神符 Shénfú

Shenfu, Prince Gong of Xiangyi, styled Shenfu, lost his father young and served his elder brother with care. When Gaozu raised his army, Shenfu remained in Chang'an and was imprisoned by Wei Wensheng. When the capital was taken, he was enfeoffed as Duke of Anji Commandery. When the emperor received the abdication, he was made a prince as a matter of course. He was promoted to Area Commander of Bing Prefecture. Edit

When Illig Qaghan raided the frontier, Shenfu fought him east of the Fen, taking five hundred heads and capturing two thousand horses. He fought again at Shahe, captured the Yili Darqan, and took the horse the qaghan rode and his armor. He was summoned to become Chief Minister of the Court of the Treasury. He was promoted to Grand Area Commander-in-chief of Yang Prefecture; crossing the Yangzi from Danyang, he set up his seat in the old Sui commandery of Jiangdu, which the people of Yang found to their advantage. But he lacked sternness and was not feared by his subordinates. He was promoted step by step to Chief Minister of the Court of the Imperial Clan, and because of trouble with his feet was changed to Grand Master for Splendid Happiness and retired to his residence, receiving mutton and wine each month. Taizong went to his residence to comfort him, and also had him ride a small litter into the Ziwei Hall, the Three Guards carrying the litter up into it. He was promoted to Commander Unequalled in Honor. He died in the second year of Yonghui, aged seventy-three, and was posthumously given the titles Grand Minister of Works and Area Commander-in-chief of Jing Prefecture, and buried in attendance at the Xian Mausoleum. Edit

He had seven sons, all given the rank of commandery prince, which by rule was reduced to duke. Only Demao and Wenjian became well known. Demao held office as Director of the Palace Workshops and was Duke of Linchuan Commandery. His descendant in the fifth generation was Conghui. Wenjian was Area Commander-in-chief of Youzhou and Duke of Wei. In the Chuigong years, implicated in another's case, he was demoted to Administrative Aide of Teng Prefecture and put to death. His sons were Ting and Jie, and Jie inherited the fief. Ting's great-grandson Cheng and Jie's great-grandson Shi have biographies of their own. Edit