Huangfu Song, courtesy name Yizhen, was a native of Chaoyang of Anding and the nephew of General Du Qiao, the Marquis of Duling. His father, Huangfu Jie, had served as the Prefect of Yanmen. Huangfu Song had both literary and military talents from a young age, enjoyed reading the Book of Songs and the Book of Documents, and practiced horseback riding and archery. Initially recommended for his filial piety and talent, he was summoned by the Grand Commandant Chen Fan and the Grand General Dou Wu, but he did not go. Later, Emperor Ling of Han issued an edict summoning him to be a Counselor, and he was subsequently promoted to the Administrator of Beidi.
At that time, Zhang Jiao of Julu proclaimed himself a "great wise teacher," following the Huang-Lao philosophy, and gathered many disciples. His disciples were required to kneel and bow to him, and he used talismans and incantations to heal people, curing many. The common people believed in him. Zhang Jiao sent eight disciples to spread his teachings everywhere, spreading dissent. Over the course of a dozen years, his followers grew to tens of thousands, with people from various counties and prefectures joining his cause. Almost everyone from the eight provinces—Qingzhou, Xuzhou, Youzhou, Jizhou, Jingzhou, Yangzhou, Yanzhou, and Yuzhou—joined. Zhang Jiao also established thirty-six divisions, similar to military units, with over ten thousand soldiers in the larger units and five to six thousand in the smaller ones, each with their own leaders. They spread their message far and wide, saying, "The heavens have fallen, and the yellow heavens will rise; the year of Ji-zi, great fortune for the world!" They even wrote the characters "甲子" in white chalk on the gates of temples in the capital and on the walls of government offices across the provinces.
In the first year of the Zhongping era, the general Ma Yuanyi and his allies first gathered tens of thousands of troops in Jingzhou and Yangzhou, planning to launch a rebellion in Ye City. Ma Yuanyi often visited the capital and colluded with the eunuchs Feng Yu, Xu Feng, and others, agreeing to rebel on the fifth day of the third lunar month. However, before they could rebel, Tang Zhou, a disciple of Zhang Jiao from Jinan, reported them, which led to Ma Yuanyi's execution by being torn apart in Luoyang. Emperor Ling of Han ordered the three high officials and the Colonel-Director of Retainers to investigate the matter and sent Zhou Bin with officials from the Three Offices to search the palace, the imperial guards, and the common people. Anyone related to Zhang Jiao was arrested and killed, resulting in the execution of over a thousand individuals. The investigation later extended to Jizhou, where they began arresting Zhang Jiao and his followers. Zhang Jiao and his followers realized they were exposed, so they hurriedly dispatched messengers to different regions to incite rebellion. They all donned yellow headbands as a symbol, which is why they became known as the "Yellow Turban Army" or "Bandits." They offered sacrifices to the heavens, with Zhang Jiao proclaiming himself "General of Heaven," Zhang Bao calling himself "General of Earth," and Zhang Liang calling himself "General of Humans." They looted and burned everything in sight; government buildings were destroyed, towns were plundered, and many officials fled. Within ten days, uprisings erupted across the country, sending shockwaves through the capital as well.
The emperor ordered all provinces to reinforce their defenses, select high-quality weapons and equipment, and deploy commanders at key passes like Hangu Pass, Dagu Pass, Guangcheng Pass, Yique Pass, Huanyuan Pass, Xuanmen Pass, Mengjin Pass, and Xiaopingjin Pass for defense. The emperor subsequently convened his ministers to discuss countermeasures.
Song suggested to the emperor to lift the party ban and reward the soldiers with funds from the national treasury and horses from the Western Garden. The emperor accepted his suggestion. Therefore, the court mobilized elite forces from across the nation, carefully selected generals, and appointed Song as the Left General, granting him imperial authority. Alongside Right General Zhu Jun, he commanded five battalions and cavalry from three rivers, totaling more than 40,000 troops. Song and Jun each led an army to jointly attack the Yellow Turban Army in Yingchuan.
Zhu Jun first engaged the Yellow Turban Army leader Bo Cai and was defeated. Song then retreated to defend Changshe. Bo Cai surrounded Changshe with a large army, and Song's forces were few; the soldiers were terrified. Song gathered the officers and said, "War can change in unexpected ways, and it's not just about troop numbers. The enemy is camped in the grass and is vulnerable to fire attacks. If we set their camp on fire at night, they'll surely panic. If we attack them and surround them from all sides, we can achieve victory like Tian Dan!" That night, a strong wind arose, and Song ordered the soldiers to tie grass to their heads, climb the city walls, and secretly send out elite soldiers to set fire and shout loudly in the night. The soldiers on the city walls also raised torches in response. Seizing the moment, Song beat the drums and led the troops to charge the enemy, and the Yellow Turban Army panicked and scattered. At that moment, Cao Cao, the imperial cavalry captain, arrived with reinforcements sent by the emperor, and Song, Cao Cao, and Zhu Jun joined forces again, decisively defeating the Yellow Turban Army and beheading tens of thousands. The emperor conferred the title of Marquis of Duxiang on Song.
