Ren Guang, styled Boqing, was a native of Wancheng District in Nanyang. He was known for being loyal and honest since he was young, and was deeply loved by the locals. He started off as a minor official in the village and later became an official in the district. When the Han army arrived in Wancheng, a soldier saw Ren Guang wearing splendid attire and ordered him to take off his clothes, with the intent to kill him and steal his clothes. At that moment, the Imperial Household Officer Liu Cilai happened to pass by, noticing that Ren Guang appeared to be a person of high status, and he saved him. Ren Guang then followed Liu Cilai along with some friends, becoming an official responsible for managing settlements, and was later promoted to a deputy general, fighting alongside Emperor Guangwu to defeat Wang Xun and Wang Yi.
Emperor Gengshi arrived in Luoyang and appointed Ren Guang Prefect of Xindu. Later, Wang Lang rebelled, and many states and counties surrendered. Only Ren Guang refused to surrender. He, along with Captain Li Zhong, Prefect Wan Xiu, Magistrate Ruan Kuang, and other officials, worked together to defend Xindu. Wang Lang sent someone with an edict to the Prefect's office, demanding Ren Guang's surrender. Ren Guang executed the messenger immediately, displayed the messenger's head to rally the people, and gathered four thousand elite soldiers to guard the city. In the spring of Gengshi's second year, Emperor Guangwu returned from Ji County in a desperate situation, unsure of where to go. Hearing that only Xindu City was resisting Wang Lang's army, he hurried there. Ren Guang and his men were holding out in the besieged city, fearing they might not be able to withstand the siege. Upon hearing that Emperor Guangwu was approaching, they were filled with joy. The officials and citizens of the city cheered, "Long live the Emperor!" and immediately opened the gates to welcome Emperor Guangwu, with Li Zhong and Wan Xiu leading the troops. Emperor Guangwu arrived at the post station and said to Ren Guang, "My lord, our forces are still weak. What do you think about launching a joint assault on Wang Lang's forces at Chetouzi and Lizidou?" Ren Guang replied, "No." Emperor Guangwu asked, "With so few troops, what should we do?" Ren Guang suggested, "We should recruit soldiers willing to fight and attack the nearby counties. If they don't surrender, allow the soldiers to pillage. Since everyone is motivated by wealth, we can recruit more soldiers this way." Emperor Guangwu accepted his suggestion.
Emperor Guangwu appointed Ren Guang as the Left Grand General, bestowing upon him the title of Marquis Wucheng. He left Zong Guang in charge as acting Governor of Xindu in Nanyang and instructed Ren Guang to lead troops to follow him. Ren Guang then wrote many proclamations, stating: "General Liu Xiu, the Grand Marshal, leads hundreds of thousands of troops from the east to attack the rebellious bandits." He then sent cavalry to the Julu region. Officials and the people passed on the proclamations to each other. Emperor Guangwu and Ren Guang entered the Tangyang area under cover of night, with the cavalry brandishing torches to illuminate the entire swamp. The flames lit up the sky and ground, startling the entire city and prompting the entire city to surrender that night. Within just ten days, the army had significantly strengthened, and they attacked and captured Handan. Emperor Guangwu then sent Ren Guang back to his commandery.
*Chengtou Zilu*, from Dongping, with the surname Yuan and the given name Zeng, styled Zilu. He and Liu Xu from Feicheng rebelled in Lucheng, hence their army was called *Chengtou Zilu*. Zeng claimed the title "Assistant Commander," while Liu Xu claimed "Chief of the Three Elders." Between the Yellow River and the Ji River, they plundered with an army of over two hundred thousand. After Gengshi Emperor ascended the throne, Zeng surrendered and was appointed as the Prefect of Donglai County, while Liu Xu was made the Prefect of Jinan. Both were also appointed as Grand Generals. That year, Zeng was killed by his own subordinates, who subsequently proclaimed Liu Xu as their leader. Gengshi Emperor granted Liu Xu the title of Marquis of State, ordering him to disband his army and return to his commandery.
