Er Zhu Zhao, whose courtesy name was Wan Ren, is a descendant of Er Zhu Rong. From a young age, he was a formidable warrior, especially skilled in horseback riding and archery, and could even wrestle fierce beasts barehanded; his agility was unmatched. He often accompanied Er Zhu Rong on hunts, always being the first to reach remote, treacherous cliffs. Because of this, Er Zhu Rong held him in high regard and affection, treating him as a trusted confidant. While on a diplomatic mission, he saw two deer along the way and sent Er Zhu Zhao ahead, giving him only two arrows and telling him, "Shoot down those two deer for our meal today." Er Zhu Zhao then stopped to build a fire and wait. Before long, he had shot one. Er Zhu Rong, wanting to demonstrate his subordinate's skills, sent someone to reprimand Er Zhu Zhao, asking, "Why didn’t you shoot both deer?" and then ordered Er Zhu Zhao to receive fifty strokes.
Later, Erzhu Zhao was promoted to General of Pingyuan and Colonel of Infantry based on his military achievements. When Erzhu Rong entered Luoyang, Erzhu Zhao served as the vanguard commander. After Empress Xiaozhuang ascended to the throne, Erzhu Zhao was specially appointed as the General of the Central Army, Grand Master of Golden Purple Radiance, and further conferred as Valiant Cavalry General and Prefect of Jianxing. Shortly after, he was promoted to General with Command of the Army, General of Chariot and Cavalry, Guard General, Grand Master of Left Radiance, Commander, and Duke of Kaiguo in Yingchuan, with a fief consisting of 1,200 households. Later, he followed Erzhu Tianmu, the King of Shangdang, to suppress the rebellion of Xing Gao. When Yuan Hao stationed troops at Heqiao, Erzhu Rong sent Erzhu Zhao and others to lead hundreds of cavalry, crossing the Yellow River from the west side of Mazhu at night, launching an attack on Yuan Hao's son, Yuan Guanshou, and capturing him. Erzhu Zhao pursued the victory, defeating Prince Anfeng Yuan Yanming, forcing Yuan Hao to flee. Empress Xiaozhuang returned to the palace, rewarding Erzhu Zhao for his contributions, appointing him as Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, Chariot and Cavalry Grand General, Supervisor of the Palace Secretariat, and increasing his fief by 800 households. Erzhu Zhao also served as Inspector of Fenzhou, with an additional 1,000 households added to his fief. Shortly after, he was further appointed as Palace Attendant, General of the Valiant Cavalry, with another 500 households added to his fief.
After the death of Zhu Rong, Gao Huan moved troops from Fenzhou to take control of Jinyang. After Yuan Hui ascended to the throne, he appointed Gao Huan as the Grand General and conferred upon him the title of Prince. Gao Huan and Hou Jing planned a joint attack on Luoyang, so Gao Huan marched his army southward to Taihang Mountain. The Commander under the Grand Commander Yuan Zigong, Shi Wulong, opened the city gates and surrendered to him, while Yuan Zigong made his escape.
Gao Huan led a light cavalry troop, took a shortcut across the river from the west bank, crossed the river, and launched a surprise attack on Luoyang City. Previously, someone had a dream by the river, in which a god said: "The Erzhu family will cross the river, and they will use you as the magistrate at Leibo Ferry to help you narrow the river's water channels." A month later, the dreamer passed away. When Gao Huan arrived at the river, a passerby said he knew where the water was shallow and marked the route on the ground to guide them across. However, this person suddenly disappeared without a trace. Gao Huan then crossed the river on horseback.
On that day, a fierce wind howled and yellow sand swirled through the air. Gao Huan's cavalry rushed to the palace gate, and the guards soon realized something was amiss. They drew their bows and aimed to shoot, but Gao Huan's robe got caught in the bowstring, preventing them from firing. The guards all ran away. The emperor rushed out of Yu
At first, Erzhu Zhao planned to attack Luoyang and sent envoys to invite Prince Gao Huan of Qi to act together. At that time, Gao Huan was the Governor of Jinzhou. He said to his Chief of Staff Sun Teng, "It is too unusual for me, as a subject, to attack my sovereign. If I don't go now, he will surely resent me. Go and explain my intentions to him. Tell him that Shu has not yet been pacified, and I am currently attacking, so I can't leave it unattended and risk future troubles. Once Shu is pacified, we will form a pincer movement along both banks of the Yellow River to support one another. Tell him this and see how he reacts." Sun Teng went to Daguxian in Bingzhou and found Erzhu Zhao, conveying Gao Huan's intentions to him in detail. Erzhu Zhao was not pleased and responded, "Go back and tell Gao that I had a good dream. This time, we will definitely win the battle." Sun Teng asked, "What did the Prince dream about?" Erzhu Zhao replied, "I dreamt my late father was standing on a high mound of earth, with the surrounding land well cultivated, except for some clumps of horseweed still left. My father asked me why I didn't pull them out, and the others said they were too tough to pull out. My father looked at me and asked me to pull them out, and when I did, they were all pulled out. So, this time, the battle will surely be in our favor." Sun Teng returned and told Gao Huan everything, and Gao Huan said, "Erzhu Zhao and his men are too arrogant, rebelling with armed forces. I will not join them this time. He already suspects me, and I can no longer serve the Erzhu clan. He is now heading south, the Emperor is camped by the Yellow River with his troops, Erzhu Zhao can't cross the river, and he can't retreat. I'll launch a surprise attack from Shandong, and we'll capture them in one fell swoop."
Not long after, Erzhu Zhao captured the capital, and Emperor Xiaozhuang was taken prisoner. Commander Wei Jing followed Erzhu Zhao south and wrote a letter to inform Gao Huan. Gao Huan was shocked when he received the letter, and he summoned Sun Teng to show him the letter, saying, "Make haste to Erzhu Zhao's camp. On the surface, offer him congratulations, but secretly observe where the Emperor is now, whether he is with Erzhu Zhao's forces or has been taken elsewhere, like Jinyang. If he transfers the Emperor to Bingzhou, you must immediately return and report to me. I will intercept him on the way and proclaim justice to the world." Sun Teng traveled day and night and encountered Emperor Xiaozhuang on the way. At that time, Gao Huan was leading his cavalry east, but upon hearing that the Emperor had crossed the Yellow River, he turned back westward. He wrote another letter to Erzhu Zhao, explaining the situation and advising him against harming the Emperor to prevent disgrace. Erzhu Zhao, angry, refused to listen, and Emperor Xiaozhuang ultimately met his demise.
