Zhu Rui, style name Yuanlong, hails from Sanggan in Daijun. His grandfather was named Zhu Jiu, style name Zucheng, who served as the county magistrate of Pei County at the time of his death. His father was named Zhu Hui, style name Sengsheng, who served as the governor of Taiyuan before his death. During the Yong'an period, Zhu Rui held a high official position; his grandfather was posthumously honored as the General Who Pacifies the East and the Inspector of Qizhou, and his father was posthumously honored as the Commissioner Bearing Credentials, the General of Chuanjun, and the Inspector of Hengzhou.
Zhu Rui was known for his honesty and integrity, which earned him great respect. During the Xiaochang period, Erzhu Rong recruited him to serve as a military officer in the household staff, and later promoted him to the position of a senior official in the Daxing Court, demonstrating great trust in him. In the Jianyi period, Zhu Rui was appointed as a Gentleman of the Yellow Gate, concurrently serving as an imperial secretary. Erzhu Rong worried that Zhu Rui might be unaware of court affairs, so he kept him close as a confidant. In recognition of his previous achievements, Zhu Rui was granted the title of Duke of Kai of Yangyi County, with a fief of one thousand households. Not long after, he was appointed as the Cavalier In Regular Attendance, the General Who Maintains the South, while retaining his position as Gentleman of the Yellow Gate. After his father's passing, Zhu Rui resigned from his official position to observe mourning at home. The court issued an edict reinstating him as the Grand Master of Qingzhou. Later, when Yuan Hao moved southward toward Luoyang, Zhu Rui suggested to the emperor to flee north, leading the emperor and his entourage to Heyang. Zhu Rui was appointed as an attendant to the emperor, the General Who Conquers the South, concurrently serving as the Minister of Personnel, and was re-titled as the Duke of Kai of Beihai County, with his fief increased to two thousand households. Upon the return of Emperor Xiaozhuang to Luoyang, Zhu Rui was further honored with the title of Guard General, the Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, and re-titled as the Duke of Kai of Leling County, continuing to serve as an attendant.
Although Zhu Rui is a member of the Erzhu Rong family, he handles court affairs very smoothly, and Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang appreciates him. Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang once said to the ministers, "As a subject, one should be loyal and honest. People like Zhu Yuanlong, I treat him just like everyone else." Zhu Rui requested to merge the three counties of Yeling in Cangzhou, and the emperor approved his request, also appointing him as the Grand Prefect of Cangzhou. In fact, Zhu Rui initially requested to be appointed as the Grand Prefect of Qingzhou because the Zhu family resided in Yeling, and he wanted to bring this place under his name; later, he requested to be appointed as the Grand Prefect of Cangzhou because there was also a Zhu family in Yeling, and he preferred the Hebei region, prompting him to request a transfer. Shortly after, Zhu Rui was promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry.
When Erzhu Rong died, Gao Huan and Hou Jing fled north together. Later, Gao Huan believed the emperor had always treated him well, and seeing that Hou Jing and the others had no real ability, they would eventually be finished, so he turned back on his way. The emperor was particularly happy, holding his hand and saying, "Ministers who are loyal to the country should be like this!" Erzhu Tianguang led troops in the Guanzhong region, and the emperor wanted to win him over, so he appointed Gao Huan as the Left Deputy Director of the Secretariat and the Grand Councilor of the Western Circuit to appease him. When Gao Huan arrived in Chang'an, he encountered Erzhu Zhao advancing on Luoyang, so he returned to the capital.
Commander Husi Chun held a grudge against Gao Huan and kept speaking ill of him in front of Hou Jing. Hou Jing was particularly petty, and given their previous conflicts, he grew even angrier. Thus, in July of the first year of Datong, he had Gao Huan killed, who was forty-nine years old that year. During the Taichang era, he was posthumously honored with the title of General-in-Chief, General of Chariots and Cavalry, Supervisor of the Imperial Stables, and Governor of Qingzhou, and was given the posthumous title of Gongmu.
Gao Huan's son, Gao Mengyin, succeeded him in his title. After the Northern Qi emperor usurped the throne, his title was subsequently downgraded. Gao Huan's younger brother, Gao Zhen, known as Duobao, served as a recording officer under the Grand Commandant, King Tianmu of Shangdang, and later died.
Gao Zhen's younger brother Gao Teng, courtesy name Shenlong. During the Jianyi period, he served as the General of Longxiang, Grand Commandant Sima, and was granted the title of founding noble of Jingyang County, with a fief consisting of two hundred households. Later, he was promoted to General of the Central Army and Grand Minister. Like Gao Huan, he was also killed. During the Taichang period, he was posthumously appointed as the Inspector of Cangzhou.
Gao Teng's younger brother Gao Qingbin died while serving as a Grand Minister.
Gao Huan's son Gao Qing served as the military officer for the Prince of Qi during the Wuding period.
Gao Yanqing was from the western part of Dai County, and his family had been tribal leaders for generations. His great-grandfather Tieshi accompanied the emperor to Guabu in the late reign of the Northern Wei Emperor Taizu, and was conferred the title of Marquis of Linjiang. His father Yimi inherited the ancestral title and served as the Chief of the Yueqi Cavalry Corps during the era of the Northern Wei Emperor Taizu.
Gao Yanqing excelled in horseback archery from a young age and demonstrated great courage. During the Zhengguang period, he served as a direct advisor and followed the Grand Commandant Li Chong in a northern expedition. Later, he followed Erzhu Rong to Luoyang, and then accompanied Erzhu Rong in the campaign against Ge Rong in Xiangzhou. Yanqing was the brother-in-law of Erzhu Shilong, and Erzhu Rong held him in high esteem. After Ge Rong was captured, Yanqing was appointed as the Commissioner-in-Chief, General of Military Affairs, Grand Minister, Acting General of the Eastern Guard, Commander, Chief of the First People in the Western Region, founding Count of Yongning, with a fief consisting of five hundred households. In the second year of Yong'an, he was appointed as the Inspector of Hengzhou as the General. During the Putai period, Erzhu Shilong gained power and trusted Yanqing, promoting him to Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, General of Chariots and Cavalry, Equalizing Three Excellencies, and further promoted to Grand General of the Valiant Cavalry, with the same other titles. Shortly after, he was appointed as the Commander of the Military Affairs of the Four Provinces of Heng, Yun, Yan, and Shuo, Grand Commandant, concurrently as the Left Deputy of the Masters of Writing, and the Provincial Governor of Shandong, founding Duke of Beihai, with a fief consisting of five hundred households.
At that time, Liu Lingzhu, the Inspector of Youzhou, used the pretext of Emperor Zhuang's imprisonment and death to raise an army in rebellion. Powerful figures from various states rallied to his cause. Liu Lingzhu advanced his forces and set up camp in Angu, Dingzhou. Er Zhu Shilong informed the deposed emperor, suggesting that Yanqing and the Grand General Hou Yuan be sent to Dingzhou to attack Liu Lingzhu. Hou Yuan said to Yanqing, "Liu Lingzhu is skilled in divination, and the common people trust him deeply, which makes him a formidable opponent. Many are responding to him, and if the battle goes poorly, it could spell disaster. We should withdraw our troops to the west, occupy the strategically important passes, and wait for the right opportunity to plan our next move." Yanqing replied, "Liu Lingzhu is nothing but an incompetent person; the ways of fate are deep and mysterious, how could he understand them? Once our army arrives, they will only sit idly and rely on charms, and will not be willing to fight to the death with us. My strategy is to feign a retreat to the west, falsely claiming we are withdrawing. Upon hearing this, Liu Lingzhu will surely believe it and let down his guard. We can then take the opportunity to attack him and capture him in one fell swoop." Hou Yuan accepted his suggestion, so the army stationed itself to the west of the city, claiming they would retreat. They then selected a thousand elite cavalry and set out at night, reaching Liu Lingzhu's camp by the next morning. They engaged Liu Lingzhu's forces north of the city and scored a resounding victory, capturing Liu Lingzhu alive. As a result, Yanqing was appointed as the Left Minister of Personnel and became the acting governor of the four states of Heng, Yun, Yan, and Shuo. Later, he was appointed as the envoy with special authority, Palace Attendant, and commander of military affairs in the five states of Heng, Yun, Yan, and Shuo, while retaining his other official titles.
