Xie Fu, courtesy name Jingchong, was from Yangxia, Chenjun. His grandfather, Xie Hongwei, held the position of Grand Minister of Taichang during the Song Dynasty; his father, Xie Zhuang, served as the Right Guanglu Daifu, and his family had a long history of prominence. Xie Fu was bright and quick-witted from a young age, and his father, Xie Zhuang, highly valued him, often having him by his side. At the age of ten, Xie Fu was already able to write articles. Once, when Xie Zhuang went to Tushan for a visit and wrote poetry, he asked Xie Fu to pen a poem as well. Xie Fu quickly penned a poem. Prince Jingwen of Langya remarked to Xie Zhuang, "Your son is truly a genius and will surely achieve great things in the future!" Xie Zhuang smiled and patted Xie Fu's back, saying, "He's truly a gem in our family!"
Later, Emperor Xiaowu went to Gushu for a visit and ordered Xie Zhuang to bring Xie Fu to serve as well. He also decreed that Xie Fu compose a piece titled "Praise of the Dongjing," which Xie Fu wrote right there in front of the emperor. The emperor said, "Although young, this child is truly a prodigy!" Xie Fu was first appointed as a military judge, then promoted to be the Prince's Attendant, and stepped down after his father's passing. Once his mourning period was over, he returned to his role as the Prince's Attendant, before eventually becoming a Lang at the Imperial Library, and later serving as Chief Historian for General Wei Yuan. Wei Yuan was known for his strictness and was often compared to Li Ying. After visiting Wei Yuan, he said, "Xie Ling (Xie Fu's courtesy name) is going places!" Soon after, Xie Fu was promoted to the Yellow Gate Attendant. He was later exiled as the Interior Minister of Linyuan, accused of bribery; however, when the case reached Wei Yuan, he managed to bury it.
When Emperor Qi Gao served as the General of Chariots and Cavalry to assist in governance, he selected Xiao Yi as his Chief Clerk and ordered him to serve alongside Chu Xuan, Jiang Jiao, and Liu Yu in serving Emperor Song Ming. At that time, they were known as the "Four Friends of the Emperor." Later, Xiao Yi was promoted to Court Attendant and was also responsible for the imperial edicts and decrees of the Secretariat and the Cavalry Department. After Emperor Gao was promoted to Grand Commandant, he appointed Xiao Yi as his Chief Clerk and also as the Governor of Nan Donghai.
Emperor Gao was planning to usurp the throne and was thinking about who he needed to assist him in this matter. He held Xiao Yi in high regard because of his strong reputation. One day, they discussed historical tales from the Wei and Jin periods. Emperor Gao said, "During the Jin Dynasty's rise to power, there were early signs. Shi Bao did not counsel Emperor Jin Wen to ascend the throne sooner and only wept bitterly after Emperor Jin Wen ascended the throne, much like Feng Yi, who failed to seize the moment." Xiao Yi replied, "Historically, some courtiers in Wei advised Emperor Wu to declare himself emperor. Emperor Wu of Wei said, 'If they want to use me, wouldn't that make me like King Wen of Zhou?' Emperor Jin Wen served the Wei Kingdom for generations, and he would definitely serve the Wei Kingdom for life; if the Wei Kingdom had followed the example of Tang Yao and Shun earlier, they should have declined the throne after three refusals." Emperor Gao was not happy to hear this.
Therefore, Emperor Gaozu promoted Wang Jian as the Left Chancellor and allowed Xiao Jie to continue serving as the Imperial Attendant, also taking on the role of Director of the Imperial Secretariat. When Emperor Qi Gaozu ascended the throne, Xiao Jie happened to be on duty, with all the officials accompanying him. When it was time for the Imperial Attendant to unseal the emperor's seal, Xiao Jie pretended not to know and asked, "Is there any official business?" The messenger said, "Unseal the seal and hand it over to Prince Qi." Xiao Jie replied, "Prince Qi should have a Palace Attendant to do this." After speaking, he lay down, resting his head on his arm. The messenger, feeling nervous, considered claiming that Xiao Jie was ill and needed a substitute. Xiao Jie said, "I'm not sick. Why bring up illness?" He then dressed in formal court attire, walked out of the East Pavilion Gate, and found a carriage to go home. That day, Wang Jian ultimately served as the Imperial Attendant to unseal the emperor's seal.
