Dou Chi, courtesy name Guangcheng, was from Pingling in Fufeng. He was the eleventh-generation descendant of Zhang Weng, the Grand Minister during the Han Dynasty. His grandfather Zhang Tong served as the governor of Yanmen during the reign of Emperor Ling of Han. To escape the troubles caused by Dou Wu, he fled to the Xiongnu and eventually became the chief of a Xiongnu tribe. Later, as the Xiongnu migrated south, his descendants settled in Dai and were given the surname He Douling. Their family served as officials in the Wei state for generations, attaining high positions. His father Dou Lue was a general of Pingyuan. In recognition of Dou Chi's merits, he was posthumously honored as Shaobao (Junior Guardian), the General of Pillar State, and Duke of Jianchang.
Dou Chi was strict and upright, highly strategic, and had a handsome beard and a height of about 1.8 meters (eight feet two inches). In his youth, he studied the "Mao Poems" and "Zuo's Spring and Autumn" under Qi Xin from Fanyang, and generally understood their main ideas. He was skilled in horseback riding and archery, significantly stronger than most people. Towards the end of the Zhengguang era of Wei, when the northern border garrisons were chaotic, Dou Chi fled with his father Dou Lue to Dingzhou, where he ultimately fell victim to Ge Rong. Ge Rong wanted Dou Lue to hold an official position, but Dou Lue declined the offer. Suspecting Dou Lue of ulterior motives, Ge Rong detained him in Jizhou and took Dou Chi and his brother Dou Shan with him on campaign.
In 516 AD, Er Zhu Rong defeated Ge Rong, and Gao Huan took his family to follow Er Zhu Rong to Bingzhou. At that time, Ge Rong's generals, Han Lou and Hao Chang, commanded tens of thousands of troops and held Ji City, refusing to surrender. The court appointed Gao Huan as the commander, who followed General of Cavalry Hou Shen to attack them. Gao Huan personally beheaded Han Lou and was awarded the title of General of Promoting Valor for his contributions. Three years later, he was promoted to Assistant Gentleman of the Imperial Guard and later promoted to Palace Attendant. In 517 AD, Gao Huan was subsequently promoted to General of Martial Might.
After Emperor Xiaowu of Wei ascended to the throne, the Rouran and other nomadic tribes sent envoys to pay tribute, and the emperor held a banquet for them in the palace. At that time, an owl flew in front of the hall and hooted. The emperor knew that Gao Huan was highly skilled in archery and wanted to showcase it in front of the foreign envoys. So, he gave Gao Huan two imperial arrows and asked him to shoot the owl. Gao Huan's arrow hit the mark, and the owl fell to the ground with a thud. The foreign envoys were astonished. The emperor was very pleased and rewarded him with fifty pieces of silk. Soon after, Gao Huan accompanied Fan Zihu, the military commissioner of the southeastern region, to pursue Erzhu Zhongyuan, who fled to the Liang Dynasty.
At that time, the emperor of the Liang Dynasty sent Yuan Shu to invade, captured Qiaocheng and took control of it. Fan Zihu ordered Gao Huan to lead the cavalry to attack, and they won a decisive victory. Gao Huan was then appointed as the Marquis of Xingtang County, with a fief of five hundred households. He was subsequently appointed as the General of the Direct Pavilion, the Silver and Blue Grandee of the Imperial Household, and served as the magistrate of Hualiu County. His title was further promoted to Earl of Shangluo County, with a fief of one thousand households. During this period, the relationship between Emperor Xiaowu of Wei and Gao Huan of Northern Qi was strained because of Gao Huan's high prestige and strong abilities, making him well-suited for key military roles. He was appointed as the Grand Commandant of the Inner Pavilion. He was later promoted to General of the Guards, serving in the Direct Pavilion while wearing crimson robes, and eventually followed the emperor on his westward migration.
Gao Huan and his brother Gao Shan arrived at the city gates, engaged the Guards General, Gao Jinlong, at Qianqiu Gate, and defeated him. They then entered the palace, captured forty imperial horses along with their saddles and tack, and presented them to the emperor. The emperor was very pleased and rewarded both Gao Huan and Gao Shan with two fine horses and ten ordinary ones each.
In the year 534 AD, I was conferred the title of Duke of Zhending County and appointed as the Governor of Dongyu Prefecture for my achievements in accompanying the emperor on a military campaign. I was also promoted to the rank of General of the Guards. I later participated in capturing Dou Tai, reclaiming Hongnong, and breaching Shayuan, earning merits in all these battles and receiving an additional 800 households of land. During the Battle of Heqiao, while other generals retreated, I, with only two cavalry soldiers, was pursued by the enemy all the way to Mangshan. I dismounted, backed against the mountain to face the enemy. As more and more enemies surrounded me from three sides, arrows fell like rain. When the bows of my cavalry were broken, I collected the arrows shot at me and fired back, causing many enemy soldiers and mounts to fall. Seeing the heavy casualties, the enemy remarked to one another, "It's not worth it just to capture these three people." They slowly retreated, and I took advantage of their relaxation to break free from the encirclement and make my escape. Later, I accompanied Taibao Li Bi in subduing the Bai'e Ji Hu, defeated them, and was promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry. Gao Zhongmi brought the North Yu Province into submission, and I led troops to support Taizu. When we reached Luoyang, we encountered the Eastern Wei forces arrayed at Mangshan. Taizu ordered the baggage to be left at Chanqu and led the light cavalry to attack fiercely. The central and right armies achieved resounding victories, capturing all the infantry. I pursued them with torches all the way to Shiji before returning. I was then promoted to Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, Yitong Sanqi, and Imperial Cavalry Commander, resulting in a total increase of 1000 households of land.
