt down to apologize, set up a feast with the utmost respect to entertain Prince Hong, and entrusted him with managing the affairs of the commandery.
In the third year of Jianwu, Emperor Guangwu sent the Grand Minister of Splendor, Fu Long, with the emperor's insignia to the Qi region, appointing Bu Zhi as the Governor of Donglai. When Liu Yong heard that Fu Long had arrived, he quickly sent someone to declare Bu Zhi as the King of Qi. Bu Zhi immediately, without hesitation, killed Fu Long and accepted Liu Yong's orders. At that time, the emperor was preoccupied with the troubles in Yuyang to the north, while the south was occupied with matters in the Liang and Chu regions. Therefore, Bu Zhi was able to gain control in Qi and governed over twelve counties. When Liu Yong died, Bu Zhi and his followers wanted to make Liu Yong's son, Liu Yu, the emperor, and Bu Zhi himself as the King of Han, establishing a government. Wang Hong cautioned, "The Prince of Liang gained support in Shandong because he supported the court. Now, if you make his son the emperor, it will raise suspicions. Also, the people of Qi are known for their cunning, so caution should be exercised." Bu Zhi abandoned this idea. Five years later, Bu Zhi heard that the emperor was coming to attack him, so he declared his general Fei Yi as the King of Jinan and stationed him in Lixia. In winter, General Geng Yan defeated and killed Fei Yi, capturing Linzi. Bu Zhi believed Geng Yan had a small army and was far from home, so he led all his forces to attack Geng Yan in Linzi. As a result, Bu Zhi's forces were decisively defeated and retreated to Juxian. The emperor personally arrived in Juxian. Bu Zhi retreated to Pingshou, and Su Mao brought more than ten thousand troops to his aid. Su Mao advised Bu Zhi, "The soldiers from Nanyang are elite; Yan Cen is a skilled warrior, and even Geng Yan was able to defeat them. Why do you want to attack his camp? Since you asked me for help, why not listen to me?" Bu Zhi replied, "It's too late to change anything now; there's nothing more to discuss." The emperor then sent a messenger to tell Bu Zhi and Su Mao that whoever could kill each other and surrender would be appointed as marquis. Bu Zhi then killed Su Mao, sent someone to present Su Mao's head, and surrendered to the emperor. Bu Zhi's three younger brothers were imprisoned in various locations but were all eventually pardoned. Bu Zhi was granted the title of Marquis of Anqiu and later lived in Luoyang with his family. Wang Hong also arrived in Juxian to surrender.
In the summer of the eighth year of Jianwu, Bu Zhi fled to Linhuai with his wife and children, hoping to recruit their former subordinates with his brothers Bu Hong and Bu Lan and set sail. Chen Jun, the governor of Langye, pursued him and killed him.
Wang Hong, the son of Tan, the Marquis of Ping Ahou, who was Wang Mang's uncle, served as a court official during the reign of Emperor Ai of Han. At that time, Dong Xian, a favored courtier, had risen to the position of Grand Marshal, wielding immense power. Wang Hong repeatedly offered counsel to Emperor Ai, which ultimately angered him. Before his death, Emperor Ai entrusted the imperial seal and the authority seal to Dong Xian, saying, "Do not hand them over to anyone else." With no heir to the throne, unrest gripped both the court and the nation. Wang Hong rushed to the Empress Dowager to demand the return of the imperial seal. He then stormed into the Empress Dowager's chamber, sword in hand, pointing at Dong Xian and shouting, "The emperor has passed away; the heir has not been determined. You have been granted such great favor by the emperor; you should be weeping. Why are you still holding the imperial seal, waiting for disaster to strike?" Realizing that Wang Hong was determined to kill him, Dong Xian dared not resist and handed over the imperial seal and the authority seal. Wang Hong presented the imperial seal to the Empress Dowager, earning the respect of the court officials. Later, after Wang Mang usurped the throne, he sent Wang Hong to serve as the governor of Dong Commandery out of fear. Fearing for his life, Wang Hong often concealed poison in his sleeve. After Wang Mang's downfall and the uprising of the Han army, Wang Hong single-handedly safeguarded over thirty thousand households in Dong Commandery and subsequently surrendered to Emperor Gengshi.
