Zhang Zong, whose courtesy name was Zhu Jun, was a man from Luyang in Nanyang. During Wang Mang's rule, he served as a minor official in Yangquan Township, referred to as a township assistant. After Wang Mang's downfall, various rebel forces initiated an uprising across the country, and Zhang Zong led three to four hundred villagers from Yangquan Township to join the rebellion, eventually reaching the outskirts of Chang'an. The Gengshi Emperor recognized his prowess and appointed him as a deputy general.
Upon realizing the chaos within the Gengshi Emperor's government, Zhang Zong decided to retreat to Anyi with his family and followers. Later, when the Grand Tutor Deng Yu was sent to pacify the Hedong region in the west, Zhang Zong sought refuge with him. Deng Yu, recognizing Zhang Zong's strategic skills, appointed him as a deputy general once again. When Deng Yu's army reached Xunyi, the main force of the Red Eyebrow Army attacked. Deng Yu believed that Xunyi was indefensible and planned to retreat to a stronger fortress, but many generals feared pursuit by the enemy and hesitated to remain behind. Deng Yu then inscribed the names of all the generals on bamboo slips, placed them in a box, and had them draw lots to decide who would stay behind.
Zhang Zong refused to draw lots, saying, "Life and death are predetermined. How could I, Zhang Zong, shy away from danger for the sake of an easier path?" Deng Yu sighed and said, "General, you still have family in the camp. How can you not consider their safety?" Zhang Zong replied, "I've heard that one soldier fighting to the death is worth a hundred soldiers. If all soldiers fight to the death, they can be invincible. I have thousands of soldiers under my command, and I am serving under the Grand General. How can I possibly accept failure?" He then stayed behind. After the other troops retreated, Zhang Zong quickly urged his soldiers to fortify the camp and prepare to fight to the death.
Deng Yu arrived at the county town ahead and said, "With General Zhang's meager forces, facing the million-strong Red Eyebrow Army is like trying to put out boiling water with a tiny snowball. Even if you give it your all, there's no way to succeed!" So Deng Yu sent two thousand infantry and cavalry back to support Zhang Zong. Zhang Zong initially led the troops to retreat, but the Red Eyebrow Army caught up. Zhang Zong managed to fend them off and safely returned to the main base. This earned him the admiration of the other generals for his bravery.
After returning to Chang'an, Zhang Zong led his best troops in a nighttime assault against the Red Eyebrow Army, but he fell into an ambush and was pierced in the shoulder by a spear. He fought across different camps and was struck by stray arrows multiple times, coming close to losing his life.
After Deng Yu returned from the war, Emperor Guangwu appointed Zong Tiao as the Commandant of Jingfu, leading a contingent of light cavalry alongside General Feng Yi in attacking the rebel camps in Guanzhong. They defeated them, and Zong Tiao then returned to become the Commandant of Henan. In the sixth year of Jianwu, the position of Commandant was consolidated, and he was elevated to the position of Grand Master of the Palace. In the eighth year, many bandits suddenly appeared in the Sangzhong region of Yingchuan. Zong Tiao led troops to suppress them. Later, bandits in Qingzhou and Jizhou gathered in the mountains and rivers, so Zong Tiao was appointed as an advisor, mobilizing the forces from various counties to combat them as well. In the sixteenth year, bandits in Langye County and Beihai County caused trouble again, and Zong Tiao supervised the forces of these two counties to eliminate the bandits. He formulated battle strategies, offered rewards for capturing bandits, and scattered them. Bandits in Pei, Chu, Donghai, and Linhuai counties were afraid of his strength, leading to mutual captures and killings, involving thousands of people. People in Qingzhou and Xuzhou were too scared to move. Later, he was promoted to the position of Prefect of Langye County, ruling with strictness and decisiveness. In the second year of Yongping, he died while in office.
Fa Xiong, style name Wenqiang, was from Meixian, Fufeng, and was a descendant of King Fa Zhang of Qi. After the Qin Dynasty destroyed the Qi state, the descendants of Fa Zhang no longer dared to use the Tian surname, so they changed it to Fa. During the reign of Emperor Xuan of Han, their family moved to the Sannin region, with several generations holding high positions of two thousand stones. Fa Xiong initially served as a county magistrate but was later noticed by Grand Tutor Zhang Yu and began working in his mansion. Zhang Yu thought highly of Fa Xiong and recommended him to become the magistrate of Pingshi County. He had a unique way of governing, exposing corruption and fighting crime, resulting in few bandit incidents and earning the respect of both the populace and officials. When the Nanyang Prefect Bao Shang reported his achievements to the court, he was promoted to the position of magistrate of Wanling County.
