Li Tong, style name Ziyuan, was from Wan County, Nanyang. His family had been affluent for generations by lending money, with a well-off financial foundation. His father, Li Shou, was over nine feet tall, exceptionally handsome, strict, and maintained strict household rules, much like a government official. Li Shou had worked under Liu Xin when he was young, studying celestial phenomena, astrology, and prophecies. He later became a court official under Wang Mang. Li Tong had also served under General Wuwei before being appointed as the magistrate of Wuxian, where he excelled in his duties. As Wang Mang's regime was on the verge of collapse and the people were in an uproar, Li Tong remembered a prophecy his father had told him in his childhood, predicting the Liu clan's resurgence and the Li clan's support. Given his family's wealth and influence, Li Tong declined official positions and returned home.
Later, rebellion broke out in Xiajiang and Xinshi, throwing Nanyang into chaos. Li Tong and his younger brother Li Yi, who had a keen interest in such matters, discussed the situation, concluding that the Han Dynasty was on the brink of restoration. They believed that only Liu Bosheng, a relative of the Liu clan in Nanyang known for his generosity and popularity, could help achieve this. Li Tong said, "I think the same way." Just then, Liu Xiu was hiding from government pursuit in Wancheng. Hearing this, Li Tong sent Li Yi to welcome Liu Xiu. Finding Li Tong to be a man worth befriending, Liu Xiu agreed to meet him. After a long conversation, they shook hands and were delighted. Li Tong then told Liu Xiu about the prophecy in detail. Initially surprised, Liu Xiu was initially skeptical. When Liu Xiu asked about Li Shou in Chang'an, Li Tong assured him that he had a plan, which he explained in detail.
Liu Xiu completely understood Li Tong's meaning, so the two agreed to cooperate and formulated a detailed plan. They decided to kidnap the Chief Physician and the Chief Justice on the day of the imperial examination for knights and then called on everyone to rise up together. Afterwards, Liu Xiu and Li Yü returned to Chongling, preparing to raise troops there in response. Li Tong sent his cousin's son to Chang'an to inform his father, Li Shou, of the matter.
Duke Ji (Ji Yudao) passed away due to illness, and General Shoumi learned of this and wanted to sneak back home. He had a special relationship with the local Huang Xian, who was a general at the time. When he heard about this, he told Shoumi, "The checkpoints are heavily guarded now. You don't look like a fugitive. How do you plan to get through? Why not just go to the palace and surrender? The situation hasn't blown up yet; maybe you can still escape punishment." Shoumi listened to his advice and immediately wrote a memorial requesting to return home for mourning. Before he received a response to his memorial, he waited at the palace gate.
Eventually, the truth came to light, and Tong's troops all fled. Wang Mang learned of this and imprisoned Shoumi. Huang Xian stepped forward to plead for him, saying, "General Shoumi heard that his son rebelled and didn't dare to escape. He has always been loyal and is here to surrender to the court. I will vouch for him and take him back to his hometown to persuade his son. If his son persists, let General Shoumi face north and take his own life as an apology to the court for its great favor." Wang Mang thought he made sense.
At that moment, news of the uprising of the Red Eyebrow Army arrived at the front line again. Wang Mang was furious and wanted to kill Shoumi. Huang Xian once again vigorously defended him. As a result, both of them were killed, and all of Shoumi's relatives in Chang'an were also executed, totaling sixty-four people, and their bodies were subsequently burned in Wancheng.
At the same time, the Han army had also assembled. The leader of the Red Eyebrow Army, Tong, met with Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu and Li Yi in Jiyang, and together they defeated the vanguard of the Han army, killing Zhen Fu and Liang Qiu Ci. After Emperor Gengshi ascended the throne, he immediately appointed Liu Xiu's brother Liu Yan as the Grand General and Marquis of Fu Han. Liu Yan followed Emperor Gengshi to Chang'an, where he was further appointed as Grand General and King of Xiping; Liu Xiu's other brother Liu Yi was appointed King of Wuyin; Liu Yan's brother Liu Song was appointed Prime Minister. Emperor Gengshi sent Liu Yan back to Jingzhou with the imperial seal to guard, where Liu Yan also married Liu Xiu's sister, who would later become Princess Ningping. After Liu Xiu became emperor, he summoned Liu Yan to serve as Commander of the Guards. In the second year of the Jianwu era, Liu Xiu appointed Liu Yan as Marquis of Gushi and also made him Minister of Agriculture. Whenever the emperor led troops to battle elsewhere, he would leave Liu Yan in the capital to pacify the people, build palaces, and schools. In the spring of the fifth year of Jianwu, Liu Yan succeeded Liang Wang as General-in-Chief. In the summer of the sixth year, Liu Yan led ten battalions, including Generals Hou Jin and Wang Ba, to combat bandits in Hanzhong. Gongsun Shu sent troops to provide support; Liu Yan's army fought against Gongsun Shu's forces in Xicheng, emerging victorious, they then returned to camp in Shunyang, where they engaged in farming.
