Hou Tian
Hou Tian, courtesy name Boyu, was a military general of the Liang and Chen during the Northern and Southern dynasties period. During the Hou Jing Disturbance, he vacillated his allegiance between the competing powers and delivered the final blow to Hou Jing's army while serving under Wang Sengbian. Hou Tian effectively became a semi-independent warlord in the Jiangxi area, but after his followers ousted him from his territory, he went to join the future Emperor Wu of Chen at Jiankang. Under the Chen, he decisively defeated the Hunan warlord, Wang Lin in 560, ending a three-year-long conflict that threatened the dynasty.
Despite his history of defections and betrayals, Hou Tian was one of the few southern commanders at the time who boasted victories against both the rival Northern Qi and Northern Zhou, and played pivotal roles in the suppression of Hou Jing and Wang Lin. After his death in 561, he was posthumously honoured and enshrined in Emperor Wu's ancestral temple.
Early life and career
Hou Tian was a native of Chongguo County, Baxi Commandery. His father was Hou Hongyuan, a prominent noble in the Western Shu region. In an unspecified year, the rebel, Zhang Wen'e occupied Mount Baiya with 10,000 soldiers. The Inspector of Yi province and the Prince of Poyang, Xiao Fan ordered Hou Hongyuan to quell the disturbance, but he was killed in battle. Hou Tian swore to avenge his father's death and led the vanguard in every battle against the rebels, eventually killing Zhang Wen'e. His deeds in the campaign earned him renown, and Xiao Fan rewarded him by making him a general.During the remainder of Xiao Fan's tenure in Yi province, Hou Tian was often sent to subdue the non-Chinese tribes living in the mountains and valleys that had not yet submitted. For his merits, Hou was appointed the Adjutant of the Inner Troops and Administrator of Jinkang. When Xiao Fan was appointed Inspector of Yong province in 541, Hou was made Transcending Martial General and Administrator of Fengyi, and when Xiao was garrisoned at Hefei in 548, Hou also followed him there.
Hou Jing Disturbance
Seizing Yuzhang
In the same year he was transferred to Hefei, the general, Hou Jing besieged Emperor Wu of Liang at the capital of Jiankang. Hou Tian followed Xiao Fan's son, Xiao Si to rescue Jiankang, but after the city fell in 549, they returned to Hefei and followed Xiao Fan to Pengcheng after his plan to attack Jiankang with the Eastern Wei did not come to fruition. In early 550, the Interior Minister of Linchuan and Prince of Shixing, Xiao Yi attacked the rebellious Administrator of Yuzhang, Zhuang Tie. At Xiao Si's urging, Xiao Fan sent Hou Tian to rescue Zhuang. Xiao Yi's forces were destroyed by Hou, and he was killed in battle.In the middle of 550, Zhuang Tie was once again under attack, this time by the Prince of Shouyang, Xiao Daxin. Xiao Fan sent Hou Tian with 5,000 soldiers to reinforce Zhuang, but while he did so, both Xiao Fan and Xiao Si died back in Pengcheng as the city was lost to Hou Jing's general, Ren Yue. Xiao Daxin also surrendered to Ren, so Hou Tian remained under Zhuang Tie's care. However, Zhuang was deeply suspicious of him, and Hou, feeling uneasy, pretended to invite him over to discuss a matter before killing him and occupying Yuzhang commandery for himself.
Joining and betraying Hou Jing
Soon, Hou Jing sent his subordinate Yu Qing southward to conquer territory all the way to Yuzhang. As his towns and cities fell one by one, Hou Tian was pressured into surrendering to Yu Qing, who then sent him to Hou Jing. Because the two shared the same family names, Hou Jing regarded Hou Tian as a clan member and treated him well, though still demanded that he give his wife, children and younger brothers as hostages. Hou Tian then accompanied Yu Qing in pacifying the commanderies south of Li Lake.In 551, the Liang forces won a great victory over Hou Jing at Baling, capturing his generals, Ren Yue and Song Zixian. Responding to their success, Hou Tian had Hou Jing's followers in Yuzhang killed and refused Yu Qing entry into his city. In turn, Hou Jing had his wife, children and younger brothers all executed. Emperor Yuan of Liang appointed Hou as Martial Minister General and Inspector of Southern Yan province, as well as bestowed him the title of Marquis of Pi County.
Hou Tian then followed the Liang commander, Wang Sengbian in his campaign against Hou Jing, leading the vanguard and defeating the rebels in all his battles. He also captured the two garrisons of Nanling and Quetou. After Liang forces recaptured Jiankang in 552, Hou Jing fled towards Wu Commandery, so Wang ordered Hou Tian to pursue him with 5,000 elite troops. Hou Tian caught up with Hou Jing at Wusongjiang. At the time, Hou Jing still had 200 boats and several thousand of men. Hou Tian routed them, capturing several of Hou Jing's generals and all of his weapons. One of these generals was Peng Jun, who Hou Tian had his abdomen cut open and intestines pulled out. Seeing that Peng was still not dead, Hou collected the intestines before beheading him.
After the battle, Hou Jing was only left with several dozen men and a single boat. Soon, he was assassinated by a subordinate as he attempted to flee into the sea. Hou Tian later marched to Qiantang, where he received the surrender of Hou Jing's generals, Xie Daren and Lü Zirong. For his contributions in ending the rebellion, Hou Tian was rewarded with the office of the Inspector of Southern Yu province and stationed at Gushu.