Song and Zhu Jun pressed their advantage, defeating the Yellow Turban forces in Runan and Chen, pursuing Bo Cai in Yangdi, and defeating Peng Tuo in Xihua, all achieving victories. The remaining Yellow Turban forces scattered and surrendered, and all three counties were brought under control.
Legend has it that Huangfu Song went to the Eastern Commandery to fight against Bu Ji, the leader of the Yellow Turbans. He captured Bu Ji alive at Cangting and beheaded more than seven thousand people. At that time, the Northern Colonel Lu Zhi and the Eastern Colonel Dong Zhuo went to attack Zhang Jiao, but came back with nothing. The court then ordered Huangfu Song to lead troops to fight. Huangfu Song initially struggled to defeat Zhang Liang, Zhang Jiao's brother, in Guangzong. Zhang Liang's troops were strong and elite, and Huangfu Song was unable to defeat them at first. The next day, Huangfu Song ordered the camp to rest and keep an eye on the enemy. He noticed the enemy was less alert, so he quietly gathered his troops at night and launched a surprise attack at dawn. They fought until evening, crushing Zhang Liang's army, killing Zhang Liang, capturing thirty thousand enemy heads, and sending about fifty thousand people to their deaths in the river. They also burned over thirty thousand carts, captured a large number of women and children, and took many prisoners. Zhang Jiao had died previously, and Huangfu Song even pried open Zhang Jiao's coffin, chopped up the corpse, and sent the head to the capital.
Next, Huangfu Song teamed up with Feng Yi, the Prefect of Julu, and Guo Dian to attack Zhang Bao, another one of Zhang Jiao's brothers, in Quyang and killed him. This time, they captured over a hundred thousand people, and they constructed a Jingguan, a mound made of heads, to the south of the city. The court quickly appointed Huangfu Song as the Left General of Chariots and Cavalry, put him in charge of Jizhou province, and bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Huaili, with the fiefdoms of Huaili and Meiyang counties, totaling eight thousand households.
Because the Yellow Turban Rebellion has been quelled, the court changed the reign title to Zhongping. Huangfu Song submitted a memorial to the court, requesting that the land tax from Jizhou for a year be used to aid disaster victims, and the emperor agreed. The common people sang a song: "The world is in chaos, the markets have turned into ruins, mothers cannot protect their children, wives have lost their husbands. Thanks to Huangfu Song, we can finally find stability again." Huangfu Song deeply cared for the soldiers, winning their hearts. Every time the army camped, he would only settle in once all the tents were set up. He would only eat after the soldiers had eaten. If any official accepted bribes, Huangfu Song would reward them with money or gifts. Those officials felt ashamed, and some even took their own lives in shame.
In the Battle of Mount Song, the Yellow Turban Army was completely defeated, and Cao Cao's reputation shook the world. However, the court became more chaotic day by day, and the entire country was mired in poverty. Therefore, the county magistrate of Xindu, Yan Zhong from Hanyang, advised Cao Cao: "What is hard to come by and easy to lose is opportunity; the chance that appears and vanishes in an instant is fleeting. Therefore, wise men act according to opportunity, and smart people seize the chance to make something happen. General, you are currently facing a rare opportunity, facing a chance for easy success. If you don’t seize this opportunity, how will you uphold your reputation in the future?" Cao Cao asked, "What does this mean?"