At that time, the world was almost pacified. Liu Yan wanted to avoid the glory and power, so he wrote a letter requesting to resign from his position due to illness. The emperor handed this matter over to the court ministers for discussion. The Grand Minister Hou Ba and others said, "Wang Mang usurped the Han Dynasty, causing great chaos. Liu Yan, like Yi Yin, Lv Shang, Xiao He, and Cao Shen, provided strategies and assisted the emperor, achieving a virtuous and enlightened rule. He sacrificed everything for the country, putting aside his own safety, wholeheartedly assisting the emperor, and making significant contributions to saving the country from peril. His contributions are well-known throughout the world. Now that the world is pacified, he humbly resigns. One must not forget past dangers during times of peace; he should be allowed to continue his work and focus on his recovery. If he wishes to become a noble, that cannot be allowed." Therefore, the emperor ordered Liu Yan to focus on his recovery and resume his duties on time. That summer, Liu Yan was promoted to the position of Grand Minister of Works.
Liu Yan was originally a commoner, but he responded to the call and participated in the achievements of the great cause. Additionally, due to his marriage to Princess Ningping, the emperor held him in high regard. However, Liu Yan was humble and cautious, always trying to avoid power. He was originally in poor health, and since becoming prime minister, he often claimed illness and avoided attending court. For several years, he had been seeking retirement, and the emperor always treated him well, allowing him to hold the position of Grand Minister of Works and recover at home. However, Liu Yan firmly declined. After two years, he finally accepted the resignation from his position and was appointed as a special advisor to the court.
Later, someone suggested to confer titles upon the emperor's sons. Remembering Liu Yan's past merits, the emperor promptly conferred the title of Marquis of Shaoling upon Liu Yan's youngest son, Liu Xiong. Whenever the emperor traveled to Nanyang, he sent people with offerings to pay respects at Liu Yan's father’s tomb. "He passed away in the eighteenth year and was posthumously honored with the title of Gonghou. The emperor and empress personally paid their respects and attended the funeral." After Liu Yan's death, he was posthumously honored as Gonghou. The emperor and empress personally paid their respects and attended the funeral.
His son, Liu Yin, inherited the title. After Liu Yin's death, his son Liu Ding inherited the title; after Liu Ding's death, his son Liu Huang inherited the title; after Liu Huang's death, his son Liu Shou inherited the title.
Li Ye was later killed by Zhu Wei. After the failure of the Xin dynasty, Li Song died in battle; only Li Tong managed to live well, thanks to his reputation for achievements. During the Yongping period, the emperor went to Wancheng and ordered all surnamed Li and members of the Anzhong imperial clan to come to pay homage, rewarding them generously.
That said, Confucius once said: "Wealth and nobility are what everyone desires, but if they are not acquired through just means, they cannot truly be enjoyed." Did Li Tong know what he wanted, but not know how to obtain it through proper means? The ways of heaven and fate are hard for sages to articulate, let alone speculate on those trivial mysteries, those inexplicable fortunes, and even slander their own relatives to cover up all their achievements? In the past, Meng Gu carried letters and did not succumb to the pressure of the Chu state; Ji Mo used the military power of the Qi state to avenge the Yan state. Isn’t what they pursued and sacrificed completely different from Li Tong’s ambitions?
Wang Chang, also known by his courtesy name Yanqing, hailed from Wuyang in Yingchuan. Before Wang Mang came to power, he fled to Jiangxia seeking revenge for his younger brother. After a long time, he and Wang Feng, Wang Kuang, and others rose up in the Yundu Green Forest, gathering tens of thousands of troops. Wang Chang became a deputy general and attacked nearby county towns. Later, he and Cheng Dan, Zhang Yang, and others separated and entered Lankou in Nanjun, known as the Xiajiang army. Wang Mang sent Yan You and Chen Mao to suppress them, defeating them. Wang Chang, Cheng Dan, and Zhang Yang then retreated to Luoxi and plundered the areas around Zhong and Long, and their forces grew stronger. They led their troops to fight against the governor of Xingzhou in Shangtang, achieving a resounding victory, and then they marched northward to Yiqiu.
At that time, the Han army and the armies of the Xinshi and Pinglin uprisings had been defeated at Xiaochang'an, and everyone wanted to withdraw their troops. Geng Yan learned that the army from Xiajiang was in Yiqiu, and he went to the camp of Chang She with Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu and Li Tong, and said, "I want to meet a wise general from Xiajiang to discuss important matters." Cheng Dan and Zhang Ang recommended Chang She. Geng Yan met Chang She and told him about the benefits of uniting to resist Wang Mang. Upon hearing this, Chang She immediately understood and said, "Wang Mang usurped the throne and treated the people cruelly. The common people are longing for the revival of the Han Dynasty, and that’s why so many heroes have risen in rebellion. Now that the Liu family’s descendants have risen again, they are the rightful rulers! I was just pondering how I could lend my support to help them achieve their great cause!" Geng Yan said, "If this works out, I wouldn’t dare to take all the credit myself!" Thus, he and Chang She forged a strong friendship before parting ways.
