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Written by: Realhistories

Category: Book of Northern Qi （北齊書）

Published: 09 January 2025

Created: 09 January 2025

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Speaking of these legendary figures: Wu Daorong, Wang Chun, Xin Dufang, Song Jingye, Xu Zun, Wu Zunshi, Zhao Fuhua, Huangfu Yu, Xie Faxuan, Wei Ning, Qi Mu Hua Wen, Zhang Zixin, and Ma Siming, their stories are quite fascinating. The "I Ching" states: "To determine the fortunes of the world and achieve great undertakings, nothing is better than yarrow stalks and turtle shells." Thus, Heaven created these miraculous things, and the sages are adept at utilizing them. Shen Nong and Tong Jun studied the medicinal properties in "The Classic of Herbs," while Huangdi and Qibo explained the symptoms and treatments of diseases, which were of great importance to the sages. Sima Qian wrote "Turtle Strategies," "The Sun," and "The Biographies of Bian Que and Cang Gong" to widely disseminate this knowledge for future generations. Since the rise of the Qi state, there was a wide recruitment of talented individuals, and anyone with talent would be given significant positions. Now, the deeds of these individuals are now recorded as a supplement to the book "Fang Ji."

My name is Dao Rong, and I hail from Langya. Since childhood, I have had a passion for Daoist teachings and, together with like-minded individuals, went to Changbai Mountain and Taishan to retreat and practice cultivation, learning various Daoist arts. I also went to the Zoulu area to study Confucian classics. There was a man from Jinyang who, hearing about my impressive abilities, searched for me everywhere. He typically did physical labor, and no one was aware of his skills; it took a long time for him to find me. He was proficient in Daoist talismans, incantations, yin-yang calendars, astronomy, and herbal properties, and was well-versed in all things. Since I was eager to learn, he shared all his knowledge with me. This man said to me, "I was originally an immortal on Mount Heng, but I made a minor mistake and was demoted to the mortal realm by the heavenly officials. Now my time is up, and I must return; you should escort me to the Fen River." When we reached the riverbank, the water surged violently, the bridge was broken, and even the ferry was unable to cross. This man walked along the water's edge, performed a ritual, and threw a talisman into the water, causing the river to immediately stop flowing. After a while, the water began to rise again, almost flooding the sky, yet this man slowly walked across the rocky riverbed. Only I, Dao Rong, witnessed this scene; the others were astonished to see how high the water had risen, yet he could walk across it. I retreated to Langya Mountain to live a life of seclusion, fasting and subsisting on pine nuts and poria, seeking the secret of immortality. Eventually, Emperor Xianzhu summoned me back to Jinyang. In the mountains of Liaoyang, we were pursued by fierce beasts chasing our horses, closing in within ten steps, and my companions were terrified and wanted to flee. I drew a fire pit in the ground with my cane, and the beasts fled immediately. Eventually, the country fell, and I returned to the Zhou Dynasty. I passed away during the early years of the Sui Dynasty.

According to another account, a man named Zhang Yuanyou, during the reign of Emperor Xianzhu, was assigned, along with other practitioners, to refine the Nine-Transformation Golden Elixir. Once it was successfully refined, Emperor Xianzhu placed it in a jade box and said, "I am too attached to worldly pleasures to ascend to immortality right away; I will take it when the time comes for me to die."

Wang Chun, from Hedong, loved studying the I Ching and divination since childhood. He was knowledgeable in astronomy and astrology, often traveled between the states of Zhao and Wei, and was even able to communicate with the heavens using talismans. When Liu Bang mustered his forces in Xindu, he summoned Wang Chun to be his advisor. During the Battle of Hanling, Liu Bang's army was surrounded and fought from dawn until noon, losing three engagements. Just as Liu Bang was about to retreat, Wang Chun stopped his horse and advised, "Before the hour of Wei (1 PM to 3 PM), we will definitely achieve a great victory!" To show his determination, he even tied up his own son and sent him to Liu Bang as a hostage, pleading with Liu Bang to execute him if they were defeated. Soon after, the enemy was routed. From that point on, Wang Chun's predictions proved highly accurate in every campaign. Later, he eventually rose to the position of Governor of Xuzhou and passed away.

