Xi Kangsheng was from Luoyang, Henan. His family had been leaders of tribes for generations. His grandfather, Xi Zhi, held the position of General Pingyuan and later the commander of Rouxuan Town, and was granted the title of Marquis Changjin. After his death, he was posthumously awarded the title of Inspector of Youzhou, with the posthumous name Jian. His father, Xi Pulian, died without having held an official position.
In the eleventh year of Taihe, the Rouran tribe often troubled the borders, and General Li Dou of Rouxuan Town led troops to fight against them. From a young age, Xi Kangsheng was known for his bravery and combat skills; he could easily draw a ten-stone bow and excelled in archery, gaining the admiration of those around him. He served as Li Dou's vanguard commander, charging into battle multiple times, and his heroic exploits brought him fame, and he was eventually promoted to commander of the Zongzi troops. Later, while crossing the Huai River, when five armies had yet to cross, Xiao Luan sent troops to occupy the small island in the middle of the river, with the intention of cutting off the crossing. The emperor then issued an order saying, "Whoever can defeat the enemy on the island will be appointed General Zhige!" At that time, Xi Kangsheng, the military commander, said to his friends, "If we can win, we will gain fame and fortune; even if we lose, life and death are beyond our control. How can a man hesitate at a time like this!" Thus, he took the initiative to volunteer, tied together wooden rafts, piled up firewood, and took advantage of the wind to start a fire, burning the enemy's ships. He then charged through the thick smoke, swinging his knives wildly, forcing many enemies to leap into the river to their deaths. In this way, Xi Kangsheng was appointed General Zhige. Later, because of his achievements, he was promoted to General Zhongjian, Taizi Sanxiao, and Zhi Hou of Xitai.
The Tujin Hu people rebelled, self-proclaimed King of Xinzhi. At that time, Xikangsheng was the military commander and followed King Zhangwu Xiao Bin to suppress the rebellion. The Hu people sent out a thousand elite cavalry to intercept them. Xikangsheng only brought five hundred men, defeated them and pursued them all the way to Shiyang City, killing thirty enemies. Xiao Bin commanded seven thousand soldiers in battle against the Hu people, dividing his forces into five armies. Four of the armies were defeated; only Xikangsheng's forces emerged unscathed. Xikangsheng was subsequently promoted to commander. Leading a thousand elite cavalry, he chased the Hu forces to Chetu Valley. Feigning a fall from his horse, the Hu people, believing he was dead, rushed to seize his spoils. Xikangsheng suddenly jumped onto his horse, brandishing his spear and killing dozens of Hu soldiers. The Hu forces then scattered in disarray and fled north. The King of Xinzhi rode a fast horse to escape but was shot dead by Xikangsheng from less than a hundred paces away. In the end, Xikangsheng captured tens of thousands of cattle, sheep, camels, and horses belonging to the Hu people.
Xiaoluan stirred up trouble in Yiyang, rallying the local residents to rebel. Kangsheng followed Wang Su to fight him, besieging Yiyang City. Xiaoluan's subordinate Zhang Fuhu was very arrogant on the city tower, so Wang Su ordered Kangsheng to take him out. With a powerful bow and sturdy arrow, Kangsheng shot an arrow through the window, hitting Zhang Fuhu directly and killing him on the spot. When the common folk witnessed this archery skill, they exclaimed, "This is truly a divine arrow!" For killing Zhang Fuhu, Kangsheng was rewarded with a thousand bolts of silk! He later won several battles, repelling Xiaoluan's forces on two occasions, and was promoted, receiving an additional five hundred bolts of silk.
