Real Histories
Ren Guang, styled Boqing, was a native of Wancheng District in Nanyang. He was known for being loyal and honest since he was young, and was deeply loved by the locals. He started off as a minor official in the village and later became an official in the district. When the Han army arrived in Wancheng, a soldier saw Ren Guang wearing splendid attire and ordered him to take off his clothes, with the intent to kill him and steal his clothes. At that moment, the Imperial Household Officer Liu Cilai happened to pass by, noticing that Ren Guang appeared to be a person of high status, and he saved him. Ren Guang then followed Liu Cilai along with some friends, becoming an official responsible for managing settlements, and was later promoted to a deputy general, fighting alongside Emperor Guangwu to defeat Wang Xun and Wang Yi.
Emperor Gengshi arrived in Luoyang and appointed Ren Guang Prefect of Xindu. Later, Wang Lang rebelled, and many states and counties surrendered. Only Ren Guang refused to surrender. He, along with Captain Li Zhong, Prefect Wan Xiu, Magistrate Ruan Kuang, and other officials, worked together to defend Xindu. Wang Lang sent someone with an edict to the Prefect's office, demanding Ren Guang's surrender. Ren Guang executed the messenger immediately, displayed the messenger's head to rally the people, and gathered four thousand elite soldiers to guard the city. In the spring of Gengshi's second year, Emperor Guangwu returned from Ji County in a desperate situation, unsure of where to go. Hearing that only Xindu City was resisting Wang Lang's army, he hurried there. Ren Guang and his men were holding out in the besieged city, fearing they might not be able to withstand the siege. Upon hearing that Emperor Guangwu was approaching, they were filled with joy. The officials and citizens of the city cheered, "Long live the Emperor!" and immediately opened the gates to welcome Emperor Guangwu, with Li Zhong and Wan Xiu leading the troops. Emperor Guangwu arrived at the post station and said to Ren Guang, "My lord, our forces are still weak. What do you think about launching a joint assault on Wang Lang's forces at Chetouzi and Lizidou?" Ren Guang replied, "No." Emperor Guangwu asked, "With so few troops, what should we do?" Ren Guang suggested, "We should recruit soldiers willing to fight and attack the nearby counties. If they don't surrender, allow the soldiers to pillage. Since everyone is motivated by wealth, we can recruit more soldiers this way." Emperor Guangwu accepted his suggestion.
Emperor Guangwu appointed Ren Guang as the Left Grand General, bestowing upon him the title of Marquis Wucheng. He left Zong Guang in charge as acting Governor of Xindu in Nanyang and instructed Ren Guang to lead troops to follow him. Ren Guang then wrote many proclamations, stating: "General Liu Xiu, the Grand Marshal, leads hundreds of thousands of troops from the east to attack the rebellious bandits." He then sent cavalry to the Julu region. Officials and the people passed on the proclamations to each other. Emperor Guangwu and Ren Guang entered the Tangyang area under cover of night, with the cavalry brandishing torches to illuminate the entire swamp. The flames lit up the sky and ground, startling the entire city and prompting the entire city to surrender that night. Within just ten days, the army had significantly strengthened, and they attacked and captured Handan. Emperor Guangwu then sent Ren Guang back to his commandery.
*Chengtou Zilu*, from Dongping, with the surname Yuan and the given name Zeng, styled Zilu. He and Liu Xu from Feicheng rebelled in Lucheng, hence their army was called *Chengtou Zilu*. Zeng claimed the title "Assistant Commander," while Liu Xu claimed "Chief of the Three Elders." Between the Yellow River and the Ji River, they plundered with an army of over two hundred thousand. After Gengshi Emperor ascended the throne, Zeng surrendered and was appointed as the Prefect of Donglai County, while Liu Xu was made the Prefect of Jinan. Both were also appointed as Grand Generals. That year, Zeng was killed by his own subordinates, who subsequently proclaimed Liu Xu as their leader. Gengshi Emperor granted Liu Xu the title of Marquis of State, ordering him to disband his army and return to his commandery.
Li Zidou hailed from the East Sea. He rose up in his hometown, attacking the areas of Xuzhou and Yanzhou, commanding an army of around sixty to seventy thousand troops. After Emperor Gengshi ascended the throne, he sent envoys to surrender and was appointed as the Governor of Xuzhou. He was later killed by his own men. His remaining forces regrouped and allied with other bandits in Tanxiang, thus they became known as the "Tanxiang Bandits." The leader of the Tanxiang Bandits, Dong Cizhong, initially rose in rebellion in Chiping before crossing the Yellow River into Qinghe, Weijun, joining forces with five battalions, bringing their total to over a hundred thousand troops. In the first year of the Jianwu era, Emperor Guangwu entered Luoyang and sent Grand Marshal Wu Han and others to quell the Tanxiang Bandits. In the spring of the second year, the Tanxiang Bandits were decisively defeated and forced to surrender.
That same year, Emperor Gengshi appointed him as the Marquis of Guangaling, with a fief consisting of ten thousand households. Five years later, he was summoned to the capital and appointed to an esteemed position. That winter, he passed away, and his son Wei succeeded him in his title.
Later on, Ruan Kuang became the Prefect of Nanyang, and Guo Tang became the Intendant of Henan, both gaining strong reputations.
Wei Zizhong, from a young age, was interested in the teachings of Huang-Lao, living a simple and contented life. He often used his salary to support his relatives and care for orphaned children and widows. Emperor Xianzong, upon hearing of this, promoted him to a prestigious position, and then to Left Supervisor of the Imperial Guards, and then to Chief Commandant of the Tiger Warriors, and further to Colonel of Changshui. After Emperor Suzong took the throne, he held Wei Zizhong in high regard, praising his character and appointing him as the Chief Architect. This position had been held by eunuchs since the Jianwu era but was formally established during Wei's tenure. In the fifth year of Jianchu, he was promoted to Grand Herald, and eight years later, he succeeded Dou Gu as the Grandee of the Imperial Household, excelling in every role he took on. In the first year of Zhanghe, he was appointed as Minister of Works.
Wei was a person of integrity, cultivating his moral character, yet his calm and upright character earned him the respect of others. After Emperor He took the throne, the Grand General Dou Xian held great power, acting arrogantly and instilling fear among officials. At that time, Dou Xian was attacking the Xiongnu, causing massive financial strains on the state. Wei submitted ten memorials requesting the recall of Dou Xian. He worked together with the Minister of Works Yuan An, handling matters with care and speaking boldly with integrity, never concealing anything, as detailed in the "Biography of Yuan An."
In the fourth year of the Yongyuan era, Li Zhong's son Li Tun inherited the title. The emperor, in recognition of Li Zhong's achievements, promoted Li Tun to the position of Infantry Colonel and was granted the title of Marquis of Xiyang. After Li Tun's death, his son Li Sheng inherited the title. After Li Sheng's death, his son Li Shi inherited the title, and the title was changed to Marquis of Beixiang.
Li Zhong, style name Zhongdu, was a native of Huang County, Donglai. His father was the Commandant of Gaomi County. During the Yuanshi era, Li Zhong became a court official thanks to his father's connections. At that time, there were dozens of people who became court officials alongside him, but only Li Zhong received praise for his polite demeanor and serious work ethic. During Wang Mang's reign, Li Zhong served as the Magistrate of Xinbo County, where he earned the respect and trust of the entire county.
After Emperor Gengshi established his rule, he sent envoys to appoint officials in various regions and promptly appointed Li Zhong as Colonel. Li Zhong then assisted Guangwu Emperor Liu Xiu together with Ren Guang, was appointed Right Grand General, and titled Marquis of Wugu. At that time, Liu Xiu took off his own sash and placed it on Li Zhong, leading him to attack subordinate counties together. Upon reaching Kuxing, Liu Xiu gathered the generals to ask about the spoils they had captured, and Li Zhong had taken nothing. Liu Xiu said, "I want to reward him specially. Li Zhong, do any of you ministers object?" Therefore, Liu Xiu rewarded Li Zhong with his own steed—a fine chestnut horse—along with embroidered bedding and clothing.
Later, Julu was surrounded but had not yet fallen. Wang Lang sent troops to attack Xindu. The prominent families in Xindu, such as Ma Chong, opened the city gates and surrendered to Wang Lang. They also captured the governor Zong Guang, as well as Li Zhong's mother and wife, and sent envoys to persuade Li Zhong to yield. At that time, Ma Chong's younger brother was under Li Zhong's command as a lieutenant. Li Zhong immediately summoned him and rebuked him for his ingratitude and betrayal of the city. He then executed him on the spot. The other generals were taken aback and remarked, "His family is in the hands of others, yet he killed his own brother. He is too ruthless!" Li Zhong said, "If we let traitors go unpunished, we’re inviting disaster." Emperor Guangwu was very impressed when he heard about this and said to Li Zhong, "My army is already very powerful. You may return to rescue your mother, wife, and children. You can recruit officials and civilians to help you find your family. Whoever finds your family will be rewarded with millions of money and can come to me to claim the reward." Li Zhong said, "I am deeply grateful for your generosity. I want to be loyal to you and dare not consider the safety of my family." Emperor Guangwu then sent Ren Guang to rescue Xindu, but Ren Guang's army dispersed and surrendered to Wang Lang on the way, returning without any achievements. Coincidentally, Emperor Gengshi sent troops to break through Xindu, and Li Zhong's family was saved. Emperor Guangwu then allowed Li Zhong to return, appointing him as acting governor to subdue the prominent families in the county who surrendered to Handan, executing hundreds. Once Ren Guang returned to the county, Li Zhong resumed his position as captain. In the second year of Jianwu, Li Zhong was granted the title of Marquis of Zhongshui with a fief of three thousand households. In the same year, Li Zhong was summoned to serve as a general in the Five Officials, serving alongside Emperor Guangwu to quell the rebellions of Cheng Meng, Dong Xian, and others.
At the age of six years, he was appointed as the Prefect of Danyang. At that time, the whole country had just stabilized, and many armed factions in the southern coastal areas and along the Yangtze River were vying for power. When he arrived in Danyang County, he subdued and pacified those who resisted. Those who remained obstinate were executed. Within less than a month, the rebellion was quelled. He felt that the local customs in Danyang were not being properly studied, and the marriage customs were significantly inferior to those of the Central Plains. Consequently, he established schools to teach etiquette and proper conduct, held village feasts during the spring and autumn, and selected talented scholars proficient in Confucian classics. The local populace held him in high esteem. He also reclaimed wasteland, increasing arable land, and within three years, more than 50,000 refugees settled there. In the fourteenth year, he was recognized as the top performer in political achievements nationwide and was promoted to the position of Prefect of Yuzhang. Later, due to illness, he resigned from office, and the court called him back to the capital. In the nineteenth year, he passed away.
His son inherited his title. After his son passed away, his grandson inherited the title. In the ninth year of Yongping, the title was revoked because his mother was implicated in the murder of his uncle. In the seventh year of Yongchu, Empress Dowager Deng reinstated him as the Marquis of Qinting. After his passing, his son inherited the title.
Wan Xiu, styled Junyou, was from Maoling in Fufeng. During the reign of Gengshi, he served as the Magistrate of Xindu County, guarding the city with Prefect Ren Guang and Commandant Li Zhong to welcome Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu, and was appointed as a General. After capturing Handan, he was appointed as the Right General and participated in pacifying the Hebei region. In the second year of Jianwu, he was reappointed as the Marquis of Huaili. He and General Yang Han jointly launched an attack on Nanyang, but he fell ill and died in the campaign before they could capture it.
His son Pu inherited the title and was granted the title of Marquis Xuan. After Pu died without a son, the title was revoked. In the seventh year of Yongchu, Empress Dowager Deng bestowed the title of Marquis Qupingting upon Wan Xiu's great-grandson Feng. After Feng passed away, his son Chi inherited the title. In the first year of Yongjian, Chi died without a son, and the title was once again revoked. In the second year of Yanxi, Emperor Huan reappointed Wan Xiu's great-grandson Gong as Marquis Mendeting.
Pi Tong, courtesy name Weijun, hailed from Xindu. His father was named Pi Ji and had previously served as the Governor of Liaoxi. Pi Tong initially served as a soldier under Wang Mang, holding the rank of "Hecheng Zuo Zheng." Later, Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu attacked Hebei and arrived at Xiaquyang. Pi Tong led the surrender of the entire city to Liu Xiu, who then appointed him as the governor and permitted him to remain in the area for a few days.
Emperor Guangwu marched north to attack Jicheng, but Wang Lang rebelled, dispatching troops to attack and seize various cities. Many places surrendered willingly, except for Hecheng and Xindu, which put up a strong resistance. Upon hearing that Emperor Guangwu had withdrawn from Jicheng and sustained losses, Pi Tong resolved to return to Xindu. He first sent the official Zhang Wan and the postal supervisor Yin Sui, who led over two thousand elite cavalry, to rendezvous with Emperor Guangwu's army along the route. Shortly thereafter, Pi Tong reunited with Emperor Guangwu in Xindu.
Although Emperor Guangwu had received support from these two commanderies, the army had not yet fully assembled. Many people suggested taking advantage of the fact that Xindu's forces had not yet fully integrated and directly returning to Chang'an. However, Pi Tong firmly opposed this idea and said to Emperor Guangwu, "What those people are saying is all wrong! The common people have long been hoping for the revival of the Han Dynasty, so when Emperor Gengshi (Liu Xuan) declared himself emperor, everyone responded, and the Sanfu region even went out of their way to clean the palace roads to welcome him. If one person shouts with a weapon, generals a thousand miles away will abandon their cities and flee, and the enemy will request surrender. There’s never been anything throughout history that has inspired and mobilized the people like this! Moreover, that Wang Lang is just a fraud; he's just bluffing and has gathered a ragtag group, causing a stir in the Yan and Zhao regions. Now you have the forces of two commanderies, with great prestige. If you attack, which city can hold out? If you fight, which army will not obey? Backing off now would not only mean losing Hebei for nothing but also alarming the Sanfu region and damaging your prestige. This is simply not a good strategy! Even if you do not intend to continue fighting, it will be difficult to mobilize the forces in Xindu. Why? Because once you go west, the people of Handan won't abandon their families or their city lord to come send you off. They will definitely scatter and flee!" Emperor Guangwu realized Pi Tong was right and dropped the idea of heading west. That day, he appointed Pi Tong as the Grand General of the Rear, keeping him as the Prefect of Cheng, and let him lead the army ahead. When they arrived at Tangyang, Tangyang had already surrendered to Wang Lang. Pi Tong then sent Zhang Wan and Yin Sui to fill the local officials and folks in on what was happening. Emperor Guangwu arrived in Tangyang that night, and the city gate swung open to welcome him. After that, Emperor Guangwu led his troops to defeat Bai She’s army in Zhongshan. From then on, Pi Tong followed Emperor Guangwu in his campaigns.
Xindu was occupied by Wang Lang, who sent people to Xindu to arrest the father, brother, and wife of Pi Tong, forcing them to write a letter urging Pi Tong to surrender, which said: "Surrender and you'll be granted a title; refuse and your entire family will be wiped out!" Pi Tong tearfully replied in his reply: "How can one care about family when serving the king! My relatives still live peacefully in Xindu, thanks to Liu Xiu's generosity! The emperor is busy fighting for the world; how can I think about family matters?" Later, the army dispatched by Emperor Gengshi attacked Xindu, and Wang Lang's army was defeated and retreated, allowing Pi Tong's family to be spared.
After capturing Handan, Pi Tong was appointed as Marquis Wuyi. In the first year of Jianwu, he was subsequently appointed as Marquis Lingshou and took on the role of Grand Minister of Works. After the emperor entered Luoyang, Pi Tong was appointed Minister of Ceremonies, then transferred to Minister of Finance a month later, but was dismissed later that year. He later served as Left Cao Shizhong, accompanying the emperor on campaigns. Six years later, he returned to his fiefdom. After Pi Tong's death, his son, Tang, inherited the title. Nine years later, Tang's title was elevated to Marquis Leling. Nineteen years later, Tang passed away, and his son inherited the title; since he had no sons, the title was revoked. In the first year of the Yuanchu era, Empress Dowager Deng posthumously granted the title of Marquis Pingting to Pi Tong's grandson, Yin. Following Yin's death, his son Chai inherited the title.
Initially, Zhang Wan, Yin Sui, and Pi Tong together welcomed Emperor Guangwu and were appointed as Deputy Generals, accompanying him on military expeditions. Zhang Wan was appointed as Marquis Chongping, while Yin Sui was appointed as Marquis Pingtai.
The book says: Those who achieve great things are recognized by the world because of their remarkable contributions; those who are involved in planning from the beginning of things are not easily understood by the world because the rationale is often obscure. This is an objective truth that warrants careful consideration. Those intending to leverage the military forces of Jizhou and Qingzhou to formulate a strategy to enter Guanzhong and achieve hegemony, while the emperor was still unaware of the unpredictable risks, faced a unanimous agreement among the advisers, making Pi Tong's statement in court particularly perilous! As the saying goes, "a single word can make or break a nation," this is what it means.
Liu Zhi, also known as Boxian, was from Changcheng County, Julu County. When Wang Lang rebelled, Liu Zhi, along with his younger brother Liu Xi and cousin Liu Xin, gathered a few thousand followers and took control of Changcheng. Upon hearing that Emperor Guangwu was returning from Ji County, they opened the city gates to greet him. Emperor Guangwu appointed Liu Zhi as the General of the Elite Cavalry, Liu Xi and Liu Xin as Deputy Generals, and they were all enfeoffed as marquises. At that time, King Zhen Ding Liu Yang raised an army to support Wang Lang, with an army of over ten thousand. Emperor Guangwu sent Liu Zhi to persuade Liu Yang to surrender, and Liu Yang surrendered. Emperor Guangwu then remained in Zhending and married Guo, making her his empress, to secure Liu Yang's loyalty. Afterwards, Emperor Guangwu, Liu Yang, and other generals hosted a banquet at Guo's residence in Qili, with Liu Yang playing the zither to entertain. Emperor Guangwu then launched an attack on Handan, bringing peace to the Hebei region.
In the 26th year of the era, Geng Zhi was granted the title of Marquis of Changcheng. Later, he was killed in battle while fighting against bandits in Mixian. His son Geng Xiang inherited the title. The emperor sent Geng Xi to take over Geng Zhi's command. Geng Xi was promoted to General of the Valiant Cavalry and granted the title of Marquis of Guanzhen. After Geng Xi's death, Geng Xin succeeded him as General of the Valiant Cavalry and was appointed as the Marquis of Fuyang. Both Geng Xi and Geng Xin followed the emperor in battles, and their titles were inherited by their descendants. Geng Xiang was later reappointed as the Marquis of Dongwuyang. Upon his death, his son Geng Shu succeeded him. In 78 AD, Geng Shu was stripped of his title for conspiring with King Ying of Chu to rebel.
Geng Chun, known by his courtesy name Boshan, hailed from Songzi County in Julu Commandery. His father Geng Ai had served as the Intendant of Jiping under Wang Mang. Geng Chun studied in Chang'an and later became an Imperial Secretary. After Wang Mang's fall, Emperor Guangwu, Liu Xuan, established his regime and sent King Li Yi of Wang Yin to persuade various commanderies and kingdoms to surrender. Geng Ai surrendered to the new regime and was subsequently appointed as the Administrator of Jinan. At that time, Li Yi and his brothers held great power and made arbitrary decisions, and many visitors came to persuade them. Geng Chun repeatedly sought an audience with Li Yi but was unable to for a long time. When he finally had the opportunity to meet him, he said, "Your Majesty, you possess the imposing presence of a dragon and a tiger, rising rapidly in a turbulent era, with you and your brothers becoming kings within a few months. However, your virtues and reputation have not been known among the people, your achievements have not benefited the people, yet you enjoy great wealth and glory. This is something that wise men would be wary of! Even with caution, one fears an unfavorable outcome, let alone believing that success is assured." Li Yi found Geng Chun's words intriguing, and recognizing Geng Chun's prominent background in Julu Commandery, appointed him as the Cavalry Commandant and granted him the authority to pacify the states of Zhao and Wei.
At this time, Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu crossed the Yellow River and arrived in Handan. Geng Chun immediately went to see him. Emperor Guangwu held him in high regard. After Geng Chun returned, he found that the military command and strategies of other generals were not as good as his own, so he sought to join Emperor Guangwu and offered hundreds of horses and rolls of silk. Emperor Guangwu headed north to Zhongshan, leaving Geng Chun in Handan. At this time, Wang Lang rebelled, and Emperor Guangwu quickly marched southeast from Jixian. Geng Chun, together with his brothers Geng Yu, Geng Su, and Geng Zhi, led more than two thousand family members and guests, including the elderly and infirm, riding in wooden carts to meet Emperor Guangwu in Yudi. Emperor Guangwu appointed Geng Chun as the General, granted him the title of Marquis of Gengxiang, and Geng Yu, Geng Su, and Geng Zhi were all appointed as Deputy Generals, allowing them to take the lead and capture Songzi, as well as participate in the capture of Quyang and Zhongshan.
At that time, many people in Handan surrendered. Chen Tang worried there might be disloyal members in his family, so he ordered the burning of their houses. Emperor Guangwu of Han asked Chen Tang for the reason, and Chen Tang replied, "I privately believe that Your Majesty only brought a small number of troops to Hebei, without any treasures from the treasury, nor did you offer rewards or sweet talk to win them over, but relied on benevolence to influence them, so the soldiers are willing to submit. Now Handan is self-sufficient, and the northern states are still observing. Although my family surrendered, the elderly and weak remain in the ranks. I am worried that some of the family members and guests are not convinced, so I burned down the houses to discourage any thoughts of turning back." Emperor Guangwu of Han was very pleased to hear this.
In Haodi, Emperor Guangwu of Han stationed at the post station. The influential Su family in Haodi rebelled and opened the city gates to welcome the general Li Yun who supported Wang Lang. Chen Tang had prior knowledge of this, so he led his troops to fight against Li Yun, defeating and executing him. He then participated in pacifying Handan and capturing Tongma (placename).
At that time, over 100,000 troops, including the Chimei Army, Qingdu Army, Shangjiang Army, Datong Army, Tiejing Army, and Wufan Army, were all in Shequan (placename), and Emperor Guangwu of Han led his troops to prepare to attack them. Chen Tang's army was at the forefront, a few miles away from the enemy camp. However, the enemy suddenly launched a night attack on Chen Tang's camp, and arrows rained down, resulting in many casualties among the soldiers. Chen Tang ordered his men to hold their ground and not back down. He selected two thousand suicide troops, each armed with three powerful crossbows, and had them bite down on cloth strips as they quietly snuck around to the enemy's rear, shouted together, and fired their crossbows in unison. The enemy panicked and fled in confusion, and Chen Tang led his troops in pursuit, ultimately defeating the enemy. The cavalry quickly reported the situation of the battle to Emperor Guangwu. The next morning, Emperor Guangwu arrived at the camp with the generals to comfort Chen Tang, saying, "You suffered last night, didn't you?" Chen Tang replied, "Thanks to Your Majesty's virtues, I was able to escape disaster." Emperor Guangwu replied, "The army can't move at night, so we couldn't come to your aid in time. The military camp is unstable, and your relatives cannot all stay in the camp." Therefore, Emperor Guangwu appointed Chen Tang's relative, Geng Ji, as the magistrate of Puwu County, and had all of Chen Tang's relatives stay there.
After Emperor Guangwu of Han ascended to the throne, he appointed Chen Tang as the Marquis of Gaoyang. Chen Tang defeated Liu Yong in Jiyin and captured Dingtang. At first, when Chen Tang was with the army attacking Wang Lang, he fell off his horse and broke his shoulder. When his condition worsened, he returned to Huai Palace to recover. The emperor asked, "Among your brothers, who can be sent out to handle affairs?" Chen Tang recommended his cousin Chen Zhi, so Chen Zhi was appointed to lead Chen Tang's army, while Chen Tang continued to follow the army as a former general.
Legend has it that King Zhending Liu Yang made up a prophecy, claiming, "After the ninth red, Yang will take charge." Liu Yang had a lump on his neck, and he deliberately used this to deceive the people, colluding with the rebel Mian Man.
In the spring of the second year of the Jianwu era, the court dispatched Cavalry Captain Chen Fu and Guerrilla General Deng Long to campaign against Liu Yang. Liu Yang refused to let Chen Fu and his men enter the city. The court then sent Geng Chun with an imperial decree to announce an amnesty in Youzhou and Jizhou, and along the way, Geng Chun also conveyed the Emperor's goodwill to the local nobles. The Emperor secretly told Geng Chun, "If you see Liu Yang, arrest him."
Geng Chun, with over a hundred soldiers, met up with Chen Fu and Deng Long in Yuanshi, and together they arrived in Zhending, staying at the post station. Liu Yang pretended to be sick and did not meet Geng Chun. As Geng Chun was a descendant of the royal family of Zhending, Liu Yang sent a letter to Geng Chun, wanting to meet him. Geng Chun replied, "I have been ordered to meet with nobles and local officials and cannot visit you first. If you want to meet, please come to the post station." At that time, Liu Yang's younger brother, the Marquis of Linyi Liu Rang, and his cousin Liu Xi, each led over ten thousand soldiers. Confident in his numbers, Liu Yang believed Geng Chun would not act recklessly, so he went to meet Geng Chun with a few officials. His two brothers waited outside with light cavalry.
After Liu Yang met Geng Chun, the latter received him politely and also invited his brothers in. Once everyone was inside, Geng Chun closed the gates, slaughtered them all, and led his troops out of the city. The people of Zhending were terrified and did not dare to move. The Emperor believed that the rebellion by Liu Yang and Liu Rang had not yet been executed, so he granted titles to their sons and maintained their fiefdoms.
