Volume 4, Chapter 2: Gossiping About Inside Stories

　　Lin Yuanting’s family has garrisoned Daizhou for generations. In the thirteenth year of Eastern Jin’s Zhenyuan¹ era, Yuanting was appointed the Imperial Inspector of Daizhou, remaining loyal to the Jin Dynasty. At the time, the Administrator of Taiyuan, Sheng, set up an independent regime in Shaanxi. The founded kingdom adopted the name, Han. Liu Sheng dispatched a letter, inviting Yuanting to surrender. As a loyal and devoted subject, Lin Yuanting refused to yield. In anger, Liu Sheng led an army and attack Daizhou, but he was unable to defeat the valiant and fierce Daizhou garrison. In the fourteenth year of Zhenyuan, the Yong Emperor Gaozu deposed the Jin Dynasty, establis.h.i.+ng the Yong Dynasty. When Yuanting learned of Jin’s fall, he offered sacrifices towards the distant Chang’an. He mourned inconsolably. Without alternatives, Yuanting submitted to the First Ruler of Northern Han, Liu Sheng. Touched by Yuanting’s loyalty and righteous, and afraid of his valor and military skills, Sheng married his beloved daughter to him. After pledging his allegiance to the First Ruler of Northern Han, Yuanting conscientiously adhered to his duties, repelling the barbarian invasions and raids. Dozens of years were spent in this fas.h.i.+on, as the army and civilians of Daizhou bore the duties of defending against the barbarians.

　　

Princess of Jiaping, Bi, was Yuanting’s eldest daughter. She was taken as the adopted daughter of the Later Ruler of Northern Han, Liu You. She used superb stratagems, far surpa.s.sing her brothers. She was highly treasured by Yuanting. The army and civilians in Daizhou all knew her as the “Princess General.”

—Yong Dynastic Records, Biography of the Princess of Jiaping