Li Zidou hailed from the East Sea. He rose up in his hometown, attacking the areas of Xuzhou and Yanzhou, commanding an army of around sixty to seventy thousand troops. After Emperor Gengshi ascended the throne, he sent envoys to surrender and was appointed as the Governor of Xuzhou. He was later killed by his own men. His remaining forces regrouped and allied with other bandits in Tanxiang, thus they became known as the "Tanxiang Bandits." The leader of the Tanxiang Bandits, Dong Cizhong, initially rose in rebellion in Chiping before crossing the Yellow River into Qinghe, Weijun, joining forces with five battalions, bringing their total to over a hundred thousand troops. In the first year of the Jianwu era, Emperor Guangwu entered Luoyang and sent Grand Marshal Wu Han and others to quell the Tanxiang Bandits. In the spring of the second year, the Tanxiang Bandits were decisively defeated and forced to surrender.
That same year, Emperor Gengshi appointed him as the Marquis of Guangaling, with a fief consisting of ten thousand households. Five years later, he was summoned to the capital and appointed to an esteemed position. That winter, he passed away, and his son Wei succeeded him in his title.
Later on, Ruan Kuang became the Prefect of Nanyang, and Guo Tang became the Intendant of Henan, both gaining strong reputations.
Wei Zizhong, from a young age, was interested in the teachings of Huang-Lao, living a simple and contented life. He often used his salary to support his relatives and care for orphaned children and widows. Emperor Xianzong, upon hearing of this, promoted him to a prestigious position, and then to Left Supervisor of the Imperial Guards, and then to Chief Commandant of the Tiger Warriors, and further to Colonel of Changshui. After Emperor Suzong took the throne, he held Wei Zizhong in high regard, praising his character and appointing him as the Chief Architect. This position had been held by eunuchs since the Jianwu era but was formally established during Wei's tenure. In the fifth year of Jianchu, he was promoted to Grand Herald, and eight years later, he succeeded Dou Gu as the Grandee of the Imperial Household, excelling in every role he took on. In the first year of Zhanghe, he was appointed as Minister of Works.
Wei was a person of integrity, cultivating his moral character, yet his calm and upright character earned him the respect of others. After Emperor He took the throne, the Grand General Dou Xian held great power, acting arrogantly and instilling fear among officials. At that time, Dou Xian was attacking the Xiongnu, causing massive financial strains on the state. Wei submitted ten memorials requesting the recall of Dou Xian. He worked together with the Minister of Works Yuan An, handling matters with care and speaking boldly with integrity, never concealing anything, as detailed in the "Biography of Yuan An."
In the fourth year of the Yongyuan era, Li Zhong's son Li Tun inherited the title. The emperor, in recognition of Li Zhong's achievements, promoted Li Tun to the position of Infantry Colonel and was granted the title of Marquis of Xiyang. After Li Tun's death, his son Li Sheng inherited the title. After Li Sheng's death, his son Li Shi inherited the title, and the title was changed to Marquis of Beixiang.
Li Zhong, style name Zhongdu, was a native of Huang County, Donglai. His father was the Commandant of Gaomi County. During the Yuanshi era, Li Zhong became a court official thanks to his father's connections. At that time, there were dozens of people who became court officials alongside him, but only Li Zhong received praise for his polite demeanor and serious work ethic. During Wang Mang's reign, Li Zhong served as the Magistrate of Xinbo County, where he earned the respect and trust of the entire county.
After Emperor Gengshi established his rule, he sent envoys to appoint officials in various regions and promptly appointed Li Zhong as Colonel. Li Zhong then assisted Guangwu Emperor Liu Xiu together with Ren Guang, was appointed Right Grand General, and titled Marquis of Wugu. At that time, Liu Xiu took off his own sash and placed it on Li Zhong, leading him to attack subordinate counties together. Upon reaching Kuxing, Liu Xiu gathered the generals to ask about the spoils they had captured, and Li Zhong had taken nothing. Liu Xiu said, "I want to reward him specially. Li Zhong, do any of you ministers object?" Therefore, Liu Xiu rewarded Li Zhong with his own steed—a fine chestnut horse—along with embroidered bedding and clothing.