Geng Chun returned to the capital and volunteered, saying, "I am just the son of an ordinary official. Fortunately, I lived to see the revival of the Han Dynasty. The Emperor was appointed by heaven, which allowed me to serve as a general and be granted the title of marquis. Now that the world is mostly at peace, I don't have much to do. I want to govern a county and serve the court well." The Emperor smiled and said, "You're such a military expert, and you still want to try your hand at civil governance?" So Geng Chun was appointed as the Prefect of Dong Commandery.
At that time, Dong Commandery was not completely pacified. After a few months in office, Geng Chun managed to drive the bandits away. In the fourth year of Jianwu, the Emperor ordered Geng Chun to lead troops against Fan Jing, the Prefect of Dongping from the Gengshi regime. Fan Jing surrendered. Geng Chun also attacked the bandits in Mount Tai, Jinan, and Pingyuan, and he pacified them all. Geng Chun was the Prefect of Dong Commandery for four years. When a county magistrate broke the law, Geng Chun investigated and surrounded him. Before the memorial was approved, the county magistrate committed suicide. As a result, Geng Chun was removed from his position, but he kept his title as marquis and could still attend court.
Later, Geng Chun followed the army to attack Dong Xian. As they passed through Dong Commandery, thousands of people of all ages followed the army, crying and shouting, "We miss Prefect Geng!" The Emperor said to his ministers, "When Geng Chun was younger, he was just a soldier in armor. How could he be so loved by the people when governing a place?" Six years later, Zhou Chun was made the Marquis of Dongguang. He said goodbye to the Emperor before heading to his fiefdom, and the Emperor said, "Emperor Wen once said to Zhou Bo, 'The Prime Minister is someone I value greatly. You lead the vassals to your fiefdom on my behalf.' The situation is the same now." Zhou Chun left with the imperial decree. When he arrived at Ye City, the Emperor gifted him ten thousand bushels of grain. Once he arrived in his fiefdom, he comforted the families of the deceased and visited the sick, who all held him in high regard.
Eight years later, there was a rise in banditry in the Dongjun and Jiyin regions. The court dispatched Grand Minister of Works Li Tong and General Wang Chang to suppress them. The Emperor held Zhou Chun in high regard for his reputation in Wei and sent an envoy to appoint him as Grand Master, allowing him to join the army in Dongjun. When the bandits in Dongjun heard that Zhou Chun had arrived, over nine thousand bandits surrendered to him, and the army returned with little resistance. The Emperor then issued a decree appointing Zhou Chun as the Prefect of Dongjun, much to the delight of the local people. Thirteen years later, Zhou Chun died in office and was posthumously honored as Marquis Cheng. His son Zhou Fu inherited his title.
Zhou Chun's brother, Zhou Zhi later became an Auxiliary Wei General and was granted the title of Marquis Weiyi; he also served as Acting Prefect of Dai County and was granted the title of Marquis Suixiang. Another brother, Zhou Zhe, became a Red Eyebrow General and was granted the title of Marquis Zhuowu. He died in battle at Yunyang while following Deng Yu on a western expedition. In total, four members of the Zhou family were granted Marquis titles, three were granted Marquis titles within the Passes, and nine held the rank of 2,000-bushel officials.
Zhou Fu was later re-granted the title of Marquis Juxiang. In the fourteenth year of Yongping, his title was revoked due to the comments made by his relatives, Geng He and Yan Zhong from Chu. In the second year of Jianchu, Emperor Sui Zong of Han remembered Zhou Chun's contributions and re-appointed Zhou Fu's son Zhou Xu as Marquis Gaoting. After Zhou Xu's passing without a son, the title was then passed to Zhou Xu's brother Zhou Teng. After Zhou Teng's passing, his son Zhou Zhong inherited the title, and after Zhou Zhong's passing, his grandson Zhou Xu succeeded to the title.
Praise: Ren and Pi are knowledgeable, Yan Cheng resolves the door. Support the wanderers and depend on the two prefects. Chun and Zhi uphold righteousness, serving in the army to bolster their prestige.
Yao Qi, courtesy name Zikuang, was a native of Jia County in Yingchuan. He was very tall, standing eight feet two inches tall, particularly handsome and dignified, with a commanding presence. His father, Yao Meng, had served as the Prefect of Guiyang. After his father's death, Yao Qi observed three years of mourning for him, and the townspeople praised him for his filial piety.
Later, Emperor Guangwu of Han, Liu Xiu, attacked Yingchuan. Hearing that Yao Qi was ambitious and righteous, he summoned him to serve as a clerk in the bandit office and followed him to pacify the rebellion in Jizhou. At that time, Wang Lang's proclamation spread to Jizhou, and some locals in Jizhou took up arms in response. Emperor Guangwu personally led his troops there, and the locals gathered to see what was happening. The road was packed, making it impossible to get through. Yao Qi rode his horse, waving his spear, and yelled at the crowd, "Make way!" The crowd quickly parted. When they arrived at the city gate, it was shut tight, so he led the charge against the city and finally opened the gate.
In Xindu, Emperor Guangwu appointed Yao Qi as a vice general, under General Deng Yu, alongside Fu Kuan and Lv Yan. Together, they attacked nearby county towns and recruited soldiers from Fangzi County. Deng Yu recognized Yao Qi's talents and appointed him as a separate deputy general, assigning him two thousand troops, while Fu Kuan and Lv Yan each only received a few hundred men. Deng Yu reported Yao Qi's performance to Emperor Guangwu, who praised him highly. Consequently, Emperor Guangwu dispatched Yao Qi to attack Zhending and Songzi, where he captured territories like Leyang, Gao, and Feilei.
In Julu, Yaoqi accompanied Emperor Guangwu and the generals Hong and Liu Feng under Wang Lang in battle. During the fight, Yaoqi was the first to charge into the enemy camp, killing more than fifty people and sustaining a forehead injury. He merely bandaged his wound and continued fighting, ultimately achieving a resounding victory. After Wang Lang was defeated, Emperor Guangwu appointed Yaoqi as the Grand General of Tiger Teeth. Seizing the opportunity, Yaoqi said to Emperor Guangwu, "The people of Hebei, being close to the border, are skilled in martial arts and known as elite soldiers. Now that Emperor Gengshi (Liu Xuan) has lost his rule, the Han Dynasty is in danger, and people from all over the country have nowhere to go. Your Majesty occupies a strategic location, commands an elite army, and aligns with the people's desire to return to the Han Dynasty. Who in the world would dare to resist?" Emperor Guangwu smiled and said, "Do you want me to force my way through like before?"
At that time, the Tongma Army, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, attacked Qingyang and Boping. Yaoqi and the other generals fought back, but faced setbacks in several battles. Yaoqi then changed his strategy, fought a desperate battle, and killed a large number of enemies. At this time, Emperor Guangwu's reinforcements arrived, and they ultimately defeated the Tongma Army, pursuing them to Guantao where the Tongma Army surrendered. Later, Yaoqi also participated in battles against the Qingdu Army and the Chimei Army. In the Shequan area, the enemy attacked Yaoqi's supplies, and Yaoqi led his troops to counterattack, killing dozens of enemies and sustaining three wounds from knives himself. Despite his injuries, he fought valiantly and ultimately defeated the enemy.
After Emperor Guangwu became emperor, he appointed Geng Kuang as the Marquis of Ancheng, granting him a fief of five thousand households. At that time, bandits from Tanxiang and Wulou attacked Fanyang and Neihuang, and some wealthy families in Weijun repeatedly rebelled. The general of the Gengshi Army, Zhuo Jing, even plotted to lead a rebellion against Yecheng. The emperor appointed Geng Kuang as the Prefect of Weijun, entrusting him with the duties of Grand General.
Geng Kuang led troops to attack Zhuo Jing, defeated him, and executed more than six hundred enemies. Zhuo Jing fled to the mountains, and Geng Kuang pursued and eliminated dozens of his officers, capturing Zhuo Jing's wife and children. Subsequently, Geng Kuang attacked Fanyang and Neihuang, once again beheading hundreds of people, restoring order in those regions. There was a bandit leader named Li Xiong in Ye City, who was a local tyrant. His brother, Li Lu, wanted to rebel against Ye City and welcome bandits from Tanxiang. When someone informed Geng Kuang of this, he initially dismissed it until it was brought to his attention several times. Geng Kuang then summoned Li Xiong and questioned him. Li Xiong confessed and expressed his willingness to face punishment alongside his elderly mother. Geng Kuang said, "If being an official isn’t more rewarding than being a bandit, you can go back and join Li Lu with your mother." He then had Li Xiong escorted out of the city. After leaving, Li Xiong found Li Lu and, feeling ashamed, took his own life out of gratitude to Geng Kuang. Geng Kuang, feeling regretful, arranged a proper burial for him in accordance with custom and restored Li Xiong's original position. From then on, the people of the entire county respected his authority.
In the fifth year of Jianwu, Emperor Guangwu inspected Wei County and promoted Geng Kuang to the position of Grand Master of the Palace. After the inspection, upon returning to Luoyang, he appointed him as Guard Commander. Geng Kuang placed great importance on trustworthiness and loyalty. When he was a general, he never looted the enemy's possessions when capturing them in battle. Once at the court, he was devoted to his country and its people, and loyal to the emperor. If anything displeased him, he would voice his concerns. Emperor Guangwu once rashly went out of the palace with Geng Kuang privately, but Geng Kuang quickly knelt before the carriage and said, "I have heard that disasters often come unexpectedly, and I truly do not wish for Your Majesty to travel privately." Upon hearing this, Emperor Guangwu ordered the carriage to return to the palace. Geng Kuang died in the tenth year of Jianwu, and Emperor Guangwu personally handled his funeral, posthumously bestowing upon him the title of Marquis of Loyalty.
His son, Geng Dan, inherited the title. Emperor Guangwu also granted Geng Dan's younger brother, Geng Tong, the title of Marquis of Jianping. Later, Geng Dan's title was changed to Marquis of Geling. After Geng Dan's death, his son, Geng Shu, inherited the title; after Geng Shu's death, his son, Geng Yu, inherited the title; after Geng Yu's death, his son, Geng Cai, inherited the title.
Wang Ba, who was known by the courtesy name Yuanbo, was from Yingyang, Henan. His family had a tradition of loving literature and law; his father had been a court clerk in the county, and Wang Ba had also been a jailer when he was young. However, he never found satisfaction in being an official, and his father thought he was special, so he sent him to Chang'an to study.
When the Han army rose up, Emperor Guangwu passed through Yingyang. Wang Ba brought his guests to pay their respects to him, saying, "General, you are rising up for justice. Although I have limited abilities, I admire your character and am willing to join your ranks." Emperor Guangwu said, "I have always dreamed of having talented individuals to help me achieve great things; how could there possibly be another like you!" Thus, Wang Ba joined Emperor Guangwu in battle, defeating Wang Xun and Wang Yi at Kunyang before returning to his hometown to rest.
Later, when Emperor Guangwu became the Colonel of Retainers, passing through Yingyang, Wang Ba asked his father to let him follow Emperor Guangwu. His father said, "I am already old and cannot join the military anymore; you go, work hard!" Wang Ba followed Emperor Guangwu to Luoyang. When Emperor Guangwu became the Grand Marshal, he appointed Wang Ba as the Records Officer, and they went to Hebei together. The dozens of guests who had followed Wang Ba gradually departed. Emperor Guangwu said to Wang Ba, "Those who followed me from Yingchuan have all left; you are the only one left. Keep it up! A strong wind reveals sturdy grass!"
When Wang Lang raised his rebellion, Emperor Guangwu was in Jixian. Wang Lang ordered to capture Emperor Guangwu. Emperor Guangwu sent Wang Ba to recruit soldiers in the market, preparing to fight Wang Lang. The people in the market laughed and mocked him, and Wang Ba returned humiliated. Emperor Guangwu immediately headed south to Xiaquyang. Upon hearing that Wang Lang's army was pursuing from behind, those following Emperor Guangwu were all afraid. Upon reaching the Hutuo River, scouts reported that the river had thawed, there were no boats available, and they could not cross. The officials were all quite frightened. Emperor Guangwu sent Wang Ba to take a look. Wang Ba, not wanting to alarm anyone, first went to the riverbank to test it, then returned and knelt, saying, "The river ice is solid; we can cross." The officials were all delighted. Emperor Guangwu chuckled and remarked, "The scouts really talk nonsense!" So they led the troops across. When they reached the riverbank, the ice was indeed solid. Wang Ba escorted everyone across the river. Before everyone had crossed, a few horses went over, and the ice began to crack. Emperor Guangwu said to Wang Ba, "We were able to cross the river safely because of your efforts!" Wang Ba humbly replied, "This is due to your noble character and the blessings of the divine. Even if it were akin to the auspicious signs King Wu encountered when he saw a white fish, it can't compare to this time." Emperor Guangwu said to the officials, "Wang Ba has achieved great things with his talents, truly a divine sign of good fortune!" So Wang Ba was appointed as the Military Commander and given the title of Marquis of Guannei. In Xindu, Emperor Guangwu dispatched troops to assault Handan. Wang Ba pursued and defeated Wang Lang, seizing his seal and sash. Ultimately, he was granted the title of Marquis of Xiang.
Legend has it that starting from Pinghebei, Wu Han often stationed with Zang Gong and Fu Jun. He was especially good at comforting soldiers. For those soldiers who died in battle, he would take off their clothes to collect their bodies; for the wounded soldiers, he personally took care of them. Later, Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu ascended to the throne. Because he knew that Wu Han was good at warfare and cared for his soldiers, he was capable of independent command. He appointed him as a general, entrusted him with the command of the troops led by Zang Gong and Fu Jun, and appointed Zang Gong and Fu Jun as cavalry lieutenants. In the second year of Jianwu, Wu Han was promoted to the title of Marquis of Fubo.
In the autumn of the fourth year of Jianwu, the emperor traveled to Qiaoxian and dispatched Wu Han and General Ma Wu to the east to confront Zhou Jian at Chuihui. Su Mao led more than 4,000 soldiers to assist Zhou Jian. He first sent elite cavalry to intercept Ma Wu's army's food and supplies, and Ma Wu went to provide support. Zhou Jian led troops out of the city to ambush Ma Wu. Ma Wu relied on Wu Han to come to his aid, so he fought half-heartedly and ended up being defeated by Su Mao and Zhou Jian. Ma Wu's army fled near Wu Han's camp, calling for help. Wu Han said, "There are too many enemy troops. If we go out now, we’ll both take heavy losses. It is better to hold our ground!" So he firmly closed the camp gates and defended without engaging. The officers in the camp were eager to go out and help. Wu Han said, "Su Mao's troops are elite and numerous, my soldiers are losing morale, and the captive general’s army depends on us. If the two armies do not cooperate well, it would lead to certain defeat. Now, by firmly closing the camp gates and feigning inaction, the enemy will likely take advantage of this; if the captive general sees that we are not rescuing, they will fight fiercely on their own. This way, Su Mao's army will become exhausted, and we can then launch a counterattack and defeat them."
Su Mao and Zhou Jian both sent troops to attack Ma Wu. After a fierce battle, there was a brave warrior named Lu Run in Wu Han's army, along with dozens of others who cut their hair in a show of determination and requested to join the fight. Wu Han saw the soldiers' high morale, so he opened the camp gate and sent elite cavalry to attack the enemy from behind. Su Mao and Zhou Jian were shocked and fled in defeat, while Wu Han and Ma Wu returned to their camps. The enemy regrouped to challenge again, but Wu Han stayed resolute and didn't venture out; instead, he treated his soldiers and enjoyed music and singing in the camp. Su Mao fired arrows into Wu Han's camp, striking a wine jar right in front of him, but Wu Han remained unfazed. The generals in the camp all said, "Su Mao was defeated a few days ago, so it will be easy to defeat him now." Wu Han said, "No. Su Mao's army is mercenary troops from afar, lacking food, so they repeatedly challenge in hopes of a lucky victory. Now we will close the camp gate to boost morale; this is what is known as 'winning without fighting,' which is the best strategy." Since Su Mao and Zhou Jian couldn't win, they withdrew their troops to their camp. That night, Zhou Jian's nephew, Zhou Song, rebelled, closed the city gates to resist Su Mao, and Su Mao and Zhou Jian fled, while Zhou Song opened the gates and surrendered.
In the spring of five years before Christ, the emperor dispatched the Grand Master of the Palace with his decree, appointing Geng Ba as the General of the Expedition against the Lu. The following year, Geng Ba stationed at Xin'an to oversee agricultural efforts; two years later, he stationed at Hangu Pass for farming. He also pacified the bandits in Xingyang and Zhongmou, dealing with these bandits.
In 9 BCE, Geng Ba, along with Wu Han, Wang Chang, Zhu You, and Hou Jin, led over fifty thousand troops to attack Jia Lan and Min Kan under Lu Fang in Gaoliu. The Xiongnu also sent troops to support Lu Fang, and the Han army faced rainy weather, which made the battle quite challenging. Wu Han returned to Luoyang, and the Emperor ordered Zhu You to be stationed in Changshan, Wang Chang in Zhuojun, and Hou Jin in Yuyang respectively. The Emperor also specially issued an edict appointing Geng Ba as the Governor of Shanggu, allowing him to continue leading troops specifically tasked with capturing Xiongnu without being confined to county boundaries. The following year, Geng Ba, along with Wu Han and four other generals, led a total of sixty thousand troops to once again attack Jia Lan in Gaoliu. The Emperor also ordered Geng Ba and the Yuyang Prefect, Chen Dan, to serve as the vanguard for the entire army. The Xiongnu's Left Southern General arrived with several thousand cavalry to support Jia Lan, and Geng Ba and his troops fought several battles with the Xiongnu at Pingcheng, defeating them and pursuing them beyond the frontier, killing hundreds of enemy leaders. Geng Ba and the other generals returned to Yanmen and joined forces with Du Mao, the General of the Valiant Cavalry, to attack the counties of Yin You and Fanzhi under Lu Fang, but they were unable to capture them.
In the thirteenth year BCE, Geng Ba's fiefdom and household increased, and he was granted the title of Xianghou. At that time, Lu Fang conspired with the Xiongnu and Wuhuan tribes, frequently harassing the border areas, causing immense suffering for the local residents. The Emperor ordered Geng Ba to lead more than six thousand convicts, along with Du Mao, to repair the Feihu Road, pile stones, lay mud, build gazebos and checkpoints, from Daijun to Pingcheng, a total distance of over three hundred miles. Geng Ba fought numerous battles with the Xiongnu and Wuhuan, gaining extensive knowledge of the border conditions. He repeatedly advised the Emperor to form alliances with the Xiongnu and suggested transporting supplies via the Wenshui River to reduce the hardship of overland transportation, all of which were accepted by the Emperor. Later, the Chanyu of the Southern Xiongnu and Wuhuan both surrendered, restoring peace to the northern border. Geng Ba stayed in Shanggu County for over twenty years. In the thirtieth year BCE, Geng Ba was officially conferred the title of Marquis of Huailing. In the second year of Yongping, Geng Ba resigned from his position due to illness and passed away a few months later.
His son, Geng Fu, inherited his title and was appointed as the Marquis of Wei. After Geng Fu's death, his son Geng Du succeeded to the title. Geng Du married Princess Junchang of Xianzong and later became a member of the Imperial Court. After Geng Du's death, his son Geng Xin inherited the title.
Ji Zun, courtesy name Disun, was from Yingyang in Henan. He developed a passion for studying classical texts from a young age. Despite coming from a wealthy family, he was very frugal and disliked wearing fancy clothes. When his mother passed away, he personally constructed her grave. Once, a local official bullied him, so he rallied a group to take revenge on the official. Initially seen as honest, the townsfolk eventually grew fearful of him.
Later, Emperor Guangwu defeated Wang Xun and others. When passing through Yingyang, Ji Zun took the county documents to see Emperor Guangwu several times. Emperor Guangwu admired his appearance and appointed him as a historian. Later, he followed Emperor Guangwu to suppress the rebellion in Hebei and served as a quartermaster. When one of his subordinates committed an offense, Ji Zun executed him in accordance with military law. Emperor Guangwu was furious and ordered Ji Zun's arrest. At this time, the registrar Chen Fu quickly persuaded Emperor Guangwu, saying, "You have always wanted strict discipline in the army, and now Ji Zun strictly enforces military law, isn't this exactly what you wanted?" Emperor Guangwu thought it made sense and pardoned Ji Zun, appointing him as a general to eliminate traitors. Emperor Guangwu said to the generals and soldiers, "Let this serve as a warning! I would execute my own son for a crime, let alone any of you!" Not long after, Ji Zun was promoted to deputy general and participated in suppressing the rebellion in Hebei, and was ennobled as a marquis for his military achievements.
In the spring of the second year of Jianwu, Ji Zun was appointed as the General for Conquering Barbarians and ennobled as the Marquis of Yingyang. He, along with the Grand General Jing Dan, the Great General Zhu You, the Loyal General Wang Chang, the Cavalry Captain Wang Liang, and others entered Jiguan, heading south to suppress the barbarian rebels in Hongnong, Yanxin, and Bohua. During the battle, an arrow hit Ji Zun's mouth, piercing through and blood flowed. Seeing Ji Zun injured, the soldiers were somewhat afraid and wanted to retreat, but Ji Zun shouted loudly to stop them. The morale-boosted soldiers bravely fought the enemy and eventually achieved a complete victory. At that time, the leader of the Xincheng barbarians, Zhang Man, held a strategic position and committed numerous atrocities, and the court ordered Ji Zun to attack him. Ji Zun first severed Zhang Man's supply lines, and despite repeated provocations, Ji Zun steadfastly held his ground. The remaining rebels from Yanxin, Bohua, and elsewhere allied with Zhang Man, seized Huoyang, and Ji Zun split his forces to confront them, ultimately forcing their surrender.
In the second year of spring, Zhang Man was trapped in the city due to a lack of supplies. Eventually, the city was finally breached, and Zhang Man was captured alive. Before being captured, Zhang Man had previously worshiped the heavens and earth, claiming to want to become emperor. After being captured, he sighed and said, "The prophecy ruined me!" In the end, Zhang Man was executed, and his wife and children were exterminated. Afterwards, Jie Zun led his troops south to attack Deng Feng's brother Deng Zhong, and was defeated by Du Yan.
Speaking of Zhang Feng, the county magistrate, this guy actually rebelled with the emperor's appointment letter in hand! He declared himself the "Supreme General," teamed up with Peng Chong, and prepared to rebel. Four years later, the court sent Du Zun, Zhu You, as well as generals Geng Yan and Liu Xi to suppress them. Du Zun's troops arrived first, fiercely attacking Zhang Feng. Zhang Feng's chief clerk Meng Hua tied him up on the spot, and Zhang Feng surrendered.
Zhang Feng was particularly superstitious. A Taoist told him that he would become emperor in the future! He even wrapped a colorful cloth around a stone he tied to his elbow, claiming that the stone supposedly contained the imperial seal. This gullible Zhang Feng fell for it and rebelled. When he was captured and about to be executed, he still insisted, "There is an imperial seal hidden in the stone on my elbow!" Upon hearing this, Du Zun smashed the stone, and Zhang Feng realized he had been deceived. He sighed, "I have no regrets, even in death!" Other generals were prepared to withdraw, but the emperor ordered Du Zun to remain in Liangxiang to guard against Peng Chong. Du Zun took the opportunity to send his guard Fu Xuan to ambush Peng Chong's general Li Hao, resulting in a major victory at Lu.
After more than a year of battling Peng Chong, Du Zun defeated Peng Chong's army several times, leading many of Peng Chong's men to surrender. Eventually, Peng Chong died, and Du Zun pacified his territory.
In the sixth year of spring, the court ordered General Du Zun, along with Generals Geng Yan, Gai Yan, Wang Chang, Ma Wu, Liu Xin, and Liu Shang, to set out from Tianshui to attack Gongsun Shu. When the army reached Chang'an, the emperor arrived as well. At that time, Kui Xiao was reluctant to allow the Han army to advance into Longdi, using various excuses to stall. The emperor convened all the generals for a discussion, and they all suggested, "Why not delay Kui Xiao, reward his generals more, let internal conflicts arise, and weaken his power?" However, Du Zun pointed out, "Kui Xiao is cunning and treacherous. The longer we wait, the more his schemes and tricks will multiply, and Shu will also strengthen its defenses. It's better to attack directly!" The emperor heeded Du Zun's advice and dispatched him to launch the initial attack. Kui Xiao sent his general Wang Yuan to block at Longdi, and Du Zun led the army to attack fiercely, defeating Wang Yuan and chasing him all the way to Xinguan. When other generals arrived, they fought Kui Xiao, but were defeated and had to retreat to Longdi. The court subsequently ordered Du Zun's army to be stationed in Qian, Geng Yan's army to be stationed in Qi, Feng Yi's army to be stationed in Xunyi, and Wu Han and other generals to return to Chang'an to station. From then on, Du Zun defeated Kui Xiao many times; for further details, refer to "The Biography of Feng Yi." It is said that in the eighth year of autumn, I (or "he") accompanied the emperor on an inspection tour of Longxi. After the rebellious army's arrogance was subdued, the emperor returned east, passing through Qian County, where he made a special visit to General Zun's camp to console and reward the soldiers. He even arranged for the Huangmen Orchestra to perform music until late into the night. At that time, General Zun was already ill, so the emperor personally gifted him a thick mattress and covered him with an imperial blanket. Afterwards, the emperor instructed him to remain stationed at the foot of Longxi Mountain.