Later, Emperor Wu of Qi requested that Emperor Gaozu execute Xiao Jie. Emperor Gaozu said, "Killing him would only make his reputation greater, so let him go." Xiao Jie was then dismissed from his position and stayed at home.
In the year 483 AD, he was initially appointed as the Cavalry Commandant of the Imperial Secretariat, then gradually promoted to Imperial Attendant, also serving as the National University Scholar. Five years later, he was appointed as the Champion General and Governor of Yixing, and his rank was elevated. During his time as Governor, he rarely dealt with trivial matters, leaving them to his subordinates while focusing on the overall strategy. He once said, "I can't be the kind of official who oversees everything; I'm only good at being a Governor." After serving as Governor of Yixing for three years, he was recalled by the court and appointed as the Minister of Justice and the Prefect of the Palace Secretariat.
In the year 484 AD, he was appointed as an attendant to the emperor and also commanded the troops of Prince Xin'an. However, before assuming his position, he resolutely requested a transfer. So he was appointed as the General of Pacifying the North and the Prefect of Wuxing, and immediately took office after receiving the appointment. At that time, Emperor Ming was planning to pass on the throne, and the old ministers in the court were all offering advice. But he simply wished to lead a quiet life, seeking to avoid entanglement in political strife. His younger brother was serving as the Minister of Personnel at that time. After he took office in Wuxing, he sent his younger brother a few jars of wine and wrote to him saying, "Have a few drinks and don't worry about those trivial matters." During his time as the Prefect of Wuxing, he rarely dealt with political affairs, but was often preoccupied with amassing wealth. Many people had criticisms of him, but he was completely indifferent.
In the year 488 AD, the court issued a proclamation summoning him to serve as an attendant and the Prefect of the Palace Secretariat, but he submitted a petition rejecting the appointment. He sent his sons back to the capital city and stayed in Wuxing with his mother, constructing a house on the western outskirts of the city. Emperor Ming issued a proclamation stating, "Individuals who are detached from worldly matters and uphold a noble self-reliance are often hard to come by. Like Qu Yuan resigning from office and retiring, praised by later generations; Xie An resigning from office and retiring, also recorded in history. The newly appointed attendant and Prefect of the Palace Secretariat, He Mo, had shown a lofty character at a young age, had achievements in the court, and gained fame as an official. But now he has distanced himself from the hustle and bustle of the world, retiring to the countryside, upholding his noble character, content with his humble circumstances and without complaint. I greatly admire his behavior, and have granted him bedding and other provisions, as well as the salary of a high-ranking official, allowing him to live peacefully in the local area." At that time, the National University Libationer He Yin of Lujiang also submitted a petition rejecting the court's summons and chose to return to Kuaiji Prefecture.
In the year 490 AD, the court once again issued yet another edict calling He Fang to serve as the Gentleman of the Cavalry and Director of the Central Secretariat, and He Yin to serve as the Gentleman of the Cavalry and Minister of Rites. However, both of them firmly refused to take up the positions. In the year 491 AD, the court issued another edict calling He Fang to serve as the Imperial Attendant and Crown Prince's Tutor, and He Yin to serve as the Gentleman of the Cavalry and Grand Master of the Crown Prince's Studies. At that time, the Marquis of Donghun was also urging them to take office, but with the righteous army approaching, neither of them ended up being forced into their positions.