Thirteen years later, in 547 AD, I was further promoted to Commissioner, Grand General of the Cavalry, Yitong Sanqi, and appointed as Palace Attendant, resulting in a total increase of 3900 households of land. Later, I was reappointed as Duke of Anwu County, and my rank was further elevated to Grand General.
In the year 550 AD, I was appointed as the Grand General and Governor of Yuanzhou. During my tenure, I suppressed powerful landlords, handled backlogged cases, and often personally inspected the fields to encourage farming and sericulture. I served in the province for ten years with remarkable achievements. There was a spring on the north side of the city, where I often went to recreate and feast with my subordinates. Once, while enjoying the spring water, I said, "I can only drink this water in this province." After my departure, both the people and officials fondly remembered my kindness, and whenever someone came to the spring, they would think of me.
In the year 550 AD, I was elevated to the Duke of Guangwu. At that time, the Rouran people invaded Guangwu, and I was ordered to lead troops to fight alongside General Zhao Gui. When the Rouran people heard our army was coming, they fled. I chased them to Qu Fuchuan and won a great victory, killing their leader Yujulu Shefa, capturing thousands of people, and tens of thousands of livestock. Later, Emperor Xiaomin ascended the throne and rewarded me with two thousand households of land to govern. In the year 552 AD, I was appointed as the Grand General of the Pillar State.
Emperor Dezong valued my achievements and contributions and wanted to build a mansion for me. I declined, saying that the realm was still unstable, and the war was not over, so we should not use the people's labor casually. Emperor Dezong did not agree, but later when the emperor passed away, the matter was eventually forgotten. In the year 551 AD, I was granted the title of Duke of Dengguo, with ten thousand households of land, and was also rewarded with one thousand households of land in Ziyang County for collecting taxes. In the year 555 AD, I was appointed as the Grand Minister and accompanied Prince Jin Yüwen Hu on the campaign.
In the year 558 AD, I was appointed Governor of Yizhou. Earlier, Emperor Gaozu was hunting north of the Wei River and had me compete with Duke Yuwen Hu in shooting rabbits. I shot seventeen in a day, while he shot eleven. Yuwen Hu held a grudge against me for shooting better than him. I was sent to Yizhou due to my old age and my advice to Yuwen Hu to return to his duties, which angered him, resulting in my demotion. Later, Yuwen Hu was killed, and I was summoned back to the court to serve as Grand Tutor.
I was regarded as a senior statesman at court, with a high reputation and status, often involved in discussions on important national matters. Once, when I fell ill, the Emperor personally visited me at home and rewarded me with precious medicinal herbs. The Emperor respected me greatly. Later, when the Emperor convened a meeting in the Taiji Hall to discuss the campaign against the formidable Northern Qi enemy, although I was old at that time, I clenched my fists and said, "Though I am old, please let me wield a weapon and be the first to charge into battle. I hope to witness the defeat of the formidable Northern Qi enemy, the unification of the country, and then travel to various regions to experience their customs. I hope to pay my respects at Mount Tai upon our success, and then close my eyes in death without regrets!" Emperor Gaozu was touched by my loyalty and appointed my second son, Duke Yuwen Gong of Wudang, as the Commander of the Left Second Army. After the demise of Northern Qi, the Emperor summoned me to tour the palaces in Xiangzhou. I congratulated the Emperor, saying, "Your Majesty has truly fulfilled the late Emperor's expectations!" The Emperor was delighted and rewarded me with thirty servants and concubines, a thousand bolts of silk, and promoted me to the position of Senior Pillar of the State.
In the year 574 AD, he was appointed Governor of Yongzhou. Later, Emperor Xuan commissioned the construction of the Eastern Capital, Luoyang, and appointed him as the chief supervisor of the construction project, overseeing everything. He had the final say on the design and construction of the imperial palace and gardens. During the Daxiang era (579-580 AD), he was reassigned as the Prefect of Leling County, but the county's population remained unchanged.
During the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, the construction of the Luoyang Palace was put on hold. He requested an audience in the capital but ran into a rebellion led by Wei Chijiong. Thus, he quickly made his way to Jinyong City, recruiting several hundred elite soldiers from Guanzhong, and, along with Yuan Heng, the governor of Luoyang, and the prefect of Pingliang, they joined forces to defend Luoyang. He also took on the role of acting governor of Luozhou. It was only after things settled down in Xiangzhou that he entered the capital. At that time, Emperor Wen of Sui had just been established as the Chancellor, and the ministers in court urged him to declare himself emperor, but he, due to the favor his family had received from the emperor for several generations, was reluctant to submit a memorial in support. People back then greatly admired his integrity and strong moral character.
