Pei Xingyan was a general in Sui dynasty who was known for his superior fighting skills on the battlefield. He was also a highly celebrated warrior in popular culture and traditional Chinese dramas.
In history
Pei Xingyan was the son of Pei Renji, a general of Sui dynasty during Emperor Yang's reign. He was born with great strengths and acquired superb fighting skills when he was young. He served in Sui army under general Zhang Xutuo and suppressed several peasant uprisings in the northern plain. After Zhang Xutuo was defeated and killed in a battle against Wagang Army, Pei Xingyan and his father Renji surrendered to Wagang. The leader of Wagang Army, Li Mi, appointed Xingyan to be Shang-Zhuguo and gave him the title Duke of Jiang County. Along with Qin Shubao, Cheng Yaojin and Luo Shixin, Pei Xingyan became one of the four most trusted generals under Li Mi. In 618, a war broke out between Li Mi's Wagang Army and the warlordWang Shichong. During the war, Wang Shichong sent his men to attack Yanshi, which was guarded by Shan Xiongxin. Shan Xiongxin did not have many troops and could not hold the city. Li Mi thus sent Cheng Yaojin and Pei Xingyan to reinforce Shan Xiongxin. Outside of Yanshi, Cheng and Pei was attacked by Wang Shichong's men, and Pei was shot by an arrow and was almost killed. He was saved by Cheng Yaojin. Soon after this, however, Li Mi was completely defeated by Wang Shichong and submitted to Tang dynasty. Pei Xingyan and his father Renji was trapped near Luoyang and had to submit to Wang Shichong. In 619, Wang Shichong claimed to be the Emperor of Zheng. He appointed Pei Renji to be the chief minister of the Ministry of Rites under his reign, and Pei Xingyan to be Left Vice General-in-chief. Pei Xingyan fought in several battles for Wang Shichong. He was so strong and brave that his enemies gave him a nickname of Wanrendi. However, Wang Shichong was a suspicious and jealous person. He thought that Pei Renji and Pei Xingyan would submit to Tang dynasty some day and would become his enemy. Therefore, Wang Shichong planned to assassinate the Pei family. Noticing the plan of Wang Shichong, Pei Renji, Pei Xingyan and their allies proposed a mutiny in order to escape from Luoyang and reinstall the Sui dynasty. Unfortunately, their plan was exposed before their action. Wang Shichong executed Pei Renji and Pei Xingyan in Luoyang. All their family members were wiped out except for Xingyan's younger brotherXingjian who was less than one year old at that time and somehow survived in this tragedy.
Pei Xingyan is known as Pei Yuanqing in popular cultures and is known as the third strongest warrior during Sui dynasty. People believe that he is the reincarnation of Nezha. His weapons are a pair of silver hammers. He originally served in Sui army. Due to the circumvention of his political opponents, he submitted to Wagang Army with his father Pei Renji. During the battle at Hongni Pass, Pei Yuanqing was ambushed and killed by Xin Wenli with explosive powders.