Later, General Gongsun Shu sent troops to support the rebels. Generals Wu Han, Geng Yan, and others quickly withdrew their troops, leaving only General Zun behind, who remained steadfast. In the spring of the ninth year, General Zun finally passed away while in service. "Generals die in a hundred battles, heroes return after ten years." Although this poem was not written for General Zun, I feel it is very suitable to express his brave and fearless spirit. Zun lived a simple life, was very cautious, self-disciplined, and dedicated to his duty. Every time he received rewards, he distributed them to the soldiers. He possessed no personal wealth, wore simple, coarse clothing, and slept under a cloth blanket. His wife also did not concern herself with her clothing. The emperor valued him highly for this. After Zun's passing, the emperor was deeply saddened. When Zun's coffin was transported to Henan County, the emperor ordered all officials to welcome the coffin as it arrived at the designated location. The emperor himself wore plain clothes and personally went to the location, crying as he approached to express his grief. When they returned to the city gate and saw Zun's hearse, the emperor wept uncontrollably. After the funeral arrangements were completed, the emperor personally conducted the sacrifices, presenting lavish offerings, similar to the grand sacrifices made by Emperor Xuan for Huo Guang. The emperor also ordered the Grand Changqiu, Yezhe, and the Prefect of Henan to handle the funeral arrangements, while the Grand Minister of Agriculture was tasked with covering the funeral expenses.
Dr. Fan Sheng wrote a memorial to honor the posthumous title. In the memorial, he wrote: "I have heard that wise kings of ancient times valued governance, promoted virtuous conduct, and rejected malevolence. Emperor Gaozu was wise and martial, with profound strategies and foresight. He granted titles, ceded land, shared credit with his subjects, recorded the achievements of meritorious officials, and praised their virtues. While alive, he treated them with special etiquette, allowing them to present matters without needing to announce their names and enter the palace without kneeling. After their deaths, he granted them noble titles and land, ensuring their descendants would inherit these honors forever, and issued edicts and tokens to be passed down through generations. This was indeed a strategy for pacifying the people and securing the Han Dynasty, which allowed it to endure for hundreds of years; even in decline, it could be restored, and even when interrupted, it could continue. Your Majesty, you have been entrusted with the highest virtue by heaven, first demonstrating the rightful path of the Han Dynasty by rewarding and ranking your assisting officials, which aligns with the ancestral system. The General of the Expedition Against the Xiongnu, Marquis Zun of Yingyang, unfortunately passed away at a young age. Your Majesty, your kindness and generosity are evident in your sorrow over this loss; you personally welcomed the coffin to Henan, overwhelmed with grief. The court covered all funeral expenses and generously rewarded his wife and children, beyond count. The treatment of the deceased surpassed that of the living, demonstrating a generosity that could change societal norms and inspire people to do good, shining brightly like the sun and moon. In ancient times, when a minister fell ill, the monarch would personally visit; when a minister passed away, the monarch would offer condolences in person. This was a true manifestation of the monarch's deep grace. This practice had long been lost until Your Majesty restored it, moving the court officials deeply and inspiring all to work hard."
I believe that General Zun devoted his whole life to accumulating virtues and doing good deeds, giving his utmost loyalty to serve the nation. He pacified Yuyang in the north and defended Longxi and Shu in the west, always charging into battle and deep into enemy territory to seize Yueyang. After the main army retreated, he held the crucial position by himself. He was skilled at managing the emotions of his soldiers, never violating the law, so wherever he went, the people lived peacefully and prosperously, unaware of any war. His reputation for honesty spread far and wide, and his integrity was praised by all. He distributed all rewards he received to the officials and soldiers, without keeping a single nice piece of clothing or any personal wealth. His relatives tried to arrange a concubine for him since he had no sons, but he sent her back, believing he had devoted all his energy to the nation and dared not consider personal matters, let alone issues of offspring. Before his death, he instructed his family to transport his coffin by ox cart and bury him in a modest grave in Luoyang. When asked about family matters, he said nothing. He bore a heavy responsibility, traveled far, and only completed his mission after his death. General Zun selected talents based on Confucian teachings, enjoyed drinking and music, and promoted the construction of temples for Confucius, proposing the establishment of the official position of Doctor of the Five Classics. Even in the military camp, he did not forget sacrificial rituals, truly embodying propriety and music, upholding goodness until his death. According to the rules of etiquette, one receives a title in life and a posthumous name in death, with titles used to distinguish rank and posthumous names indicating virtue or evil. I, a humble servant, believe that on the occasion of General Zun's passing, his merits should be discussed, the law of posthumous names carefully examined, and a posthumous name bestowed upon him in accordance with etiquette, showing the country's commitment to ancient traditions and setting an example for future generations." The emperor then ordered that Fan Sheng's memorial be presented to the court officials.
When General Zun was buried, the Emperor personally attended the funeral, posthumously conferred upon him the title of General and Marquis, used a red carriage to carry the coffin, and arranged for warriors and soldiers to escort the funeral. He was posthumously honored with the title "Chenghou." After the burial, the Emperor also went to the tomb to pay respects and visited his wife and family. Whenever he attended court thereafter, the Emperor would always lament and say, "Where else can we find a loyal and devoted subject like General Zun?" General Zun was thus remembered by the Emperor.
Without a son, the family would be lost. My elder brother, Wu, became the Prefect of Jiuquan. My younger brother is named Rong.
Rong is the second son in the family, orphaned at a young age, but he was exceptionally filial and was praised by all. Later, during a time of great turmoil and warfare, when the people were suffering, he stayed by our ancestors' tomb. Every time bandits passed by and saw such a young man with such strong character, they found it strange and felt sympathy for him.
Emperor Guangwu, out of respect for my elder brother, promoted Rong to the position of Yellow Gate Attendant, serving frequently by the Emperor's side. After my brother passed away without leaving a son, the Emperor was saddened and appointed Rong as the Prefect of Yanshi County, allowing him to reside near my brother's tomb and perform annual sacrifices. Rong was exceptionally capable, and during his five years as Prefect of Yanshi, the county was free of thieves. He ranked first in performance assessments and was promoted to be the Prefect of Xiangben County. At that time, the country had not yet been fully stabilized, and thieves in Xiangben County were rampant. Upon taking office, Rong immediately took decisive action against these criminals, eliminated their accomplices, and within a few years, Xiangben County was pacified. The Emperor issued a special decree praising him, promoted him, and rewarded him with one hundred rolls of silk.
It is said that at that time, the Xiongnu, Xianbei, and Chishan Wuhuan tribes formed a formidable alliance and became very powerful, frequently invading the borders, killing both officials and civilians. The imperial court was very worried about this and increased the border defense forces, stationing several thousand troops in each county and sending generals to guard various passes. The emperor held Gongsun Du in high regard and appointed him as the Governor of Liaodong in the 17th year of Jianwu. After arriving in Liaodong, Gongsun Du actively trained his soldiers and enhanced reconnaissance efforts.
Gongsun Du was brave and strong, reportedly capable of drawing a bow that weighed 300 catties! Whenever enemies invaded the border, he always led his soldiers to defeat them and drive them away. In the autumn of the 21st year of Jianwu, over 10,000 Xianbei cavalry attacked Liaodong, and Gongsun Du led thousands of men to fight back. He personally led the charge into the enemy ranks, causing the Xianbei to flee in panic, many of whom drowned in the water. Gongsun Du pursued them all the way to the border. The desperate Xianbei discarded their weapons and fled in the nude, resulting in the deaths of over 3,000 and the capture of thousands of war horses.
Since then, the Xianbei were very afraid of Gongsun Du and dared not attack Liaodong again. Recognizing the threat from the united Xiongnu, Xianbei, and Wuhuan tribes, Gongsun Du sent people to persuade the Xianbei to surrender in the 25th year of Jianwu, promising them wealth. The Xianbei chieftain Pian He sent envoys to offer tribute, expressing their willingness to submit to the imperial court. Gongsun Du warmly welcomed them, generously rewarded them, and gradually earned their trust.
Other minority ethnic groups, such as the Manchu, Goguryeo, and so on, also came to Liaodong to forge ties, offering sable fur and fine horses as tribute. The emperor rewarded them handsomely. Later, the leaders of the Pianhe tribe all submitted to Gongsun Du, expressing their willingness to serve him. Gongsun Du said, "If you truly want to make achievements, then go fight the Xiongnu; that's what counts!" The people of Pianhe all raised their hands, swearing an oath, "We will definitely do our best!" So they attacked the Yizhizi tribe of the Xiongnu, killing more than two thousand people and sending their heads to Liaodong commandery.
After that, they waged war against the Xiongnu every year, bringing back heads as proof to claim their rewards each time. As a result, the Xiongnu gradually weakened, the border became tranquil, and the Xianbei and Wuhuan also came to pay tribute.
Zhang Yong was a man of great integrity, strong character, and striking looks. He always treated minority ethnic groups with kindness and trust, so those minorities respected and admired him, willing to go to great lengths for him. Initially, the Chishan Wuhuan often invaded Shanggu, causing trouble along the border, with the court issuing orders for their capture and reprimanding various states and counties, yet to no avail. Zhang Yong motivated General Pianhe and sent him to deal with them. In the first year of Yongping, Pianhe defeated the Chishan Wuhuan, killed their leader, brought the heads back to Zhang Yong, and the border was secured. Zhang Yong's reputation spread throughout the north, from the west of Wuwei to the east of Xuanfu and Lelang; the various tribes and Yi people all came to pay their respects, and the border enjoyed peace. Therefore, Zhang Yong pulled back all the troops stationed along the border.
Twelve years later, Zhang Rong was summoned to be the Chief Steward. He spent nearly thirty years in Liaodong, with only a few suitable clothes. The Emperor not only appreciated his achievements but also praised his honesty and frugality. When he met the Emperor, he was rewarded with one million coins, three horses, clothing, weapons, and even a house along with all the necessary furnishings. Every time the Emperor saw Zhang Rong, he would sigh and remark that he was a trustworthy man fit for important responsibilities. Later, while on the Emperor's hunting expedition in the east, passing through the State of Lu, sitting in Confucius's teaching hall, he pointed at the house of Zilu and said to his companions, "This is the Grand Steward's house. The Grand Steward, he is my loyal servant."
Sixteen years later, the Emperor sent Zhang Rong, as the Chief Steward, to lead over ten thousand cavalry soldiers to join forces with the Southern Xiongnu's King Xin to attack the Northern Xiongnu, agreeing to meet at Zhuoxie Mountain. King Xin was skeptical of Zhang Rong from the beginning. After traveling over nine hundred miles, they arrived at a small mountain, and King Xin falsely claimed it was Zhuoxie Mountain. Zhang Rong, not seeing any enemies, returned; he was imprisoned and dismissed from his position due to his hesitation and fear. Zhang Rong had a calm and resolute character, and he valued his responsibilities greatly. He regretted being deceived and not achieving any merit. A few days after being released from prison, he fell ill from grief and anger, and died from coughing up blood. Before his death, he told his son, "I have received great favor from the state, but I failed to fulfill my duties and establish any achievements. I am truly ashamed and regretful after death. It is not right to receive rewards without merit. After my death, you must register and deliver all the items rewarded by the Emperor to the military camp personally, to fulfill my wish." After his death, his son Zhang Feng wrote a detailed account of his father's last words. The Emperor had great respect for Zhang Rong and was planning to reinstate him. Upon hearing this news, he was shocked and summoned Zhang Feng to inquire about the illness, sighing for a long time. The Wuhuan and Xianbei tribes held Zhang Rong in fond memory. Whenever they came to the capital to pay their respects, they would visit his grave, wept bitterly before departing. The officials in Liaodong built a shrine for him and conducted memorial ceremonies throughout the year.
After Ji Rong's death, his son Ji Can went to visit the Chariot Commandant, Dou Gu, and followed him to battle the Qiang tribes. He distinguished himself, gradually rose in rank, and eventually became the Governor of Liaodong. During the Yongyuan period, the Xianbei people invaded Liaodong commandery, and Ji Can was implicated as a result of the defeat in battle. He was imprisoned and ultimately died. Many of Ji Rong's descendants served as officials on the frontier and earned great respect.
In short, Ji Rong was a man of integrity, with a calm and steadfast demeanor. He was a formidable figure like the ancient famous generals Tiao Hou and Rang Ju; even they couldn't hold a candle to him. Just think about it: he served as an official in remote coastal areas for a long time, governing the rugged locals there. The tribal leaders had to come with tokens to request his assistance in order to establish trust. Several times, the Hu and Mo tribes had to listen to him on the border. He even slept in border pavilions, put out the beacon fires, and maintained peace along the border for nearly thirty years. As the ancients said, "It takes generations of effort to achieve benevolent governance," and this is absolutely true! Unfortunately, due to one mistake, he died wronged. It's a real shame, all due to the pitfalls of being too reverent to the law!
In conclusion, let's summarize Ji Rong's life:
"He aimed to open the Yan Gate and rule over the icy river. Ji upheld good manners, confronting the enemy with grace. Rong defended Liaodong's western front, and the border officials valued peace."
Geng Yan, whose courtesy name was Bozhao, was from Maoling in Fufeng. His ancestors moved from Julu to Maoling during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han due to holding the position of a 2,000-shi official. His father Geng Kuang, whose courtesy name was Xiayou, became a langguan due to his expertise in Confucian classics, and he also studied the Tao Te Ching with Wang Ji, a cousin of Wang Mang, under the tutelage of Anqiu Xiansheng. Later, Geng Kuang became the commander of the Shuodiao cavalry. Geng Yan loved learning from a young age and inherited his father's scholarly pursuits. He often saw the county officials inspecting the cavalry, planting flags and beating drums, practicing horseback riding and archery, which fostered his ambition to command troops and engage in battles from an early age.
After Wang Mang's failure, Emperor Guangwu Liu Xuan ascended the throne. Many generals who had fought in various campaigns exploited their accomplishments to unilaterally alter local officials and laws. Geng Kuang, having been appointed an official during Wang Mang's reign, felt increasingly uneasy about this situation. At the age of twenty-one, Geng Yan bid farewell to his father Geng Kuang and went to see Emperor Guangwu with gifts, hoping to secure a reliable position for himself. When he reached Song County, he happened upon Wang Lang, who was impersonating Liu Ziyu, the son of Emperor Cheng of Han, and had rebelled in Handan. Geng Yan conferred with his fellow officials Sun Cang and Wei Bao: "Liu Ziyu is the legitimate descendant of Emperor Cheng of Han. Why aren’t we joining him instead of coming here?" Geng Yan drew his sword and said loudly, "Liu Ziyu is a fraud and will surely be captured! We should quickly go to Chang'an, report the troop strength in Yuyang and Shanggu to the court, then go to Taiyuan and Daijun, travel back and forth for a few days, gather elite cavalry, and crush those unruly masses. Isn’t that as easy as slicing through vegetables? I can see you don’t grasp the situation at all. If we keep this up, our entire family could be wiped out!" Sun Cang and Wei Bao disagreed with Geng Yan's opinion and fled, joining Wang Lang.
It is said that Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu was in Lulu (now Gaocheng, Hebei), which prompted Yan Dao to hurry north to meet him. Liu Xiu appointed him as a minor official in the palace. Yan Dao found the military officer Zhu You and asked him to help mobilize troops to quell the rebellion in Handan. Liu Xiu smiled and said, "Young man, you have a bold plan!" and subsequently summoned him several times, treating him with particular favor.
Later, Yan Dao followed Liu Xiu north to Jixian (now Beijing). Hearing that the rebel army in Handan was approaching, Liu Xiu wanted to retreat south, so he convened his subordinates to discuss countermeasures. Yan Dao said, "The rebel army is coming from the south; we can't run south! Peng Chong, the Prefect of Yuyang, is your fellow villager, and the Prefect of Shanggu is my father. If we mobilize the troops from these two counties, we can gather ten thousand cavalry, which is more than enough to deal with the rebels in Handan!" Liu Xiu's subordinates disagreed, stating, "Even if we die, we must face south. How can we run north? Isn't this falling into a trap?" Liu Xiu pointed to Yan Dao and said, "He is my guide in the north!" Consequently, chaos erupted in Jixian, so Liu Xiu had to retreat south, and his subordinates and soldiers scattered.
Yan Dao traveled to Changping where he found Kuang, persuading him to contact Peng Chong and mobilize two thousand cavalry and one thousand infantry from each side. Yan Dao, Jing Dan, Kuang, and the troops from Yuyang formed an alliance, marching south and defeating numerous generals under Wang Lang, slaying over four hundred officials, and capturing 125 official seals, two command tokens, and 30,000 enemy heads. They subdued twenty-two counties, including Zhuo, Zhongshan, Julu, Qinghe, and Hejian, and ultimately caught up with Liu Xiu in Guang'a.
At that time, Liu Xiu was attacking Wang Lang. He heard that the troops from Yuyang and Shanggu counties were coming to support Handan, and everyone was a bit worried. However, these troops all came to pay him a visit. Liu Xiu, upon seeing them, happily said, "This great achievement belongs to all the generals and soldiers from Yuyang and Shanggu!" So, he promoted them all to deputy generals and allowed them to return to lead their own armies. Kuang was appointed as the Grand General and Marquis of Xingyi, with the power to appoint his own officers. They later participated in the capture of Handan.
Emperor Gengshi sent someone to call the Prefect of Dai County, Zhao Yong. Kuang advised Zhao Yong not to go and instead urged him to seek refuge with Liu Xiu. Liu Xiu allowed Zhao Yong to return to Dai County to continue as Prefect. After Zhao Yong returned to the north, the magistrate of Dai County, Zhang Ye, rebelled and conspired with the Xiongnu and Wuhuan for help. Liu Xiu sent Kuang's brother, Shu Wei, as the General of Hu to fight Zhang Ye, and they defeated him. Zhao Yong then took back control of Dai County. At that time, more than 200,000 bandits launched an invasion of Shanggu from the north, and Kuang and Shu led troops to defeat them, causing the bandits to flee.
While Emperor Gengshi was in power, the reputation of Emperor Guangwu became increasingly prominent. Emperor Gengshi and his ministers started to get anxious, so they sent envoys to make Guangwu Emperor King Xiao, ordering him to withdraw his troops and have those meritorious generals return to Chang'an. At the same time, Miao Zeng was appointed as the Governor of Youzhou, Wei Shun as the Prefect of Shanggu, and Cai Chong as the Prefect of Yuyang, all of which were located in the northern regions.
At that time, Emperor Guangwu lived in the Wenming Palace in Handan and rested in bed during the day. There was a man named Yan who secretly ran to Emperor Guangwu's bed and had a private conversation with him. Yan said, "Now Emperor Gengshi has messed up the country; the relationships among court officials are in disarray, the generals are each doing their own thing near the capital, and the imperial relatives are running rampant in the capital. Emperor Gengshi's orders are not getting through; the local officials are acting on their own, the common people are confused about whom to follow, and scholars can't live in peace. Robberies are rampant, with property and women being looted; many of those with gold and silver treasures cannot return. The common people are longing for the Mang Dynasty! Now there are the Tongma and Chimei uprisings, totaling over a hundred thousand people combined; Emperor Gengshi cannot deal with them. They will soon fail! You rose up in Nanyang and defeated a million-strong army; now you have pacified Hebei and occupied the fertile areas. You are the righteous leader; many people respond to your call. Just give the word, and the world can be brought to peace. This world is too important to be left in the hands of others. I've heard that envoys from the west are urging you to withdraw your troops; you absolutely must not agree! Our soldiers have taken heavy losses; I hope to return to Youzhou to recruit more elite soldiers and achieve great things."
Emperor Guangwu was very pleased to hear this and immediately appointed Yan as the Grand General, letting him and Wu Han lead the army of ten counties in Youzhou to the north. Upon arriving in Shanggu, Yan killed Wei Shun and Cai Chong, while Wu Han took out Miao Zeng. Then, Yan marched the Youzhou army south, and together with Emperor Guangwu, defeated the Tongma, Gaohu, Chimei, Qingdu, and other rebel armies, and pursued Youlai, Daqiang, Wufan, and other troops to Yuanshi. Yan consistently led the elite cavalry at the forefront, defeating the enemy decisively each time.
Emperor Guangwu pursued the enemy in victory, engaging them in fierce battle on the riverbanks, where the enemy was in a critical situation and fought desperately. At that time, the soldiers were already exhausted, leading to a major defeat and forcing a retreat to Fanyang. They took several days to regain their strength before the enemy finally withdrew. Emperor Guangwu then pursued the enemy to Rongcheng, Xiaoguangyang, and Anci, where he continued to engage in continuous battles and eventually defeated them at Ludong and Pinggu, killing over 13,000 enemy soldiers. They then pursued the remaining forces to Wuzhong and Tuyin between Youbeiping, before returning victorious. The remaining forces scattered to Liaoxi and Liaodong, some of whom were attacked by the Wuhuan and Mo tribes, leading to their near annihilation.
Upon ascending the throne, Emperor Guangwu immediately appointed Yan as the Grand General of Jiawei. Together with General Jingdan and General Chen Jun, they launched an attack on the rebels at Aocang, leading to their surrender. In Jianwu's second year, Yan was further appointed as the Marquis of Haozhi, with the fiefs of Haozhi and Meiyang counties.
In the third year of Jianwu, General Yancen led his troops out of Wuguan to attack Nanyang, quickly capturing several cities. Du Hong and his troops from Rang County also allied with General Yancen. Yan and Yancen fought a fierce battle in Rang County, achieving a significant victory, killing over 3,000 enemy soldiers, capturing more than 5,000 enemy troops alive, and seizing over 300 seals. Du Hong surrendered, while Yancen was able to escape to Dongyang with only a few cavalry soldiers.
Geng Yan followed the emperor to Chongling and took the opportunity to volunteer, stating that he wanted to go north to recover the Shanggu prefecture, where the rebellion had not yet started, pacify Peng Chong in Yuyang, capture Zhang Feng in Zhuo prefecture, and then return to recover Fuping and Huosuo. Finally, he aimed to attack Zhang Bu to completely pacify the territory of Qi. The emperor admired his ambition and agreed to his request. In the fourth year of Jianwu, the emperor ordered Geng Yan to attack Yuyang. Geng Yan, considering that his father was stationed in Shanggu and had a longstanding grudge with Peng Chong, and that his brothers were not in the capital, hesitated and felt reluctant to go alone, so he requested to return to Luoyang. The emperor replied, "General, your whole family has served the country, and wherever you go, you can defeat the enemy, achieving remarkable military success. What worries or doubts make you feel you must return to Luoyang? Moreover, you and Wang Chang are stationed together in Zhuo prefecture; think carefully about your battle strategy!" When the emperor heard that Geng Yan requested to return to the capital, he felt uneasy and sent Geng Yan's brother, Geng Shu, to serve in the palace. The emperor was very pleased and appointed Geng Kuang, Geng Yan's brother, as the Marquis of Yumei. He then ordered Geng Yan to attack Wandu, Gu'an, and over ten bandit groups in the western mountain region, all of which were defeated.
At that time, General of the Imperial Army Ji Zun was stationed in Liangxiang, while General of the Brave Cavalry Liu Xi was stationed in Yangxiang to fend off Peng Chong. Peng Chong sent his brother Chun to lead over two thousand Xiongnu cavalry, while he himself led tens of thousands of troops, splitting into two routes to attack Ji Zun and Liu Xi. The Xiongnu cavalry passed through the military stronghold, where Geng Shu suddenly attacked and defeated them, killing two Xiongnu kings, forcing Peng Chong to retreat. Geng Kuang then joined Geng Shu in attacking Peng Chong, recapturing the military stronghold. In the fifth year of Jianwu, Peng Chong died, and the Emperor deeply valued Geng Kuang's contributions, dispatching an official to greet him and granting him a mansion, enabling him to attend court sessions. At the same time, Geng Shu was appointed as the Marquis of Muping. The Emperor then sent Geng Yan and Wu Han to attack the rebel forces in Fuping and Huosuo, securing a decisive victory in Pingyuan, capturing over forty thousand people.
The Emperor ordered Yang Zhen to attack Zhang Bu. Yang Zhen gathered the defeated soldiers, formed an army, appointed officers and commanders, and then marched the troops east with Cavalry Captain Liu Xin and Taishan Prefect Chen Jun, crossing the Yellow River at Chaoyang Bridge.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Bu stationed his general Fei Yi's army in Lixia, deployed troops in Zhu'a, and established numerous camps near Zhongcheng at Mount Tai, preparing to confront Yang Zhen. After crossing the Yellow River, Yang Zhen first attacked Zhu'a, besieging the city from dawn and breaching its defenses by noon. He intentionally breached a section of the city wall, allowing Zhu'a's defenders to flee back to Zhongcheng. Upon hearing that Zhu'a had fallen, the residents of Zhongcheng were filled with fear and abandoned their camps in a panic. Fei Yi sent his brother Fei Gan to guard Juri. Yang Zhen's forces advanced on Juri, ordering soldiers to cut down a large number of trees and threatening to use them to fill the city moat.
After a few days, a defector reported that Fei Yi had heard that Yang Zhen was planning to attack Juri and was on his way to provide reinforcements. Yang Zhen ordered the army to hurry to construct siege equipment and informed all troops that a full-scale assault on Juri City would commence in three days. He discreetly released some captured soldiers to return and relay the message. These individuals informed Fei Yi of Yang Zhen's strategy, and sure enough, on the agreed day, Fei Yi personally led more than 30,000 elite soldiers to come to the rescue. Yang Zhen was pleased and said to his generals, "The reason I built siege weapons was to lure Fei Yi here. Now that he has arrived, this is exactly what I intended." So he left 3,000 men to guard Juri, led the elite soldiers to the high ground, occupied favorable terrain, and fought against Fei Yi, winning a great victory and killing Fei Yi on the spot.
Yang Zhen then displayed Fei Yi's severed head at the outskirts of Juri City, instilling great fear among the populace. Fei Gan retreated with all his troops back to Zhang Bu. Yang Zhen then seized their supplies and attacked the remaining camps that had not yet been conquered, ultimately subduing over forty camps and finally pacifying Jinan.
Now, Zhang Bu established a large encampment in Juxian and had his younger brother Zhang Lan stationed with 20,000 elite soldiers in Xi'an. The prefects of various counties led more than 10,000 people to defend Linzi, with the two locations situated forty miles apart. General Yan, on the other hand, encamped between the two cities. After assessing the situation, he noted that while Xi'an City was small, its defenses were formidable, and Zhang Lan's soldiers were elite; Linzi, despite its impressive name, was, in fact, easier to assault. So he commanded all officers to launch an assault on Xi'an in five days.