I fought alongside Er Zhu Zhao and the others at Hanling against the rebels, but we lost the battle. I crossed the river at Shiji Ferry to escape with Er Zhu Zhongyuan. Zhongyuan headed south, while I surrendered to King Xian of Qi to the north. The king took me to Luoyang, and later I accompanied him to Bingzhou. After that, I went back to Luoyang, where the emperor appointed me as the Grand Commander of the Central Army. I originally had a very close relationship with the Er Zhu family, but later I associated with those treacherous ministers. When the emperor was forced to flee west and King Xian of Qi entered Luoyang, I was executed for my transgressions.
My nephew Yanqing rose to the rank of Yitong Sansi and Right Guard General during the Wuding years and was granted the title of founding marquis of Luantao County. Hu Si Chun, styled Fashou, was from Guangmu Fuchang. His father, Hu Si Dun, was the Left Shepherd during Emperor Suzong's reign. At that time, bandits were rampant in the Hexi region, which led to widespread unrest among the common people, so Hu Si Chun took his family to seek refuge with Er Zhu Rong. Er Zhu Rong appointed him as a Military Officer and Military Advisor in the Commander's Office. He earned numerous military accolades while fighting alongside Er Zhu Rong and was granted the title of General of Fierce Might by the court. He gradually rose through the ranks to become a Zhong San Da Fu and also acted as the overseer of external military affairs. Hu Si Chun was skilled in flattery and gained Er Zhu Rong's favor; he was involved in the army's secret plans.
After Emperor Suzong died, Hushi Chun followed Er Zhu Rong into Luoyang. When Emperor Zhuang took the throne, he granted him the title of Duke of Yangqu County, with a fief of one thousand households, and soon promoted him to the position of Cavalry Commander and General of Northern Pacification. Shortly after, he became Sima in Er Zhu Rong's general staff. He followed Er Zhu Rong to suppress the rebellion of Ge Rong, and in recognition of his contributions, he was appointed as the Governor of Shangdang. Later, when Yuan Hao attacked Luoyang, Hushi Chun accompanied Er Zhu Rong to welcome Emperor Zhuang and launched a joint attack against Yuan Hao. After Yuan Hao was defeated, Hushi Chun was promoted to General of Northern Pacification and Governor of Jianzhou, was renamed Duke of Shenze County, then promoted to General of the Eastern Front and Governor of Xuzhou, and finally promoted to General of Eastern Expedition and Governor of East Xuzhou.
After Er Zhu Rong's death, Gao Huan (Hushi Chun) felt particularly anxious. At this time, Xiao Yan appointed Yuan Yue, the King of Runan, as the Emperor of Wei, allocating numerous troops to him stationed at the border. Hearing this, Gao Huan was quite pleased, so he led his troops from the provincial city to join Yuan Yue. Yuan Yue appointed Gao Huan as Envoy with Special Authority, Palace Attendant, General, Commander of the Army, Leader of the Left and Right, Left Minister of the Secretariat, and Duke of Lingqiu County, with a fief of ten thousand households, and also made him the Chief Commander of the Grand Council. At that moment, Er Zhu Zhao entered Luoyang, and Gao Huan turned his troops against Yuan Yue to join Er Zhu Zhao.
When Er Zhu Shilong proclaimed the former emperor, Gao Huan participated in his plans. Due to his significant contributions, he was appointed as Shizhong, General of Cavalry, and held the title of Yitong Sansi (Equivalent to Three Departments), as well as the Grand Commander of the Northern Capital Command of Jingji. He was granted the title of Duke of Kaiguo in Chengyang County, with an additional five hundred households, bringing his total to one thousand five hundred households. Soon after, he was also granted the title of Kaifu. At that time, Gao Huan's father, Gao Dun, was in Xiurong, and suddenly news of Gao Dun's death arrived. Gao Huan requested to step down from his official rank to posthumously honor his father, promoting his position from General of Xiangcheng to General of Chariots and Cavalry and Governor of Hengzhou. Later, it turned out that his father was still alive, and the court issued a decree restoring Gao Huan's official position, also appointing his father as General of Chariots and Cavalry and Governor of Yangzhou. See how good Er Zhu Shilong was to Gao Huan!
Gao Huan, along with Er Zhu Dulü and Er Zhu Zhongyuan, fought against the Northern Qi's Emperor Xianwu at Yangping. At that time, Er Zhu Zhao and Dulü were suspicious of each other and fled; the details are recorded in the "Biography of Er Zhu Zhao." Later, Gao Huan and Dulü resisted the Yiqi army together but were defeated at Hanling. Gao Huan said to General Jia Xianzhi and others, "If we don't capture Er Zhu Shilong first, we will all be doomed!" Thus, he and Jia Xianzhi and others swore an oath under the mulberry tree at night and hurried on their way day and night. Gao Huan entered Beizhong City, captured all of Er Zhu Shilong's subordinates, and ordered Changsun Zhi, Jia Xianzhi, and others to lead several hundred cavalry to attack the Er Zhu brothers, killing them outside the Changhe Gate. Gao Huan entered Luoyang and hung the heads of the Er Zhu brothers on a tree in front of his house. His father
Initially, Gao Huan, also known as King Xianwu, marched to Luoyang and camped at Mangshan. His generals Qiao Ning and Zhang Ziqi rushed from Huatai to join him. Gao Huan blamed them, saying, "You served Erzhu Zhongyuan, enjoyed his riches and status, made countless vows with him, and swore to live and die together. When Erzhu Zhongyuan rebelled in Xuzhou before, you were his main generals. Now that Erzhu Zhongyuan has fled south, you have turned against him. From a subject's perspective, you are disloyal; from a character standpoint, you are untrustworthy. Even dogs and horses know gratitude and repayment; you're worse than dogs and horses!" So he had them killed.
Gao Huan's chief general Hou Jing, due to his fickle nature, felt uneasy after seeing Qiao Ning and Zhang Ziqi killed. So he secretly plotted, persuading the emperor to transfer the troops of the Imperial Guards to the palace, increased the forces of the Wuzhi troops, and selected hundreds of people from the Imperial Guards and other departments, all of whom were selected for their agility and fierceness. He also persuaded the emperor to go on regular excursions, command the Imperial Guards, form another team, and personally supervise and command within it. Since then, the movement of troops and major political matters have been decided by Hou Jing alone. He also persuaded the emperor to conscript troops, falsely claiming he was heading south to confront Gao Huan, the King Xianwu of Qi, which the emperor believed. So they established a formation west of Luoyang, linking Mangshan to the north and extending to the Luo River in the south. Early in the morning, the emperor donned his armor and, alongside Hou Jing, reviewed the troops.