Service under Wang Sengbian
Repelling Guo Yuanjian
After Hou Jing's rebellion, Hou Tian continued to serve as a subordinate general under Wang Sengbian. In 553, the Northern Qi dynasty sent the general, Guo Yuanjian with 20,000 naval troops from Ruxu to invade Jiankang. Wang dispatched Hou with 3,000 armoured troops to fortify Dongguan and resist Guo Yuanjian. Hou defeated Guo at Dongguan, drowning many of his troops. Hou was then appointed General Who Guards the North for his deeds. Not long after, the rebellious Liang Administrator of Jian'an, Xu Foshou was ousted from his territory by his own followers and sought refuge with Hou Tian, but was killed by Hou instead.Retrieving Xiao Fangzhi
In 554, the Inspector of Qin province, Yan Chaoda laid siege to the Northern Qi territory of Jing province. Wang Sengbian ordered Hou Tian and Zhang Biao to lead their forces from Shiliang to reinforce him. However, the two delayed their march, and after Yan was defeated by the Northern Qi general, Duan Shao, they withdrew to Qin Commandery.Later that year, the Western Wei dynasty launched an assault on Emperor Yuan at Jiangling. Wang sent Hou Tian to rescue the emperor, but before he could arrive, the city and emperor were captured by the Western Wei. Hou instead went to Jiujiang to retrieve Emperor Yuan's son, the Prince of Jin’an Xiao Fangzhi and escorted him back to Jiankang, where he was conferred imperial authority by Wang Sengbian and Chen Baxian. Xiao Fangzhi appointed Hou Tian as Palace Attendant, Chief Controller of Military Affairs in the four provinces of Jiang, Jin, Wu and Qi as well as granted tally. He was also enfeoffed the Duke of Kangle County and given the title of General of Chariots and Cavalry.
Siege of Ying province
In January or February 555, the Liang Minister of Works, Lu Fahe surrendered Ying province to the Northern Qi. Hou Tian brought his army west to attack him, but withdrew as Lu and his forces left the province for the north. Just then, the Northern Qi sent the general, Murong Yan to govern Ying province from Xiashou, so Hou Tian returned west to attack him by land and water. He was also joined by forces led by Ren Yue, Xu Shipu and Xiao Xun.As Hou Tian's forces laid siege to Murong Yan's city, he and Ren Yue built several miles of reed barriers on Yingwu Islet to block the waterways, spreading panic among the city defenders. However, the weather was stormy at the time, and there were strong winds and waves that constantly broke the reeds, which encouraged the defenders who saw this as divine intervention. While Ren Yue moved south of the city with the siege weapons, Hou Tian camped north of the city, burning down the city walls and destroying the local properties as he intended to attack the city from two sides. However, Murong Yan sallied out and defeated them, capturing 500 of their soldiers. Later, Hou and Ren were joined by Xiao Xun with 50,000 troops, and they launched a night attack on the city. They were still unable to make a break through, and by dawn, they issued a retreat. Murong's forces pursued them, killing one of Hou's top generals, Zhang Baishi. Hou offered Murong a thousand taels of gold for the return of Zhang's head, but Murong rejected him.
In May or June, Hou Tian and the others returned and besieged the city again with their full force while Murong continued to hold out despite food shortages in the city. That month, Wang Sengbian reached an agreement with Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi to install the pro-Qi Xiao Yuanming to the throne in exhange for peace. As a result, Wang ordered Hou Tian to withdraw back to Yuzhang while Emperor Wenxuan agreed to cede Ying province back to Liang.
Surrender to Chen Baxian
Later that year, Hou Tian was on a campaign under Wang's brother, Wang Sengyin to attack the Inspector of Guang province, Xiao Bo in the south. However, during the campaign, Wang Sengbian was suddenly assassinated by Chen Baxian in a coup. Wang Sengyin led his army back towards the capital, but as he did, he secretly planned to seize Hou Tian's forces for himself. When Hou discovered his plan, he had Wang and his subordinates arrested first. He soon released Wang, allowing him to flee to the Northern Qi.Chen installed Xiao Fangzhi as the new emperor, and in 556, the Liang court under him promoted Hou Tian to Minister of Palace with Equal Rank to the Three Excellencies while allowing him to retain his original positions. At the time, Hou occupied the central region and possessed a powerful military force. Though he outwardly presented himself as a vassal, he had no intention of following the new court due to his past services to Wang Sengbian.
Meanwhile, the general Wang Lin refused to submit himself to Chen Baxian and took power over the Hunan region. He appointed his general Yu Xiaoqing as Prefect of Yuzhang, but because Yuzhang was controlled by Hou Tian, Yu built a separate fortified city in Xinwu County to confront him. Hou led all his troops to confront Yu, leaving the wives and children of his soldiers back in Yuzhang where his cousin, Hou Yun managed affairs in his absence. From summer to winter, Hou Tian besieged Yu but was unable to breach through his city. He kept himself supplied by harvesting all of Yu's crops.
Back in Yuzhang, Hou Yun had a falling out with his subordinate, Hou Fang'er, who led his forces to attack him. Hou Fang'er seized Hou Tian's concubines, gold and jade before surrendering to Chen Baxian. With the lost of his base, Hou Tian's army collapsed. He quickly returned to Yuzhang, but the inhabitants refused to let him in. He then fled to Pengcheng, where he sought refuge with his subordinate, Jiao Sengdu. Jiao advised him that they should surrender to the Northern Qi, but Hou believed that Chen Baxian was a magnanimous ruler and would surely forgive him. Thus, Hou went to Chen's palace to apologize, and Chen restored him to his title.