Xin Dufang is from Hejian. He has been skilled in mathematical calculations since childhood and is quite famous locally. He is very ingenious and becomes deeply engrossed in problem-solving, often losing track of time and neglecting to eat or sleep, and even falling into ditches. He once told others, "The wonders of mathematics are intricate and subtle; when I'm deep in thought, I can't even hear the thunder!" This shows how focused he was. With his mathematical talent, he became an advisor to Liu Bang and later served as the minister of military affairs. Zu Ting once told Xin Dufang, "The technique of blowing dust off a pipe is very exquisite and has been lost for a long time. I can't understand it; can you try to figure it out?" Xin Dufang thought seriously about it, and after more than ten days, he said, "I've figured it out, but it ultimately requires ash from the reeds produced in Hanoi." He later obtained the ash from the reeds of Hanoi and tried his method, which worked perfectly, while the other ashes remained motionless. Unfortunately, people at the time overlooked him, and his method was ultimately not passed down, so the technique was lost. Xin Dufang also organized ancient materials on intricate instruments such as the armillary sphere, seismometer, inclinometer, and water clock, and he drew diagrams, naming it "Standards of Instruments." He also authored "Book of Music," "Dun Jia Classic," and "Four Arts of Zhou Bi." Xin Dufang privately compiled a calendar book called "Ling Xian Calendar," in which he calculated the lunar cycles with remarkable accuracy, and solar eclipses always occur on the new moon, with strong evidence. He often said, "He Cheng Tian also studied this method, but it wasn't detailed enough. If the 'Ling Xian Calendar' is completed, it will settle any disputes for a hundred generations." Unfortunately, he died before completing the book.

Song Jingye was from Guangzong. He was an expert in the "I Ching," studied the yin-yang calendar and divination techniques, and had knowledge of astronomy and calendar calculations. In the late Wei dynasty, he served as the governor of Beiping. After Gao Huan became the prime minister, he stationed himself in Jinyang. Because of Gao Huan's high moral standing and reputation, Song Jingye offered him advice, saying: "The 'Yijing Jilan Tu' states: 'The "Ding" hexagram, in May, the sage shall govern, and heaven grants longevity; in the northeastern waters, a commoner shall become king, and the Gao family will gain it.' Upon careful consideration, the northeastern waters refer to the Bohai Sea, and the Gao family obtaining it means they will achieve dominion over the world." At that time, it was May in the eighth year of the reign of Wei Wu. Gao Huan, Xu Zhichai, and others persuaded him to follow the mandate of heaven and accept the abdication, so Gao Huan went to Ye City. Upon reaching Pingcheng, present-day Datong, many ministers opposed this plan and wanted to return. He Ba Ren and others even said, "Song Jingye misled the king; he should be executed to atone for his actions." Gao Huan said, "Song Jingye should be my royal teacher in the future; how could we possibly kill him?" After returning to Jinyang, Gao Huan had Song Jingye perform divination, and the divination results were the "Qian" and "Ding" hexagrams. Song Jingye said, "The 'Qian' hexagram represents the ruler, which is heaven. The 'I Ching' states, 'At the right time, ride the six dragons to ascend to heaven.' The 'Ding' hexagram is the hexagram associated with May. You should choose an auspicious day in midsummer to follow the mandate of heaven and accept the abdication." Someone said, "The yin-yang scholars claim that one cannot take office in May; those who violate this will die in their official position." Song Jingye replied, "This is a great auspicious sign; the king will become the Son of Heaven, and there will be no further aspirations for advancement; how could he possibly die in office?" Gao Huan was very pleased to hear this. Starting from the Tianbao era, Song Jingye was appointed as an attendant to the emperor.

Another person named Jing Cide was also knowledgeable in divination and fortune-telling. He predicted the success and failure of Er Zhu Rong and said that the dynasty that would replace the Wei would be Qi. After hearing this, Ge Rong declared himself the King of Qi. He treated Jing Cide with great favor and frequently consulted him about heavenly will and human affairs. Jing Cide replied, "The Qi dynasty is about to rise, and the emperor will come from the East Sea. You are currently occupying the Bohai Sea, which is the land of Qi. Moreover, the simultaneous appearance of Venus and the moon means you should quickly mobilize your troops; if you delay, it will bring bad luck." Ge Rong did not heed his advice.