After Emperor Wen ascended the throne, he appointed him as Grand Tutor and exempted him from the usual court visit formalities. In August of the fourth year of the Kaihuang era (584 AD), he passed away at the age of seventy-eight. The court posthumously awarded him his official title and additionally conferred military titles in the eight states of Ji, Cang, Ying, Zhao, Wei, Bei, Wei, and Luo, and the title of Governor of Jizhou, and he was given the posthumous name "Gong." He was filial to his parents and respectful to his elder brother, which was quite well-known back then. As he rose to prominence, his descendants also climbed the ranks to high official positions, and their family became one of the most prominent families of the time.
His son Mao inherited his title. Mao had thirteen younger brothers, with Gong and Wei being the most notable. Gong became a great general, following the founding emperor Yang Jian to pacify the Qi dynasty, was enfeoffed as Duke of Zanguo, and was appointed as the governor of Xiyanzhou, but was later executed for a misstep.
His brother Shan served as the Grand Marshal of the Central Army and Duke of Nancheng, following Emperor Xiaowu of Wei to the west. He later held positions such as Grand Minister of the Imperial Stable, Minister of the Guards, Governor of Fenbei and Huaying, General of the Eastern Forces, and was granted the title of Duke of Yongfu, posthumously honored with the title "Loyal." His son Rongding inherited his title, initially serving as an Attendant of a Thousand Cattle under Emperor Wen of Wei, and gradually rose through the ranks to become General of the East and Grand Commander, eventually reaching the position of General of the Cavalry and concurrently serving as Minister of the Three Offices. He also held the positions of Middle Chancellor of the Chifei and Upper Minister of the Right Guards, and during the Daxiang period, he attained the rank of General. His brother's son was named Yi.
Yi, styled Tianwu, lost his father, Yue, at a young age. After Yi achieved merit, the court posthumously conferred upon him the titles of General and Governor of Jizhou. Yi was known for his composure and dignity, and he was also famous for his filial piety. In the early period of Emperor Xiaowu of Wei, he started his career as an Assistant Cavalry Officer. At that time, Emperor Shenzu of Northern Qi usurped power, and Yi was filled with a determination to sacrifice himself for his country.
After Emperor Xiaowu moved west to Chang'an, he also followed to Guanzhong, where he was granted the title of Count of Fenggao, with a fief of six hundred households, and became an Imperial Seal Bearer. Later, he played a key role in capturing Dou Tai, recovering Hongnong, and distinguished himself in the Battle of Shayuan. His career progressed steadily; he was first appointed as General of the Right and Grand Master of the Palace, and he was promoted to Marquis, with his fief increasing to one thousand households. He then successively held the positions of General with Authority, General Who Pacifies the Army, and Regular Attendant of the Cavalry. In the second year of Emperor Wei's abdication, he was appointed as Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, with the title equivalent to that of the Three Ministers and Grand Commander, and he was promoted to Duke of Anwu, with his fief increasing to fourteen hundred households. In the first year of Emperor Wei's reign, he was further promoted to Grand General of the Cavalry, Grand Master of the Palace, and Grand Commander, and was re-granted the title of Duke of Yong'an before being assigned as the Prefect of Bianzhou. After Emperor Xiaomin ascended the throne, his title was once again elevated to Duke of Shenzhou, with a total fief reaching five thousand households. In the third year of Baoding, he was recalled to court and appointed Left Palace Earl, later transferring to the Earl of the Minor Clan, and shortly thereafter was appointed Grand General.
At that time, the Northern Wei and Northern Qi were engaged in fierce battles, fighting year after year, with both sides trying to enlist the Turks as external support. As early as the time of Emperor Taizu, the Turks had agreed to marry a princess to Northern Wei, and Northern Qi also sent envoys to propose marriage, offering many gifts. However, a man named Digu was overly greedy and sought to renege on his promise. The court dispatched Yang Jian and others to contact the Turks multiple times, making over a dozen trips back and forth, before barely restoring the previous friendly relations. By this time, although it had been agreed to marry the Turkic princess, there remained concerns that the Turks might backtrack. Due to a man named Yang Yi, who held a high position and was a royal relative with great prestige, the court sent him as an envoy to the Turks. After Yang Yi arrived among the Turks, the Northern Qi envoys were also present. The attitude of the Turkic rulers was still wavering, so Yang Yi addressed them with righteous reasoning, elucidating the greater principles, and after many days, he finally persuaded the Turks to send the princess over. The court was greatly pleased and additionally granted him the title of Duke of Chengdu, with a fief of one thousand households, and promoted him to General of the Pillar State. After that, he was appointed as the governor of Tongzhou, later transferred to the governor of Puzhou, then to the governor of Jinzou, and was further granted the title of Senior Pillar State, before finally returning to the court to serve as Grand Marshal. In the early years of the Sui Dynasty, during the Kaihuang period, he was appointed as the governor of Dingzhou. He served for a long time on the frontier and was deeply loved by the people. In the second year of Kaihuang, he passed away while in office at the age of sixty-four years. The court posthumously awarded him the titles of governor of six different states, including Xiangzhou and Yingzhou, and bestowed upon him the posthumous name 'Su'. Yang Yi was of gentle disposition, cautious and careful in his work, and he also married Princess Xiangyang, the fifth daughter of Emperor Taizu, which garnered him special trust from the court. Although he held a high office and frequently entered the palace, he remained humble and diligent, and he was praised by his contemporaries. His son, Yang Xian, succeeded him in his title.