In 111 AD, pirate Zhang Bolu led over three thousand men, wearing red headscarves and red clothes, who called himself a "general," plundering and killing across nine coastal counties. They even had the audacity to kill officials ranked at two thousand stones, such as county magistrates and governors. Initially, the court sent Pang Xiong, an imperial censor, with soldiers from various states and counties to fight them, but Zhang Bolu and his men feigned surrender, only to regroup later.
The following year, Zhang Bolu and Liu Wenhe, a man from Pingyuan, led over three hundred men, this time referring to themselves as "envoys," attacking Yanci City, killing officials, then moving to Gaotang, burning government buildings and freeing prisoners. These leaders all called themselves "generals" and came to pay homage to Zhang Bolu. Zhang Bolu donned a five-beam crown and bore an official seal, with an ever-growing number of followers and expanding power. The court then dispatched Wang Zong, the deputy imperial censor, wielding a rod of authority, mobilizing armies from Youzhou, Jizhou, and other regions, amounting to tens of thousands of troops. Pang Xiong was promoted to governor of Qingzhou and joined Wang Zong in attacking Zhang Bolu. They won several battles, killing many pirates; some were beheaded, others drowned, and the rest fled. The court confiscated a substantial amount of weapons and treasure. At that time, the court declared a general amnesty, but the pirates claimed they hadn’t yet removed their armor and were too afraid to surrender.
So Wang Zong summoned the regional governors and local officials from various regions to discuss, and everyone felt that they should continue fighting. However, Pang Xiong said, "No, fighting is very dangerous. We cannot rely solely on brute force; the outcome is uncertain. If the pirates escape on their ships and run to the islands, it will be difficult for us to catch them. The court has issued an amnesty decree, so why don't we withdraw our troops first, calm their feelings, and they will surely disperse, which would allow us to win without a fight." Wang Zong thought Pang Xiong made sense, so he ordered the troops to withdraw. When the pirates learned that the court had pulled back the troops, they were overjoyed and set the captured people free. However, the military forces in Donglai County did not withdraw, so the pirates got scared and fled to Liaodong, hiding on the islands.
In the spring of the fifth year, the pirates ran out of food and went to Donglai to loot. Pang Xiong led his troops to victory over them, and the pirates fled back to Liaodong. Li Jiu and others from Liaodong killed the remaining pirates, finally restoring peace to the coastal regions. Every time Pang Xiong went on an inspection tour, he would personally question the criminals, watch their expressions, and could easily tell if they were being honest. He dismissed all those corrupt officials from their posts.
I served as an official in the state for four years, and later was promoted to be the governor of Nanjun. I had very few cases to handle, and the population had also increased. Nanjun is close to rivers and has marshes like Yunmengze. During the Yongchu era, tigers and wolves were a real threat. The previous governor offered rewards for capturing them, but many hunters ended up being killed by the animals. I wrote a letter to the subordinate counties saying, "Tigers and wolves live in the mountains and forests, just like people live in cities. In ancient times, during times of peace and prosperity, fierce beasts would not disturb people, all because of the benevolence of the court, allowing the people to live in peace and happiness; even the wildlife felt this kindness. Although my abilities are limited, I don't want to forget this principle. After receiving the letters, the counties dismantled the traps and no longer allowed hunting of animals in the mountains and forests." Since then, tiger attacks have gone down, and the people have enjoyed a more peaceful life without all the lawsuits. I served in Nanjun for several years, and every year was a good harvest. I passed away while serving as governor during the Yuanchu era. My deeds are recorded in "The Biographies of Exemplary Individuals."
Teng Fu, style name Shufu, was a native of Juxian in Beihai Commandery. He started as an official in the state and gradually rose to become the mayor of Zhuo County. He was both talented in literature and military strategy, a very capable individual. The governor valued his talents, assigning him many responsibilities in the county and overseeing six counties. He governed wisely and was well-loved by the people, serving for seven years without a single loss on the road.
