Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · general under Hou Jing

Ren Yue 任約

Attested AD 530 - AD 557

Passages: 54
Chapters: 16
Histories: 4

Overview

Ren Yue was a general under Hou Jing.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 551 二年二月
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 29, passage 197
AD 530 chapter narrative
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 30, passage 188
AD 548 to AD 552 Hou Jing rebellion
Dated from the passage context · Book of Chen 13, passage 12
AD 557 任約引齊軍
Dated from the passage context · Book of Chen 18, passage 150
AD 548 to AD 552 侯景亂
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 36, passage 163
AD 551 to AD 552 侯景將任約與徐文盛相持
Dated from the passage context · History of the Southern Dynasties 54, passage 211

Show 15 more source-backed claims

AD 550 to AD 552 侯景西上
Dated from the passage context · Book of Chen 11, passage 61
AD 551 to AD 552 侯景西上
Directly stated · Book of Chen 10, passage 12
AD 551 大寶
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 44, passage 171
AD 551 大寶二年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 46, passage 10
AD 550 大寶元年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 44, passage 25
AD 550 大寶元年七月戊辰
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 4, passage 88
AD 556 太平元年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 6, passage 47
AD 548 太清二年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 46, passage 31
AD 551 太清五年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 55, passage 83
AD 555 to AD 557 徐嗣徽、任約引齊寇
Dated from the passage context · Book of Chen 12, passage 118
AD 550 景遣將任約擊梁湘東王於江陵
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 32, passages 15, 19, 23-24, 27-29
AD 550 to AD 551 略地至盆城
Dated from the passage context · History of the Southern Dynasties 54, passages 66-67
AD 556 紹泰二年
Directly stated · Book of Chen 14, passage 65
AD 555 紹泰元年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Chen 12, passages 55-56; Book of Liang 6, passages 26, 28
AD 554 魏圍江陵
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 32, passage 30

Key source chapters

Career and standing

commandery administrator 郡守
AD 550 湘東果釋用為郡守 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 32, passage 29
Captured
AD 551 大寶二年六月甲辰 · Captivity · Authority Hu Sengyou (胡僧佑)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 4, passage 107
Captured
Captive
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 32, passage 27
Released
Released
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 32, passage 29
release and appointment 釋用
Pardoned and appointed · Authority Prince of Xiangdong (湘東王)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 32, passage 29

Places and affiliations

Polity Liang 梁 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 32, passage 15; History of the Southern Dynasties 54, passage 211
Polity Liang 梁 · Relation Served
Uncertain · Book of Liang 29, passage 197

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · With Xu Wensheng (徐文盛)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 46, passage 48

Events and relationships

Advanced to
Military · Commander · At Pencheng 盆城
Directly stated · History of the Southern Dynasties 54, passage 66
Ambushed Hu Sengyou
Military · Commander · With Hu Sengyou (胡僧佑)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 46, passages 10-11
Attacked Jiangling
Military · Commander · With Prince of Xiangdong (湘東王) · Outcome Defeated and captured
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 32, passages 15, 23, 27
Captured and sent to Jiangling
Military · Captive
Directly stated · Book of Liang 46, passage 13
Made peace
Diplomatic · Peace party · With Daxin (大心)
Directly stated · History of the Southern Dynasties 54, passage 67
Raided
Military · Commander · With Xiao Lun (蕭綸)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 29, passage 197

Show 5 more source-backed claims

Rescued Jiangling from Wei
AD 554 魏圍江陵 · Military · Commander
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 32, passage 30
Surprise attack
Military · Commander
Directly stated · Book of Liang 30, passage 188
Relation General of · Person Hou Jing (侯景)
Directly stated · Book of Chen 11, passage 61
Relation Subordinate of · Person Hou Jing (侯景)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 32, passage 15; Book of Liang 29, passage 197; History of the Southern Dynasties 54, passages 66, 211
Relation Karmic tie with · Person Prince of Xiangdong (湘東王) · Mode named-speech Speaker Lu Fahe (陸法和)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 32, passage 28

Assessments and attributes

Assessment will-not-die-by-the-sword; look of fortune · Mode named-speech Speaker Lu Fahe (陸法和)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 32, passage 28

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 32, passage 15; Book of Liang 29, passage 197; History of the Southern Dynasties 54, passage 211

References in the histories

Search passages

History

54 passages

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 32Volume 32 Biographies 24: Lu Fahe; Wang Lin (General) · 8 passages

景遣將任約擊梁湘東王於江陵，法和乃詣湘東乞征約，召諸蠻弟子八百人在江津，二日便發。 Jing sent his general Ren Yue to strike the Prince of Xiangdong at Jiangling; Fahe then went to the Prince of Xiangdong begging to campaign against Yue, mustered eight hundred barbarian disciples at the river crossing, and set out within two days.