Xiao Baojuan laid siege to Guoyang, hoping to lift the siege. The court dispatched Gao Cong and his four armies to provide assistance, but both rescue attempts failed. At that time, Meng Biao, the Governor of Guoyang, kept pleading for help, so the Emperor instructed Wang Su to quickly rush to support. Wang Su scored a resounding victory, defeating the enemy, which led to his promotion, and rewarded him with a thousand bolts of silk! After Shou Chun City surrendered, the Emperor sent Wang Su with a thousand elite soldiers and two good horses to quickly rush to Shou Chun. Upon arrival, Wang Su summoned the city elders, proclaimed the imperial edict, comforted the people, and distributed rewards. Not long after, Xiao Baojuan sent Huan He to station troops in Liangcheng, while Chen Bozhi occupied Xieshi, causing widespread unrest among the populace. Wang Su was tasked with defense both inside and outside the city, isolated from external contact, and held out for a month until reinforcements arrived. Once reinforcements arrived, Wang Su led his troops to attack, defeating Huan He and Chen Bozhi's forces, recapturing the military strongholds of Liangcheng, Hefei, and Luokou. For his great achievements, Wang Su was promoted to General of Conquest, granted the title of founding noble of Anwu County, and given a fief of two hundred households. He was later appointed as the Governor of Nan Qingzhou. Meanwhile, on Xiao Yan's side, he sent Xu Ji to lead troops to the border, and Wang Su led his troops to a decisive victory, capturing Xu Ji alive and receiving rewards of a thousand bolts of silk! Upon hearing of Wang Su's exceptional archery skills, which allowed him to draw a powerful bow weighing over ten stones, Xiao Yan sent him two specially crafted large bows. After receiving the bows, Wang Su summoned civil and military officials, tested them out, and found it surprisingly easy! The bow measured eight feet long, with a bow handle circumference of one foot and two inches, and the arrows were about as thick as a modern flute, making everyone think that this bow and arrow set was considered a rare treasure. The bow was then treasured and placed in the arsenal.
General Song Hei, sent by Xiao Yan, led troops to harass Pengcheng. At that time, Kang Sheng was dealing with the death of his mother, so the court issued an edict for him to act as a deputy general, granting him regalia and temporarily appointing him as General of Pacification of the South, allowing him to command the troops of Southern Qingzhou to defeat Song Hei. Later, Xiao Yan also dispatched Governor and Prince of Linchuan, Xiao Hong, along with Deputy General Zhang Huishao, leading an army of 100,000 to attack Xuzhou, and appointed Song Hei as the Inspector of Xuzhou, giving him 20,000 troops to advance by land and water, directly surrounding Gaozhong Guard. The court then conferred upon Kang Sheng the title of General of the Imperial Guard, granting him regalia, and also temporarily appointing him as General of Pacification of the South, allowing him to act as a deputy general, commanding 3,000 Yulin troops with the ability to deploy cavalry and infantry as needed. Kang Sheng defeated Song Hei's forces in a battle. Upon returning to the capital, the emperor summoned him, hosted a banquet in his honor, bestowed upon him 1,000 bolts of silk, and presented him with a fine imperial steed.
Subsequently, he was appointed as General of Pingxi and Inspector of Huazhou, demonstrating commendable performance and achieving notable success. Later, he was transferred to Jingzhou as Inspector, while still retaining the position of General of Pingxi. However, he was impeached by the censors for privately using government-supplied coal and roofing tiles, leading to his dismissal from office. Not long after, the emperor issued a decree reinstating him to his official position. General Xu Xuanming, a commander under Xiao Yan, was stationed in Yuzhou and killed the Inspector of Yuzhou, Zhang Ji, after which Yuzhou city surrendered. The court then sent Kang Sheng to welcome him, rewarding him with a finely silver-wrapped spear and fruits like jujubes and pears. The emperor personally wrote a decree stating, “The jujube symbolizes my intentions; the pear signifies the swift fulfillment of my wishes.” Just as he was about to set out, Yuzhou rebelled once more. At this time, Pei Xuan, the Deputy Commandant of Yangzhou, instigated a rebellion, and the court appointed Kang Sheng as General of Pingdong, appointing him as a deputy general, commanding 4,000 Yulin troops to quell the rebellion, which was ultimately resolved without his intervention.
After his father passed away, he was appointed as the General of Pingxi and General of the Western Command. That year, the court launched a large-scale campaign against Shu, appointing Kang Sheng as the General of Anxi, leading thirty thousand infantry and cavalry to take a detour and attack Mianzhu. Upon reaching Longyou, Emperor Shizong passed away, and the army returned to the capital city. He was appointed as the Minister of Guards. Later, he served as the General of the Army and the Governor of Xiangzhou. During his time in Xiangzhou, due to the drought, he ordered the whipping of an image of Stone Tiger; then he went to the temple of Ximen Bao to pray for rain, and when the rain did not come, he ordered the officials to cut out the tongue of a leopard. Not long after, his two sons passed away one after another, and he himself fell ill; the shaman claimed it was the doing of Stone Tiger and Ximen Bao.