Old Li's child has the character "贤" (worthy) in his name, and he is quite intelligent, gaining fame from a young age. In the second year of the Tianhe era, he was granted the title of heir apparent of the Shénwǔ Kingdom, holding a prominent official position. By the first year of Xuanzheng, he became the General with the title of "Yìtóng" (Yìtóng Dàjiāngjūn), a position that sounds impressive. During the Kaihuang period of the Sui Dynasty, he inherited the title of Duke of Shénwǔ and became the governor of Qianzhou, rising through the ranks.
His second daughter is no ordinary person; she later became Empress Taimu of the Tang Dynasty! In the first year of Wude, the emperor posthumously honored him with the title of Sikong and appointed him to oversee the military affairs of over a dozen states in Jingzhou, granting him the title of Duke of Qí, which was a remarkable honor! The emperor also posthumously awarded his father the position of governor of Jinzhou, allowing his son to inherit the title of Duke of Qí. His son Shaoxuan was likewise posthumously granted the governorship of Qinzhou and inherited the title. Unfortunately, Shaoxuan had no sons, so the title passed to his brother Xiaoxuan's son Dezang.
Now, let’s turn our attention to Yu Yi, styled Wenruo, who is the son of Grand Tutor Yan Gongjin. He is handsome and very knowledgeable. At just eleven years old, he married the emperor's daughter, the Princess Pingyuan, and was granted the title of Yüanwài Sànqì Chángshì, and the Duke of Anping, with a fief consisting of a thousand households. In the sixteenth year of Datong, his official position continued to rise, and his title was elevated; he became a Grand Commander and served as a personal guard to the emperor, on duty in the palace every day. Later, he was appointed as General of the South, a Grand Minister of Jin and Purple, a Sànqì Chángshì, and a General of the Imperial Guards, with positions coming in rapid succession. After his father pacified Jiangling, he distributed a substantial amount of war spoils among his sons, but Yu Yi took none, choosing only a few young men of good character to take special care of. When the emperor heard of this, he rewarded him with two hundred servants, which he resolutely declined. Later, he was promoted to the rank of Grand General of the Chariots and Cavalry, Yìtóng Sān Sī, and also received the titles of Shizhong, General of the Cavalry, and Grand Minister of the Chariots and Cavalry, reaching the pinnacle of officialdom. After the establishment of the Six Ministries, he was appointed as the Left Minister of the Palace.
After Emperor Xiaomin ascended to the throne, he sent Li Yi to Weizhou to serve as the governor. His brother Li Shi had previously served as the governor of this state and had a commendable record. Li Yi dealt with others sincerely and managed affairs with a fair and straightforward approach, which earned him the respect of various ethnic groups, and people likened him to the ancient virtuous officials Feng Tang and Feng Jing.
At that time, the Tuyuhun invaded the Hexi Corridor, surrounding Liangzhou, Shanzhou, and Hezhou, and sent people to seek help. The governor of Qinzhou dispatched Li Yi for rescue, but he declined the assignment. His colleagues advised him, but Li Yi said, "Attacking cities and seizing land isn't the Tuyuhun's forte; they're just here to raid the border pastures. How could they possibly lay siege for long? If they can't plunder anything, they will naturally retreat. Now, mobilizing the troops for a rescue isn't timely. I have already guessed the outcome, so there's no need for further discussion." A few days later, news came that it was indeed as he had predicted. Later, He Lanxiang led a campaign against the Tuyuhun, and Li Yi commanded the troops from the state as the vanguard, and, in recognition of his merits, he was granted an additional 1,200 households of land. Soon after, he was called upon once more to serve as the Right Palace Minister.
Emperor Shizong particularly liked literature and history and established the Linzhi Academy. As long as one had talent and knowledge, regardless of their official position, they could participate in the studies. Even people like Xiao Hui and Wang Bao, along with some lower-ranking individuals, became scholars together. Li Yi told the Emperor, "Xiao Hui is a descendant of the Liang Dynasty royal family; Wang Bao is a high-ranking official of the Liang Dynasty court. Now they are mingling with lower-ranking individuals, which may go against the principles of respecting the wise and noble." The Emperor accepted his advice and ordered Li Yi to establish their ranks, thus creating a hierarchy among the scholars. After Emperor Shizong's death, Li Yi and Duke Jin jointly accepted the will and enthroned Gaozu as Emperor. In the first year of the Baoding era, Li Yi was transferred to the position of Military Sima. Three years later, he was promoted to Duke of Changshan, with his fiefdom increasing to 2,900 households. In the early years of Tianhe, he was further promoted to Grand Master of Ceremonies, with his fiefdom increasing to 3,700 households. Three years later, Empress Ashina returned from the Turks, and Emperor Gaozu personally welcomed her and appointed Li Yi responsible for organizing the ceremonies. Although the Turks were rude, they all respected his system of etiquette and dared not violate it. Later, when Li Yi's father passed away, he stepped down to observe mourning at home. During the mourning period, he devoted himself wholeheartedly, going above and beyond the customary mourning practices, and was praised by the people of that time. Shortly after, the court soon ordered him to return to his post. Emperor Gaozu also believed that Li Yi had an eye for talent, so he tasked him with selecting teachers and aides for the Crown Prince and other princes. Those he selected earned the people's praise, and people widely regarded his choices as excellent. Later, Li Yi was promoted to Grand Marshal, responsible for leading the military forces inside and outside the capital region.