Gao Huan was aware of Hou Jing's corrupt actions and intended to eliminate him. Hou Jing's slander and schemes had taken effect, leading to mutual suspicion between Gao Huan and Hou Jing, creating widespread anxiety among the people. Gao Huan had the emperor station troops at Heqiao and had Hou Jing lead the vanguard forces to camp north of Mangshan. Soon after, he sent Hou Jing to command several thousand troops, both infantry and cavalry, to guard Hulao Pass. Hou Jing's younger brother, the Governor of Yuzhou, Yuanshou, and the Commander, Jia Xianzhi, defended Huatai. Gao Huan ordered Dou Tai, the Governor of Xiangzhou, to attack and defeat them. Fearing for his life, Hou Jing requested troops from the emperor, falsely claiming that enemies were attacking to intimidate the emperor. The emperor believed him, entered the pass, and Hou Jing fled west to Chang'an. Cunning and troublemaking, Hou Jing harmed the country, earning the contempt of everyone. Later, Yuanshou was killed by his subordinates.
Jia Xianzhi hailed from Wuji in Hebei. His father was an official and had served as the Chief Historian of Woye Town. Jia Xianzhi was tall, strong, and ambitious. He started as a junior military officer stationed at Baogu Lu on the border. Towards the end of the Zhengguang period, the northern border was unstable, frequently under attack by enemies. The town where Jia Xianzhi was stationed, Baogu Lu, was surrounded by enemies. Jia Xianzhi held out for a long time, but as the enemy forces intensified, he could no longer hold his position, so he led the townspeople to cross the river and escape. Upon reaching Xiurong, he was captured by Erzhu Rong. Later, Erzhu Rong promoted him to General of the Direct Pavilion and Left Central Commandant.
At the beginning of the Jianyi era, Jia Xiandu was appointed as the governor of Jizhou and was also granted the title of General of the East. After Er Zhu Rong defeated Ge Rong, he was promoted again, becoming General of the Army, Grand Minister of Rites, and Commander-in-Chief, and was granted the title of Duke of Shiai County, with a fief of one thousand households. He also fought alongside Wang Tianmu of Shangdang to defeat Xing Gao. Just as Yuan Hao attacked Luoyang, he crossed the Yellow River with Tianmu to the royal palace in Henan to aid the emperor. After Yuan Hao was subdued, Jia Xiandu continued to serve as a general, was appointed as the governor of Guangzhou, and was granted the title of General Zhennan, and later transferred to the governorship of Southern Yanzhou. After Er Zhu Rong's death, Jia Xiandu felt unsettled and defected south to join Xiao Yan, who treated him very well. During the Putai era, Jia Xiandu returned to the court and was appointed Grand General of the Guards, Deputy Minister of the Three Offices, and Grand Minister of the Left, and was also allowed to take charge of affairs in Jizhou. He then went north with Er Zhu Dulü and others to resist the rebel army, but was defeated at Hanling. He, along with Hu Si Chun and his brother Jia Xianzhi, led troops to occupy Heqiao first and participated in the extermination of the Er Zhu clan.
After Emperor Xiaowu of Northern Wei ascended the throne, Jia Xiandu was appointed as the Left Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and soon after was promoted to General of the Cavalry, Grand Minister of the Three Offices, and Chief of Dazhong in Dingzhou. Not long after, he also concurrently served as the governor of Xuzhou and the Eastern Grand Chancellor. In May of the third year of Yongxi, he was transferred to the governorship of Yongzhou and the Western Grand Chancellor. Finally, he died in Guanzhong.
His brother Jia Zhi, styled Xianzhi, was brave and decisive from a young age. During the Xiaochang period, he reported the treasonous plots of Mao Mi and others. Empress Dowager Ling held him in high regard, promoting him to General Fubo and Deputy Minister of the Retinue, and also appointed him to work in the Zhi Zhai.
Xiao Yan sent Xiahou Kui to attack Yingzhou and appointed Zhi as the General of the Dragon Cavalry to support with other troops. When they arrived at Yingzhou, Xiahou Kui had already retreated, and Zhi entered the city with determination. Later, the Prefect of Yingzhou, Yuan Xianda, surrendered to Xiao Yan, and Zhi ordered the people in the city who were loyal to fight alongside Yuan Xianda, and then they all returned to the court together.
Later, he became a military commander and followed the Grand Preceptor and the Prince of Shangdang, Wang Tianmu, to campaign against Xing Gao. During the battle, he was shot in the chest by a stray arrow but still persisted in fighting. After Yuan Hao captured Luoyang, he followed Tianmu across the Yellow River to meet Emperor Zhuang. He and Erzhu Zhao were the first to cross the Yellow River, defeating Yuan Hao's army. For his achievements, he was appointed as the General of the Southern Conquest, the Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, Golden Purple Rank, and was granted the title of Duke of Kai County with a fief of 500 households.
He was then appointed as the Guard General, and together with Chancellor Fan Zihu, they suppressed the rebellion in Dongxuzhou. He was later promoted to Palace Attendant and General of the Flying Cavalry, with his fief increased to 800 households. Shortly after, he was appointed as General of the Eastern Division, with the additional title of Cavalier Attendant.
When Erzhu Zhongyuan became the Governor of Xuzhou, Zhi followed him to Pengcheng. After Erzhu Rong's death, Erzhu Zhongyuan raised troops to attack Luoyang, but Zhi chose not to follow him. Instead, he withdrew his troops from Qingshui to the east, recruited local people, and resisted Erzhu Zhongyuan. Emperor Zhuang was pleased to hear this and appointed him as the Right Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, General of the Guards, elevated him to a Marquis, increased his fief to 1,000 households, and stationed him in Xuzhou. During the Putai period, he returned to Luoyang.
Er Zhu Zhongyuan held a deep grudge against him for his betrayal and wanted to kill him. However, Zhi's brother Zhi Xiandu had a good relationship with Er Zhu Shilong in the past, and Shilong interceded on Zhi's behalf, which allowed him to keep his life. At that time, Zhao Xiuyan was rebelling in Jingzhou, and Xiao Yan sent troops to aid him. Shilong wanted Zhi to gain merit to redeem himself, so he sent him to suppress Zhao Xiuyan and appointed him as the envoy with special authority, a regular cavalry general, a general of chariots and cavalry, a left minister of rites, a temporary general of the cavalry, and the grand governor of Jingzhou, elevating him to the rank of duke. Just as he was preparing to set out, Zhao Xiuyan's head had already been delivered from Jingzhou, so he did not go.
Later, he accompanied Er Zhu Dulü north to fight against the Yiqi army, meeting Er Zhu Zhao at Yangping. Er Zhu Zhao and Er Zhu Dulü were distrustful of each other and ultimately withdrew. Zhi was appointed as a cavalry general. After that, he and Er Zhu Dulü and others were defeated at Hanling. He plotted with his brother Zhi Xiandu and Hushi Chun to eliminate the Er Zhu clan. Hushi Chun and Zhi Xiandu secured the northern central region, allowing Zhi and others to enter the capital and capture the brothers Er Zhu Shilong.
At first, he was appointed as a regular cavalry attendant, a general, a chancellor with equal status to the three ministers, and the governor of Cangzhou. However, while serving in Cangzhou, he was corrupt and oppressive, making life intolerable for the common folk, leading the emperor to summon him back to the capital. Not long after, he was promoted to palace attendant and then appointed as the governor of Jizhou as a general. He halted his troops upon reaching Dongjun, and as a result, he was defeated by the governor of Xiangzhou, Dou Tai, at Changshoujin and returned to Luoyang in shame. During the Tianping years, he went to Jinyang. This man was fickle, constantly changing his mind, and ultimately faced execution for his crimes at the age of forty-five.
His son, Luo Hou, served as a secretary.
Furthermore, Fan Zihu was from Pingcheng in Dai County. His family was descended from a tribal leader of the Miao people in Jingzhou, who was later moved to Dai County. His father, Fan Xing, served as the Prefect of Pingcheng and was also granted the title of Marquis of Guiyi. During the Putai era, Fan Zihu rose to prominence, and his father was posthumously awarded the title of General of the Conquering Barbarians and Governor of Jingzhou.