Initially, after Rong (referring to Rong He) died, the Emperor ordered the Hexi forces and He Douling's Tubo troops to attack Xiurong. After Tuoba Tao (referring to Tuoba Tao) entered Luoyang, the Tubo forces were formidable and advanced southward toward Jinyang, so Tuoba Tao had no time to stay in Luoyang and returned to resist them. Although Tuoba Tao was brave and skilled in battle, he lacked strategy and was often defeated by Tubo. Therefore, he reorganized his army, planning to leave Shanxi and advance to Shandong. He repeatedly sent envoys to Jinzhou to summon Xianwu Wang (referring to Tuoba Tao's brother), and assigned him the troops from three provinces and six garrisons to command. After the troops were stationed, Tuoba Tao led a substantial force southward to evade the Tubo threat.
Bu Fan arrived in the Yueping Commandery, and Xianwu Wang and Tuoba Tao launched a counterattack jointly, defeating Bu Fan and executing him at Shigushan in Xiurong. Bu Fan's army fled in disarray. Tuoba Tao went to meet Xianwu Wang with several dozen cavalry soldiers, and the two of them feasted and drank through the night. Later, Tuoba Tao returned to the camp to welcome Xianwu Wang, but Xianwu Wang, aware of Tuoba Tao's unreliability, did not show up immediately, planning to meet him in person. As he was about to mount his horse, the Grand Historian Sun Teng grabbed his clothes to stop him. Tuoba Tao then loudly scolded Sun Teng and his companions from across the river. So the two parted ways, as Xianwu Wang made his way east from Xiangyuan and Tuoba Tao returned to Jinyang.
When the former Emperor (referring to Tuoba Wencheng) ascended the throne, he appointed Tuoba Tao as the Commissioner of Credentials, Attendant, Commander-in-Chief of all military affairs, Grand General of the Pillar State, Leading General, Leading Left and Right, Inspector of Bingzhou Province, concurrently in charge of the Secretariat, and the Grand Council. He also appointed him as the Grand General of Tianzhu, to which Tuoba Tao said to others, "This was my uncle's (referring to Tuoba Sheyijian) final official position, how could I dare to accept it?" He resolutely declined the position. Shortly after, he was further appointed as the Commander of the Ten Provinces' Military Affairs and the hereditary Inspector of Bingzhou Province.
When King Xian of Qi attacked Yinzhou, he agreed with Zhao, Zhongyuan, and Dulü to launch a joint campaign. Zhongyuan and Dulü were stationed in Yangping; they then moved north from Jingxing and set up camp in Guang'a, boasting a total force of 100,000 troops. King Xian of Qi secretly plotted and spread rumors, claiming that the Shilong brothers intended to betray Zhao and that Zhao and King Xian were conspiring against Zhongyuan and the others. As a result, no one trusted each other, leading to mutual suspicion and reluctance to advance. Zhongyuan and his allies repeatedly sent Hushi Chun and Heba Sheng to clarify matters with Zhao, who only brought 300 lightly armed cavalry to meet Zhongyuan, and the two sat down in a tent. Zhao, known for his rough demeanor, was visibly displeased; he waved his riding whip, let out a howl, and looked around with a serious expression, deeply suspicious that Zhongyuan and the others were plotting against him, so he rode back in a hurry. Zhongyuan dispatched Hushi Chun, Heba Sheng, and others to catch up and persuade him, but ultimately, Zhao was captured. After being detained for a day, Zhongyuan released him. As a result, Zhongyuan and his allies withdrew. King Xian of Qi then launched an attack on Zhao's forces, and Zhao's army was heavily defeated. From that point on, Zhao, Zhongyuan, and Dulü remained suspicious of one another and did not reconcile for a long time.
Shi Long requested the former Emperor to appoint Zhao’s daughter as Empress, which made Zhao very happy. Shi Long used generous gifts to persuade Zhao to go to Luoyang, acting very humbly, completely following Zhao’s wishes and not daring to disobey. Zhao, Tian Guang, and Du Lu once again swore their alliance, then met in battle at Hanling Mountain. They were defeated and fled to Jinyang, then plundered the city of Bingzhou. Qi Xianwu Wang set out from Ye City in pursuit, and Zhao fled to Xiurong. Qi Xianwu Wang pursued again, catching up at Chihong Ridge, defeating Zhao's army, with many either surrendering or scattering. Zhao fled into the deep mountains. There, he killed his own horse and hanged himself. Qi Xianwu Wang took custody of his body and buried him. Zhao was a brave warrior, always charging ahead in battle, earning admiration from many generals for his courage. However, he had a rough demeanor, lacked wisdom, and had no ability to command troops in battle. Although Rong (referring to Qi Xianwu Wang) admired his courage, he often said, "With just three thousand cavalry, Zhao would be fine, but too many people would cause chaos."
Zhao's younger brother Zhihu, previously appointed by the former Emperor as the Prince of Anding, Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, Governor of Sizhou, and held the rank equivalent to the Three Excellencies, fled with Zhao, was captured by Qi Xianwu Wang in the Nan Mountain of Liangjun Kelan, and later pardoned. He later died in Jinyang.
Erzhu Yanbo was Rong's (Qi Xianwu Wang) cousin. His ancestor was Hou Zhen, who served as the Governor of Bingzhou and Anzhou during the reign of the founding emperor of the dynasty, and was titled the Marquis of Shichang. His father was named Mai Zhen, who served as the General of Wuwei during the reign of Emperor Shizong, and was later appointed as the Governor of Huazhou.