Chang She returned to the camp and relayed Geng Yan's words to Cheng Dan and Zhang Yang. However, Cheng Dan and Zhang Yang stuck to their own views, saying, "Since we have already risen in rebellion, we should each be king and not obey others' commands." Deep down, Chang She wanted to submit to the Han Dynasty, so he patiently persuaded the generals, saying, "Emperor Cheng and Emperor Ai were both weak and left no descendants, so Wang Mang took advantage of the situation to usurp the throne. After he gained control of the empire, he implemented a cruel rule and lost the people's hearts long ago. The common people have been longing for the revival of the Han Dynasty day and night, which won't happen overnight. Therefore, we have the opportunity to rebel. What the common people resent is what has been forsaken by heaven; what the common people long for is what heaven has favored. In order to achieve great things, we must align with the people's will and the will of heaven to succeed. If we rely on strength, use brute force, and indulge our desires, even if we take control of the empire, we'll likely lose it again. Even powerful forces like the Qin and Xiang Yu eventually fell, let alone us who are just some common people gathered in the marshes. If we continue down this path, we're heading for disaster! Now the Liu clan in Nanyang has risen in rebellion. Look at those coming to discuss things; each one is wise and skilled like royal ministers. If we unite with them, we will surely achieve great things. This is heaven helping us!" Although the generals under Jiang were relatively strong and had little knowledge, they always respected Chang She. They all apologized, saying, "If it weren't for you, General Wang, we’d have made a huge mistake!" They immediately led their troops and joined forces with the Han army, as well as the armies of Xinshi and Pinglin. As a result, the armies united, morale soared, and they launched a coordinated attack, defeating and killing Zhen Fu and Liang Qiu Ci.
It is said that at that time everyone was discussing who should be made emperor, and Liu Xiu (Emperor Guangwu) and the scholars from Nanyang felt that Liu Bo-sheng should be chosen. However, Zhu Wei and Zhang Yang disagreed. Later, Emperor Gengshi ascended the throne and appointed Liu Chang as the Minister of Justice and Generalissimo, bestowing upon him the title of Marquis of Knowing Fate. Liu Chang then led troops to the regions of Runan and Pei, and later returned to Kunyang, where he defeated Wang Xun and Wang Yi alongside Liu Xiu.
After Emperor Gengshi moved the capital to Chang'an, he appointed Liu Chang as the acting Prefect of Nanyang, with full authority over rewards and punishments in the region, and granted him the Liu surname. Liu Chang was known for his humility, frugality, and strict adherence to the law, earning praise from the people in the south.
After the downfall of Emperor Gengshi, in the summer of the second year of Jianwu, Liu Chang surrendered in Luoyang, bringing his wife and children with him. Liu Xiu was very happy to see Liu Chang and reassured him, saying, "Minister of Justice, you have worked hard! I always remember the hardships we went through together in the past, how could I forget? You came all this way to join me; did you go back on our initial agreement?" Liu Chang quickly knelt and thanked him, saying, "I am grateful for your trust, which allowed me to serve under Your Majesty. We met in Yiqiu and later in Kunyang; thanks to your wisdom and martial prowess, I was able to complete tasks quickly like cutting through metal. Emperor Gengshi did not recognize my abilities, yet he entrusted me with managing the southern provinces. When the Red Eyebrow Army rebelled, I was disheartened, thinking the world was in chaos again. When I heard that Your Majesty had ascended the throne in Hebei, my heart was relieved. Now that I finally see you, I can now die without regrets!" Liu Xiu smiled and said, "I was merely joking with you, Minister. With you by my side, I don't have to worry about the south." Liu Xiu then called all the ministers and generals for a meeting, and before all gathered, he declared, "Liu Chang, who started as a commoner, managed to raise an army and lead a rebellion, understanding the will of heaven, so Emperor Gengshi appointed him as Marquis of Knowing Fate. I have always had a good relationship with him on the battlefield." Therefore, Liu Xiu specially rewarded him, appointed him as Left Cadet, and bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Shansang.
The emperor pointed at Chang during a grand court meeting and said, "This man leads the generals in the Yangtze River region to assist the Han dynasty, loyal and devoted like a rock, truly a loyal minister!" That day, the emperor promoted Chang to General of Loyal Service to the Han and sent him south to attack Deng Feng and Dong Zhuo, and ordered other generals to obey his command. The emperor also ordered Chang to go north to attack Hejian and Yuyang, quelling the rebellion there.
