Dao Yanzhi 到彥之

Dao Yanzhi 到彥之 (d. 433), courtesy name Daoyu 道豫, from Wuyuan 武原 in the commandery of Pengcheng 彭城 (today's Peixian 沛縣, Jiangsu), was a general of the Liu-Song dynasty 劉宋 (420-479), one of the Southern Dynasties 南朝 (420-589).

He participated in the suppression of Sun En's 孫恩 (d. 402) rebellion carried out by General Liu Yu 劉裕 (the eventual Emperor Wu 宋武帝, r. 420-422). In 405 he was, therefore, made Vice General of the Defence Army en Route (zhenjun xing canjun 鎮軍行參軍), but his failure to fight the rebellion of Lu Xun 盧循 (d. 411) led to his dismissal. Nonetheless, he was reappointed and made Vice Military Consultant of Cavalry (piaoji ziyi canjun 驃騎諮議參軍), Commandant of Cavalry (sima 司馬), and governor (taishou 太守) of the commandery of Nanjun 南郡.

After the foundation of the Song dynasty by Liu Yu, Dao Yanzhi accompanied Prince Liu Yilong 劉義隆 (the eventual Emperor Wen 宋文帝, r. 424-453) in a military campaign in the region of Jing-Chu 荊楚 (central China), with the title of Commander over the Southern Barbarians (nanman xiaowei 南蠻校尉). He helped defend the middle Yangtze region for nearly twenty years and was deeply respected by both officials and common people.

Dao was invested as District Duke of Jianchang 建昌縣公 and (426 CE), he was promoted to regional inspector (cishi 刺史) of Nanyuzhou 南豫州. In 430, made Commander of the Central Army (zhonglingjun 中領軍) in the campaign against the Northern Wei empire 北魏 (386-534). From the Huai River 淮河 region, Dao's army advanced along the Si River 泗水 valley and occupied the cities Huatai 滑臺 and Hulao 虎牢, and approached Luoyang 洛陽 (in today's Henan province). Yet his army run out of grain, and the troops were slain by a ravaging plague. Moreover, the Yellow River froze, and the Northern Wei army could pass it and attack Dao's army, which was heavily defeated and dissolved. By foot, Dao returned to Pengcheng, where he was arrested and put into jail.

Later on, Dao refused a new offer with the post of General of Guards (hujun jiangjun 護軍將軍), and died shortly thereafter.