Yan Zhong said: "Heaven shows no favoritism; the common people rally behind those who are capable. General, you were given command of the troops in late spring and secured victory by the end of the year. Your army moves as swiftly as the gods; there's no need to overthink your strategies. Breaking through powerful enemies is as easy as snapping a dry twig, and taking strong cities is as effortless as melting snow. In just a few months, your troops have swept through like lightning; enemies are scattered dead everywhere, ensuring your name is etched in history. You have bowed to the south, your reputation strikes fear into the court, and your fame has spread far and wide. Even the feats of King Tang and King Wu pale in comparison to your accomplishments, General! Now you have gained great merit without seeking any rewards, with a noble character, yet you find yourself serving a foolish emperor. How can you ever hope to find peace?" Cao Cao said: "I work day and night for the public, I do not forget loyalty and righteousness in my heart; why can't I seek peace?" Yan Zhong said:
It's not like that. Previously, Han Xin gave up the chance to seize control of the realm because he couldn't tolerate the humiliation of a single meal. When the sharp blade was already at his throat, he let out a sigh of regret, all because the timing was missed and the plan was in chaos. Now, the emperor's power is weaker than that of Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, but General, your power in Huaiyin is great. Just a slight guidance from you can change the situation. With a single command, you can shake the world like thunder. You should rise up immediately, take advantage of the current crisis, use benevolence to calm those who have already submitted, and use force to deter those who have not surrendered. Recruit soldiers from Jizhou, mobilize armies from the seven states, send out the feathered tokens ahead, with the main army following closely behind, crossing the Zhang River, drinking at Mengjin, punishing the eunuchs and eliminating the corrupt. Even children can lend a hand, and women can roll up their sleeves to help; not to mention the brave soldiers, plus the favorable momentum! Once the great achievement is accomplished and peace is restored, then pray to the God of Heaven, display your destiny, unify the world, become emperor, give treasures to those who are about to rise, and overthrow the declining Han Dynasty. This is the perfect moment, with the right timing, circumstances, and support! However, you can't carve rotten wood, and it is difficult to assist a declining era. If you want to assist this difficult court, trying to roll a ball uphill is like rolling a ball uphill against the slope; how could it be easy? Moreover, the treacherous are now banding together in corruption, and the court's commands go unheeded. Power is in the hands of those close ministers, and under an incompetent emperor, survival is difficult in the long term. Your contributions will go unrecognized, and those schemers will still badmouth you. If you don’t make a plan now, it’ll be too late to regret it later.
Song said fearfully, "Extraordinary strategies cannot be used in ordinary situations. To establish a great enterprise, how can it be accomplished by the mediocre? The Yellow Turbans are just a small rebel force, nowhere near as formidable as Liu Bang and Xiang Yu. Their newly formed alliance is easily broken, making it hard to accomplish anything significant. Moreover, the people have not forgotten the emperor, and Heaven will not bless the rebels. If we invent unrealistic accomplishments, it will only bring disaster. It is better to be loyal to the court and maintain a minister's integrity. Even if there are many rumors, it would only result in a demotion, still leaving a good reputation behind and a lasting legacy after death. I cannot follow such an irrational strategy." Song knew his strategy would not be accepted, so he fled.
Later, Bian Zhang and Han Sui caused trouble in Longyou. In the spring of the following year, the court ordered Song to return to guard Chang'an and protect the imperial tomb. Bian Zhang and others invaded the Sili region, and the court dispatched Song to quell them.
Initially, Cao Cao campaigned against Zhang Jue, passing through Ye City. He saw that the residence of the Court Eunuch Zhao Zhong was too luxurious, exceeding the prescribed standards. He reported this to the emperor, who confiscated Zhao Zhong's house. Later, Court Eunuch Zhang Rang privately asked Cao Cao for fifty million pieces of silver, but Cao Cao refused. The two of them harbored a grudge against Cao Cao and accused him to the emperor, saying that Cao Cao had fought many battles without any achievements and had spent a lot of money. That autumn, Cao Cao was summoned back to the court, stripped of his title as Left Chariot General, his household registration was cut by six thousand households, and appointed as the Marquis of Duxiang, with a fief of two thousand households.