When Fan Zihu faced troubles in the northern border garrisons, he moved south to Bingzhou, where Er Zhu Rong summoned him to serve as a military official. In the winter of the third year of the Xiaochang era, Er Zhu Rong sent Fan Zihu to the capital. When Empress Ling saw him, she asked about Er Zhu Rong's military strength, and Fan Zihu's answers pleased her greatly, earning her appreciation. Consequently, she appointed him as a Director, granted him the title of Duke of Nán Hé County, with an estate of 300 households, and then sent him back to report to Er Zhu Rong. Er Zhu Rong appointed him as an official in the acting administration and sent him to handle affairs in Shangdang County. When Er Zhu Rong was about to attack Luoyang, he promoted him further, granting him the titles of Acting General and General of the Pacification of the South, and assigned him to command military operations in Hedong and to oversee the affairs of Tangzhou. Cui Yuanzhen, the governor of Tangzhou, tightly shut the city gates to resist, but Fan Zihu managed to breach Tangzhou.
At first, he was appointed General of Pingbei and the Administrator of Jinzhou, bestowed the title of Duke of Yong'an, with a fief of one thousand households, and also served as the Acting Minister of the Interior. He governed the region with great authority, and the mountain tribes came under his authority. Later, Yuan Hao invaded Luoyang, and Xue Xiuyi along with the surrendered Chen Shuangchi and others joined Yuan Hao, leading an army to attack the state city. His son (referring here to Xue Zihu) engaged in battle and achieved a decisive victory over them, also defeating Xue Xiuyi and others at Tumeng. As a result of his achievements, he was appointed General of Pacification. Before long, he was summoned to serve as the Minister of the Imperial Household and the Chief Justice of Xijingzhou. He later also took on the role of Right Chancellor and served as Acting Minister, overseeing Jia Zhi and others in their campaign against Lü Wenxin in Eastern Xuzhou, ultimately suppressing the rebellion. Upon his return, he was appointed General of Chariots and Cavalry and Left Grand Master of Light, promoted to Duke of Nanyang, with an additional six hundred households added to his fief, while retaining his ministerial roles, and was granted the title of General of Cavalry, commanding troops as a Commander. At that time, Er Zhu Rong was in Jinyang, engaged in the affairs of the capital, so even though he served in the court, his official duties were never rescinded. Later, he was appointed as a Regular Attendant, the General of the Army, and the Governor of Yinzho. That year, a drought struck, making life very difficult. He worried about the people becoming displaced, so he ordered those with surplus grain to lend food to the needy, and sent people to bring oxen to help with the work, encouraging the planting of more wheat, enabling the people in the region to weather the tough times safely.
After Er Zhu Rong's death, Gao Huan and others sent someone to write a letter inviting him to the capital, but he declined the invitation. Since his mother was in Jinyang, he requested a transfer to Henan, and the emperor held him in high regard. Thus, he was appointed as General of Chariots and Cavalry, Governor of Yuzhou, Acting General of Cavalry, Commander of Military Affairs in the two Yuzhou and three Yingzhou provinces, and concurrently served as Right Deputy Minister of Personnel, as well as the acting governor of the four states of Yuzhou and Yingzhou. Upon arriving in Xiangzhou, the court granted him five hundred bolts of silk. When he reached Jijun, he heard that Er Zhu Zhao had attacked and entered Luoyang, and he crossed the Yellow River to meet Gao Zhongyuan, who tasked him with guarding Jijun. Er Zhu Zhao summoned him to Luoyang, and after meeting, reprimanded him for not following orders, stripped him of his military authority, and intended to send him back to Jinyang.
Later, when He Douling and Bu Fan raised an army, he was again appointed as Commander, in charge of requisitioning food and supplies. Yuan Ye appointed him as Palace Attendant, Deputy Censor-in-Chief, and Grand Commander of the Central Army, and he followed Yuan Ye to Luoyang. In the early Putai years, he resumed his original official position. Later, when Zhao Xiuyan rebelled in Jingzhou, the court ordered him to return from the three Ya roads. After his mother passed away, he stepped down from his position. The former emperor, who had been deposed, learned that he had no house in Luoyang and insufficient funds for his burial, so he awarded him four hundred bolts of silk and five hundred measures of grain, allowing him to resume his original official position.
In the Taichang era of the Northern Wei Dynasty, Du De and his men held important posts and led troops to hunt down Erzhu Zhongyuan. Erzhu Zhongyuan had already sought refuge with Xiao Yan in the Southern Dynasties, handing over his troops and weapons to him. At this time, Xiao Yan sent Yuan Shu to lead troops to attack us and even occupied Qiaocheng. The emperor ordered his son Yuan Zi Hu to join forces with Du De to take them down. Yuan Shu stationed his troops in Liangguo, planning to fight us to the bitter end. However, upon seeing the powerful army of Yuan Zi Hu, he sneaked back to Qiaocheng under the cover of darkness. Yuan Zi Hu led his troops to pursue, and Yuan Shu set up his formation against the city wall. Yuan Zi Hu's cavalry charged at the city, resulting in a rout of Yuan Shu's army as they fled into the city. The city gates were too cramped, and many people were trampled to death. In this battle, we took down over a thousand enemies, seized hundreds of warhorses, and obtained many armor and weapons, and then laid siege to Qiaocheng. The emperor rewarded Yuan Zi Hu with a promotion and promoted him to the rank of Yitong Sansi. Yuan Shu continued to lead his troops into battle but faced defeat every time. Eventually, he lost the nerve to come out and remained holed up in the city. Yuan Zi Hu was worried that Xiao Yan would send reinforcements, so he divided his troops to attack several cities controlled by Xiao Yan, making the defending soldiers scatter at the news of our advance. With no reinforcements in sight, Yuan Shu had no option but to surrender and return the territory to the court. Yuan Zi Hu agreed, and both sides signed an alliance. However, just as Yuan Shu's forces were halfway out the door, Yuan Zi Hu launched a sudden attack, capturing Yuan Shu along with Zhu Wenkai, the Prefect of Qiaozhou, along with many prisoners and seized supplies. Upon returning triumphantly from the battle, the emperor rewarded Yuan Zi Hu with a bounty of horses. The emperor then promoted him to the position of Minister of Personnel, then to the Right Minister, and further appointed him as the General of Chariots and Cavalry, and tasked him with the duty of selecting officials.
Speaking of another matter, there was a fellow named Geng Xiang in Qingzhou who started a rebellion and then fled to Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan provided him with troops and horses, enabling him to covertly seize Jiaozhou. The emperor dispatched Yuan Zi Hu as the imperial envoy, chamberlain, and ambassador to Qing and Jiaozhou, along with the Governor of Jizhou, Cai Jun, to suppress Geng Xiang. Upon the army's arrival in Qingzhou, Geng Xiang saw that things were not going well and quickly fled. Yuan Zi Hu fell ill while in the army, and the emperor specifically sent a court physician to attend to him and deliver medicine. Later, the emperor appointed him as the Governor of Yanzhou, while maintaining his other official titles, allowing him to both recover and take up his new post in Yanzhou. Yuan Zi Hu first sent his most trusted people to the common people to gauge their grievances. When he arrived in Yanzhou, the Prefect of Mount Tai, Peng Mu, received Yuan Zi Hu with a lack of proper etiquette. Yuan Zi Hu sternly reprimanded him and enumerated his faults, which Peng Mu admitted to. This instilled fear in all of Yanzhou, and they no longer dared to be negligent.