Yanbo is a gentle and kind person. After passing the imperial examination, he entered the court as an official and was promoted to the position of Attendant of Carriages and later served as the Chief Historian of the Rong Residence. When Emperor Yuan Ye ascended to the throne, Yanbo was appointed as an Imperial Attendant. Previously, the deposed emperor had been secretly hiding in Longhua Temple, and Yanbo had been persuading him to return and had been very diligent in his efforts. After the deposed emperor returned to the throne, Erzhu Zhao was angry because he had not been involved in the previous plot and wanted to attack the emperor. The emperor sent Prince Huashan Zhi to persuade Erzhu Zhao, but he refused to relent. The emperor then sent Yanbo to personally persuade him, which finally made Erzhu Zhao stop. After successfully persuading him, the emperor hosted a banquet for Yanbo in the Xianyang Hall. At that time, Imperial Attendant Yuan Zigong and Imperial Guard Dou Yuan were also present. Yanbo sighed and said, "When Imperial Attendant Yuan served as a commander before, we confronted each other in Henan. At that time, both sides were evenly matched, separated by a long distance, just like the ends of the world; who would have thought we’d be serving His Majesty together and enjoying this feast today!" Yuan Zigong responded with a smile, "As Kuai Tong once said, 'A dog barking does not bite its master.' What happened in Yong'an before is just like serving His Majesty today!" The emperor laughed and said, "Imperial Attendant Yuan is truly wise." Then the emperor allowed them to drink to their heart's content before the banquet was dispersed. Shortly after, Yanbo was appointed as the General of the Chariots and Cavalry, the Right Minister of Guanglu, the Grand Marshal of the Horse Field, and was titled the Duke of Boling County. He was later promoted to a prince and then appointed as the Minister of Works. At that time, there was a drought, and some advised Yanbo to step down from his role as Minister of Works. He submitted his resignation request, which the emperor approved. Soon after, he was appointed as the Equal of the Three Excellencies and an Imperial Attendant. Among his peers, Yanbo was known to have committed no wrongs.
After Tian Guang and others were defeated at Hanling, Yan Bo wanted to station troops at Heqiao to boost their morale, but Shilong disagreed. Later, Zhang Quan and others launched an attack on Shilong while Yan Bo was on duty in the palace. Changsun Zhi and others reported to Qi Xian Wuwang at the Shenhu Gate, saying that the Er Zhu clan had committed a multitude of crimes and should be eliminated. The废帝 sent the palace attendant Guo Chong to inform Yan Bo about this. Yan Bo fled in a hurry and was captured. Soon after, he and Shilong were beheaded outside Changhe Gate, their heads hung on the tree at Hushi Chun Gate, before being sent to Qi Xian Wuwang for public display. Rumors had been circulating in Luoyang: "At the end of March and the beginning of April, shake off the ashes and sift through the soil to find pearls." There was another saying: "The head goes away, the feet are in line, climbed up the tree without needing a ladder." Now it seems that all these rumors have come true. Yan Bo's brother, Zhongyuan, was well-educated and had some knowledge of accounting. By the end of Emperor Su's reign, the power of Er Zhu Rong was on the rise, and many people sought to curry favor with him, often getting what they wanted. As for Zhongyuan, he even went so far as to imitate Er Zhu Rong's handwriting in his letters, carved Er Zhu Rong's seal, colluded with the Minister of Personnel, Shi Tong, forged memorials and official documents in Er Zhu Rong's name, helped others secure official positions, and earned a fortune, spending the money on drinking and partying, leading a reckless lifestyle.
After Emperor Xiaozhuang ascended to the throne, Zhong Yuan was appointed as the General of the Imperial Guards, General of Ningyuan, and Colonel of Infantry Troops. Shortly after, he was promoted to General of Pingbei, Governor of Jianxing, elevated to the rank of Duke of Dunqiu County, with a fief comprising five hundred households. Later, he was further appointed as a Gentleman of the Imperial Court. After the administrative division was upgraded to a province, he was appointed as the Commissioner-in-Chief, General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Governor of Jianzhou. He was then further appointed as a Palace Attendant, promoted to Duke, with his fief increased to five hundred households. Subsequently, he was further appointed as the Marquis of Qinghe County, and promoted to Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Chief Minister of the Left. Later, he was transferred as Commissioner-in-Chief, General-in-Chief, and Inspector of Xuzhou, concurrently serving as the Left Assistant Minister of Writing and the Grand Commandant of the Three Xuzhou Grand Commandants. Shortly after, he was promoted to Commander of the Three Xuzhou Armies, with no change in his other official positions. Zhong Yuan wrote to the Emperor, stating: "Currently, there are not enough staff and officers in the army, and we need to recruit more people on the road to supplement. I have found that those recruited by the Grand Commandant recently can all be appointed as Zhengzhong Officers, and can also obtain corresponding positions in the army. Now I want to recruit more people to meet the needs of the army." The Emperor approved his request. He then began to capriciously appoint officials and accumulate wealth.
After Erzhu Rong's death, Zhong Yuan led his army towards the capital, capturing Xiyuanzhou and nearing Dongju. Emperor Zhuang ordered all the commanders to swiftly dispatch troops to engage, but they were all defeated by Zhong Yuan. He then ordered Commander Zheng Xianhu and Right Guard General Heba Sheng to jointly attack Zhong Yuan. Heba Sheng was defeated in battle and surrendered to Zhong Yuan. After Erzhu Zhao marched to Luoyang, Zheng Xianhu's army dispersed and retreated.
After the former Emperor ascended the throne, Zhongyuan was appointed as the Imperial Envoy, Attendant, Commander of the Three Xus and Two Yans, General of Cavalry and Chariots, Chief Minister, Governor of Xuzhou, Grand Commander of the Eastern Road, Grand Secretary, and was ennobled as the Prince of Pengcheng. Shortly afterwards, he was also promoted to Grand General and concurrently appointed as Minister of Personnel. However, he did not take up his post in Xuzhou, but stationed himself in Daliang. Zhongyuan sent a request to the Emperor for permission to sound gongs and open the way in the army, and to act according to the standards of the court. The Emperor, upon reading the memorial, agreed with a smile. Zhongyuan was truly arrogant beyond measure! Later, he was appointed as Commander of the Eastern Road Armies, General of the Army, and Governor of Yanzhou, with no change in his other positions.