Later, Julu was surrounded but had not yet fallen. Wang Lang sent troops to attack Xindu. The prominent families in Xindu, such as Ma Chong, opened the city gates and surrendered to Wang Lang. They also captured the governor Zong Guang, as well as Li Zhong's mother and wife, and sent envoys to persuade Li Zhong to yield. At that time, Ma Chong's younger brother was under Li Zhong's command as a lieutenant. Li Zhong immediately summoned him and rebuked him for his ingratitude and betrayal of the city. He then executed him on the spot. The other generals were taken aback and remarked, "His family is in the hands of others, yet he killed his own brother. He is too ruthless!" Li Zhong said, "If we let traitors go unpunished, we’re inviting disaster." Emperor Guangwu was very impressed when he heard about this and said to Li Zhong, "My army is already very powerful. You may return to rescue your mother, wife, and children. You can recruit officials and civilians to help you find your family. Whoever finds your family will be rewarded with millions of money and can come to me to claim the reward." Li Zhong said, "I am deeply grateful for your generosity. I want to be loyal to you and dare not consider the safety of my family." Emperor Guangwu then sent Ren Guang to rescue Xindu, but Ren Guang's army dispersed and surrendered to Wang Lang on the way, returning without any achievements. Coincidentally, Emperor Gengshi sent troops to break through Xindu, and Li Zhong's family was saved. Emperor Guangwu then allowed Li Zhong to return, appointing him as acting governor to subdue the prominent families in the county who surrendered to Handan, executing hundreds. Once Ren Guang returned to the county, Li Zhong resumed his position as captain. In the second year of Jianwu, Li Zhong was granted the title of Marquis of Zhongshui with a fief of three thousand households. In the same year, Li Zhong was summoned to serve as a general in the Five Officials, serving alongside Emperor Guangwu to quell the rebellions of Cheng Meng, Dong Xian, and others.
At the age of six years, he was appointed as the Prefect of Danyang. At that time, the whole country had just stabilized, and many armed factions in the southern coastal areas and along the Yangtze River were vying for power. When he arrived in Danyang County, he subdued and pacified those who resisted. Those who remained obstinate were executed. Within less than a month, the rebellion was quelled. He felt that the local customs in Danyang were not being properly studied, and the marriage customs were significantly inferior to those of the Central Plains. Consequently, he established schools to teach etiquette and proper conduct, held village feasts during the spring and autumn, and selected talented scholars proficient in Confucian classics. The local populace held him in high esteem. He also reclaimed wasteland, increasing arable land, and within three years, more than 50,000 refugees settled there. In the fourteenth year, he was recognized as the top performer in political achievements nationwide and was promoted to the position of Prefect of Yuzhang. Later, due to illness, he resigned from office, and the court called him back to the capital. In the nineteenth year, he passed away.
His son inherited his title. After his son passed away, his grandson inherited the title. In the ninth year of Yongping, the title was revoked because his mother was implicated in the murder of his uncle. In the seventh year of Yongchu, Empress Dowager Deng reinstated him as the Marquis of Qinting. After his passing, his son inherited the title.
Wan Xiu, styled Junyou, was from Maoling in Fufeng. During the reign of Gengshi, he served as the Magistrate of Xindu County, guarding the city with Prefect Ren Guang and Commandant Li Zhong to welcome Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu, and was appointed as a General. After capturing Handan, he was appointed as the Right General and participated in pacifying the Hebei region. In the second year of Jianwu, he was reappointed as the Marquis of Huaili. He and General Yang Han jointly launched an attack on Nanyang, but he fell ill and died in the campaign before they could capture it.
His son Pu inherited the title and was granted the title of Marquis Xuan. After Pu died without a son, the title was revoked. In the seventh year of Yongchu, Empress Dowager Deng bestowed the title of Marquis Qupingting upon Wan Xiu's great-grandson Feng. After Feng passed away, his son Chi inherited the title. In the first year of Yongjian, Chi died without a son, and the title was once again revoked. In the second year of Yanxi, Emperor Huan reappointed Wan Xiu's great-grandson Gong as Marquis Mendeting.
Pi Tong, courtesy name Weijun, hailed from Xindu. His father was named Pi Ji and had previously served as the Governor of Liaoxi. Pi Tong initially served as a soldier under Wang Mang, holding the rank of "Hecheng Zuo Zheng." Later, Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu attacked Hebei and arrived at Xiaquyang. Pi Tong led the surrender of the entire city to Liu Xiu, who then appointed him as the governor and permitted him to remain in the area for a few days.
Emperor Guangwu marched north to attack Jicheng, but Wang Lang rebelled, dispatching troops to attack and seize various cities. Many places surrendered willingly, except for Hecheng and Xindu, which put up a strong resistance. Upon hearing that Emperor Guangwu had withdrawn from Jicheng and sustained losses, Pi Tong resolved to return to Xindu. He first sent the official Zhang Wan and the postal supervisor Yin Sui, who led over two thousand elite cavalry, to rendezvous with Emperor Guangwu's army along the route. Shortly thereafter, Pi Tong reunited with Emperor Guangwu in Xindu.