After the emperor entered Guanzhong, a man named Zi Hu seized the city and instigated a rebellion. The Governor of South Qingzhou, Da Ye Ba, and a man from Xuzhou, Liu Cui, both mustered their troops to ally with Zi Hu. At the beginning of the Tianping era, the court dispatched Yitong San Si Lou Zhao to lead an army against him. Zi Hu first sent the former Governor of Jiaozhou, Yan Si Da, to defend Dongping County. Lou Zhao conquered Dongping County and then surrounded Zi Hu with troops. After a prolonged and unsuccessful siege, Lou Zhao deluged the city. The emperor sought to persuade Zi Hu to surrender, so he sent the Cavalier Attendant Luchen and the Yellow Gate Attendant Zhang Jingzheng with the emperor's edict to persuade Zi Hu to surrender. However, Da Ye Ba seized the opportunity to meet with Luchen and Zhang Jingzheng, and they ultimately killed Zi Hu, who subsequently surrendered.
He Ba Sheng, whose courtesy name was Po Hu, was from Shenwu Jianshan. His ancestor was Er Dou, who was sent to the northern frontier and settled in Wuchuan. Due to his successful reconnaissance missions and military exploits during the war, the Emperor bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Longcheng, appointing him as the military leader of the town. His father, He Ba Du Ba, succeeded to the title. As the Zhengguang era was coming to a close, the people of Woye, under the leadership of the rebel Po Luo Han Ba Ling, revolted. He Ba Du Ba took his three sons and local warriors to aid Huaishuo Town and killed the rebel Wang Wei Ke Gui. Later, He Ba Du Ba was slain by the rebels. During the Xiaochang era, the court posthumously conferred upon him the titles of General An Yuan and Governor of Si Prefecture.
After Heba Doba's death, Heba Sheng and his brothers fled to Prince Yuan Yuan of Guangyang, the Governor of Hengzhou. Heba Sheng was skilled in horseback archery and had exceptional martial skills. Yuan valued him highly, recommended him as the General of Crossbow Forces, and appointed him as the chief commander in the camp. After the city of Hengzhou was breached, Heba Sheng defected to Erzhu Rong, who promoted him to General of Archery, appointed him as a deputy general, and also made him a commander. After Erzhu Rong entered Luoyang, due to Heba Sheng's previous participation in battles against rebel forces, he was granted the title of Duke of Yiyang with a fief of 400 households. He was also appointed as General of the Imperial Guard, and later promoted to Regular Attendant of the Palace, General Who Suppresses the South, and Grand Master of Ceremonial Affairs, and further promoted to General of Southern Defense. He was then appointed as General of the Guards, serving as Grand Commander, stationed in Jingxing, and guarding Zhongshan. After Yuan Hao entered Luoyang, Heba Sheng led three hundred cavalry from the east to the palace at Helian. Erzhu Rong ordered Heba Sheng and Erzhu Zhao to cross the river first, and they defeated and captured Yuan Hao and his commander Chen Sibao. When the emperor returned to the palace, in recognition of Heba Sheng's achievements, his fief was increased to 600 households, and he was again appointed as Regular Attendant of the Palace, General of Northern Conquest, Grand Master of Ceremonial Affairs with Golden Purple, and General of Martial Guards. He was subsequently granted the title of Duke of Zhending. Shortly after, he was appointed as General of the Guards and granted the title of Regular Attendant.
After Er Zhu Rong died, He Ba Sheng and Tian Hu hurried to Er Zhu Rong's house. At that time, the palace gates had not yet been reinforced against attack, and Tian Hu and the others were discussing directly attacking the palace gates. He Ba Sheng stopped them and said, "Since the emperor has already taken action, he must have other strategies in mind. We don't have many troops; how can we act impulsively? Let's leave the city first and then think of other ways." After hearing his words, Tian Hu stopped. When Gao Huan made his escape that night, He Ba Sheng did not follow him, and Gao Huan (Emperor Zhuang) held him in high regard. Later, when Er Zhu Zhong Yuan approached Dong Jun, the court appointed He Ba Sheng to his original position while also promoting him to General of the Cavalry and Commander of the Eastern Expedition, leading troops alongside Zheng Xian Hu to attack Er Zhu Zhong Yuan. As a result, Zheng Xian Hu grew suspicious of him and assigned him outside the camp, where neither he nor his horses could rest. Before long, Er Zhu Zhong Yuan's army arrived, and He Ba Sheng engaged them in battle, but the battle did not go well, and he ultimately surrendered.
Beginning in the Pu Tai era, he was appointed as General of the Leading Army, while retaining his other positions, and was additionally promoted to Palace Attendant (侍中). He, along with Er Zhu Zhong Yuan and Du Lu, fought against the rebel forces in the north, and they all fled together, a detail documented in the "Biography of Er Zhu Zhao." Later, they were defeated at Han Ling, and He Ba Sheng surrendered to Gao Yang (Emperor Wenxuan) of Northern Qi (Emperor Xianwu). During the Tai Chang era, he was appointed as General of the Leading Army, with other positions unchanged, and was additionally promoted to Palace Attendant. Later, Emperor Gao Huan (Emperor Chu) was influenced by the slanderous words of Hu Si Chun and others and sought to eliminate Gao Yang of Northern Qi. Because He Ba Sheng's brother, He Ba Yue, held military power in the Guansi region, Gao Huan wanted to recruit him as external support, so he appointed He Ba Sheng as Envoy with Authority, Palace Attendant, Commander of the military affairs of the Three Jing and Two Ying, General of the Cavalry, Chancellor equivalent to the Three Excellencies, and Governor of Jingzhou.
Heba Sheng planned to attack Xiangyang, attacked the army led by Xiao Yan at Zhesu, and defeated them, capturing the garrison commander Yin Daowan and his deputy Ku'e. He also sent people to entice the barbarian king Wendaqi into surrendering, and Wendaqi led his troops to rise up in response. Xiao Yan's Yongzhou governor Xiao Xu dispatched troops to attack Wendaqi, but was defeated, instilling fear among the people in the Hannan region. Heba Sheng then sent troops to attack Junkou, captured Xiao Yan's general Zhuang Siyan, and took over the cities of Fengyi, Anding, Mianyang, Zengyang, and pacified all of them. Xiao Xu dispatched General Liu Zhongli to defend Gucheng, but Heba Sheng was unable to capture it and had to withdraw. The Mianbei region was left in ruins. Xiao Yan wrote a letter to Xiao Xu saying, "Heba Sheng is a brave general from the north; you should be cautious and avoid direct conflict with him." Xiao Yan was deeply wary of Heba Sheng. Eventually, Heba Sheng was granted the title of Marquis of Langye County.
In the late years of the Northern Wei Dynasty, the emperor commanded Hou Jing to lead the army north toward the capital. When the army reached the Ru River, the emperor had already entered the Hangu Pass. Hou Jing led his troops and wanted to rush to Chang'an from Wuguan, but upon reaching Xiyang, they learned that the King of Xianwu of Qi had already subdued Tongguan and captured Mao Hongbin. Hou Jing, feeling fearful, fled back to Jingzhou, but the city gates were shut tight and he was barred from entry. At this time, the King of Xianwu of Qi had sent Hou Jing (another person, not the main character in this text) and General Gao Aocao to attack him. Hou Jing suffered defeat and was even struck by an arrow, so he fled to Xiao Yan with over 500 cavalry. The following year, he secretly ran to Baoju. Hou Jing had a penchant for cunning tricks; he was bold yet lacked ambition, and drifted between the North and South, ultimately accomplishing nothing and ultimately met his end at the hands of his enemies.