Prince Yu Wenhu was a trusted confidant of the emperor, but the emperor was actually quite wary of him. Later, Yu Wenhu was demoted to a minor position as a junior official. Although he seemed quite prestigious and was even granted the title of Pillar of the Nation, the emperor had already started to distance himself from him. After Yu Wenhu's execution, the emperor summoned Yang Jian and sent him to Hedong to capture Duke Yu Wenxun of Zhongshan, while also assigning him to take over the defense of Puzhou. Yang Jian said, "Yu Wenhu, as a chancellor, misused his power at the imperial mausoleum and ultimately brought about his own demise. Now that the main offender has been dealt with, his remaining followers should also be thoroughly eradicated. However, they are all Your Majesty's close relatives, and I believe we should avoid harming the innocent. Your Majesty is sending me, an outsider, to capture them instead of a royal family member, which would not only attract outside criticism but also feels inappropriate to me." After hearing his words, the emperor found them reasonable and then sent Prince Yu Wensheng to replace Yang Jian for this task.
Previously, the border regions of Qi and Chen had strengthened their defenses. Although they appeared to maintain friendly relations and mutual visits on the surface, they had been engaged in annual conflicts. Both sides had victories and defeats, and neither gained a significant advantage. After Emperor Gaozu ascended to the throne, he prepared for an eastern expedition and ordered the border garrisons to strengthen their reserves and increase the stationed troops. Upon hearing this, the states of Qi and Chen also hurried to construct defensive works. Yang Jian advised, saying: "When Yuwen Hu held power, he once sent troops to attack Luoyang, but he suffered a crushing defeat before the battle even began, resulting in heavy losses. The national strength accumulated over decades was almost entirely lost in an instant. Although Yuwen Hu lacked a winning strategy, this was also due to the enemy's vigilance. Furthermore, mutual incursions along the borders make outcomes unpredictable, which only wastes manpower and depletes resources; this is not a sound strategy. It would be better to ease border defenses, reduce the stationed troops, improve relations, and appease the people, showing respect to those who come to establish friendly ties. In this way, they will be willing to coexist peacefully with us and lower their guard. At that time, we can take them by surprise and capture the Shandong region in one fell swoop. If we continue as before, it will likely be difficult to completely pacify the situation." The emperor adopted his suggestion.
In 616 AD, Li Xiaoyi was appointed as the military governor of An Sui and five other regions. At that time, there was a severe drought, and the Yanshui River had completely dried up. There was a custom that during a severe drought, people would go to Mount Baizhao to pray for rain. Emperor Gaozu Li Yuan had previously ordered a ban on various sacrificial activities, and the temples on Mount Baizhao had been demolished. Li Xiaoyi sent the chief scribe to perform a sacrificial rite, and that day it rained heavily, alleviating the drought, and that year there was a bountiful harvest. The common folk were deeply grateful to him, gathering to sing and dance, celebrating Li Xiaoyi's contributions.
In 618 AD, Emperor Li Yuan planned to launch a military expedition to the east. The court ministers were unaware of this, so they dispatched Minister Lu Yun and others on swift horses three times to ask for Li Xiaoyi's opinion. Li Xiaoyi voiced his support. When the army departed, the emperor ordered Li Xiaoyi to command twenty thousand troops from Jingzhou and Chuzhou, departing from Wancheng and Yexian counties, heading straight to Xiangcheng. General Zhang Guangluo, Zheng Ke, and others also followed Li Xiaoyi's command. They captured nineteen cities of the Qi Kingdom within ten days. Some commanders, after capturing a city, went to the villages to kill civilians and displayed their severed heads as a warning. As a result, the people were overjoyed and flocked to Li Xiaoyi as if returning home. Later, when Emperor Li Yuan fell ill, the army returned to the capital, and Li Xiaoyi returned to his post.
In 619 AD, Li Xiaoyi was reassigned to oversee military affairs in Shaanxi, Xiong, and sixteen other provinces, as well as serving as the governor of Yiyang. Li Xiaoyi felt that Yiyang's location was not ideal, so he requested to move his station to Shaanxi. The emperor agreed and appointed him governor of Shaanxi, while retaining his previous position. That year, the army set out on another eastern expedition. Li Xiaoyi departed from Shaanxi, traversed Jiugu Mountain, captured several cities, including Zaojian, and eventually reached Luoyang. The governor of Luozhou in the Qi Kingdom, Dugu Yongye, opened the city gates and surrendered. All thirty military strongholds in the nine provinces of Henan were captured. The people of Xiangcheng were overjoyed to see Li Xiaoyi return, welcoming him with food and drinks, causing traffic jams. Soon after, Li Xiaoyi was appointed governor of the nine provinces, including Luohuai, and commander of Heyang.