Xu Zun was from Gaoyang. He was proficient in the "I Ching," particularly accurate in divination, and also understood astronomy, meteorology, physiognomy, and fortune-telling, with an almost divine accuracy in his predictions. Emperor Gaozu treated him as a guest of honor, and Xu Zun himself claimed that his fate was not destined for great wealth or a violent death, so he lived his life as he pleased, often rubbing people the wrong way, but Emperor Gaozu was always very tolerant of him. During the Battle of Mangyin, Xu Zun remarked to Li Ye Xing, "They have set up a fire formation, and we have set up a wooden formation; fire defeats wood; we are definitely going to lose." And indeed, it turned out just as he said. Later, King Yue of Qinghe appointed him as the head of the agricultural department. After Yue was enfeoffed as king, he informed Xu Zun, who replied, "Even bees can become rulers." Later, when Yue was to lead troops to rescue Jiangling, Xu Zun said, "This trip is bound to end badly; you'd be better off pretending to be sick and staying behind." Yue said, "The situation forces me to go, but I will take you with me." Xu Zun replied, "I'd rather be with the living than go along with the dead." Thus, he did not go. As a result, King Yue died in the capital.

Emperor Xianzu became increasingly tyrannical, and Xu Zun said to others, "I've done the calculations, and I'm curious when this tyrant will meet his end." He then laid out all his divination tools and proclaimed loudly, "If it doesn't happen before winter begins, I won't be around to see it." Emperor Xianzu died in October, and Xu Zun died in September.

Wu Zunshi, courtesy name Jixu, was originally from Bohai. He had a deep understanding of the "I Ching" from a young age and later went to Hengshan to live with reclusive Daoists. After a few years, he suddenly saw an old man who said to him, "I will pass the talisman of joy to you." Zunshi knelt down to receive it and consumed it, and from then on, he became proficient in divination. Later, he traveled to the capital, Luoyang, and became famous for his fortune-telling. When Emperor Wei Wu was about to ascend the throne, he sent someone to invite Wu Zunshi to do a divination, which resulted in the hexagram "Mingyi" and the "Ben" line, saying, "First ascends to heaven, then enters the earth." The emperor asked him what it meant, and Zunshi replied, "First ascending to heaven means becoming emperor. Entering the earth means it cannot last long." The outcome turned out just as he had predicted. When Shizong was serving as chancellor in the capital, he felt uneasy and feared rebellion, wanting to rebel. Every night, he used yarrow stalks to divine, seeking Wu Zunshi's advice. Wu Zunshi said, "No need to rebel; there will be great joy." Not long after, Prince Zhao of Jun was ordered by the empress dowager to summon Shizong back to court with a decree. After Shizong ascended the throne, he appointed him as a secretary of the Central Secretariat, but he declined, citing illness.

Zhao Fuhe was originally from Qingdu. He was very proficient in the "I Ching" in his youth and was skilled in divination, often visiting others' homes to do fortune-telling. When Emperor Gaozu of Northern Wei passed away in Jinyang, the burial date had already been determined. Emperor Shizong ordered that Xianzhu personally go to the northwest of Ye City to choose the site for the tomb. Xianzhu and Wu Zunshi together selected the site, but after multiple divinations, none proved auspicious. They arrived at another place, and Zunshi did a divination, resulting in the "Ge" hexagram. Zunshi and dozens of others said this place was not suitable. Fuhe, the youngest among them, stood at the back, stepped forward, and said, "The 'Ge' hexagram is unfavorable for everyone; only the royal family can use it to achieve great fortune. The commentary on the 'Ge' hexagram says: 'Tang and Wu revolted, complying with heaven and following the people.'" Xianzhu immediately climbed into the carriage and turned to say, "Let’s choose this place." This became the later Yiping Tomb.

Once, there was a man whose father was seriously ill. The man went to Zhao Fuhe's home and asked a friend to request Zhao Fuhe to perform a divination for his father. As a result, the divination resulted in the "Tai" hexagram, and the diviner said, "This hexagram is very auspicious; your father will definitely recover." The man was very pleased. Afterward, Zhao Fuhe remarked to the diviner, "The 'Tai' hexagram has 'Qian' below and 'Kun' above; doesn’t that mean burial?" Sure enough, the father's condition deteriorated, and he sadly passed away. During the Danning and Wuping periods of the Northern Wei Dynasty, Zhao Fuhe conducted divinations for the imperial harem on matters such as the birth of sons or daughters and auspicious dates, all of which proved to be very accurate, which earned him a position as a regular official.

