Oh, filial piety, it is truly magnificent! It is like a complete universe, multifaceted and whole, spanning heaven, earth, and humanity; it encompasses various noble virtues and embodies all good deeds. At the national level, it can move both heaven and earth, bringing auspiciousness; at the family level, it can move spirits and bring blessings.
When it comes to respecting parents, one must take care of every aspect, show both respect and love, soothe their emotions, make them happy, and serve them wholeheartedly without ever feeling burdened. Just as one diligently plants foxtail millet and picks orchids while singing poems, this is the principle of serving parents.
For deceased parents, one must always remember them, mourn deeply, burn offerings in their memory, hold a rope to show mourning, express sadness to the trees swayed by the wind, and weep by the cold spring; this is the emotion of remembering ancestors.
In terms of dealing with people, one must carefully choose their life path, handle public affairs seriously, not become arrogant when in high positions, and not be competitive in low positions. One should strive to cultivate oneself, manage the family, govern the country, and promote peace in the world, with a cautious and self-restrained attitude, sharpening one's own virtues; this is the code of conduct for standing in society.
Like Min Zeng and Cai Dong, respectfully adhering to the Six Teachings, cultivating oneself and passing on virtues; they promote the Seven Acts of Filial Piety, leaving behind good examples. And those whose sincerity moves heaven and earth, such as Guo Ju, who moved the heavens and received rewards, and Yang Yong, who received blessings for filial piety; crows feeding their mother meat, and deer offering white fur as a token of gratitude, these are all beautiful manifestations of filial piety.
Therefore, respecting parents can foster love between siblings. This principle is interdependent and ultimately stems from the same foundation. The importance of familial love is immense, as blood ties connect us. If siblings are at odds, it's like thorny branches that hurt one another; but if there is harmony, it is like flowers supporting each other. This is why there are moving stories of siblings helping, supporting, and understanding each other.
During the Jin Dynasty, from the Central Plains to Jiangnan, despite enduring a hundred and six years of turmoil, the virtues of noble men did not disappear, and the spirit of filial piety remained strong. The conduct of Wang Weiyuan, Xu Jiyi, Xia Fang, Sheng Yan, and the deep friendship between Yu Gun and Yan Han are all worthy of emulation. The other wise men also possessed noble virtues.
I have gathered and compiled their stories, which are enough to inspire society, so I wrote the "Filial Piety" to supplement the history of past generations.
Li Mi, courtesy name Lingbo, was from Wuyang, Jianwei, Sichuan. His father passed away early, and his mother remarried. Li Mi was only a few years old at the time and felt very sad, always thinking of his father, which made him sick. His grandmother, Liu, raised him herself, and Li Mi was famously devoted to her, earning him a reputation in the community. If his grandmother Liu got sick, Li Mi would cry by her bedside, never changing out of his clothes. He would taste the medicine and soup before giving it to her. During his spare time, he studied diligently, never feeling tired, and even studied under Qiao Zhou. Qiao Zhou's students compared him to You Xia (referring to the famous scholars You Ji and Xia Ge from the Spring and Autumn period).
Later, Li Mi became a minor official in Shu, serving as a court attendant. He went on several missions to Wu, where his talent and eloquence earned him much admiration. After the pacification of Shu and during the Tai Shi era of Western Jin, the court issued an edict summoning him to serve as the Prince's horse attendant. However, due to his elderly grandmother being left unattended, he did not take up the position. Instead, he submitted a memorial, in which he wrote:
"Since childhood, I have faced many hardships and misfortunes. My father passed away when I was only six months old; at the age of four, my stepfather took away my mother's autonomy. My grandmother, Liu family, pitied my orphaned and destitute state, raising me single-handedly. I often fell ill as a child and could not walk until I was nine, and endured great hardships before finally reaching adulthood. I had no uncles or aunts, no siblings, and a declining family fortune, only having children in my later years. With no relatives or friends to rely on outside, and no servants at home to assist, I was alone, with only my own shadow for company. My grandmother was bedridden for a long time, and I served by her bedside day in and day out, tending to her needs without ever leaving.
Since entering the court and benefiting from the emperor's wise grace, the former magistrate, Mr. Kui, praised me for my filial piety and integrity, and later, the governor, Mr. Rong, recommended me as a scholar. However, due to my duty to care for my grandmother and lack of a master to support me, I declined the court's appointments. The emperor personally issued an edict appointing me as a court official, and later bestowed upon me the role of the Prince's horse attendant. As a humble person, to be able to serve in the Eastern Palace is a kindness I can never repay, even if it costs me my life. I have already submitted my resignation, but the edict is sternly worded, rebuking me for negligence. The local officials are urging me to depart, and the pressure is mounting rapidly. I wish to obey the edict and take up the position, but my grandmother's condition worsens by the day. If I don't go because of personal reasons, I would be defying the imperial decree. I find myself truly caught in a dilemma, torn in two directions!"
Your Majesty, you govern the country with filial piety, taking good care of the elderly. Moreover, I am so lonely and helpless, with a weak body. When I was young, I held a minor position in the puppet regime, only focused on climbing the ranks and making money, never thinking about integrity. Now that the country has perished, I’ve become a mere captive, yet unexpectedly received your favor. This kindness is overwhelming; how could I possibly entertain any selfish thoughts? However, as I am getting older, like a setting sun, weak and on the verge of passing away. Without my grandmother, I would not have survived to this day; without me, my grandmother would not have lived out her remaining years. We depend on each other, so I just can’t leave her behind. I am forty-four years old, while my grandmother is ninety-six years old, which means I have plenty of time to serve you, but not much left to take care of my grandmother. Just like a crow that feeds its parents, I hope to fulfill my filial duty to my grandmother. My struggles are known not just by the people of Shu and the local governor, but also by Heaven. I sincerely ask you to understand my misguided loyalty, grant my request and let me care for my grandmother for the rest of her days. I live to serve you, ready to face any danger, and even in death, I’ll become grass and trees to repay your kindness.
After reading the memorial, the emperor said, "This person named Li Mi is indeed not just famous for nothing!" So the conscription was halted. Later, Li Mi's grandmother passed away, and after completing his mourning period, he was conscripted to Luoyang to be a groom. Sikong Zhang Hua asked him, "How is Duke Anle (Zhuge Liang)?" Li Mi replied, "He can be compared to Duke Huan of Qi." When asked why, Li Mi said, "Duke Huan of Qi achieved hegemony with Guan Zhong, which led to chaos due to Shu Diao. Duke Anle resisted the Wei state with Zhuge Liang, but employed Huang Hao, which ultimately led to the fall of Shu Han. Success and failure hinge on a single thought!" Zhang Hua then asked, "Why are Zhuge Liang's teachings so detailed?" Li Mi replied, "Shun, Yu, and Gao Yao conversed with each other, so their language was concise and elegant; 'Da Zhao' was spoken to ordinary people, so the language was more detailed. Zhuge Liang never regarded himself as superior when speaking to others, which made his teachings appear detailed." Zhang Hua greatly appreciated Li Mi's insights.
Now, there was a man named Sheng Mi, who once served as the magistrate of Wen County. He had a poor relationship with his subordinates, and they were often at odds. Once, he wrote a letter to someone saying, "As long as Qing Fu lives, the troubles of Lu will persist." This letter was reported to the Chief Commandant by his subordinates. The Chief Commandant recognized Sheng Mi as having been honest and prudent during his tenure in Wen County, so he did not investigate him. Sheng Mi was talented and always wanted to be transferred back to the court, but he had no backing. In the end, he was ultimately transferred to Han Zhong as the prefect, feeling wronged and resentful.