Gao Huan was appointed Minister of Ceremonies and also served as General of the Right Guard. He and Yuancha conspired to depose Empress Dowager Ling. Later, he was promoted to Grand General of the Army, Intendant of Henan, while continuing to serve as General of the Right Guard, while also concurrently holding the titles of General of the Left and Right Guards. His son Gao Xiaoyu married the daughter of the General of the Left Guard, Hou Gang, who happened to be Yuancha's sister. Because of this family relationship, Gao Huan, Yuancha, and Hou Gang had a strong mutual trust, often staying overnight together in the palace, taking turns on watch. Gao Huan also appointed his son Gao Xiaoyu as the commander of a thousand elite troops.
Gao Xiaoyu is rough and tough and speaks in a very forceful manner. Gao Huan is somewhat wary of him, which is evident on his face, causing Gao Xiaoyu to feel somewhat fearful and anxious. In March of the second year of the Zhengguang era, Emperor Xiaowu invited Empress Dowager Ling to a banquet at Xilinyuan. All the civil and military officials joined in the drinking. After three rounds of drinks, everyone began dancing to liven up the mood. When it was Gao Xiaoyu's turn, he performed the wrestler's dance, always looking at the Empress Dowager, raising his hands, stomping his feet, staring, nodding, gesturing as if he were about to bind and kill. The Empress Dowager understood his intentions but did not dare to speak. In the evening, the Empress Dowager wanted to take Emperor Xiaowu to Xinguang Palace to rest. Hou Gang remarked, "The Emperor has already completed his court session, and the palace concubines are all in the southern quarters. Why stay overnight?" Gao Xiaoyu replied, "The Emperor is His Majesty's son. Does he need to ask anyone where he goes?" None of the other ministers dared to answer. The Empress Dowager had to rise on her own, take Emperor Xiaowu's arm, and exit the hall. Gao Xiaoyu shouted "Long live!" loudly from behind, and the attendants also shouted "Long live!" together. As Emperor Xiaowu entered the palace, people on both sides rushed in, causing the door to remain open. Gao Xiaoyu snatched his son’s Qinniu knife and injured the imperial guard Yuan Sifu, finally restoring order. As Emperor Xiaowu entered the hall, Gao Xiaoyu was still drinking and was about to step out to deal with the situation when Yuan Cha seized him and locked him at the door.
The next morning, before Yuan Cha emerged, he sent more than ten officials, including the Court Attendant, the Yellow Gate Attendant, and the Minister of Personnel, to interrogate Gao Xiaoyu, who was ultimately sentenced to death by dismemberment. Yuan Cha and Hou Gang forged an imperial edict in the palace, determining their death sentences. The initial report stated that Gao Xiaoyu was sentenced to death, but his sentence was later commuted to exile. Gao Xiaoyu cried as he bid farewell to his father, who felt comforted by his son's reprieve yet remained generous and untroubled, telling his son: "I couldn't survive, so why are you crying?" The officials urged them on, and they ran all the way to the execution ground. By then, it was late in the day, and the executioner delivered several blows, but Gao Xiaoyu was still alive, so he was ultimately dismembered on the ground. Everyone said this was done on Gao Huan's orders, and the process was extremely painful. Xi Hun, who had once been a cook in the palace, entered the palace with a knife alongside Gao Xiaoyu and was also hanged at the execution ground.