Later, he was reassigned as the Governor of Yuzhou, and the court provided him with five thousand soldiers, one thousand warhorses, and twenty officials of the rank of the Three Departments. It was also ordered that the governors of Heyang, Xiangzhou, Anzhou, and Jingzhou could permit Li Xiaoyi to recruit suitable military personnel without restrictions. Positions below the rank of the Three Departments could be filled first and then reported to the court. General Lu Tiannian of the Chen Dynasty, who had long besieged Guangzhou, was so terrified by the news of Li Xiaoyi's arrival in Runan that he fled. The tribal leader of Huozhou, Tian Yuanxian, relying on the difficult terrain, refused to submit, so he sent a messenger with a hostage to request allegiance. The Chen Dynasty general Ren Mannu led all his troops to attack Tian Yuanxian. Tian Yuanxian erected barricades to resist, and everyone stood united in their resolve. Upon Li Xiaoyi's return to court, Tian Yuanxian rebelled. He had a keen understanding of various customs and human sentiments.
At first, the Great Emperor of the Sui Dynasty (Emperor Wen, Yang Jian) appointed him as the Grand Minister of Education. Then he was ordered to inspect the Great Wall and construct watchtowers. From the western Yanmen Pass to the eastern Jieshi Mountain, he implemented innovations and reforms, addressing all key aspects. After that, he was appointed as the military governor of the six towns across the seven states of You and Ding. Previously, the Turks frequently raided, causing widespread displacement among the common people. He already possessed great prestige and military talent, along with skills in reconnaissance. From that point on, the Turks no longer dared to cross the border, allowing the common people to live and work in peace.
Later, Wei Chi Jiong rebelled in Xiangzhou and even sent someone to write a letter to the Grand General to recruit him. However, he captured Wei Chi Jiong's messenger and delivered the letter to the court. At that time, Emperor Wen of Sui was in power, and he rewarded him with 1,500 bolts of cloth, 1,500 measures of grain, along with numerous valuable treasures and garments. He was also promoted to the position of Senior State Minister and granted the title of Duke of Ren, with an additional five thousand households added to his fief, and an extra one thousand households in the food tribute of Rencheng County, collecting taxes from that area. He also sent his son Yang Rang to submit a letter advocating for advancement, requesting to go to the capital to pay respects, which Emperor Wen of Sui agreed to.
In the early years of the Kaihuang era, he was appointed as the Grand Marshal. Someone accused him of plotting to rebel with Wei Chi Jiong while in Youzhou. Emperor Wen of Sui summoned him to the palace and assigned officials to investigate. Later, it was found to be a false accusation, and his official position was restored. In May of the third year of his tenure, he passed away. The court posthumously restored his original official title and further appointed him as the military governor of six provinces including Pujin, Huai, Jiang, Shao, and Fen, and appointed him as the governor of Puzhou, with the posthumous title of Mu.
He was humble and frugal, never one to compete with others, constantly reminding himself to stay vigilant against complacency. How could anyone risk their life for fame and fortune?
His son Yang Xi rose to the position of Grand General and Military Sima and was titled Duke of Liyang; his younger brother Yang Quan rose to the rank of Yitong Sansi, equivalent to the Three Departments, and was appointed as a minister in the Ministry of Personnel, with the title of Duke of Changshan; another younger brother, Yang Rang, also attained the position of Yitong Sansi.
Speaking of which, when Wei Chi Jiong raised his army, Li Mu, the younger brother of Li Xian, the Duke of Hexi, was the governor of Bingzhou. He also captured Wei Chi Jiong's son and sent him to the court.
Li Mu, styled Xianqing, was clever and perceptive from a young age, with a great demeanor. When Emperor Gaozu (referring to Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei, Tuoba Hong) advanced into Guanzhong, Li Mu worked by his side and gained great favor from Emperor Gaozu. Li Mu was also very cautious and never negligent, which earned him Emperor Gaozu's admiration, leading to him being entrusted with important responsibilities, allowing him to enter and exit the palace; at that time, no one could compare to him.
Later, Hou Mochen Yue assassinated He Ba Yue, and Gao Zu hurried from Xia Zhou to offer support, while Shi Gui, an ally of Hou Mochen Yue, occupied Yuan Zhou and continued to defend it for him. Gao Zu ordered Hou Mochen Chong to take the light cavalry and launch an attack on Yuan Zhou. At that time, Li Mu was already inside the city, and he, along with his brothers Li Xian and Li Yuan, defended the city gates to support Hou Mochen Chong, ultimately capturing Shi Gui alive. For this achievement, Li Mu was appointed as governor.