After the founding emperor pacified the capital, I was appointed Chancellor and recommended Cui Fan and Cui Yin in a memorial. I said, "When a person is in dire straits, they can only focus on self-cultivation and personal integrity; once they become prosperous, they must help the world and benefit the people. Although the choice between serving in office and retiring is different, the key is to seize the opportunity, as all the sages and wise men of the past have done. Cui Fan, the newly appointed Palace Attendant and Crown Prince's Tutor, as well as Cui Yin, the newly appointed Cavalry Commandant, Crown Prince's Minister, and Marquis of Du, you both come from noble families, are outstanding in talent, highly respected in virtue, and have made great contributions to the country and the people. In the past, while serving in the court, you never pursued fame and wealth; your social interactions were modest, and you rarely associated with high-ranking officials and nobles. Despite your high positions, you maintained a lifestyle of integrity and simplicity. Furthermore, you are both well-educated and deeply knowledgeable in Confucianism, honest and upright, possessing both talent and virtue. You have profound insights, foresaw the turmoil the country would face, understood the true nature of those incompetent individuals, and knew that your abilities would not be able to be fully utilized in the court. Thus, you both courageously resigned from your posts and retreated to the eastern mountains, away from the worldly noise. Though you resigned in a time of peace and prosperity, it was actually to escape the looming dark times. You have lived in wealth for generations, yet are content with a simple life; you have held high positions for generations, yet are satisfied with modesty. Since the trend of extravagance has prevailed and influenced social norms, although some simple traditions and good social customs still remain, who can cleanse the impurities and elevate the virtuous, attributing achievements to those with righteousness? Who can revitalize social norms, benefit the people, and unite the court and the people? Even if you live in seclusion between the rivers and seas, your contributions are as significant as those made in the court. Now that a peaceful and prosperous era has begun, poverty and lowliness have become shameful; furthermore, you have been tested over time, overflowing with talent, and have temporarily grown weary of the noise of the court. Can you truly pursue a hermit's life in the mountains and forests? I bear a heavy responsibility, assisting the emperor in handling state affairs, and all this cannot be achieved without the joint efforts of all the talented individuals, in order to become the pillars of the country. I wish to draw inspiration from clear spring water and reflect on the calm surface of a lake. So I would like to ask the two of you to serve as my subordinates, seeking your counsel daily, hoping to address my shortcomings and better assist the emperor in governing the country. I request that you appoint Cui Fan as the Military Advisor and also grant him the title of General." Yet, my request was ultimately denied.
After the founding emperor ascended the throne, he appointed Lu Chui as Imperial Attendant, Left Minister of Rites, and Governor of the Three Departments. He also appointed his son Lu Yin as Cavalier Attendant, Special Advanced, and Right Guanglu Daifu. However, Lu Chui refused to take office. The emperor then sent General Wang Guo to persuade him.
In June of the second year, Lu Chui took a small boat to the capital, personally going to the imperial palace to explain the situation to the emperor. Upon arrival, the emperor issued a decree appointing him as Imperial Attendant, Minister of Works, and Chancellor. Lu Chui claimed to have a foot ailment and could not bow in person, so he wore a cap and rode in a sedan chair to Yunlong Gate to express his thanks. The emperor received him in Hualin Garden and even went out of his way to share a meal with him. The next morning, the emperor personally went to Lu Chui's house as a guest, and the two enjoyed a lively conversation. Lu Chui insisted on expressing his thoughts, but the emperor did not concur. Eventually, Lu Chui requested to return to his hometown to fetch his mother, which the emperor agreed to. As he was leaving, the emperor came to see him off and even composed a poem to send him off. The imperial retinue escorted him, and the townsfolk lined the streets to bid him farewell. Upon returning to the capital, the emperor ordered the construction of a mansion at Lu Chui's former residence. The founding emperor personally visited the mansion, sent an envoy to bestow official titles, and ordered that Lu Chui be relieved of all official duties and from attending court on the first and fifteenth of each month.
On the New Year's Day meeting three years later, the emperor ordered Lu Cui to be carried in a sedan chair to the palace. In the same year, Lu Cui's mother passed away, and the emperor commanded him to maintain his official position. Five years later, the emperor appointed him as the Grand Secretary, Minister of Works, and General of the Guards, but he declined all these appointments. The emperor then sent envoys to urge him to accept the appointments, and he finally did. That winter, Lu Cui passed away at the age of sixty-six in his residence. The emperor personally attended the mourning ceremony and ordered to give him a set of secret items from the Eastern Garden, a set of court attire, one piece of clothing, one hundred thousand coins, one hundred pieces of cloth, one hundred pounds of candles, posthumously appointed him as the Supervisor and Minister, and conferred the posthumous title of Jingxiao. Lu Cui's writings and articles were widely circulated in the world.
His son Lu Xuan served as the Chief Historian of the Ministry of Works, but was dismissed for slaughtering an ox and later died at home. His second son Lu Zhuan, who was talented in literature, became the Prefect of Jin'an and passed away while in office.
Lu Lan, whose courtesy name was Jingdi, was the son of Lu Suo, Lu Cui's younger brother. He married Princess Qiantang of the Qi state and was appointed as the Imperial Cavalry Commandant. He also served as a Secretariat Gentleman and a Gentleman of the Crown Prince. After Gaozu became the Grand Marshal, he summoned Lu Lan to serve as the Libationer of the Eastern Pavilion, and later promoted him to the Minister of Finance. In the first year of Tianjian, he became the Assistant Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, in charge of the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel, and soon officially took office.