In the autumn of the fifth year, Chang captured Huling, then joined the emperor in Rengcheng to defeat Sumao and Pang Meng. During the attack on Xiaopei, Chang's troops fought fiercely at the city gates, battling for many rounds in a day, forcing the enemy to retreat into the city. Chang pursued them relentlessly, arrows raining down from the city walls. The emperor, with over a hundred cavalry, watched the battle from a high point south of the city and, moved by Chang's bravery, sent the Chief Minister of the Yellow Gate to order him to retreat, leading the enemy to surrender. Chang also led the cavalry commander Wang Ba to quell the rebellion in Pei County. In the spring of the sixth year, Chang was summoned back to Luoyang, where his wife welcomed him back home in Wuyang to pay respects to their ancestors. Later, Chang was stationed in Chang'an to resist Wei Xiao. In the seventh year, the emperor sent an envoy with an edict to appoint Chang as Grand General of Hengye, a position unparalleled among the generals. Chang also defeated Wei Xiao's general Gao Junyu in a single battle. Wei Xiao's troops passed through Wushi, but Chang swiftly led his troops to crush them. Subsequently, Chang also pacified the various camps of the Baose Qiang that had surrendered. In the ninth year, Chang attacked the rebels in Neihuang, defeating them and forcing their surrender. Later, Chang stationed his troops in Gu'an to resist Lu Fang. In the twelfth year, Chang passed away in his military camp, posthumously honored with the title of Marquis Jie. His son, Guangsi, inherited the title. In the thirtieth year, Guangsi was reassigned and given the title of Marquis of Shicheng. In the fourteenth year of Yongping, due to his involvement in the rebellion in the Chu region, the Marquisate of Shicheng was abolished.
Deng Chen, courtesy name Weiqing, was from Xinye, Nanyang. His family had been officials for generations, with official positions of over two thousand dan. His father, Deng Hong, served as the Prefect of Yuzhang. Deng Chen befriended Emperor Guangwu's sister Yuan at a young age. In the later years of Wang Mang's reign, Emperor Guangwu, along with Deng Chen and his brother Liu Bosheng, went to Wan to drink and converse with Cai Shaogong and others from Rang County. Cai Shaogong was well-versed in divination and predicted that Liu Xiu would become emperor in the future. When someone asked if he meant the Imperial Tutor Liu Xiu, Emperor Guangwu jokingly replied, "How do you know it's not me?" Everyone laughed, except for Deng Chen, who felt secretly pleased. Later, Emperor Guangwu and his family sought refuge in Deng Chen's home to escape the authorities, and their relationship was very good. Deng Chen told Emperor Guangwu, "Wang Mang is tyrannical and cruel, killing the people even in the scorching summer heat. It's time for him to be overthrown! When we met in Wan, are you the only one destined to fulfill this?" Emperor Guangwu smiled and did not respond.
When the Han Dynasty was in turmoil, Deng Chen called his guests together early in the morning in Jiyang City to strategize. The Han army was defeated at Xiaochang'an, many generals lost their families, and Emperor Guangwu (then Liu Xiu) fled alone on horseback. Along the way, he met his sister Boji, and they continued their escape together on the same horse. They encountered Deng Chen's mother Yuan on the way, and Deng Chen urged her to get on the horse. However, the old lady gently pushed them away, saying, "Go, I can't be saved, don't let us both be caught!" The pursuers caught up, and the old lady and her three daughters were all killed.
After the Han soldiers retreated to Ji Yang, the magistrate of Xin Ye went completely mad and desecrated Geng Chen's home and even burned down his ancestral grave! Geng's relatives were all furious, cursing, "Our family was well-off to begin with—why should we have to suffer this misfortune alongside the in-laws?" But Geng Chen ultimately kept his resentment to himself.
After Emperor Geng Shi took the throne, he appointed Geng Chen as a general. He fought alongside Emperor Guangwu in Yingchuan, and together they launched a night attack on Kunyang City, defeating the forces of Wang Xun and Wang Yi. Later, he took command of the army to attack the region east of Yangdi, all the way to Jingzhao and Mi County, successfully capturing them. Emperor Geng Shi moved the capital to Luoyang and appointed Geng Chen as the Prefect of Changshan. During this period, Wang Lang staged a rebellion, and Emperor Guangwu fled from Ji County to Xindu. Geng Chen stealthily made his way to Julu to rendezvous with Emperor Guangwu and eagerly volunteered to join the assault on Handan. Emperor Guangwu said, "Geng Qing, it’s better for you to defend a county as my northern protector than to follow me on your own!" So he sent Geng Chen back to Changshan County. Emperor Guangwu pursued the rebel armies of Tongma and Gao Hu in Jizhou, and Geng Chen gathered a thousand elite archers for support and took charge of logistics to ensure a steady supply of provisions for the troops.
After Emperor Guangwu ascended the throne, he granted Geng Chen the title of Marquis of Fangzi. The emperor also remembered Geng Chen's mother, Yuan Shi, who perished during the chaos, and posthumously honored her with the title of Princess of Xin Ye Jieyi, and built a temple for her in the western part of the county. He also appointed Geng Chen's eldest son Geng Fan as the Marquis of Wufang, entrusting him with the duty of honoring the princess.