Kang Sheng had been a general for a long time and later served as a governor, during which he killed many people. However, he also practiced Buddhism and donated his houses multiple times to build temples and pagodas. He served as the governor of four different provinces, leaving behind his architectural works in each one. He died at the age of fifty-four, while his son Nan was only eighteen at the time. Because his son-in-law was the son of Hou Jing, Nan's body was allowed to be kept for one hundred days before being moved to Anzhou. Later, when Minister Lu Tong took office at the executive court, he ordered Kang Sheng to be executed. Kang Sheng built a three-story Buddhist pagoda on Nanshan, and before he died, he dreamed that the pagoda collapsed. A monk told him, "Benefactor, you are about to encounter misfortune; no one is offering worship to the pagoda, which is why it will collapse." Kang Sheng believed the monk was right, and indeed, it came to be. Later, when Empress Dowager Ling resumed power, she posthumously honored him as the Commander of Military Affairs in the three provinces of Jiying, Ying, and Cang, the General of Cavalry, the Grand Minister of Works, and the Inspector of Jizhou, and he was posthumously enfeoffed as the Marquis of Shouzhang County, with an estate of a thousand households.
His son Kang Gang inherited the title and served as the chief secretary of Qingzhou Prefecture during the Wuding period. After the Qi dynasty assumed power, his title was downgraded. Kang Gang's brother, Kang Dingguo, inherited the title of the founding noble of Anwu County of Kang Sheng'an.
Yang Dayan is the grandson of the Dizu leader Nan Dang from Wudu. He had been bold and quick since childhood. However, because he was quite unconventional, he was not well-regarded by his relatives and often went hungry and cold. During the Taihe period, he began serving in the court as a court attendant.
At that time, Emperor Gaozu led his army south from the Dai region to campaign and appointed the Minister of Personnel Li Chong to oversee conscription. Yang Dayan approached Li Chong for an opportunity. Li Chong did not agree, and Yang Dayan said, "Minister, you don't know what I'm capable of; let me demonstrate." He then took out a rope approximately thirty feet long, tied it to his hair, and started running. The rope flew straight as an arrow, and even the horses couldn't keep up with him; those who saw it were amazed. Li Chong said, "Since ancient times, I have never seen such a remarkable talent!" So he appointed him a military commander. Yang Dayan told his colleagues, "I am now a 'dragon in water'; from now on, I will no longer be on the same level as you." Not long after, he was promoted to commander of the army. He followed Emperor Gaozu in campaigns in Wan, Ye, Rang, Deng, Jiujiang, and Zhongli, and in every battle, he outshone others in bravery, proving to be the strongest in the army. In the early years of Emperor Shizong, Pei Shuye led Shouchun to surrender, and Yang Dayan and Xi Kangsheng led their troops to enter Shouchun first. Due to his achievements, he was granted the title of founding noble of Ancheng County, entitled to a fief of three hundred households. He was appointed as General of the Direct Pavilion and soon promoted to General of State Support and General of Striking the Enemy.
He was appointed as the General of Conquering the Barbarians and the Governor of Eastern Jingzhou. At that time, the barbarian tribal leaders, including Fan Xiu'an, rebelled, and the court appointed him as a deputy general to assist Commander Li Chong in suppressing the rebellion. His wife, Lady Pan, was quite impressive, skilled in horseback riding and archery, who often visited him at the military camp. During battles or hunts, he often had Lady Pan don armor, either fighting side by side on the battlefield or riding together in the mountains. Back at the camp, they would sit together in the tent, chatting and laughing with their subordinates, feeling very at ease. He would often point to Lady Pan and tell others, "This is General Pan!"
Xiao Yan sent him along with the former governor of Jiangzhou, Wang Maoxian, with tens of thousands of troops to Fan Yong, to win the support of the barbarian and Xia tribes, planning to establish Wanzhou. He also had the governor of Wanzhou, Lei Baolang, the military commander Cao Zhongzong, and others secretly occupy Henan City with twenty thousand troops. The Emperor appointed this general as the General of Martial Guards, the Honorary General of Pacification in the South, granting him military authority to lead Cao Jing, Bing Qiu, Fan Lu, and several other military forces to attack Wang Maoxian and his allies, achieving a great victory by killing Deputy National General Wang Hua and Dragon Soaring General Shen Tianhua, and capturing and killing more than seven thousand enemies. Xiao Yan then dispatched his uncle Zhang Huishao to secretly take control of Suyu. The Emperor appointed him as the General of Pacification in the East, as a deputy general to fight alongside Commander Xing Luan in defeating Zhang Huishao. They then pursued the victory, surrounding Zhongli City together with the King of Zhongshan, with his army stationed to the east of the city, guarding the two routes leading to the Huai River bridge. However, at that moment, the river swelled unexpectedly, and his subordinates Liu Shenfu and Gongsun Zhi's two armies fought amongst themselves in a scramble for the bridge, eventually fleeing in chaos, and he couldn't stop them and could only flee alongside them. In the end, he was demoted and assigned to serve as a soldier in Yingzhou.