Five years later, the Rebel Kingdom of Liangzhou surrounded Chencang. The court appointed Cao Cao as the Left General, to oversee the former General Dong Zhuo, each leading twenty thousand men to resist the kingdom. Dong Zhuo wanted to hurry to send troops to Chencang, but Cao Cao disagreed. Dong Zhuo said, "Smart people won't miss the opportunity, brave people won't hesitate. If we rescue quickly, the city can be saved; if we don't rescue, the city will be breached. Whether it's saved or breached depends on what we do now!" Cao Cao said, "No, winning a hundred battles is not as effective as subduing the enemy without engaging in battle. So we must first secure an unbeatable position, waiting for the enemy to show signs of defeat. We are in an unbeatable position, and the enemy will show signs of defeat. They lack defense, we have more than enough offense. Those who have the upper hand are like divine soldiers in the heavens, while those who lack are like ants below the nine earths. Although Chencang is small, the city is strong and well-defended, not the same as being below the nine earths. Although the kingdom is powerful, they are attacking a place where we have no reinforcements, not with the momentum of the nine heavens. If the momentum is not that of the nine heavens, the attacker will suffer losses; if the fall is not that of the nine earths, the defender will not be breached. The kingdom has now fallen into a situation of suffering losses, while Chencang has saved the city from being breached. We can achieve total victory without engaging in battle, so why bother with rescue!" Therefore, Cao Cao did not listen to Dong Zhuo. The kingdom besieged Chencang, from winter to spring, for over eighty days; the city held firm and was not breached. The exhausted bandits withdrew on their own. Cao Cao wanted to lead his troops to pursue them. Dong Zhuo countered, "No. The Art of War advises against pursuing a defeated enemy, do not force a fleeing army. If we pursue the kingdom now, we would be pressuring a fleeing army, chasing a defeated enemy. Even a cornered beast will fight back, and wasps and hornets have stingers, let alone tens of thousands of troops!" Cao Cao said, "No. Earlier, I did not attack to avoid their sharpness. Now, I attack when they are weakened. Attacking a weary army is not forcing a fleeing army. The kingdom's army is fleeing, lacking fighting spirit. Attacking a disorganized army with an organized one is not pursuing a defeated enemy." Thus, Cao Cao took the lead and pursued with his troops, with Dong Zhuo guarding the rear. In several consecutive battles, the kingdom's army was heavily defeated, with tens of thousands of their soldiers beheaded, and the kingdom was killed while fleeing. Dong Zhuo felt deep shame and resentment towards Cao Cao from that moment forward.
Next year, Dong Zhuo was appointed as the Governor of Bingzhou, and the court ordered him to hand over military power to Zhang Wan. However, Dong Zhuo refused. Zhang Wan's son, Zhang Li, was in the army at that time, and he advised his father, saying, "The court is in chaos now, and the only ones who can stabilize the situation are you and Dong Zhuo. You two are already at odds, and it's impossible for both to coexist. Dong Zhuo was ordered to hand over military power, but he requested to resign, which goes against the imperial decree! Moreover, with the capital in such turmoil, his hesitation raises suspicions! Besides, he is cruel and ruthless, with no support from the people or soldiers. You are now a marshal; you can use the court's authority to take him down, demonstrating your loyalty and integrity, and getting rid of this disaster, just like Huan Wen and Emperor Wen!" Zhang Wan said, "Although accepting an order for dictatorship is a sin, there is also a responsibility to eliminate tyranny. It's better to report this matter directly to the court and let them decide." So Zhang Wan reported the situation to the emperor. The emperor rebuked Dong Zhuo, leading him to resent Zhang Wan even more.
Later, after Dong Zhuo seized power in the first year of Chuping, he summoned Zhang Wan to serve as the Chief of the City Gates, but in reality, he was planning to kill him. When Zhang Wan was about to leave for his new post, Chief Historian Liang Yan advised him, saying, "The Han Dynasty is now very weak; eunuchs have disrupted the court. Although Dong Zhuo killed them, he is not loyal to the country, instead continuing to plunder the capital, manipulating the emperor as he pleases. Now that you are being summoned, the best outcome is extreme danger, and the worst is humiliation. Dong Zhuo is in Luoyang, the emperor is in Chang'an, you have thirty thousand elite soldiers under your command; you can welcome the emperor and follow orders to attack Dong Zhuo, commanding the entire country, summoning the armies of various vassals, with Yuan Shao attacking from the east, and you attacking from the west—it's like shooting fish in a barrel!" But Zhang Wan didn’t listen and went to Luoyang anyway. The relevant authorities were ordered to take action and were ordered to imprison Zhang Wan, preparing to kill him.
Zhang Wen's son, Zhang Jianshou, was on good terms with Dong Zhuo. He escaped from Chang'an to Luoyang to seek refuge from Dong Zhuo. Dong Zhuo was hosting a banquet and drinking when Zhang Jianshou directly approached him to question him, rebuking him in the name of righteousness as he bowed and cried. Everyone present was deeply moved and got up to persuade Dong Zhuo. Dong Zhuo stood up, pulled Zhang Jianshou down to sit with him. He ordered Zhang Wen's release and reappointed him as a court official, later promoting him to the role of Deputy Imperial Secretary. When Dong Zhuo returned to Chang'an, all the court officials greeted him on the way. Dong Zhuo ordered all officials below the Deputy Imperial Secretary to bow to Zhang Wen, then walked up to Zhang Wen, took his hand and said, "Your sense of righteousness, is it strong enough?" Zhang Wen smiled and thanked him, and Dong Zhuo finally felt relieved.