In the third year of Jianwu, the Emperor called Geng Chen back to the capital, hosting several banquets. The two reminisced about the past, chatting happily. Geng Chen serenely said to the Emperor, "I’ve finally taken care of things." The Emperor burst into laughter. Later, Emperor Guangwu went to Zhangling, appointing Geng Chen as the Grand Minister of Ceremonies and entrusted him with overseeing Jia Fu and others to suppress the rebellions in Shaoling and Xinxin. In the fourth year of Jianwu, Emperor Guangwu went to Shouchun, leaving Geng Chen to defend Jiujiang.
Chen Haole became a county magistrate, later promoted to the Prefect of Zhongshan. The people praised him, as he was the finest local official in Jizhou. Thirteen years later, he was granted the title of Marquis of Nandun. He served as a courtier, then became the Prefect of Runan. In the eighteenth year, the Emperor summoned him to serve as the Minister of Justice during his inspection in Zhangling. The Emperor brought him to Xinye, hosting banquets and rewarding him with millions of coins before sending him back to his county. Chen Haole owned thousands of acres of fertile land in Runan, known for its abundant resources that even overflowed to other counties. The following year, he was officially titled as the Marquis of Xihua and called to serve as a courtier. He passed away in the twenty-fifth year, and the Emperor organized a funeral fit for a princess, laying him to rest beside his wife in Beimang. The Emperor and Empress personally attended the burial. He was posthumously honored as the Marquis of Hui.
His son, Xiaozitang, inherited the title and later moved to Wudang. After Xiaozitang's passing, his son, Gu, inherited the title; after Gu's death, his son, Guo, inherited the title; after Guo's death, his son, Fu, inherited the title. Fu passed away in the first year of Yongjian without a son, which resulted in the title being abolished.
Lai She, whose courtesy name was Junshu, was a native of Xinye in Nanyang. His sixth ancestor during the Han Dynasty was a man of great talent and influence. During the reign of Emperor Wu, he served as a Court Minister and assisted General Yang Pu in defeating the Southern Yue and Korea. His father, Zhong, was a court official during the reign of Emperor Ai, married the aunt of Emperor Guangwu, and fathered Lai She. Emperor Guangwu held him in high regard and was very close to him, and they often visited Chang'an together.
When the Han army rebelled, Wang Mang thought Lai She was related to the Liu clan and arrested him. With the help of his guests, they worked together to rescue him from execution. After Emperor Gengshi ascended the throne, he appointed Lai She as an official and accompanied him to Guanzhong. Lai She made several proposals, but they were ignored, so he resigned from his position claiming illness. Lai She's sister was the wife of Prince Han Zhong, Liu Jia. Liu Jia sent someone to welcome Lai She, so he went to Han Zhong. After Emperor Gengshi's failure, Lai She persuaded Liu Jia to surrender to Emperor Guangwu, so he and Liu Jia went to Luoyang to seek refuge under Emperor Guangwu.
Emperor Guangwu was very happy to see Lai She, immediately took off his own outer robe and draped it over him, and appointed him as a Grand Master of the Palace. At that time, Emperor Guangwu was worried about the non-surrender of Longxi and Shu regions. He privately said to Lai She, "The western provinces have not yet surrendered, Kuai Xun has declared himself emperor, the journey is long, and various generals are busy pacifying the eastern regions. As for the strategy of the western provinces, we do not know who to send to take charge. Do you have any ideas?" Lai She volunteered and said, "I have met Kuai Xun in Chang'an before. When he first rebelled, he used the banner of the Han Dynasty. Now, Your Majesty's virtue is flourishing. I hope to be sent on a mission to persuade him with sincerity. Kuai Xun will surely surrender, and his self-destructive tendencies will no longer pose a threat."
In the third year of Jianwu, the Emperor sent Geng Shu to meet Kuai Xun. Three years later, the Emperor sent Geng Shu, along with a personal letter, to meet Kuai Xun along with Ma Yuan. After Geng Shu returned, he returned to persuade Kuai Xun once again.
As a result, Kui Xiao agreed and sent his son Kui Xun to follow Geng Shu to Chang'an as a hostage. The emperor also appointed Geng Shu as General of the Zhonglang. At that time, the war in the east was almost settled, and the emperor planned to incorporate Kui Xiao's army to jointly attack the Shu region. Therefore, he sent Geng Shu to communicate with Kui Xiao's subordinate general Wang Yuan, to convey the emperor's intentions. However, Wang Yuan deliberately stalled, refusing to make a decision.
Geng Shu was strong-willed and hot-headed. Unable to take it any longer, he confronted Kui Xiao directly, demanding, "The emperor sent you because he values your abilities and insights; that's why he personally wrote a letter to you to express his sincerity. Sending your son to Chang'an as a hostage clearly indicates your submission. But now you listen to those treacherous villains, wanting to rebel, betray the emperor, abandon your own son, and violate the initial promise. Is this how you should act? Today is the day that will determine your fate!" Geng Shu said, and was about to draw his sword to attack Kui Xiao. Kui Xiao was shocked and quickly hid inside the house, gathered troops and horses, preparing to kill Geng Shu. Geng Shu remained calm as he leaned on his cane and slowly got into the carriage, departing from Kui Xiao's camp.