Zhongyuan, innately greedy, relied on his wealthy background and powerful influence to falsely accuse others of rebellion, looting their homes and wiping out their families, taking everything including account books and wealth for himself. The corpses of the slain husbands were discarded in the river, and such incidents were countless. The wives of those generals, as long as they were beautiful, none could escape his grasp. The taxes collected from Xingyang to the east were all devoured by his own troops, without a single bit handed over to the court. At that time, Tian Guang was in contr
Later, Zhongyuan mobilized troops to Dongjun to resist King Xianwu of Qi alongside Douluo and others. Erzhu Zhao brought thousands of cavalry from Jinyang to provide support, where they were stationed in Yangping. Wang Zong sowed discord among them, leading Zhongyuan and the others to become suspicious of one another and flee in panic. Eventually, they suffered defeat at the hands of Hanguang in Hanling, fleeing south to Dongjun, and ultimately seeking refuge with Xiao Yan, where they met their end in Jiangnan.
Zhongyuan's younger brother, Shilong, had the courtesy name Rongzong. During the reign of Emperor Xiaowen, he served as a direct attendant in the imperial court. He was later promoted to the position of direct rest, then served as the director of the pavilion, and was appointed as a former general. Erzhu Rong submitted a petition to enter the capital, but Empress Dowager Ling had a strong dislike for him, so she sent Shilong to appease Erzhu Rong in Jinyang. Erzhu Rong wanted to keep him, but Shilong replied, "The court suspects my brother, which is why they sent me. If I stay now, the court will surely be on high alert, and that wouldn't be wise." Erzhu Rong then let him go. When Erzhu Rong marched south, Shilong quickly fled and eventually ran into Erzhu Rong in Shangdang.
At first, Gao Huan was appointed as a Yellow Gate Attendant. Later, when Emperor Zhuang ascended the throne, he directly promoted Gao Huan to several official positions, including Central Attendant, Leading General of the Army, Left Guard General, Leading Left and Right, and Grand Centralizer of Sizhou, and he granted him the title of Duke of Leiping County, with a fief of twelve hundred households—quite the local magnate! He was later promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry, while also commanding the army, and shortly after, he was promoted to Left Guanglu Doctor, while also serving as the Right Deputy Director, and he took up his post directly.
Yuan Hao led his troops to the outskirts of Luoyang, and the emperor urgently appointed Gao Huan as the Minister of War and Commander of the Frontline, sending him to defend Hulao Pass. However, Gao Huan lacked any military skills or experience and was not interested in military matters at all. As a result, Yuan Hao captured Xingyang and even took Yang Yu, who had been sent by the court. In a panic, Gao Huan bolted. Because of this incident, the emperor was forced to make a hasty retreat north, and this was all on Gao Huan! When the emperor was in Henan, he promoted Gao Huan once more, giving him the title of General of the Cavalry, Right Deputy Minister of the Secretariat, Commander of the Military Affairs in Xiangzhou, Governor of Xiangzhou, and Commander of Dangzhou, with his rank skyrocketing.
When the emperor returned to Luoyang, Gao Huan directly became the General of the Cavalry and Left Deputy Minister of the Secretariat, also tasked with selecting officials and moving in and out of the imperial palace, holding considerable power. However, he implemented a cumbersome selection system for officials, leading to widespread dissatisfaction, with people saying he was slow and inefficient. Later, he even asked to step down from his role as Palace Attendant, and the emperor then gave him the title of Cavalry Regular Attendant.
When Emperor Zhuangzong of Tang was dealing with Er Zhu Rong, someone posted a notice on the doorstep of Shi Long's house, exposing Er Zhu Rong's crimes. Shi Long showed the notice to Er Zhu Rong, urging him to tone it down. Er Zhu Rong felt invincible and completely brushed off the matter; he tore up the notice right there and spat on the ground, cursing, "Shi Long, you coward, who else would even think about it!" As a result, after Er Zhu Rong died, Shi Long married Er Zhu Rong's wife, then set the Xiyang Gate on fire, led his troops to flee at night, marched north to attack Heqiao, killed the military general Xi Yi, and then returned to fight against the court's army outside the Daxia Gate. Everyone in the court was on edge, unsure of what horrors were coming next. Emperor Zhuangzong sent the former governor of Huayang, Duan Yu, to persuade Shi Long to surrender, but Shi Long killed Duan Yu, making an example of him. Later, Li Miao set fire to sever the bridge over the river, which finally drove Shi Long to flee north. Lu Xizhi, the governor of Jianzhou, tightly closed the city gates to resist, but Shi Long stormed the city and slaughtered everyone inside to vent his rage.
When they arrived at Changzi, he and Er Zhu Dulü backed Wang Li Ye of Changguang as emperor. Li Ye appointed Shi Long as the Minister of State Affairs, Chancellor, and Prince of Le Ping, and additionally conferred upon him the title of Grand Tutor, allowing him to act as the governor of Sizhou, and increased his
At this time, Erzhu Zhongyuan also arrived in Beijing from Huatai. Shilong and his brothers conspired in secret because they had grown distant from Li Ye and wanted to support the former emperor who had been deposed. However, Erzhu Dulv wanted to support Li Baoju. He said, "If Prince Guangling (Li Ye) doesn't speak up, how can he govern the world?" Shilong's older brother Yanbo advised him in secret, so he and Dulv visited Li Ye at Longhua Temple. Later, they discovered that Li Ye was able to speak, so they decided to depose Li Ye and establish a new ruler.
Initially, Gao Shilong became the Supervisor (equivalent to prime minister). He felt that the burden was heavy and the pressure was great, so he took the official documents from the Ministry of Personnel to his home to study carefully. He was intelligent and had a strong understanding, so he officially assumed office more than ten days later. He was also very afraid of the power of Erzhu Rong, so he worked diligently and handled government affairs with great seriousness, made many friends, and gained a reputation for being capable. After Erzhu Rong's death, he had no more worries.