Although Emperor Guangwu had received support from these two commanderies, the army had not yet fully assembled. Many people suggested taking advantage of the fact that Xindu's forces had not yet fully integrated and directly returning to Chang'an. However, Pi Tong firmly opposed this idea and said to Emperor Guangwu, "What those people are saying is all wrong! The common people have long been hoping for the revival of the Han Dynasty, so when Emperor Gengshi (Liu Xuan) declared himself emperor, everyone responded, and the Sanfu region even went out of their way to clean the palace roads to welcome him. If one person shouts with a weapon, generals a thousand miles away will abandon their cities and flee, and the enemy will request surrender. There’s never been anything throughout history that has inspired and mobilized the people like this! Moreover, that Wang Lang is just a fraud; he's just bluffing and has gathered a ragtag group, causing a stir in the Yan and Zhao regions. Now you have the forces of two commanderies, with great prestige. If you attack, which city can hold out? If you fight, which army will not obey? Backing off now would not only mean losing Hebei for nothing but also alarming the Sanfu region and damaging your prestige. This is simply not a good strategy! Even if you do not intend to continue fighting, it will be difficult to mobilize the forces in Xindu. Why? Because once you go west, the people of Handan won't abandon their families or their city lord to come send you off. They will definitely scatter and flee!" Emperor Guangwu realized Pi Tong was right and dropped the idea of heading west. That day, he appointed Pi Tong as the Grand General of the Rear, keeping him as the Prefect of Cheng, and let him lead the army ahead. When they arrived at Tangyang, Tangyang had already surrendered to Wang Lang. Pi Tong then sent Zhang Wan and Yin Sui to fill the local officials and folks in on what was happening. Emperor Guangwu arrived in Tangyang that night, and the city gate swung open to welcome him. After that, Emperor Guangwu led his troops to defeat Bai She’s army in Zhongshan. From then on, Pi Tong followed Emperor Guangwu in his campaigns.
Xindu was occupied by Wang Lang, who sent people to Xindu to arrest the father, brother, and wife of Pi Tong, forcing them to write a letter urging Pi Tong to surrender, which said: "Surrender and you'll be granted a title; refuse and your entire family will be wiped out!" Pi Tong tearfully replied in his reply: "How can one care about family when serving the king! My relatives still live peacefully in Xindu, thanks to Liu Xiu's generosity! The emperor is busy fighting for the world; how can I think about family matters?" Later, the army dispatched by Emperor Gengshi attacked Xindu, and Wang Lang's army was defeated and retreated, allowing Pi Tong's family to be spared.
After capturing Handan, Pi Tong was appointed as Marquis Wuyi. In the first year of Jianwu, he was subsequently appointed as Marquis Lingshou and took on the role of Grand Minister of Works. After the emperor entered Luoyang, Pi Tong was appointed Minister of Ceremonies, then transferred to Minister of Finance a month later, but was dismissed later that year. He later served as Left Cao Shizhong, accompanying the emperor on campaigns. Six years later, he returned to his fiefdom. After Pi Tong's death, his son, Tang, inherited the title. Nine years later, Tang's title was elevated to Marquis Leling. Nineteen years later, Tang passed away, and his son inherited the title; since he had no sons, the title was revoked. In the first year of the Yuanchu era, Empress Dowager Deng posthumously granted the title of Marquis Pingting to Pi Tong's grandson, Yin. Following Yin's death, his son Chai inherited the title.
Initially, Zhang Wan, Yin Sui, and Pi Tong together welcomed Emperor Guangwu and were appointed as Deputy Generals, accompanying him on military expeditions. Zhang Wan was appointed as Marquis Chongping, while Yin Sui was appointed as Marquis Pingtai.
The book says: Those who achieve great things are recognized by the world because of their remarkable contributions; those who are involved in planning from the beginning of things are not easily understood by the world because the rationale is often obscure. This is an objective truth that warrants careful consideration. Those intending to leverage the military forces of Jizhou and Qingzhou to formulate a strategy to enter Guanzhong and achieve hegemony, while the emperor was still unaware of the unpredictable risks, faced a unanimous agreement among the advisers, making Pi Tong's statement in court particularly perilous! As the saying goes, "a single word can make or break a nation," this is what it means.