In the late years of Emperor Shun of the Eastern Han Dynasty, bandits were rampant in the areas of Yangzhou and Xuzhou, leading to chaos year after year. In the first year of Jiankang, Fan Rong and Zhou Sheng of Jiujang rebelled, occupying Liyang and becoming a great calamity in the Jianghuai region. The court sent Chief Imperial Censor Feng Gun and his troops to assist the Governor of Yangzhou, Yin Yao, and the Prefect of Jiujang, Deng Xian, in suppressing them. Unfortunately, both Yin Yao and Deng Xian's forces were defeated and killed by the rebels.
Next, Xu Feng, Ma Mian, and other people from Yinling began to rob and kill in various counties. Xu Feng wore red clothes, wearing a black sash, claiming to be the "Supreme Commander"; Ma Mian wore a leather hat, yellow clothes, and carried a jade seal, claiming to be the "Yellow Emperor." They established camps and built fortifications in Dangtu Mountain, even declaring their own era, appointing officials, and sending their general Huang Hu to attack Hefei. In the second year, Zhang Ying and others in Guangling gathered thousands of people to rebel and occupied Guangling.
The court searched for capable and brave generals, and the three high ministers recommended Fu, praising his literary and military talents. The court appointed him as the Prefect of Jiujiang, and let him assist Zhao Xu and Feng Gu to lead tens of thousands of troops from various counties to suppress the rebels. The court also launched a vigorous recruitment campaign, rewarding soldiers with money, wealth, and land, with different levels of rewards. Empress Dowager Liang worried about the growing power of the bandits and the difficulty in controlling the various generals, so she planned to send the Grand Commandant Li Gu to suppress the rebellion. Before Li Gu could depart, Fu had already achieved a major victory, defeating the rebel army and killing more than 1,500 people, including Ma Mian, Fan Rong, and Zhou Sheng. Xu Feng, with his remaining defeated troops, attacked and burned Dongcheng County.
At this time, Xie An from Xiapi responded to the court's call, ambushed with his clan and relatives, attacked and killed Xu Feng. The court appointed Xie An as the Marquis of Pingxiang, with a fief consisting of three thousand households, and appointed him as the General, in charge of affairs in Yangzhou and Xuzhou. Fu pursued and attacked Zhang Ying, killing and capturing more than a thousand people. As for Zhao Xu, his cowardice and false reports of military achievements led to his apprehension by the court, and he was subsequently executed.
Afterwards, the bandit Hua Meng of Liyang declared himself the "Black Emperor" and attacked Jiujiang, who killed the governor of Jiujiang. Fu then pursued and defeated Hua Meng, killing Hua Meng and more than 3,800 of his men, capturing over 700 people, and seizing countless livestock and treasures. In this way, the rebellion in the southeastern region was fully quelled, and Fu led his troops back in triumph. The court appointed Fu as the Left Fengyi and granted the title of court official to one of his sons. Fu shared all the rewards he received with his subordinates.
Fu was upright and did not associate with the powerful, so some eunuchs harbored resentment towards him. When it came time for rewards and recognition, the Grand Commandant Hu Guang, acting as the Minister of War at that time, heeded the eunuchs' wishes and petitioned the court to remove Fu from his post. This incited public outrage. Fu ultimately succumbed to despair and died at home.
Feng Gun, whose courtesy name was Hongqing, was a native of Dangqu, Ba County. When he was young, he studied the "Spring and Autumn Annals" and the "Art of War by Sima." His father, Feng Huan, served as the Inspector of Youzhou during the reign of Emperor An of Han. He was upright and abhorred corruption, often exposing their crimes. At that time, the governor of Xuantu, Yao Guang, also incurred resentment for not winning people's hearts. In the first year of the Jianguang era, some dissatisfied individuals forged an imperial edict accusing Feng Huan and Yao Guang and ordered them to be given a dagger (for suicide). The Commander of Liaodong, Pang Fen, was swiftly ordered to execute the death sentence. Pang Fen immediately killed Yao Guang and arrested Feng Huan. Feng Huan contemplated suicide, but Feng Gun sensed something was off about the edict and stopped his father, saying, "Dad, you serve as an official in the state, with the sole aim of rooting out corruption. In fact, you have no other faults. It must be the work of bad people fabricating evidence to do evil. Why don't we report this to the court? Even if guilty, it's not too late." Feng Huan followed his son's advice, submitted an appeal, and it was indeed discovered that the edict had been forged. Pang Fen was also arrested and put on trial. Unfortunately, Feng Huan died in prison. The emperor took pity on him, awarded each of them one hundred thousand coins, and appointed Feng Gun as a court official. As a result, Feng Gun gained widespread recognition.