After Zhang Lan heard the news, he quickly strengthened his guard day and night, increasing his alertness. On the agreed day, in the dead of night, General Yan ordered all the generals to grab a bite to eat and head straight to Linzi at dawn. At this time, the guard Xun Liang and others were anxious, saying they should quickly attack Xi'an! General Yan said, "No. They must know that we are going to attack them in Xi'an and must be preparing day and night; they won't expect us to go to Linzi, and they'll be caught by surprise. We can take Linzi in just one day. Once we take Linzi, Xi'an will become a lone city, cutting off all contact between Zhang Lan and Zhang Bu. They will definitely flee; this is a classic case of 'killing two birds with one stone'! If we attack Xi'an first, and if we can't capture it, a prolonged siege under a fortified city will result in heavy casualties. Even if we can capture it, Zhang Lan may lead his army back to Linzi, join forces with the troops there, observe our situation, and with no supplies in the rear, within ten days, without even fighting, we’ll end up trapped. The methods you all suggested, I don't think will work." So, he ordered the attack on Linzi, and within half a day, it was taken, and then they marched into the city to station. Zhang Lan heard that Linzi had fallen; he was terrified and quickly led the remaining troops back to Juxian. General Yan instructed the entire army not to loot freely; they must wait until the infantry arrived before taking action, in order to provoke the infantry. When the infantry heard this, they laughed heartily, saying, "Before, I led more than 100,000 troops, including You Lai and Da Tong, and we could charge into the enemy camp and win battles directly. Now, we have fewer troops than Da Geng, and everyone is exhausted; what's there to be afraid of!" So, he led his three brothers Lan, Hong, Shou, as well as the leader of the original Da Tong army, Zhong Yi, with a total of 200,000 troops, arriving at the east of Linzi City, ready to take on General Yan.
General Yan first sent troops to Zishui River to encounter Chongyi. The cavalry wanted to launch a fierce attack, but General Yan was worried about dampening the enemy's morale. He ordered the infantry not to advance, intentionally feigning weakness to inflate the enemy's confidence. Then he withdrew to a small city and deployed his troops inside. The infantry, with high morale, directly attacked General Yan's camp and engaged in battle with Liu Xin and others. General Yan ascended the crumbling watchtower of the palace to observe and saw the intense battle. He personally led his elite troops from the east to charge horizontally at the infantry camp, securing a decisive victory. An arrow hit General Yan's thigh, and he used his dagger to sever it. His guards were oblivious to what had transpired. The battle did not end until evening.
The next morning, General Yan led his troops out to battle again. At this time, the emperor was in Lu, and upon hearing that General Yan was under attack by the infantry, he personally went to rescue, but had not arrived yet. Chen Jun advised General Yan, "The enemy forces are strong; it's better to close the camp gates to rest and wait for reinforcements." General Yan said, "The emperor is about to arrive; we should butcher cattle, brew wine, and await the officials. How can we let our father worry because of bandits?" So, he went to battle again, fighting from morning until night, achieving another complete victory, slaying countless enemies, leaving the city’s ditches overflowing with corpses. General Yan knew that the infantry was exhausted and on the verge of retreating, so he had troops ambushed on the left and right wings waiting for the opportunity.
At dusk, the infantry indeed retreated, and the ambushers immediately struck, chasing them to Jumei River. The road for eighty to ninety miles was strewn with corpses, and they captured more than two thousand supply vehicles. The infantry fled back to their base, and the brothers each led their troops away.
A few days later, the emperor's carriage arrived in Linzi, where he personally inspected the army, and the courtiers gathered together. The emperor said to Geng Yan, "Han Xin laid the foundation of the Han Dynasty by capturing Lixia in the past; now General, you have conquered Zhu A, which marks the start of your distinguished career. Both of these places are on the western border of Qi State, and the achievements can be compared. However, Han Xin attacked enemies who had already surrendered, while you directly defeated strong enemies; your achievements are even more remarkable than Han Xin's! Also, Tian Heng killed Li Sheng, and later Tian Heng surrendered. Emperor Gaozu ordered the Guard not to pursue Tian Heng's grudges. Zhang Bu also killed Fu Long before; if Zhang Bu surrenders now, I will definitely order the Grand Minister to pardon his crimes; these two cases are quite similar. General, you formulated this great strategy in Nanyang before, always thinking it would be difficult to succeed, but those who have aspirations eventually achieve success!" Geng Yan then pursued Zhang Bu again, and Zhang Bu fled to Pingshou, where he was forced to surrender, bare-chested and carrying only an axe and his weapons. Geng Yan escorted Zhang Bu to the emperor's palace, then led the army into Pingshou City, raised the flags and war drums of the twelve counties, and ordered Zhang Bu's soldiers to assemble under their respective county flags. At that time, there were more than 100,000 people and over 7,000 carriages; Geng Yan disbanded them and sent them back to their hometowns. Geng Yan then led his troops to Chengyang, defeated the remnants of the Five Schools, and pacified all of Qi before returning to the capital.
Six years later, Geng Yan resisted Wei Xiao in the west, stationed his troops in Qixian. Eight years later, he accompanied the emperor to Shanglong. The following year, he and the Zhonglang General traveled to She together to split their forces and inspect the fortifications, all of which they successfully captured. Geng Yan pacified a total of forty-six counties, captured three hundred cities, and never suffered a defeat.
After twelve years, Geng Yan fell ill, and the emperor personally visited him multiple times. The emperor also promoted his brothers Geng Guang and Geng Ju to the rank of Zhonglang General. The six Geng brothers all occupied high positions, and the emperor personally sent them medicine. At that time, people considered this a great honor. After Geng Yan passed away, he was posthumously granted the title of Marquis of Lie, and his youngest son Geng Ba inherited his title.
In the thirteenth year, the emperor increased Geng Yan's land and household registration and bestowed upon him the insignia of Grand General. Later, Geng Yan resigned from the position of Grand General and served in the court as a marquis. Whenever differing opinions arose, the emperor summoned Geng Yan and asked for his advice. Geng Yan passed away at fifty-six during the first year of Yongping and was posthumously honored as the Marquis of Min. His son Geng Zhong inherited his title. Geng Zhong served as the Commandant of Cavalry, fought against the Xiongnu in the Tianshan region, and achieved significant accomplishments. After Geng Zhong passed away, his son Geng Feng inherited the title; after Geng Feng passed away, his son Geng Liang inherited the title, and Geng Liang had a son named Geng Wujin. During the Yanguang period, Geng Liang married Princess Puyang Chang, the sister of Emperor An of Han, and rose to the position of Palace Attendant. After Geng Liang passed away, his son Geng Xie inherited the title.
Marquis of Yumi Geng Ba died, and his son Geng Wenjin inherited the title. Geng Wenjin passed away, and his son Geng Xi inherited the title. Geng Xi passed away, and his son Geng Xian inherited the title, becoming the Left Commander of the Imperial Guard. Geng Xian passed away, and his son Geng Yuan inherited the title. Geng Yuan married Princess Changshe, the sister of Emperor Huan of Han, and also became the Governor of Hedong. Later, Cao Cao executed numerous members of the Geng family, but only Geng Hong, Geng Yuan’s grandson, survived.
Alas, the Geng family has experienced many rises and falls over several generations! Marquis Geng Shu of Mou Ping passed away, and his son Geng Xi inherited the title. Geng Xi married Princess Longlü, daughter of Emperor Han Xianzong. After Geng Xi's death, his son Geng Bao inherited the title. Geng Bao's sister became the consort of Prince Xiaowang of Qinghe. When Emperor An ascended the throne, he bestowed the title of Emperor upon Prince Xiaowang; his mother became Empress Xiaode, and Geng Bao's sister became a high-ranking noblewoman of Ganyuan. Given Geng Bao's close ties to the imperial family, he was appointed as the commander of the Left Cavalry of the Yulin and rose to the rank of Grand General. However, Geng Bao aligned himself with the court favorites and conspired with the Palace Attendant Fan Feng, the Emperor's wet nurse Wang Sheng, and others to frame and depose the Crown Prince, as well as falsely accuse the Grand Commandant Yang Zhen. Many people criticized him at the time. Geng Bao's son Geng Cheng inherited the title of Marquis and became the Marquis of Linlü, rising to the position of Attendant. After Emperor An's death, Empress Dowager Yan believed that Geng Bao and others were colluding with traitors and committing many wrongdoings, so she demoted Geng Bao and Geng Cheng's official positions and reduced their titles to Viscounts, sending them back to their hometown. Geng Bao took his own life on the journey home, and his fiefdom was also revoked. Later, the high-ranking noblewoman of Ganyuan repeatedly advocated for the Geng family. In the third year of the Yangjia era, Emperor Shun reappointed Geng Ji, Geng Bao's son, as the Marquis of Mouping, and made him an Attendant. Geng Heng was titled as the Viscount of Yangting, and Geng Cheng became the Yulin Zhonglangjiang. After the high-ranking noblewoman passed away, General Liang Ji demanded the treasures of the noblewoman from Geng Cheng. When Geng Cheng refused, Liang Ji became angry and had the relevant authorities impeach Geng Cheng, removing his title. Frightened, Geng Cheng fled and sought refuge in Rangdi. Several years later, Liang Ji located Geng Cheng and eliminated Geng Cheng and his entire family, totaling over ten members.
Ah, how unpredictable life is! The narrative mentions: Han Xin, known as the Marquis of Huaiyin, accurately analyzed Xiang Yu and judged the situation correctly, so he knew that Liu Bang would ultimately take over the world. Geng Yan made decisions in Hebei and formulated strategies in Nanyang, which further suggested that Emperor Guangwu would eventually succeed. However, even though Geng Yan conquered the entire Qi region himself, he no longer had any major achievements. Did he lack ambition? Or was the situation at the time not allowing him to advance further? The Geng family had been generals for three generations, which is considered taboo in Daoist philosophy, but the Geng clan has continued to thrive based on their achievements and reputation. Were they waging war to end violence? Why was the Geng family so prosperous? It truly leaves one pondering endlessly!
National Uncle, also known as Dou Rong, became an attendant to the emperor in the fourth year of Jianwu's reign. Emperor Guangwu thought he was capable, so he promoted him to the position of Attendant of the Yellow Gate, and later he was promoted to the position of Sheshe Xiaowei. In the seventh year of Jianwu, the position of Sheshe Xiaowei was discontinued, and he was appointed as the Duke of the Imperial Stables. After his father passed away, he should have inherited the title according to tradition, but he submitted a memorial stating that his father favored his younger brother Dou Ba more, and voluntarily requested his brother to inherit, which the emperor consented to. Afterwards, he served as county magistrate in Dunqiu, Yangzhai, and Shangcai, where he received praise from local officials and the populace. Later, he was summoned to serve as the General of the Five Officials' Household.
At that time, the Wuhuan and Xianbei tribes frequently harassed the border. Dou Rong had many ideas about border affairs and often made suggestions to the emperor, who greatly valued him. Later, the Xiongnu Chanyu Huhanye proclaimed himself as the Chanyu of Huhanye and pledged allegiance to the Han dynasty, requesting tribute and assistance against the northern Xiongnu. This matter was brought before the court officials for discussion. Most people felt that the empire had just been pacified and its strength was depleted, making it hard to discern the true intentions of these minority tribes, leading them to believe they should not agree. Only Dou Rong said, "I believe we should accept their request like Emperor Xiaoxuan did, let them defend against the Xianbei in the east and the Xiongnu in the north, rallying all minority tribes to restore stability in the border regions, ending the border conflicts; this is a strategy for lasting peace!" The emperor accepted his suggestion and officially appointed Bi as the Southern Chanyu. From then on, the Wuhuan and Xianbei tribes kept the border secure, and the northern Xiongnu retreated far away, resulting in greater stability along the borders. In the 27th year of Jianwu, Dou Rong succeeded Feng Qin as the Grand Minister of Agriculture. He also suggested to the emperor to establish the General of the Northern Expeditions and the Left and Right Commanders stationed in the Wuyuan region to prevent any fleeing Xiongnu. In the first year of Yongping, Dou Rong passed away. Emperor Ming of Han fondly remembered Dou Rong's counsel and later indeed established the General of the Northern Expeditions and the Left and Right Commanders, just as Dou Rong had suggested. Dou Rong was survived by two sons: Dou Bing and Dou Kui.
Dou Bing, courtesy name Bochu, was tall and had an eight-foot waist. He was well-read and particularly skilled in explaining the "Simafa" (Strategies of Sima), with extensive knowledge of military strategy. Due to his father's connections, he became a court official and often advised the emperor on military strategies. He always said that the root of the country's financial waste and border troubles lay with the Xiongnu. To defeat the enemy, one must take the initiative and attack, which is how strong nations operate. Emperor Ming of Han had originally planned to launch a northern expedition and secretly agreed with his views. During the Yongping era, the emperor called him to the palace, inquired about his previous recommendations and strategies, and appointed him as a ceremonial minister, trusting him greatly. Whenever the court ministers discussed matters, the emperor often called Dou Bing to the palace to discuss the border situation and often adopted his suggestions.
In the fifteenth year of Yongping, Dou Bing was appointed as the Commandant of Cavalry. In the sixteenth year of Yongping, he was joined by Vice Commandant of Cavalry Qin Peng and Commandant of Chariots Dou Gu to lead an expedition against the Northern Xiongnu. The Xiongnu fled, and they achieved victory without fighting.
In the summer of 17 BC, the court ordered Duan Bing and Geng Gu to lead 14,000 cavalry to attack Cheshi again. Cheshi had a king and a former king, with the former king being the king's son, and their palaces were more than 500 miles apart. Geng Gu thought the journey to attack the king was too far, given the tough terrain and harsh conditions, so he wanted to attack the former king first. However, Dou Bing disagreed, insisting they should attack the king first to cut off the root of their power, which would force the former king to surrender. Geng Gu was indecisive. Dou Bing suddenly stood up and declared, "We should attack the king first!" He then mounted his horse, led the troops north, and the other troops had no choice but to follow suit. They plundered their way through, slaughtering thousands and capturing over 100,000 cattle and horses. Terrified, the king came out to meet Dou Bing with a few hundred riders.
At this time, Geng Gu's Sima Su'an wanted to credit all the achievements to Geng Gu, so he quickly ran to An De and said, "Among the noble generals of the Han Dynasty, only the Chariot Commander, the Emperor's brother-in-law who holds the title of Marquis of Tong, should be the first to surrender." Upon hearing this, An De hurried back and sent other generals to greet Duan Bing. When Duan Bing heard this, he was furious, put on his armor, mounted his horse, led his elite cavalry straight to Geng Gu's camp, and shouted loudly, "The King of Cheshi has surrendered, but has not yet arrived. I'm going to cut off his head!" Geng Gu was startled and said, "Don't act impulsively; you'll mess things up!" Duan Bing replied loudly, "Accepting a surrender is just like fighting a battle—there's no room for ambiguity!" After speaking, he rushed over. An De, terrified, ran out, took off his hat, and clung to the horse's leg in surrender. Duan Bing was about to take An De to Geng Gu when the former king also came to surrender. In this way, the Cheshi Kingdom was subdued, and the army returned in triumph.
In the autumn of the second year, Emperor Han Suzong ascended to the throne, appointing Duan Bing as the General of the Western Expedition, ordering him to inspect the border of Liangzhou, comfort and reward the Qiang and Hu people stationed at the border, and then stationed in Jiuquan to support the Wujijiaowei.
In the first year of Jianchu, Duan Bing was appointed as the General of the Liaodong Expedition. He served for seven years, and the Xiongnu people greatly admired and trusted him. Later, he was summoned back to the court to serve as the Commandant of the Imperial Guards, gaining the Emperor's trust and favor. Whenever the Emperor visited the counties or palaces, Duan Bing always accompanied the Emperor with his guard. The Emperor even appointed all three of his sons as court officials. In the second year of Zhanghe, Duan Bing was appointed once again as the General of the Western Expedition, assisting the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Dou Xian, in defeating the Northern Xiongnu, as noted in "The Biography of Dou Xian." Finally, Duan Bing was granted the title of Marquis of Meiyang, with a fief of three thousand households.
He has a brave and robust character and is efficient and decisive in handling matters. In battle and during marches, he always leads the charge, donning his armor; even when resting, he doesn't set up camp; instead, he sends scouts to gather intelligence, clarifying objectives and issuing commands. When an alarm sounds, the army can quickly form ranks, and the soldiers are willing to go to great lengths for him. He held the position of Guanglu Xun for two years, succeeding Huan Yu. He passed away in the summer of his second year in office, at the age of over fifty. The court bestowed a fine coffin and jade burial garments upon him, sent royal craftsmen to build his tomb, sounded gongs to announce his passage, and dispatched over five hundred cavalrymen to escort his burial. He was posthumously honored as "Henghou." When the Xiongnu learned of his death, the entire nation mourned; some even wept uncontrollably, blood pouring from their faces.
His eldest son, Chong, succeeded him in title. Later, Dou Xian was dismissed from office, and due to his close ties with the Dou family, his title was also revoked, ultimately becoming the Prefect of Han Yang.
His great-grandson, Ji, earned a good reputation from a young age and was summoned to serve in the government. Cao Cao held him in high regard, and he gradually advanced to the position of Shao Fu. Ji suspected Cao Cao of wanting to usurp the Han throne. In the 23rd year of the Jian'an era, he conspired with Imperial Physician Ling Ji Ping and Minister of Justice Wei Huang to take up arms against Cao Cao, but the conspiracy failed, leading to the annihilation of his entire family. At that time, many prominent families were implicated and destroyed because of their ties to the Ji family.
Kui, styled Ding Gong, was very courageous from a young age. In the first year of Yongyuan, he served as the acting Sima of the chariot and cavalry general Dou Xian, participating in the war against the Xiongnu in the north, and later was promoted to Cavalry Commander. Three years later, Dou Xian once again led troops to Hexi, appointing Kui as the Grand General and Left Colonel. Leading eight hundred elite cavalry, he set out from Juyan Pass and headed straight to the court of the Northern Chanyu, killing over five thousand, including Enshi and Mingwang, at Jinwei Mountain, while the Chanyu fled with only a handful of cavalry. They captured a vast amount of Xiongnu treasures, returning after a journey of over five thousand li, a distance never before reached by Han Dynasty troops. Therefore, Kui was granted the title of Marquis of Suyi. Later, the Northern Chanyu's younger brother, King Zuo Lu Li, rebelled and declared himself Chanyu, leading over twenty thousand men from eight tribes to the shores of Pulei Sea, sending envoys to the Han Dynasty seeking peace. The court appointed Kui as General of the Household Affairs, tasking him with escorting these Xiongnu envoys. After Dou Xian was dismissed from his post, Kui was also dismissed and his title was stripped. He first served as the Chief of Changshui and was later promoted to Governor of Wuyuan, and then transferred to Governor of Liaodong. In the first year of Yuanxing, the Mo people invaded the Liaodong Commandery, and he led troops to pursue and kill the enemy leader. In the third year of Yongchu, the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu Tan rebelled, and the court ordered him to lead Xianbei troops and troops from various commanderies to station at Yanmen Pass, together with the chariot and cavalry general He Xi to suppress the rebels. He Xi assigned him to lead the vanguard and also sent his Sima Geng Pu and Liu Zhi to lead two thousand men and horses to advance alongside him.
Upon arriving at the old city of the tributary state, the Chanyu sent Wang Rilü of Dayan with over three thousand men to intercept the Han army. He personally attacked the enemy's left flank, ordering the Xianbei troops to attack the right flank, causing the enemy to break and flee. The Han army pursued and killed over a thousand men, including six enemy kings, capturing over a thousand Qionglu carts, as well as a large number of horses and livestock. Many of the Xianbei horses were tired and sick, which led to their desertion. Because he failed to completely annihilate the enemy, he was transferred from Liaodong to serve as the Prefect of Yunzhong, later becoming the General of the Pacification of Liaodong.
This man was brave and imposing, often clashing with Colonel Zheng Jian of the Xiongnu. In the first year of Yuanchu, he was imprisoned by the court due to conflicts with Zheng Jian, and was ultimately sentenced to a reduced punishment of two hundred lashes. During the Jianguang period, he was appointed as the General of the Pacification of Liaodong. At that time, the Xianbei people attacked and killed the Prefect of Yunzhong, Cheng Yan, and besieged the Wuhuan Captain Xu Chang in Macheng. He and the Governor of Youzhou, Pang Can, went to rescue them, chasing the enemy beyond the border and then returning. Later, he was dismissed from his position for violating the law, and ultimately passed away at home.
Speaking of Gong, his courtesy name was Bozong, and he was the son of Guang, the younger brother of the emperor. He lost his father at a young age. He had a bold and strategic personality, suitable for a military commander. In the winter of the seventeenth year of Yongping, he joined forces with Cavalry Commander Liu Zhang to attack the Che Shi and was appointed as Sima. Together with Attendant Cavalry Dou Gu and his cousin, Attendant Cavalry Bing, they defeated the Che Shi and compelled them to surrender. The court then established two official positions, the Protector-General of the Western Regions and Colonel of Wujia, and appointed him as Colonel of Wujia stationed in Jinpu City of the Houwang tribe. The courtier Guan Chong was also appointed as Colonel of Wujia and stationed in Liuzhong City of the Qianwang tribe, each with several hundred soldiers. Upon taking office, he wrote a letter to the Wusun, displaying the might of the Han Dynasty. The people under the Great Kunmi were very pleased and sent valuable gifts, including fine horses and precious items given to the princess during Emperor Xuan's reign, and requested that their sons be sent to serve the emperor in attendance. He then sent people with gold and silver treasures to welcome the prince of Wusun to the Han Dynasty.
In the following March, the Northern Xiongnu sent their King Zuo Luli with twenty thousand cavalry to attack the Che Shi. The court sent Sima with three hundred soldiers to rescue them, but they were utterly defeated by many Xiongnu cavalry on the way.
The Xiongnu then defeated the King of the Che Shi, Ande, and attacked Jinpu City. General Gong fought to the death on the city walls, coating poison on the arrowheads and shouting to the Xiongnu, "The Han's arrows are divine!" He then used powerful crossbows to shoot at them. When the Xiongnu saw the wounds from the arrows, which were bubbling, they were terrified. Just then, a storm hit, and General Gong took advantage of it to attack them, taking down many Xiongnu soldiers. Terrified, the Xiongnu said to each other, "The soldiers of the Han army are divine soldiers, terrifying!" And so, they retreated.
General Gong discovered a small waterway next to Shule City that could be used for defense. In May, he led his troops to occupy the area. In July, the Xiongnu attacked Gong again. Gong recruited thousands of volunteers and directly confronted the Xiongnu cavalry, forcing them to scatter and flee. The Xiongnu then blocked the waterway near the city. Despite digging a 15-zhang deep well, the soldiers were thirsty and hungry, resorting to drinking the juice extracted from horse manure. General Gong looked up to the heavens with a sigh and prayed for water, and soon a spring gushed out. The soldiers cheered, and Gong had them splash water in front of the Xiongnu, who, believing it was a divine miracle, retreated. At the same time, Yanqi and Kucha attacked Protector-General Chen Mu, while the Northern Xiongnu besieged Guan Chong in Liuzhong. With Emperor Xian of Han dead and no reinforcements arriving, the Cheshi rebels teamed up with the Xiongnu to attack Gong. However, with the help of a Han woman who discreetly provided Gong with information and food, Gong and his soldiers repelled the attacks. After months of hardship, they resorted to boiling their armor and crossbows to eat the leather lining. Despite their dire circumstances, Gong and his soldiers remained united, facing life and death together. As time went on, some perished, leaving only a few dozen survivors.
The Chanyu knew that Gong was at the end of his rope and wanted him to surrender, so he sent envoys to persuade Gong to surrender, saying: "If you surrender, I will appoint you as the King of Baiwu and give you a princess to marry." Gong tricked the envoy into entering the city, personally killed him, and then hung his body on the city wall for public display. When the Xiongnu officials saw this, they wept and fled. The Chanyu, enraged, increased troops to besiege Gong, but still could not defeat him.
At first, Guan Chong wrote a letter requesting reinforcements. At that time, Tang Suzong had just ascended to the throne and summoned his ministers to discuss the matter. Sikong Diwu Lun believed they should not be rescued. Situ Baoyu said: "Now, sending people to such a dangerous place and abandoning them in an emergency situation will encourage the barbarians outside and chill the hearts of those loyal subjects who are willing to die for the emperor. Even if we ignore this for now, what will the emperor do if the Xiongnu invade again? Furthermore, the two armies in Guanzhong have been reduced to just a few dozen men each. The Xiongnu have besieged them for over ten days without success. This is the result of their full efforts in fighting against a more numerous enemy! We can order the Prefects of Dunhuang and Jiuquan to each lead two thousand elite cavalry, bring additional banners, take a shortcut, and quickly advance to relieve them from the siege. The Xiongnu are already exhausted and will likely avoid a direct confrontation. Within forty days, it will be enough for them to safely retreat back to the pass." The emperor believed that Baoyu's words made sense.
Therefore, General Geng Bing was dispatched to guard Jiuquan, temporarily assuming the role of Prefect; Qin Peng and envoys Wang Meng and Huangfu Yuan led the troops from Zhangye, Jiuquan, Dunhuang, and Shanshan, totaling more than seven thousand men. In the first month of the Jianchu era, they attacked Cheshi with Liu Zhong, assaulted Jiaohe City, beheaded 3,800 enemies, captured over 3,000, and seized 37,000 camels, donkeys, horses, cattle, and sheep. The northern Xiongnu were terrified and fled, while Cheshi surrendered to the court.