Later, the court held a farewell banquet for him, and the emperor asked him to compose a poem. The poem concluded with the lines, "People have words, reasons, and fates. Officials without the support of the people are better off returning to the fields. Clearly, the truth is above, how could this be?" It was obvious that the poem revealed his discontent. When Emperor Wu read it, he was enraged and ordered Sheng Mi's dismissal from his post. Sheng Mi later passed away in despair, leaving behind two sons: Sheng Ci and Sheng Xing.
Sheng Ci, whose courtesy name was Zongshi, had a literary talent from a young age and once wrote a "Mystical Bird Ode" with exquisite prose. He was summoned by the local government to serve as a magistrate and was recommended to take the imperial examination, but unfortunately, he passed away before he could assume office. Sheng Xing, whose courtesy name was Junshi, also inherited his father's literary talent and was appointed by the governor Luo Shang as his aide. Later, when Luo Shang was attacked by Li Xiong, he dispatched Sheng Xing to request assistance from General Liu Hong. Sheng Xing chose to remain with Liu Hong as his aide and never returned. Luo Shang informed Liu Hong of the situation, who promptly confiscated his official seal and dismissed him. While serving in Liu Hong's administration, Liu Hong ordered the construction of stone steles in honor of Zhuge Liang and Yang Hu, and entrusted Sheng Xing with writing the inscriptions for both steles, which were well-structured and elegantly composed.
Sheng Yan, courtesy name 'Wengzi', was a native of Guangling. He showed extraordinary talent from a young age. At the age of eight, he visited the Grand Marshal Dai Chang of the Wu Kingdom, who presented him with a poem to respond to on the spot. Sheng Yan's response was passionate and eloquent. His mother, Lady Wang, later went blind, and he would always shed tears whenever he mentioned it. As a result, he declined all official summons to personally care for his mother, feeding her every meal. As his mother’s illness lingered, the maidservants at home often mistreated her. One of the maidservants, harboring resentment, took advantage of Sheng Yan's absence to feed his mother a dish containing poisonous insects. His mother found it tasty yet odd, so she secretly saved it to show Sheng Yan. Upon seeing it, Sheng Yan wept bitterly in his mother's arms, fainted, and later regained consciousness. Miraculously, his mother's eyes regained her sight, and from that moment on, her illness was cured. Sheng Yan held a ministerial position in the Wu Kingdom, eventually becoming the Assistant Minister of the Central Secretariat. After the fall of the Wu Kingdom, Lu Yun recommended him to Governor Zhou Jun, and Liu Song, the county's Grand Master, also put forth his name for the position of Junior Grand Master. He passed away during the Taikang period.
Xia Fang, style name Wenzheng, was a native of Yongxing, Shaoxing, Zhejiang. His family suffered from a plague, and a total of thirteen people, including his parents, uncles, aunts, brothers, and sisters, all died when the plague struck. Xia Fang was only fourteen years old at the time. He spent his nights crying and his days digging graves. It took him a full seventeen years to handle all the funeral arrangements. After that, he lived next to the cemetery, planting pine and cypress trees. Even crows and wild animals gradually became accustomed to his presence. During the Wu dynasty, he was appointed as the Commissioner of Benevolence and Righteousness, and later promoted to Colonel of the Five Officials. He never rode in a carriage when attending court and always made way for others as he walked. After the fall of the Wu dynasty, he was appointed as the magistrate of Gaoshan County. When common people committed crimes, they were expected to be punished, but he would cry and plead on their behalf, never imposing punishment, so no one in the county dared to break the law. He served as the magistrate of Gaoshan County for three years and was recommended by the prefecture to be a scholar. After that, he returned home and passed away at the age of eighty-seven.
Wang Pou, style name Weiyuan, was a native of Yingling, Linyi, Shandong. His grandfather, Wang Xiu, was very famous during the Wei dynasty. His father, Wang Yi, was known for his integrity and righteousness and was a subordinate of Emperor Wen of Wei, Sima Yi. During the Dongguan Campaign, Emperor Wen of Wei asked everyone, "Who is responsible for the recent failures?" Wang Yi answered, "The responsibility lies with the commander." Emperor Wen of Wei was furious, saying, "Is Sima trying to shift the blame onto me!" So he ordered Wang Yi to be taken away and executed.
Wang Pu was very principled from a young age, placing great importance on etiquette in his dealings with others. He stood eight feet four inches tall, very handsome, with a resonant and clear voice, speaking elegantly and articulately, knowledgeable and versatile. He deeply resented his father's wrongful death, so he never sat facing west, which signified his disloyalty to the court. Therefore, he withdrew from society to teach, refusing three summons and seven invitations to serve as an official. He lived beside his father's grave, kneeling and weeping before it morning and night, clutching the cypress trees until his tears caused them to wither. His mother was afraid of thunder, and after her death, whenever it thundered, Wang Pu would rush to the grave and say, "I am here, Pu." When he read the line from the Book of Songs, "Alas for my parents, who bore me with toil," he would always read it three times, weeping uncontrollably, making it impossible for his students to read the poem "Liao E."
My family was very poor, scraping by on farming and silk production, and if we had enough to eat and wear, that was a blessing. Whenever people offered me help, I turned them down. When my students secretly helped me with the wheat harvest, I tossed aside what they had gathered. Former friends sent me gifts, which I also turned down. When my students were conscripted by the county for official duties and asked for my help, I replied, "You lack the knowledge to help yourself, and my character isn't strong enough to assist you. I can't help you! Besides, I haven't put pen to paper in forty years." So I packed some provisions for myself, had my son carry salt, soy sauce, and straw shoes, and sent the conscripted students to the county, with over a thousand students in tow. When the magistrate of Anqiu County heard that I had arrived, he hurried out to greet me. I bowed deeply beside the clay ox and said, "My students have been conscripted by the county, and I’ve come to send them off." Then I walked away, holding his hand and crying. The magistrate immediately released the students, causing the whole county to feel embarrassed.
In our village, there was a man named Guan Yan who was talented in his youth but had not yet gained fame. I uniquely recognized his potential and believed that he would succeed in the future, so we became friends. When our children were both newborns, we arranged their betrothal. Eventually, Guan Yan became the Western Barbarian Commander and was buried in Luoyang after his death. I eventually married my daughter to him. Guan Yan's younger brother, Guan Fu, asked me why, and I replied, "I have always wished for a simple, unadorned life. My sisters who were married off in the past all went far away and lost all contact, and I always remind myself of this. Now, brother-in-law, you buried your father in Luoyang, which is the capital. This was never my intention when we arranged the marriage!" Guan Fu said, "Sister-in-law, you are from the State of Qi; you should return to Linzi." I replied, "How can a daughter return to the State of Qi with her mother when her father is buried in Henan? That's my perspective, so why would I have married your brother in the first place?"
There was a young man named Bing Chun in Beihai who had been determined to achieve great things since he was young. His life was very difficult, carrying books everywhere to seek knowledge. Everyone in the village believed he was the next Bing Yuan (Note: Bing Yuan was a famous ancient scholar). I found Bing Chun to be impulsive, overly ambitious, and solely focused on fame, and in the end, he would not achieve much. Eventually, Bing Chun indeed fell short of expectations, did not complete his studies, and those who were knowledgeable all believed that this was the result of my initial judgment. I have always believed in the importance of doing good, so why use your own standards to demand things that others cannot achieve?
