So I was reading through my newly aquired The Army of Tang China, which I am enjoying very much, and I came across a strange name: Hukch'i Sangji (Heukji Sangji). The book described him as a Baekje general who defected to the Tang and later distinguished himself.

I've looked through my copy of Samguk Yusa and A New History of Korea but I can't find anything else about him.

Does anyone else have any info?

Hangeul: 흑지상지

Hanja: 黑齒常之

Thanks in advance

From Old Book of Tang 舊唐書

黑齒常之，百濟西部人．長七尺餘，驍勇有謀略．初在本蕃，仕為達率兼郡將，猶中國之刺史也．顯慶五年，蘇定方討平百濟，常之率所部隨例送降款．時定方縶左王及太子隆等，仍縱兵劫掠，丁壯者多被戮．常之恐懼，遂與左右十餘人遁歸本部，鳩集亡逸，共保任存山，築柵以自固，旬日而歸附者三萬餘人．定方遣兵攻之，常之領敢死之士拒戰，官軍敗績，遂復本國二百餘城，定方不能討而還．龍朔三年，高宗遣使招諭之，常之盡率其眾降．累轉左領軍員外將軍．

Heichi Changzhi was a man from western Baekje. At a height of over 7 chi, he was brave and smart. Early on in his home region, he served as a dashuai cum perfectural general, a similar rank to Cishi of China. In the fifth year of Xianqing, Su Dingfang conquered Baekje, Changzhi and his followers surrendered.

At that time, Dingfang captured the Left Prince and Crown Prince Long of Baekje, and let his troops loot, as a result many strong men were killed. Changzhi feared, so he and more than 10 of his followers fled back to his home region, gathered stray refugees, built forts to guard a hill, within 10 days he was able to gather more than 30,000 men. Dingfang attacked him, Changzi led his bravest men, resisted and fought, defeated the official army, re-claimed over 200 strongholds of Baekje, and made Dingfang return in defeat. In the third year of Longshuo, Emperor Gaozong sent a messenger to pursuade him, so Changzhi and his followers surrendered. He was assigned the rank of Zuolingjun and Yuanwai General.

儀鳳中，吐蕃犯邊，常之從李敬玄擊之．劉審禮之沒賊，敬玄欲抽軍，眾阻泥溝，而計無所出．常之夜率敢死之兵五百人進掩賊營，吐蕃首領跋地設棄軍宵遁，敬玄因此得還．

In the middle of Yifeng reign, Tubo (the Tibetans) invaded, Changzhi attacked them under the command of Li Jingxuan. As Liu Shenli was killed by the enemy, Jingxuan wanted to retreat, but the army was restrained by a muddy stream and could think of no way to escape. Changzi, with 500 of the bravest soldiers, attacked the enemy camp at night, made the leader of Tubo Badishe abandon his army and flee, as a result Jingxuan was saved.

高宗歎其才略，擢授左武衛將軍，兼檢校左羽林軍，賜金五百兩、絹五百匹，仍充河源軍副使．時吐蕃贊婆及素和貴等賊徒三萬餘屯於良非川．常之率精騎三千夜襲賊營，殺獲二千級，獲羊馬數萬，贊婆等單騎而遁．擢常之為大使，又賞物四百匹．常之以河源軍正當賊衝，欲加兵鎮守，恐有運轉之費，遂遠置烽戍七十餘所，度開營田五千餘頃，歲收百餘萬石．開耀中，贊婆等屯於青海，常之率精兵一萬騎襲破之，燒其糧貯而還．常之在軍七年，吐蕃深畏憚之，不敢復為邊患．嗣聖元年，遷左武衛大將軍，仍檢校左羽林軍．

Gaozong was amazed by Changzhi's ability, so he promoted him as Zuowuwei General, commanding the Left Camp of the Palace Guards, awarded 500 liang if gold, 500 pi of silk, and assigned him as the vice commander of the Heyuan camp.

At that time, more than 30,000 Tubo bandits, led by Zhanbo and Suhegwei, camped in Liangfei River. Changzi, with 3000 elite cavalry, attacked the bandit camp at night, killed 2000 people, captured several tens of thousands of sheeps and horses; Zhanbo and co. fled with no followers. Thus Changzi was promoted as Dashi, and awarded 400 pi of silk.

Changzi thought that the Heyuan Camp directly faces the enemy, so he wanted to recruit more troops, but was afraid of the cost, so he installed more than 70 military settlements, and farmed over 5000 acres of land, which produced over 1 million shi of crops each year.