Huangfu Yu, it's unclear where he is from. He is very skilled at physiognomy and often visits the homes of princes and nobles. When Emperor Shizong returned triumphantly from Yingchuan, Xianzhu followed behind. Huangfu Yu carefully observed from the roadside and told others, "This general is not an ordinary person; he will be the one in the North known for his runny nose." Later, Xianzhu ascended to the throne and wanted to test Huangfu Yu's skills in physiognomy, so he covered his eyes with a silk cloth and let him feel everyone's faces. When he touched Xianzhu, he said, "This is the highest-ranking official." When he touched Wang Rencheng, he said, "He will become a prime minister in the future." When he touched Wang Changshan and Wang Changguang, he also predicted they would rise to prominence in the future, and he discreetly pinched them. When he touched Shidong Tong, he said, "This one is a fool." When he touched the person in charge of meals, he said, "He is only good at eating and drinking." Huangfu Yu once told Gao Guiyan, "You will be in a high position, but be careful not to rebel." Gao Guiyan asked, "Why would I rebel?" Huangfu Yu replied, "It's not that you want to rebel, but you have a rebellious nature." Huangfu Yu told his wife, "I won't last in the palace for two years." His wife told this to the attendant Husiqing, who then reported it to the emperor. The emperor was enraged and ordered Huangfu Yu's arrest. Upon his capture, he told his wife, "I won't be coming back th

He listened to Liu Taozhi's voice and said, "This person has backing and will be very wealthy in the future; many princes and high officials will die at his hands, just like hunting dogs obeying their masters." After hearing Zhao Daode's voice, he said, "This person also has support and will be wealthy, but he pales in comparison to the previous one." After hearing Taiyuan Gong's voice, he said, "This person will become an emperor in the future." Then, Emperor Shizong asked Wu Shi to listen to his voice, but Wu Shi said nothing. At that moment, Cui Xian discreetly pinched him, and Wu Shi then mumbled, "He's also an emperor." Emperor Shizong thought to himself, "If even my servant can become extremely wealthy, let alone myself!"

The method of selection comes from Hanoi. He has been proficient in face reading since childhood and is particularly accurate in reading people; his words always come true. He has often read fortunes for He Shikai, and as a result, He Shikai was appointed as a military advisor.

Wei Ning, from Julu. Because he is skilled at predicting people's fates, he was summoned as a guest of the court. Emperor Wucheng personally tested his abilities, and he guessed correctly every time. Later, Emperor Wucheng disguised himself using someone else's birth date to ask him, and Wei Ning said, "You will be very wealthy, but you will die this year." Emperor Wucheng was startled and said, "Is it me!" Wei Ning quickly changed his words, saying, "If it is the emperor, it's all in the hands of fate." Wei Ning also understood the art of Yangzi and once told someone, "There is a saying, 'Lu sixteen, zhi fourteen, qianzi patted head thirty-two,' this is a great number of four-eight days, the lifespan of the retired emperor, which likely won't exceed that number." Later, Emperor Wucheng died at the age of thirty-two.

Qi Mu Huaiwen, his origins unclear, served Emperor Gaozu with his Daoist skills. During the Wuding era, the official army clashed with Emperor Wen of Zhou's forces at Mangshan. At that time, the official army's flags were red, while the western army's were black. Qi Mu Huaiwen advised Emperor Gaozu, "Red represents fire, and black represents water; water can extinguish fire, so we should not use red to confront black. Earth can control water, so we should change the flags to yellow." Emperor Gaozu then changed the flags to ochre yellow, referred to as the Heyang Banner. He also invented a method for forging a type of iron sword called Su Tie, which involved repeatedly hammering heated fine iron over several nights to harden it, using soft iron for the back of the sword, soaking it in the urine of five different livestock, and quenching it with the fat of five different livestock. This sword could cut through more than thirty layers of armor. The Su Tie made by the ironworkers in Xiangguo today still uses his method, but the sharpness of today's swords is inferior to those he crafted. Qi Mu Huaiwen also noted, "Nanganzi City in Guangping County is known as the place where Gan Jiang forged swords; the soil there is ideal for sharpening blades." Qi Mu Huaiwen later rose to the position of Governor of Xinzhou.

