Pei Ziye, courtesy name Jiyuan, was from Wenxi, Shanxi, and was the eighth-generation descendant of Kang, the Left General and crown prince of the Jin Dynasty. He had an older brother named Pei Li and two younger brothers named Pei Kai and Pei Chuo; the brothers were all quite renowned, earning them the nickname "the Four Peis." His great-grandfather was Pei Songzhi, a high-ranking minister of the Song Dynasty; his grandfather was Pei Yan, a military officer in the Southern General's office; and his father was Pei Zhaoming, an official in the court. Pei Ziye lost both parents at a young age and was raised by his grandmother. When he was nine, his grandmother passed away, and he cried inconsolably, which deeply moved his family. He loved studying from a young age, and he was also quite adept at writing.
At first, he served as the Left Regular Attendant of the Qi Wuling Kingdom, and later became a military officer for the Right Army of the King of Jiangxia. However, after his father's death, he resigned from his official position to fulfill his mourning duties. He took his mourning duties very seriously, and every time he visited the grave to pay his respects, he cried so sorrowfully that the grass around the grave died, and a small white rabbit would often sit quietly beside him. During the Tianjian era, Fan Yun, the Minister of Personnel, greatly admired his character and intended to recommend him for an official position, but Fan Yun passed away before this could happen. At that time, Ren Fang from Le'an was particularly famous, and many younger people admired him greatly; those who visited his home would receive his help in making introductions. Pei Ziye and Ren Fang were distant relatives, but he never visited Ren Fang, which left Ren Fang quite upset.
After a long time had passed, Pei Ziye was appointed as the military advisor to Prince Ancheng of the Right Army, and soon after, he was promoted to also serve as the Minister of Justice. At that time, the three offices handled prison documents together. Sometimes, when Pei Ziye was away, his colleagues would sign his name without permission. As a result, the submitted documents contained irregularities, and Pei Ziye was dismissed from his position. Some advised him to explain the situation to those officials to avoid any trouble. Pei Ziye smiled and said, "Although I can't be as generous and kind as Liu Xiaohui, I will never seek others' approval through lawsuits." Since then, even after a long dismissal, he never held any resentment.
Two years ago, Xiao Jing, the Marquis of Wu Ping, was appointed as the governor of Nan Yan Prefecture, and he invited me, Pei Ziye, to serve as a recording officer at the Guanjun Mansion. Later, due to a job transfer, I left the Guanjun Mansion. At that time, Fan Zhen, an official in the Imperial Academy, and his son were not well-known, but after hearing about my character, he came to hold me in high regard. Later, when I was promoted to the position of National Scholar, Fan Zhen recommended me to the emperor, saying, "Your Majesty, I learned that there was a recording officer named Pei Ziye at the Guanjun Mansion, who is forty years old this year, whose courtesy name is Jiyuan. He has always had noble character since childhood, and as he grew up, he embodies the qualities of a national pillar. During the mourning period, he was very filial, living a simple life, to the point of near starvation, only eating the bare minimum of vegetables and drinking water, except for necessary mourning. Despite holding a lowly position and being relatively unknown, he is upright and never seeks fame or profit, so many knowledgeable people praise him, and his neighbors admire him greatly. Moreover, his family has been well-versed in Confucian classics and historical texts for generations, and he is very familiar with the classics, history, and literature. He also wrote twenty volumes titled 'A Brief History of the Song Dynasty,' which provides a thorough account of the Song Dynasty's history, featuring detailed narratives and well-reasoned arguments, and is certainly worth reading. His writing is also excellent and can serve as a model for future generations. If he is appointed to the National Academy, he would certainly excel at nurturing young talent, so that we can discover talents like Kui and prevent errors akin to 'Three Pigs Crossing the River.' Your Majesty is a sagacious ruler, and the court is rich with talent, with officials who are as capable as the descendants of Yu and even more outstanding than the descendants of Ji. Every bit of merit should be recognized, regardless of rank, as long as it demonstrates talent, it should be utilized. Throughout history, emperors have respected and valued talent, but I have never seen anyone as valuing talents as Your Majesty. I humbly recommend Pei Ziye to Your Majesty and ask that the position of National Scholar be bestowed upon him in my place. In this way, the wise will be recognized, and the mediocre will find their rightful roles, and I trust that all will concur with my views. Although I do not know Pei Ziye, through local inquiries, he is indeed a rare talent. I respectfully recommend him to Your Majesty and seek your approval of my request, as well as your understanding of my boldness."