He accompanied Gao Zu to welcome Emperor Xianwu of Wei and was granted the title of Earl of Yongping, with a fief of three hundred households. Later, he captured Dou Tai, recaptured Hong Nong, and achieved numerous military successes. During the Battle of Sha Yuan, Li Mu told Gao Zu, "Gao Huan is scared today; you should pursue him quickly, and you’ll be able to catch him!" However, Gao Zu ignored him. Due to his prior accomplishments, Li Mu was elevated to the rank of duke.
Speaking of the Battle of He Qiao, Taizu's mount was struck by a stray arrow, causing it to bolt in fear, which caused Taizu to fall from his horse, throwing the army into chaos. The enemy pursued relentlessly, causing everyone around to flee. At this moment, Li Mu fiercely whipped Taizu with his whip and shouted, "Where is your master? Are you hiding here alone!" The enemy didn’t realize he was a nobleman and let them slip away. Li Mu offered his horse to Taizu, allowing both of them to escape danger. Without Li Mu, Taizu would have been in serious trouble that day.
Since then, Emperor Taizu showered even more favor on Li Mu. Li Mu was promoted to General of the Imperial Guard and was further granted the titles of Grand Commander, General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Honorary Minister of the Three Departments. He was elevated to the rank of Duke of Anwu, with his fief increased by one thousand seven hundred households. The rewards he received were so numerous that they were beyond counting. After a long while, the Emperor Taizu praised Li Mu's loyalty and righteousness, and he remarked with emotion, "The most precious thing for a person is their life, yet Li Mu is able to put his own life at risk to save me from peril. Even if I promote him and bestow riches upon him, it would be hard to repay his kindness!" So, the Emperor granted him a special iron certificate, pardoning him for ten capital offenses, and promoted him to General of the Cavalry, Chancellor of the Three Departments, and Imperial Attendant. At first, Li Mu had given his prized steed to the Emperor, and later, all horses of that color in the palace were given to him. The Emperor also granted Li Mu's son the title of Duke of Anle, his sister the title of County Lady, and his other sisters the titles of County Ladies as well. His brothers, nephews, and other relatives were all generously rewarded. The honors Li Mu received were truly extraordinary.
After the siege of Yubi, Li Mu was appointed as the Deputy Commander of the An Ding Kingdom. Soon after, he was appointed as the Governor of Tongzhou, and later entered the court to serve as the Minister of Imperial Stables. He earned merit during the campaign against Jiangling, and one of his sons was granted the title of Marquis of Changcheng, with a fief of one thousand households. He was subsequently promoted to Grand General and bestowed the surname Tuoba. Not long after, he was appointed as the governor of Yuanzhou, and his capable son was appointed as the Governor of Pinggao, while another son was appointed as the magistrate of Pinggao and was granted a band of musicians to accompany him. Li Mu felt that the favor was excessive, especially since all three of his nephews held official positions locally, and he firmly declined to accept it. However, the Emperor insisted that he could not refuse. Later, Li Mu was transferred to the position of governor of Yongzhou and entered the court to serve as a junior minister. After Emperor Xiaomin ascended the throne, Li Mu's fief was increased to a total of three thousand seven hundred households in fief, and another son was granted the title of County Lord. Li Mu requested that the title be returned to his capable son, Xiaogui, and the Emperor granted his request.
It is said that a man named Yuan Zizhi conspired to kill Duke Jin Gonghu, but ended up being killed himself. Mu (Mu Tipa) was implicated due to his association with Yuan Zizhi and was dismissed from his position. At that time, Zizhi's brother, Ji, was serving as the governor of Xizhou and should have also faced repercussions. To save Ji, Mu Tipa repeatedly sought out Duke Jin Gonghu, pleading to have his sons Dun and Yi take Ji's place in punishment. His heartfelt pleas moved everyone around him. Duke Jin Gonghu was moved by his sincerity and ultimately granted Ji a special pardon.
Later, Emperor Shizong ascended the throne and promoted Mutibo to General of the Cavalry, Grand Chancellor, Grand Commander, Duke of Anwu, and Governor of Zhizhou Province, with his official rank rising steadily. In the second year of Wucheng, he was granted the title of Shaobao; in the second year of Baoding, he was promoted to General; in the third year, he accompanied General Yang Zhong on a military campaign, and upon returning, he was appointed as Minor Minister, later promoted to General of the State, and his other son was also granted the title of Duke, with a fief of two thousand households. In the fifth year, he was promoted to Grand Minister; in the second year of Tianhe, he was granted the title of Duke of Shen with a fief of five thousand households, and a previous title was also conferred upon one of his sons. In the first year of Jiande, he was granted the title of Taibao and later served as the Governor of Yuanzhou Province. In the fourth year, Emperor Gaozu launched an eastern campaign and ordered Mutibo to lead thirty thousand troops to take a different route to attack Zhiguan and several counties in Hebei, successfully capturing them. However, after the emperor fell ill, the army returned home, abandoning the captured cities. In the sixth year, Mutibo was promoted to Senior General and served as Governor of Bingzhou. At that time, Eastern Xia had just been subdued, and the people were still unsettled. In the first year of Daxiang, he was appointed as Grand Left Chancellor, while he retained his governorship; in the second year, he was additionally granted the title of Grand Tutor, while he retained his governorship.