Li Xian hailed from Xuchang in Yingchuan. During the reign of Wang Mang, he held a low-ranking official position in Lujiang Commandery. When Wang Mang was about to fall, bandits led by Wang Zhougong and others in the Jianghuai region rebelled, with over 100,000 men attacking and pillaging various counties. Wang Mang appointed Li Xian as the Adjutant General and Military Governor of Lujiang Commandery to quell the rebellion led by Wang Zhougong. After Wang Mang's failure, Li Xian took control of Lujiang Commandery for his own defense. In the first year of the Gengshi era (AD 23), he declared himself King of Huainan. In the third year of Jianwu, he declared himself Emperor, established a government with positions such as the Three Excellencies and Nine Ministers, controlled nine cities, and commanded over 100,000 troops.
In the autumn of the fourth year of Jianwu, Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu personally led an expedition to Shou Chun and sent General Yangwu Ma Cheng to lay siege to Shu County. In the first month of the sixth year of Jianwu, Shu County was captured. Li Xian fled, his subordinates rebelled, killed him, and subsequently surrendered. Li Xian's wife and children were all killed. Emperor Guangwu bestowed the title of Marquis of Yu upon the rebel leader.
Later, remnants of Li Xian's forces led by Chunyu Lin and others gathered a few thousand men, occupied Lingshan, and even killed the magistrate of Anfeng County. Ouyang She, the Governor of Yangzhou, sent troops to attack but was unable to capture them. The Emperor was planning to personally suppress them. Chen Zhong, an official under Ouyang She from Lujiang, requested to persuade the rebels to surrender. To honor his actions, he rode a white horse and went alone to Lingshan, successfully persuading Chunyu Lin and others to surrender. In recognition of his efforts, the people of Lingshan built a temple for him and referred to him as "Chen, the White Horse Official."
Peng Chong, styled Botong, was from Wan County in Nanyang. His father, Peng Hong, held the position of Commandant of Yuyang during Emperor Ai's reign. He was tall, strong, had a formidable drinking capacity, and was highly respected on the border. Later, after Wang Mang usurped power and executed all who opposed him, Peng Hong, along with He Wu and Bao Xuan, was executed as well.
When Peng Chong was young, he held a minor official position in the county. During the reign of Emperor Wang Mang, he became a clerk under the Grand Minister of Works, accompanying Wang Yi in resisting the Han army in the east. Upon reaching Luoyang, he heard that his half-brother on his father's side was in the Han army. Fearing retribution from Wang Mang, he fled to Yuyang with his fellow villager Wu Han, seeking refuge with his father's former subordinates. After Emperor Gengshi ascended the throne, he sent an envoy named Han Hong with the imperial seal to pacify the northern provinces, giving him the authority to appoint officials of lower rank than 2,000 stones. When Han Hong arrived in Ji County, because he was closely related to Peng Chong and Wu Han as fellow villagers, he immediately appointed Peng Chong as a General, acting as the Prefect of Yuyang, while Wu Han was appointed as the Magistrate of Anle County. Later, Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu pacified the people in Hebei, and upon reaching Ji County, he sent a letter inviting Peng Chong to join him. Peng Chong prepared beef and wine to pay his respects to the emperor, but Wang Lang impersonated the emperor and issued a decree in the Yan and Zhao regions, sending troops to attack Yuyang and Shanggu. Many locals were hesitant and inclined to follow Wang Lang. Wu Han advised Peng Chong to join Emperor Guangwu, as noted in the "Book of Han." At that time, Geng Kuang, the Prefect of Shanggu, sent his officer Kou Xun to reach out to Peng Chong and discuss joining Emperor Guangwu. Peng Chong then led three thousand infantry and cavalry, with Wu Han as his Chief of Staff, along with Captain Yan Xuan, Guard Gai Yan, and County Magistrate Wang Liang, and marched south to meet Emperor Guangwu at Guang'a. Emperor Guangwu appointed Peng Chong as the Marquis of Jianzhong and bestowed upon him the title of Grand General. They then besieged Handan, with Peng Chong responsible for transporting food supplies, ensuring a steady flow of logistics support.