Looks like we’ve got a blank slate here! It seems like there's nothing to work with this time!
However, the court officials believed that my qualifications were not sufficient and did not approve this request. Later, I was appointed as an official of the Ministry of Personnel, concurrently serving as a junior officer in the Bureau of Renwei. Afterwards, I was transferred to Zhuji County as the county magistrate. During my tenure as the county magistrate in Zhuji County, I never used corporal punishment against the people. Even when disputes arose among citizens, I would resolve them through reason. The people were all very satisfied, and the entire county enjoyed peace, with no litigation cases.
At first, Ziyi's great-grandfather, Songzhi, received an order during the Song Yuanjia period to continue the compilation of "History of the Song Dynasty" written by He Chengtian, but he died before he could complete it. Ziyi has always aspired to finish what his ancestors left unfinished. By the end of the Qi Yongming era, Shen Yue's "Book of Song" had already been published, so Ziyi undertook a revision, resulting in a twenty-volume work titled "Brief History of the Song Dynasty." The content and his commentary were impressive, and after Shen Yue read it, he remarked with a sigh, "I can't hold a candle to him!" Xiao Chen from Lanling, Fu Zhao from Beidi, and Zhou She from Runan all held him in high regard.
At this time, the Minister of Personnel, Xu Mian, informed Emperor Gaozu of the situation of Zi Ye. As a result, Zi Ye was appointed as an Academician of the History Bureau, in charge of overseeing the national history and daily records. Not long after, he also took on the additional role of a Secretary of the Central Secretariat, and was subsequently promoted to a regular Secretary of the Secretariat. He retained his positions as Academician of the History Bureau and Secretary of the Central Secretariat. The Emperor also ordered him to be responsible for drafting decrees and edicts for the Central Secretariat. At that time, two countries, Baite and Huagu, beyond the northwest border, sent envoys along the Minshan route to pay tribute. These two countries had never paid tribute before, and no one knew where they came from. Zi Ye said, "The Marquis of Yingyin in the Han Dynasty once killed the Hu general Baite, and Fu Qian said in his annotations, 'Baite is the name of a Hu person.' Also, the Marquis of Dingyuan in the Han Dynasty defeated the enemy, and all eight Huagu surrendered to him. Could these two countries be the descendants of those countries at that time?" People of that era admired his extensive knowledge. The Emperor also ordered him to compile the "Illustrated Treatise on Envoys from Various States," detailing the tribute practices of that time, covering twenty countries from prominent states to distant lands.
It is said that Mr. Zi Ye, along with Liu Xian from Pei, Liu Zhilin from Nanyang, Yin Yun from Chen, Ruan Xiaoxu from Chenliu, Gu Xie from Wu, and Wei Leng from Jingzhao, were all exceptionally knowledgeable, held mutual respect, and maintained close relationships. Liu Xian held a particular admiration for Zi Ye. At that time, Marquis Wuping Xiao Mai and Zhang Zuan from Fanyang always sought Zi Ye's insights during their discussions of classical texts.
In the seventh year of Emperor Pu Tong's reign, the court undertook a northern campaign, and the emperor ordered Zi Ye to draft an edict to Emperor Wei Wen. Zi Ye immediately wrote the edict upon receiving the order. The emperor thought this matter was very important, so he summoned Minister of Works Xu Mian, Prince's Attendant Zhou She, Minister of Ceremonies Liu Zhilin, and Deputy Director of the Imperial Secretariat Zhu Yi to Shouguang Palace to review the edict drafted by Zi Ye. At that time, everyone was very impressed. The emperor looked at Zi Ye and said, "Even though he was physically frail, his writing is very powerful!" He then asked Zi Ye to draft an edict to Prime Minister Yuan Cha of Wei. When Zi Ye received the order that evening, he thought he could wait until the next morning to write it, but before he could start, the emperor insisted he finish it quickly. Zi Ye slowly got up, took up his pen, and completed it just as dawn broke. The emperor was very pleased after reading it. From then on, Zi Ye was assigned to draft all edicts and similar documents.
Zi Ye's writing was accurate and fast. He did not seek out ornate language, and his works often imitated the style of ancient texts, which drew some criticism. However, eventually, everyone came to admire him. When asked why he wrote so quickly, Zi Ye replied, "Others write with their hands, but I write with my heart. Although the methods are different, the process of revision and polishing is the same."