His family was very well-off, and he was generous and charitable, often helping the poor and earning the love and respect of the local people. Initially recommended as a candidate known for his filial piety and integrity, he was later promoted seven times, becoming the Commander of Guanghan, and then summoned as the Deputy Secretary of the Imperial Court. In the later years of Emperor Shun of the Han Dynasty, the court appointed Feng Guan to supervise the military affairs of various counties in Yangzhou. He and General Teng Fu defeated the insurgents and were later promoted to Governor of Longxi. Later, when the Xianbei tribes invaded the border, the court appointed Feng Guan as the Governor of Liaodong. He appealed to both their reason and emotions, resulting in many Xianbei surrendering and quickly quelling the chaos. He was then summoned as the Prefect of Jingzhao, and later promoted to Colonel of the Court Guards. Regardless of where he served, he was able to establish his authority and uphold strict laws. Finally, he was promoted to the roles of Minister of Justice and Minister of Ceremonies.
At that time, it was said that the barbarians in Changsha rebelled and congregated in Yiyang. Over time, their numbers grew. By the fifth year of Yanxi, the Lingling barbarians joined forces with those from Changsha, with a combined force of over 20,000, attacking, burning cities, and killing officials. The barbarians in Wuling also rebelled, plundering areas near Jiangling. Liu Du, the Governor of Jingzhou, and Li Su, the Prefect of Nanjun, both fled to Jingnan, where they ultimately died. The court dispatched General Geng Dangche, leading over 100,000 troops to suppress the rebellion. The Emperor issued a special edict encouraging Geng, stating, "The barbarians have long been oppressing the Central Plains without being effectively dealt with. They have been burning provincial capitals and killing officials. The generals and officials of the provinces and counties, those loyal subjects who sacrificed themselves for the country, are all fleeing and not looking back, and that is truly shameful! General, you have always been formidable, which is why you were promoted to lead the army. Historically, figures like Chen Tang, Feng Fengshi, and Fu Jiezi managed to defeat their enemies with smaller forces, displaying the heads of barbarians like Zhizhi Chanyu, Yelang, and Loulan on the streets of Chang'an; Wei Qing and Huo Qubing's northern expeditions, their achievements are etched in stone for posterity, these are all generals you know well. Now, if not you, who else can recreate their glory? Hurry up and set off; this is the current strategy; you must go all out and need not consult the court again about battle matters. I have instructed the relevant departments to welcome you at the national gate. Doesn't the Book of Songs say: 'Send brave soldiers, as fierce as tigers, to sweep the banks of the Huai River, capture the vile enemies.' General, you must give it your all!"
The world is currently experiencing a famine, the treasury is depleted, and every time troops are sent out to battle, the salaries of officials need to be reduced, and money and provisions borrowed from the lords. Previously dispatched generals often had their military funds embezzled by eunuchs, resulting in their punishment. Geng was known for his integrity and incorruptibility, never accepting bribes. Fearing being framed by the eunuchs, he petitioned the court, saying, "Where there is power and influence, corruption is likely to breed, and even someone like Boyi could be suspected; Xun Kuang said that people without a suspicious nature can still be deceived, but individuals like Daozhi may also be trusted. Therefore, General Leyang has earned his merit, and the Marquis Wen showed him defamatory letters. I hope the court can appoint a chief eunuch to supervise the finances of the army." The Minister Zhu Mu believed that Geng had shown hesitation due to concerns about money, lacking the demeanor of a great minister, and thus reported to the emperor. The emperor decreed that Geng's responsibility need not be investigated.
Now, Geng Shu led his troops to Changsha, and upon hearing this, the bandits were so frightened that they surrendered in droves to the military camp. Subsequently, he went to fight the barbarians of Wuling, killing thousands of enemies and subjugating tens of thousands, finally pacifying Jingzhou. The court issued a decree rewarding him with one hundred million coins, but he flatly refused. After returning to the capital from the battle, Geng Shu gave all the credit to his subordinate Yingfeng, even recommending him to be appointed as the Colonel of the Guard. As for himself, he requested retirement in a petition, which the emperor did not agree to. As a result, the military supervisor Zhang Chang, having been swayed by the eunuchs' words, accused Geng Shu of bringing two maids disguised as soldiers with him to the battlefield and inscribing a stone tablet in Jiangling to claim credit, demanding punishment for Geng Shu. The Prefect Huang Jun spoke up, stating that Geng Shu hadn’t done anything wrong and there was no need to investigate further.