During the Yongping era, the emperor, recalling Yang Dayan's previous contributions, promoted him to serve as the Governor of Zhongshan Commandery, initially on a trial basis. At that time, Gao Zhao was engaged in the campaign against Shu, and the emperor was concerned that Xiao Yan would take the opportunity to invade Xuzhou and Yangzhou. Therefore, he appointed Yang Dayan as the Grand Historian of the Grand Commandant, granting him the authority to issue edicts and conferred upon him the title of Acting General of Pingnan, designating him as the vanguard for the eastern expedition under the command of Yuanyuan Yaodu, to defend against enemies at the Huai River and in the Fei region. Upon Yang Dayan's arrival in the capital, everyone admired his bravery and was pleased with his renewed appointment; ministers and common people alike came out to see him, resulting in a massive crowd.
When Yang Dayan reached Qiaonan, the emperor died. At that time, Xiao Yan sent the general Kang Xuan to block the Huai River at Fushan, attempting to flood Shouchun City. The court then promoted Yang Dayan to Grand Minister of Rites, allowing him to command troops stationed at Jingshan, and restored his noble title. Later, he, along with Xiao Baoyin, campaigned against the Huai Weir but they were unable to capture it. Consequently, they dug a canal upstream to divert the floodwaters before withdrawing their troops, after which he was further promoted to General of Pingdong.
Yang Dayan's horseback riding skills were exceptional, dressed in magnificent armor, skillfully rolling and spinning; he was recognized as a hero of the time. He treated soldiers like his own sons, even shedding tears when he saw injured soldiers. He always led the troops into battle, fearlessly charging at the enemy, entering and exiting enemy lines without hesitation; the enemy's ferocity was no match for him. Southern Dynasty bandits, as soon as they heard that Yang Dayan was coming, fled before he even crossed the river. It is said that in the areas of the Huai River, the Si River, Jingzhou, and the Mian River, when children cry, adults terrify them by saying, "Yang Dayan is coming!" The children immediately stop crying. Wang Su's student Bingzhi just returned from the south and said to Yang Dayan, "I heard about your reputation in the south; I imagined your eyes would be as big as wheels! When I saw you, I found that you were no different from ordinary people." Yang Dayan replied, "As long as we face each other, if I glare angrily and bravely kill enemies, I can make you unable to look away; why do I need eyes as big as wheels!" People at that time all believed that Yang Dayan was valiant and skilled in battle, on par with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. However, in the campaign to conquer Huaiyan, he became irritable, unpredictable, and overly harsh in punishing his soldiers, leading to resentment among them. Those in the know believed this was due to a shift in his character.
Later, Yang Dayan was appointed as the governor of Jingzhou. He often made scarecrows out of mugwort grass and dressed them in blue cloth, then shot arrows at them. He gathered the local tribal leaders and pointed at these scarecrows, saying, "If you dare to rebel, I will kill you like this!" On another occasion, a tiger attacked people in Beiyu County, and Yang Dayan personally fought and subdued the tiger, cutting off its head and displaying it in the market of Rang County for everyone to see. From then on, both the people of Jingzhou and the tribes said, "Yang Gong is a tough guy; he often makes scarecrows in our likeness to shoot at, and even tigers in the deep mountains can't escape him, let alone us!" As a result, they were too scared to rebel or cause any trouble. Yang Dayan passed away two years after taking office in Jingzhou.
Although Dayan was illiterate, he always had someone read books to him while he sat and listened, and he could remember everything. When he had to write official documents, they were dictated, and as a result, he still didn't pick up much reading or writing. He had three sons: the eldest was named Zengsheng, the second was named Lingjun, and the youngest was named Zhengnan, all born of the Pan family, and they were all quite capable, just like their dad.