He was subsequently promoted to Deputy Director of the Imperial Secretariat while keeping his other roles. In the first year of the Datong era, he was promoted to Minister of Ceremonies, and then served as Colonel of Infantry. Zi Ye worked in the court for over a decade, living humbly and never asking for help from anyone. His family and relatives were very poor, so he shared his earnings with them. He did not own a house, so he borrowed land from the government to build a few thatched cottages for his family. He and his wife often suffered from hunger and cold, but he always placed his children's education first. His nephews and nieces respected him greatly, treating him with the respect one would give a strict father. In his later years, he became a devout Buddhist, strictly following its precepts and remaining a lifelong vegetarian. In the second year of the Datong era, Zi Ye passed away at the age of sixty-two.
Pei Ziye accurately predicted his own death would come in the year of Gengxu. That year, he felt his health deteriorating and told his colleague Liu Zhiheng, "I’m nearing the end." He left a will, requesting a simple and frugal funeral. The emperor was deeply saddened and wept for him. The emperor issued a decree stating, "Pei Ziye, Hongluqing, leading infantry colonel, known as a writer and concurrently serving as a secretary in the Secretariat, was exceptionally talented in literature, honest and upright, and had worked diligently for many years. Now suddenly deceased, I am profoundly saddened. He is posthumously granted the title of cavalier attendant, rewarded with 50,000 coins and 50 bolts of cloth, and an immediate mourning ceremony shall be held. He shall be posthumously honored with the title 'Zhen.'"
When Pei Ziye was young, he authored "Collected Annotations on Mourning Attire" and "Continuation of the Pei Family Genealogy," each in two volumes, and also transcribed and compiled more than forty volumes of historical accounts from the Later Han Dynasty. He was also commissioned to write "Biographies of Buddhist Monks" in twenty volumes, "Nine Ranks of Officials" in two volumes, "Supplementary Posthumous Titles" in one volume, "Illustrations of Foreign Envoys" in one volume, and a collection of twenty volumes, all of which have been preserved through the ages. He also wanted to write a book called "Annals of the Qi and Liang Dynasties," but he passed away before it could be completed. His son, Zijian, served as a direct secretary.
Gu Xie, styled Zhenli, was from Wuxian, Wu County, in Wu Commandery. He was the seventh-generation grandson of Gu He, a Minister of Works during the Jin Dynasty. Gu Xie lost his parents at a young age and was raised by his maternal family. His great-grandfather on his mother's side, Zhang Yong, a Right Grand Secretary during the Song Dynasty, once took his grandsons and nephews on an outing to Huqiu Mountain. At that time, Gu Xie was just a small child. Zhang Yong gently patted him and asked, "Child, what do you want to play with?" Gu Xie replied, "I want to rest my head on a stone and drink spring water." Zhang Yong sighed, "The future prosperity of the Gu family rests on this child!" When Gu Xie grew up, he was renowned for his enthusiasm and vigor. His maternal family, the Zhang clan, boasted many talented individuals, especially his uncles, who valued him greatly.
So, this guy started as a minor official in Yangzhou, working as a clerk in the Department of History and also holding the title of Doctor at the Imperial Academy. Later, he took the imperial examination and became a Xiucai. At that time, the bigwig, Shangshu Ling Shen Yue, reviewed his exam paper and exclaimed, "Since the Jiangzuo era, I have never seen such an impressive piece of writing!" Impressive, right! Then he was promoted to become the Left Attendant for the Kingdom of Ancheng, also serving as the Minister of Justice. And it didn't stop there, as Prince Linchuan heard of his reputation, summoned him to be a secretary, and had him study with the Marquis of Xifeng, Zhengde. At that time, Marquis Xifeng Zhengde was in charge of Ba Xi and Zi Tong counties and also conveniently arranged for him to be the magistrate of Andu County. However, before he could take up the position, his mother passed away, and he had to return home to observe a mourning period. After completing the mourning period, he was sent as a magistrate in Xiyang County. Later, he was transferred to serve as a staff officer in the Northern Commandant's office, while still holding the position of Minister of Justice. Eventually, he was appointed as the magistrate of Luling County, but before he could take up the position, Marquis Xifeng Zhengde was transferred to Wu County, and he went along, becoming a staff officer in the central army and overseeing the affairs of the county officials. He was later promoted to serve as a staff officer for Prince Qingche in Xiangdong, still concurrently serving as a secretary. In the sixth year of the Puyang era, Marquis Xifeng Zhengde was ordered to go north to campaign, and he took him along, appointing him as a military recorder, responsible for keeping the records. With each promotion, it looks like this guy really knows his stuff!