After becoming the Minister of Personnel, he had the Ministry of Personnel officials Song Youdao and Xing Xin work in his home, each sitting on one side, handling litigation cases and issuing orders directly. He became increasingly arrogant in his power. After taking control of the court, he could dispose of officials' lives as he pleased, openly indulged in pleasures without restraint, placed his trust in cunning villains, and allowed them to manipulate as they pleased. He also wanted to buy the hearts of the military, promoted officials extensively, gave them the title of general, and also held other miscellaneous positions, ensuring that all generals and officials held positions without any vacancies.
Official positions below the fifth rank became filled with unqualified personnel, and there were no limits on the number of positions, which was scorned by the populace. During the Wuding period, Qi Wenxiang proposed the abolition of all these redundant official positions, which ultimately addressed this malpractice.
Gao Shilong's brothers and clansmen each commanded powerful armies, extorting and oppressing people throughout the country with extreme brutality. He heavily favored the treacherous, flattering, cruel, and vicious, while gentle and kind scholars rarely entered his inner circle. As a result, people everywhere loathed him to the bone. Later, Gao Shilong declined the position of Grand Tutor and was appointed Grand Protector instead, which he also firmly refused. The former emperor specifically created the position of Minister of War, second only to the Grand Chancellor, and appointed Gao Shilong to it. He also posthumously honored his father, Mai Zhen, with titles such as Envoy with Special Authority, Palace Attendant, Chancellor, and Commander of Military Affairs across the Five Provinces.
When King Xianwu of Qi rose in rebellion, Gao Shilong's subordinates, Zhong Yuan and Du Lu, were foolish and reckless, relying on their considerable power and not taking the matter seriously at all; only Gao Shilong was extremely worried and fearful. When the Tian Guang army was defeated, Gao Shilong requested to send troops to recover lost territory, but the former emperor refused his request. Gao Shilong then ordered his foreign troops' officer Yang Shuyuan to ride alone northwards to check on the defeated army and bring them back to the capital. At that time, Husi Chun had not yet entered the city and deceived Yang Shuyuan, saying, "The Tian Guang army is made up of people from the west, and they p
Once, while Shilong was sleeping during the day, his wife, Xi, suddenly saw someone carrying Shilong's head and was so frightened that she rushed to see what was going on. When she checked, she found Shilong sleeping soundly, completely unaware. When Shilong woke up, he told his wife, "I just dreamt that someone chopped off my head; it was a terrible feeling." On the last day of the first month that year, no one in Shilong's household showed up for work that day, and the west gate was shut. Suddenly, a servant of the governor of Hanoi, Tian Yan, ran to the town chief to report, saying, "This morning, the prince borrowed a cart and a cow to have some fun by the Luo River. In the evening, when the prince returned to the mansion, the general came out through the East Yi Gate and noticed there was no bedding on the cart; please take note of this." At that time, Shilong was titled as a prince, so he was called Prince Ling. The town chief said that no one in the mansion came to work, and the west gate was closed, so there was no cart entering the mansion, and there were no cart tracks. However, the servant insisted on his claim and even filed a formal report. Xie Yuan, the Minister of Personnel, suspected this was a fabrication and reported it to Shilong, which prompted him to send someone to look into it.
Du Guanlang and Mu Zirong interrogated the servant, who said, "When I first arrived at the Sikong Mansion's west side and wanted to enter the mansion, the prince found it too slow, so he sent two guards wielding ceremonial knives to hurry the carriage along. After the carriage entered the mansion and reached the west gate, the prince deemed the ox too small, so he tied the carriage to the locust tree by the gate and replaced it with a green ox to pull the carriage. The prince wore a high hat made of white gauze and a black short shirt, and his attendants wore skirts, trousers, and pleated garments, each holding a wooden board, which was unlike their usual attire. Then, the prince sent an official to take me to the first room in the eastern wing of the provincial hall's east pavilion." The room was typically locked. Zirong asked, "The west gate wasn't open, so you're claiming you entered from inside?" He questioned if the servant was lying. The servant said, "If the room is locked, you can check for yourself. There is a wooden bed in the room, without bedding, covered in dust, and there is a jar of rice. I dusted off the bed and sat down, drew on the floor, and even took a handful of rice to examine. Since the room was locked, there must be evidence." Zirong and Xie Yuan went to check for themselves. The door had been locked for quite some time, showing no signs of having been opened. Upon entering, they found evidence of having been wiped on the bed, drawings on the floor, and rice in the jar consistent with the servant's account, confirming that he was not lying. They reported these findings to Shilong. Upon hearing this, Shilong felt uneasy, sensing it was a bad omen. Not long after, he was murdered.
Shilong's younger brother, Shicheng, was appointed General of Ning Shuo, Colonel of Infantry, and Duke of Luancheng when Emperor Zhuang of Northern Wei first ascended the throne. Later, he was promoted to General of the Guard, Grand Master of Golden Purple, and Left Guard General. Not long after, he was also appointed as a Palace Attendant while also serving as Supervisor of the Imperial Secretariat. However, Shicheng was incompetent and merely a figurehead. Consequently, Shilong fled Hulao Pass without informing Shicheng, who was soon captured by Yuan Hao and executed brutally. After Emperor Zhuang returned to the palace, Shicheng was posthumously appointed as Commissioner, Commander of Military Affairs in Jizhou, Grand General of the Valiant Cavalry, Minister of Works, Governor of Jizhou, and honored posthumously as Duke of Zhaojun.