When Luoyang City was breached and bandits ran rampant, my relatives all wanted to flee to Jiangnan for refuge, but I couldn't bring myself to leave my ancestors' graves. The bandits grew increasingly bold, and I was getting ready to leave, but I just couldn't let go emotionally, and ultimately, I was killed by the bandits.
Xu Zi, whose courtesy name was Jiyi, was from Wuning, a town in Dongyang. He was filial, friendly, humble, respectful, intelligent, and eager to learn. At the age of twenty, he became a student of Kong Chong of Kuaiji (who was then the Prefect of Yuzhang), studying the Book of Songs, the Book of Documents, the Book of Rites, the Book of Changes, as well as the Classic of Filial Piety and the Analects of Confucius. After completing his studies, he returned to his hometown. When Kong Chong passed away during his term, Xu Zi was deeply saddened when he heard the news. He immediately rushed to attend the funeral, accompanied Kong Chong back to Kuaiji for burial, ate vegetarian food, worked, and mourned for three years.
Soon after, both of his parents passed away, leaving him heartbroken. He could barely stand with the aid of a cane. He built a tomb for his parents on Dongshan in the county, personally shoveling soil and refusing help from his fellow villagers. Seeing him exhausted, some villagers insisted on helping. Xu Zi accepted their help during the day but sent them home at night. Every time he cried in grief, birds and animals would come to him. As Xu Zi was busy building a large tomb for his parents, he chose to live beside the tomb, leaving his wife behind, planting pine and cypress trees that stretched for five or six miles.
At one point, a deer damaged his pine saplings. Xu Zi lamented, "Oh deer, do you not care for me?" The next day, he found the deer killed by a fierce beast, lying beside the damaged saplings. Xu Zi was deeply saddened and built a tomb for the deer, burying it beside the tomb. The fierce beast suddenly collapsed and died in front of him, so Xu Zi buried it as well. After that, the trees grew lush, and no animals dared to harm them again.
After over twenty years, Xu Zi remarried and built a house next to the cemetery. He paid homage to his deceased parents every morning and evening as though they were still with him. Eagles and pheasants perched on the rafters of the house, while deer and wild animals frolicked in his yard, getting along peacefully without attacking each other. During the Yuankang period, the county inspected filial and incorruptible individuals, but he declined to accept the honor and wore rough cloth garments throughout his life. When he passed away at over eighty years old, the villagers referred to his home as "Filial Piety Lane."
During the Xiankang period, Zhang Yu, the magistrate of Wuning County, reported to the court, "I have heard that the teachings of the sages emphasize honoring good people and their deeds, and the influence of praise and criticism can last for a thousand years. Upon careful examination, I found that the deceased Xu Zi in our county was extremely filial and kind, possessing noble character and humility. He served his teacher dutifully and exhibited remarkable composure in the face of his parents' death. People say he had a noble character that even touched the heavens, with wild animals not daring to harm him. Although I have not met him, based on these accounts, I believe he is not much inferior to Cai Shun or Dong An. Xu Zi has been deceased for many years, but his son, Xu Sheng, still lives next to the cemetery, exemplifying simplicity and kindness. I believe Xu Zi's character and actions are exemplary and should be honored to celebrate the past and inspire the future. As the 'Yangqiu Zhuan' says, 'Treat well the good people and their descendants.' I am just a humble person and wouldn't presume to speculate, so I ask the court to investigate." Once the report was submitted, the emperor ordered a memorial tablet to be placed at Xu Zi's home and exempted his descendants from taxes. His son, Xu Sheng, also inherited his father's filial piety, creating a portrait of his father at home and worshipping him every morning and evening.
Yu Gun, courtesy name Shu Bao, was the Ming Dynasty Empress Dowager Mu's uncle. He was diligent, frugal, and studious since childhood, known for his filial piety towards his parents. During the Xianning era, a major epidemic broke out, which led to the deaths of his two brothers and left his third brother, Yu Pi, severely ill. While the epidemic raged on, his parents and younger siblings moved away, leaving Yu Gun alone to take care of them. Despite being advised by family to leave, he replied, "I’m not afraid of falling ill." He personally cared for the sick day and night, without taking a break, while also handling the funeral arrangements for his brothers, grieving constantly without a moment's rest. After enduring for over ten months, the epidemic finally subsided, and his family came back, his third brother recovered, and Yu Gun himself remained unscathed. The villagers and elders all said, "This child is truly extraordinary! He can do what others cannot, endure what others cannot endure. Just as in the harsh winter, only then can one see that pine and cypress are the last to wither, leading people to believe that he had miraculously avoided infection."
In the beginning, all of Gun's uncles were powerful and influential, while his father alone lived a simple and modest life. His father personally worked the fields to support the family, and worked diligently and took his tasks seriously. Even when repairing fences with his children, he knelt to pass them branches. Some asked, "Your family is poor now; why are you still so respectful?" His father replied, "Poverty and wealth can change easily; this is not what a true gentleman should pursue." After his father passed away, he sold bamboo baskets to make ends meet for his mother. Seeing him toil so hard, his mother said, "I have nothing to eat." He replied, "If you can't eat well or stay warm, where else can I go?" His mother was touched by his filial devotion and felt reassured. Gun's first wife Xun and his second wife Le both came from wealthy families, but after marrying Gun, they gave up their luxurious lives, spent all their wealth, and lived a simple life with him, demonstrating mutual respect for each other. After his mother passed away, he paid his respects by her grave. After his father passed away, life grew even harder, but he continued to take care of his mother wholeheartedly. Selling bamboo baskets to make ends meet, his devotion to his mother reflected his principles of conduct. Just like his father, who took pride in a simple and frugal life, he followed suit. This is not something most people can achieve. Both of his wives came from wealthy families but were willing to endure hardships with him, reflecting his charismatic character. They gave up a life of luxury and shared hardships with him, which was quite rare back then. This indicates that his character earned the respect of his wives. The phrase "mutual respect as guests" beautifully captures their marital relationship. Finally, after his mother passed away, he observed filial piety by her grave, further highlighting his filial devotion.
During the year of the great famine, we couldn't even get our hands on rough wild vegetable soup at home. The students wanted to bring him food, but he always insisted he had already eaten, and no one dared to press food on him. After the wheat was harvested, with many ears still left in the fields, he led the children aside and said, "Just wait a moment." When they started picking, he didn't hunch over or pick haphazardly, but knelt on the ground and picked each grain one by one. He ended up collecting quite a lot. He also went up the hill with the villagers to gather acorns. When distributing the acorns, he gave the easier ones to others in order of seniority, demonstrating impeccable manners, adhering strictly to etiquette.
One day, someone chopped down the cypress tree by his family's grave, and he gathered the neighbors by the grave, blamed himself, then knelt down and wept, apologizing to his ancestors: "I have not cultivated virtue and done good deeds. I can't even protect the tree of my ancestors. It's my fault!" The village elders also began to weep, and from that day on, no one dared to lay a hand on that cypress tree again.