After the army returned from the war, the court was looking to select talents. King Xiangdong recommended Gu Xie in a memorial, saying: "I have heard that the best jade is found on moist mountains; precious pearls are found on dry riverbanks. Therefore, even the opinions of common people may be accepted by the court. In my household, there is a man named Gu Xie from Wu County who serves as a military officer and also keeps records. He is well-respected in the community for his character and is skilled in both civil and military matters, open-minded, ambitious, content with a simple life, dedicated to his duties, honest and outspoken, and not driven by fame or fortune. He is sixty years old this year and has no wife or children. I wish to recommend him to the court to advocate for his talents. However, Gu Xie is quite stubborn and insists on declining any official position. It’s hard to change his mind. He is indeed a rare talent in the southeast! Your Majesty is in urgent need of talents, just as one craves clothing. I sincerely urge you to issue an edict encouraging everyone to recommend any talents they know. Although I do not have the talent for recognizing people like Xu You or Guo Jie, if I remain silent, I fear that talents may be overlooked and opportunities lost. In the past, Kong Yu recommended Han Ji, Yu Liang recommended Zhai Tang. While I may not measure up to them, Gu Xie is certainly their equal."
Therefore, the court summoned Gu Xie and appointed him as Gentleman of the Imperial Cavalry, concurrently serving as Gentleman of the Palace Library. Later, Gu Xie was promoted several times, reaching the rank of Infantry Colonel, Minister of Rites, and retaining his previous positions as Gentleman and Attendant. In the 8th year of the Datong era, Gu Xie passed away at the age of seventy-three. Emperor Gaozu was profoundly saddened by his passing and personally wrote a decree saying, "Gu Xie, the Gentleman of the Imperial Cavalry, Minister of Rites, and Gentleman of the Palace Library, was a man of integrity and honesty, maintaining his principles until old age, serving in the court for a long time, and was praised by all. His sudden passing fills me with deep sorrow that I cannot contain. He had no relatives by his side, which is even more lamentable. After his burial, he will be returned to his hometown, and a tomb and coffin will be built for him, with all expenses borne by the court, making sure all arrangements are properly made. He will be posthumously promoted to Attendant Cavalry, and a mourning ceremony will be held for him. His posthumous title will be 'Wen'." From a young age, Gu Xie was known for his integrity and ambition. When he first served as a magistrate, he wore very thin clothes in winter. There was a temple official named Cai Fadu who remarked to others, "I want to take off my inner shirt and give it to Gu Lang, fearing that he might have a difficult life." But ultimately, he didn’t have the courage to give it. Later, when he became an Attendant Gentleman, his colleagues all decorated their houses splendidly, but Gu Xie lived in the province for sixteen years, never changing his simple way of dressing or eating. A student who initially followed Gu Xie, knowing his integrity, dared not give expensive gifts, only giving two thousand coins. Gu Xie, angered, punished the student with twenty strokes, and from then on, no one dared to offer him gifts again. After his father passed away, he consistently wore plain clothes and subsisted on a vegetarian diet. In his youth, he intended to marry his uncle's daughter, but before the wedding could take place, his mother passed away. After mourning, he never married again. In his sixties, when the girl was still unmarried, Gu Xie married her out of a sense of loyalty. Though he married in his later years, they ultimately had no children.