Geng Guanchong has passed away. When General Meng and his men heard about it, they decided to return with their troops. Previously, Geng Gong sent military officer Fan Qiang to Dunhuang to fetch the soldiers' winter uniforms. Fan Qiang was accompanying General Wang Meng beyond the border. Fan Qiang insisted on meeting Geng Gong, and the other generals were hesitant to leave first. So, two thousand men were assigned to Fan Qiang to go north to meet Geng Gong. They encountered heavy snow over a foot deep, and the troops struggled to arrive. The city heard the sound of soldiers and horses in the middle of the night, thinking the Xiongnu had come, and they were terrified. Fan Qiang shouted from afar, "I am Fan Qiang! The Han Dynasty has sent troops to meet the Colonel!" The people in the city all cheered, opened the city gates, and cried tears of joy. The next day, they all returned together. The Xiongnu soldiers chased them, engaging in skirmishes along the way. The soldiers were already hungry and tired, and when they set out from Shule, there were twenty-six of them, but many had perished or been injured along the way. Three months later, they reached Yumen Pass with only thirteen survivors. Their clothes and shoes were tattered, they were thin and weak, appearing worn and weary. General Zheng Zhong washed them and provided clean clothes for Geng Gong and his men. He then wrote to the court, "General Geng Gong led a small number of soldiers to defend the isolated city, surrounded by the Xiongnu, facing tens of thousands of enemy troops for several months or even more than a year, exhausted both physically and mentally. They dug for water, boiled crossbow arrows to fill their hunger, in a dire situation with scant hope of survival. They killed and wounded thousands of Xiongnu troops, ultimately preserving their loyalty and bravery, upholding the honor of the Great Han. General Geng Gong's loyalty and righteousness are rare both in ancient times and today! He deserves to be awarded a high title to motivate the soldiers."
After Geng Gong arrived in Luoyang, Bao Yu reported to the court that Geng Gong's moral integrity exceeded that of Su Wu, and he should be heavily rewarded. Therefore, the court appointed him as the Cavalry Commander, Geng Gong's Marshal Shi Xiu was appointed as the Prefect of Luoyang, Zhang Feng as the Marshal of Yong Camp, military officer Fan Qiang as the Co-Prefect, and the remaining nine were all appointed to the Imperial Guards. Geng Gong's mother had passed away earlier, and when he returned to the court, he followed the ritual to handle the funeral for his mother. The court also ordered the General of the Five Officials to send beef and wine, allowing him to be exempt from the customary mourning period.
Next year, I will be transferred to the position of Colonel of Changshui. However, that autumn, the Qiang tribes of Jincheng and Longxi revolted. I quickly wrote a memorial, detailing my thoughts and strategies to the emperor, who summoned me to inquire about the situation. The emperor then sent me with three thousand soldiers from the Five Colonels to assist General Cheqi Ma Fang in suppressing the Western Qiang. I stationed at Fuhan and engaged in multiple battles with the Qiang people.
The following autumn, the Shaodang Qiang surrendered, Ma Fang returned to the capital, and I stayed behind to continue fighting those who had not surrendered. I captured more than a thousand enemy combatants, seized more than forty thousand cattle and sheep, and thirteen Qiang factions, amounting to tens of thousands of individuals, surrendered to me. When I first arrived in Longxi, I submitted a memorial to the emperor, stating, "Former Duke Anfeng Dou Rong had a deep understanding of the Qiang and Hu peoples' mindset when he was in the Western Province. Now, the current Grand Herald, Gu, is his descendant. His merits in the previous attack on Baishan were outstanding among the three military divisions. He should be given an important official position to pacify the various tribes in Liangzhou. Let General Cheqi Ma Fang station troops in Hanyang to demonstrate our power." As a result, I incurred Ma Fang's displeasure.
When Ma Fang returned to the capital, the camp officer, Li Tan, was ordered to report to the emperor that I was neglecting my military duties and voicing my grievances. The emperor became angry, had me arrested and thrown into prison, stripped me of my official position, and sent me back to my hometown, where I ultimately passed away.
My son Pu has been appointed as the Commander of the Tiger Teeth in Jingzhao. In the second year of the Yuan era, he fought against the rebellious Qiang people in Dingxi City, but the army was defeated, and he lost his life in battle. The Emperor then appointed my grandsons Hong and Ye as attendants.
Ye, styled Jiyu. When Emperor Shun of Han just ascended the throne, he became the General of the Wuhuan. At that time, the Xianbei people frequently harassed the border and even killed the Governor of Daijun. Ye led the Wuhuan people and soldiers from various counties to conduct an expedition, achieving a resounding victory over the Xianbei. The Xianbei were so terrified that tens of thousands surrendered in Liaodong. Since then, every time he went to war, he won, and his reputation struck fear in the north. Later, he was promoted to General of Liaodong.
The Geng family, from the revival of the Eastern Han Dynasty to the end of Jian'an, produced two great generals, nine generals, thirteen ministers, husbands of three princesses, nineteen marquises, as well as dozens of centurions, protectors of the Qiang, governors, and officials of the rank of two thousand shi. The rise and fall of the Geng family mirrored that of the Han Dynasty.
The first time I read "The Biography of Su Wu," I was deeply moved by Su Wu's spirit of never bringing shame to the Han Dynasty in the harsh environment of the Northern Sea. Later, when I read about Geng Gong in Shule, I couldn't help but cry, overwhelmed with emotion. Ah, sacrificing one's life for justice to such an extent! In the past, Cao Zikang defended his position with reason in Kemei, and Sima Xiangru displayed the majesty of the Great Han outside the river. They all sought to resolve the crisis of their time, putting personal life and death aside! I feel that people like Su Wu and Geng Gong should be given honor and preferential treatment for generations from the state. However, the benefits of Su Wu's legacy did not extend to his descendants, and Geng Gong eventually ended up as an ordinary commoner. Reading poems praising their achievements, I feel a deep sense of regret.
"The poem praises: Skilled in military strategy and combat, adept at cartography and troop leadership. They went to reclaim the deserters from Yan and assembled the Han forces. They requested a banquet at the Zhao temple, celebrating with the entire city. Kuang and Shu also played their part, achieving notable success. This forms part of the nation's long-term strategy, pacifying the fierce Xiongnu, calming the sentiments of the Hu people, thoroughly dismantling the power of the Xiongnu. General Bozong's accomplishments are remarkable, like a dry wellspring bursting forth anew."
Wu Han, also known as Ziyen, was a native of Wanyuan County in Nanyang. His family was poor, and he served as a minor official in the county. In the final years of Wang Mang's rule, he fled to Yuyang after one of his guests got into trouble with the law. With neither money nor food, he earned a living trading horses, traveling back and forth between Yandi and Jidi, and getting acquainted with the local heroes wherever he went.
After Emperor Gengshi ascended the throne, he sent the envoy Han Hong to Hebei to recruit talents. Someone told Han Hong, "Wu Ziyen is a talented person; you should discuss important matters with him." Han Hong then summoned Wu Han for a meeting, was very impressed by him, and immediately appointed him as the county magistrate of Anle.
Just as Wang Lang was rebelling, the north was thrown into chaos. Wu Han had always heard that Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu was a formidable figure, so he wanted to throw in his lot with him. He urged Prefect Peng Chong, "The cavalry from Yuyang and Shanggu counties are renowned elite troops! Why don't you gather the elite soldiers of the two counties and follow Liu Gong to attack Handan? This is a golden opportunity to make a name for ourselves!" Peng Chong saw the logic in his words, but his subordinates were all eager to side with Wang Lang. Feeling powerless, Wu Han resigned and stayed in a pavilion just outside the city, pondering how to persuade everyone to join him, but he couldn't think of a good plan right away.
At this time, he saw someone who looked like a scholar on the side of the road, so Wu Han asked someone to call him over, prepared food for him, and asked what news he had heard recently. The man told Wu Han that wherever Liu Xiu went, the counties would pledge their allegiance to him; those in Handan who supported Wang Lang were not truly loyal to the Liu clan. Wu Han was over the moon to hear this! He immediately forged a decree from Emperor Guangwu, wrote a letter to Yuyang, sent the scholar with the letter to meet Peng Chong, and had the people in the county inform Peng Chong of what they had heard, then Wu Han entered the city. Upon hearing the news, Peng Chong sent Wu Han with troops, along with the generals from Shanggu, and they went south, killing all of Wang Lang's generals along the way.
After joining Emperor Guangwu in Guang'a, Wu Han was appointed as a deputy general. After capturing Handan, he was further appointed as the Marquis of Jiance.
Wu Han was an honest and kind man, not particularly skilled in speaking, and could not clearly express his ideas at critical moments. Deng Yu and other generals recognized his abilities and recommended him several times. Finally, Emperor Guangwu summoned him, placing trust in him and promoting him, and granted him a mansion, allowing him to live near the imperial palace.
Emperor Guangwu intended to send troops to Youzhou, so he called Deng Yu at night and asked him who would be suitable for the task. Deng Yu said, "I have talked privately with Wu Han; this man is brave, ruthless, and has a keen strategic mind—few other generals can hold a candle to him." Therefore, Emperor Guangwu immediately appointed Wu Han as the Grand General, bestowed upon him the command token, and commanded elite cavalry from ten counties as they marched northward.
Miao, the Governor of Youzhou, heard that Wu Han was coming, so he secretly gathered his troops and ordered the counties not to respond to the call-up. Wu Han then led twenty cavalry to Wuzhong. Miao thought Wu Han was unprepared, so he led his troops out to meet him. However, Wu Han swiftly launched an attack, captured Miao, killed him, and took command of his forces. The northern states were thrown into panic, and cities and towns surrendered one after another. Wu Han then gathered all his troops and headed south to meet Emperor Guangwu at Qingyang.
When the other generals saw Wu Han return with a formidable army and impressive presence, they wondered aloud, "Will he really be willing to share his troops with anyone?" When Wu Han arrived at Emperor Guangwu's camp and reported his troops, the other generals all clamored for Wu Han's troops. Emperor Guangwu smiled and said, "Before, you were worried that Wu Han wouldn't share his troops with you. Now, why do you all want his troops?" The generals all felt ashamed and lowered their heads.
Initially, the Emperor of the Xin Dynasty sent the Minister of Personnel, Xie Gong, along with six generals to attack Wang Lang, but they failed. Later, Emperor Guangwu arrived and together they pacified Handan. However, as Xie Gong, the deputy general, did not report the spoils of war, Emperor Guangwu was wary of him. Even though they were in Handan, Emperor Guangwu divided the city, assigning each group to their own area, but he still frequently comforted Xie Gong. Xie Gong worked diligently, and Emperor Guangwu often praised him, saying, "Minister Xie is truly a good official!" Therefore, Xie Gong felt no self-doubt.
Later, Xie Gong led tens of thousands of soldiers back to Ye City to garrison. At this time, Emperor Guangwu headed south to attack Qingdu and told Xie Gong, "I will go after the enemy, and I will definitely be able to defeat them. The troops in Shanyang will surely be scared and flee. If you use your forces to attack these scattered enemies, you will surely annihilate them." Xie Gong said, "Okay!" As a result, Qingdu was defeated, and the enemy indeed fled north to Longlu Mountain. Xie Gong appointed General Liu Qing and Wei County Prefect Chen Kang to defend Ye City, and led other generals to pursue the enemy. However, they encountered desperate enemies who fought back fiercely; the enemy's resistance was fierce, and Xie Gong suffered a crushing defeat, resulting in the loss of several thousand men.
Emperor Guangwu took advantage of Xie Gong's absence and sent Han soldiers and Cen Peng to launch a surprise attack on Ye City. The Han soldiers first sent a persuasive speaker to convince Chen Kang, "I've heard that wise people don’t stick around in dangerous places hoping for luck, moderately intelligent people use danger to achieve success, and foolish people are content with danger and bring about their own destruction. The arrival of danger and destruction lies in one's own choices, which must be carefully considered! The capital is in chaos now, and the world is in turmoil; you know this. King Xiao has a strong army, and all of Hebei has surrendered to him; you have seen this. Xie Gong has betrayed King Xiao and lost the people's support; you know this too. You are now guarding this lonely city, waiting for inevitable destruction; there’s no honor in this, and no glory to be gained. It is better to open the city gates and welcome our army, turning disaster into opportunity, avoid a foolish defeat, and achieve the success of the wise; this is the best course of action!" Chen Kang found this reasoning convincing. So Chen Kang detained Liu Qing and Xie Gong's family members, opened the city gates, and welcomed the Han soldiers.
When Xie Gong returned to Ye City from Longlu Mountain, he was unaware that Chen Kang had already rebelled. He easily entered the city with a few hundred cavalry soldiers. The Han army's ambush soldiers immediately captured him and executed him on the spot, and his entire retinue surrendered. Xie Gong, whose courtesy name was Zi Zhang, was from Nanyang. At first, his wife was aware that Emperor Guangwu was displeased with him and often warned Xie Gong, saying, "You have a bad relationship with Liu Xiu, but you trust his flattering words and do not make adequate preparations. Ultimately, you'll pay the price!" Xie Gong did not listen, so he ended up with a tragic fate.
Legend has it that Emperor Guangwu, Liu Xiu, marched north to battle and eliminated a large number of rebels. At that time, he had a fierce general under his command named Cen Peng, who commanded five thousand cavalry in fierce charges, always the first to charge, routing the enemy. Once Hebei was pacified, Liu Xiu and his generals jointly petitioned to have Liu Xiu proclaimed emperor. After becoming emperor, Liu Xiu appointed Cen Peng as Grand Marshal and also made him the Marquis of Wuyang; the rewards were truly substantial!
In the spring of the second year of Jianwu, Cen Peng followed the Grand Commander Wang Liang, General Zhu You of Jianyi, General Du Mao, Jia Fu of the Imperial Guard, General Jian Xin of Yanghua, General Wang Ba, as well as the cavalry captain Liu Long, Ma Wu, Yin Shi, and other generals, together defeating the rebel army in Tan Xiang on the Zhang River east of Ye City, capturing over a hundred thousand surrendering troops. The Emperor sent an envoy to deliver the imperial decree, officially appointing Cen Peng as the Marquis of Guangping, with his fiefdom including the four counties of Guangping, Chizhang, Quzhou, and Guangnian.
After that, Cen Peng led everyone to attack the rebel forces led by Li Boqing on the western mountain of Ye City, as well as the rebel forces in Henan Xiuwu, destroying their camps. The Emperor even visited the soldiers to offer his support! Then, the Emperor sent Cen Peng with troops to Nanyang, attacking the cities of Wan, Nieyang, Li, Rang, and Xinye, all of which he successfully captured. Cen Peng continued southward, engaged in battle with Qin Feng on the Huangyou River and emerged victorious. Together with General Feng Yi, they defeated the rebel forces led by Zhang Wen at Wulou in Changcheng, and captured the two rebel strongholds in Xin'an, Tongma and Wufan, all of which were defeated.
In the spring of the second year, I led General Geng Yan of Jianwei and General Gai Yan of Huya to fight against the Qingdu Army in the west of Zhi, and defeated them, causing the entire army to surrender. Then, I led General Du Mao of Biaoqi and General Chen Jun of Qiangnu, besieging Su Mao in Guangle. Consequently, Zhou Jian, a subordinate of Liu Yong, managed to rally over ten thousand men to rescue Guangle. Our Han cavalry went to meet them in battle, but we were unable to gain any advantage. I was thrown off my horse and injured my knee, so I had to return to camp. Seizing the opportunity, Zhou Jian and his men rushed into the city.
The generals under my command were anxious, saying, "The enemy is right in front of us, but you are lying wounded in the camp in this state. Everyone is afraid!" Upon hearing this, I immediately got angry, endured the pain and stood up, slaughtered cattle to treat the soldiers, and then loudly announced, "The enemy may be numerous, but they are all a bunch of rabble, bandits and rogues, with no loyalty whatsoever! Today is a great opportunity for us to be promoted and appointed as generals, so everyone give it your all!" These words stirred up the soldiers, each of them pumped up like they’d been given a shot of adrenaline. The next day, Zhou Jian and Du Mao led their troops to attack us. I handpicked four elite units, along with Huang Tou, Wu He, and over three thousand cavalry from the Wuhuan tribe. With a single command, we charged into battle! Zhou Jian's army was defeated and scattered, fleeing directly back to the city. I pressed the attack, stormed the city, and completely defeated them, while Du Mao and Zhou Jian fled in fear. I left Du Mao, Chen Jun, and others to hold Guangle, while I took my troops to support Gai Yan, besieging Suiyang, where Liu Yong was holed up. In the end, we took down Liu Yong, and both Guangle and Suiyang fell to us.
In the second year, I was accompanied by Chen Jun and former General Wang Liang, defeated the bandits in Linping, chased them all the way to Jishan in Dongjun, and completely eliminated them. Afterwards, I went north to quell the rebellions of Changzhi in Qinghe and Wuli in Pingyuan. At that time, the five prominent families in Ge County conspired to oust the county magistrate, seized control of the city, and rebelled. My generals were eager to attack Ge County immediately, but I halted them and said, "The rebellion in Ge County is entirely due to the magistrate's misdeeds. Whoever dares to march out without authorization, I will kill him!" I promptly wrote to the prefecture requesting the arrest of the magistrate and dispatched people to pacify the residents of Ge County. Upon hearing this, the five families were elated and surrendered without hesitation. My generals were all impressed, exclaiming, "To subdue the enemy without fighting is no small feat!"
In winter, Liu Xiu led Generals Geng Yan and Wang Chang to attack Fuping and captured the two bandits, Suo and Er, on the plains. In the spring of the following year, the bandits launched a nighttime assault on Liu Xiu's camp with over 50,000 men. The camp was in disarray, but Liu Xiu remained calmly in bed, only settling down after a time. He swiftly dispatched elite troops from the camp to counterattack and decisively routed the enemy. He then pursued the remaining foes, all the way to Wuyan, and subsequently attacked Bohai, bringing them under control. Later, he proceeded to subdue Dong Xian, besieged Qucheng, and in the spring of the following year, captured Qucheng and executed Dong Xian. All these events are documented in "The Biography of Liu Yong." After thoroughly pacifying the eastern region, Liu Xiu triumphantly returned to the capital with his army.
At this point, Kui Xiao rebelled. In the summer, Liu Xiu sent troops to station in the western region of Chang'an. Eight years later, Liu Xiu set out from the east and arrived at Longshan, surrounding Kui Xiao's stronghold in the western city. The emperor issued a decree to Liu Xiu, stating, "The soldiers from various counties are merely wasting food. If anyone escapes, it will affect morale; they should all be recalled." However, Liu Xiu and his troops were resolute in capturing Kui Xiao, so they did not listen to the emperor and continued to attack fiercely. As a result, the food supply dwindled, the soldiers were exhausted and in distress, and many people fled. When Gongsun Shu's reinforcements arrived, Liu Xiu was forced to retreat.
In the spring of the eleventh year, Liu Xiu led the Grand General of the Southern Campaign, Cen Peng, and others to attack Gongsun Shu. Cen Peng broke through Jingmen and marched straight to Jiangguan. Liu Xiu stayed in Yiling, constructed light boats, and led soldiers from Nanyang while recruiting an additional 30,000 men to advance upstream. Cen Peng was killed by an assassin, and Liu Xiu took over his army. In the spring of the twelfth year, Liu Xiu fought against Gongsun Shu's generals Wei Party and Gongsun Yong at Yufu Ferry, achieving a decisive victory, and then besieged Wuyang. Gongsun Shu sent his son-in-law Shi Xing with five thousand men to rescue. Liu Xiu fought against Shi Xing, utterly annihilated his forces, and then entered the Jianwei area. The cities in that region were all heavily fortified. Liu Xiu continued to attack Guangdu and captured it. Then he dispatched light cavalry to destroy the bridges in Chengdu, and the smaller cities east of Wuyang capitulated.
The emperor warned Liu Han, saying, "There are more than 100,000 troops in Chengdu, do not underestimate them. Just hold your ground at Guangdu and wait for them to attack; don't confront them directly. If they do not dare to come, take the initiative to attack and force them, and wait until they are exhausted before striking." Liu Han, seizing the opportunity, pursued the enemy, personally leading over 20,000 infantry and cavalry to approach Chengdu, camping about ten miles away from the city walls, constructing a pontoon bridge on the north bank, and having General Liu Shang led over 10,000 troops to camp on the south bank, with the two armies positioned about twenty miles apart. The emperor was taken aback by this and reprimanded Liu Han, saying, "I have given you so many orders before; how can you be so disorganized in your command on the battlefield? You’ve underestimated the enemy and advanced recklessly, and you also divided your forces with Liu Shang stationed separately. If the situation becomes urgent, there won't be enough time for mutual support. If the enemy pursues you and strikes Liu Shang with their main forces, if Liu Shang is defeated, you're done for. Even without any other complications, you should hurry back to Guangdu with your troops!" Before the imperial decree reached him, the Governor of Yizhou, Liu Shu, dispatched his generals Xie Feng and Yuan Ji to lead more than 100,000 troops, divided into more than twenty camps to launch a joint attack on Liu Han. He also dispatched another force of over 10,000 troops to assault Liu Shang and cut off his chance to provide support.
Liu Han and his army fought all day, were defeated, retreated to their camp, and were surrounded by Xie Feng. Liu Han then gathered his generals and soldiers to encourage them, saying, "We have overcome many difficulties and dangers, traveled thousands of miles, and achieved considerable victories along the way, advanced deep into enemy territory, and reached the enemy's city. Now both Liu Han and Liu Shang are surrounded, unable to provide mutual support, and the consequences are unimaginable. I intend to stealthily lead our troops to rendezvous with Liu Shang in Jiangnan, combine our forces to resist the enemy. If we unite and fight bravely, we can achieve a great victory; if not, failure is right around the corner. Success or failure hinges on this moment!" All the generals and soldiers responded, "We will obey!" So they rewarded the soldiers and fed the war horses, stayed indoors for three days, then raised many flags, set off fireworks continuously, and quietly marched the troops to rendezvous with Liu Shang in Jiangnan. Xie Feng and his men were unaware; the next day, they divided their troops to intercept the north, while Xie Feng led his troops to attack the south. Liu Han concentrated his forces for battle, from morning till night, ultimately securing a significant victory, killing Xie Feng and Yuan Ji, and capturing over five thousand enemy soldiers. Liu Han then withdrew his troops back to Guangdu, leaving Liu Shang to continue resisting Liu Shu. He reported the situation to the court and felt deep remorse. The emperor replied, "You made the right call by returning to Guangdu; Liu Shu won't dare to defeat Liu Shang before turning his attention to you. If he attacks Liu Shang first, you can depart from Guangdu, march with the full army and cavalry, and arrive just in time to defeat him in his moment of crisis." From then on, Liu Han and Liu Shu fought between Guangdu and Chengdu, engaging in eight battles, winning all of them, with the final army stationed outside Chengdu. Liu Shu personally led tens of thousands of troops out of the city for a decisive battle, while Liu Han sent his guards Gao Wu and Tang Han to lead tens of thousands of elite soldiers to meet them. Liu Shu was defeated and fled; Gao Wu caught up with him and assassinated him; this incident is documented in the "Biography of Liu Shu." The following day, Chengdu surrendered, and Liu Shu's head was sent to Luoyang.
In the second year of January, Liu Han led his troops downstream by boat. Upon reaching Wancheng, the court ordered him to return home to pay respects to his ancestors and granted him 20,000 hu (units) of grain.
In the fifteenth year, Emperor Guangwu of Han, along with General Yang Wu and General Ma Wu, launched a campaign against the Xiongnu, relocating over 60,000 people from Yanmen, Daijun, and Shanggu east of Juyong Pass and Changshan Pass.
In the eighteenth year, the governor of Shu Commandery, Shi Xin, rebelled in Chengdu, declaring himself General and attacking Governor Zhang Mu. Zhang Mu escaped over the city wall to Guangdu, and Shi Xin sent out proclamations calling for reinforcements from neighboring counties. Yang Wei from Dangqu and Xu Rong from Quren, among others, all raised troops in response, each with several thousand men. Having previously served as a guard for Cen Peng, Shi Xin was well-versed in military affairs, so the Emperor sent General Liu Shang and Grand Master Zang Gong with over 10,000 men to suppress him. The army gathered forces from Guanghan, Ba, and Shu counties, laying siege to Chengdu. After more than 100 days, Chengdu finally fell, and Shi Xin and others were killed. The army then floated downstream on wooden rafts to Ba County, where Yang Wei, Xu Rong, and their followers scattered in fear. The army executed over 200 of their leaders and relocated hundreds of their supporters to Nanjun and Changsha to ensure control before returning.
This person Wu Han was born with superhuman strength. Every time he went to battle, the Emperor felt uneasy, always restlessly shifting his feet. Most other generals, when they saw the battle was going poorly, were often terrified and flustered, losing their usual composure. But Wu Han always remained calm and collected, organizing weapons and boosting morale. One time the Emperor sent someone to observe the Grand Marshal Wu Han, and they reported back that he was preparing siege equipment. The Emperor sighed, "Wu Gong truly commands respect; he’s practically like a state unto himself!" Every time he went to war, he would receive the imperial edict in the morning and set off in the evening, with no time to prepare. That's why he was always able to hold important positions and finish his life renowned for his accomplishments. In court, he was always cautious and meticulous, which showed in his demeanor. Once when Wu Han went to war, his wife purchased land and properties while he was away. When Wu Han returned, he chided her, saying, "I am out fighting, and we don't have enough soldiers; why did you buy so much land?" So he distributed the land to his brothers and extended family. After twenty years, Wu Han fell seriously ill. The Emperor personally came to visit him and asked what he wanted to say. Wu Han replied, "I am a fool and have nothing of significance to say; I only hope Your Majesty will be cautious and not kill indiscriminately." After Wu Han's death, the Emperor issued a decree mourning his loss, posthumously granting him the title of Loyal Marquis, and sending the five divisions of the Northern Army, along with light chariots and elite soldiers, to escort his funeral, with the same specifications as the Grand General Huo Guang.