After Dong Zhuo was killed, the court appointed Song as General Who Conquers the West, and later promoted him to General of Chariots and Cavalry. In the autumn of that year, he was appointed as Grand Commandant, but in the winter, for some reason (the meteor policy dismissal, the meaning here is unclear and will not be explained for now), he was let go. He was then appointed as Grand Master of Joyous Splendor, and later promoted to Minister of Ceremonies. Shortly after, Li Jue rebelled, and Song fell ill and passed away. The court posthumously honored him with the title of General of Agile Cavalry and permitted one of his family members to take on a court position.
Song was a cautious, diligent, and responsible person who diligently submitted memorials to the court, offering over five hundred beneficial suggestions! After completing the drafts of his memorials, he would personally destroy them without ever publicizing them. He was humble and discreet in his interactions, never letting guests stay overnight. People at the time admired him and tried to emulate him.
Jianshou was once quite well-known, later appointed as a Palace Attendant, but he turned it down and later passed away from illness.
Zhu Jun, courtesy name Gongwei, was from Shangyu in Kuaiji. He lost his father at a young age, and his mother made a living by selling silk. Zhu Jun was famous for his filial piety towards his mother and later became a county clerk. He was known for his integrity and generosity, and was respected by the people in his village. At that time, a fellow official named Zhou Gui was summoned to serve in the public office and borrowed one million coins from the county's treasury before leaving, claiming it was for purchasing ceremonial hats and clothing. However, it was later discovered that Zhou Gui's family was very poor and could not come up with the money. Zhu Jun secretly used his mother's silk to settle the debt, helping Zhou Gui in his time of need. When his mother found out, she was angry and scolded him for losing their family's livelihood. Zhu Jun said, "Sometimes you have to take a small loss for a bigger gain; going from poverty to wealth is an inevitable truth!"
Upon hearing about this incident, the county official Shanyang Dushang found Zhu Jun remarkable and recommended him to the governor Wei Yi. Zhu Jun gradually rose through the ranks in the county. Later, Governor Yin Duan appointed Zhu Jun as the chief scribe. In the second year of Xiping, Yin Duan was reported to the court by the province for his failure to suppress the bandit Xu Zhao, and he faced the death penalty. Zhu Jun disguised himself, secretly took hundreds of gold taels to the capital, bribed relevant officials, and ultimately modified the report from the province, resulting in Yin Duan receiving a lesser punishment of demotion. Yin Duan was relieved to be spared, but did not know how it happened, and Zhu Jun never revealed the truth.
Back in the day, Prefect Xu recommended Zhu Jun, praising him for his filial piety and integrity, which eventually led to his promotion as the magistrate of Lanling County. He was very capable in governing the county, even earning praise from the Prefect of Donghai. Coincidentally, a large-scale rebellion broke out in the Jiaozhi region, where local officials were ineffective and unable to quell the uprising. Liang Long and others led tens of thousands of rebels, teaming up with Kong Zhi, the Prefect of Nanhai, to rebel and seize several county towns.
In the first year of the Guanghe era, the court sent him to serve as the Inspector of Jiaozhi. He was first tasked with recruiting soldiers in his home county, and with the troops allocated by the court, he gathered a total of five thousand soldiers, dividing them into two routes for the march. Upon reaching the border of Jiaozhi, he did not rush to attack, but first sent envoys to investigate the enemy situation, understand the strength of the rebels, and at the same time promote the prestige of the court to deter the enemy. Once the timing was right, he joined forces with the armies of seven counties to attack together, achieving a decisive victory, killing Liang Long, capturing tens of thousands of enemy troops, and successfully quelling the rebellion in just a month. In recognition of his significant achievements, he was granted the title of Marquis of Duting with a fief of 1,500 households, rewarded with fifty pounds of gold, and subsequently summoned to serve as a Grand Adviser.
Later, the Yellow Turban Rebellion erupted, and many court ministers recommended him, lauding his talent and strategic acumen. He was then appointed as the General of the Right Central Legion and was tasked with campaigning alongside Huangfu Song, the General of the Left Central Legion, against the Yellow Turban forces in Yingchuan, Runan, Chen, and surrounding areas, defeating all the rebel factions. Huangfu Song specifically reported to the court, crediting him with all the achievements, which led to his subsequent appointment as the Marquis of Xixiang and his promotion to the General Who Guards Against Rebels.