After the death of Wang Lang, Emperor Guangwu traveled north to Ji County to retrieve Wang Lang's bronze horse. At that time, one of Wang Lang's subordinates named Wang Chong ran to Emperor Guangwu to seek credit and rewards. He hoped to receive a great reward, but Emperor Guangwu's reward did not meet his expectations, which left him feeling disgruntled. Emperor Guangwu knew that Wang Chong was resentful, so he asked the Governor of Youzhou, Zhu Fu, what was happening. Zhu Fu said, "When General Wu Han went north to conquer, Your Majesty gave Wang Chong the sword you were wearing and asked him to be in charge of receiving guests in the north. At that time, Wang Chong expected you to personally greet him, shake hands, and have a good chat, but you did not do so, so he was disappointed." Zhu Fu continued, "Back when Wang Mang was in power, Zhen Feng went to the palace every night to give him advice. People used to say, 'The guest in the middle of the night must be Uncle Zhen.' Later, after Wang Mang successfully usurped the throne, Zhen Feng felt discontent and was ultimately killed." Emperor Guangwu chuckled and replied, "Wang Chong shouldn't take it to heart!"
Later, Emperor Guangwu ascended the throne. Wu Han, Wang Liang, and others who were originally favored by Wang Lang all became high-ranking officials, except Wang Cheng. He grew more and more discontented and lamented, "My achievements deserve a title! How could Your Majesty forget about me?" At that time, many places in the north were in chaos, except for Yuyang Commandery, which was relatively stable. Wang Cheng took advantage of his position as a former salt and iron official to engage in business and accumulate wealth and power. Zhu Fu and Wang Cheng were on bad terms, with Zhu Fu often slandering Wang Cheng in front of Emperor Guangwu. In the spring of the second year of Jianwu, the court issued a decree summoning Wang Cheng. Feeling that Zhu Fu was trying to set him up, Wang Cheng requested to be summoned together with Zhu Fu. He also wrote letters to Wu Han, Gai Yan, and others, vehemently denouncing Zhu Fu for his misdeeds and demanding to be summoned together with him. However, the Emperor refused and grew even more suspicious of him. Wang Cheng's wife, a headstrong woman, could not bear this injustice and strongly advised him not to go. Wang Cheng consulted with officials he trusted, all of whom held grudges against Zhu Fu and none of whom advised him to respond to the summons.
The Emperor sent Wang Cheng's disciple Hou Lanqing to persuade him, but Wang Cheng left his son Hou Lanqing behind and instead rallied troops to rebel. He declared himself a general, leading more than twenty thousand troops to attack Zhu Fu's garrison in Ji County, as well as dividing his forces to attack Guangyang, Shanggu, and Yubeiping. Although Wang Cheng and Geng Kuang had both made significant contributions in the past, their rewards were meager. Wang Cheng made repeated attempts to convince Geng Kuang to join the uprising, but Geng Kuang refused, even going so far as to kill the messengers Wang Cheng sent.
Autumn has arrived, and the emperor dispatched General Deng Long to the rescue of Ji City. Deng Long's army camped in Luanan, the navy was stationed at Yongnu, and then sent a messenger to report back to the emperor. After reading the battle report, the emperor angrily told the official who delivered the message, "The two camps are a hundred miles apart; how can they possibly support each other? When you return, the northern army must have already been defeated!" Indeed, Chanyu Chong led a large army to ambush Deng Long by the river and also sent three thousand light cavalry to attack the rear of Deng Long's forces, resulting in a crushing defeat for Deng Long's forces. Deng Long's navy was unable to arrive in time for the rescue because of the long distance, so they had to retreat.
In the following spring, Chanyu Chong seized several counties, including Right Beiping and Shanggu. He also sent envoys with gifts such as beautiful women and silk to bribe the Xiongnu, in hopes of forming an alliance with them. The Xiongnu Chanyu sent the Left Nan General, commanding seven to eight thousand cavalry, to harass Chanyu Chong as a mobile unit in support of him. Chanyu Chong also allied himself with local heroes like Zhang Bu and Fuping Huosuo, forming alliances and supporting each other. Finally, Chanyu Chong captured Ji City and declared himself King of Yan.
His wife was plagued by nightmares and strange visions, consulting fortune tellers and feng shui masters, all predicting that war was imminent and that the war would originate from the palace. Chong suspected that Crown Prince Lanqing was plotting a rebellion to return to the throne, so he was skeptical of these claims and ordered him to lead troops away from the court.