Ai Hou Wu Han's son was killed by the household slaves. Twenty-eight years later, Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty divided Wu Han's fiefdom into three marquisates: Wu Han's son Wu Dan was titled Marquis of Luyang, continuing his father's legacy by serving at the imperial ancestral temple; Wu Dan's younger brother Wu Xu was titled Marquis of Zhuyang; Wu Han's younger brother Wu Guo was titled Marquis of Xincai. After Wu Dan died without a son, his marquisate was dissolved. In the eighth year of Jianchu, Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty elevated Wu Xu to Marquis of Pingchun to continue serving the imperial ancestral temple. After Wu Xu's death, his son Wu Sheng succeeded him in the title. Earlier, Wu Han's older brother Wu Wei served as a general and died in battle, and his son Wu Tong was titled Marquis of Anyang. Because of Wu Han's great contributions, the emperor also bestowed the title of Marquis of Baoqin on Wu Han's brother Wu Xi. In this way, the Wu family held a total of five marquisates.
Initially, the Commandant of Yuyang, Yan Xuan, welcomed Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu alongside Wu Han at Guang'a, and Emperor Guangwu appointed him as Deputy General and titled him Marquis of Jianxin. Comments in the book note: Wu Han had held senior official positions since the Jianwu period, and he was favored and loved by the emperor, likely due to his straightforward and capable demeanor. Confucius said, "Firmness, simplicity, and reticence are close to benevolence," which likely encapsulates Wu Han's approach to life. Previously, Chen Ping, with exceptional intelligence, faced skepticism due to his surplus of intelligence, while Zhou Bo, with simplicity and loyalty, was more easily trusted. If benevolence and righteousness are not enough to coexist, then intelligent individuals may face skepticism due to their surplus of intelligence, whereas straightforward individuals might gain trust more easily because of their simplicity.
Gai Yan, courtesy name Juqing, was from Yaoyang in Yuyang. He stood eight feet tall and could draw a three-hundred-cattie bow. People in the border regions valued strength and bravery, and Gai Yan became famous for his imposing presence. He successively served as a subordinate official in the county and a secretary in the state, excelling at his duties wherever he served. When Peng Chong was the governor, he appointed Gai Yan as the camp captain and later appointed him as the army's protector.
When Wang Lang rose in rebellion, Gai Yan and Wu Han discussed defecting to Emperor Guangwu. After arriving in Guang'a, Gai Yan was appointed as a general and granted the title Marquis of Jianguo, following Emperor Guangwu in pacifying Hebei. After Emperor Guangwu ascended the throne, he appointed Gai Yan as the General of the Tiger's Teeth.
In the year 26 AD, Liu Xiu further ennobled me with the title Marquis of Anping. Then he sent me south to attack Aocang, followed by attacks on Suanzao and Fengqiu, all of which we successfully captured! That summer, I led the Prefect of the Cavalry Ma Wu, the Prefect of the Cavalry Liu Long, the Guard Prefect Ma Cheng, and the General Wang Ba to march south to subdue Liu Yong. We first captured Xiangyi, then took over Maxiang, and finally besieged Liu Yong in Suiyang. After several months of siege, we harvested the wild wheat outside the city, then under the cover of darkness, we climbed the city walls with ladders and stormed the city. Liu Yong, terrified, fled through the east gate with his troops, and I closely pursued and decisively defeated him. Liu Yong fled to Qiaoxian, and I continued my pursuit, capturing Xue County and killing their Taihou of Lu County. Pengcheng, Fuyang, Zhuqiu, and Xiaoxian all surrendered to me. I also defeated and killed the Taihou of Pei County.
Liu Yong's subordinates Su Mao, Jiao Qiang, and Zhou Jian brought more than thirty thousand troops to rescue Liu Yong and launched an attack on us together. We fought a battle on the west side of Pei County and defeated them decisively. Liu Yong's army was completely thrown into chaos, with most either fleeing, drowning, or being killed. Liu Yong abandoned the city and escaped to Huling, while Su Mao fled to Guangle. I then subdued Pei, Chu, and Linhuai counties, restored the Gaosu Temple, and appointed thrift officials, sacrificial priests, and musicians.
The following year, in 27 AD, the people of Suiyang City revolted again and welcomed Liu Yong's return. I led my soldiers to besiege Suiyang for one hundred days and gathered all the food supplies outside the city. With no food left, Liu Yong attempted to break out, but I intercepted him and captured all his supplies. In the end, Liu Yong was ultimately killed, and his brother Liu Fang surrendered along with the city.
In the spring of the fourth year of the era, Geng Yan led troops to attack Su Mao and Zhou Jian in Qixian, then engaged in battle with Dong Xian at Liuxia, both achieving victories. Later, Geng Yan led General Pingdi Pang Meng to attack the western defenses and captured them. They then pursued and defeated Zhou Jian and Su Mao in Pengcheng, where they fled to Dong Xian. Dong Xian's general Be Xiu surrendered and offered Lanling City. Dong Xian heard about this and laid siege to Be Xiu in Tan County. Geng Yan and Pang Meng were in Chudi at the time and requested to rescue Be Xiu. The Emperor ordered, "You can directly attack Tan County, then Lanling City will naturally be relieved." Geng Yan and his men believed Be Xiu's position was critical, so they went to rescue Lanling first. Dong Xian pretended to retreat, and Geng Yan and his men pursued, taking the chance to attack Lanling City and break the siege. The next day, Dong Xian led a large army to besiege Lanling again, which frightened Geng Yan and his men, who quickly broke out and headed towards Tan County. The Emperor reproached him, saying, "The original plan was to attack Tan County first to catch the enemy off guard. Now that you have retreated in panic, the enemy's strategy has succeeded. Can the siege still be lifted?" When Geng Yan arrived at Tan County, he failed to capture it, while Dong Xian captured Lanling and killed Be Xiu. Geng Yan and his men engaged with Dong Xian's other forces between Pengcheng, Tan County, and Pixian, fighting several times a day and gaining some victories. The Emperor felt that Geng Yan was underestimating the enemy and acting recklessly, warning him in multiple letters. Later, Pang Meng rebelled, killed the Prefect of Chu Commandery, attacked and defeated Geng Yan's forces, forcing Geng Yan to escape, cross the Sishui River, and destroy boats and bridges in a desperate attempt to flee. The Emperor personally led an expedition to the east, gathering at Taoxiang with Geng Yan, Grand Marshal Wu Han, General Han Zhong Wang Chang, former General Wang Liang, Captive General Ma Wu, and Subdue the Enemy General Wang Ba, among others, to subdue Pang Meng, then together subdue Dong Xian of Changlu, successfully bringing them all under control.
In the spring of the sixth year AD, Geng Yan was transferred back to Changan to serve. In the ninth year, Wei Xiao died, and Geng Yan attacked and pacified the troops and settlements in Jiequan, Lueyang, and Qingshui in the west. In the eleventh year, Geng Yan, along with General Lai She, attacked Hechi, but were unable to capture it. Due to illness, he requested to return to the court and was appointed as the Left Fengyi General, while retaining his previous rank. In the thirteenth year, Geng Yan's fiefdom increased to 10,000 households. In the fifteenth year, Geng Yan passed away during his tenure. His son Geng Fu inherited his title. After Geng Fu's death, his son Geng Ce inherited the title. In the thirteenth year of the Yongping era, Geng Ce was executed for conspiring with his uncle Wang Ping to rebel, and his title was revoked. In the seventh year of Yongchu, Empress Dowager Deng posthumously granted the title of Marquis of Luting to Geng Yan's great-grandson Geng Hui. After Geng Hui's death, his son Geng Sui inherited the title. Chen Jun, style name Zizhao, was from Xiyang Xie. When he was young, he served as an official in the county. After Emperor Guangwu established his power, he appointed Liu Jia as the Grand Preceptor General, and Chen Jun became his Chief Clerk. When Emperor Guangwu pacified Hebei, Liu Jia recommended Chen Jun in a letter, and Emperor Guangwu appointed him as Anji Yuan, which was equivalent to a military advisor.
Later, he followed Emperor Guangwu to Qingyang to fight the Bronze Horse bandits, and they fought all the way to Puyang, where he was appointed as the General of Strong Crossbows. In Anji, he fought with five units of soldiers. Chen Jun dismounted and fought hand-to-hand, charging into the enemy lines with unstoppable force, pursuing the enemy for over twenty li, and only returned after killing the enemy leader. Emperor Guangwu watched from afar and sighed, "If all commanders were like him, what is there to worry about?" The five units of soldiers were defeated and retreated to Yuyang, burning, killing, and looting along the way. Chen Jun told Emperor Guangwu, "Light cavalry should be sent ahead of the enemy, allowing the civilians to defend their cities and cutting off their supplies. This way, we can eliminate them without fighting." Emperor Guangwu accepted his suggestion and sent Chen Jun to lead the light cavalry to charge ahead of the enemy. When they saw civilians holding out in their cities, they ordered them to continue holding out; when they saw civilians wandering in the wilderness, they protected them. The enemy, finding nothing of value, scattered and fled. Upon their return, Emperor Guangwu said to Chen Jun, "The defeat of these bandits was all thanks to your strategy, General!" After Emperor Guangwu ascended the throne, he appointed Chen Jun as a marquis.
In the spring of the second year of the Jianwu era, Chen Jun attacked the Kuang bandits, captured four counties, and was later granted the title of Marquis of Xinchu. He then launched an attack on Dunqiu, conquering three cities. In the autumn of that year, Grand Marshal Wu Han appointed Chen Jun as the General of Strong Crossbows, instructing him to take on the Jinmen rebels and Baima rebels in Henan, and defeated them both. In the fourth year of Jianwu, Chen Jun fought in Ruyang and Xiang County, and captured Nan Wuyang. At that time, many notable figures gathered in the Taishan region and united with Zhang Bu to oppose the imperial court. Wu Han reported to the emperor, "Apart from Chen Jun, no one can pacify Taishan Commandery." So the emperor appointed Chen Jun as the Administrator of Taishan, granting him powers akin to those of a grand general. When Zhang Bu heard about this, he dispatched troops to confront Chen Jun. The two sides clashed fiercely, with Chen Jun achieving a decisive victory, pursuing the enemy to Jinan, seizing over ninety seals, and systematically capturing the various counties throughout the Taishan region, ultimately restoring order to Taishan. In the fifth year of Jianwu, Chen Jun, together with General Jianwei Geng Yan, defeated Zhang Bu. This event is documented in the "Biography of Geng Yan."
At that time, Langya Commandery was still not fully pacified, so the court appointed Zang Ba as the Prefect of Langya, while his position as General remained unchanged. The common people in Qi had long heard of Zang Ba's reputation, and as soon as he took office, the local bandits voluntarily disbanded. Zang Ba led his troops to attack Dong Xian at Ganyu, then defeated the bandit Sun Yang in Quxian, completely quelled the rebellion there. Eight years later, Zhang Bu rebelled, and Zang Ba hurried back to Langya Commandery to suppress the rebellion, where he killed Zhang Bu. The Emperor highly valued his contributions and issued an edict granting Zang Ba the authority to independently mobilize troops from Qingzhou and Xuzhou. Zang Ba treated the poor and needy people kindly, showing great benevolence. He also strictly restrained army generals, prohibiting them from interfering in local administration, and the common people praised him. Zang Ba repeatedly petitioned the court, seeking to lead troops against Longxi and Shu. The court's reply was: "The eastern regions have just been pacified, all thanks to the Great General. The cunning rebels and bandits along the coast have always posed a significant challenge for the country, so you should focus on pacifying and comforting the people first." Thirteen years later, Zang Ba's fief was expanded, and he was officially granted the title Marquis Zhu'a. The following year, he was summoned to the capital to meet with the Emperor. Twenty-three years later, Zang Ba died. His son Zang Fu inherited his title and was granted the title Marquis Xinchun. After Zang Fu's death, his son Zang Zhuanzhu inherited the title. After Zang Zhuanzhu's death, his son Zang Du inherited the title.
Zang Gong, courtesy name Junweng, was a native of Jia County in Yingchuan Commandery. When he was young, he served as a township chief and a local law enforcement officer in the county. Later, he joined the military in the Lower Yangtze region with his followers and became a Cavalry Colonel. He followed Emperor Guangwu in battles across the land, and many generals praised his bravery in battle. Emperor Guangwu noted Zang Gong's diligence and his reserved nature, and trusted and valued him greatly. After arriving in Hebei, Emperor Guangwu appointed him as a General of the Vanguard, and together they defeated many rebel forces, charging into battle multiple times and repelling the enemy.
After Emperor Guangwu ascended the throne, Zang Gong was appointed as a Palace Attendant and Cavalry Commandant. In the second year of Jianwu, Zang Gong was granted the title of Marquis of Cheng'an. The following year, Zang Gong led a cavalry charge alongside General Jizun to capture the rebel leaders Zuo Fang and Wei Yan in Nieyang and Lixian. In the fifth year of Jianwu, Zang Gong led troops to inspect Jiangxia Commandery, achieving victories in places such as Daixiang, Zhongwu, and Zhuli. The Emperor appointed him as the General of Auxiliary Forces. In the seventh year of Jianwu, Zang Gong's title was changed to Marquis Qisi. He subsequently quelled uprisings in Liang and Jiyin Commanderies.
Eleven years ago, I led troops to Zhonglu and set up camp in the Luoyue area. At that time, Gongsun Shu sent Tian Rong, Ren Man, and General Zhen Peng to confront General Zhen Peng in Jingmen. Zhen Peng and his troops faced several setbacks in battle, and the Luoyue people were plotting to defect to Shu Han. Our forces were outnumbered and too weak to control the situation. At that moment, several nearby counties sent hundreds of transport carts. That night, I had the city gate thresholds sawed off to let the convoy come and go until dawn. The Luoyue sentries heard the continuous sound of the vehicles and found that the city gates were broken, and they started spreading the word that the main force of the Han army had arrived. Their leader quickly brought cattle and wine to treat our camp. I arranged a formation, hosted a grand banquet, slaughtered cattle, and served wine to reward and reassure them, and that helped calm the Luoyue people down.
Cen Peng and I, along with others, broke through Jingmen, then went separately to Chuique Mountain, where we opened a path, emerged from Zigui, and arrived at Jiangzhou. Cen Peng captured Bajun County, and I led fifty thousand surrendered troops upstream along the Fu River to Pingqu. Gongsun Shu's general, Yan Cen, assembled a large force at Shenshui. At that time, our army was numerous, but we had little food, and our logistics could not keep pace. Furthermore, the surrendered troops were eager to desert and rebel, while the counties shut their gates again, waiting to see the outcome of the battle. I wanted to withdraw, but I feared they would counterattack. At that moment, the emperor sent envoys with troops to support Cen Peng, bringing seven hundred war horses. I falsely proclaimed an imperial decree to requisition the horses for our own use, and we advanced day and night, raising numerous flags, drumming, and shouting from the mountaintops, with infantry on the right flank and cavalry on the left, using boats to advance, the shouts echoing through the valleys. Cen Peng was caught off guard by the Han army's swift arrival. Upon seeing us on the mountaintop, he was filled with terror. I pursued and routed Yan Cen's army. More than ten thousand enemies were killed or drowned, and the river ran red with their blood. Yan Cen fled back to Chengdu, where all his subordinates surrendered. We captured all their troops, horses, and treasures. From that point on, we pressed our advantage, leading to the surrender of tens of thousands.
When the army reached Pingyang Township, the Shu general Wang Yuan surrendered along with his men. We then took Mianzhu, defeated Fucheng, killed Gongsun Shu's brother, Gongsun Hui, and captured both Fancheng and Pixian. In total, we seized five military flags and over eighteen hundred seals and official stamps. Meanwhile, Grand Marshal Wu Han also pressed his advantage and established a camp outside Chengdu.
Gong Chong, this kid, boasting his large following and flying banners, was quite imposing! He actually rode his horse directly into the Xiaoluo Gate of Chengdu, ran along the Chengdu city wall all the way to Wu Han's camp, and shared a hearty drink with Wu Han. Wu Han was thrilled to see him and said to Gong Chong, "General, you just passed by under the enemy's city, so impressive and commanding, like a bolt of lightning! However, these cornered enemies can be tricky to handle; you’d best take another route back to camp." Gong Chong, however, was undeterred, so he returned the same way, and the bandits were too scared to come near him. Later, he launched an assault on Xianmen, and together with Wu Han, they eliminated Gongsun Shu. The emperor, seeing that Shu had just been subdued, appointed Gong Chong as the Prefect of Guanghan. After three years, his territory was expanded, and he was titled Marquis of Zan. Two years later, the emperor called him back to the capital, made him an official at court, reassigning his title to Marquis, and renamed him Marquis of Langling. Three years later, the emperor promoted him to Grand Master of the Palace.
At the age of nineteen, the disciples of the sorcerer Weisi, including Shanchen and Fuzhen, began spreading rumors and gathered together, running to the original city of Wucheng, looting officials and civilians, and even calling themselves generals. The emperor then sent Gong Chong with several thousand soldiers from the Northern Army and Liyang Camp to besiege them. However, the bandits had ample supplies, and the officials and soldiers sustained heavy casualties in several unsuccessful assaults. The emperor summoned his ministers and princes to discuss countermeasures, and everyone agreed that rewards should be increased to encourage capture. At that time, Xianzong held the title of Prince of Donghai, and he alone offered a different opinion: "These sorcerers are in collusion and won’t last long. There must be someone among them who wants to escape. If we tighten the perimeter and prevent their escape, they will have no choice but to surrender. We should relax a bit and give them a chance to escape. In this way, a village chief could capture them!" The emperor found his argument reasonable and immediately ordered Gong Chong to lift the siege, giving the thieves a chance to escape. As a result, the thieves scattered and fled, and Shanchen, Fuzhen, and others were soon captured and executed. Gong Chong returned in triumph and was promoted to Gate Captain, later rising to Left Middle General. He went on to suppress the rebellion in Wuxi, fighting all the way to Jiangling and subduing the rebels there as well. Because of his cautious, honest, and simple nature, the emperor often placed great trust in court officials. Later, when the Xiongnu faced famine, plague, and internal strife, the emperor sought his counsel. The official said, "I hope to receive five thousand cavalry to earn distinction." The emperor smiled and said, "A constantly victorious army makes it challenging to assess the enemy's situation. I am currently reflecting on this matter myself."
After twenty-seven years, the official, along with Yang Xuhou and Ma Wu, submitted a memorial to the emperor, saying: "The Xiongnu are inherently greedy and lacking in propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame. When they are in dire straits, they bow their heads in submission, but when they are prosperous, they invade and plunder. The border areas suffer greatly from their harm, and the court is concerned they might launch an invasion from the south. Now, the Xiongnu have suffered huge losses in both people and livestock, and droughts and locust plagues have caused the land to become barren. They are weakened by epidemics and famines, and their strength is far inferior to that of a single commandery in China. The chance to eliminate them is in Your Majesty's hands. Fortune won’t always be on our side, and the opportunity might slip away soon. Should we cling to benevolence, righteousness, and morality while abandoning military action? It is now appropriate to order a great general to go to the border, offer generous rewards for recruiting soldiers, and instruct the tribes of Gaoju, Wuheng, Xianbei, and others to attack the Xiongnu from the west, and mobilize the Qiang and Hu tribes of the Hexi Four Commanderies, Tianshui, and Longxi to attack from the east. This way, we could wipe out the Xiongnu in the north in just a few years. I worry that Your Majesty’s kindness and generosity might hold you back from taking military action, and those counselors are hesitant, resulting in missed opportunities to establish a lasting legacy in your enlightened reign."
The Emperor's reply was: "In the 'Huang Shigong Records,' it is said: 'Softness can conquer hardness, weakness can conquer strength.' Softness symbolizes morality, hardness symbolizes aggression, weakness symbolizes compassionate help, and strength symbolizes the buildup of resentment. Therefore, a ruler with virtue makes the people happy in a way that he likes; a ruler without virtue makes himself happy in a way that he likes. A ruler who brings happiness to the people will enjoy lasting joy, while a ruler who seeks only personal happiness will find it fleeting and ultimately face downfall. Sacrificing immediate gains for long-term benefits often leads to futility; conversely, sacrificing long-term benefits for immediate gains can easily achieve short-term goals. In a relaxed regime, loyal subjects abound; in a strained regime, rebellion is common. Therefore, a country that seeks expansion will decline, while a country that focuses on cultivating morality will prosper. Those who are satisfied with what they possess will find peace, while those who envy others will meet their doom. Even the most tyrannical rule, no matter how successful, will eventually collapse. Currently, the country lacks good policies, disasters are ongoing, the people are terrified and uneasy, with their safety in jeopardy, so why venture out to the borders? Confucius remarked: 'I am more concerned about the troubles of the Ji Sun clan than about the land of Zhuanyu.' Moreover, the Northern Di tribes are still powerful, and rumors regarding agriculture and defense often prove to be misleading. If it were truly feasible to rally half the nation's strength against this formidable enemy, it would be an ideal wish; however, if the timing is off, it is wiser to first soothe the populace."
From then on, the generals no longer dared to discuss military actions.
In the first year of Gong Yongping, he passed away and was posthumously honored as the Marquis of Min. His son Xin inherited the title. Xin died, and his son Zhen inherited the title. Zhen died, and his son Song inherited the title. In the fourth year of Yuanchu, Song was separated from his mother, and his title was subsequently revoked. In the first year of Yongning, Empress Dowager Deng reappointed Song's younger brother You as the Marquis of Langling.
In summary, the title was handed down through generations until the nation ceased to exist, yet his younger brother was still bestowed the marquis title.
To talk about the undertaking of the Guangwu Restoration, it's really not easy! However, compared to the time of Qin Dynasty's Xiang Yu, the enemy is far weaker. The common people are eagerly anticipating the revival of the Han Dynasty! Although those regional powers, who style themselves as kings and lords, flaunt their power with thousands of troops, they pale in comparison to the achievements of Emperor Guangwu.
Once Shanxi is pacified, Emperor Guangwu's reputation will shake the world; those rebels will be terrified, and the remaining generals will be demoralized. This is a great opportunity for ambitious souls eager to make their mark! Look at generals like Zang Gong and Ma Wu; they can’t wait to charge north of Yiwu! Emperor Guangwu also seriously studied the "Book of Huangshi," cared for the people, closed the Yumen Pass to turn away tributes from the Western Regions, and received Xiongnu envoys with humility and gifts. His strategic foresight is remarkable! How could he bring himself to harm King Jing just because Pingcheng was under siege?
In conclusion: General Wu Han, brave and formidable, is a true hero! Like a flash of lightning sweeping away the rebels, like a gale sweeping through Bashu and Liangzhou. He fights with the ferocity of a tiger and achieved great feats at Suiyang. Gong Yongping and his son are heroes in their own right!
Feng Yi, courtesy name Gongsun, was from Fucheng in Henan. He loved reading and had a particular talent for "Zuo Zhuan" and "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu. When the army of the Han Dynasty began to rise, Feng Yi served as an official in the county, responsible for overseeing five counties. He joined the city magistrate Miao Meng in defending the city against the army of Wang Mang. Liu Xiu attacked Yingchuan, but could not capture Fucheng for a long time, so he stationed his troops in Jiche Township. Feng Yi took the opportunity to venture to other counties, but was captured by Liu Xiu's forces. At that time, Feng Yi's cousin Feng Xiao, along with Ding Chen and Lv Yan from the same county, were with Liu Xiu and recommended him. Feng Yi was then summoned. Feng Yi said, "I am just an ordinary person, with little strength. My mother is still in the city; I want to return to defend the five counties to repay Liu Xiu's kindness." Liu Xiu said, "Alright."
After returning, Feng Yi told Miao Meng, "These generals are all upstart warriors from humble backgrounds, mostly arrogant and overbearing. Only General Liu does not plunder the people wherever he goes. Look at how he speaks and acts; he is not an ordinary person. We can join him." Miao Meng said, "Life and death are of equal importance; I will follow your lead." After Liu Xiu headed south to Wancheng, several generals sent by the Gengshi regime to attack Fucheng were successfully held off by Feng Yi. When Liu Xiu became the Colonel-Director of Retainers and passed by Fucheng, Feng Yi and his men opened the city gates and welcomed him with offerings of cattle and wine. Liu Xiu appointed Feng Yi as chief scribe and Miao Meng as his assistant. Feng Yi also recommended fellow villagers Yiao Qi, Shu Shou, Duan Jian, and Zuo Long, all of whom Liu Xiu appointed as minor officials, and they all arrived in Luoyang together.
The Gengshi regime tried several times to send Liu Xiu to pacify the rebellion in Hebei, but many generals believed it was not a viable option. At that time, Cao Xing's son Cao Xu served as the Minister of Works, and father and son held great power. Feng Yi advised Liu Xiu to cultivate a good relationship with them. Later, when Liu Xiu went to Hebei, Cao Xu was indeed very helpful.
Since the defeat in the Battle of Kunyang, Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu has been enduring his grief and daring not to show it. Whenever he is alone, he cannot eat or drink anything, and his pillow and bed are often soaked with tears. His counselor Deng Yu saw this and knelt down to comfort him, urging him to express his sadness. Liu Xiu stopped him and said, "Don’t say such gloomy things."
Deng Yu seized the opportunity and persuaded him again, "Now the people can no longer endure Wang Mang's rule and have long been longing for the revival of the Han Dynasty. Now the generals under Emperor Gengshi are acting tyrannically and brutally, looting wherever they go, and the common people are utterly disillusioned with them and have nowhere to turn. Now that you have been elected by everyone to lead the way, this is the perfect time to show mercy! Just as the tyrants Jie and Zhou paved the way for the achievements of Tang and Wu, those who have long suffered from hunger and thirst will appreciate the taste of fullness even more. You should quickly dispatch officials to oversee the counties, resolve wrongful cases, and show kindness to the people." Liu Xiu listened to his advice.
When they arrived in Handan, Liu Xiu sent Deng Yu and Yao Qi to ride fast horses to inspect the nearby county towns, document the prisoners, and assist the elderly and widowed. Fugitives who surrendered would have their crimes forgiven. They secretly submitted a list of two thousand officials loyal to the court or who had not sided with Wang Mang.
