Yang Ye

Yang Ye, from Taiyuan, Bingzhou. Father Xin was the Governor of Linzhou in Han Dynasty. Young and handsome, skilled in horseback riding and archery, skilled in hunting, and able to achieve twice as much as humans. He said to his disciple, "I will continue to use eagles and dogs to hunt down pheasants and rabbits even when I am a general in the future." Liu Chong, a weak official and commander of defense, heard of his bravery and bravery. After moving to Jianxiong Military Commissioner, countrymen was called "Invincible" for his achievements and victories.  
Emperor Taizong launched an expedition to Taiyuan, and upon hearing of its name, he attempted to purchase and seek it out. Even though the isolated fortress was in great danger, Ye advised its owner to follow the Yuan dynasty and surrender in order to ensure survival and unity. After the surrender of the Yuan Dynasty, the emperor sent his envoy to summon Ye, who was overjoyed and thought of him as the Right Leading General Wei. Shi Huan, appointed as the Governor of Zhengzhou. The emperor, with his expertise in border affairs, relocated to Daizhou and stationed troops and horses in the Three Ministries. The Khitan army entered Yanmen and led thousands of cavalry from Xixing to the north entrance of Yanmen. They turned south and launched a counterattack, resulting in a major defeat for the Khitan army. Due to his meritorious service, he was transferred to Yunzhou as an observer and still sentenced to Zhengzhou and Daizhou. As soon as the Khitan saw the banner of industry, they immediately led it away.  
In the third year of Yongxi, a large army launched a northern expedition, with Pan Mei, the military governor of Zhongwu Army, as the commander of the Yun and Yinglu camps, and appointed Ye as the deputy commander. However, they suffered a defeat. Not long after, an edict was issued to relocate the people of the four states to the interior, and the United States and others were ordered to protect them with their troops. The mother of the Khitan state, Xiao Shi, along with her ministers Yel ü Hanning, the Northern and Southern Pi Shi, and Wu A Ti Yin, led more than 100000 people and recaptured Huanzhou. Ye praised Mei and said, "The Liao army is growing stronger now, so we cannot fight." Wang Wei, the commander of the army, said, "Your noble title is invincible. If you see the enemy taunting you and refusing to fight, do you not have any other aspirations?" Ye replied, "Ye did not avoid death. He only killed and wounded soldiers without achieving any merit. Now, you are responsible for Ye's immortality, and he should be the first among all the nobles
As I was about to depart, I wept and exclaimed, "This journey will not be successful." This was because I pointed to the valley mouth of the Chen family and said, "You are using this infantry crossbow to provide support for your left and right wings. Once Ye turns to this point, we will use infantry to attack and rescue him. Otherwise, there will be no survivors." Mei then led his troops to the valley mouth. From the hour of Yin to the present, the envoy climbed up to the Tuoluo Terrace and looked at it, thinking that the Khitan had been defeated. In order to compete for their merits, he led his troops away from the valley. Beauty cannot be controlled, but it is due to the twenty miles southwest of the Jiaohe River. When Russia heard of its defeat, its troops left. The battle of karma lasts from noon to dusk, and the fruit reaches the valley mouth. Seeing no one around, I was filled with great grief and led my tent soldiers to fight fiercely. I suffered dozens of injuries, my soldiers were exhausted, and my skills were as good as cutting hundreds of people with my hands. The horse was severely injured and unable to enter, so it was captured by the Khitan and his son Yan Yu was also lost. Ye Yin Tai Xi said, "When I encountered you, I was generous and hoped to fight back against the rebels and defend the border in return. However, I was forced by treacherous officials and caused the defeat of the king and his teacher. How could you seek survival?" He refused to eat and died in three days.
Translation:
Yang Ye is from Taiyuan, Bingzhou. Father Yang Xin served as the Governor of Linzhou in the Later Han Dynasty. Yang Ye had a bold and unrestrained personality in his youth, enjoying chivalry and being good at horseback riding and archery. He also loved hunting. Every time I hunt, I always get twice as much prey as my companions. Yang Ye once said to his companions, "In the future, when I become a general leading troops in battle, I will also use eagles and dogs to chase wild chickens and rabbits, just like when hunting." In his youth, he served as the commander of the Northern Han Emperor Liu Chong, but was known for his bravery and agility. After multiple promotions, he was appointed as the military governor of Jianxiong Army in Northern Han. He made multiple contributions in the war and won every battle wherever he went. The people of Northern Han called him "Yang Wudi".