In the spring of the fifth year, Chong'ai was observing a fast in a secluded side room. Three servants, a servant named Cangtouzi Mi, took advantage of Chong'ai falling asleep, tied him to the bed, and then told the soldiers outside, "The king is observing a fast; everyone should take a break!" They falsely claimed they were acting on Chong'ai's orders and captured the palace servants, detaining them separately. Then they falsely called for Chong'ai's wife to come in. His wife was terrified upon entering. Chong'ai quickly shouted, "Quick! Get the generals' gear ready!" So two servants took his wife to collect valuables, leaving one servant who was guarding him. Chong'ai said to the servant, "I've always liked you, and now they're forcing and kidnapping me. Help me untie the rope, and I will marry my daughter to you and give you everything in the house." The young servant hesitated to untie him when he saw someone eavesdropping outside. They collected gold, silver, jewels, and clothes, placed them where Chong'ai instructed, prepared six horses, and had Chong'ai's wife stitch together two cloth bags. After nightfall, they untied Chong'ai and had him write a letter to the general at the city gate that said: "Send them to see the Crown Prince Lanqing, quickly open the gate and let them out, don't delay!" After writing the letter, they killed Chong'ai and his wife, stuffing their heads into the cloth bags, rushed out of the city gate with the letter, and headed straight to the palace to report. They were granted the title of "Unrighteous Marquis." The next morning, the palace gate wouldn't open, and the officials climbed over the wall and were horrified to find Chong'ai's body. Minister Han Li and others rallied behind Chong'ai's son Wu to make him king and appointed Crown Prince Lanqing as the general. The Royal Teacher Han Li killed Wu and then surrendered to General Zhai Zun. Chong'ai's family was all wiped out.
Lu Fang, also known as Junqi, was from Sanshui County in Anding Commandery; he lived in Zuogu. During Wang Mang's usurpation of the Han Dynasty, people everywhere longed for the grace and virtue of the Han Dynasty. Lu Fang took this opportunity to pretend to be the great-grandson of Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Wenbo. He concocted a tale claiming that his great-grandmother was the sister of the Xiongnu Chanyu Huhanye, who had been an empress of Emperor Wu of Han and had three sons. Later, due to the framing by Jiang Chong, the Crown Prince was killed, the empress was driven to her death, the second son escaped to Changling, and the youngest son returned to Zuogu. Later, General Huo Guang found the second son and went to bring him back, but he refused to leave, so he stayed in Zuogu, had a son named Sun Qing, who in turn had a son named Wenbo, Lu Fang himself. Lu Fang often used this identity to deceive the people of Anding Commandery.
When Wang Mang was about to be defeated, Lu Fang united with the Qiang people and Xiongnu people of Sanshui County to rebel. After Emperor Gengshi captured Chang'an, he appointed Lu Fang as Cavalry Captain, sending him to the western region of Anding Commandery to suppress the rebellion. After the failure of Emperor Gengshi, the heroes of Sanshui County gathered and agreed that Lu Fang was a descendant of the Han Dynasty royal family and should inherit the throne. So everyone together proclaimed Lu Fang as Grand General and King of Xiping, sending him to contact the Western Qiang and Xiongnu, seeking peace and alliance. The Xiongnu Chanyu said, "The Xiongnu and the Han Dynasty were originally brother countries. Later, the Xiongnu weakened, and Chanyu Huhanye submitted to the Han Dynasty. The Han Dynasty also sent troops to help him, and since then, the Xiongnu have been subjugated to the Han Dynasty for generations. Now that the Han Dynasty is also declining, the descendants of the Liu family come to seek refuge with me, and I should also make him emperor and let him honor me." Thus, the Chanyu sent King Julin to lead thousands of cavalry to greet Lu Fang, and Lu Fang, along with his brothers Lu Qin and Lu Cheng, defected to the Xiongnu. The Chanyu then proclaimed Lu Fang as the Emperor of the Han Dynasty and appointed Lu Cheng as Commandant, allowing him to lead Xiongnu cavalry back to Anding Commandery.
At the beginning, Li Xing and Sui Yu from Wuyuan County, Tian Sa from Shuofang County, and Shi Wei and Min Kan from Dai County all raised troops separately and proclaimed themselves as generals. In the fourth year of Jianwu, the Xiongnu Chanyu sent King Wulou Qie to the pass of Wuyuan County, where he allied with Li Xing and others, informing Li Xing of his desire to have Lu Fang return to the Han Dynasty's territory as emperor. In the fifth year of Jianwu, Li Xing and Min Kan led troops to the Chanyu's court to welcome Lu Fang, entering the pass together and stationed in Jiuyuan County. They captured the counties of Wuyuan, Shuofang, Yunzhong, Dingxiang, and Yanmen, established county officials, and joined forces with the Xiongnu army to harass the northern border.