Later, Wang Lang rebelled, and Emperor Guangwu marched rapidly from Jixian southeast, resting in makeshift grass huts day and night until reaching Wulouting in Raoyang. At that time, the weather was extremely cold, and everyone was hungry and tired, so Deng Yu cooked bean porridge for everyone to eat. The next morning, Emperor Guangwu addressed his generals, saying, "Yesterday I ate Master Gongsun's bean porridge, and I felt neither hungry nor cold." Upon reaching Nangong, they encountered strong winds and heavy rain. Emperor Guangwu pulled the carriage to take shelter in an empty house by the road. Deng Yu gathered firewood, started a fire, and Emperor Guangwu dried his clothes by it. Deng Yu also brought wheat and rabbit meat. Later, they crossed the Hutuo River and arrived in Xindu. Emperor Guangwu sent Deng Yu to recruit soldiers in the Hejian area. After Deng Yu returned, he was named a deputy general. He later participated in the battle to pacify Wang Lang and was appointed as Yinghou.
Deng Yu was modest and cautious, never boasting about his accomplishments. When he met other generals, he always stepped aside for them. He was always measured in his words and actions, and he was praised in the army for his organized approach to tasks. Whenever they camped, other generals would gather to discuss their achievements, while Deng Yu would sit alone under a tree. The troops affectionately referred to him as "General Big Tree." After capturing Handan, the generals' duties were redistributed, each with their own jurisdiction. The soldiers all expressed their willingness to follow "General Big Tree," which further increased Emperor Guangwu's esteem for him. He later went on to defeat Tie Ling of Beiping and subdued the Xiongnu king Lin Xidun, participating in pacifying the Hebei region.
It is said that at that time, Emperor Gengshi dispatched Wang Yin King Li Yi, Linqiu King Tian Li, Grand Marshal Zhu Wei, and White Tiger Duke Chen Qiao, leading a so-called army of three hundred thousand, to guard Luoyang alongside Henan Governor Wu Bo. Meanwhile, Emperor Guangwu led his troops north to sweep through the Yan and Zhao regions. To their surprise, they faced little resistance in Wei and Henan, and the cities were fortified and well-supplied. Thus, Emperor Guangwu appointed Kou Xun as the Governor of Henan and Geng Yan as the General of Mengjin, allowing them to command the armies of the two counties stationed along the Yellow River to confront Zhu Wei and his forces.
Geng Yan wrote a letter to Li Yi, saying, "I’ve heard that a mirror reflects one's image, and past events can be used to understand the present. In the past, Weizi left the Yin and Shang dynasties to join the Zhou dynasty, Xiang Bo betrayed the Chu kingdom to join the Han dynasty. Zhou Bo welcomed the Prince Dai, deposed the young emperor, Huo Guang supported Emperor Xiaoxuan, and deposed the Changyi King. These people all revered fate, understood the signs of fortune and misfortune, and grasped the principles of rise and fall, which enabled them to succeed and establish a lasting legacy. If Chang'an can still hold out, just hold on a little longer, maintain distinctions between kin and non-kin, and order near and far, how could you, Li Yi, find yourself cornered? Now Chang'an is completely chaotic, the Red Eyebrow Army is outside the city, the nobles are at each other’s throats, the ministers are turning against each other, the court’s order has broken down, regions are starting to split, and various non-imperial forces are rising up. That's why King Xiao (referring to Emperor Guangwu) had to brave the wind and snow to manage Hebei. Now is the time for heroes to emerge, and the people are responding one after another. Even if Bindi and Qidi swear allegiance to the Zhou dynasty, it still cannot compare to the current situation. If you, Li Yi, can understand the key to victory or defeat, quickly make a plan, emulate the ancients to achieve merit, turn misfortune into opportunity—now is the time! If we let our elite troops advance directly, tightly surround Luoyang, even if you regret it later, it will be too late!"
At first, Geng Yan and Liu Xiu had a very good relationship. However, after Emperor Gengshi ascended the throne, they ended up conspiring against Bo Sheng together. Although Geng Yan knew that Chang'an was in imminent danger and wanted to surrender, he felt uneasy. So he wrote a letter to Liu Xiu, saying, "I initially conspired with Prince Xiao (Liu Xiu) to establish the Han Dynasty, making a pact of life and death, sharing both honor and disgrace. Now I am guarding Luoyang, while you are stationed in Mengjin. We both occupy important strategic positions; this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that we must seize! I hope you can understand my meaning; I’m willing to share my modest strategies to help you stabilize the country and calm the people."
After writing this letter, Geng Yan no longer competed with Liu Xiu for credit. Consequently, Liu Xiu was able to launch an attack on Tianjing Pass in the north, capture two cities in the Shangdang area, and seize thirteen counties east of Chenggao in Henan, along with other military bases, resulting in over 100,000 surrenders. General Wu Bo under Liu Xiu led over 10,000 troops to attack the rebels, and Liu Xiu personally crossed the Yellow River to fight Wu Bo in Shixiang, achieving a significant victory by defeating Wu Bo and capturing over 5,000 enemy soldiers. Yet, Geng Yan closed the city gates and didn’t send any reinforcements. Seeing that Geng Yan kept his promise, Liu Xiu reported the incident to the court. Liu Xiu intentionally showed Zhu Wei Geng Yan's letter, which angered Zhu Wei, leading to the assassination of Geng Yan. This caused chaos among the people in Luoyang, leading many to surrender. Zhu Wei sent General Su Mao with tens of thousands of troops to attack Wen County, while he himself led troops to attack Pingyin to distract Liu Xiu. Liu Xiu dispatched the Protectorate-General and Kou Xun to confront Su Mao, where they defeated him. Seizing the opportunity, Liu Xiu crossed the Yellow River and attacked Zhu Wei, who then fled. Liu Xiu chased him to the outskirts of Luoyang, circled the city once, and then turned back.
Liu Xiu sent out proclamations to report to the court, and all the generals came to congratulate him and advised Liu Xiu to claim the throne. Liu Xiu then summoned Geng Yan to his location in Hao County and inquired about the situation in various places. Geng Yan said, "The three kings have rebelled, the Emperor Gengshi has failed, there is no ruler in the world, and the safety of the state and the well-being of the people depend on you, Your Majesty. You should listen to everyone's opinions; you should think for the state and the people." Liu Xiu said, "I dreamed last night that I was riding a red dragon into the sky, and when I woke up, my heart was racing!" Geng Yan rose from his seat and congratulated him once more, saying, "This is a sign from heaven! Your Majesty, your heart is racing; this reflects your cautious nature!" Geng Yan then discussed among themselves and agreed to honor Liu Xiu as emperor. In the spring of the second year of Jianwu, Liu Xiu appointed Geng Yan as the Marquis of Yangxia. Geng Yan went to defeat the bandits Yan Zhong and Zhao Gen in Yangzhai. Liu Xiu issued a decree for Geng Yan to pay respects to his ancestors, sent a high-ranking official to deliver cattle and wine, and ordered officials within a two-hundred-mile radius, along with Geng Yan's relatives, to attend.
At that time, the Red Eyebrow Army and Yan Cen's troops caused chaos in the Sanfu area (now the Guanzhong region of Shaanxi), engaging in battles everywhere. The prominent families in those counties also raised their own troops. Grand Minister Deng Yu found it impossible to restore order, so he sent another Deng Yu, who shared the same name but was not a relative, to suppress them. The emperor dispatched Deng Yu to Henan, rewarding him with a carriage measuring seven feet in length and a good sword. The emperor specifically instructed Deng Yu, "The Sanfu area has suffered from the chaos of Wang Mang and the Xin Dynasty, and now with the atrocities of the Red Eyebrow Army and Yan Cen, the people are suffering and have nowhere to turn. When you go to campaign, it is not necessary to seize territory or massacre cities; the primary objective is to restore order and ensure the well-being of the people. Those generals are certainly capable fighters, but they prefer to engage in plunder. You are good at managing troops and officials; remember my words, do not let the people suffer." Deng Yu thanked the emperor and led his troops westward.
His reputation preceded him wherever he went. There were many bandits in the Hongnong area (around Lingbao City, Henan), with more than ten self-styled generals surrendering to Deng Yu. I’ve heard that Geng Yan faced off against the Red Eyebrow Army in Huayin back then, and the two sides were locked in battle for over sixty days, with many battles. They even defeated the Red Eyebrow Army's leaders Liu Shi and Wang Xuan, with a total of over five thousand troops.
In the spring of the third year, the court sent someone to bestow the title of Grand General of the Western Expedition upon Geng Yan. At this time, Deng Yu returned to the army with General Deng Hong and their troops, and they met Geng Yan. Deng Yu and Deng Hong wanted to join forces with Geng Yan to attack the Red Eyebrow Army. Geng Yan said, "I’ve been at a standstill against these bandits for days. Although we have captured many of their fierce generals, they still have a lot of people. It's better to use some leniency and trust to entice them into surrendering. It’s tough to win through sheer force. Now the emperor has sent troops from all directions to block the Red Eyebrow Army from the east, and I will attack from the west. This way, we can take them down for sure. This is a surefire plan!" Deng Yu and Deng Hong disagreed with his opinion. Deng Hong immediately engaged in a major battle with the Red Eyebrow Army that lasted all day. The Red Eyebrow Army feigned a retreat, leaving their supplies behind and fleeing. Their carts were filled with dirt and topped with beans, and the soldiers, starving, rushed to grab the food. The Red Eyebrow Army turned around to attack Deng Hong again, and Deng Hong’s forces were routed. Geng Yan and Deng Yu joined forces to rescue them, and the Red Eyebrow Army retreated slightly. Geng Yan suggested that the soldiers, being hungry and exhausted, should rest first, but Deng Yu ignored him and pressed on with the fight. As a result, they suffered a crushing defeat, with over three thousand casualties. Deng Yu barely escaped back to Yiyang. Geng Yan abandoned his horse and fled on foot to Huixiban, only taking a few followers back to the camp. He held the fort and regrouped the scattered troops, recruiting forces from various camps, saving tens of thousands of troops, and agreeing on a time to battle with the Red Eyebrow Army. He sent brave warriors disguised as Red Eyebrow soldiers to lie in ambush along the roadside.
The next morning, the Chimei army sent 10,000 troops to attack Geng Yan's vanguard, while Geng Yan dispatched only a portion of his forces to provide support. Noticing that Geng Yan's forces appeared to be small, the Chimei army surged forward to attack. Geng Yan then ordered the entire army to counterattack. By the afternoon, the morale of the Chimei army was low, and the ambushed troops suddenly emerged, resulting in confusion as the two sides' uniforms became intertwined, which led to utter chaos. Geng Yan ordered a pursuit and defeated the Chimei army at Xiaodi, capturing eighty thousand men and women. The remaining over one hundred thousand troops surrendered at Yiyang. The court sent a decree to comfort Geng Yan, saying, "The Chimei army has been pacified, and the soldiers have all worked hard. Although you were initially defeated in Huixi, you ultimately achieved victory in Minchi. It's truly a blessing in disguise! We are preparing to reward you for your great merit." It is said that although the Chimei army surrendered, other rebel forces were still formidable: Yancen occupied Lantian, Wang Xin occupied Xiagui, Fangdan occupied Xinfeng, Jiang Zhen occupied Baling, Zhang Han occupied Chang'an, Gongsun Shou occupied Changling, Yang Zhou occupied Gukou, Lu Wei occupied Chencang, Jue Hong occupied Qian, Luo Yan occupied Zhouzhi, Ren Liang occupied Hu, and Ruzhang occupied Huaili. Each of whom claimed to be generals, with some commanding more than 10,000 troops and others only a few thousand, engaging in mutual attacks. Liu Xiu pressed forward while engaging in battle, establishing a camp in Shanglin Garden. After defeating the Chimei army, Yancen declared himself King Wuan, appointed local officials, and attempted to control the Guanzhong region. He then joined forces with Zhang Han and Ren Liang to attack Liu Xiu. Liu Xiu defeated them, beheading over a thousand people, with the armies that were originally following Yancen surrendering to Liu Xiu. Yancen fled to Xixian, where Liu Xiu dispatched Generals Deng Ye and Yu Kuang to pursue him, resulting in a decisive victory over Yancen's forces, killing their leader, Su Chen, along with more than 8,000 others. Yancen then fled from Wuguan to Nanyang.
At that time, the common people were starving, and some even resorted to cannibalism. At that time, one jin of gold could only be exchanged for five sheng of beans. Transportation had come to a standstill, and the army's food supply was running low, so soldiers had to rely on wild fruits to fill their hunger. The court appointed Zhao Kuang from Nanyang as the Right Fufeng to lead troops to support Liu Xiu. They also sent a large amount of cloth and food, which caused the army to cheer "Long live!" Once the army's food supply was secured, Liu Xiu began to punish the powerful who defied orders and rewarded those who surrendered and distinguished themselves. The leaders of the rebel army were all sent to the capital, allowing their soldiers to return home to farm. Liu Xiu quickly established his prestige in the Guanzhong region, with only Lu Wei, Zhang Han, and Jiang Zhen surrendering to the Shu Han, while the other rebel armies were all pacified. The next year, Gongsun Shu sent General Cheng Yan with tens of thousands of troops to join Lu Wei in camp at Chencang. Liu Xiu and Zhao Kuang launched a counterattack, defeating Cheng Yan and forcing him to flee to Hanchuan. Liu Xiu pursued to Jigu, defeated Cheng Yan again, and then defeated Lu Wei, with many surrendering. Later, Shu Han sent troops several times to harass, but Liu Xiu defeated them all. The people of Guanzhong repeatedly sought redress for their grievances, running back and forth for three years before finally reaching Shanglinyuan and Chengdu to lodge their complaints.
It is said that this man, who had been away for a long time, felt restless in his heart. He wrote a letter to the emperor, saying that he especially missed the court and hoped to return to serve at the emperor's side. The emperor did not grant his request. Later, someone wrote an article saying that he had consolidated power in Guanzhong and even killed the Chang'an magistrate. His power was so great that the common people revered him and called him "King Xianyang." The emperor showed this article to the man. Frightened, he quickly penned a letter of apology, saying: "I am merely a scholar. In this chaotic world, I followed the emperor to fight, received the emperor's favor, became a general, was enfeoffed as a marquis, led troops to battle, and achieved some minor merits. All of this relies on the power of the country. I possess no personal talents. When I think about it, every time I fought, I could win according to the emperor's will; but sometimes when I made decisions based on my own thoughts, I later regretted it. Your Majesty is wise and far-sighted. I only now understand the truth that 'the nature of man and the will of heaven are difficult to fully understand.' At the beginning of the war, when the world was in chaos, heroes emerged one after another, dazzling people. I received the emperor's favor and joined your command. In such a dangerous and chaotic situation, I dare not make any mistakes, let alone now when the world is peaceful and hierarchical. The titles and honors I have received are already unattainable! I sincerely wish to remain cautious throughout my life. I trembled with fear upon seeing the article you showed me. I humbly beseech Your Majesty to overlook my foolishness, and I dare to say these words." The emperor replied: "General, your loyalty to the country is as loyal as that of a subject to his ruler, and your gratitude is like that of a father to his son. What is there for you to fear or doubt? How can you entertain such fearful thoughts?"
After six years, in the spring, he entered the capital. The emperor summoned him and said to the ministers, "This is my chief scribe who helped me overcome obstacles and pacified the Guanzhong region when I rose in rebellion." After the audience, the emperor sent the chief steward to reward him with many treasures, clothing, money, and silk. The emperor also issued a decree, saying, "During the war, we only had simple meals, not even a decent bun. It’s been a long time since I properly thanked you." The man kowtowed in gratitude and said, "I've heard that Guan Zhong once said to Duke Huan, 'I hope you won't forget the fish I caught with a hook for you, just as I will never forget you rescuing me from the prisoner's cart.' This strengthened the state of Qi. Now, I hope the country won't forget the battles we fought in Hebei, and I will never forget your kindness to me." Later, the emperor summoned him several times for feasts to discuss plans to attack the Shu region, keeping him there for over ten days before letting him return to the western border with his family. "May you not forget the fishing hook, and I will never forget the prisoner's cart," this poem is truly a timeless gem!
In the summer, the emperor sent generals to fight in Longxi, but they suffered a defeat at the hands of Wei Xiao. So the emperor ordered reinforcements to head to Xunyi. Before they arrived, Wei Xiao pursued them, sending his generals Wang Yuan and the patrol commander with over 20,000 troops to attack Xunyi. The reinforcements rushed to secure Xunyi. Other generals said, "The enemy forces are strong and have just won a victory. We cannot confront them head-on. We should find a safe place to camp first and then come up with a plan."
Yijun said, "The enemy is at our doorstep, taking advantage of a small opportunity to invade our territory. If they occupy Xunyi, the entire Sangu region will be shaken, causing us great trouble! Military strategy teaches that 'the attacker is weak, the defender is strong.' We must first occupy the city, conserve our strength and wait for the enemy to tire themselves out. This is the best strategy." So he secretly hurried to Xunyi, closed the city gates, and hid the flags and war drums. Kui Xiao's scouting troops believed Xunyi would be an easy target, so they rushed over hastily. Yijun seized the opportunity of their carelessness, suddenly beat the drums and raised the flags, launching an attack. The scouting troops fled in panic, with Yijun pursuing them for miles and delivering a crushing defeat. At the same time, Ji Zun also defeated Wang Yuan's forces in Qian County. Now, many influential leaders in the northern region, including Geng Ding, turned against Kui Xiao and surrendered to the court.
The Yijun wrote a memorial to report on the battle situation to the emperor; he remained humble and refrained from boasting about his own accomplishments. Some generals sought to claim his accomplishments, and the emperor was very worried about this. So the emperor issued an imperial edict, which stated: "I hereby command the Grand Marshal, Tiger Tooth General, Jianwei General, Hanzhong General, Capturing General, and Wuwei General: The enemy forces are aggressively advancing, and the people of the Sanfu region are in great fear. Xunyi is at risk of being breached at any moment. The troops in the northern region remain inactive, merely observing the situation. Now the remote cities have been preserved, the enemy has faced setbacks, and Geng Ding and others have also come to realize the principles of ruler and subject. The accomplishments of the General in the West are as great as mountains, yet he still feels he has not done enough. Meng Ben turned defeat into victory, covering the rear during the army's retreat. How is that different from the General in the West's situation? Now I have dispatched the Grand Master to reward the officers and soldiers serving under the General in the West, to provide medical care, coffins, and funeral expenses for the deceased and injured officers and soldiers, and all officials ranked below the Grand Marshal are to personally comfort the wounded and visit the ill, to promote the virtue of humility." The emperor then commanded Yijun to continue its advance to Yiqu and also take on the role of Prefect of the Northern Region.
Legend has it that back then, Qing Shan Hu surrendered tens of thousands of troops to Dou Rong. Dou Rong then led his forces to defeat the generals under Lu Fang, Jia Lan, and the Xiongnu's Rijia Wang, resulting in the surrender of both Shangjun and Anding regions. Dou Rong then also assumed the position of Prefect of Anding.
Nine years later, after Jie Zun's death, the court appointed Dou Rong to replace the position of General of Conquering the Barbarians and entrusted him with command of the army. After Wei Xiao's death, his generals Wang Yuan, Zhou Zong, and others proclaimed Wei Chun, the son of Wei Xiao, as king, and they controlled the army and occupied Ji City. General Gongsun Shu sent General Zhao Kuang and others to rescue Wei Chun. The emperor appointed Dou Rong as the Prefect of Tianshui, assigning him to attack Zhao Kuang and his forces. This campaign lasted nearly a year, ultimately resulting in the death of Zhao Kuang and his men.
Later, the generals attacked Ji City together, but after a prolonged siege, they were unable to capture it. Everyone wanted to pull back and rest, but Dou Rong insisted on not retreating, leading the charge at the front of the army.
In the summer of the second year, Dou Rong and the other generals attacked the gates of Ji City, but still could not capture it. Dou Rong fell ill and died in the army, posthumously honored with the title "Jie Hou."
His eldest son, Dou Zhang, inherited his title. The following year, the emperor, recognizing Dou Rong's contributions, appointed Dou Rong's brother Dou Ling as the Marquis of Xixiang. Thirteen years later, the emperor elevated Dou Zhang's title to Marquis Dongmin, granting him a fief of three counties. During the Yongping era, Dou Zhang's title was further elevated to Marquis Pingxiang. After Dou Zhang's death, his son Dou Pu inherited the title, but later, Dou Pu fell into disgrace and lost the title.
In the sixth year of Yongchu, Emperor An of Han issued an edict, stating: "A heart filled with benevolence does not forget its own kin; a heart of justice does not forget those who have contributed to the country. The rise and fall of dynasties and the continuation of family lines, along with kindness towards those meritorious officials and their descendants, is the example set by our ancestors. In the past, my ancestor Emperor Guangwu was appointed by heaven, revitalized the Han dynasty, expanded the territory, bestowed blessings throughout the world, shining for all eternity, and the blessings continued without end. As an unworthy descendant, I constantly reflect on the achievements of my ancestors, peruse historical texts and records, and check the merits of the twenty-eight meritorious officials during the Jianwu period. They were all loyal ministers who assisted Emperor Guangwu, and historical prophecies also foretold their achievements. The titles of Xiao He and Cao Can continue to be honored to this day; moreover, these meritorious officials are not distant from us, yet their descendants have lost their family lines, and I am genuinely regretful. Therefore, I order an investigation into whether any descendants of the twenty-eight meritorious officials have lost their family lines. If they were deprived of their titles due to crimes, their descendants should rightfully inherit those titles, and each case should be documented and reported individually. We should commend their merits, celebrate their virtues, and honor their legacies." As a result, the emperor reinstated Dou Chen, son of Dou Pu, as the Marquis of Pingxiang. The following year, the titles of the twenty-eight meritorious officials that had been lost were all restored.
Cen Peng, styled Junran, was from Jiyang in Nanyang. During Wang Mang's reign, he served as the county magistrate of his hometown. Later, when the Han army rebelled and attacked Jiyang County, Cen Peng fled with his family to the former commander Zhen Fu. Zhen Fu was angry that Cen Peng had not defended the city, so he captured Cen Peng's mother and wife, forcing him to earn merit to atone for his actions. Cen Peng's guests fought valiantly, mounting a fierce resistance. After Zhen Fu was killed in battle and Cen Peng was wounded, he escaped back to Wancheng and defended the city with the former deputy commander Yan Shuo. The Han army besieged Wancheng for several months, depleting the food supply, leading to extreme measures, including cannibalism. Cen Peng and Yan Shuo had no choice but to surrender and open the city gates.
At that time, many generals wanted to kill Cen Peng, but the Grand Tutor Bo Sheng said, "Cen Peng is a high-ranking official in the region; this demonstrates his loyalty and righteousness! Now that we want to achieve great things, we should honor those who show loyalty and righteousness; why not bestow upon him the title of marquis to encourage future generations to follow suit?" Therefore, Emperor Gengshi appointed Cen Peng as the Marquis of Guide, under the jurisdiction of Bo Sheng. Later, Bo Sheng was assassinated, and Cen Peng became the Colonel of the Grand Marshal Zhu Wei, following him to attack Li Sheng, the governor of Yangzhou under Wang Mang, killing Li Sheng and pacifying Huaiyang City. Zhu Wei recommended Cen Peng for the position of Commandant of Huaiyang. Emperor Gengshi sent Prince Liwei Zhang Yang and General Yao Wei to guard Huaiyang, but Yao Wei rebelled and ultimately defeated Zhang Yang. Cen Peng led troops to attack Yao Wei, defeated him, and was subsequently promoted to Prefect of Yingchuan.
Later, Liu Mao from Chongling raised troops, captured Yingchuan, and Cen Peng lost his official position. He then took several hundred subordinates to seek refuge with the Governor of Henei, his fellow townsman Han Xin. At that time, Emperor Guangwu was inspecting Henei. Han Xin planned to shut the city gates and defend it, but Cen Peng advised him not to do so. As a result, when Emperor Guangwu arrived in Huai County, Han Xin, in a moment of desperation, surrendered. Emperor Guangwu, aware of Han Xin's plot, was furious, captured him, and prepared to execute him under the war drum. Then Emperor Guangwu summoned Cen Peng, who seized the opportunity to speak: "Now the Chimei army has entered Guanzhong, the regime of Emperor Gengshi is in jeopardy, the powerful officials are arrogant and domineering, falsely issuing imperial decrees, blocking communications, and uprisings are breaking out everywhere. I’ve heard that Your Majesty has pacified Hebei and established your rule. This is truly a blessing from heaven for the Han dynasty and for scholars everywhere! I was once saved by the grace of Situ Bosun and was unable to repay it before misfortune struck, which has weighed heavily on my mind. Now that I find myself in Your Majesty's presence again, I am willing to devote myself wholeheartedly!" Emperor Guangwu greatly appreciated Cen Peng and adopted his advice. Cen Peng also mentioned that Han Xin, being from Nanyang, was very talented and could be utilized. Therefore, Emperor Guangwu pardoned Han Xin and appointed him as a military advisor to Deng Yu.
