Hardcover Simplified Chinese horizontal layout Twenty-Four Histories (in four boxes)

Author: Chief Editor: Zhonghua Book Company
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: Excerpt:
Emperor Taizu the High Emperor, styled Daocheng, was a member of the Xiao clan, with the courtesy name Shaobo. He was the twenty-fourth descendant of Xiao He, the Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty. Xiao He's son, Zan Shi Hou Yan, served as an Attendant at the Court. Yan's son, Biao, held the position of Assistant in the Imperial Court. Biao's son, Zhang, was an Officer in the Imperial Court. Zhang's son, Hao, had a son named Yang. Yang's son, Wang, was an Imperial Censor. Wang's son, Xuan, was a Gentleman of the Light Guard. Xuan's son, Shao, was an Imperial Censor. Shao's son, Hong, was a Gentleman of the Imperial Court. Hong's son, Chuan, was the Governor of Jiyin County. Chuan's son, Yong, was the Governor of Wujun County. Yong's son, Bao, served as the Prefect of Zhongshan. Bao's son, Zhou, was a Doctor. Zhou's son, Jiao, was the Head of Sheqiu County. Jiao's son, Kui, was a State Officer. Kui's son, Zuo, was a. Xiu's son, Bao, was the Prefect of Guangling. Bao's son, Yi, was a Grand Master. Yi's son, Zheng, was the Magistrate of Huaiyin County. Zheng's son, Jun, was the Magistrate of Jiqiu County. Jun's son, Yue, was a Military Assistant. Yue's son, Lezi, was the son of a Military Assistant. In the second year of the Shengming era of the Song Dynasty, September, he was posthumously honored as the Grand Minister and became the father of the imperial examination candidate.
Xiao He resided in Pei, where Biao was dismissed from office and settled in Donghai County, Lanling County, Zhongdu Township, and Zhongdu Village. In the first year of the Yuankang era of the Jin Dynasty, Donghai was divided into Lanling Prefecture. During the chaos of the Central Court, Zhengyin County Magistrate Zheng, styled Gongqi, crossed the river and settled in Dongcheng Village in Wujin County, Jinshan. Those who resided in the Eastern River region were all placed as temporary residents in their original hometowns, with the addition of the southern name, thus becoming the Lanling people of the South.
The imperial examination candidate, styled Chengzhi and courtesy name Sibao, had great ambitions from a young age and exceptional talent. His clansmen, Danyang Yin Muzhi and Beiyanzhou Governor Yuanzhi, both recognized and valued him. Initially, he served as a staff member of the Jianwei. During the Yixi era, when the Shu rebel Qiao Zong was suppressed, the imperial examination candidate was promoted to Yangwu General and the Governor of two counties, Angu and Wenshan, and was skilled in pacifying the region. In the early years of the Yuangeng era, he was transferred to the position of Weilie General and the Governor of Jinan. In the seventh year, when the Right General Dou Yanzhi suffered a major defeat in the northward campaign, the enemy seized the opportunity to break through the various counties and states of Qingbu, with the subordinate commander Anping Gong Yi Zhan attacking Jinan. The imperial examination candidate led hundreds of men in resistance and drove them back. The enemy forces gathered in large numbers, and the imperial examination candidate opened the city gates with a small force. The crowd advised, "The enemy is numerous and we are few—how can we be so reckless in facing them!" The imperial examination candidate replied, "Today, we are defending a destitute city, and the situation is already critical. If we show weakness, we will surely be slaughtered. We must appear strong and wait for them." The enemy suspected hidden troops and withdrew. Qingzhou Governor Xiao Sihua wanted to abandon the post and defend, but the imperial examination candidate firmly dissuaded him, and Sihua lost his footing and fled in disarray. The following year, the Southern General Tan Daojie fought battles in Shouzhang and returned, and the city of Huitai fell, and Yunzhou Governor Zhu Lingxi was held responsible. Emperor Wen of the Song Dynasty, recognizing the imperial examination candidate's contribution to saving the city, wrote a personal letter to the Commander-in-Chief of Changsha Wang Yixin: "Chengzhi's governance is also not inferior to military talent. Now, he is considered for the position of Yunzhou Governor, but the Southern General should be consulted." The imperial examination candidate had no prior relationship with Tan Daojie, and the matter was shelved. He was then promoted to Military Assistant of the Fuguo and Beibei, and Assistant Secretary.
In the tenth year, Xiao Sihua became the Governor of Liangzhou, and the imperial examination candidate served as the Military Assistant of the Hengye and the Governor of Hanzhong. The Dian leader Yang Nandang attacked Hanchuan, and the Liangzhou Governor Zhen Fahu fled the city. When Sihua arrived, he did not advance, while the imperial examination candidate led a light army forward and attacked Xue Jian, the pseudonymous governor of Weixing, at Golden Mountain, defeating him. Golden Mountain, a former garrison of Zhang Lu, was south of Hanchuan and north of the post road, extremely rugged. After Jian's defeat, the imperial examination candidate immediately occupied the mountain. The pseudonymous governors of Liang and Qin provinces, Zhao Wen, had already seized the provincial city, but upon hearing of the imperial examination candidate's arrival, they retreated to a smaller city. Xue Jian retreated to Xiaochao City, built a camp of firewood, and the imperial examination candidate led his army to face them, with a distance of two miles. Jian and the pseudonymous governor of Fenyi, Pu Zi, fought fiercely, but the imperial examination candidate achieved a great victory. Jian and his men closed their gates and refused to come out, and when Sihua arrived, the enemy gradually withdrew.