Wei Xiao was even more enraged, and Wang Yuan instigated him to kill Geng Shu, sending Niu Han and his troops to surround Geng Shu. At this time, one of Wei Xiao's generals, Wang Zun, stepped forward to persuade Wei Xiao: "I've heard that leaders should treat power and reputation with caution, and those in charge need to be careful not to stir up resentment and trouble. If you handle power and reputation wisely, your subordinates will follow your lead; if you ignore resentment and trouble, it will harm your whole family. General, you sent your son to Chang'an as a hostage, yet you had other plans in mind, which could ruin your reputation and authority; people are saying you want to harm the envoy of the Han dynasty, and resentment and trouble will follow. In ancient times, warring states used envoys to negotiate, highlighting the brutality of war and the need to avoid conflict, especially since you accepted the emperor's order to send your son as a hostage, yet still plan to harm the envoy? Although Geng Shu came alone, he is the emperor's nephew! Killing him won't do the Han dynasty any good; it will only bring ruin to your family. In the past, the State of Song killed the envoy of the State of Chu, resulting in the tragic event of 'breaking bones and exchanging sons.' Even smaller states wouldn't dare insult envoys, especially with your son being a hostage?"
Geng Shu was known for his honesty and trustworthiness; he never went back on his word. Whenever he went to persuade someone, he always had evidence to back him up, and the officials in the Western region had a lot of trust in him. Many people defended him, allowing Geng Shu to ultimately escape danger and return safely to the east.
In the spring of 23 BC, General She and General Zhai Zun jointly attacked Lueyang. However, Zhai Zun fell ill on the way and had to turn back, leaving some veteran soldiers to follow General She, totaling more than two thousand. They cleared obstacles, cut through mountains, and took a detour from Fansu and Huizhong to reach Lueyang, where they swiftly killed the defending general, Jin Liang, and then occupied the city. Upon hearing this news, Xiao was terrified and shouted, "This is incredible!" He then gathered tens of thousands of troops to besiege Lueyang and even had people cut mountains and build embankments to inundate the city. General She and his soldiers fought to the death, running out of arrows and resorting to using roof tiles and tree branches as weapons. Jin's elite forces attacked fiercely from spring to autumn. His soldiers became exhausted. At this time, the Emperor ordered a large number of troops from the eastern provinces to be mobilized, personally leading them to the Long region. Jin's army was defeated, and the siege was lifted.
Later, the Emperor held a banquet to celebrate and reward General She, letting him sit on the right side of all the generals and giving his wife a thousand rolls of silk. The Emperor also ordered General She to stay in Chang'an to supervise the other generals. General She took the opportunity to write a memorial to the Emperor, saying, "Gongsun Shu managed to hold out for so long because he had Longxi and Tianshui as barriers. Now that these two regions have been pacified, Gongsun Shu's strategies are exhausted. We should recruit more soldiers and stockpile more provisions. In the past, many generals of the Zhao kingdom came from merchant backgrounds, and the first emperor used heavy rewards to attract them. Now that the western region has just been pacified, the soldiers are tired and hungry. If we use money and provisions to recruit them, we can gather a powerful army. I know that the funds allocated to us by the state are limited, and the budget may be insufficient, but some actions are necessary!" The Emperor thought General She made a lot of sense.
Therefore, the emperor ordered a large amount of grain and fodder to be transported and commanded General She (歙将军) to lead the Western Expedition General Feng Yi, the Jianwei Grand General Geng Yan, the Huya Grand General Gai Yan, the Yangwu General Ma Cheng, and the Wuwei General Liu Shang to advance on Tianshui, defeating Gongsun Shu's generals, Tian Yan and Zhao Kuang. The following year, they captured Luomen, and Gongsun Shu's supporters Zhou Zong, Zhao Hui, and many counties in the Tianshui region surrendered.
During the reign of Wang Mang, the Qiang people rebelled one after another. There was a man named Wei Xiao, who was very good at winning over Qiang tribal chieftains and getting them to work for him. However, after Wei Xiao's death, tribes like Wuxi and Xianling began to raid frequently again, erecting fortifications that made it challenging for local officials and troops to confront them.
At this time, Du Shi took the initiative, energetically constructing siege equipment, and led Gai Yan, Liu Shang, and the Grand Master of the Palace Ma Yuan and others to rush to Jincheng, launching a fierce assault on the Qiang rebels, killing thousands of enemy soldiers, capturing tens of thousands of head of cattle and sheep, and tens of thousands of bushels of grain. He then defeated the bandits led by Fu Liqing from Xiangwu. Although the Longxi region was temporarily subdued, the populace was suffering from starvation, leading to a steady influx of refugees. Without hesitation, Du Shi opened the granaries and distributed food across various counties, providing relief to those affected by the disaster. Consequently, the Longyou region stabilized, and Liangzhou returned to a state of normalcy.