Hou Jing's older brother was named Hou Ke Ni, who served as the Grand Commandant during the Yongxi period and was also granted the title of Prince of Yan County. "Brother Sheng, Ke Ni, during Yongxi, Grand Commandant, titled Prince of Yan County." That's a pretty solid official position!
Hou Jing's younger brother is named Hou Yue, courtesy name A Dou Ni. Initially, he was a student at the Imperial Academy, but later got into archery and horseback riding. He went to Huai Shuo to support the cause with his father and brother. At that time, the enemy leader Wang Wei Ke Gui was more than two hundred paces to the west of the city. Hou Yue climbed the city wall and shot an arrow that hit Ke Gui's arm, terrifying the enemy soldiers. Later, he returned to Hengzhou, where Prince Yuan Yuan of Guangyang appointed him as the chief military officer and recommended him to become the General of Crossbows. When Hengzhou fell, he defected to Er Zhu Rong, who made him a deputy general and later promoted him to governor.
At the beginning of the Yong'an period, he was appointed as General of Anbei, Grand Master of Ceremonies, and General of the Martial Guard, and was also granted the title of Baron of Fan Chengxiang. Later, he lost all his official titles due to some offenses. After two years, the emperor issued an edict reinstating his official positions and titles. Not long after, he was again appointed as Envoy with a special command, acting as General of the Guard, and Governor of the Western Route, serving under Er Zhu Tian Guang as the chief commander of the left flank in the campaign against Wan Qi Chou Nu. Er Zhu Tian Guang had long heard of his reputation and was extremely pleased; the two teamed up and talked everything over. Later, he was promoted again, with the addition of the title of General of the Guard and acting General of Chariots and Cavalry, while his other positions stayed the same.
After arriving in Chang'an, the court sent troops to reinforce him. At this time, Wanqiu Chounu sent his General Wei Chisatu to Wugong, crossed the Wei River, and attacked the stronghold besieging us. Erzhu Tianguang sent him to lead a thousand cavalry to rescue, but Chisatu had already broken the stronghold and was making his way to Qizhou. He led eight hundred light cavalry across the Wei River to hunt down the bandits, intentionally provoking his soldiers to loot the civilians to provoke Chisatu. Chisatu soon arrived with over twenty thousand infantry and cavalry on the north bank of the Wei River. He brought only a few dozen light cavalry and spoke with Chisatu across the river, boasting about the strength of our Great Wei, while Chisatu also boasted about his own abilities. They exchanged words several times. Chisatu was a bit full of himself and allowed his messenger to respond. He was furious and said, "I am talking to Chisatu, who do you think you are to speak to me!" The messenger, protected by the river, replied impolitely. He shot an arrow, and the messenger collapsed. By then, it was already late, and both sides called back their troops. At night, he set an ambush with elite soldiers along the south bank of the Wei River, with each segment consisting of forty to fifty men, arranged flexibly based on the terrain, like relay stations, set up one after another. The next day, he personally led over a hundred cavalry to confront the enemy across the river, then headed east. As he moved forward, the previously stationed cavalry began to join him. The number of cavalry increased, and the enemy had no clue how many there were. After about twenty miles, they arrived at a spot where they could cross the river. He immediately spurred his horse eastward, feigning a retreat.
The enemy thought he had escaped, so they abandoned their infantry, crossed the Wei River, and sent light cavalry to pursue him. He ran east for more than ten miles and set up an ambush on the hillside, waiting for the enemy to arrive. Due to the difficult terrain, the enemy could not advance quickly, and their troops continuously arrived at the eastern side of the hillside, with half of them having already crossed the river. He immediately launched a counterattack, leading by example and attacking fiercely, causing the enemy to rout immediately. He ordered his soldiers not to kill any enemy soldiers who dismounted and surrendered. Seeing this situation, all the enemy soldiers dismounted and surrendered. In a short while, they captured three thousand prisoners, without leaving behind a single horse. He then crossed to the northern bank of the Wei River, subdued over ten thousand infantry, and seized their supplies. He treated the local people well and did not trouble them. Wanqi Chounu soon abandoned Qizhou and fled to Anding.
Later, Er Zhu Tianguang vanquished Hou Fu and Hou Yuanjin, subdued Hou Jichanggui, and captured Chounu, Xiao Baoyin, Wang Qingyun, and Wanqi Daolu, while Su Qinmingda escaped. These events are recorded in the "Biography of Er Zhu Tianguang." Although Er Zhu Tianguang was the Grand Marshal, we must acknowledge that much of the credit went to Yuwen Tai. Therefore, the emperor promoted him to the title of General of Cavalry, rewarded him with two thousand households of land, and granted him the title of Duke of Fancheng. Not long after, the emperor issued a decree appointing Yuwen Tai as the military governor of Jingzhou, Beipingzhou, and Xiazhou, while retaining the title of General, concurrently serving as the Inspector of Jingzhou, and reassigning him the title of Duke of Qingshui County.
After Erzhu Tianguang entered Luoyang, he sent Yuwen Tai to Yongzhou to handle affairs. When Yuan Ye became emperor, he promoted Yuwen Tai to General of the Flying Cavalry, granted him five hundred households of land, and kept his other official positions the same. During the Putai reign, he was appointed as military governor of Qizhou, East Qinzhou, and Erqizhou, and was also appointed as the Left Deputy Minister with concurrent duties as the Inspector of Qizhou. Shortly after, he was further appointed as Palace Attendant, provided with a rear guard musical band, and permitted to establish his own office. Not long after, he was also appointed as the Left Deputy Minister in the Imperial Secretariat and the Prefect of Longyou, but he remained in Gaoping. Later, because there were still local tribes in the Longyou region who were still resisting, Yuwen Tai helped Hou Mochen Yue to pacify those areas together. In the second year of the Putai reign, the emperor appointed Yuwen Tai as military governor of Sanyongzhou, Sanqinzhou, Erqizhou, and Erhuazhou, concurrently serving as the Inspector of Yongzhou and the Governor of the Western Territories, while his other official positions remained unchanged. When Erzhu Tianguang led his troops to Luoyang to prepare to confront King Qixianwu, Yuwen Tai and Hou Mochen Yue set out from Longyou to hurry to Yongzhou to join the rebel forces.
In the Yongxi era, Han Xian and Yiran still served as Chief Minister, concurrently as Deputy Minister, Grand Chancellor, and Inspector of Yongzhou, and were also granted an additional grant of one thousand households. In the second year, the court issued an edict appointing him as the supreme military commander of twenty states including Yongzhou, Huazhou, Beihuazhou, Dongyongzhou, Erqizhou, Binzhou, Siliangzhou, Eryizhou, Bazhou, Erxiazhou, Weizhou, Ningzhou, Nanyizhou, and Jingzhou. Han Xian personally went to the northern border, reorganized the defense, led the army to Pingliang, located to the west in Jingzhou, established camps stretching for dozens of miles, and had the soldiers cultivate land and farm in Jingzhou. He himself led elite soldiers, under the pretense of grazing horses, but was actually recruiting figures like Wanshi Shiluo and others in the north of Yuanzhou, as well as those gathered from neighboring states and counties. The Governor of Lingzhou, Cao Ni, came personally to Han Xian's military camp to request a transfer. Han Xian sent the previous Governor of Luozhou, Yuan Jihai, to serve as the Governor of Lingzhou. However, the residents of Lingzhou rose up, defeated the forces of Yuan Jihai, and only Yuan Jihai managed to escape.