At this time, Zhang Mancheng, the leader of the Yellow Turbans in Nanyang, rebelled, proclaiming himself to be the "Messenger of God." He had tens of thousands of troops under his command, killed the Governor of Nanyang, Chu Gong, and established camp near Wancheng for over a hundred days. Later, Governor Qin Jie killed Zhang Mancheng, but the rebels chose Zhao Hong as their new leader. The number of rebels continued to grow, reaching over a hundred thousand, and they occupied Wancheng. Along with Xu Qiu, the Inspector of Jingzhou, and Qin Jie, they led eighteen thousand soldiers to besiege Wancheng. They besieged the city from June to August, but they were unable to capture it. Some officials proposed recalling the troops, but Minister Zhang Wen opposed this, stating, "Historically, the state of Qin relied on Bai Qi, and the state of Yan on Yue Yi, both of whom fought for many years before achieving victory. This general has already secured notable victories in Yingchuan. The battle plan is set, and changing commanders at this stage is a serious military taboo. We should give him more time to achieve final victory." The Emperor heeded Zhang Wen's advice and discarded the notion of recalling the troops. He escalated the assault and ultimately defeated Zhao Hong, bringing the rebellion to an end. Han Zhong, the leader of the rebels, occupied Wancheng again and confronted Zhu Jun. Zhu Jun's forces were outmatched and could not overcome him, so he positioned his troops, constructed fortifications, and raised earth mounds to survey the city, then beat the drums to launch an attack on Wancheng from the southwest. Han Zhong redirected all his forces that way. Zhu Jun personally led five thousand elite troops in a surprise assault from the northeast, successfully breaching the city. Han Zhong quickly retreated to defend the small city, terrified, he quickly surrendered. Generals Zhang Chao, Xu Qiu, and Qin Jie were all inclined to accept his surrender.
Zhu Jun said, "Although the armies may appear the same on the surface, the situations are different. In the past, during the conflict between the Qin Dynasty and the Chu-Han, the common people were undecided, so rewards and inducements were used to win them over. Now that the country is unified, only the Yellow Turbans are rebelling. Accepting their surrender won't be effective; instead, we must deal with them harshly to deter others. If we accept their surrender now, it will only embolden them. They will attack when advantageous and beg for mercy when not; indulging the enemy is not a good strategy." So Zhu Jun continued to attack fiercely but did not achieve victory in many battles. Zhu Jun climbed a hill to observe the enemy's situation, then turned to Zhang Chao and said, "I understand now. The enemy's outer defenses are solid, but internally they are tense. They seek surrender but we do not accept; they want to come out but cannot, which is why they are fighting to the death. Even if ten thousand men band together, it would be tough to resist, let alone a hundred thousand! This is too dangerous! It's better to withdraw the siege, concentrate our forces, and attack the city. Han Zhong will come out for a decisive battle when he sees us withdrawing the siege; their morale will be weakened, and they will be easier to defeat!" Later, Zhu Jun really withdrew the siege, and Han Zhong indeed led his troops out for a decisive battle. Zhu Jun seized the opportunity and soundly defeated them, pursuing them for miles and beheading over ten thousand. Han Zhong and his men eventually surrendered. However, Qin Jie always harbored hatred towards Han Zhong and had him killed. The remaining Yellow Turbans were restless and elected Sun Xia as their new leader, retreating to Wancheng. Zhu Jun immediately attacked, forcing Sun Xia to flee, and he pursued them to Xie Mountain in the west, defeating them again and beheading over ten thousand, finally dispersing the Yellow Turbans completely.
In the spring of the second year, the court sent envoys holding the emperor's edict to appoint Zhu Jun as Right General of Chariots and tasked him with reorganizing the army and returning to the capital. The court also granted him the title of Grand Master of Splendor, expanded his fief by five thousand households, bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Qiantang, and elevated his rank. Later, due to his mother's passing, Zhu Jun resigned from his post and returned home to observe a mourning period. Upon completing the mourning period, the court appointed him as Grand Master of Works, and later promoted him to the position of Minister Steward and Grand Herald.
After the Yellow Turban Rebellion, a host of bandits emerged, such as the Black Mountain Bandits, Yellow Dragon Bandits, White Wave Bandits, Left School Bandits, Guo Daxian, Yu Digeng, Qingniujiao, Zhang Baiqi, Liu Shi, Left Beard Zhangba, Ping Han Bandits, Daji Bandits, Sili Bandits, Yuanzai Bandits, Leigong Bandits, Fuyun Bandits, Feiyan Bandits, Baique Bandits, Yangfeng Bandits, Yudu Bandits, Wulu Bandits, Li Damu Bandits, Bairao Bandits, Qiguzhai Bandits, Kumou Bandits, and many more; the list goes on and on! These bandits have quite interesting names, such as "Leigong" for their particularly loud voices; "Zhang Baiqi" for riding a white horse; "Feiyan" for being agile; "Yu Digeng" for having a lot of facial hair; "Li Damu" for having large eyes, and each name carries a story. These bandit groups range from two to three thousand members for the larger ones, and five to six thousand for the smaller ones.
