Is “Pugu Huai'en shouted and executed his own son to enforce military discipline” true?
The Old Book of Tang, Biography of Pugu Huai'en, Liang Chongyi, and Li Huaiguang records that when the Tongluo rebelled, Huai'en's son Fen, after being defeated and surrendering to the enemy, fled back. 'Huai'en shouted and executed him. The soldiers were terrified and each fought as if against a hundred, ' and thus they greatly defeated the enemy. In the Sui and Tang Romance, Chapter 090 also mentions that Guo Ziyi ordered 'Li Guangbi and the Martial Envoy Pugu Huai'en' to lead troops into battle, and his character of being resolute and strict in military governance is completely consistent with the official history.
In the official history, Pugu Huai'en maintained strict military discipline and angrily executed his own son who had surrendered to the enemy, and the novel faithfully preserves the fierce nature of this veteran general.
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