In the first month of the third year, Han Xian and Hou Mochen Yue met in Gaoping to prepare for the suppression of the rebellion in Lingzhou. Han Xian ordered Hou Mochen Yue to lead the vanguard and march north to Lingzhou. Upon hearing that the Yellow River at Kebo Pass had not yet thawed, Han Xian planned to personally inspect the situation. With a powerful army at his command in Guanzhong, Han Xian grew arrogant and harbored rebellious thoughts. Emperor Wen of Northern Wei, Qi Xianwu, was appalled by his tyranny and ordered Hou Mochen Yue to eliminate him. Known for his bravery and skill in battle, after receiving the secret order, Hou Mochen Yue devised a plot in secret. When Han Xian sent Hou Mochen Yue ahead, he marched east throughout the night, and by daybreak, Han Xian's forces caught up with him. Hou Mochen Yue lured Han Xian into his tent under the pretext of discussing military matters. Pretending to have a stomachache, Hou Mochen Yue slowly stood up, and his son-in-law Yuan Hongjing suddenly drew his sword and struck down Han Xian. Later, Han Xian's subordinates recovered his body and buried it in Shianyuan, north of Yongzhou. In June, the court posthumously honored Han Xian with titles including Grand General, Grand Guardian, Recorder of the Ministry of Personnel, Commander-in-Chief, and Governor, while preserving his title as Marquis of the founding state. Hou Mochen Yue hailed from Daijun. His father, Polemon, had been a commander of camels and cattle, which is why Hou Mochen Yue grew up in Hexi. He enjoyed hunting and was skilled in horseback archery. When the herdsmen rebelled, he joined Erzhu Rong, who retained him in the Governor's Mansion as a permanent officer, eventually rising to the rank of Grand Commander. In the early years of Emperor Xiaozhuang, he was appointed General of the West and awarded the title of Golden Purple Imperial Gentleman, and was granted the title of Marquis of Bairen County, with a fief of five hundred households.
It is said that Er Zhu Tianguang led his troops to the west to quell a rebellion, promoting Rong Yue to be his deputy, specifically the Grand Commander of the Right Flank, while retaining his official position. During the western campaign, Rong Yue's contributions were on par with those of Er Zhu Tianguang and He Ba Yue. Later, Rong Yue was promoted to the governor of Shanzhou, while his other official positions remained unchanged. After the death of Er Zhu Rong, Rong Yue accompanied Er Zhu Tianguang to Longxi. When Yuan Ye became emperor, Rong Yue was appointed as the Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry and the governor of Weizhou, and he was also promoted to duke, with his fief being changed to Baishui County, increasing his income by five hundred households. When Er Zhu Tianguang was about to march on Luoyang, he put Rong Yue in charge of military affairs in Huazhou. During the Putai years, Rong Yue was again promoted to Grand General of Cavalry, Deputy of the Three Departments, and the governor of Qinzhou.
As Er Zhu Tianguang moved east to prepare to rebel, Rong Yue and He Ba Yue responded to Qi Xian Wuwang in Longxi. Upon reaching Yongzhou, they found the Er Zhu clan's forces defeated. In the early years of Yongxi, Rong Yue was further promoted to Minister of State and Commander of Military Affairs in Longyou, still serving as the governor of Qinzhou.
In the first month of the third year of Yongxi, He Ba Yue summoned Rong Yue to jointly attack Lingzhou. Rong Yue devised a scheme to lure and kill He Ba Yue, and He Ba Yue's subordinates scattered everywhere. Rong Yue sent people to reassure them, saying, "I have received different orders, only targeting He Ba Yue; everyone need not be afraid!" Everyone was scared of Rong Yue, and no one dared to fight back. Rong Yue hesitated and didn’t dare to immediately take in He Ba Yue's army, so he retreated to Longxi and stationed himself in Yongluo City.
He Baoyue's former subordinates gathered in Pingliang, planning a counterattack against Rongyue, so they sent a messenger to ask the Xiazhou Governor Yuwen Heita for help. After Yuwen Heita arrived, he took command of all of He Baoyue's troops and their families, stationed at Gaoping City to strengthen their defenses, and then led the army to march to Longxi to attack Rongyue. Upon hearing this news, Rongyue abandoned Yongluo City and fled to the south to take advantage of the mountainous terrain, setting up their defenses in preparation for battle. After Yuwen Heita arrived, he saw Rongyue's army from a distance and decided to wait until the next day to engage in battle. Rongyue first sent a messenger to the Governor of Southern Qinzhou, Li Jinghe, and that night, Li Jinghe secretly sent a messenger to Yuwen Heita, agreeing to surrender.
At night, Li Jinghe ordered his men to mount donkeys and camels, saying, "Yitong (referring to Rongyue) has ordered us to return to Qinzhou to defend against the enemy," and instructed the soldiers to prepare for battle. Li Jinghe also deceived the soldiers serving under Rongyue, saying, "Yitong is returning to Qinzhou, why aren't you packing up?" Everyone thought it was true, and they all panicked, unable to control their panic; they scattered and fled to Qinzhou. Li Jinghe arrived in Qinzhou first, secured the city gates, and reassured everyone.
Once upon a time, the soldiers under Xue Yue had scattered, and he was paranoid, trusting no one, and even his closest companions kept their distance. He fled with his two younger brothers and seven or eight accomplices in Yue Fei's murder, leaving the army behind. For several days, they went into hiding, unsure of their next move. His subordinates advised him to go to Lingzhou, but Xue Yue hesitated, fearing recognition after crossing Longshan. Thus, in Zhongshan, he ordered his men to march on foot while he rode a mule, intending to head to Lingzhou. On the way, the pursuers were closing in on them, and seeing them approach, Xue Yue took his own life in the wilderness. His brothers, son, and subordinates were captured and killed, with only Dou Lu Guang, one of Xue Yue's accomplices in Yue Fei's murder, managing to escape to Lingzhou and later to Jinyang. After killing Yue Fei, Xue Yue lost his sanity, becoming a shadow of his former self, always saying: "Every time I fall asleep, I dream of Yue Fei telling me: 'Brother, where do you want to go? Follow me, I won't harm you.'" Therefore, he remained tormented, ultimately meeting a disgraceful end.
Hou Yuan was from Shenwu Jianshan. He was clever, resourceful, and incredibly brave. In the final years of Emperor Su's reign, there was famine in the Six Towns, and chaos erupted. Hou Yuan followed Du Luozhou south to battle. Later, he and his brother-in-law Nian Xian betrayed Du Luozhou and defected to Er Zhu Rong. On the way, they encountered robbers, and Hou Yuan, wearing tattered clothing, was gifted clothing and a hat by Er Zhu Rong, who treated him well, appointing him as the deputy commander of the central army. Hou Yuan often fought alongside Er Zhu Rong and earned numerous military accolades.
After Emperor Xiao Zhuang ascended the throne, he promoted Rong Qiyuan, bestowing upon him the title of founding noble of Yanci County and rewarding him with four hundred households. Later, Rong Qiyuan followed Er Zhu Rong to Fuko to fight against Ge Rong, earning many military honors. Rong Qiyuan was elevated to General of the Cavalry and appointed Governor of Yanzhou.
At that time, Han Lou, Hao Chang, and other subordinates of Ge Rong occupied Jicheng with tens of thousands of troops. Er Zhu Rong sent Rong Qi Yuan and He Ba Sheng to launch an attack against them. Coincidentally, when Yuan Hao invaded Luoyang, Er Zhu Rong led He Ba Sheng south to support the main army, leaving Rong Qi Yuan alone to defend Zhongshan. After Emperor Xiao Zhuang returned to the palace, Er Zhu Rong ordered Rong Qi Yuan to attack Han Lou again, but only provided him with a small number of soldiers.