至赤沙湖，與約相對，法和乘輕船，不介胄，沿流而下，去約軍一里乃還。 At Chisha Lake they faced Yue; Fahe took a light boat, wore no armor, drifted downstream, and turned back a li from Yue's army.

約衆皆見梁兵步於水上，於是大潰，皆投水而死。 Yue's host all saw Liang infantry walking on the water; at that they broke utterly and threw themselves into the river to die.

約逃竄不知所之。 Yue fled and was lost to sight.

如其言，果於水中見約抱剎仰頭，裁出鼻，遂擒之。 As he said, they indeed saw Yue in the water clinging to the shrine with head thrown back, only his nose above the surface; they seized him.

約言求就師目前死，法和曰：「檀越有相，必不兵死，且於王有緣，決無他慮，王於後當得檀越力耳。」 Yue begged to die before the Master's eyes; Fahe said, "My patron has the look of fortune—he will surely not die by the sword; moreover he has karmic tie with the prince—set your mind at rest. The prince hereafter will gain my patron's strength."

及魏圍江陵，約以兵赴救，力戰焉。 When Wei besieged Jiangling, Yue came with troops to the rescue and fought fiercely.

法和旣平約，往進見王僧辯於巴陵，謂曰：「貧道已斷侯景一臂，其更何能為，檀越宜卽遂取。」 After Fahe had pacified Yue, he went forward to see Wang Sengbian at Baling and said, "This humble monk has already cut off one arm of Hou Jing—what more can he do? My patron should press the attack at once."

Book of Chen, Chapter 10Volume 10: Zhou Tiehu; Cheng Lingxi · 1 passage

及侯景西上，鐵虎從僧辯克任約，獲宋子仙，每戰皆有功。 When Hou Jing marched west, Tiehu followed Sengbian against Ren Yue, took Song Zixian prisoner, and earned merit in every fight.

Book of Chen, Chapter 11Volume 11: Huang Faqu; Chunyu Liang; Zhang Zhaoda · 1 passage

量與僧辯并力拒景，大敗景軍，擒其將任約。 Liang joined forces with Sengbian to resist Jing, badly defeated Jing's army, and captured his general Ren Yue.

Book of Chen, Chapter 12Volume 12: Hu Ying; Xu Du; Du Leng; Shen Ke · 3 passages

徐嗣徽、任約等來寇，高祖與敬帝還都。 Xu Siwei, Ren Yue, and others struck at the capital. The Founder and Emperor Jing came back to defend it.

高祖尋亦救之，大敗約等。 The Founder soon arrived in relief and routed Ren Yue and his allies.

徐嗣徽、任約引齊寇濟江，攻臺城，安都與稜隨方抗拒，稜晝夜巡警，綏撫士卒，未常解帶。 Xu Sihui and Ren Yue led Qi raiders across the river against the capital. Andu and Leng met them on every side; Leng patrolled day and night, steadied the men, and never once loosened his belt.

Book of Chen, Chapter 13Volume 13: Xu Shipu; Lu Xida; Zhou Fu; Xun Lang; Zhou Jiong · 4 passages

將戰，又乘大艦居前，大敗景軍，生擒景將任約，景退走。 When battle came he again put a great ship in the van, crushed Jing's army, took Jing's general Ren Yue alive, and drove Jing off.

景使儀同宋子仙、任約等頻往征之，朗據山立砦自守，子仙不能克。 Jing sent his comrades Song Zixian, Ren Yue, and others against him again and again. Lang held mountain forts and Zixian could not take him.

景將任約來據樊山，炅與寧州長史徐文盛擊約，斬其部將叱羅子通、趙迦婁等。 Jing's general Ren Yue came to occupy Fanshan. Jiong and Xu Wensheng, chief clerk of Ningzhou, attacked Yue and killed his subordinate commanders Chiluo Zitong, Zhao Jialou, and others.

因乘勝追之，頻克，約眾殆盡。 He followed up the victory in pursuit, won repeatedly, and nearly wiped out Yue's force.

Book of Chen, Chapter 14Volume 14: Chen Chang; Chen Tanlang · 1 passage

二年，徐嗣徽、任約引齊寇攻逼京邑，尋而請和，求高祖子姪為質。 In year two, Xu Siwei and Ren Yue brought Qi armies against the capital; they then sought peace and demanded the Founder's sons and nephews as hostages.