General Lv Zhi stationed his army in Qiyuan, and Peng Chong surrendered to him. Lv Zhi appointed Peng Chong as the Grand General of the Assassination, supervising the various camps, and gave him the military seal that he often used, and together they pacified Hebei. After Emperor Guangwu ascended the throne, he appointed Peng Chong as the Minister of Justice, maintaining his Marquis of Guide title unchanged, and allowed him to act as the Grand General. He, along with Grand Marshal Wu Han, Grand Minister of Works Wang Liang, Grand General of Establishing Righteousness Zhu You, Right General Wan Xiu, Commandant Jia Fu, Valiant Cavalry General Liu Zhi, General Yang Hua Jian, General of Accumulated Shooting Hou Jin, Lieutenant General Feng Yi, Ji Zun, Wang Ba, and others besieged Luoyang together for several months. Zhu Wei and others defended the city and refused to surrender. Because Peng Chong was once Zhu Wei's subordinate, Emperor Guangwu sent him to persuade surrender. Zhu Wei was on the city wall, Peng Chong was below the city, the two greeted each other warmly and casually, like old friends. Peng Chong said, "I had the opportunity to serve you before, and I have always wanted to repay your favor. Now, the Red Eyebrow Army has captured Chang'an, Emperor Gengshi was betrayed by the Three Kings, the Emperor received the Mandate of Heaven, pacified Yan and Zhao, completely controlled Youzhou and Jizhou, the people rallied to him, and talented individuals came to surrender one after another. The Emperor personally led a large army to attack Luoyang. The situation is already settled and cannot be reversed. How long can you keep holding out?" Zhu Wei said, "When the Grand Minister of Works was killed, I was involved in the planning, I also advised Emperor Gengshi not to send Prince Xiao on a northern expedition, I know very well how deep my sins run." After Peng Chong returned and told Emperor Guangwu about these words, Emperor Guangwu said, "Great achievers don't dwell on small grudges. If Zhu Wei surrenders now, his official position can be preserved, not to mention losing his head? The river is right here, I mean what I say."
Peng Chong once again went to inform Zhu Wei, who leaned over the city wall and said, "If you truly keep your word, I will come down." Peng Chong quickly handed him a rope so he could come down. Zhu Wei saw that Peng Chong was genuine, so he agreed to surrender. Five days later, Zhu Wei took light cavalry to meet Peng Chong. He urged his generals, "Defend the city and wait for me. If I do not return, lead the army to Huan Yuan and seek refuge with King Yan." He was then bound and taken to Heyang with Peng Chong. Emperor Guangwu immediately had him untied, summoned him, and had Peng Chong escort Zhu Wei back to the city that night. The next morning, Zhu Wei led all his troops to surrender. Emperor Guangwu appointed Zhu Wei as General Pacifying the Di and bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Fugou. Zhu Wei, from Huaiyang, later served as a steward, and his title was passed down through generations.
In the second year of Jianwu, the Emperor sent Peng Chong to attack Jingzhou, capturing more than ten cities including Chou and Ye in one go. At that time, the south was in turmoil. In Nanjun, there was a man named Qin Feng who had taken control of Liqiu, proclaimed himself the King of Chu Li, and controlled twelve counties. Dong Zhuo rebelled in Duxiang, Xu Han rebelled in Xing County, and the generals of the Gengshi regime each occupied cities in Nanyang, gathering forces. The Emperor sent Wu Han to fight them, but Wu Han's troops rampaged, burning, killing, and plundering indiscriminately, inflicting immense suffering on the common people.
At this time, General Deng Feng returned to Xinye to visit family. Seeing Wu Han causing havoc in his hometown, he was furious and immediately rebelled! He defeated Wu Han's army, seized their military supplies, took control of Yuyang, and teamed up with other rebels. In the autumn, Peng Chong captured Xing County, Xu Han surrendered, and Peng Chong was promoted to the title of General of the Southern Expedition. The emperor then sent Zhu You, Jia Fu, General Geng Yan, General Wang Chang, General Guo Shou, General Liu Hong, General Liu Jia, Geng Zhi, and others to join forces with Peng Chong to suppress Deng Feng. They first attacked Du Township, and Deng Feng brought tens of thousands of troops to support Dong Xun. Dong Xun and Deng Feng were both elite forces from Nanyang, and Peng Chong fought them for months on end without success.
In the summer of the third year of Jianwu, the emperor personally led his troops on a southern expedition. When they reached Ye County, Dong Xun sent thousands of troops to block their advance, and the emperor's convoy could not pass. Peng Chong charged in and decisively routed them. When the emperor arrived at Duyang, Deng Feng made a nighttime escape back to Yuyang, and Dong Xun surrendered. Peng Chong, along with Geng Yan, Jia Fu, General Fu Jun, and Captain Zang Gong, pursued Deng Feng to Xiaochang'an. The emperor personally commanded the battle and defeated Deng Feng. With nowhere left to turn, Deng Feng had no choice but to surrender. The emperor remembered Deng Feng's past merits and that the chaos was initially sparked by Wu Han, so he wanted to spare him. However, Peng Chong and Geng Yan advised the emperor, saying, "Deng Feng has repaid kindness with enmity, rebelled against the court for so long, injured Jia Fu, and captured Zhu You. Even when the emperor personally came, he did not repent, continued to fight, and only surrendered after being defeated. If he is not killed, who will be afraid of making mistakes in the future?" After hearing this, the emperor ordered Deng Feng's execution. This Deng Feng was the nephew of Marquis Xi Hua Deng Chen.
The emperor withdrew the army and ordered Peng Yue to lead more than 30,000 troops, including Fu Jun, Zang Gong, Liu Hong, and others, to go south to attack Qin Feng. They captured Huangyou, but Qin Feng and his general Cai Hong resisted their advances in Deng County for several months. The emperor found it strange and blamed Peng Yue, who became afraid.
That night, he secretly mobilized troops and ordered an attack on Shandu to the west the following morning. He intentionally released the captured prisoners to return and inform Qin Feng. Taking their word for it, Qin Feng led his troops to intercept Peng Yue. Peng Yue secretly led his army across the Mian River and defeated Qin Feng's general Zhang Yang at Atou Mountain, securing a significant victory.
They carved a path through the valley, making their way straight to Liqiu, where they defeated the stationed troops. Qin Feng was frightened upon hearing this and hurried back to rescue his forces. Peng Yue and his generals set up camp at Dongshan, while Qin Feng and Cai Hong attacked at night. Peng Yue was prepared, met them in battle, defeated Qin Feng, and killed Cai Hong. The emperor subsequently appointed Peng Yue as the Marquis of Wuyin.
Qin Feng's general Zhao Jing surrendered in Yicheng and was appointed General of Chenghan, joining Peng Yue in besieging Qin Feng at Liqiu. At this time, Tian Rong had many soldiers in Yiling and, upon hearing that Qin Feng was besieged, feared a large army would soon arrive and wanted to surrender. However, his brother-in-law Xincheng advised him: "Now heroes from all over have occupied their own territories, and Luoyang's territory is as small as the palm of a hand. It's wiser to wait and see how things unfold." Tian Rong said, "If the mighty Qin King is cornered in the south, what chance do I have? The plan to surrender has been decided."
In the spring of the fourth year, Tian Rong left Xin Chen to guard Yi Ling, leading his troops upstream along the river to the Mian River, then to Li Qiu, setting a date for surrender. However, Xin Chen later stole Tian Rong's treasures, secretly surrendered to Peng Yue, and even wrote a letter inviting Tian Rong to surrender. Tian Rong suspected that Xin Chen would betray him, so he was afraid to surrender, instead joining forces with Qin Feng to resist Peng Yue. After several months of fighting, Peng Yue defeated Tian Rong, with Wu Gong, one of Tian Rong's generals, surrendering to Peng Yue, while Tian Rong fled back to Yi Ling.
The emperor visited Li Qiu to boost the morale of the troops, rewarding Peng Yue and more than a hundred deserving soldiers. Peng Yue had been attacking Qin Feng for three years, killing over ninety thousand, leaving Qin Feng with only a few thousand soldiers and dwindling food supplies. Noticing Qin Feng's weakened state, the emperor ordered Zhu You to replace Peng Yue in guarding Li Qiu, while Peng Yue and Fu Jun were to attack Tian Rong in the south. They defeated Tian Rong, captured Yi Ling, and pursued him all the way to Zi Gui. Tian Rong fled with a few dozen cavalry into the Shu region, while Peng Yue captured his wife, children, and tens of thousands of troops.
Peng Yue prepared to attack Shu Han, but the narrow valleys and treacherous waterways posed significant transportation challenges. He left General Feng Jun to guard Jiangzhou, Commander Tian Hong to guard Yi Ling, and General Li Xuan to guard Yi Dao, while he himself returned with his troops to Jingxiang to defend the key point of Jingzhou. He also reasoned with various barbarian tribes, offering their leaders positions if they surrendered. Initially, Peng Yue had a good relationship with Deng Rang, the shepherd of Jiaozhi, writing him a detailed letter that outlined the virtues of the court and sending a decree to different regions in Jiangnan, officially announcing the orders of the court.
Therefore, Deng Rang, including the Prefects of Jiangxia (Hou Deng), Wuling (Wang Tang), Changsha (Han Fu), Guiyang (Zhang Long), Lingling (Tian Xi), Cangwu (Du Mu), and Jiaozhi (Xi Guang), all sent envoys to pay tribute and were appointed as marquises. Some even sent their sons to assist Peng Zu in the expedition. From then on, treasures from the south of the Yangtze River began to flow into the Central Plains in large quantities.
In the winter of the sixth year, the court summoned Peng Zu back to the capital city. The Emperor summoned him multiple times, hosted banquets, and rewarded him with many gifts. After Peng Zu returned to Jingxiang, the Emperor issued an edict for him to return home to pay respects at his parents' graves and frequently sent people to check on his mother's well-being.
In the eighth year, Peng Zu led troops to attack Tianshui with the imperial army and surrounded Kui Xiao in the Western Regions with Wu Han. At this time, Gongsun Shu sent General Li Yu to rescue Kui Xiao and defend Shanggui. The Emperor left Gai Yan and Cen Yan to besiege Shanggui, while he led the main army back east. The Emperor also sent a letter to Peng Zu, stating, "If the two cities are captured, you can lead the troops south to attack the rebels in Shu. One should learn to be content. After pacifying Longxi, do not think about attacking Shu again. Every time there is a campaign, my hair is turning white with worry!" Peng Zu then dammed the valley's water, irrigated the western city, and before the city walls were submerged more than ten feet deep, Kui Xiao's generals Xing Xun and Zhou Zong arrived with reinforcements from Shu. Kui Xiao took the opportunity to escape to Jizhou. The Han army ran out of provisions, burned their supplies, and withdrew from Longxi, with Gai Yan and Cen Yan following suit. Kui Xiao led his troops to pursue the Han army in each camp, and Peng Zu held off the rear guard, allowing the Han soldiers to make a safe retreat. Peng Zu returned to Jingxiang.
After nine years, Gongsun Shu sent his generals Ren Man, Tian Rong, and Cheng Fan, with tens of thousands of troops, descending the river on wooden rafts, breaching the defenses held by Feng Jun, Tian Hong, Li Xuan, and others. They then captured Yidao and Yiling, occupying the crucial strategic locations of Jingmen and Huya. They also constructed floating bridges across the river, raised towering watchtowers, installed wooden stakes to obstruct the waterways, and established camps in the mountains, preparing to fend off the Han army's assault. Peng Chong's multiple assaults were unsuccessful, so he decided to go all in by ordering his well-equipped warships and charging thousands of warships directly into the enemy's lines.
In the spring of the eleventh year of the reign, Peng Chong, together with Wu Han, and the generals Liu Long, Zang Gong, and Liu Xin, assembled troops from Nanyang, Wuling, and Nanjun, and also recruited boatmen and transport personnel from Guiyang, Lingling, and Changsha, totaling over 60,000 troops and 5,000 cavalry, all converging in Jingmen. Wu Han felt that the boatmen from the three counties were consuming too much food and wanted to withdraw them. Peng Chong believed the Shu army was strong and that they could not withdraw any troops, so he wrote to the court to explain the circumstances. The emperor replied, "The Grand Marshal (referring to Wu Han) is accustomed to using infantry and cavalry in battle and is not skilled in naval warfare. The Battle of Jingmen relied on the Southern Expedition General (referring to Peng Chong) under your charge." Peng Chong then ordered the recruitment of warriors in the army who dared to attack the pontoon bridge, rewarding heavily the first warrior to charge onto the pontoon bridge! At this time, Deputy General Lu Qi stepped forward in response to the call. At that moment, a strong wind was blowing, and Lu Qi's boat went upstream against the current, charging straight towards the pontoon bridge. The stakes couldn’t hold their boats at all. Lu Qi seized the opportunity, fought fiercely, then ignited the pontoon bridge with torches. The strong wind fueled the fire, and both the bridge and the watchtower were burned down. Peng Chong pursued the victory, and the Han army advanced with the wind at their backs, unstoppable. The Shu army was in chaos, resulting in several thousand drowning. Ren Man was beheaded, Cheng Fan was captured, and Tian Rong fled to Jiangzhou. Peng Chong submitted a memorial to the court, recommending Liu Long to be the Prefect of Nanjun. He himself pushed straight toward Jiangguan, and ordered the soldiers not to plunder. Therefore, the locals came out with cattle and wine to greet them. Peng Chong met with the local elders, explaining that the Han Dynasty understood the suffering of the Ba and Shu people due to years of war, which is why they sent troops to quell the rebels and protect the people, so he refused the cattle and wine from the people. The people were very happy and rushed to surrender. The court issued a decree appointing Peng Chong as the Governor of Yizhou, and authorized him to manage the affairs of the prefects in the counties under his command.
Peng Chong arrived in Jiangzhou, and because there was plenty of grain in Tianrong, an attack would be difficult for the time being. So, he left Feng Jun to guard and led the army to pursue the victory, heading straight to Dianjiang, captured Pingqu, and seized several hundred thousand shi of grain. Gongsun Shu dispatched his generals Yan Cen, Lu Wei, Wang Yuan, and his brother Wang Hui to lead all the troops to resist the Han army in Guanghan and Zizhong, and also sent General Hou Dan to lead more than 20,000 people to resist Huangshi. Peng Chong set up false troops, assigning guards Yang Xi and Zang Gong to hold off Yan Cen and the others, while he divided his troops to cross the river, returned to Jiangzhou, and then went up the Dujiang River to attack Hou Dan, defeating his army. He then traveled day and night for over 2,000 li, quickly capturing Wuyang. He sent elite cavalry straight to Guangdu, only a few dozen miles from Chengdu, with great momentum, causing enemy troops to flee in droves wherever he went. Initially, upon hearing that the Han army was at Pingqu, Gongsun Shu sent a large force to intercept them. When Peng Chong arrived at Wuyang and bypassed the rear of Yan Cen's army, the people of Shu were all terrified. Gongsun Shu was shocked and struck the ground with his cane and exclaimed, "What’s happening? Could it be the work of immortals!" The place where Peng Chong was stationed was called Pengwang. He disliked the name upon hearing it and wished to relocate, but it was dark and a Shu assassin, disguised as a fleeing slave, infiltrated and assassinated Peng Chong during the night. When Peng Chong initially broke through Jingmen and went straight to Wuyang, the army maintained strict discipline and committed no infractions. King Rengui of Qianggu heard about Peng Chong's reputation and sent envoys from thousands of li away to surrender. Unfortunately, Peng Chong had already passed away, so the emperor bestowed all the gifts offered by Rengui upon Peng Chong's wife and children, and posthumously conferred upon him the title of Valorous Marquis. The people of Shu were very sympathetic to him and constructed a temple in Wuyang in his honor, where they held annual worship ceremonies for him.
His son Peng Zun inherited the title and was titled Marquis Xi Yang. Thirteen years later, the emperor recalled Peng Chong's contributions and bestowed the title of Marquis Gu Yang on Peng Zun's younger brother, Peng Huai. Peng Zun served as the Colonel of the Cavalry during the Yongping period. After Peng Zun's death, his son Peng Kang inherited the title. After Peng Kang's death, his son Peng Qi inherited the title but lost it for committing a crime in the third year of the Yuan Chu era. In the first year of Jianguang, Emperor An again bestowed Peng Qi the title of Marquis Xi Yang, and he served as the Palace Attendant during the reign of Emperor Shun.
After Cen Xi became the Governor of Wei Commandery, he recruited hermits and talents, governing the region with a philosophy of non-interference, which had a significant effect. Two years later, the locals sang songs in his honor: "My home had thorns, Lord Cen, you cut them off; my home had pests, Lord Cen, you eradicated them. Even the dogs are not afraid, the ground is covered with green grass. We eat and drink to our fill, unaware of any disasters. I am happy to live in this era, enjoying this peaceful and prosperous time. Lord Cen, you are truly kind, wishing you a long and healthy life!"
After Cen Xi's death, his son Cen Fu inherited his official position and became a Yellow Gate Attendant.
Jia Fu, styled Junwen, was a person from Nanyang Guanjun. He loved learning from a young age, especially excelling in the Book of Documents. He studied under Mr. Li from Wuyin, who greatly admired him and told his students, "Jia Junwen's appearance, demeanor, combined with his diligence and eagerness to learn, will surely lead him to greatness!" In the final years of Wang Mang's reign, Jia Fu took on a role as a county official, tasked with transporting salt to Hedong. On the way, he ran into bandits, and over ten companions panicked and discarded the salt. Only Jia Fu managed to safely return the salt to the county, earning him praise for his integrity.
Later, there was a mutiny in Xiajiang and Xinshi, and Jia Fu gathered hundreds of followers in Yushan, claiming the title of general. After Emperor Gengshi Liu Xuan proclaimed himself emperor, Jia Fu took his troops to join Prince Han Liu Jia in Hanzhong and was appointed as a captain. Observing the chaos of the Gengshi regime and the arrogance of the generals, Jia Fu advised Liu Jia, "I have heard that those who failed to govern the world like Yao and Shun were King Tang and King Wu; those who failed to emulate King Tang and King Wu were Duke Huan and Duke Wen; those who failed to emulate Duke Huan and Duke Wen were the six kingdoms; and those who failed to emulate the six kingdoms and securely defend their territory were the doomed six kingdoms. Now that the Han dynasty is reviving, Your Highness, with your royal lineage assisting the court, you are already thinking of settling for the status quo and holding onto your own small piece of land before the world is pacified. Can what you hold onto truly be held?" Liu Jia replied, "You make a lot of sense, but I can't do it. Liu Xiu (Grand Marshal Liu Gong) is in Hebei; he can definitely do it. Take my letter and go see him." So Jia Fu bid farewell to Liu Jia, crossed the Yellow River with Liu Jia's letter, and met Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu in Bairen, having been recommended by Deng Yu. Emperor Guangwu admired him greatly, and Deng Yu praised him for his talent as a general, appointing Jia Fu as the General Who Subdues the Barbarians, in charge of pacifying bandits. Jia Fu's horse was very weak, so Emperor Guangwu gave him his own horse. Some officials, feeling threatened by Jia Fu's rise, tried to transfer him to Haixian as a county magistrate. Emperor Guangwu said, "Jia Fu has the prestige to defeat enemies from a thousand miles away; he is currently using his talents. Do not move him without authorization!"
Emperor Guangwu arrived in Xindu and promoted Jia Fu to the position of deputy general. After capturing Handan, he was promoted to general. Later, he followed Emperor Guangwu to fight against the Qingdu Army; the battle lasted until noon, with the enemy's formation remaining strong and immovable. Emperor Guangwu sent word to Jia Fu, saying, "The soldiers are all hungry; they can have breakfast first." Jia Fu replied, "Defeat the enemy first, then eat!" So he donned his feathered arrows, took the lead in the charge, and was unstoppable; the enemy army fled in defeat. All the generals admired his bravery. Later, he engaged in battle against the troops of Zhen Ding and Wu Jiao, achieving a great victory. Jia Fu was seriously injured. Emperor Guangwu was astonished and remarked, "I didn't allow Jia Fu to lead the troops on his own because I feared he might be reckless. Indeed, I nearly lost this renowned general! I heard his wife is pregnant. If she has a daughter, my son will marry her; if she has a son, my daughter will marry him, so he won't have to worry about his family." Jia Fu's injuries gradually improved, who caught up with Emperor Guangwu in Ji. The two were overjoyed to see each other. Emperor Guangwu hosted a banquet for the soldiers and seated Jia Fu in the place of honor, then sent him to attack the rebel forces in Ye City, where he achieved victory.
After Emperor Guangwu ascended to the throne, he appointed Jia Fu as the Chief of the Golden Shield and bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Champion. Emperor Guangwu first crossed the Yellow River and attacked Zhu Wei in Luoyang. Jia Fu, together with General Chen Qiao of the White Tiger, fought and defeated the enemy consecutively. In the second year of Jianwu, Jia Fu was further granted the counties of Rang County and Chaoyang County. Prince Yin Zun of the Xin regime and other generals in the south had not surrendered. Emperor Guangwu gathered the generals to discuss military strategies. When no one spoke up, Emperor Guangwu pondered for a while, then struck the ground with his edict and asked, "Yan is the strongest, followed by Wan. Who will go and attack?" Jia Fu immediately replied, "I am willing to go and attack Yan!" Emperor Guangwu smiled and said, "If the Chief of the Golden Shield goes to attack Yan, what is there to worry about? The Grand Marshal will go and attack Wan!" Subsequently, Jia Fu, along with Cavalry Commander Yin Shi and General Liu Zhi, crossed the Five Rivers to attack Yan City, achieving a string of victories. A month later, Yin Zun surrendered, completely suppressing the rebellion there. They then proceeded to attack Huaiyang Prefect Bao Si of the Xin regime, who surrendered, and all the counties were pacified. In the autumn of that year, they marched south to attack Zhaoling and Xinxin County, completely pacifying these two places. In the following spring, Jia Fu was promoted to Left General and led the army alone to attack the Red Eyebrow Army, defeating them consecutively between Xincheng and Minchi. Finally, he met with Emperor Guangwu in Yiyang, and the Red Eyebrow Army surrendered completely. Jia Fu followed Emperor Guangwu in battles, never experiencing defeat, often leading soldiers to break through and escape, sustaining twelve wounds. Emperor Guangwu admired Jia Fu for daring to go deep into enemy territory, willingly taking on expedition tasks, and appreciating his bravery and integrity. He always took Jia Fu with him on expeditions, which meant Jia Fu rarely earned military accolades on his own. Other generals often boasted of their accomplishments, but Jia Fu never boasted about his own achievements. Emperor Guangwu always said, "I know Jia Jun's merits well."
Speaking of the Marquis of Jiaodong, he ruled for thirteen years, governing the six counties of Yuzhi, Zhuangwu, Xiami, Jimo, Ting, and Guanyang. He recognized that the Emperor aimed to disarm the military and nurture the people, promote virtuous rule, and did not want all the meritorious officials to congregate in the capital. Thus, he and the Marquis of Gaomi, Deng Yu, dispersed the elite soldiers from the army and began to focus on studying Confucian classics. The Emperor appreciated his approach and relieved him of his positions as Left and Right Generals, allowing him to retire and bestowing upon him the title of Special Advanced Marquis. He was an upright and principled man; after returning home, he shut his doors to visitors, cultivated his strength, and enhanced his reputation. Later, Zhu You and others recommended him for the position of Prime Minister, but the Emperor was preoccupied with investigating the responsibilities of the Three Excellencies; thus, the meritorious officials were not appointed. At that time, only the Marquis of Gaomi, Gushi, and Jiaodong could participate in discussions of national affairs with the court officials, and the Emperor held them in high regard. The Marquis of Jiaodong passed away in 31 AD and was posthumously honored with the title "Marquis Gang."
His son Zhong inherited the title, and after Zhong's death, his grandson Min succeeded to the title. In the first year of the Jianchu era, Min was stripped of his title for falsely accusing his mother of committing murder. Later, Emperor Suzong reinstated his brother Han as the Marquis of Jiaodong, governing one county, and also appointed his other brother Zong as the Marquis of Xiami, overseeing another county. After Han's death, his son Yu succeeded to the title; after Yu's death, his grandson Chang also succeeded to the title.
His younger brother Zong, styled Wuru, was known for his integrity from a young age and was very intelligent. He was first appointed as an Assistant Physician, gradually promoted, and eventually became the Governor of Shuofang during the Jianchu period. At that time, most of those who migrated from the inner regions to the border were impoverished and vulnerable, often bullied by the locals, and unable to become officials. Zong promoted capable individuals to serve as officials, had them participate in assessments with border officials, held each other accountable, and exposed corruption. Those who performed well were promoted to higher positions. Therefore, the people of the border were willing to stand by him through thick and thin. The Xiongnu were very afraid of him and dared not easily invade across the border. Later, he was summoned to be the Chief Water Commandant. Zong was also proficient in Confucianism. Whenever the emperor invited ministers for a feast, he was always arranged to discuss state affairs in front of the emperor alongside officials such as Shao Fu and Ding Hong. In the second year of the Zhanghe era, Zong passed away, and the court mourned deeply.
His son Can inherited the title, and after Can's death, his grandson Jian inherited the title. In the first year of Yuanchu, Jian married the Princess of Linying, daughter of the Emperor. The Princess's fiefdom included Yingyin and Xuxian, totaling three counties with a population of several tens of thousands of households. At that time, Empress Dowager Deng was in power, and because of her favor and influence, Jian was appointed as a Palace Attendant. During the reign of Emperor Shun, he was later promoted to Guanglu Xun.
It is widely known that during the period of the Eastern Han Dynasty, many generals accomplished remarkable military achievements. However, it is truly remarkable to mention the achievements of Generals Cen Peng and Feng Yi in the west of Hangu Pass and south of Fangcheng. Feng Yi and Jia Fu did not take the initiative to attack, while Cen Peng treated others with kindness, righteousness, and integrity, earning the trust of the entire army and instilling fear in the enemy, which ultimately led to significant victories and a peaceful resolution. In the past, Liu Bang avoided the name "Bairen" due to superstition, which inadvertently preserved his blessings. On the other hand, the General who attacked the inauspicious place of Pengwang brought disaster upon himself. Was this all predetermined by fate, or is there a greater cosmic order at play?
"The resounding victory in the Battle of Yangxia was due entirely to the righteousness and virtue of the two generals! Feng Yi, the Salt Official from Jiaodong, and General Cen Peng suppressed the rebels in Wancheng. Their bravery intimidated the enemy, while their foresight and wisdom brought benefits to the country. Using unique tactics to strike the enemy and planning for the country's future, these eight words perfectly summarize their contributions!"
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