Gu Xie was well-read, especially knowledgeable in texts, animals, and plants. He wrote "Yixing Yuan" in five volumes and "Suoyu" in ten volumes, both of which are still known today. Xu Zhi, courtesy name Shixiu, was from Tan County, Donghai. His grandfather, Xu Pingdao, served as the Hai Ling Prefect during the Song Dynasty; his father, Xu Chaozhi, served as an official known as Yuanwai Sanqi Changshi during the Tianjian era. Xu Zhi developed a passion for learning early on and later studied the classics extensively. He preferred to innovate in his writing rather than adhere to traditional styles. He initially served as a Doctor at the Imperial Academy and was later promoted to Left Guard Sima. At that time, Prince Jin'an Xiao Gang was sent to guard Shitoucheng, and the Emperor instructed Zhou She to find someone skilled in both literature and military affairs to accompany Prince Jin'an. Zhou She recommended his nephew Xu Zhi, describing him as short and slender, with ill-fitting clothes, but more than capable of the task. The Emperor said, "As long as he possesses the talent of Cao Zhi, his appearance doesn’t matter." Therefore, Xu Zhi was appointed as an attendant. Later, when Prince Jin'an was stationed in Jiangzhou, Xu Zhi served as a clerk in the Yunhui Mansion, then transferred to the Pingxi Mansion. When Prince Jin'an was transferred to Jingkou, Xu Zhi also moved and served as a military clerk in Anbei, while also serving as the Magistrate of Tan County, which he resigned from due to his mother's death. When Prince Jin'an was appointed Intendant of Danyang, Xu Zhi was appointed as the Magistrate of Moling County. In the fourth year of the Putong era, when Prince Jin'an was sent to guard Xiangyang, Xu Zhi insisted on accompanying him and was promoted to a counselor for Prince Jin'an. During the Datong period, when Prince Jin'an led troops on a northern expedition, Xu Zhi was appointed as the Chief Historian of Ningman Prefecture, participating in military affairs and drafting military orders, many of which were written by Xu Zhi. Later, when Prince Jin'an was made Crown Prince, Xu Zhi was promoted to the Household Manager, overseeing records, and soon also leading the Directing Office.
Xu Che had a distinctive writing style, and the people in the palace all rushed to learn from him, so his style of writing came to be known as "Palace Style." When Emperor Gaozu heard about this, he was furious and called Xu Che to give him a stern lecture. However, Xu Che responded with wit and sincerity, and Emperor Gaozu calmed down. Emperor Gaozu then questioned him about the essence of the "Five Classics," asked about historical events and the various schools of thought, and finally inquired about Buddhist doctrines. Xu Che spoke confidently and fluently, impressing Emperor Gaozu, who grew closer to him and showed him even greater favor and trust.
General Zhu Yi felt uneasy and thought to himself, "Xu Che is gaining more favor in the palace, almost surpassing me. I need to think of a way to handle this." So, Zhu Yi took the opportunity to advise Emperor Gaozu, saying, "Xu Che is getting old and enjoys the mountains and rivers. He’s probably looking to settle down as a magistrate and enjoy his retirement." Emperor Gaozu believed Xu Che might actually be thinking this way, so he summoned Xu Che and said, "The scenery in Xin'an is beautiful. Many officials have served there. Go to Xin'an and be a magistrate, take it easy." In the third year of Zhongdatong, Xu Che was appointed as the magistrate of Xin'an. After arriving in Xin'an, he governed fairly and honestly, taught the locals about etiquette and morals, and promoted agriculture and sericulture. In less than a month, the local customs began to change significantly. After his term ended, he returned to the court, serving as a Zhongzhuzi (a junior official) and was also promoted to a military general.
At that time, the Duke of Licheng was going to marry Lady Wang, who was the niece of the Crown Prince's consort. From the Jin Dynasty to the Song Dynasty, three days after the wedding, the bride must pay her respects to her in-laws, with guests present, based on the records in the "Spring and Autumn Annals" that "On the day of Ding Chou, Lady Jiang arrived. On the day of Wu Yin, the Lord sent the official's wife to meet her with money." Because "Wu Yin" is the day after "Ding Chou," the officials believed that the old customs should be upheld. The Crown Prince asked Xu Zhe for his opinion, and Xu Zhe said, "The 'Rites of Zhou' says 'show respect to the bride in front of her in-laws'; and the 'Miscellaneous Records' also says 'when the wife meets her in-laws, brothers and sisters all stand below the hall.' This is because the new bride comes from another family, and her character is still unknown, so she should stay at home for three days to observe her virtues. The in-laws should invite foreign guests, the mother-in-law should lead the internal guests, and the hall should be arranged with ceremonial decor to convey a sense of grandeur. However, recently, there is already a familial relationship between the bride and the in-laws, so there is no need for such a grand meeting ceremony. This Lady Wang is the niece of the Crown Prince's consort, and this situation differs from that of a typical marriage, so the meeting ceremony can be simplified." The Crown Prince accepted his advice. Later, Xu Zhe was appointed as the Left Guard of the Crown Prince.