Some voiced their concerns about this, but Er Zhu Rong said, "Hou Yuan's ability lies in on-the-spot adaptability; having him lead a large army may not allow him to showcase his talents. Now, attacking this bandit doesn't necessarily require a guaranteed victory." So he only gave him seven hundred cavalry. Rong Qi Yuan staged an impressive show of force, prepared many military supplies, and personally led a few hundred cavalry deep into Han Lou's territory, planning to send someone to gather intelligence.
When they were over a hundred miles from Jicheng, they encountered more than ten thousand infantry and cavalry led by Han Lou's general Chen Zhou. Rong Qi Yuan secretly ambushed them and launched a surprise attack from behind, defeating the enemy and capturing over five thousand troops. He then returned the captured horses and weapons, allowing them to return to the city. His subordinates advised him, "Since we have captured so many enemies, why let them go back?" Rong Qi Yuan replied, "My forces are too few to engage in a direct confrontation; I need to find a way to sow discord among them."
Rong Qi Yuan surmised they had returned to the city, so he led his cavalry to march at night. Just as dawn broke, he attacked the city gate of Jicheng. Han Lou began to suspect that the surrendered soldiers were Rong Qi Yuan's inside informants and fled, only to be caught by Rong Qi Yuan. As a result of this military success, Rong Qi Yuan was promoted to marquis and had eight hundred more households added to his fief. Soon after, the court appointed Rong Qi Yuan as both the Governor of Pingzhou and Grand Commander, still defending Fanyang.
After Er Zhu Rong's death, the Prefect of Fanyang, Lu Wenwei, tricked Gao Huan into going hunting, then closed the city gate, preventing him from entering. Gao Huan then set up camp with his army south of the county seat, claiming he was mourning for Er Zhu Rong, but was actually secretly mobilizing troops, aiming his forces straight south. The Emperor sent Prince Yuan Gui Ping of Donglai as a special envoy to appease Yanzhou and Jizhou. Gao Huan pretended to surrender, and Yuan Gui Ping took him at his word, resulting in his capture by Gao Huan, who forced him to follow.
When they arrived in Zhongshan, the Minister of Construction, Wei Lan Gen, attempted to ambush Gao Huan but was defeated. At this time, Yuan Ye became the Emperor, and Gao Huan wanted to submit to him. The Prefect of Changshan, Zhen Kai, was also defeated by Gao Huan's forces at Jingxing. Yuan Ye appointed Gao Huan as Grand General of the Flying Cavalry, Supervisor of the Left, Inspector of Dingzhou, Grand Commander of the Left Army, Duke of Kai State of Yuyang County, and rewarded him with a thousand households of food estate. Later, the former Emperor became Emperor again and gave Gao Huan an additional office of Household Officer, while his other positions remained unchanged. The Inspector of Youzhou, Liu Ling, rebelled and set up camp in Anguo City. Gao Huan and Chi Lie Yanqing defeated him and captured him.
Later, Gao Huan fought against the rebels with Er Zhu Zhao in Guang'a. After Er Zhu Zhao was defeated and had to flee, Gao Huan surrendered to the King of Qi, Gao Cheng (not Gao Xianwu, as stated in the original text), and later defeated the Er Zhu clan with Gao Cheng at Hanling. At the start of the Yongxi period, Gao Huan was appointed as the Inspector of Qizhou, while his other offices remained the same.
It is said that in the late years of Northern Wei, Yuan Yuan secretly contacted the Inspectors of Yanzhou, Fan Zihu, and Qingzhou, Prince Yuan Gui Ping, colluding and sending envoys to connect with the King of Qi, Gao Cheng. When the Emperor entered Guanzhong, Yuan Yuan started to hesitate and felt uncertain.
At that time, Prince Xian of Ruyang had just been dismissed from his post as the Governor of Qizhou and was camped to the west of the city. Yuan Yuan occupied the city with his troops but refused to welcome Xian. As a result, the townspeople, including Liu Taofu, secretly brought Xian into the city and took control of the four city gates. Yuan Yuan attempted to seize the city gates but failed, so he had to flee with his cavalry, leaving his wife, children, and subordinates in Xian's hands.
Yuan Yuan fled to Guangli, where the court appointed him as acting Governor of Qingzhou. King Qixianwu wrote to him as well, saying, "Don't be discouraged by your small army or hesitate to go east. The people of Qi are greedy and only care about money. The people of Qizhou were able to welcome Prince Ruyang, so can't the people of Qingzhou open the door for you? You must keep going!" After hearing this, Yuan Yuan returned, and Xian returned his men to him. However, Guiping refused to hand over Qingzhou because he was in league with Husi Chun.
Yuan Yuan then attacked Gaoyang County, where he settled his family within the city and led his light cavalry to raid the surrounding areas. Guiping sent his eldest son to attack Gaoyang, and the Governor of South Qingzhou, Ru Huailang, also sent troops to help. At that time, a steady stream of supply deliveries was coming into Qingzhou. Yuan Yuan personally led his cavalry to launch a nighttime raid on Qingzhou, deceiving the suppliers by claiming the imperial army had arrived and slaughtered everyone, and that he was the prince's subordinate who had escaped back to the city.
The next morning, Yuan Yuan told the suppliers that the imperial army had already reached Gaoyang the previous night, and he was the vanguard who had just arrived, not knowing where Marquis Hou (referring to Guiping) had fled. Terrified, the townspeople quickly captured Guiping and surrendered. Yuan Yuan, fearing his own inconsistency, decided to execute Guiping and send his head to the capital to prove he was not like Husi Chun.
After Fan Zihu quelled the rebellion, the court appointed Feng Yanzhi as the Prefect of Qingzhou. Yuan Yuan, who had failed to secure the position of Prefect of Qingzhou, felt fearful and fled to Guangchuan, where he took the treasury soldiers in Guangzhou as hostages to incite a rebellion. He also sent cavalry to the plains to capture the former governor of Jiaozhou, Jia Lu. That night, he launched an attack on the southern city of Qingzhou, abducting the former Minister of Justice, Cui Guangshao, in an attempt to sow discord and plunder widely. Consequently, many of his subordinates turned against him, and Yuan Yuan fled to the territory of Xiao Yan with his cavalry, during this time many people scattered. Eventually, he arrived in the southern part of Qingzhou, where he was killed by a vendor selling drinks, and his head was sent to the capital, while his family was confiscated.
Historians argue that Zhu Rui betrayed his foundational principles in pursuit of so-called "righteousness," a sin that cannot be forgiven. The old supporters of Yanqing were fickle, sometimes defying orders and sometimes complying; such fickle behavior should face legal repercussions. Hu Sichen was cruel-hearted and full of lies, buzzing around like a pesky fly, disturbing the four nations, and ultimately fell into the hands of wolves and tigers, which was entirely of his own making; he had been forsaken by heaven. Jia Zhi and Hou Yuan were also fickle, ultimately ending up in disgrace. Po Hu, lacking ability yet harboring grand ambitions, inevitably failed. Zi Hu lacked decisiveness and possessed few strategies, ultimately being eliminated. Yue, despite his immense strength, lacked strategy and was ultimately slain by a single sword stroke. Yue, who did not consider things thoroughly, died without even having time to turn his feet. Look at these individuals; one by one, they met their demise, all as a result of their own actions.
All in all, these people are all worse off than the last, all failed and died because of their own mistakes. Zhu Rui betrayed his principles, the Yanqing faction was inconsistent, Husi Chun was treacherous, and Jia Zhi Houyuan was also unpredictable. Pohu had insufficient skills but was overly ambitious, Zihu was wishy-washy, Yue Wu was strong but lacked a plan, and Yue didn't think things through. They brought their own downfalls upon themselves. This shows that in life and work, you need to be grounded and careful to avoid disaster.