At first, Dayan was assigned to Yingzhou, while Panshi remained in Luoyang and acted somewhat inappropriately. Later, Dayan became the King of Zhongshan, and Dayan's illegitimate son-in-law, Zhao Yanbao, informed him of this. Dayan was furious and imprisoned Panshi before executing her. Later, he married Yuan Shi as his wife. After Dayan's burial, as they were returning to the capital, they camped and stayed overnight seven miles outside the city. In the middle of the night, Zeng Sheng and others opened Dayan's coffin, and Yanbao found it strange and asked them. Zhen Nan shot him dead with a single arrow. Fearing for her life, Yuan Shi ran into the water while Zhen Nan drew his bow to shoot her. Zeng Sheng said, "Who in this world would kill their own mother?" This remark stopped Zhen Nan. They then took Dayan's body, had it carried on horseback, and fled with their guards. The people of Jingzhou feared Zeng Sheng's prowess in battle and did not dare to pursue. They fled to Xiangyang seeking refuge with Xiao Yan.
Cui Yanbo was from Boling. His ancestor, Cui Shou, was trapped in Jiangnan while in Pengcheng. From a young age, Yanbo was known for his great strength and bravery. He served under Xiao Ze, served in the Yuanhuai Expeditionary Army, and also served as the commander of the Haokou garrison. During the Taihe era, he returned to Northern Wei, and the founding emperor held him in high regard and frequently appointed him as a commander. He exhibited greater courage and strategy than most and achieved military successes in every campaign. Thanks to his repeated military successes, he gradually rose through the ranks, becoming General of the Conquering Barbarians, the Governor of Jingzhou, and was appointed as the Lord of Dingling. Jingzhou's treacherous terrain often invited trouble from the barbarians. Whenever the barbarians gathered, Yanbo personally led the charge, ensuring none could escape. Consequently, the Jingzhou region stabilized, and no one dared to stir up trouble again.
During the Yongping era, Wei Yanbo was promoted to Rear General and also served as Governor of Youzhou. As a result, Xiao Yan sent his subordinate, General Zhao Zuyue, to secretly seize the Gorge Stone. The court subsequently ordered Wei Yanbo to take on the role of a deputy general and to join General Cui Liang in attacking Zhao Zuyue. Cui Liang assigned Wei Yanbo to defend Xiaocai. Wei Yanbo and another deputy general, Yi Wengsheng, set up camp by the Huai River.
Wei Yanbo was quite resourceful; he had his men dismantle the cart wheels, take off the rims, sharpen the spokes, and connect them in pairs. Then, he used bamboo to weave ropes to link these sharpened spokes together, creating over ten rows that spanned the water, forming a bridge! The ends of the bridge were equipped with large pulleys that allowed for raising and lowering as needed, making it resistant to fire and cutting by the enemy. This not only cut off Zhao Zuyue's land route but also stopped his ships from getting through. Xiao Yan's army couldn't provide any assistance, and Zhao Zuyue and his troops were all captured. As a result, Wei Yanbo was granted the title of General of Pacifying the South and appointed as Grand Master of Ceremonies by the court, which led to his promotion and newfound wealth!
Later, Wei Yanbo returned from Huaiyang with Yang Dayan and the others. Empress Ling was enjoying herself in Xilin Garden and had them specially received. Empress Ling praised them, saying, "You have great ambitions, courage, and diligence; you’re all the backbone of the country! The victory in the battle of Xiashi (the Battle of Xiashi) has made both the court and the people very happy, and this is all thanks to your efforts! However, the dam on the Huai River is still in place, and we need to plan it well, which is why I called you here to discuss it together. I want each of you to come up with a proposal for future reference." Yang Dayan patted his chest and said, "I believe that if we attack with two lines along the waterways, there won't be a place we can't conquer!" At this moment, Wei Yanbo said, "I can't compare myself to General Yang. Since we are before the Emperor, I must speak frankly. There are ditches on both sides of the Huai River; how can we rely solely on land for our attacks? My knowledge is limited, and I sincerely ask the Emperor to understand the challenges our navy faces and grant us another year to specifically train for naval warfare. In case of any situation, we can be dispatched at any time, and I guarantee victory!" After hearing this, Empress Ling found Wei Yanbo's points quite compelling and agreed to his request.