He raised orphans and widows with special kindness and compassion, treating them better than his own relatives, teaching them the principles of being a good person, and encouraging older people to learn from his behavior, helping younger ones forget their status as orphans. His orphaned nephew, Guo Xiu, was treated like his own son, with all his needs taken care of. His widowed sister's daughter, Fang'er, was about to get married, with her dowry all prepared. He then cut thorns and reeds to weave brooms and dustpans, calling all the children to the main hall, separating them by gender, and saying to Fang'er, "Fang'er, you have been without parents since you were young, having lived a carefree and happy life, free from much hardship. Now that you are getting married, you will have to serve your in-laws and clean the courtyard, as this is part of a woman's role. So I am giving you these. Not because these things are great, but because I hope you will be diligent and gentle every day, and not let your guard down even during your breaks." He even divided the old house between his elder brother's sons, Jing and Xi. After Xi passed away, Gun was heartbroken, mourning his young death and the fact that he had never married. He held the coffin and wept loudly, touching the hearts of those passing by, causing all who heard him to shed tears. At first, Gun's father had warned him not to drink too much. Every time Gun got drunk, he would blame himself, saying, "I have failed my father's teachings, how can I educate others?" Then he would punish himself in front of his father's grave. His neighbor, Chu Deyi, was especially devoted to his parents, continuing to care for them in his old age, and Gun often went to visit him.
Once, Gun and a few of his brothers went to visit the Chen brothers, Chen Zhun, who were friends of Gun's brothers. All of Gun's brothers went to see Chen Zhun's mother, except Gun. Chen Zhun's younger brother, Chen Hui, asked him, "Why didn't you come to see our mother?" Gun replied, "I don't know why I should pay my respects. Paying respects to someone else's parents is akin to considering oneself their son, which carries great significance. How could I, Gun, dare to act so rashly?" So he did not pay his respects. Chen Zhun and Chen Hui sighed, "In ancient times, there were those upright gentlemen, and you are truly like them. If you were to serve in the court, you would definitely be a pillar of the country! If you were to lead troops in battle and faced major decisions, who could shake you? Now is the time when the court is calling for talent; you should definitely give it a try."
So the villagers recommended him, and the local authorities successively ordered his recruitment, evaluating his filial piety and recommending him as a scholar and an official of integrity. He did not give up on his aspirations, and thus he was known as "Yixing." As the Yuan Kang era was coming to an end, the Prefect of Yingchuan summoned him for a clerk position. Gun, dressed as a commoner, carrying a hoe and an axe, did not wait for a carriage to pick him up but instead chose to walk there himself, saying, "Please let me experience the labor of the common people first." The Prefect sent a carriage to meet him, but Gun declined several times, requesting to walk to the county. The official tasked with conveying the order had to physically assist him onto the carriage and take him to the clerk's residence. However, not long after, Gun moved to his own carriage to rest; though he seemed respectful, he exuded an unyielding presence. The Prefect, knowing he was upright and unbending, sighed, "This is truly an extraordinary person; how could I break him?" So he sent him a generous gift and let him leave.
When King Qi Jiong staged a rebellion, Zhang Hong and his gang were pillaging all over Yangzhai. Yu Gun took his family and the common folk to seek refuge in Yushan. At that time, the common people were living peaceful lives, completely unaware of fighting or defense. Yu Gun said, "Confucius said: 'To fight without teaching is to abandon it.'" He then gathered everyone and said, "We have come together in such a dangerous place to protect our families, honor our elders, and safeguard our wives and children. As the ancients said, 'When a thousand people gather without a leader, chaos will follow if they don’t disperse.'" Everyone responded, "Absolutely! Who else could lead us but you?" Yu Gun remained silent for a while before saying, "In times of crisis, the ancients showed humility and refrained from fleeing alone, but the key is that everyone must heed his guidance." Then he led everyone in taking an oath: "Do not depend on treacherous terrain, do not count on chaotic situations, do not intimidate our neighbors, do not tear down others' homes, do not chop down others' trees, do not engage in immoral acts, do not commit injustices, let’s unite and face our challenges together." Everyone agreed.
So they reinforced the strategic terrain, blocked narrow paths, built city walls and fortresses, set up defensive structures, evaluated everyone's contributions and shortcomings, measured sizes, balanced work and rest, coordinated the circulation of goods, refined weaponry, arranged tasks according to abilities, ensured everything was in its proper place, elected village chiefs, and elected local leaders, with Yu Gun himself leading by example. All systems were clear, orders were unified, there was a clear hierarchy, and everyone, young and old, adhered to the rules. Yu Gun was good at leveraging strengths and mitigating weaknesses, promptly correcting mistakes. When the enemy arrived, Yu Gun ordered the soldiers to line up, organize the troops, each pulling their bow taut, but not shooting arrows. When the enemy challenged him, he remained still and engaged them in conversation. The enemy was deterred by his composed demeanor and disciplined troops, so they all retreated; this occurred three times. At that time, people all said, "The one who is fearful in the face of danger and succeeds in planning is probably someone like Yu Gun!" (The one who is fearful in the face of danger and succeeds in planning, is truly Yu Gun!)
After returning to the capital city, Yu Gun did not appear at court for more than a year. He sighed and said, "The Jin Dynasty is declining, and war is about to break out!" So he relocated with his wife and children to Linlü Mountain, considering it his hometown and living there with honesty and respect. In less than a year, the people of Linlü Mountain came to admire him, declaring Yu Gun to be a good man.
Later, Shi Le attacked Linlu Mountain. The local elders discussed and said, "There is Mount Datou over there, which is one of the rarest strategic locations in the world. There are ancient ruins on the mountain. We can all go there to hide." Emperor Hui moved the capital to Chang'an, and Yu Gun went up Mount Datou with his fellow villagers to farm at the foot of the mountain. When the harvest was poor, they ate fruits from the trees and chewed on stones to stave off their hunger. They endured hardships together and were determined to live there permanently. As harvest time drew near, Yu Gun asked his son Yu Yu to go down the mountain to check the situation. To his surprise, Yu Yu felt dizzy and fell to his death from a cliff partway down. The villagers went to mourn, saying in sorrow, "Oh Heaven! Why did you take such a good person from us?" People at the time lamented, "Yu Gun, in order to avoid the chaos of war, secluded himself in the mountains, content with poverty and simplicity, eating fruits from trees, living in caves, not competing for fame and profit with others. In the end, he could not escape the fate arranged for him. It's truly heartbreaking."
Yu Gun was proficient in the Book of Songs and the Book of Documents. He never spoke out of turn, never acted immorally, respected his elders, mentored his juniors, and when someone in another family passed away, he always made an effort to console them. When attending funerals, he would personally lend a hand with digging the grave. He always tired himself out first when doing things, gave others the opportunity to rest, and always kept his promises and worked hard. Therefore, his family and neighbors held him in high regard, his students were very grateful to him, and they even erected a monument in his honor.
He had four sons: Yu Yu, Yu Mie, Yu Ze, and Yu Ji. Yu Ze got his name from being born in Zezhou, and Yu Ji was named after being born in Jizhou. Yu Mie later crossed the Yangtze River and became a court official during the early Eastern Jin Dynasty. Yu Mie's son, Yu Yuan, became the Prefect of Ancheng.
