 However, the difference was that in real history, Yang Xiong died at a much earlier time (612 A.D.) than Yang Lin's death in the novel (not mentioned exactly, but could be inferred to be around 618 A.D.).Yang Lin's stories were most likely based on stories of Lai Hu'er (来护儿) and Zhang Xutuo (张须陀).Lai Hu'er was a famous general in Sui Dynasty, and he was known for putting down rebellions in the basin of Huai River and the lower valley of Yangtze River.