A man named Sun Zhengyan told others, "I served as an official in Guangzhou during the Wuding era. I heard that there was a man named Cao Puyan in the city who claimed that among Gao Wang's sons, A Bao would eventually become emperor, and when Gao De ascends the throne, he will abolish A Bao's era name." A Bao refers to Tian Bao, Gao De refers to De Chang, and the abolished era name is Chengguang, indicating Gao De's rise to power.

Zhang Zixin, a Henan native, was a tranquil individual with a strong knowledge of literature. He gained early fame for his medical skills and chose to live in seclusion on Bailu Mountain. Later, he visited the capital for pleasure, and prominent figures like Wei Shou and Cui Jishu held him in high regard, exchanging several poems with each other. Subsequently, the Northern Wei court appointed him as a Grand Minister but permitted him to return to the mountain regularly, so he spent minimal time in Ye City. He was also adept in divination and feng shui.

Once, General Wu Wei, Xi Yongluo, and Zhang Zixin were sitting together when suddenly a magpie called out from a tree in the courtyard and fell down while fighting. Zhang Zixin said, "The magpie's call is an ominous sign. If the southwest wind blows this evening and reaches the eaves, there will be gossip and conflict. If someone calls for you tonight, you must not go, even if it’s an imperial decree; just say you are ill and refuse." After Zhang Zixin left, the southwest wind indeed began to blow, just as he had said. That evening, King Langya sent five messengers to urgently summon Xi Yongluo, saying it was an imperial decree. Xi Yongluo considered getting up, but his wife firmly stopped him, claiming she had fallen off a horse and injured her back. The next morning, Xi Yongluo indeed found it hard to move. Zhang Zixin later passed away during the fall of the Qi dynasty.

Ma Siming was from Hanoi. He had been exceptionally skilled in medicine since childhood and could recite various medical texts, including the "Classic of the Pulse," "Suwen," "Mingtang," and "Compendium of Materia Medica," from memory. When he treated patients, he could predict life and death a year in advance just by taking their pulse.

Once, when Xing Shao's son, Daba, contracted typhoid, Ma Siming diagnosed him and told Yang Yin, "Although this typhoid can heal on its own, the pulse indicates he is certain to die within a year. It was discovered too late; there was no saving him." At that time, both Yang Yin and Xing Shao were attending a banquet in the palace, where Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi said, "Zicai, I want him to go to a certain prefecture to take up an official position." Yang Yin believed Ma Siming was still too young for an official position. After the banquet, he submitted a request saying, "Ma Siming said that Daba's pulse is very dangerous, and he may die within a year. If he is sent to a distant place for an official position, it would be hard to find a suitable doctor to treat him." Therefore, the matter was put on hold. Not long after, Daba indeed passed away.

Later, Yang Yin developed a painful swelling in his back. Ma Siming used a paste made from stone to treat him, and he was quickly cured. The method Ma Siming used to make the stone paste was as follows: he took a rough yellow stone the size of a goose egg, burned it until it was red-hot, then ground it into powder in vinegar, burning it repeatedly until the stone was reduced to powder. He then dried the stone powder and ground it into a fine powder, mixing it with vinegar to apply to the swollen and painful area, which was said to cure all ailments.

Later, Ma Siming was promoted and became an imperial attendant. The acupuncture points he used often did not align with those recorded in the "Mingtang Jing."

Once, he accompanied the emperor to Jinyang and saw several notices in the Liaoyang Mountains, stating that a girl was ill and that anyone who could cure her would receive a reward of 100,000 coins. Many famous doctors had examined her but were too afraid to proceed after learning about her condition. Only Ma Siming dared to take on the task. After clarifying the cause of her illness, he learned that the girl had once harvested wheat with her hands and had seen a two-inch-long red object that resembled a snake had drilled into her finger, which caused her to collapse. Her arm then swelled painfully, gradually swelling to half her body, leaving her in great pain, groaning day and night. Ma Siming prescribed her a remedy and instructed her to take the decoction. When Ma Siming returned to the capital with the emperor, the girl had already recovered. Ma Siming passed away in the early years of the Sui Dynasty.