Sun Gui, courtesy name Wendu, hails from Fuyang, Zhejiang, and is the great-grandson of Sun Xiu, a general of the Wu State. Sun Gui never faced scolding as a child. Gu Rong praised him when he saw him, saying to Sun Gui's maternal grandfather Xue Jian, "This child is intelligent and wise, with firm aspirations. He is not an ordinary child!" As Sun Gui grew up, he was respectful, filial, lived a simple life, was knowledgeable, and wise beyond his years. Even when alone in a dark place, he always conducted himself with dignity. Although his family was wealthy, he always wore coarse clothes, ate vegetarian food, worked in the fields, and persisted in studying, finding joy in it. His parents were distressed by his hard work and wanted to give him more preferential treatment, yet he consistently rose early, went to bed late, and never let up. Although his siblings helped with household chores, he was always at his parents' side, serving them devotedly. As the roads in Fuchun County were few and had to pass through rivers, his father feared the rough waterways, so they always traveled by sedan chair. Sun Gui always personally assisted with the sedan chair, and when they arrived at their destination, he would rest discreetly under a tree or by a fence. When his brother was seriously ill for a year, Sun Gui personally took care of him, trying both bitter and sweet medicines, traveling far and wide to seek medical advice with great devotion. He was happy when he heard of others' good deeds as if he had benefited himself; he was sad when he heard of others' misfortunes as if he had lost something himself. When he saw others hungry and cold, he would willingly help them, turning down any gifts from neighbors. There were several poor elderly people who often came to his house for help. Many were impatient with these visitors, but he respected them greatly, sharing the same table and even taking off his clothes to cover them with blankets when it was cold. During a year of famine when food was expensive, some people secretly harvested others' rice. Sun Gui saw this and waited for the person to leave before coming out to cut the rice and give it to that person. The neighbors were touched by his kindness and no longer dared to act in such ways.
A man from Kuaiji, Yu Xi, lived by the sea, who was known for his noble character. Sun Gui admired his virtues and took his sister as his wife. Yu Xi advised his sister to abandon luxury, embrace simplicity, and share the same aspirations with Sun Gui. At that time, people praised them as the modern-day Liang Hong couple. Jiyang native Jiang Dun was very principled when he was young. Hearing that Sun Gui's knowledge and character were exceptional, he rushed from Dongyang to visit him. The two talked all day, parted reluctantly, and formed a deep friendship.
When He Chong was the governor of Yangzhou, he wanted Wang Gui to be the chief secretary, and Situ Cai Mo also invited him to be his assistant, but he did not agree. Later, the esteemed official Zhang Guoming recommended him, and the court dispatched a carriage to bring him to the capital. Unfortunately, Wang Gui passed away at the age of 38 that year, and everyone was very saddened.
Before Wang Gui was buried, an old man dressed in rags and straw sandals, without revealing his identity, walked in and touched the coffin, weeping mournfully. After he finished crying, the old man departed, and people found him vibrant with strikingly square eyes. The gatekeeper told Wang Gui's family about this peculiar occurrence, but when they tried to catch up with the old man, he had already left. More than a hundred people from his county, including Gu He, were astonished by the old man's unusual appearance but were left puzzled about what had transpired.
Yan Han, courtesy name Hongdu, was from Xinxian County in Langya. His grandfather, Yan Qin, held the position of a court official, and his father, Yan Mo, was once the governor of Ruyin. Yan Han was known for his filial piety since childhood. His older brother, Yan Ji, fell ill during the Xianning period, and while treating himself at home, he ultimately died at the doctor's place. When the family went to carry the coffin, the funeral banners kept getting caught in a tree, and the coffin bearers even fell down. Yan Ji said, "It's not my time to die yet, I just took too much medicine and harmed my internal organs. I will soon come back to life, please don't bury me!" His father prayed, "If you can really come back to life, that would be our family's greatest wish! As long as you come back home now, we won't bury you yet." The banner suddenly came loose. After returning home, his sister-in-law dreamt that Yan Ji said, "I am going to come back to life, quickly open the coffin!" She took this dream to heart. That night, Yan Han's mother and other family members also dreamt of Yan Ji and wanted to open the coffin, but their father disagreed. Although Yan Han was young at the time, he firmly said, "Such extraordinary things have been recorded in ancient times, and now it has come to this level of supernatural occurrence. The pain of opening the coffin is nothing compared to the anguish of not opening it." His parents agreed, and when they opened the coffin, Yan Ji was indeed still alive. He grabbed the coffin with his hands, scraping his nails, but his breath was very weak, and his condition was uncertain. The entire family was preoccupied with caring for him, neglecting other responsibilities, and even his wife and mother felt exhausted. Yan Han completely gave up his own affairs to personally care for his brother, not stepping outside for thirteen years. Shi Chong admired Yan Han's devotion to his brother and sent him some treats, but Yan Han declined. When asked why, he replied, "My brother is so seriously ill, his body has not recovered, he can't eat, and he doesn't even know when someone brings him something. If I accept it, wouldn't that go against the kindness of the giver?" Ultimately, Yan Ji was unable to return to life.
Alas, my parents have passed away, and both of my older brothers have died as well. Then my sister-in-law, Fan, lost her sight due to illness. I can only work hard to motivate my family and care for her wholeheartedly. Every day, I personally sample her medicine and meals, carefully inquire about her condition, and always dress neatly and meticulously.
The doctor prescribed snake bile in the prescription, but I couldn't find it anywhere, which caused me a great deal of anxiety, and I found myself sighing often. One afternoon, I was sitting alone at home when suddenly a young boy in green clothes, about thirteen or fourteen years old, came and handed me a green cloth bag. When I opened it, it turned out to be snake bile! The boy turned and left, instantly transformed into a green bird and flew away. With the snake bile, the medicine was quickly prepared, and my sister-in-law recovered. After this incident, my reputation spread.
The government wanted to appoint me as an official, but I turned it down. Later on, King Yue of Donghai invited me to serve as a military advisor and then sent me to Kaiyang County as magistrate. When Emperor Yuan first arrived to take command at Xiaopei, he asked me to return as a military advisor. After crossing the Yangtze River, Emperor Yuan appointed me as the magistrate of Shangyu County, and later promoted me to be the royal physician, the Minister of the Eastern Pavilion, and then sent me to Dongyang as the governor. When the Eastern Palace was just built, due to my integrity and deep knowledge, I was appointed as the Prince's tutor, and later promoted to be the Minister of the Imperial Court, the Chief Inspector of the province, and then served as the Secretary of Agriculture.
I participated in the suppression of Su Jun's rebellion and was rewarded with the title of Marquis of Xiping County, appointed as a Court Attendant, and then transferred to the position of Prefect of Wu County. Wang Dao asked me, "Now that you are in charge of such an important county, where do you plan to start in governing?" I replied, "The court sends troops to war every year, causing the people to be displaced, local elites fighting each other, the country impoverished, while wealthy families become richer. This is the most worrying thing for those in power. Therefore, we should start by targeting the powerful and wealthy families, have them cultivate the land, and after a few years, the people will no longer have to worry about food and clothing, and the rituals and music will be restored. This is a long-term strategy that wise officials must implement."
I served with integrity, treated others kindly, was upright, could tell right from wrong, but was also quite strict. Wang Dao sighed, "When Yan Gong was alive, the people in Wu were much more honest." I hadn't been in Wu County for long before being transferred back to the court to serve as a Court Attendant. Shortly after, I was appointed as the Chief of the Imperial Academy and appointed as a Cavalry Regular Attendant, and later promoted to the rank of Grand Noble. Because I was getting older, I resigned from my official position. Emperor Cheng appreciated my character and further honored me as the Right Glorious Excellence, sent a carriage and bedding, and ordered the Imperial Household Department to provide meals year-round, but I firmly declined.