Two years later, Wei Yanbo was promoted and became the General of Anbei and the Governor of Bingzhou. Unfortunately, during his tenure, he became embroiled in corruption and bribery, ruining his reputation across the land. Later, he was recalled by the court and demoted to the position of Grand Minister of Jinzi Guanglu. After that, he was sent to serve as the General of Zhennan and the Governor of Qizhou, and he was also granted the title of General of Zhengxi, with the court rewarding him with a splendid horse. In the autumn of the fifth year of the Zhengguang era, he was granted the title of Marquis of Dangli County for his achievements in building the Huai Bridge in Yangzhou, with a fief of two hundred households, and soon after, he was granted an additional one hundred households. He was then regranted the title of Marquis of Xinfeng County, and his rank was elevated to Viscount.
Legend has it that a notorious bandit named Tiansheng rose from Longdong. Yuan Zhi, the General of Zhengxi, was captured by him! This bandit army was numerous and camped by the Heishui River. The court then sent Yanbo, granting him the prestigious titles of Envoy with Authority, General of Zhengxi, and Commander of the Western Road, to team up with Acting General Xiao Baoyin to take on Tiansheng.
Bao Ying and Yan Bo camped at Mawei, the two camps were over a hundred steps apart, one to the north and the other to the south. Bao Ying gathered the generals daily to strategize on how to fight. Yan Bo always said, "These bandits have just won a battle, their morale is high, it's not good to confront them head-on." Bao Ying criticized him sternly when he heard this: "You are enjoying the favor of the court, leading troops into battle; this is about the nation's security! You always say that the bandits are difficult to defeat, isn't that just cowardice? This will damage the morale of the army; this is your fault!"
Early the next morning, Yan Bo went to apologize to Bao Ying and said, "I'm ready to fully back you up in scouting the enemy's strengths and weaknesses." Yan Bo selected several thousand elite soldiers, crossed the Heishui River, set up their formation, and advanced towards the bandit camp; Bao Ying led the main army to the east, observing from a high vantage point to provide support. At that time, there were too many bandits, their tents covered a mile on the west side of the Heishui River, forming a continuous line. Yan Bo directly charged near the bandit camp, deliberately putting on a show, and then slowly retreated.
Seeing that Yan Bo had fewer men, the bandits opened the camp gates and chased after them, with the number of pursuers being over ten times that of Yan Bo's men, forcing them to the riverbank. Bao Ying watched in fear that Yan Bo's men would take losses. Yan Bo did not engage in battle, held the rear, and led the troops to the east to cross the river, retreating at lightning speed. In a short time, they all crossed the river, and then he crossed himself. The bandits' morale crumbled, and they all headed back to their camp. Bao Ying was very happy and said to his subordinates, "Cui Yan Bo, a fierce general like the legendary Guan Yu and Zhang Fei! What bandits are there that we can't take down this year!"
Yan Bo hurried to see Bao Yin and said, "These bandit troops are no match for me, just you wait!" The next day, Yan Bo led the army into battle, with Bao Yin backing him up from behind. Tian Sheng took all his troops into the fight, and Yan Bo ordered the soldiers to charge at the front and break into the enemy formation. The soldiers fought bravely and scored a resounding victory, capturing and killing more than a hundred thousand enemies, pursuing them all the way to Xiao Long. The bandit troops in Qin were notorious for their strength, and other generals were very afraid. When the court initially discussed who to send to fight, everyone said only Yan Bo could handle it, and indeed he won. The court then promoted him to Right Guard General.
At that time, the likes of Wanqi Chounu and Su Qimingda were wreaking havoc and pillaging in the Jingzhou area. Earlier, generals like Lu Zuqian and Yi Wengsheng had set out with the marshal from Yongzhou, taking the Six Paths to seize Gaoping. However, the marshal was defeated, and they remained in the Jingzhou region. Later, after Yan Bo defeated the bandit troops in Qin territory, he and General Bao Yin brought a massive army of 120,000 and 8,000 warhorses, marching in grand formation to meet up in Anding, their momentum truly impressive!