Emperor Taizong of Song personally invaded Taiyuan and had long heard of Yang Ye's reputation. He once offered a large sum of money to purchase him. Before long, Taiyuan city had become a lonely city surrounded by the Song army, and the situation was in imminent danger. Yang Ye urged the Northern Han ruler Liu Jiyuan to take the initiative to join the dragon to save the lives of the people in Taiyuan city. After Liu Jiyuan surrendered, Emperor Taizong of Song sent envoys from the palace to summon Yang Ye, who was very pleased and appointed him as the Grand General of the Right Guard. After the victorious return of the army to the Northern Han, Yang Ye was appointed as the Governor of Zhengzhou. Emperor Taizong of Song believed that Yang Ye had rich experience in border defense affairs, and he was promoted to the position of Daizhou and the deployment of troops and horses stationed in the Three Ports. Just as the Khitan army invaded Yanmen Pass, Yang Ye led thousands of cavalry from Xixing Village north of Daizhou to the north entrance of Yanmen Pass, and launched an attack from behind the Khitan army from north to south, resulting in a complete defeat. Due to his military achievements, Yang Ye was promoted to the position of Yunzhou Observation Commissioner, while still overseeing the affairs of Zhengzhou and Daizhou. From then on, as soon as the Khitan army saw Yang Ye's military flag, they immediately retreated and fled.
In the third year of Yongxi (986), the Song army began a large-scale campaign against the Khitan, appointing the military governor of Zhongwu, Pan Mei, as the commander of the Yun and Yinglu camps, and ordering Yang Ye to be Pan Mei's deputy. Soon after, Emperor Taizong of Song issued an edict to relocate the residents of Yun, Ying, Huan, and Shuo provinces to the interior, ordering Pan Mei and others to lead their troops to escort these residents. At this time, Empress Dowager Xiao of the Khitan Empire, along with her ministers Yel ü Hanning, Nanbei Pishi, and Wua Tiyin, led over 100000 troops to recapture Huanzhou. Yang Ye said to Pan Mei and others, "The Liao army is currently at its peak of morale and cannot engage in battle with them." Supervisor Wang Yi said, "You have always been called 'Yang Wudi', why are you lingering and not fighting when encountering enemies now? Do you have any other intentions?" Yang Ye said, "I am not afraid of death, but because the timing is unfavorable to our side, I have sacrificed my soldiers for nothing and cannot make any achievements. (Since) now you blame me for not wanting to sacrifice, then I will fight before you
Before sending out the troops, Yang Ye tearfully said to Pan Mei, "This expedition is bound to fail." Then, Yang Ye pointed to the mouth of Chenjiagu in the northwest of Daizhou and said, "Please ambush infantry and archers here, and divide them into left and right wings to prepare for support. When I am defeated and retreat here, you will use ambushes to attack the enemy from both sides to rescue me. Otherwise, I am afraid that my entire army will be destroyed and there will be no one left!" Pan Mei and Wang Wei led their soldiers to form a formation at the mouth of Chenjiagu. From Yin Shi to Si Shi, Wang Gui sent people to climb up to the Tuoluo Tower to observe the battlefield ahead. He thought that the Khitan army had been defeated and fled by Yang Ye, and wanted to compete with Yang Ye for credit. He immediately led the army away from Chenjiagukou. Pan Mei couldn't stop him, so he (led the army) advanced twenty miles southwest along the Jiaohe River. Soon after, upon hearing the news of Yang Ye's defeat, Pan Mei immediately commanded the army to retreat. Yang Ye fought fiercely from noon until evening, and indeed he arrived at the mouth of the valley. Seeing no reinforcements at the mouth of the valley, he pounded his chest in grief. He could only continue to lead his troops to fight fiercely, with dozens of injuries and almost all soldiers killed in battle. Yang Ye also personally killed more than a hundred enemies. Later, due to serious injuries to his warhorse, he was unable to advance and was subsequently captured by the Khitan army. His son Yang Yanyu also sacrificed himself in this battle. Yang Ye then looked up at the sky and sighed deeply, saying, "Emperor Taizong has shown me great kindness. I had hoped to repay the emperor's kindness by defeating the enemy and defending the border, but I was forced to send troops by treacherous officials, resulting in a disastrous defeat for the army. What face do I have to survive?" He then fasted for three days and died.