At that time, everyone was saying that Wang Dao was the emperor's teacher, highly respected, and all officials were expected to show him deference. The Minister of Rites, Feng Huai, came to ask Dai Han's opinion, and Dai Han said, "Although Lord Wang's status is prominent, we should not be biased towards him. The matter of showing deference is something you officials should consider. I am old and do not understand these current affairs." Later, he told someone else, "I heard that when attacking a country, one does not ask a virtuous person whether it should be attacked. Feng Zusai asked me if I was flattering him, do I harbor any ill intentions?"
Some people once discussed who was more evil between Shao Zhengmao and Dao Zhi. Some said, "Although Shao Zhengmao is deceitful, he has not reached the point of cutting open people's bellies to throw away their entrails, so Dao Zhi is worse." Dai Han said, "When evil is exposed, people want to kill him; hidden deceit can only be killed by a sage. From this perspective, Shao Zhengmao is worse." Everyone agreed. Guo Pu once met Dai Han and wanted to fortune-tell for him. Dai Han said, "Age is determined by fate, status is achieved by people; striving to cultivate oneself, yet being unrecognized by others, reflects one's character. Since you have your own fate and temperament, there is no need to bother with divination."
Huan Wen proposed to Dai Han, but Dai Han felt that Huan Wen was too arrogant and did not agree. Dai Han was only close to Deng You. When asked about the strengths and weaknesses of the scholars in Jiangzuo, he replied, "Zhou Boren's integrity, Deng Bodao's honesty, and Bian Wangzhi's principles are commendable; as for others, I cannot say." He valued practical actions and rejected hypocrisy and exaggeration.
More than twenty years after retiring, he passed away at the age of ninety-three. He requested a simple burial. His posthumous title was Jing. When he was buried, a neighbor's house caught fire, and the rope that was carrying the coffin snapped, with the fire about to burn the coffin, but suddenly went out. Everyone believed this was a testament to his simple and honest character.
He had three sons: Dai Mao, Dai Qian, and Dai Yue. Dai Mao held positions as a Huangmen Lang, Shizhong, and Guanglu Xun; Dai Qian became the Prefect of Ancheng; Dai Yue became the Prefect of Lingling. The brothers all had good reputations.
Liu Yin, whose style name was Changsheng, was a rising star. His grandfather was a Guanglu Doctor of the Han Dynasty. Liu Yin lost his father at the age of seven, and he was so sad that he observed a three-year mourning period in accordance with tradition, during which he hardly ever smiled.
His great-grandmother, Mrs. Wang, had a strong craving for shepherd's purse one winter, but didn't say it out loud. She went without food for ten consecutive days. Liu Yin found this odd and asked her what was the matter. At that time, Liu Yin was only nine years old, and he cried out loudly in the marsh, saying, "I've made so many mistakes. I've suffered the loss of my father at a young age, and although you, my great-grandmother, are still alive, I have not been able to serve you well for a month. As a son, I can't do anything. Heaven and earth, I hope you will have mercy on me!" He cried for what felt like half a day without a break. Suddenly, it felt as if someone was saying, "Stop crying, stop crying." Liu Yin wiped away his tears and looked at the ground, only to find shepherd's purse growing. He dug up more than a bushel and brought it home. He couldn't finish it, and by the time harvest came, he had just finished the shepherd's purse.
Another time, he had a dream one night where someone told him, "There is millet under the fence to the west." When he woke up, he went to dig and unearthed fifteen bushels of millet. It was engraved with the words: "Seven years of millet, to be given to the filial son Liu Yin." From then on, he ate this millet, and it took him seven years to finish it. People at that time praised his sincere heart that moved heaven and earth, and they all gave him food and cloth. Liu Yin accepted the gifts without expressing gratitude, only saying that he would repay everyone once he found success.
In his early twenties, he was well-read and knowledgeable across various fields. He read everything from poetry to prose. He had a free-spirited and unrestrained character, with ambitions to help the world and save the people. He lived a simple life but did not appear poor. He was noble but not arrogant, instilling awe in others, making them hesitant to offend him. Every relative in the village praised him.
The county appointed him as the chief scribe, and the state summoned him to serve as an aide, but he turned them down, citing illness as the reason. Zhang Xuanzi, a man of great insight from the same county, advised Yin to take up the post. Yin said, "Now the two gentlemen are the pillars of the Jin Dynasty! I only wish to play a humble role, like a beam in a house. Without relying on them, how can I stand firm? My mother is still alive. Since I have been summoned by others, I must fulfill my duty as a subject. In this way, I cannot fully serve my mother filially. The reason Ziyu declined the invitation from the Qi State officials was precisely to serve his mother!" Zhang Xuanzi said, "What you said is beyond your understanding! From now on, I should take you as my teacher!" So he married his daughter to him.
Zhang Xuanzi was a wealthy nobleman from Bingzhou. His wife angrily said, "My daughter is only fourteen years old, with such good looks and knowledge. How could she not find a marquis as her husband? Why did she hastily marry Liu Yin?" Zhang Xuanzi said, "This is beyond your understanding." He admonished his daughter, "Liu Yin is exceptionally filial, talented, and wise beyond his peers. This person will definitely rise to greatness and become a famous minister in the world. You must serve him well." Zhang's character was also gentle and obedient, famous for serving her mother-in-law with filial piety, treating Liu Yin as if he were her own father. When his mother-in-law passed away, Liu Yin and his wife were so grief-stricken they nearly lost their will to live. At that time, the coffin was still in the mourning hall, and a neighboring house to the west caught fire due to strong winds. Liu Yin and his wife knelt before the coffin, weeping, and the fire unexpectedly burned past the eastern house. Later, two pairs of white doves built nests in the courtyard tree, and from that moment on, their reputation grew even more illustrious: "A poor family, honoring their elders, unburdened by greed, and refusing to bow to power."
When Yang Jun was in power, he formally invited Yin Hao to take up an official position. Yin Hao said his mother was old and unable to leave, so he respectfully declined. Yang Jun then reported to the court, and the emperor issued a special edict allowing Yin Hao to remain at home to care for his mother. The local government was instructed to take care of Yin Hao's clothing, food, shelter, and transportation, exempting him from labor and taxes, and also rewarding him with two hundred pieces of silk and five hundred bushels of grain. Later, when Prince Zhao Lun usurped the throne, Sun Xiu valued Yin Hao's reputation and sent an invitation for him to serve as an advisor. Upon hearing this, Yin Hao quickly fled to Yanmen to go into hiding. After Prince Qi Jiong came into power, he invited Yin Hao to serve as the Grand Marshal's military consultant. When Yin Hao arrived, Prince Qi Jiong asked him, "The previous kings extended sincere invitations to you, but you did not come. Now that I invite you, why did you agree?" Yin Hao replied, "The founding emperor fulfilled the great cause as a wise monarch following the mandate of heaven, and the previous kings were virtuous ministers with high moral standards, just like Emperor Yao and Emperor Shun, and Duke of Zhou and Duke of Shao. I am just an ordinary person, but I dare to stand against powerful forces because I believe I can encounter a flourishing era like that of Yao and Shun, so I am not afraid of being killed. Your Highness is valiant and martial, eliminating evil and restoring power, but your governance still has room for improvement, and your severity is too harsh. If I were to act as I did before, I might provoke backlash from honorable individuals, so I had no choice but to come." Prince Qi Jiong found Yin Hao's words intriguing and promoted him to the position of magistrate. Yin Hao enforced strict laws while also recognizing good deeds, achieving significant political success.