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Written by: Realhistories

Category: Book of Northern Qi （北齊書）

Published: 09 January 2025

Created: 09 January 2025

Hits: 43

Let's first talk about the topic of the imperial relatives. Since the Han Dynasty, those royal relatives have seldom ended well; a look through historical records shows just how unfortunate they were and how often they rebelled. However, most of the imperial relatives during the Qi Dynasty managed to survive, with only Hu Changren suffering due to false accusations and Huli Guang being killed because of geographical circumstances, and neither of these were due to the fortunes of the empress's family. Next, I will narrate the story of the imperial relatives in the style of past historians.

First, let's talk about Zhao Meng, who hailed from the Tai'an Di people. His sister was the empress consort of Emperor Wenmu and gave birth to Prince Chen of Zhao. Zhao Meng was upright and highly capable. When Emperor Gaozu raised his army, he was promoted to the governor of Nanying Prefecture, but he later passed away.

Next is Lou Rui, whose courtesy name was Foren, and he was the nephew of Empress Wuming. His father, Lou Zhuang, was the southern minister of the Wei state. Lou Rui loved horseback riding and archery since childhood and was skilled in martial arts, having served as the commander of Emperor Gaozu's forces. He followed Emperor Gaozu to defeat Er Zhu Rong and gradually rose through the ranks, eventually becoming Chancellor and General of Cavalry. However, Lou Rui actually had no real abilities; he relied on his royal connections to gain favor and was infatuated with wealth and women, causing many to look down on him. During the Huangjian period, he was granted the title of Prince of Dong'an. When Gao Guiyan rebelled in Jizhou, the emperor dispatched Lou Rui to suppress the rebellion. Upon his return, he was appointed Grand Minister. Later, when the Zhou Dynasty army attacked Dongguan, Lou Rui led troops to provide assistance, winning several victories and capturing Zhou general Yang Ling among others. Consequently, he remained in Yuzhou for over a hundred days, plundering the wealth of the people and breaking the law, ultimately resulting in his dismissal. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed Grand Commandant and later passed away.

Er Zhu Wenchang was the fourth son of Er Zhu Rong and was initially granted the title of King of Changle. His sister was Empress Wei Xiaozhuang. After the Four Hu were eliminated, Emperor Gaozu (Emperor Xiaowen) welcomed the Er Zhu clan into the court, treating them with great favor, which resulted in Wenchang's appointment as the governor of Sizhou. His family was very wealthy, often entertaining guests, and leveraging their family status, they led an extravagant lifestyle. He maintained close relationships with figures such as Prime Minister Sima Renzhou, Chief Clerk Li Shilin, General Zheng Zhongli, and Fang Ziyuan. Outwardly, they seemed like nothing more than drinking buddies, but secretly, they plotted rebellion. In the Wei dynasty, there was an old custom to play the bamboo stick hitting game on the night of the Lantern Festival, where those who succeeded would receive rewards. Sima Renzhou instructed Zheng Zhongli to hide a knife in his trousers, intending to assassinate Emperor Gaozu during the festivities and then support Wenchang as emperor. However, a guest of the Renzhou family named Xue Jixiao tipped off Emperor Gaozu about this plot, and everyone involved in the conspiracy confessed. Since Wenchang's sister was the empress, only he faced punishment.

Er Zhu Wenchang's younger brother, Wen Lue, inherited the title of Prince of Liang because his elder brother Wen Luo had no sons. He should have faced repercussions due to his brother Wenchang's actions, but Emperor Gaozu showed him extra leniency. Wen Lue was intelligent and skilled in various arts. Emperor Shizong (Emperor Xiaowu) once had Zhang Yongxing ride on horseback and play the Hu pipa, performing over ten pieces in a row, and asked Wen Lue to remember the tunes. Surprisingly, Wen Lue managed to memorize eight of them. Emperor Shizong joked, “Smart people often don’t live long; you should be careful, Prince of Liang!” Wen Lue replied, “The length of life is in your hands.” Emperor Shizong sighed, “There’s no need to worry about that.” Previously, Emperor Gaozu had decreed that Wen Lue could be spared from execution, so he grew increasingly arrogant and frequently disdained others. Prince Pingqin had a prized horse valued at seven hundred li, and Wen Lue wagered a beautiful maid in exchange for the horse, winning it. The next day, when Prince Pingqin came to reclaim the maid, Wen Lue callously killed both the horse and the maid, sending the maid's head and the horse's carcass in two silver vessels to Prince Pingqin. Prince Pingqin reported this to Emperor Wenxuan, and Wen Lue was imprisoned in the great prison of the capital.