Not long after, the bandits in Changsha rose up again, attacking Guiyang and Wuling. Geng Shu had to lead his troops back to quell the rebellion, and as a result, he was relieved of his position. After some time, the emperor appointed him as the Chief Architect, and later promoted him to the position of Intendant of Henan. Geng Shu wrote a memorial stating that according to the old rules, eunuchs' sons in the palace could not become local officials, but this time the emperor disregarded his advice. He was then appointed as the Minister of Justice. During this time, the Prefect of Shanyang, Shan Qian, committed a crime and was imprisoned. Geng Shu interrogated him, which led to Shan Qian's death. Shan Qian was the brother of the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Shan Chao, and had good relations with the eunuchs in the palace. The eunuchs then jointly accused Geng Shu, along with the Colonel of the Guards, Li Ying, and the Minister of Agriculture, Liu You, of committing crimes together, and they were all sent into exile. Fortunately, Ying Feng submitted a defense on their behalf, which cleared them of the charges. Later, Geng Shu became the Commandant of Cavalry, served again as the Minister of Justice, and finally passed away while in the palace. Geng Yun, his brother, was respected for his integrity, filial piety, knowledge of the "Book of Documents," and skills in fortune-telling. He served as the Commandant of Captured Barbarians and passed away at home. Now, let's talk about Du Shang, also known as Bo Ping, a man from Shan Yang Lake. He came from a poor family, had little formal education, lacked a reputation, and lived in constant poverty. Later, he helped a eunuch from the same county, Hou Lan, inspect fields and was appointed as the county's accountant as a result. He was later promoted to a Gentleman, then became the magistrate of Shangyu County. He was strict in his duties and adept at dealing with corrupt officials, and the common people regarded him as almost godlike. He later became the magistrate of Wen'an County, during which a plague broke out, food prices soared, and the people were starving. Du Shang opened the granaries to help the people and treated the sick, earning their gratitude. During an inspection by Zhu Mu, the Inspector of Jizhou, he met Du Shang and greatly admired him.
In the year 152 AD, thieves from Changsha and Lingling united, numbering around seven to eight thousand, self-styled "generals," launching aggressive attacks on Guiyang, Cangwu, Nanhai, and Jiaozhi. The governors of Jiaozhi and Cangwu were so terrified that they quickly fled, leading to the occupation of both counties. The court dispatched the deputy imperial censor Sheng Xiu to muster troops against them, but they suffered defeat.
More than six hundred civilians from Yuzhang Ai County signed up to join the army but were denied their promised rewards. Feeling both resentful and angry, they decided to rebel! They torched the county office in Changsha, plundered Yiyang, killed the county magistrate, and their numbers swelled. The court subsequently sent envoy Ma Mu to press the Inspector of Jingzhou, Liu Du, to take action, but the army was routed, forcing both Ma Mu and Liu Du to flee. Emperor Huan of Han instructed his ministers to propose a suitable replacement for Liu Du, and the Minister of Personnel, Zhu Mu, recommended Xiang Chong, who was promoted directly from Right Colonel to Inspector of Jingzhou.
Xiang Chong personally led his troops into battle, sharing hardships with them, recruited various tribes to bolster his forces, publicly offered rewards, launched aggressive attacks, and secured significant victories, resulting in the surrender of tens of thousands of bandits. Several notorious bandit leaders in Guiyang, including Buyang and Pan Hong, were terrified by Xiang Chong's reputation and fled to the mountains. Xiang Chong relentlessly pursued them for hundreds of miles, all the way to Nanhai, where he breached their three camps and captured a wealth of treasures. However, Buyang, Pan Hong, and their remaining followers still posed a significant threat. Xiang Chong initially intended to press the offensive, but his soldiers grew arrogant after their victory, only wanting to bask in their victory, which led to a decline in their combat effectiveness.