Liu Zhi, also known as Boxian, was from Changcheng County, Julu County. When Wang Lang rebelled, Liu Zhi, along with his younger brother Liu Xi and cousin Liu Xin, gathered a few thousand followers and took control of Changcheng. Upon hearing that Emperor Guangwu was returning from Ji County, they opened the city gates to greet him. Emperor Guangwu appointed Liu Zhi as the General of the Elite Cavalry, Liu Xi and Liu Xin as Deputy Generals, and they were all enfeoffed as marquises. At that time, King Zhen Ding Liu Yang raised an army to support Wang Lang, with an army of over ten thousand. Emperor Guangwu sent Liu Zhi to persuade Liu Yang to surrender, and Liu Yang surrendered. Emperor Guangwu then remained in Zhending and married Guo, making her his empress, to secure Liu Yang's loyalty. Afterwards, Emperor Guangwu, Liu Yang, and other generals hosted a banquet at Guo's residence in Qili, with Liu Yang playing the zither to entertain. Emperor Guangwu then launched an attack on Handan, bringing peace to the Hebei region.
In the 26th year of the era, Geng Zhi was granted the title of Marquis of Changcheng. Later, he was killed in battle while fighting against bandits in Mixian. His son Geng Xiang inherited the title. The emperor sent Geng Xi to take over Geng Zhi's command. Geng Xi was promoted to General of the Valiant Cavalry and granted the title of Marquis of Guanzhen. After Geng Xi's death, Geng Xin succeeded him as General of the Valiant Cavalry and was appointed as the Marquis of Fuyang. Both Geng Xi and Geng Xin followed the emperor in battles, and their titles were inherited by their descendants. Geng Xiang was later reappointed as the Marquis of Dongwuyang. Upon his death, his son Geng Shu succeeded him. In 78 AD, Geng Shu was stripped of his title for conspiring with King Ying of Chu to rebel.
Geng Chun, known by his courtesy name Boshan, hailed from Songzi County in Julu Commandery. His father Geng Ai had served as the Intendant of Jiping under Wang Mang. Geng Chun studied in Chang'an and later became an Imperial Secretary. After Wang Mang's fall, Emperor Guangwu, Liu Xuan, established his regime and sent King Li Yi of Wang Yin to persuade various commanderies and kingdoms to surrender. Geng Ai surrendered to the new regime and was subsequently appointed as the Administrator of Jinan. At that time, Li Yi and his brothers held great power and made arbitrary decisions, and many visitors came to persuade them. Geng Chun repeatedly sought an audience with Li Yi but was unable to for a long time. When he finally had the opportunity to meet him, he said, "Your Majesty, you possess the imposing presence of a dragon and a tiger, rising rapidly in a turbulent era, with you and your brothers becoming kings within a few months. However, your virtues and reputation have not been known among the people, your achievements have not benefited the people, yet you enjoy great wealth and glory. This is something that wise men would be wary of! Even with caution, one fears an unfavorable outcome, let alone believing that success is assured." Li Yi found Geng Chun's words intriguing, and recognizing Geng Chun's prominent background in Julu Commandery, appointed him as the Cavalry Commandant and granted him the authority to pacify the states of Zhao and Wei.
At this time, Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu crossed the Yellow River and arrived in Handan. Geng Chun immediately went to see him. Emperor Guangwu held him in high regard. After Geng Chun returned, he found that the military command and strategies of other generals were not as good as his own, so he sought to join Emperor Guangwu and offered hundreds of horses and rolls of silk. Emperor Guangwu headed north to Zhongshan, leaving Geng Chun in Handan. At this time, Wang Lang rebelled, and Emperor Guangwu quickly marched southeast from Jixian. Geng Chun, together with his brothers Geng Yu, Geng Su, and Geng Zhi, led more than two thousand family members and guests, including the elderly and infirm, riding in wooden carts to meet Emperor Guangwu in Yudi. Emperor Guangwu appointed Geng Chun as the General, granted him the title of Marquis of Gengxiang, and Geng Yu, Geng Su, and Geng Zhi were all appointed as Deputy Generals, allowing them to take the lead and capture Songzi, as well as participate in the capture of Quyang and Zhongshan.