During the Yongjia era, war broke out, and Yin Hao was taken prisoner by Liu Cong. Liu Cong admired Yin Hao's talent and recognized it by giving him important positions. Yin Hao rose through the ranks to become Shizhong, Taibao, and Lu Shangshu Shi. Yin Hao frequently advised his descendants, "When serving a monarch, one should strive to offer good advice; even if one is an ordinary person, one should not accuse him of his mistakes face to face, especially when it comes to the emperor! Being blunt at the risk of exposing the monarch's faults, one should learn to speak wisely, like Zhaogong, and take Bao Xun's fate as a lesson for speaking too candidly to the monarch." Working under Liu Cong, Yin Hao had a great rapport with the court ministers, always humbly credited others for their achievements. Those lacking moral integrity were never welcomed into Yin Hao's home. However, countless issues were resolved thanks to Yin Hao's assistance.
Yin Hao had seven sons, five of whom each studied different classical texts; one son focused on the 'Records of the Grand Historian,' while another studied the 'Book of Han.' Every member of the Yin Hao family achieved success, and in the northern region, the scholarly accomplishments of the Yin Hao family stood out the most. In the end, Yin Hao passed away peacefully.
Wang Yan, also known as Yan Yuan, is from Shanxi. He lost his mother at the age of nine, crying inconsolably for nearly three years. Every year on his mother's death anniversary, he would cry for ten days. His stepmother, Lady Bu, treated him very poorly, always giving him rough food and clothes made of rotten hemp. His grandmother found out about this and asked him, but he didn't say anything, still serving his stepmother dutifully. One winter, his stepmother wanted to eat raw fish, so she sent Wang Yan to buy some. When he couldn't find any, she beat him so badly that he bled. Wang Yan ran to the Fen River, crying on the ice, when suddenly, a five-foot-long fish leaped out of the water. He quickly brought it home to his stepmother. She couldn't finish it for several days, realizing her mistake and treating Wang Yan like her own son from then on.
Wang Yan served his parents wholeheartedly, fanning them in the summer, making their beds and tucking in their quilts; in the winter, he warmed their beds with his own body heat. Even in the coldest winter months, dressed in tattered clothes, he ensured his parents had enough to eat and drink. During the day, he worked to earn money, and at night, he studied, eventually becoming well-versed in various principles and classics. Despite several offers to take up an official post, he couldn't accept because he needed to support his parents. After his parents passed away, he set up a small shelter by their graves, wearing clothes he wove himself and eating food he grew himself. When chaos broke out, he followed Liu Yuanhai to Pingyang. During the farming off-season, he taught his fellow villagers, always dedicated and never grew tired.
Once, the family cow gave birth to a calf, and someone mistook the calf. Without saying a word, Wang Yan handed the calf over to the person. Later, the person realized the mistake and hurriedly sent the calf back and apologized to Wang Yan. Wang Yan returned the calf without a second thought. When he was sixty years old, he began serving under Liu Cong and gradually rose to the esteemed rank of Grand Minister of Ceremonies. After Liu Cong's death, Jin Zhun rebelled and tried to win over Wang Yan, but Wang Yan declined. After Jin Zhun killed the Liu family and declared himself Han Tianwang, he wanted Wang Yan to be the Left Minister of Personnel, but Wang Yan refused and was eventually killed by Jin Zhun.
Wang Tan hailed from Wucheng in Huzhou, Zhejiang. When he was ten years old, his father was killed by a neighbor, Dou Du. Wang Tan harbored a desire for revenge but feared provoking Dou Du's suspicion, so he never concealed a weapon and observed Dou Du's movements day and night, but never had the opportunity to strike. When he was eighteen, he secretly bought an iron shovel and pretended to be plowing the fields. Dou Du often traveled by boat and had to pass under a bridge. Wang Tan waited in the bushes for Dou Du to return. After Dou Du crossed the bridge, Wang Tan ran onto the bridge and killed him with the iron shovel. Once the deed was accomplished, Wang Tan voluntarily surrendered to the authorities. Magistrate Kong Yan admired his filial devotion and courage and requested a pardon from the court. Later, Kong Yan's sons were killed by Sun En, leaving them without heirs. Wang Tan moved to Kuaiji to repair the tombs of Kong Yan and his sons with utmost dedication. Later, Magistrate Kong Xing recommended Wang Tan for his exemplary filial piety in the third year of Yuanxing, and everyone at the time said he had chosen the right person. However, Wang Tan did not accept the court's summons and ultimately passed away peacefully at home.
Sang Yu, courtesy name Zishen, was a native of Liyang in Weijun, Hebei. His father, Sang Chong, was a knowledgeable and far-sighted man who served as a Yellow Gate Attendant under Emperor Hui. When Wang Yu, the Prince of Hejian, came into power, he invited Sang Chong to serve as a Sima. Knowing that Wang Yu would inevitably fail, Sang Chong resigned from his position after only ten days, citing illness. Sang Yu was extremely filial from a young age. When his father passed away when he was fourteen, he was overwhelmed by grief, becoming emaciated, subsisting on just one hundred grains of rice and some wild vegetables daily. His sister advised him, "Excessive sorrow will harm your body, and harming your body is being unfilial. You should try to temper your grief." Sang Yu replied, "Wild vegetables and rice are enough to express my mourning." Just a few miles north of Sang Yu's home, there was a garden where the fruits were just ripening, and someone was trying to climb over the wall to steal them. Concerned that the thief might get hurt if they ran away in panic due to the thorns in the garden, Sang Yu had his servants clear the path. When the thief tried to leave with the stolen fruits and saw the path was cleared, they realized it had been intentionally done by Sang Yu, so they put down the fruits, bowed in apology, and confessed. Sang Yu was pleased and gave all the fruits to the thief. Once, while staying at an inn during a trip, a fellow guest accused Sang Yu of stealing their dried meat. Without saying a word, Sang Yu took off his clothes and offered them up as compensation. The innkeeper said, "This inn has had fish, meat, chicken, and duck stolen several times before, all by foxes. How could you suspect a guest?" They went to search near a mountain tomb and indeed found the missing meat. The guest asked for their clothes back, but Sang Yu walked away without a glance.
There were several brothers in the Yu family, all of whom became high officials during the time when Shi Le was in power, thriving. Only Yu felt that it was shameful to serve someone like Shi Le, so he always wanted to find an opportunity to escape to the east and avoid the political turmoil. When his mother passed away, he seized this opportunity to withdraw. He mourned deeply, grew as thin as a skeleton, and lived next to his mother's grave.
Five years later, Shi Le appointed him as the county magistrate of Wucheng. Yu felt that Wucheng was close to the Yellow River and even closer to the sea, taking him a step closer to realizing his dream. Therefore, he gladly accepted the position. The governor under Shi Le, Liu Zheng, admired him and recommended him for promotion as the governor of Qingzhou and also as the magistrate of Zhu'a County. Later, when Liu Zheng fell ill and returned to Ye City, he asked Yu to take charge of all affairs in Qingzhou. After Shi Le's death, the country fell into chaos. The court believed that the Yu family had been loyal for generations, with his father being a renowned upright official, and thought that he could pacify the rebellions in Shandong. Therefore, they secretly sent a decree appointing him as the General of Ning Shuo and the governor of Qingzhou. However, Yu said, "I did not want to be an official. Seeking fame and fortune is not my goal." He then submitted a memorial to the court with the envoy, resigning from his position as governor and choosing to live quietly by the sea, avoiding any involvement in external affairs.
