Wubei Zhi (Vol. 17)

Qian Neng entered the territory of Shuzhou. Chen Jingxuan a powerful warlord and the brother of the influential eunuch Tian Lingzi, seeing that Yang Xingqian and the others had failed to achieve any success for a long time, appointed the Ya-ya original: 押牙 (yāyá); a high-ranking military officer or guard commander Gao Renhou as the Supreme Commander of Suppression and Recruitment to replace them. One day before his departure, a spy sent by Qian Neng was captured.

Renhou questioned him with gentle words. The man replied: "I am a simple villager. Qian Neng has imprisoned my parents, wife, and children, telling me: 'If you gather accurate intelligence, I will spare your family; if not, they shall all die.' It is not that I wish to do this."

Renhou said: "If it is truly as you say, how could I bear to kill you? You shall return, but simply tell Qian Neng: 'Minister Gao sets out tomorrow, and he brings with him only five hundred men—no more troops than that.'"

"However, as I am saving your whole family, you must secretly tell those within the rebel stockade for me: 'The Pushe original: 僕射 (púshè); referring here to Chen Jingxuan, who held this high-ranking title in the Department of State Affairs pities you all as good people who have been coerced by rebels. Therefore, he has sent Minister Gao to rescue you. If you lay down your arms and come forward to surrender, I shall write the words "Returned to Allegiance" on your backs and send you home to your original livelihoods as you desire.'"