Shicheng's younger brother was named Bi, courtesy name Fubo. When the deposed emperor was newly enthroned, he was appointed as a Cavalry General and General of the Left Guard, and was granted the title of Duke of Chaoyang. Later, he was promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry and Grand Minister of the Left Guard, simultaneously holding positions on both sides, and was later re-granted the title of Duke of Hejian. Not long after, he was again promoted to General of the Flying Cavalry, Chancellor of the Three Departments, and Governor of Qingzhou. When Gao Huan and his allies attacked Hanling, Shilong allowed his Chief of Staff, Fang Mo, to also serve as Secretary and take charge of the Qizhou Regional Command, responsible for recruiting troops to support the front lines. Meanwhile, Shicheng's brother Bi led the army from Dongyang to the besieged city, and it was said that he spread false rumors about crossing the Yellow River, hoping to confuse the enemy and set up a pincer movement. However, after Gao Huan and his allies were defeated, Bi returned to Qingzhou. After Shilong was captured, Bi wanted to defect to the Southern Liang led by Xiao Yan and even swore an oath with his subordinates by cutting their arms in blood. Bi's commander, Feng Shaolong, who was greatly trusted by Bi, advised him, "We have just sworn an oath; we need to establish a more reliable pledge. It would be best to cut open your chest in front of everyone and drop blood for the oath, so that we can show our sincerity." Bi followed his advice, so he gathered all his subordinates, and he sat on a mat while Feng Shaolong used a knife to cut open his chest. As a result, Feng Shaolong took the opportunity to kill Bi and then sent his head to the capital.
Er Zhu Du Lü was the younger brother of Er Zhu Rong, known for his rough demeanor and tendency to be taciturn. He followed his brother Er Zhu Rong into battles far and wide. In the early reign of Emperor Zhuang of Northern Wei, Er Zhu Du Lü was appointed as General of Anxi and Grand Master of Ceremonies, and was granted the title of Duke of Kaiguo of Yexiang County. Not long after, he was promoted to General of Anbei and Governor of Shuozhou, and later became the military governor of the region. Subsequently, he was further promoted to Cavalry Commandant and Right Guard General, and then to Guard General and Left Grand Master of Ceremonies, while also serving as Grand Commander of the Capital. Following Er Zhu Rong's death, he traveled to Jinyang with Er Zhu Shilong. After Emperor Xianming Yuan Ye ascended the throne, Er Zhu Du Lü was named Grand Marshal and Grand Commander of the Four Directions, and was granted the title of King of Changshan. He entered Luoyang with Er Zhu Zhao, and after Er Zhu Zhao returned to Jinyang, he stayed behind to defend the capital.
During the period of the former Emperor, Er Zhu Du Lü was designated as Envoy with Special Authority, Chamberlain, Grand General, and Grand Marshal, while also serving as Minister of Personnel and Commander of the Northeast Region, and he went into battle with Er Zhu Zhongyuan to resist the rebel forces. Qi Xianwu Wang stirred up discord between him and Er Zhu Zhao, resulting in a rift that ultimately led to their defeat and retreat. Although Er Zhu Du Lü served in the army, he was insatiable, plundering the people's wealth and causing suffering wherever he went. Upon hearing the news of Er Zhu Du Lü's defeat, his mother, Mrs. Shan, fell ill with anger. When Er Zhu Du Lü arrived, his mother reproached him, saying, "You enjoy the favor of the state yet shamelessly rebel; how can I bear to watch others kill you?" After saying this, she passed away, leaving those present feeling bewildered.
Later, Er Zhu Du Lu was dismissed from his position in the Grand Commandery and was placed under the command of Chang Sun Zhi. He was defeated and returned from the Battle of Hanling. Hu Si Chun had already occupied He Liang, and Er Zhu Du Lu wanted to attack him. However, heavy rain fell day and night, and both the soldiers and the warhorses were exhausted, making it impossible to use bows and arrows. He then fled west to Labo Jin, where he was captured. Hu Si Chun imprisoned him and delivered him to Qi Xian Wu Wang, who escorted him to Luoyang and executed him in the busy marketplace.
Er Zhu Tian Guang was the son of Er Zhu Rong's paternal cousin. He was brave and decisive from a young age and skilled in archery and equestrianism. Er Zhu Rong favored him and always included him in military planning for significant matters. In the final years of Xiao Chang, Er Zhu Rong planned to lead an army south and conspired with Er Zhu Tian Guang about this matter. After Er Zhu Rong occupied Bingzhou, he appointed Er Zhu Tian Guang as the General of the Capital, commanding the troops of Si Zhou. After the death of Emperor Xiaowen, Yuan Hong, Er Zhu Rong advanced into Luoyang, appointing Er Zhu Tian Guang as the acting governor of Si Zhou, overseeing provincial affairs. In the early years of the Jian Yi era, Er Zhu Tian Guang was specially appointed as the General of Pacification and also became Duke of Chang'an, with a fief of one thousand households granted to him. When Er Zhu Rong went to campaign against Ge Rong, he left Er Zhu Tian Guang to defend Si Zhou and secure the rear. Er Zhu Rong said to him, "Where I cannot go, it is up to you to fulfill my wishes."
During the Yong'an period, he was promoted to the position of Imperial Attendant and Grand Minister of Rites, and he also became the chief official of Beixiu Rong. Shortly after, he was transferred to the position of General of the Imperial Guard. When General Yuan Tianmu marched east to conquer Xing Gao, the court dispatched him with an envoy and temporarily appointed him as General of the Eastern Front and Commander, accompanying Yuan Tianmu to defeat Xing Gao. Later, when Yuan Hao invaded Luoyang, he met up with Yuan Tianmu in Henei. After the battles in Henei concluded, the situation in Bingzhou and Sizhou remained unstable, so the court appointed him as Minister of State, responsible for the governance of the nine provinces: Bing, Si, Yun, Heng, Shuo, Yan, Wei, Xian, and Fen, while also overseeing Bingzhou to stabilize the situation there. Upon arriving in Bingzhou, he implemented several measures that restored peace across the regions. After Yuan Hao was defeated, he returned to the capital, was promoted to General of Cavalry, awarded the title of Special Attendant, and granted the title of Duke of Guangzong, along with an increase of one thousand households in his fief, while continuing his service as General of the Left Guard.