Book of Chen, Chapter 18Volume 18: Shen Zhong; Yuan Bi; Liu Zhongwei; Lu Shancai; Wang Zhi; Wei Zai · 1 passage

徐嗣徽、任約等引齊軍濟江，據石頭城，高祖問計於載，載曰：「齊軍若分兵先據三吳之路，略地東境，則時事去矣。 Xu Sihui and Ren Yue brought Qi troops across the Yangzi and held Stone City. The Founder asked Zai's advice. Zai said, "If Qi splits its army and first takes the routes through the Three Wu and raids the east, the cause is lost.

Book of Liang, Chapter 4Volume 4: Emperor Jianwen · 6 passages

秋七月戊辰，賊行臺任約寇江州，刺史尋陽王大心以州降約。 On wuchen in the seventh month of autumn the rebel Mobile Headquarters Ren Yue raided Jiangzhou; inspector Prince Daxin of Xunyang surrendered the province to him.

十一月，任約進據西陽，分兵寇齊昌，執衡陽王獻送京師，害之。 In the eleventh month Ren Yue advanced and held Xiyang, detached troops to raid Qichang, seized Prince Xian of Hengyang and sent him to the capital, then killed him.

湘東王繹遣前寧州刺史徐文盛督衆軍拒約。 Prince Yi of Xiangdong sent former Ningzhou inspector Xu Wensheng to command the armies against Yue.

乙亥，景分遣偽將宋子仙、任約襲郢州。 On yihai day Hou Jing detached the rebel generals Song Zixian and Ren Yue to strike Yingzhou.

五月癸未，湘東王驛遣遊擊將軍胡僧祐、信州刺史陸法和援巴陵，景遣任約帥衆拒援軍。 On guwei in the fifth month Prince Yi of Xiangdong sent mobile corps general Hu Sengyou and Xin province inspector Lu Fahe to relieve Baling; Hou Jing sent Ren Yue with an army to block them.

六月甲辰，僧祐等擊破任約，擒之。 On jiachen in the sixth month Sengyou and his forces routed Ren Yue and took him prisoner.

Book of Liang, Chapter 6Volume 6: Emperor Jing · 7 passages

征南將軍、南豫州刺史任約進號征南大將軍。 Conquering South General and South Yuzhou inspector Ren Yue was promoted to Grand General Who Conquers the South.

丙子，任約、徐嗣徽舉兵反，乘京師無備，竊據石頭。 On bingzi Ren Yue and Xu Sihui rebelled, exploiting the capital's unreadiness and seizing Shitou.

十一月庚辰，齊安州刺史翟子崇、楚州刺史劉仕榮、淮州刺史柳達摩率衆赴任約，入于石頭。 On gengchen in the eleventh month Qi's Anzhou inspector Zhai Zichong, Chuzhou inspector Liu Shirong, and Huaizhou inspector Liu Damo led troops to Ren Yue and entered Shitou.

十二月庚戌，徐嗣徽、任約又相率至採石，迎齊援。 On gengxu in the twelfth month Xu Sihui and Ren Yue again went together to Caishi to meet Qi reinforcements.

丙辰，遣猛烈將軍侯安都水軍于江寧邀之，賊衆大潰，嗣徽、約等奔于江西。 On bingchen Fierce General Hou Andu intercepted them on the water at Jiangning; the rebels broke; Sihui, Yue, and others fled west of the river.

太平元年春正月戊寅，大赦天下，其與任約、徐嗣徽協契同謀，一無所問。 On wuyin in the first month of spring, Taiping year 1, a general amnesty was declared; those who had conspired with Ren Yue and Xu Sihui were not questioned.

癸亥，賊徐嗣徽、任約襲採石戍，執戍主明州刺史張懷鈞，入于齊。 On guihai rebels Xu Sihui and Ren Yue raided Caishi garrison, seized its commander Mingzhou inspector Zhang Huaijun, and went over to Qi.

Book of Liang, Chapter 29Volume 29: Three Princes of Gaozu · 1 passage

侯景將任約聞之，使鐵騎二百襲綸，綸無備，又敗走定州。 Hou Jing's general Ren Yue heard of this and sent two hundred armored horsemen to raid Xiao Lun. Unprepared, Xiao Lun was defeated again and fled to Dingzhou.

Book of Liang, Chapter 30Volume 30: Pei Ziye; Gu Xie; Xu Chi; Bao Quan · 1 passage

侯景密遣將宋子仙、任約率精騎襲之。 Hou Jing secretly sent his generals Song Zixian and Ren Yue to lead picked cavalry in a surprise attack.

Book of Liang, Chapter 36Volume 36: Kong Xiuyuan; Jiang Ge · 1 passage

侯景亂，爲任約所害。 In Hou Jing's rebellion Ren Yue killed him.