In prison, Wen Lue played the pipa, blew the flute, composed poetry and songs, and when he grew tired, lay down to sing elegies. After a few months, he even seized the guards' bows and arrows to shoot at people, saying, “Otherwise, the emperor won’t remember me.” After this incident was reported, Wen Lue was executed. Wen Lue had once given Wei Shou a great deal of gold, asking him to write a good biography for his father, and in that biography, Wei Shou compared Er Zhu Rong to Wei Xian, Peng Zu, Yi Yin, and Huo Guang; perhaps this was the reason for his fate.

Zheng Zhongli, from Kaifeng, Henan, was the son of an official named Yan who served in the Honglu Temple during the Wei Dynasty. He was bold and adventurous in his youth, and he was also very strong. Emperor Gaozu favored his sister, which made Zheng Zhongli a favored figure in the emperor's court and led to his promotion to the position of commander of the inner guard, essentially the chief guard beside the emperor. He frequently accompanied the emperor, carrying his bow and arrows. Later, Ren Zhou, a man who excessively drank and neglected his duties, was angrily criticized by Emperor Gaozu. Fearful, Ren Zhou conspired to rebel. Fortunately, Empress Wu Minglou interceded on his behalf, so when Zheng Zhongli passed away, his family was spared from any repercussions.

Li Zusheng, from Pingji, Hebei, was the brother of Empress Li, wife of Emperor Xianzhu. His father, Li Xizong, had once served as the governor of Shangdang County. Li Zusheng was very handsome, tall and leggy, and was known for his friendliness and helpfulness, as well as his impressive literary skills. He held the position of governor of Qizhou but ultimately fell victim to rebel forces. His brother, Li Zuxun, was appointed secretary after Emperor Xianzhu took the throne. Later, Li Zuxun's daughter became the Princess of Jinan, and he was promoted to chamberlain and given the title of Prince of Danyang. After the Princess of Jinan was deposed, he was demoted to governor of Guangzhou. Li Zuxun was known for his greed and laziness, while his wife from the Cui clan was arrogant and domineering, which caused people at the time to scorn them. Later, he was dismissed from his position due to repeated discoveries of embezzlement and bribery. Lacking any real talent, he depended solely on the empress's connections throughout his career, ultimately passing away without leaving any notable legacy.

Yuan Man was the stepson of the Grand Chancellor of the Wei dynasty, King Jiangyang, and the father of Empress Yuan, Emperor Suzong's wife. He once held the position of Minister of Ceremonies. In the tenth year of the Tianbao era, the court carried out a large-scale massacre of the Yuan clan. Emperor Suzong pleaded desperately for Yuan Man, which spared him from punishment, and he was granted the surname of Bu Liu Gu. Shortly after, he died of illness.

Hu Changren, whose courtesy name was Xiaolong, was from Linjing in Anding and was the brother of Empress Wucheng. His father, Hu Yanzhi, had served as the Minister of the Interior of the Wei state. Hu Changren rose through the ranks and eventually became the Right Chancellor. After the death of Emperor Shizu, he participated in court affairs and was granted the title of King of Longdong.

Hu Changren was particularly close to Zou Xiaoyu, the Left Minister, and two others, Junior Minister Lu Renhui and Lu Yuanliang. Every time Hu Changren attended court, Zou Xiaoyu would follow him, acting as if they were equals. With numerous court affairs and mountains of documents, over a hundred officials sought Hu Changren's instructions daily. Zou Xiaoyu would seize quiet moments to have private discussions with Hu Changren, and after court, he would continue to follow him, while Lu Renhui and Lu Yuanliang would seize the opportunity to join them in discussing official matters. Contemporaries referred to the three of them as "the Three Flatterers." Hu Changren also liked to secretly attend private gatherings and enjoy leisure activities.

Zou Xiaoyu encouraged Hu Changren to seek higher positions. He Shikai, who disapproved of their group, reported them to the emperor, resulting in Zou Xiaoyu's demotion to governor of Zhangwu County, while Lu Renhui and the others were also expelled. Zou Xiaoyu then told Hu Changren, "Wang Yang is bedridden, and He Shikai will definitely go to visit him. At that time, we can kill him. Even if the Empress Dowager learns of it, you'll likely lose your position within a hundred days at most, and then I can take your place." When He Shikai learned of their plot, he demoted Zou Xiaoyu to an even more distant place—Beiyingzhou, Jiande County, to take up the governorship.