In the summer of the first year of the Jianyi era, Wanqi Chounu rebelled and declared himself emperor, which caused great concern for the court. Consequently, the court appointed him as an envoy with special powers, military governor of Yongzhou and Qizhou, General of Cavalry, and Inspector of Yongzhou, tasking him with leading Grand General He Bayue, General of the Imperial Guard Hou Mo Chen Yue, and others to suppress Wanqi Chounu. When he first set out, he only had a thousand soldiers, so the court ordered the requisition of civilian horses from the areas west of the capital to bolster his forces. At that time, bandits from Dongyong, Chishui, and Shudi had blocked the roads, prompting the court to send Yang Kan, an attendant, to pacify them and, incidentally, to requisition their horses. Although Yang Kan went and succeeded in pacifying them, the bandits from Shudi remained hesitant and refused to surrender their horses. He then proceeded directly into Guanzhong, defeated those bandits, selected the strongest to bolster his army, and confiscated all their horses. Upon reaching Yongzhou, he also requisitioned horses from the local populace, gathering a total of more than ten thousand horses. Due to having so few soldiers, he decided not to launch an attack for the time being. A representative from Hanoi came to reprimand him and even gave him a hundred lashes! Hanoi also dispatched two thousand soldiers to reinforce him. He ordered He Bayue to lead a thousand cavalry as the vanguard, and when he reached the western side of the Great Wall at the Qizhou border, he encountered Wanqi Chounu's commander Wei Chi Pusa, which resulted in a significant victory, capturing Wei Chi Pusa and seizing three thousand cavalry along with over ten thousand infantry.
Chou Nu escaped from Qizhou, fled to Anding, where he set up camp at Pingting. Tian Guang set out from Yongzhou, rushed to Qizhou, and joined forces with General Yue in the area between Qianwei and Weihe, temporarily stopping the march, allowing the soldiers and horses to rest, and announced to the nearby people, "It's too hot right now for fighting; let's consider marching in the cooler autumn." Chou Nu frequently sent people to gather intelligence and, upon capturing spies, Tian Guang would kindly interrogate them before letting them go. The released spies spread the word that Tian Guang said he would wait until autumn to fight, and Chou Nu took it at face value, so he ordered his various armies to disperse and cultivate the land in the Jingchuan area, one hundred miles north of Qizhou. He also tasked General Hou Fu and Hou Yuanjin with leading five thousand soldiers to secure strategic positions, building camps while simultaneously farming and guarding. Around them, a camp was established for every thousand soldiers or fewer, resulting in several camps in total. Knowing the enemy forces were scattered, Tian Guang made thorough preparations in secret. In the afternoon, Tian Guang secretly sent light cavalry to cut off the enemy's road to prevent the enemy from noticing, and only then did the main army set off. At dawn, Tian Guang's army launched an attack on Yuanjin's camp, quickly breaching it and capturing all defenders, who were then released. Before long, the surrounding camps began to surrender one after the other. Tian Guang's army continued to advance one hundred and eighty miles, reaching the outskirts of Jingzhou by dawn. The next day, the governor of Jingzhou, Hou Jichanggui (whose name is uncertain), surrendered. Chou Nu abandoned Pingting and fled, aiming to escape to Gaoping. Tian Guang dispatched General Yue to lead the light cavalry in pursuit, and the following day, they caught up with Chou Nu at Changpingkeng in Pingliang, and captured him after a fierce battle. Tian Guang immediately surrounded Gaoping, and the city's inhabitants sent Xiao Baoyin out to surrender.
General Wanqi Daoluo led six thousand men into the mountainous area and refused to come out. At that time, Gao Ping was suffering from a severe drought, and because there was not enough fodder for the horses, Tian Guang retreated more than fifty miles east of the city to allow the soldiers and horses to rest. During this time, all the rebel forces from Jingzhou, Binzhou, and Xiazhou, up to the northern Lingzhou, surrendered one after another. Tian Guang dispatched the governor Changsun Xieli to lead two hundred men to Yuanzhou to handle governmental affairs and stabilize the situation. However, Wanqi Daoluo tricked the people in the city into attacking Changsun Xieli, killing both him and his subordinates. Tian Guang and Generals Yue and Yue quickly rushed to the scene, but Wanqi Daoluo put up a fight as he came out of the city. After a short skirmish, he retreated, and Tian Guang's forces chased down and killed over a thousand of his men. Wanqi Daoluo fled back into the mountains, and the city surrendered once again. Tian Guang sent someone to persuade him to surrender, but Wanqi Daoluo refused and led his army west to take up a position at Qiantun Mountain, taking a strong defensive position. The court criticized Tian Guang for losing Changsun Xieli and for not capturing Wanqi Daoluo, sending an envoy to punish him with a hundred lashes and demoting him to the ranks of Sanqi Changshi, Fujun General, and Youzhou Governor, while stripping him of his noble rank and keeping only the title of Marquis.