Xiang Chong analyzed the situation and knew that if they took their time, the bandits wouldn't attack first; if they were pressured too much, they would escape. So he deliberately announced publicly, "Bu Yang and Pan Hong have been committing evil for many years, with rich experience in offense and defense. Now our forces are insufficient, and rushing into an attack would be too risky. We must wait for reinforcements from each county to arrive before we can concentrate our forces for an attack." Then, Xiang Chong let the soldiers go out hunting as much as they wanted. The soldiers were thrilled and rushed out to hunt. Xiang Chong took the opportunity to secretly send trusted aides to set fire to the bandits' camp, burning all their valuable possessions. When the soldiers returned from hunting and saw the camp burnt down, they all cried. Xiang Chong comforted each of them, took responsibility, and said, "Bu Yang and his men have accumulated enough wealth to last for generations. You just lacked unity. What do those losses even matter?" The soldiers were very angry after hearing his words, determined to get revenge. Xiang Chong immediately ordered the preparation of horses and provisions, leading the troops to the bandits' camp early the next morning. Bu Yang, Pan Hong, and others thought their camp was secure, but they were caught off guard by Xiang Chong's army and ended up getting completely wiped out.
After three years of fighting, those bandits were all dealt with. Seven years later, I was appointed as the Marquis of Youxiang and promoted to the position of Governor of Guiyang. The following year, the court summoned me back to the capital. At this time, the military commanders in Jingzhou, led by Zhu Gai, felt really frustrated after such a long time fighting and not getting enough rewards, so they rebelled! They, along with the bandits in Guiyang led by Hu Lan, totaled more than three thousand people and attacked Guiyang, burning, killing, and stealing. The counties were all burned down. Guiyang’s Governor Ren Yin was so scared he ran away from the city, and suddenly, the number of bandits shot up by tens of thousands.
Then, they launched another attack on Lingling, and the Prefect of Lingling, Chen Qiu, defended the city fiercely. The court appointed me as the General of the Guards, leading a combined force of infantry and cavalry from Youzhou, Jizhou, Liyang, and the Wuhuan tribes, totaling twenty-six thousand men, to aid Chen Qiu. I also joined forces with the Prefect of Changsha, Kang Xu, mobilizing troops from various counties to jointly attack those bandits, which led to a resounding victory! We killed three thousand five hundred of Hu Lan and his men, and the remaining bandits retreated to Cangwu. The Emperor rewarded me with one million coins, and others were also rewarded.
Speaking of Kang Xu, both he and I are regarded as renowned generals, having earned numerous military accolades. Kang Xu, styled Boxu, was from Danyang, and his hometown praised him for his extraordinary courage and wisdom. When he first became the county magistrate of Xuancheng, he relocated those living in the deep mountains and forests, with unkempt hair and dressed like wild men, to live in the county seat, effectively eliminating theft in the county. Later, as an officer under General Zong Zi, he fought against the bandit Gongsun Ju and emerged victorious, beheading more than three thousand, and was granted the title of Marquis of Dongxiang in Wucheng, with a fief of five hundred households. He was then promoted to the Commandant of Taishan, and bandits would flee at the mere mention of his name. After taking office in Changsha, he subdued the notorious thieves. Unfortunately, he later died in office. Emperor Huan of Han posthumously awarded him an additional five hundred households, adding to the previous, totaling one thousand households.
Legend has it that Du Dushang later became the governor of Jingzhou. He found that the remnants of Hu Lan had fled to Cangwu County. Afraid of being held accountable for previous incidents, he forged a memorial to accuse Zhang Pan, the governor of Jiaozhi, and bring him to justice. Just as Zhang Pan was about to formally submit his appeal, a general amnesty was declared, which should have led to his release. However, Zhang Pan refused to leave prison, insisting on his principles and refusing to relinquish his weapons. The jailer urged him, "The emperor has issued a general amnesty, why do you refuse to leave?" Zhang Pan then explained, "Previously, the bandit Hu Lan caused chaos in Jingzhou, and his remnants fled to Jiaozhi. I wore armor, risked my life to hunt them down and kill their leader. The rest scattered and hid, then returned to Jingzhou. Governor Du Dushang feared I would expose him first and bear the blame, so he falsely accused me. As a local official and servant of the state, I have been wrongly imprisoned by Du Dushang. This matter has its truths and falsehoods, its rights and wrongs. I am truly innocent, and the amnesty cannot exclude me. If I were to live in shame and dishonor, becoming a corrupt official in life and a malevolent spirit in death, I'd rather suffer this injustice." The jailer relayed Zhang Pan's statement to the court, and the emperor ordered Du Dushang to be brought before the court. Du Dushang, having run out of defenses, ultimately confessed. He was pardoned due to his previous merits. Zhang Pan, known as Zishi, hailed from Danyang and was renowned for his integrity, eventually rising to become the governor of Lujiang.