After a few years, Du Shi, along with Gai Yan and Ma Cheng, attacked Gongsun Shu's generals, Wang Yuan and Huan An, in Hechi and Xiabian, defeating them and pursuing the victory. The people of Shu were terrified and even resorted to sending assassins to kill Du Shi. Although they were unsuccessful, they quickly sent someone to summon Gai Yan. When Gai Yan saw Du Shi, he was overwhelmed with grief, unable to say a word, and could only cry. Du Shi sternly scolded Gai Yan, saying, "What are you doing! Among the envoys sent by the court, there are assassins. We have not been able to avenge our country yet, and I was about to call you (Gai Yan's courtesy name) to discuss military deployments, but you're crying like a coward! Even with a knife to our throats, we cannot abandon our military duties or fail to slay the enemy!" Gai Yan stopped crying, gathered his spirits, and followed Du Shi's orders.
Du Shi wrote a memorial himself, stating, "I was attacked by assassins at night and seriously injured. I dare not pity my own life, but I regret that I have failed in my duties and brought shame to the court. The key to governing a country is selecting capable individuals. The Grand Master Duan Xiang is honest and can be entrusted with important tasks. Please consider this, Your Majesty. In addition, my brothers are all incompetent and may bring trouble upon themselves. Please show mercy to them and discipline them more." After writing the memorial, Du Shi drew his sword and committed suicide.
The emperor was shocked to hear this news. After reading the memorial, he couldn't help but shed tears. He issued a decree stating, "Du Shi, the General of the Central Army, has fought for many years, pacifying the rebellions of the Qiang people and Longxi. He was devoted to the country and the people, loyal and filial, but unfortunately was killed. This is a profound loss." The emperor posthumously promoted Du Shi to the rank of General of the Central Army and Marquis of Zhenqiang, bestowed the title of "Jiehou" (Virtuous Marquis), and sent envoys to escort his coffin. After Du Shi's coffin was brought back to Luoyang, the emperor personally went to offer condolences and attend the funeral in mourning attire. Due to Du Shi's merits in pacifying the Qiang people and Longxi, the court renamed Dangxiang County in Runan as Zhenqiang Kingdom.
Zibao's son inherited the noble title. Thirteen years later, the emperor valued She's loyalty and moral integrity, and also granted She's younger brother, You, the title of Marquis Yi of Yixi. Bao's son, Ling, died young and married Princess Wu'an of the royal family. Ling passed away early, and Bao also passed away, so Ling's son Li inherited the title.
The commentary goes on to say: "Everyone praises Uncle Lai as the most trustworthy person in the world. He is entrusted with important diplomatic missions between two countries. Wouldn't he employ some deception and schemes? But he is renowned throughout the world for his integrity, precisely because he sincerely wishes for both countries to prosper and does not seek personal gain."
Li, styled Bozhen, inherited the title at a young age. As the son of a princess, he served as an attendant during the Yongyuan period and also supervised the Imperial Guards. In the third year of Yongchu, he was promoted to Colonel of Archers. In the first year of Yongning, he succeeded Feng Shi as Commandant of Justice. In the first year of Yanguang, the emperor honored Li's mother as Princess Dowager. The following year, Li was promoted to Grand Protector.
The next year, Chief Eunuch Fan Feng, along with General Geng Bao, Attendant Zhou Guang, Xie Yun, and others, falsely accused Grand Commandant Yang Zhen, who eventually committed suicide. At that time, Yu Xu served as an imperial censor, and Yang Zhen said to him: "Geng Bao relies on his relationship with the imperial family to enjoy extravagant wealth and privilege, without considering repaying the country's kindness. Instead, he associates with wicked officials, falsely accuses Yang Gong, and harms loyal officials. He will soon face divine retribution!" So Yang Zhen severed ties with Zhou Guang, Xie Yun, and others, and no longer had any dealings with them.
At that time, the crown prince fell ill with a strange disease and, feeling restless, hid in the residence of Wang Sheng, the wild king, the nursemaid of Emperor An. The crown prince's nursemaid Wang Nan and the kitchen steward Bing Ji believed that Wang Sheng's residence had just been renovated, as it violated the taboo, and they could not live there for a long time. Wang Sheng and her daughter Yong accused the palace affairs manager, Grand Changqiu Jiang Jing, and the attendants Fan Feng, Wang Nan, Bing Ji, and others. In the end, Wang Sheng and her daughter Yong falsely accused Wang Nan and Bing Ji of wrongdoing, and both eventually died. Their families were also exiled to distant regions. The crown prince often thought of Wang Nan and the others, often sighing. Jiang Jing and Fan Feng were afraid of future retribution, so they fabricated unfounded accusations against the crown prince and officials of the Eastern Palace.