Tianguang, Yue, and Yue went to pursue Dao Luo again. Tianguang personally led the troops in pursuit, but Dao Luo was defeated and escaped with a few thousand cavalry, fleeing to Longyou and seeking refuge with the local bandit chief, Wang Qingyun. Wang Qingyun was pleased with Dao Luo's bravery in battle and named him Grand General, declaring himself emperor. Tianguang wanted to attack them, but the emperor insisted he wait, and Rong also sent a letter saying that Longyou's terrain was treacherous and it was the height of summer, so they should wait until winter to take action. Despite this, Tianguang believed they could win, so he led his army into Longyou and reached the city of Shuiluo, held by Wang Qingyun. Wang Qingyun and Dao Luo resisted the attack, but Tianguang shot Dao Luo in the arm, making him flee after shooting a few arrows. Tianguang's army breached the east gate of Shuiluo, and the bandits fled to the west gate, but there was no water, and they were hot and thirsty. Some surrendered, informing them that Wang Qingyun and Dao Luo planned to break out at night and fight to the last man. Fearing that the bandit leader might escape and prolong the battle, Tianguang sent a message to Wang Qingyun, urging them to surrender and offering them until the next morning to respond. Wang Qingyun asked to wait until the next day for an answer. Tianguang then said, "Let’s try to understand each other; I'll pull back my troops for now, and you can go to the river to drink water." The ba
Tianguang secretly ordered soldiers to make a large number of wooden spears, each seven feet long. By nightfall, they set up troops and cavalry in a defensive formation, with wooden spears surrounding them. The density of wooden spears was increased at important intersections. Soldiers were hidden among the wooden spears, ready to deal with the bandits' attack. Meanwhile, soldiers were ordered to secretly set up long ladders in the north of the city. That night, Wang Qingyun and Daoluo broke through, riding ahead, and unexpectedly charged into the wooden spears. The horses were injured and collapsed. The soldiers hidden among the wooden spears immediately launched an attack and captured Wang Qingyun and Daoluo. The remaining bandits all escaped from the south gate and stopped when they encountered the wooden spears. Soldiers from the north of the city climbed the long ladders and attacked the city walls. The bandits had no way out and surrendered in droves; by daybreak, all weapons were confiscated. Tianguang, Yue, and another officer discussed and decided to execute all the prisoners, leading to the execution of over 17,000 prisoners. They subsequently divided the families of the prisoners among themselves. As a result, Sanqin, Hedong, Weinan, Guazhou, Liangzhou, and Shanshan all surrendered. Tianguang stationed troops in Lueyang, and the court restored Tianguang's previous official rank and title. Shortly after, he was also appointed as a Zhongshu Shilang and Yitong Sansi, with his fiefdom increased to three thousand households.
The people of Qinzhou joined forces to kill the governor Luochao. Luochao sensed something was wrong and quickly fled to Tianguang. Tianguang, along with Yue and another officer, then subdued the rebels. The people of Hucheng in South Qin also wanted to kill the governor Xinchenshen, who also fled to Tianguang. Tianguang then sent a general over to handle the situation.
At first, there was a dashing man from Xiazhou named Su Qimingda, who surrendered to Tianguang while in Pingliang. Later, he fled to the north, gathered a following to plot a rebellion, and even captured the territory of the surrendered general Chigan Qilin, hoping to enlist Qilin's troops as well. Qilin sought help from Tianguang, who sent Yue to attack him. Before Yue arrived, Mingda had already fled to Dongxia. Upon hearing of Rong's death, Yue chose not to pursue and returned to Jingzhou to await Tianguang. Tianguang also moved south to Longxi and discussed plans to march on Luoyang with Yue. By the time they reached the north of Yongzhou, the rebellion had largely been suppressed.
The emperor sent the courtier Zhu Rui to comfort Tianguang. Tianguang and Yue discussed the possibility of having the emperor flee and establishing a new emperor. Thus, Tianguang kept reporting, saying, "I have no ulterior motives; I just want to see the emperor and atone for my family's wrongdoings." However, the officials under Tianguang reported, "Tianguang must have other ulterior motives; we hope the emperor can devise a good plan to prevent any potential threats."
Later, the emperor granted Tianguang the title of King of Guangzong, and Yuan Ye further promoted him to King of Longxi. Upon hearing that Er Zhu Zhao had entered the capital, Tianguang traveled lightly to the capital to meet with Shilong and the others, and soon returned to Yongzhou. Shilong and the others discussed deposing Yuan Ye and establishing a wise emperor, and they informed Tianguang. Tianguang participated in formulating the plan, reinstated the previously deposed emperor, and was further appointed as Chancellor, concurrently serving as Minister of Personnel and Grand Governor of Guanshi.
Tianguang headed north to Xiazhou, dispatched troops to attack Su Qimingda, captured him, and escorted him to Luoyang. At that time, Fei led troops including He Douling, Yi Li, and Wanqi Shouluo, who occupied Hexi and had not yet surrendered. Tianguang was very worried because Qi Xian Wuwang had raised troops in Xindu, so he stopped worrying about Yi Li and the others, only sending a few troops for precaution. Later, Tianguang was appointed Grand General.
It is said that at that time, the rebel army led by King Xianwu was becoming stronger and stronger, and Erzhu Zhao and Erzhu Zhongyuan had already been defeated and had fled. Gao Huan sent people several times to summon Hou Jing, but he was unwilling to come. Later, Gao Huan had Husi Chun earnestly persuade Hou Jing, saying, "Without you, Great King, the realm will not find stability; how can you watch the royal family be destroyed?" Hou Jing had no choice but to go east, and ultimately faced defeat against Erzhu Zhongyuan at Hanling. Husi Chun and his men returned first and intercepted Hou Jing at the Yellow River Bridge. Unable to cross the river, Hou Jing ran northwest, but was caught in a downpour and couldn't proceed. He was eventually captured and brought before King Xianwu. King Xianwu had Hou Jing taken to Luoyang, where he was executed. At that time, Hou Jing was thirty-seven years old. The Erzhu family wielded power arrogantly, dividing the realm among themselves. Hou Jing had once achieved great success in Guanzhong, was not particularly cruel, distinguishing him from Erzhu Zhao and Erzhu Zhongyuan.
Historical records comment: Erzhu Zhao was in Jinyang, Hou Jing occupied Longyou, Erzhu Zhongyuan guarded the southeast, and Gao Huan held the sole power of the court. Back then, playing the game of installing and deposing emperors was as easy as deciding rewards and punishments, all determined by Gao Huan alone. If they could enforce benevolent governance, prioritize the country, help each other, and unite in heart and strength, then the country would be unshakeable. But they were all mediocre, short-sighted individuals, obsessed with power and profit, driven solely by greed for wealth and beauty, like ruthless jackals in the hills, leaving the people disappointed and filled with resentment, giving their enemies a chance to exploit them, facing internal conflicts and engaging in external collusion. Therefore, in the Battle of Guang'a, they scattered like fallen leaves; in the Battle of Hanling, they crumbled like a mound of dirt. In the end, they were completely wiped out—what a pity! As the "Book of Rites" states: "Victory in battle lies in unity," and the "Book of Songs" says: "Greedy people will ultimately fail." They were greedy and unable to unite, so their failure was all but guaranteed. An army falls apart when it's not united; greedy people ruin their own kind.
