After Yang Guang's death, ambitious men across the provinces of Great Sui began recruiting troops under the pretext of avenging him, carving out territories of their own. Eighteen such factions arose throughout Great Sui.
One was King Fengming, Li Zitong of Hebei. With the help of his son-in-law Wu Yunzhao, he seized all of Hebei, commanding two hundred thousand troops and fifty capable generals. His three foremost warriors were none other than the Marquis of Nanyang, Wu Yunzhao; the Purple-Faced Heavenly King, Xiong Kuohai; and Wu Tiansi, Invincible with Twin Tridents. Each possessed the valor to withstand ten thousand men. With Hebei's troops already strong and well-mounted, King Fengming Li Zitong ranked foremost among the rebel kings.
The King of Later Han, Liu Heita, occupied Shandong Province with a formidable army of one hundred fifty thousand. His grand marshal, Su Dingfang, excelled in both civil and military affairs, while his general Dongfang Bo possessed outstanding martial skills. His strength also ranked among the highest of the rebel kings.
The Tang King, Li Yuan, occupied Shanxi Province and commanded one hundred fifty thousand troops. He appointed Three Origins Li Jing as his grand marshal and strategist. His civil officials included Liu Wenjing, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui, while his military officers included the Golden Hammer General, Li Yuanba, and the Iron Hammer General, Liang Shitai. Of all the rebel kings, his forces were the most balanced.
There were also the King of Western Wei, Li Mi; the King of Luoyang, Wang Shichong; the King of Xia Ming, Dou Jiande; and others, including the most influential of them all, the King of Beiping, Luo Yi.
In Daxing City, King Backing the Mountain addressed the newly enthroned Yang Jian. "Rest assured, Your Majesty. Even if it costs this old servant his life, I