In the middle of the Kaiyao reign, Zhanpo and co. camped in Qinghai, Changzi commanded 10,000 elite cavalry and destroyed Zhanpo, burned Zhanpo's food store and returned. Changzi served in the post for 7 years and was feared deeply by Tubo, who never dared to invade again. In the first year of Zhisheng, he was promoted as Zuowuwei Great General, still commanding the Left Camp of the Palace Guards.

垂拱二年，突厥犯邊，命常之率兵拒之．躡至兩井，忽逢賊三千餘眾，常之見賊徒爭下馬著甲，遂領二百餘騎，身當先鋒直衝，賊遂棄甲而散．俄頃，賊眾大至．及日將暮，常之令伐木，營中燃火如烽燧，時東南忽有大風起，賊疑有救兵相應，遂狼狽夜遁．以功進封燕國公．三年，突厥入寇朔州，常之又充大總管，以李多祚、王九言為副．追躡至黃花堆，大破之，追奔四十餘里，賊散走磧北．時有中郎將爨寶璧表請窮追餘賊，制常之與寶璧會，遙為聲援．寶璧以為破賊在朝夕，貪功先行，竟不與常之謀議，遂全軍而沒．尋為周興等誣構，云與右鷹揚將軍趙懷節等謀反，繫獄，遂自縊而死．

In the second year of Chuigong, the Tujue (Turkut) invaded, the Emperor ordered Changzi to lead the army and resist them. Travelling past Liangjing, he ran into over 3000 enemy, Changzi noticed the enemy were rushing off the horce to put on their armours, so he led some 200 cavalry and, himself as the first fighter, attacked the enemy, so the enemy abandoned their armour and fled. Shortly after, the main army of the enemy came. As the sun was about to set, Changzi ordered his troops to chop some wood, and light them as if they were sending a signal. Suddenly there was wind from the southeast, the enemy suspected that reinforcement was coming, so they fled. Changzi was enfeoffed as the Duke of Yan.

Next year, Tujue invaded Shuozhou, Changzi led the response as commander, flanked by Li Duozuo and Wang Jiuyan. They chased the enemy to Huanghuidui and inflicted a major defeat on them, and chased them away for more than 40 li and fled to Jibei. At that time, Zhonglangjiang Cuan Baobi requested to chase the remaining enemy, and arranged to meet with Changzi in a certain place. Baobi thought that victory was close, so he moved prematurely without planning with Changzi, and was utterly defeated losing his entire army. Changzi was accused by Zhou Xing and others for treason together with Youyingyang General Zhao Huaizhe and others, and was detained in jail, so he committed suicide by hanging himself.

常之嘗有所乘馬為兵士所損，副使牛師等請鞭之．常之曰：「豈可以損私馬而決官兵乎！」竟赦之．前後所得賞賜金帛等，皆分給將士；及死，時甚惜之．

Once, Changzi's horse was injured by a soldier, and his deputies suggested to whip him. Changzi said, "How can I hurt the state's soldier because of damage to my personal horse!" So he forgave that soldier. The gold and silk awarded to him, he gave them all to his generals and fighters; when he died, all felt it was a great loss.

As always, it's Lobster to the rescue :]

Thanks alot, that was really informative and helpful.

The man really made a name for himself didn't he? Too bad intriuge got him in the end.

Just a similar spin off here, would you have a similar article for Gao Xianzhi? The Tang ethnic Goguryeo general who lost at Talas?

高仙芝

You're my hero Lobster.

I've heard he was an expert in mountain warfare and exceptionally ruthless.

Well his article is a bit longer, so it's gonna take some time.

Preparing for tonight's party....

Old Book of Tang's comment on Heichi Changzi.

歷代武臣，壯勇出眾者有諸，節行勵俗者鮮矣，矧蠻夷之人乎！......常之以私馬恕官兵，與將士均賞賜，古之名將，無以加焉．

In the generations of military officer, there were many who were braver than anyone, but few with virtues that could be a model the world, and fewer among the uncivilized people of Man and Yi! ...... Changzi forgave the state's soldier for damaging his personal horse, shared his rewards with his fellow enerals and soldiers, the famous generals of ancient times could do no more than that.

(His bio was put in a section of non-Han generals. Some even from enemy states.)

Gubook,

Where did you buy that book "The Army of Tang China" I tried Amazon and Barnesandnoble. No dice.

Jiangwei

He actually makes an appearance in the Korean drama Dae Jo Young, I thought he was based on a fictitious character, guess not

According to the drama; he died by Wu Zutien, as she was struggling for power; was this true?