At that time, many people in Handan surrendered. Chen Tang worried there might be disloyal members in his family, so he ordered the burning of their houses. Emperor Guangwu of Han asked Chen Tang for the reason, and Chen Tang replied, "I privately believe that Your Majesty only brought a small number of troops to Hebei, without any treasures from the treasury, nor did you offer rewards or sweet talk to win them over, but relied on benevolence to influence them, so the soldiers are willing to submit. Now Handan is self-sufficient, and the northern states are still observing. Although my family surrendered, the elderly and weak remain in the ranks. I am worried that some of the family members and guests are not convinced, so I burned down the houses to discourage any thoughts of turning back." Emperor Guangwu of Han was very pleased to hear this.
In Haodi, Emperor Guangwu of Han stationed at the post station. The influential Su family in Haodi rebelled and opened the city gates to welcome the general Li Yun who supported Wang Lang. Chen Tang had prior knowledge of this, so he led his troops to fight against Li Yun, defeating and executing him. He then participated in pacifying Handan and capturing Tongma (placename).
At that time, over 100,000 troops, including the Chimei Army, Qingdu Army, Shangjiang Army, Datong Army, Tiejing Army, and Wufan Army, were all in Shequan (placename), and Emperor Guangwu of Han led his troops to prepare to attack them. Chen Tang's army was at the forefront, a few miles away from the enemy camp. However, the enemy suddenly launched a night attack on Chen Tang's camp, and arrows rained down, resulting in many casualties among the soldiers. Chen Tang ordered his men to hold their ground and not back down. He selected two thousand suicide troops, each armed with three powerful crossbows, and had them bite down on cloth strips as they quietly snuck around to the enemy's rear, shouted together, and fired their crossbows in unison. The enemy panicked and fled in confusion, and Chen Tang led his troops in pursuit, ultimately defeating the enemy. The cavalry quickly reported the situation of the battle to Emperor Guangwu. The next morning, Emperor Guangwu arrived at the camp with the generals to comfort Chen Tang, saying, "You suffered last night, didn't you?" Chen Tang replied, "Thanks to Your Majesty's virtues, I was able to escape disaster." Emperor Guangwu replied, "The army can't move at night, so we couldn't come to your aid in time. The military camp is unstable, and your relatives cannot all stay in the camp." Therefore, Emperor Guangwu appointed Chen Tang's relative, Geng Ji, as the magistrate of Puwu County, and had all of Chen Tang's relatives stay there.
After Emperor Guangwu of Han ascended to the throne, he appointed Chen Tang as the Marquis of Gaoyang. Chen Tang defeated Liu Yong in Jiyin and captured Dingtang. At first, when Chen Tang was with the army attacking Wang Lang, he fell off his horse and broke his shoulder. When his condition worsened, he returned to Huai Palace to recover. The emperor asked, "Among your brothers, who can be sent out to handle affairs?" Chen Tang recommended his cousin Chen Zhi, so Chen Zhi was appointed to lead Chen Tang's army, while Chen Tang continued to follow the army as a former general.
Legend has it that King Zhending Liu Yang made up a prophecy, claiming, "After the ninth red, Yang will take charge." Liu Yang had a lump on his neck, and he deliberately used this to deceive the people, colluding with the rebel Mian Man.
In the spring of the second year of the Jianwu era, the court dispatched Cavalry Captain Chen Fu and Guerrilla General Deng Long to campaign against Liu Yang. Liu Yang refused to let Chen Fu and his men enter the city. The court then sent Geng Chun with an imperial decree to announce an amnesty in Youzhou and Jizhou, and along the way, Geng Chun also conveyed the Emperor's goodwill to the local nobles. The Emperor secretly told Geng Chun, "If you see Liu Yang, arrest him."
Geng Chun, with over a hundred soldiers, met up with Chen Fu and Deng Long in Yuanshi, and together they arrived in Zhending, staying at the post station. Liu Yang pretended to be sick and did not meet Geng Chun. As Geng Chun was a descendant of the royal family of Zhending, Liu Yang sent a letter to Geng Chun, wanting to meet him. Geng Chun replied, "I have been ordered to meet with nobles and local officials and cannot visit you first. If you want to meet, please come to the post station." At that time, Liu Yang's younger brother, the Marquis of Linyi Liu Rang, and his cousin Liu Xi, each led over ten thousand soldiers. Confident in his numbers, Liu Yang believed Geng Chun would not act recklessly, so he went to meet Geng Chun with a few officials. His two brothers waited outside with light cavalry.