Despite experiencing several changes in dynasties, he always remained honest and upright, not engaging in any of the chaotic affairs. People in later generations greatly respected his noble character. In the end, he passed away while still in office.
The Yu family enjoyed five generations living harmoniously, upholding strong family values. The governor of Qingzhou under Fu Jian, Fu Lang, greatly respected the Yu family. He once paid them a personal visit and paid his respects to Yu's elderly mother, which was regarded as a significant honor in those times.
He Qi, courtesy name Wanlun, was the cousin of He Chong, the Minister of Works. His grandfather He Gan had been a general, and his father He Fu had served as the Intendant of Huainan. When He Qi was fourteen, his father passed away, which led him to grieve deeply, exceeding the usual mourning customs. He had a calm and keen disposition, possessing great insight and judgment, and had a passion for ancient classics and extensive reading. He lived in Yanggu County in Xuancheng, where he devoted himself to caring for his mother, diligently attending to her needs every day. Concerned about the family's finances, he took a position as a county registrar and was later recognized for his filial piety and became a county official, eventually serving as the Magistrate of Jing County in Xuancheng. When Minister Wang Dao invited him to join the military, he declined the offer. After his mother passed away, he mourned her so deeply that his tears were like blood, struggling to stand without a cane. During the funeral, a neighbor's house caught fire and the flames spread toward his own. With no servants to help, he felt helpless and could only kneel and cry while clutching the coffin. Eventually, the wind died down and the fire was extinguished, with only one room in the house untouched by the flames. This was truly a moment when his sincerity touched the heavens!
After the mourning period, He Qi sighed deeply and said, "I entered government service not because I had any talents to contribute to the country, but just for a meager salary to support my family. Now that my mother has passed away, I am alone with no one to rely on. How can I, a foolish man, keep tarnishing the court?" So he secluded himself at home, not participating in worldly affairs, immersing himself in classic texts, and entertaining himself with music and books. He did not engage in business, lived frugally, cut back on his own spending, and shared any extra food and clothes with his neighbors. When unrest broke out in the village and his sister's family was displaced, He Qi only had one maid, whom he helped free. However, he wasn't just pretending to be humble. If others gave him things, he wouldn't turn it down, but if he had extra things, he would immediately give them to others. He was casual in his behavior, doing whatever he wanted, never divining or seeking fame and fortune. Both Sikong Lu Wan and Grand Commandant Huan Wen had summoned him to serve as an official, but he refused. The court also called him to serve as a scholar, but he turned it down. During the reign of Emperor Jianwen, he was appointed as a military officer. The emperor respected his reputation and character, summoned him to be a military officer, but he turned it down because he was ill. The court called him twice to serve as a supervisor of the Imperial Guard and a regular attendant of the Imperial Guard, but he still refused. Therefore, people admired his noble character, and no one could convince him otherwise. Huan Wen once climbed the boundary hills of He Qi County and exclaimed, "There is a nobleman living south of this mountain. He Gong is truly an admirable person!" He Qi was good at maintaining his physical and mental health, didn't show his age as he got older, wore coarse clothes, and ate simple food. He devoted himself to writing and completed "Comments on the Three Kingdoms," totaling over a hundred articles, all of which have been passed down through generations. He died at the age of eighty-two.
Wu Kui hails from Wuxing. His family experienced years of famine, hunger, and disease, losing thirteen family members. At that time, Wu Kui was gravely ill. The deceased relatives were all buried by neighbors wrapped in reed mats. Wu Kui and his wife were still alive, living in dire poverty. They lacked clothing and blankets in the winter, and Wu Kui took on odd jobs during the day and worked on brick-making at night. They worked day and night in the mountains without a moment's rest, giving way to venomous insects and wild beasts. A year later, seven graves were dug, and thirteen coffins were made. During this period, people offered him gifts, but he refused them all. When the magistrate Zhang Chongyi heard about this, he went to offer his condolences, following the customs of lambs and geese. Ultimately, Wu Kui passed away at home.
Next, the author of the historical text commented: The principle of filial piety towards parents is clearly taught in the Book of Rites; the significance of filial respect and love has been a topic of praise among poets. From this, it can be seen that the foundation of human relationships is rooted in this, and there is nothing more important than this. Sheng's son acted with integrity and sincerity, originally talented, and his overwhelming grief touched the heavens, demonstrating filial piety from an early age, dressed in mourning attire while appreciating elegant music, who was praised by Lu Yun for his noble character. Wang Pu, who retired from official duties, conducted himself according to proper etiquette; even dead trees revived in response to his sincerity, and thunder ceased due to his worries. Dong Zhongshu and Cai Yong are eternally celebrated, both exemplifying virtues of different eras. Xu Zi was diligent and studious from a young age, proficient in all aspects of etiquette; wild chickens flew to roost on his roof beams, fierce beasts dared not disturb his courtyard, and his adherence to mourning rituals was truly exceptional, both in ancient times and today! Yu Shubao was unwavering in his duties, which contributed to his career achievements; remaining calm even in the face of an epidemic, his decision to relinquish his position when seriously ill exemplified the noble character of the ancients! Sun Gui was diligent and hardworking, and Wang Tan avenged his father; heaven lamented their deaths, yet forgave their sins. Liu Yin endured severe hardships from a young age, burning more firewood than prescribed, digging wild vegetables for three winters; the court granted him seven years of provisions, and this reflects his profound sincerity. Wang Yan knocked on the ice to summon fish and fanned mats to chase away the heat; even the likes of Huang Xiang and Meng Zong pale in comparison to him. Other devoted sons are also worthy of our admiration for their filial piety; their integrity and noble character all converge into a powerful force united by a common goal.
Once upon a time, the beginning of this article praised: "It is said: When virtue is fully realized, it will surely be recognized. Filial piety, oh King Xu, is forever admired." This means that King Xu's virtuous deeds have touched the heavens, so he will definitely receive good rewards. His filial piety to his parents will be eternally celebrated.
Next, it talks about some of King Xu's deeds. The article describes how he shed tears as he cut down the cypress trees by the Si River, and then held a memorial for an old eagle. These eight characters, "weeping over cypress, offering to the eagle's nest," reflect King Xu's deep filial piety and respect for nature, which is quite moving to think about. The article then mentions Mi, Yan, Xia, and Yu, saying that they have demonstrated their genuine character since childhood, "Mi, Yan, Xia, Yu, always showing their true nature." These four people's names are probably King Xu's peers or juniors, all of whom are renowned for their filial piety.
Furthermore, the article praises Wen Du and Hong Du, saying that they earnestly practice noble virtues, "Wen Du, Hong Du, diligently cultivate virtuous behavior." As you can see, all the people mentioned in this article uphold filial piety, brotherhood, and love as their guiding principles, and pass on these good virtues, which is truly admirable! The article also states that every household lives in harmony, like tamed pigeons, prospering like fish, "tame pigeons thrive, fish prosper," creating a harmonious and thriving family!
Finally, the article mentions Tan Sang, Yi Chan, Qi, and Wu, saying that they have embraced King Xu's exemplary virtues and pass on these virtues, "Tan Sang Yi Chan, Qi Wu continue the way. The virtue of the cave is all-encompassing." In conclusion, this article praises King Xu and his descendants' filial piety; their virtues resonate throughout the heavens and earth, and they are worthy of study and admiration by future generations.
