Zhou Luohou

Zhou Luohou (, 542–605), courtesy name Gongbu , was a Chinese general and administrator serving under the Chen and Sui dynasties. He died in the battles against Yang Liang's rebel remnants. His posthumous name was Zhuang (, "strong").

During the Liang dynasty Zhou Luohou's ancestral home was Xunyang in Jiujiang. His father Zhou Fahao was a general under the Liang dynasty. When he was a teenager, Zhou Luohou was good at riding and archery and lived a free and unrestrained life. He hunted with dogs and eagles, and he played military games with other daredevils he gathered around him. His grandfather's brother warned him to mend his ways, but Zhou Luohou never changed.

During the Chen dynasty During the Chen dynasty, Zhou Luohou distinguished himself in battles and received the title Kaiyuan General . During Emperor Xuan's reign (569–582) he governed Jurong.

In 579, Zhou Luohou became a Commissioner with Extraordinary Powers and put in charge of military affairs in Huo Prefecture (, modern Huoshan County). After he quashed rebels in twelve mountainous regions, he received the titles General of the Right Army and Duke of Shi'an County , which entitled him to land taxes of four hundred families. He was assigned to Yang Prefecture as its Area Commander-in-Chief. He received three thousand taels of gold and silver which he distributed to his soldiers and warriors. Next, he was promoted to Governor of Jinling Commandery and became a marquis. His tax entitlement was increased to a thousand families, and soon to 1600 families after he became Chief Minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud. Later, he received the title of Xiongxin General and was tasked with the military affairs of ten commanderies around Yuzhang (modern Nanchang). He oversaw many trials personally and won the support of his populace.

During the Sui dynasty Emperor Wen of Sui valued Zhou Luohou and promised him wealth when they first met. The victorious Sui general He Ruobi made a snide comment regarding Zhou's abilities, but Zhou talked right back to him, saying that the outcome would be doubtful if they went head-to-head. That autumn, Zhou received the honorary title yi tong sansi (, "Prestige equal to Three Offices") in a pompous ceremony. On another occasion, the Sui general Han Qinhu remarked that Zhou's former subordinate Yang Xiang was enjoying a higher position as a result of defecting to Sui earlier, but Zhou retorted that it was improper for a minister to endorse surrendering. Zhou attempted to cross the Yellow Sea from Donglai Commandery to attack Pyongyang. However, harsh storms scattered and sank many ships. The remaining ships were repelled by a Goguryeo fleet with 50,000 men.

In 599, Zhou Luohou served under Yang Su in the war against Tardu and the Western Turkic Khaganate. With Yang Su's permission, he led twenty cavalries to attack the disorganized Turkic troops, and routed the enemy after several hours of intense fighting. He was made a General-in-Chief following their return. and served under Yang Su again to defeat Yang Liang (who had rebelled against his brother Yang Guang). When he returned, Zhou Luohou asked to pay respect to his former lord Chen Shubao, who had died. The emperor agreed and even praised him. At that time, Yang Liang's rebel remnants still occupied Jin Prefecture, Jiang Prefecture, and Lü Prefecture (all in modern Shanxi), and Zhou Luohou took his army to quash them. During the battles, he was struck by a stray arrow and died. He received posthumous titles and his son Zhou Zhong'an was made an official.