Lu Lan was handsome, had a good temperament, was eloquent, and was greatly valued by Emperor Gaozu. Once, while attending to Gaozu, the emperor commanded him and the Gentleman-in-Attendance Wang Jian to compose poems for one another. Lu Lan's poem was excellent, and Emperor Gaozu appreciated it greatly, asking him to write another one that aligned with his own thoughts. The emperor then conferred a poem upon him: "Both are talented and outstanding, these two young men are truly distinguished; How could they not stand out, truly they are the glory of the nation." Later, Lu Lan resigned from his post due to the death of his mother. After completing his mourning period, he was appointed as a Palace Attendant and concurrently served as a Gentleman of the Ministry of Personnel, soon being promoted to the position of Gentleman of the Ministry of Personnel, and later rising to the position of Gentleman-in-Attendance.
This man had quite a taste for alcohol. Once at a banquet, he got into a heated argument with the Cavalry Attendant, Xiao Chen, and they insulted each other, which got them reported to the authorities. Emperor Gaozu felt that he was young and should not be heavily punished for his mistake, so he appointed him as the Chief Clerk of the Central Secretariat. After some time, the Emperor entrusted him with the responsibility of managing the documents and archives of the Eastern Palace, and later promoted him to the title of General of Mingwei and Administrator of Xin'an.
In the summer of the ninth year, the bandit Wu Chengbo overran Xuancheng Commandery, and the remaining bandits fled to Xin'an. The rebellious officials, including Bao Xu, allied with them, captured Yixian and Shexian, and then launched an attack against him. He sent the Magistrate Zhou Xingsi to defend against them in Jinsha, but couldn't hold them off, so he abandoned the commandery and made his way to Kuaiji. The imperial army defeated the bandits, and he returned to Xin'an Commandery. He was then demoted to Consultant Military Officer in the Ministry of Works, Chief Clerk of Renwei Commandery, Acting Administrator of Nanxu Prefecture, and later promoted to the Minister of War for the Five Armies. Shortly after, he was promoted to the Minister of Personnel. From his grandfather to his grandson, three generations of his family served as officials in the Selection Department, which was seen as a great honor back then.
In the spring of the twelfth year, Lan was transferred to the position of Prefect of Wuxing. The Palace Gentleman, Huang Muzhi, lived in Wucheng. His sons were very arrogant and overbearing, and the previous Prefects had always shown great respect to his family. Before Lan even arrived, Huang Muzhi's sons came to greet him. Lan shooed them off the boat and even chased away the messenger. From then on, the Huang family stayed indoors and dared not have any dealings with the government. Robberies frequently occurred in Wuxing County, becoming a serious problem in the area. After Lan took office, he immediately reformed the administration, and the region quickly stabilized. In his early years, Lan's father, Shen Si, and the Prefect of Donghai, Xu Xiaosi, had both served as Prefect of Wuxing, renowned for their integrity. Lan had always aspired to surpass them. When Lan was in Xin'an, he was a bit greedy, but after arriving in Wuxing, he became quite upright, earning comparisons to Wang Huaizu. Finally, Lan died in office at the age of thirty-seven, and the court posthumously honored him with the title of Minister of the Palace Library. His son, Shen Han, had passed away early on.
Yao Cha, Minister of Personnel of the Chen Dynasty, said: Xie Fu in the Song Dynasty can be regarded as a loyal and righteous man, right? During the reign of Emperor Jianwu of Qi, he left in anger and lived in seclusion; during the Yongyuan period when chaos reigned throughout the land, he remained steadfast in his virtue, much like Shu and Jiang! When Emperor Gaozu was seeking talents everywhere, Xie Fu came to serve as an official, donning a casual hat, quickly rising to a key position in the court, ultimately reaching the pinnacle of his career! And he successfully governed, earning praise from all gentlemen.
Yao Cha's point is that Xie Pu, during the Song Dynasty, was a renowned figure of loyalty and righteousness. Back during the Qijianwu period, when the world was in chaos, he resigned without hesitation and returned home to live a quiet life. Later, during the Yongyuan period, when chaos reigned even more, he remained steadfast in his principles, upheld his integrity, and was reminiscent of those aloof and proud scholars in history like Shu and Jiang. When the founding emperor established the new dynasty and began to recruit talents, Xie Pu put on a simple cap, not worrying about his appearance, and began his official career. He rapidly climbed the ranks, ultimately reaching the peak of his career. During his tenure, he made notable political achievements, was well-loved by the people, and even received high praise from his peers.