In the year 548 AD, Hou Jing broke through Tai City, where Crown Prince Yang Jian was residing in Yongfu Province. The rebels swarmed in, rushing into the palace, and all the guards fled, leaving behind only a man named Zhe, who stood still there without moving, and then slowly said to Hou Jing, "General Hou should pay respects to the Crown Prince according to the rules, how can you act like this?" Hou Jing's fierce demeanor suddenly softened, and he obediently saluted Zhe. From then on, Hou Jing remained cautious of Zhe. Later, Yang Jian became the Emperor and promoted Zhe to the position of Left Guard General, but Zhe respectfully declined the position. Afterward, when Yang Jian was imprisoned, Zhe was unable to visit him; overcome with anxiety, he fell ill and passed away at seventy-eight. His eldest son, Ling, became the most renowned.
Bao Quan, styled Runyue, was from Donghai. His father, Bao Ji, was a counselor to the Wang of Xiangdong. Bao Quan was well-versed in literature and possessed excellent writing skills. He served the Emperor Yuan in his youth and quickly gained his favor. After Emperor Yuan ascended the throne, Bao Quan rose through the ranks and became the Governor of Xinzhou. In the year 548 AD, Emperor Yuan sent Bao Quan to Xiangzhou to defeat the King of Hedong, Xiao Yu. Upon arriving in Changsha, Bao Quan built fortifications to put pressure on Xiao Yu. Xiao Yu led his army to attack Bao Quan, who held his ground behind the fortifications. Seizing the opportunity, Bao Quan counterattacked, decisively defeating Xiao Yu and capturing his entire force. Xiao Yu was besieged in the city and could not break free. At this time, Emperor Liang Wudi began to hold Bao Quan responsible for his failures and appointed General Wang Sengbian as his replacement.
When Wang Sengbian arrived, Bao Quan was taken aback and remarked to those around him, "If I can get Wang Sengbian's help, this battle will become easier!" However, upon entering, Wang Sengbian turned his back to Bao Quan and said, "Bao Lang, you have committed a crime. The emperor has ordered me to arrest you. Don't cling to illusions based on past events." Then, Wang Sengbian presented Bao Quan with the imperial decree and had him locked under the bed. Bao Quan said, "If the war is delayed, I am willing to be punished. I only fear that future generations will ridicule me for my incompetence!" He then wrote a letter admitting his guilt of delaying the war. Later, Emperor Liang Wudi reinstated him in his official position and ordered him and Wang Sengbian to command the navy from the east in an assault on Prince Shaoling in Yingzhou.
The city of Yingzhou was captured, and Emperor Yuan sent his eldest son Fang Zhu to serve as the governor of the province, appointing Quan as the chief official responsible for provincial affairs. Hou Jing secretly sent generals Song Zi Xian and Ren Yue with elite cavalry to attack them. Fang Zhu and Quan, engrossed in a game of chess, dismissed the reports from local residents, saying, "Xu Wensheng's army is in the east; how could the enemy troops be here?" As more reports flooded in, they finally closed the city gates. The enemy troops set fire to the city, and with no resistance, they stormed in. Fang Zhu and Quan were captured and brought before Hou Jing. Later, Hou Jing attacked Wang Sengbian and his forces in Baling, but failed to capture him, and after his defeat, he executed Quan, throwing his body into the Huangguji in Jiangxia. When Quan was serving as the Southern Commander, a friend had a dream that Quan had offended the emperor and told him upon waking. A few days later, Quan was indeed arrested. Later, the friend dreamed again, this time seeing Quan walking on water in a red robe, and reassured him, "Don't worry, everything will be alright soon." So he told Quan about the dream, and shortly after, Quan was reappointed, just as the dream had foretold. Quan was especially knowledgeable about the "Book of Rites" and wrote a book called "New Rites," which comprised forty volumes and has been passed down through generations. Yao Cha, Minister of Personnel of the Chen Dynasty, noted that Ruan Xiaoxu often remarked that Confucius' teachings on the four subjects start with moral conduct and end with literature. Those who emphasize behavior tend to be more straightforward, while those who focus on literature rarely follow rules. Thus, individuals like Wei Yang and Shi Chong have left behind no notable sayings, and Qu Yuan and Jia Yi have no good reputation. People who combine virtue and talent, who follow the rules like You Xia and inherit the achievements of their ancestors like Zhang Qian, are exemplified in the character of Pei Ji.