Wanqi Chounu set up camp at Dangyuan City, seventy miles northwest of Jingzhou, occasionally sending out light cavalry to taunt the enemy. Before the main army engaged in battle, they pretended to retreat to the north. Yan Bo, feeling a bit too proud of his earlier victories, suggested sending troops to attack first. They cut down trees and built a unique kind of defensive structure, with locked pillars inside, and specifically trained elite soldiers to carry this structure, calling it "Pavilion City." The soldiers were on the outside, while the supplies were kept in the center, advancing north from Jingzhou across the fields.
The army was about to launch an attack and had not yet engaged in battle when suddenly a few hundred cavalry appeared, pretending to surrender while holding documents, claiming they had come to surrender and asking for a pause in the attack. Bao Yin and Yan Bo thought it seemed real and hesitated to take a closer look. As a result, Su Qinmingda led a large force from the northeast, and those fake surrendering bandits charged in from the west, surrounding our forces from all sides. Yan Bo quickly got on his horse and charged into the enemy lines, scattering the enemy, who scattered and fled north toward their camp.
The bandits were light cavalry, while Yan Bo's army also included infantry, and the soldiers were already exhausted. The bandits seized the opportunity to rush into "Pailou City." Yan Bo's army suffered a devastating defeat, with nearly twenty thousand dead and wounded. Bao Yin quickly recalled the troops and retreated to Jingzhou.
Yan Bo regrouped and enlisted elite soldiers, camping seven miles from the bandit stronghold at Pengkang Valley. Ashamed for having lost face earlier and not consulting Bao Yin, he led his troops in a surprise attack against the bandits, achieving a resounding victory and swiftly capturing several bandit camps. The bandits fled in panic, looting anything they could, creating chaos, then turned back to fight, leading to a total rout. Tragically, Yan Bo was struck by an arrow and killed in action, with over ten thousand of his soldiers also losing their lives. Yan Bo was adept at comforting his men, winning their loyalty; he and Kang Sheng and Da Yan were known as the three great generals of the army, with Yan Bo's final accomplishments being especially noteworthy.
With the great enemy not yet subdued, Yan Bo died in battle, leaving the court and the people in mourning and fear. The court posthumously conferred upon him the titles of Envoy with Authority, General of Chariots and Cavalry, Minister of the Three Departments, and Governor of Dingzhou, and he was posthumously honored with the name Wulie.
There was once a man named Wang Zu, a formidable warrior with exceptional cunning. He followed Xing Luan to fight in the Shu region, winning every battle he fought along the way. The court appointed him as the Yizhou Governor. He besieged Foucheng, and the people of Shu were scared stiff. Later, when he heard this news, Wang Zu withdrew his troops and eventually defected to Xiao Yan. There was also another fierce general known for his bravery named Wang Shen Nian, who later left his position as the Governor of Yingchuan to go to Jiangnan.
In Jizhou, there was Li Shuren, whose younger brother was Li Longgui; both were renowned for their bravery as generals. Li Shuren rose to the rank of Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, and was granted the title of Duke of Chenjun. He later became the Governor of Liangzhou and passed away in Guanshi. His brother, Li Longgui, died in battle at Baidao during the northern expedition in the Zhengguang period. There were also notable individuals like Wang Mainu, Governor of Pingzhou; Cao Jing, Governor of Nanqinzhou; Fan Lu, Governor of Nanyanzhou; Qing Qiu, Governor of Yizhou; Xing Bao, Governor of Xuanzhou; as well as Qu Zu, Yan Sida, Lü Po, Cui Xi, Chai Qingzong, Zongzheng Zhen Sun, Lu Zuqian, and Gao Zhifang, who were all well-known generals of their time with notable military achievements, though their specific exploits are not well recorded.
However, compared to them, the feats of Kang Sheng, Da Yan, and Yan Bo were even more impressive. Historical records comment that when the emperor hears the war drums, he thinks of those exceptional generals. Why? Because quelling rebellions and fending off foreign enemies is vital for the nation's safety! Kang Sheng and his companions were all as fierce as bears and tigers, brimming with the spirit of combat; they were the most valiant and skilled warriors of their time, and their achievements deserve to be celebrated by future generations.