Among them, the most formidable is Zhang Yan from Changshan, who is both brave in battle and exceptionally swift, which is why everyone calls him "Feiyan" (Flying Swallow). Moreover, he is particularly good at winning people over, colluding with bandits from Zhongshan, Changshan, Zhaojun, Shangdang, Henan, and beyond, amassing an army of over one million under his command, known as the "Black Mountain Bandits." Many counties in Hebei have been plagued by their atrocities, and the court struggled to deal with them. Later, Zhang Yan sent envoys to the capital requesting to surrender, and the court appointed him as General Suppressing the Difficulties, tasking him with overseeing the mountainous regions of Hebei, and permitting him to recommend several filial and capable officials each year.
However, Zhang Yan later began to harass Hanoi again, even approaching the capital. The court appointed Jun as the prefect of Hanoi, and with his personal troops, he repelled Zhang Yan. Later, most of the other mountain bandits were defeated by Yuan Shao, and these events are recorded in the "Biography of Yuan Shao." Jun was promoted to Grand Minister of Rites by the court for pacifying the mountain bandits, and later transferred to the position of Cavalry Colonel, then became the Gate Captain and the Governor of Henan.
Speaking of Dong Zhuo's abuse of power, those capable and seasoned generals, although Dong Zhuo appeared to be close to them, he was secretly wary of them. Later, the formidable coalition forces from the east frightened Dong Zhuo, so he called several meetings with his ministers, wanting to move the capital to Chang'an, but the seasoned generals opposed his plans. Despite his disdain for officials who disagreed with him, he coveted their influence, so he recommended them for promotion in the hope that they would become his subordinates. When the messengers were sent to deliver their official seals, those seasoned generals all declined to accept. One of the seasoned generals replied, "If the country moves the capital to the west, it will definitely lose the people's support, and it will instead give an opportunity for the rebels in Shandong to take advantage. I believe this would be unwise." The messenger asked him, "The emperor summons you for promotion, but you refuse. You do not inquire about the capital relocation, but actively oppose it. Why is that?" The seasoned general replied, "I cannot bear the responsibility of being your subordinate; relocating the capital is not the most pressing issue at hand. Declining the position I cannot bear shows that I oppose non-urgent matters, and that is my duty." The messenger then said, "You have not heard specific plans for the capital relocation; there may still be undisclosed plans, how can you be so sure?" The seasoned general said, "Prime Minister Dong has already shared his plans with me, that's how I know." The messenger couldn't convince him, so he ultimately gave up, and this seasoned general ultimately did not become Dong Zhuo's deputy.
Later, Dong Zhuo entered Guanzhong, leaving Li Jue to guard Luoyang. The old general secretly contacted the generals from the east, preparing for a joint attack. However, he later feared that Dong Zhuo would suddenly attack him, so he abandoned his position and fled to Jingzhou. Dong Zhuo appointed Zhang Yi, a man from Hongnong, as the Governor of Henan to guard Luoyang. When the old general heard about this, he returned with his troops to Luoyang, which frightened Zhang Yi into fleeing. Upon seeing the devastation in Henan and the lack of resources, the old general set up camp in Zhongmou and wrote to the various counties, requesting their support in attacking Dong Zhuo. The Prefect of Xuzhou, Tao Qian, sent three thousand elite soldiers, and other counties also sent troops to assist. Tao Qian even promoted the old general and appointed him as a General of Chariots and Cavalry. In response, Dong Zhuo sent Li Jue, Guo Si, and other generals with tens of thousands of troops to Henan to stop the old general's advance. The old general mounted a defense but was ultimately defeated by Li Jue and Guo Si. Knowing he was no match, the old general remained at the pass and dared not advance further.