Book of Liang, Chapter 44Volume 44: Eleven Princes of Taizong; Two Princes of Shizu · 2 passages

景將任約略地至于湓城，大心遣司馬韋質拒戰，敗績。 Jing's general Ren Yue overran the land to Pencheng; Daxin sent marshal Wei Zhi to meet battle and was defeated.

時世祖遣徐文盛督衆軍，與侯景將任約相持未決。 Shizu sent Xu Wensheng to command armies in stalemate with Hou Jing's general Ren Yue.

Book of Liang, Chapter 46Volume 46: Hu Sengyou; Xu Wensheng; Du Ze; Du An; Du You'an; Du Kan; Yin Zichun · 10 passages

至楊浦，景遣其將任約率銳卒五千，據白塉，遙以待之。 At Yangpu, Jing sent Ren Yue with five thousand elites to hold White Embankment and wait for him.

僧祐由別路西上，約謂畏己而退，急追之，及於南安芊口，呼僧祐曰：「吳兒，何爲不早降？ Sengyou took a side road west; Yue thought he had fled in fear and chased hard; at Nan'an Qian Ford he shouted to Sengyou, "Wu whelp—why not surrender now?

僧祐不與之言，潛引卻，至赤砂亭，會陸法和至，乃與幷軍擊約，大破之，擒約送于江陵。 Sengyou would not answer but quietly withdrew; at Red Sand Pavilion Lu Fahe came up, and together they attacked Yue, broke him utterly, captured him, and sent him to Jiangling.

於是文盛督衆軍東下，至武昌，遇侯景將任約，遂與相持。 Wensheng led his host east; at Wuchang he met Ren Yue and stood locked.

擊任約於貝磯，約大敗，退保西陽。 They fought Ren Yue at Shell Ford; Yue was routed and fell back on Xiyang.

侯景聞之，乃率大衆西上援約，至西陽。 Hou Jing heard and led a great force west to save Yue, reaching Xiyang.

時任約被擒，與文盛同禁。 Ren Yue had been captured and shared his cell.

文盛謂約曰：「汝何不早降，令我至此。」 Wensheng said to Yue, "Why did you not surrender sooner and spare me this?"

約曰：「門外不見卿馬跡，使我何遽得降？」 Yue said, "I saw no hoofprints of yours outside the gate—how could I surrender so soon?"

至貝磯，遇景將任約來逆，遂與戰，大敗之。 At Shell Ford he met Ren Yue; they fought and broke him.

Book of Liang, Chapter 55Volume 55: Zong, Prince of Yuzhang; Ji, Prince of Wuling; Zhengde, Prince of Linhe; Yu, Prince of Hedong · 4 passages

世祖乃拔任約於獄，以爲晉安王司馬，撤禁兵以配之； Shizu then pulled Ren Yue from prison and made him Master of Affairs to Prince Jin'an, assigning palace guard troops to him;

幷遣宣猛將軍劉棻共約西赴。 and also sent Fierce Attack General Liu Fen to go west with Yue.

庚申，紀將侯叡率衆緣山將規進取，任約、謝答仁與戰，破之。 On gengshen day, Ji's general Hou Rui led men along the ridges to push forward; Ren Yue and Xie Daren met them in battle and broke them.

王琳、宋簉、任約、謝答仁等因進攻侯叡，陷其三壘，於是兩岸十餘城遂俱降。 Wang Lin, Song Zao, Ren Yue, and Xie Daren pressed Hou Rui, took his three ramparts, and more than ten cities on both shores submitted at once.

History of the Southern Dynasties, Chapter 54Volume 54 Biographies 44: Sons of Emperor Jianwen of Liang, Sons of Emperor Yuan of Liang · 3 passages

景將任約略地至盆城，大心遣司馬韋質拒戰敗績，時帳下猶有勇士千餘人，咸說曰：「既無糧儲，難以守固，若輕騎往建州，以圖後舉，策之上也。」 When Jing's general Ren Yue reached Pencheng, Daxin sent Wei Zhi to fight and was beaten. More than a thousand brave men remained in camp; all urged, "Without provisions we cannot hold—if we ride lightly to Jianzhou and plan our next move, that is best."

其母陳淑容不從，撫胸慟哭，大心乃止，遂與約和。 His mother Lady Chen Shurong refused; she beat her breast and wept, and Daxin halted and made peace with Yue.

時元帝遣徐文盛與侯景將任約相持，方諸年十五，童心未革，恃文盛在近，不恤軍政，日與鮑泉蒱酒為樂。 Emperor Yuan had sent Xu Wensheng to hold Ren Yue, Hou Jing's general; Fangzhu was fifteen, still a boy, trusting that Wensheng was near and neglecting military affairs, passing his days drinking and gambling with Bao Quan.