The emperor was furious and summoned officials ranked below ministers to discuss the matter of deposing the crown prince. Geng Bao and the others aligned with the emperor's wishes and all said that the crown prince should be deposed. Yu Xu, along with the Minister of Ceremonies Huan Yan and the Minister of Justice Zhang Hao, discussed together and said, "According to the classics, the crown prince is under fifteen years old, and the fault does not lie entirely with him. Moreover, the crown prince may not have been aware of Wang Nan and Bing Ji's plotting. Loyal and capable individuals should be chosen to assist the crown prince and teach him with propriety and righteousness. Deposing the crown prince is a serious matter, and the emperor should consider it carefully." However, the emperor did not listen and deposed the crown prince that day, granting him the title of Prince of Ji Yin. At that time, the minor gatekeeper Ji Jian and the middle tutor Gao Fan, who were responsible for monitoring the crown prince's mansion, were also exiled to the northern frontier despite their innocence.
Yu Xu united with the Guanglu Official Shu Feng, Zong Zheng Liu Wei, Jiang Zuo Dajiang Xue Hao, Shizhong Luqiu Hong, Chen Guang, Zhao Dai, Shi Yan, Taizhong Daifu Zhu Jiang, Diwu Jie, Zhongsan Daifu Cao Cheng, Jianyi Daifu Li You, Fu Jie Ling Zhang Jing, Chishu Shiyushi Gong Diao, Yulin Right Supervisor Kong Xian, Chengmen Sima Xu Chong, Weiwei Shou Cheng Le Wei, Changle, Weiyang Stables Zheng Anshi, and more than ten others, went to the Hongdu Gate together to prove that the Crown Prince was not at fault. Gong Diao clearly pointed out according to legal statutes that Wang Nan and Bing Ji had committed crimes, and the Crown Prince should not be implicated. The Emperor and his court were furious, so he sent the Zhongchang Attendant to threaten the courtiers with an imperial edict, saying, "Father and son are originally one; that is only natural. For the greater good, it is necessary to give up family affection. Yu Xu, Shu Feng, and others do not understand the grand ceremonies of the court, but they make trouble with some insignificant figures. They feign loyalty on the surface, but actually they are trying to seek wealth and cover up their evil deeds against righteousness. How can this be considered proper etiquette in serving the monarch? The court welcomes all opinions, so we will temporarily let you go; if you persist in your obstinacy, you will face legal repercussions!" Those who advised were all scared and turned pale. Xue Hao was the first to kneel and say, "We should act according to the imperial decree." Yu Xu was very angry and questioned Xue Hao in court, "What did you say when we first advised together, and now why have you changed your mind? Can ministers, who ride in the court's chariot and handle state affairs, be so fickle?" The others gradually retreated, leaving only Yu Xu standing firm outside the palace gate, refusing to leave for several days. The Emperor was enraged, so he dismissed the official positions of Yu Xu's brothers, reduced their titles and salaries, and forbade the princess from seeing them. Yu Xu then shut his doors to visitors, cutting off ties with relatives, stirring shock and fear among the people.
After the emperor passed away, Empress Yan took power, and Li Gu was promoted to the position of Grand Artisan, equivalent to the Minister of Engineering. Later, when Emperor Shun ascended the throne, everyone said he was a pillar of the country, so he was promoted to Commander of the Imperial Guards, tasked with the security of the imperial palace.
Think about it, at that time, his comrades-in-arms, such as Shu Feng, Liu Wei, and Luqiu Hong, after their deaths, the emperor appointed their sons to official positions; Zhu Jiang, Shi Yan, Chen Guang, and Zhao Dai all became high-ranking dignitaries; even the families of Zheng Wang Nan and Bing Ji were recalled to the capital and received lavish rewards; Ji Jian and Gao Fan were also promoted and trusted. In the first year of Yongjian, Li Gu was appointed as General of Chariots and Cavalry, his brother Li Zhi became Infantry Colonel, and another brother Li Chao became a Chamberlain. Three years later, Li Gu's mother, Princess Chang, passed away, so he took a leave of absence to observe mourning at home. Once the mourning period was over, he was appointed as Grand Herald, overseeing court ceremonies and hosting guests. Li Gu passed away in the second year of Yangjia, marking the end of his career.
His son Li Ding inherited his title and married Princess Pingshi, the sister of Emperor An. During the reign of Emperor Shun, Li Ding served as General of the Imperial Guards, charged with the emperor's protection. After Li Ding's death, his son Li Hu inherited his title and became a Cavalry Colonel during the reign of Emperor Huan. Li Yan, Li Gu's brother, also known as Jide, loved learning from a young age and had many students. Despite entering officialdom at a young age, he eventually became Minister of Works during the reign of Emperor Ling, becoming a highly esteemed official.
It is said: "The Li and Deng families are generous, sacrificing their families to pursue their destinies. Although young, they are trusted by the royal family, but have not yet proven themselves. They always know their fate; their accomplishments are remembered solely by the emperor. The uncle and nephew are loyal, their words are flawless. They offer three victories and forever wield one sword."