In the sixth year, General Jia Lan defeated the Hu cavalry and killed Liu Xing, the Prefect of Dai County. Later, Fang killed Li Xing's brothers, which instilled fear in Tian Sa, the Prefect of Shuofang, and Qiao Hu, the Prefect of Yunzhong, who then rebelled and surrendered to Emperor Guangwu. Emperor Guangwu allowed them to keep their positions. Later, Grand Marshal Wu Han and General Du Mao attacked Fang several times but were unsuccessful.
In the twelfth year, Fang and Jia Lan launched an attack on Yunzhong together but were unable to capture it despite a prolonged battle. Fang's subordinate Sui Yu stayed in Jiuyuan, trying to force Fang to surrender. Knowing that he was isolated and betrayed internally, Fang abandoned his baggage and fled with a dozen cavalry to the Xiongnu, while his soldiers surrendered to Sui Yu. Sui Yu then brought the envoy Cheng Xun to the court to deliver the news. The court appointed Sui Yu as the Prefect of Wuyuan, bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Juanyu, and appointed his brother as the Marquis of Xianwu.
Sixteen years later, Fang returned to Gaoliu and sought to surrender with his brother Min Kan. The court appointed Fang as the King of Dai, Kan as the Chancellor, and Lin as the Grand Preceptor. They were rewarded with twenty thousand bolts of silk and sent to negotiate peace with the Xiongnu. Fang wrote a letter of thanks, stating: "I, Fang, have relied on the legacy of the late Emperor in the past, but abandoned it on the frontier. The state was destroyed by Wang Mang, a crime that should be avenged by future generations, which is why I established connections with the Qiang and Rong tribes in the west and the Xiongnu in the north. The Chanyu remembered past favors and helped me. At that time, there was chaos and war everywhere. I was not motivated by self-interest, but only hoped to serve the ancestral temple and restore the state, which is why I have occupied the throne for over ten years, deserving death. Your Majesty's wisdom, together with your virtuous ministers, has brought peace to the realm and extended grace to all ethnic groups. Because of my submission, Your Majesty pardoned my sins, bestowed favor upon me, appointed me as a King, and tasked me with guarding the northern frontier. I cannot repay Your Majesty's kindness, but I will do my best to negotiate peace with the Xiongnu and not betray your grace. I humbly present the imperial seal, hoping to soon meet at the court." The court commanded that Fang should come to the capital in the first month of the following year. That winter, Fang arrived at Changping, where the court commanded him to return the following year. On his way back, Fang, overcome with worry and fear, betrayed the court once more, rebelled with Min Kan and Min Lin, and fought for several months. The Xiongnu sent several hundred cavalry to escort Fang, his wife, and children out of the border. Fang lived among the Xiongnu for over ten years and ultimately succumbed to illness.
At the beginning, the Hu leaders of the An Ding vassal state initially rebelled against Fang, but later they were defeated in battle by Fang, so the Hu people all went back to their homeland. However, they could not bear the heavy taxes and corvée labor imposed by the local officials, and they suffered greatly. One of them was a man named Bo Ma Shaobo, who was tall, strong, and particularly formidable. In AD 21, he led his people in a rebellion, colluding with the Xiongnu and stationed his troops at Qing Mountain. The court sent an official named Chen Jin from the Ministry of War with three thousand cavalry to confront him, resulting in Shaobo's surrender, after which he was relocated to Ji County.
To be frank, ancient books say "great virtues will be worshipped for a hundred generations," and Confucius also said "benevolence will win the hearts of the people." If one can win the hearts of the common people, then their reputation will last for generations. Look at the time of Gengshi; the Liu imperial family's grace and prestige still lingered, and who would dare to stand against them? Therefore, the kindness and generosity of Gaozu and Emperor Xiaowen were deeply rooted in the people's hearts. Even during the Zhou Dynasty, people fondly remembered Duke Shao and cherished his sweet osmanthus tree, not to mention his descendants. The Liu family likely regained control of the realm because of this! Those rebels have no long-term vision! They're merely taking advantage of the chaos, trying to fish in troubled waters. Even if they attach themselves to the royal family, they can only show off for a while. If you closely examine their schemes and strategies, they can't hold a candle to Han Gaozu; they were just lucky for a fleeting moment.
【Praise: The heavens and earth are sealed, wild battles of dragons. Chang and Fang are deceitful, Liang and Qi are united. Favoring the strong, the law ensnares the deep rivers. They truly disregard the law, signaling the decline of the divine state.】