After Dong Zhuo was killed, Li Jue and Guo Si fought each other, while the old general remained in Zhongmou. Tao Qian believed the old general was a capable minister who had achieved numerous military successes and could be entrusted with important tasks. Along with other prominent figures, he nominated the old general as Grand Tutor and sent a letter to the governors of various provinces to unite in attacking Li Jue and his allies and to welcome the emperor back to the capital. Tao Qian subsequently communicated with the old general:
Tao Qian, the Inspector of Xuzhou, along with former Inspectors Zhou Qian of Yangzhou, Yin De of Langye, Liu Kui of Donghai, Ji Lian of Pengcheng, Kong Rong of Beihai, Yuan Zhong of Pei, Ying Shao, the Governor of Taishan, Xu Qiu, the Governor of Runan, Fu Qian, the former Governor of Jiujang, and the scholar Zheng Xuan, and many other officials, jointly wrote a letter to Cao Cao, who was serving as the Inspector of Henan back then, saying: "The country is currently experiencing chaos instigated by Dong Zhuo, followed by the turmoil of Li Jue and Guo Si. The young emperor has been kidnapped, loyal ministers and valiant generals have been slain, and Chang'an is completely cut off from the outside world. No one knows what's going on over there. Therefore, we officials, people of note, are very worried and feel that only someone as clever and capable as you can resolve this great chaos! It has been three years since you raised your army, and officials from all over are watching each other without taking any actual action, leading to ongoing internal strife and mutual suspicion. We've discussed and come up with a plan to pacify the country. Everyone says, 'General, you are both civil and military talent, a gifted leader sent by the heavens. We all look up to you!' So we're teaming up to pick out the best soldiers and preparing to sneak behind enemy lines, directly attacking Xianyang with six months' worth of provisions, and putting everything in your hands.
Later, Li Jue followed the advice of Grand Commandant Zhou Zhong and the Imperial Secretary Jia Xu and summoned Cao Cao back to the court. The generals in the army were nervous about entering Guanzhong and wanted to support Tao Qian and others. However, Cao Cao said, 'When the king summons his subjects, they should immediately go, especially when it is an imperial decree! Moreover, Li Jue, Guo Si, and Fan Chou are just a bunch of small-time bandits without any real plans, and they are evenly matched and will soon erupt into internal conflict. I can use this chance to do something big!' So he rejected the suggestions of Tao Qian and the others, went to Li Jue to take up his appointment once again as the Grand Commandant, and Tao Qian and the others had to give up."
In the fourth year of the Chuping era, Cao Cao succeeded Zhou Zhong as the Grand Commandant and oversaw the affairs of the Imperial Secretariat. In the autumn of the following year, due to a solar eclipse, he was dismissed and then reinstated as the General of Chariots and Cavalry, and ordered to defend the eastern region. Before he could depart, he heard that Li Jue had killed Fan Chou, and Guo Si began to suspect Li Jue, leading to a conflict between the two. Chaos erupted in Chang'an, so Cao Cao halted his journey and was appointed Minister of Agriculture. Emperor Xian issued an edict summoning Cao Cao, Grand Commandant Yang Biao, and over ten others to persuade Guo Si to negotiate peace with Li Jue. Guo Si refused and detained Cao Cao and the others as hostages. Cao Cao, known for his integrity, fell ill and died that very day.
His son, Cao Ang, was also talented and eventually became the Governor of Yuzhang.
Some say: Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun were both top generals at the time, and the situation was very urgent when they received their orders. They won battles and gained fame throughout the land. However, faced with an incompetent emperor and rampant chaos caused by bandits, it was reminiscent of the story of Ye Gong and the dragon, as well as the rebellion of Zhai Yi. Despite Liang Yan's proposal for the various lords of Shandong to unite, they abandoned the noble cause of saving the realm and instead focused on petty squabbles, resulting in a humiliating downfall and nearly costing them their lives. It's truly ridiculous! Is it really destined for this chaotic era to go on? Why did their talent and bravery ultimately come to nothing?
There was once a man named Hua Qiao, who was from Pingyuan County in the Jin Dynasty. He once spoke of the words of his father, the Grand Minister of Splendor, Hua Biao, who in turn spoke of the words of his grandfather, the Grand Commandant of Wei, Hua Xin. People at that time all said that Huangfu Song did not seek credit for his achievements, that the victories in the battles in Runan and Yuzhou were credited solely to Zhu Jun; the suppression of Zhang Jue's rebellion was primarily due to Lu Zhi. Huangfu Song was always modest and never sought credit. In reality, fame and fortune are what people value above all. If one can refrain from pursuing these things that people hold most dear, then resentment and calamities would not run so deep. Just like Huangfu Song, who bravely fought against enemies in perilous times and managed to emerge unscathed in the end, isn't that something we should learn from? Therefore, Yan Hui said that "not boasting about one's good deeds" should be placed first, which is also an important principle in dealing with others! Praise: During the Yellow Turban Uprising, Huangfu Song stepped forward, wielding his great sword. Who says he merely led troops into battle while never seeking credit or favor? Zhu Jun swiftly fought in the regions of Chenzhou and Yingchuan and also quelled the rebellion. They both diligently carried out the orders of the court, yet both faced significant hardships.