When Wei Chijiong raised an army to rebel, Mu Tipu's son Rong wanted to support Wei Chijiong, but Mu Tipu firmly opposed it. He said, "The fortunes of the Zhou Dynasty are waning, and this is clear to both the wise and the foolish. This is heaven's will; how can I go against it?" Therefore, he sent envoys to pay respects to Emperor Wen of Sui and presented a thirteen-link golden belt—an ornament that only the emperor could wear—to express his loyalty. At that time, Wei Chijiong's son Yi, who was serving as the governor of Shuozhou, was also escorted to the capital. Wei Chijiong ordered his appointed commander Han Changye to attack Luzhou, capturing the governor Zhao Wei, and appointed the local resident Guo Zisheng as governor. Mu Tipu dispatched troops to quell the rebellion and captured Guo Zisheng. Emperor Wen of Sui was very pleased, believing that Mu Tipu's achievements were on par with the initial success of capturing Ye City, so he promoted him three ranks and allowed him to share his official titles with his two sons Rong and Cai, as well as his brother's son Xiao Gui. Rong and Cai were both conferred the title of General of the Right, while Xiao Gui was promoted to the position of Minister of State. In addition, Emperor Wen of Sui also conferred the title of Duke of Mi to Mu Tipu's son Xiong, with a fief of three thousand households.
The eldest son of the Mu family was Mu Dun, courtesy name Shiyu. In the fourth year of Datong, in recognition of the Mu family's merits, he was bestowed the title of Marquis of Anping. Soon after, he was promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry, Minister of State, and Grand Commander, with his rank elevated to duke. Emperor Gaozu permitted the heirs of meritorious officials to play alongside Duke Lueyang, and Mu Dun was particularly favored and close to the emperor among his peers. Whenever rare treasures from distant lands or exotic items from foreign countries were presented as tributes, he would always receive a share. Not long after, he was appointed as the Minor Marquis of Wu, and his rank was elevated to Duke of Anle. In the third year of Tianhe, he was promoted to General of the Cavalry, Minister of State, and governor of Fengzhou. He ultimately passed away in office. After his death, the court posthumously conferred upon him the titles of General and governor of Yuanzhou, Lingzhou, and Pinzhou.
Mu Dun's life was a remarkable rise, from a county marquis to a duke, and then to various high-ranking generals and local officials—a true winner in life! The emperor treated him particularly well, often rewarding him with rare and exotic treasures; such treatment was unmatched! Just think about it, those exotic treasures from the frontier and the rare items from overseas all came to him. His resources and status were truly enviable! Although he passed away at a young age, the posthumous honors he received were quite glorious, marking a successful and renowned life.
Historical records say that Dou Chi was tall and imposing, with great ambitions and foresight. He participated in state affairs and proposed many good suggestions; when he went to the frontier to govern, the area thrived. Dou Yi was loyal and upright, serving the emperor with utmost respect and treating his subordinates gently. He achieved great military feats for the court, and his reputation spread far and wide. With the favor of the state and the love of the people, he rose to power through his own talents, enjoying immense glory and leaving a legacy of grace for future generations.
However, later Dou Chi hesitated whether to advise the emperor, seemingly with a hint of self-destruction. Although the nobles and ministers were very angry, what could they really do about him? As the saying goes: "A monarch treats his subjects with propriety, and subjects must serve their monarch loyally." However, the expressions of loyalty may vary, but there is only one principle for being a subject: to remain loyal unto death! Therefore, when Dian Wu abused power, Ge Hong furiously drew his sword against him; when a rebellion broke out in Xindu, Zhai Zhongwen raised troops to suppress it. There was also a rebellion in Dongjun, which ultimately led to the fall of the Han dynasty; the Huainan rebellion also failed to prevent the fall of the Wei state. Those steadfast and righteous individuals, who stepped forward one after another, was it the call of loyalty and righteousness that drove them to face death without fear? The matter of Yu and Li sending Dou Yi to his death raises some questions about this.
The Governor of Yizhou is the son of an acclaimed official and is related to the Dou family by marriage; the Governor of Muzhou made great achievements at a young age and shared a deep bond with Dou Yi. Both of them hold important positions in civil and military affairs and have received kindness from several generations of the Dou family. They should stand by the Dou family through thick and thin, being willing to live and die together. Furthermore, they are tasked with defending the city, commanding the military forces, and are capable of serving the king loyally and repelling external enemies. However, they are immersed in comfort and luxury and have never thought of resigning from their positions; when dispatched on a mission, their only concern is how to go along with the current circumstances. They have forsaken the Dou family to protect their own standing, which is not how two important ministers should act.
If we set aside the timing and focus on the situation, if Xian Qing and Wen Ruo both raise troops in Jinyang and Youji, respectively, then all forces will gather around the Min and Emei Mountains before advancing from the Zhang and Fuyang River areas, taking control of the northern desert and aiming for the Xiongguan Pass to the west. In that case, it will be difficult to predict the outcome.