After Liu Yang met Geng Chun, the latter received him politely and also invited his brothers in. Once everyone was inside, Geng Chun closed the gates, slaughtered them all, and led his troops out of the city. The people of Zhending were terrified and did not dare to move. The Emperor believed that the rebellion by Liu Yang and Liu Rang had not yet been executed, so he granted titles to their sons and maintained their fiefdoms.
Geng Chun returned to the capital and volunteered, saying, "I am just the son of an ordinary official. Fortunately, I lived to see the revival of the Han Dynasty. The Emperor was appointed by heaven, which allowed me to serve as a general and be granted the title of marquis. Now that the world is mostly at peace, I don't have much to do. I want to govern a county and serve the court well." The Emperor smiled and said, "You're such a military expert, and you still want to try your hand at civil governance?" So Geng Chun was appointed as the Prefect of Dong Commandery.
At that time, Dong Commandery was not completely pacified. After a few months in office, Geng Chun managed to drive the bandits away. In the fourth year of Jianwu, the Emperor ordered Geng Chun to lead troops against Fan Jing, the Prefect of Dongping from the Gengshi regime. Fan Jing surrendered. Geng Chun also attacked the bandits in Mount Tai, Jinan, and Pingyuan, and he pacified them all. Geng Chun was the Prefect of Dong Commandery for four years. When a county magistrate broke the law, Geng Chun investigated and surrounded him. Before the memorial was approved, the county magistrate committed suicide. As a result, Geng Chun was removed from his position, but he kept his title as marquis and could still attend court.
Later, Geng Chun followed the army to attack Dong Xian. As they passed through Dong Commandery, thousands of people of all ages followed the army, crying and shouting, "We miss Prefect Geng!" The Emperor said to his ministers, "When Geng Chun was younger, he was just a soldier in armor. How could he be so loved by the people when governing a place?" Six years later, Zhou Chun was made the Marquis of Dongguang. He said goodbye to the Emperor before heading to his fiefdom, and the Emperor said, "Emperor Wen once said to Zhou Bo, 'The Prime Minister is someone I value greatly. You lead the vassals to your fiefdom on my behalf.' The situation is the same now." Zhou Chun left with the imperial decree. When he arrived at Ye City, the Emperor gifted him ten thousand bushels of grain. Once he arrived in his fiefdom, he comforted the families of the deceased and visited the sick, who all held him in high regard.
Eight years later, there was a rise in banditry in the Dongjun and Jiyin regions. The court dispatched Grand Minister of Works Li Tong and General Wang Chang to suppress them. The Emperor held Zhou Chun in high regard for his reputation in Wei and sent an envoy to appoint him as Grand Master, allowing him to join the army in Dongjun. When the bandits in Dongjun heard that Zhou Chun had arrived, over nine thousand bandits surrendered to him, and the army returned with little resistance. The Emperor then issued a decree appointing Zhou Chun as the Prefect of Dongjun, much to the delight of the local people. Thirteen years later, Zhou Chun died in office and was posthumously honored as Marquis Cheng. His son Zhou Fu inherited his title.
Zhou Chun's brother, Zhou Zhi later became an Auxiliary Wei General and was granted the title of Marquis Weiyi; he also served as Acting Prefect of Dai County and was granted the title of Marquis Suixiang. Another brother, Zhou Zhe, became a Red Eyebrow General and was granted the title of Marquis Zhuowu. He died in battle at Yunyang while following Deng Yu on a western expedition. In total, four members of the Zhou family were granted Marquis titles, three were granted Marquis titles within the Passes, and nine held the rank of 2,000-bushel officials.
Zhou Fu was later re-granted the title of Marquis Juxiang. In the fourteenth year of Yongping, his title was revoked due to the comments made by his relatives, Geng He and Yan Zhong from Chu. In the second year of Jianchu, Emperor Sui Zong of Han remembered Zhou Chun's contributions and re-appointed Zhou Fu's son Zhou Xu as Marquis Gaoting. After Zhou Xu's passing without a son, the title was then passed to Zhou Xu's brother Zhou Teng. After Zhou Teng's passing, his son Zhou Zhong inherited the title, and after Zhou Zhong's passing, his grandson Zhou Xu succeeded to the title.
Praise: Ren and Pi are knowledgeable, Yan Cheng resolves the door. Support the wanderers and depend on the two prefects. Chun and Zhi uphold righteousness, serving in the army to bolster their prestige.
