孝逸 Xiàoyì

Xiaoyi loved learning when young and was a good writer. He was first enfeoffed as Duke of Liang Commandery. Under Gaozong, after four promotions, he became Administrator of the Area Command of Yi Prefecture. When Empress Wu seized control of the state, he entered the capital as General of the Left Guard, and she treated him with personal favour. Edit

When Xu Jingye raised troops, Xiaoyi was made General-in-Chief of the Left Jade Bell Guard and Grand Area Commander-in-chief of the Field Army for Yang Prefecture, and led an army south against him. When he reached the Huai, Jingye had already attacked Run Prefecture, and had sent his younger brother Jingyou to build a camp at Huaiyin, while the rebel general Wei Chao held Mount Duliang to resist Xiaoyi. Chao's troops relied on the steep ground and kept their camp intact. Xiaoyi gathered his generals and said: "The rebels now have the mountain at their backs. If we attack, our men will have no way to use their strength and our cavalry cannot gallop, and the enemy, fighting to escape death, will inflict heavy casualties on us. Better to pin them down with a detached force and send the whole army straight to Yang Prefecture; to judge by the situation, it can be taken within a few days." The Supply Commissioner Xue Kegou said: "Although Chao holds a strong position, his troops are few. If we leave a small enemy unattacked, we have no way to show our might; if we divide our forces to guard against him, we will be short in battle. If we let him be, he will be a worry at our rear. Better to attack him. If we overcome Chao, Huaiyin will be shaken of itself; once Huaiyin falls, the counties of Chu will open their gates and wait for the imperial army. Going on from there to Jiangdu, the rebel chief can be taken." Xiaoyi followed his advice, climbed the mountain and attacked Chao fiercely, killing several hundred men. As dusk fell, the fighting broke off, and Chao fled in the night. Xiaoyi advanced and attacked Jingyou at Huaiyin and defeated him. Jingye brought his army back and camped at Axi; Xiaoyi led his troops straight across, Jingye was badly defeated, and Yang Prefecture was taken. For his merit Xiaoyi was promoted to General-in-Chief Who Guards the Army and enfeoffed instead as Duke of Wu, and his fame inspired awe. Edit

Wu Chengsi and others resented him, and through slander had him demoted to Prefect of Shizhou. They also had people spread malicious talk that reached the throne. Empress Wu believed it, but because he had once rendered merit, she spared his life and exiled him to Dan Prefecture, where he died. At the beginning of Jingyun, he was posthumously made Grand Area Commander-in-chief of Jin Prefecture. Edit