Du Du later served as the Governor of Liaodong. Several months later, the Xianbei launched an attack against him. He fought against the Xianbei and defeated them, which instilled fear in them. When he was fifty years old, in the ninth year of the Yanxi era, he died while in office.
Yang Xuan, whose courtesy name was Jiping, hailed from Wu Shang in Kuaiji. His great-grandfather Yang Mao, originally from Hedong, followed Emperor Guangwu in battles and served as a General of Wei Kou, being titled as the Marquis of Wushang Xinyang Township. During the Jianwu era, he moved to the country of Wushang, and the title was passed down for three generations. Later, due to committing a crime, the country was abolished, so he settled in Wushang. His father Yang Fu once served as the Inspector of Jiaozhi and was famous for his effective governance. His brother Yang Qiao served as a Minister, was impressive in appearance, and repeatedly presented political matters to the Emperor. Emperor Huan of Han greatly admired his talent and appearance and decreed that he should marry a princess. Yang Qiao firmly refused, but the Emperor did not listen. Yang Qiao then went on a hunger strike and died seven days later.
It is said that Zhang Xuan initially became a Filial and Incorruptible official and later was promoted to become the Governor of Lingling during the reign of Emperor Ling. At that time, bandits and robbers in the areas of Cangwu and Guiyang gathered together to attack the counties. The bandits were numerous and powerful, while Zhang Xuan's forces were weak, leaving both officials and civilians in great fear. Zhang Xuan specially constructed dozens of horse-drawn carriages filled with bags of lime, with cloth ropes attached to the horses' tails. He also prepared war chariots equipped with crossbows and set a time for a decisive battle. He ordered the horse-drawn carriages to go ahead, lifting the lime with the wind so that the bandits could not see clearly. Taking advantage of this, he lit the cloth ropes, causing the horses to be frightened and run amok into the bandits' camp. At that moment, the war chariots from behind unleashed a hail of arrows, with the war drums beating loudly, their sound shaking the heavens and the earth. The bandits were immediately thrown into chaos, unable to maintain their formation, and were relentlessly pursued and suffered countless injuries. Their leader was also killed, and order was restored in the county.
The Governor of Jingzhou, Zhao Kai, falsely accused Zhang Xuan of having never personally defeated the bandits and of exaggerating his accomplishments. Zhang Xuan and his staff submitted a petition to counter the accusations, but with the help of Zhao Kai's followers, Zhang Xuan was ultimately transported to the capital in a prisoner cart for questioning. The guards were extremely strict, offering him no opportunity to defend himself. In a moment of desperation, he bit into his arm and used his blood to write a petition on his clothes, detailing the defeat of the enemy and Zhao Kai's false accusation, and secretly sent his family to the capital to report the truth. The Emperor issued a decree exonerating Zhang Xuan and appointed him as a court official, while Zhao Kai faced punishment for falsely accusing others.
Zhang Xuan was later promoted three times and eventually became the Governor of Bohai. He achieved various accomplishments during his tenure but was dismissed due to certain incidents. Later, the Minister of Works, Zhang Wen, specifically recommended him, and the court summoned him to serve as a Minister. Due to illness, he requested to retire and eventually passed away at home.
The book says: Since the reigns of Emperor An and Emperor Shun, the court's authority gradually weakened, leading to rampant banditry and chaos, with over a dozen people impersonating royal relatives. Some pretended to have divine backing, while others forged official attire. However, the leaders of these bandits were not known to have anyone particularly powerful enough to station troops around the capital, leaving the court overwhelmed. The generals who had fought numerous battles worked tirelessly and achieved victories, yet the court delayed their rewards and subjected them to baseless accusations. From this, one can infer that governing a country is indeed a challenging task.
Praise: Zhang Xuan, like Zhang Zong and Bi Yu, bravely stood his ground; in the Jianghuai and Haidai regions, Qian Liu and other bandits blocked the roads. Who could bring them under control? The capable Zhang Xuan, Minister Zhang Wen, and other officials who supported him. Zhang Xuan was adept at employing strategies and genuinely inspiring the troops.