Later, Hu Changren, relying on his status as a royal relative, became increasingly arrogant and unrestrained, fearless in the face of trouble. He had He Shikai appointed governor of Qizhou. Hu Changren was dissatisfied and secretly plotted to assassinate He Shikai, but his plot was uncovered, leading to his execution. Not long after, the emperor made Hu Changren's daughter the empress and bestowed him posthumous honors. He and his brothers, seven people in total, were all granted titles of nobility, and the Hu family quickly rose to prominence and power.

My ancestor was Changcan. His father was Sengjing, the uncle of Emperor Xiaojing of Wei, who held the high position of Sikong. Changcan was clever and intelligent from a young age, and because of his royal connections, he initially served as a courtier and was later promoted to Huangmen Shilang. After the emperor ascended the throne, Changcan was ordered to enter and exit the palace with Huangmen Feng Zicong, specifically tasked with handling memorials.

After Emperor Shizu passed away, he engaged in state affairs alongside General Lou Dingyuan, Minister Zhao Yanshen, He Shikai, Gao Wenyao, General Qilian Meng, Gao Anagong, and Minister Tang Yong, and were collectively known as the "Eight Nobles." Later, Lou Dingyuan and Gao Wenyao left the court, while Tang Yong was in charge of foreign military affairs, and Qilian Meng and Gao Anagong managed military power. Changcan stayed close to the emperor, tasked with delivering imperial edicts and accompanied the emperor to Jinyang.

After the emperor ascended the throne, he grew older and entrusted many matters to Changcan, who faithfully assisted the emperor, earning him a solid reputation, eventually being promoted to Shizhong. His brother Changren always wanted to enter the core power structure of the court and wished to become a minister, but the emperor refused. Changren believed Changcan was standing in his way and harbored deep resentment towards him. Thus, Changren went to the empress dowager to complain, revealing Changcan's private affairs and demanding that Changcan be assigned to a local post. The emperor had no choice but to agree.

Chang Can was appointed as the prefect of Zhao Prefecture. When he was about to leave, he broke down in tears, and the emperor felt a deep sense of regret. Once he arrived in Zhao Prefecture, he washed his hair but could barely lift his hands and was unable to speak; he soon passed away.

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Written by: Realhistories

Category: Book of Northern Qi （北齊書）

Published: 09 January 2025

Created: 09 January 2025

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Well, the personalities of people are inherently different; some are strong-willed, some gentle, some quick-tempered and others more laid-back—there's a wide variety. If you really think about what's right and wrong, very few can restrain their desires. Those who truly understand how things work and know how to exercise self-discipline and return to propriety are indeed extremely rare! The misconduct of prison officials has been a long-standing issue. Since the Wei dynasty, the law hasn't been enforced strictly, with lots of loopholes that let many slip through the cracks. Emperor Gaozu took some tough measures to rein in officials in order to make everyone in the court aware of the law's authority. Now, recording the deeds of Di Zhen and others is a lesson for future generations, offering both a warning and some motivation.

Di Zhen, styled Bao'an, was originally from Shanquyang in Zhongshan. He joined Emperor Gaozu in the uprising and was later appointed as the Chief Historian. He was known for being harsh and irritable, with an insatiable greed. He later became the Right Minister and Grand Chancellor, also overseeing military affairs. Di Zhen was especially cruel to his subordinates, making everyone turn against him, and ultimately, he was killed by the common people. After he died, he was given the title of Governor of Dingzhou posthumously.

Song Youdao, from Guangping, his ancestors were from Dunhuang. His father, Song Jiyu, once served as the Governor of Bohai. When Song Youdao was young, he accompanied his father in the county, and after his father's death, many officials sent gifts, but he did not accept any of them. He was famously filial to his mother. He lived separately from his uncle, and when a servant from his uncle's household falsely accused his uncle of treason, Song Youdao deceived his uncle into returning, cleared the false accusations, and then killed the servant who made the false accusation. Later, when King Guangyang of Wei launched a northern campaign, he appointed him as the Armory Officer, then made him the governor of Dingzhou, and appointed him as a government assistant. After King Guangyang was assassinated by Ge Rong, Yuan Hui falsely accused Song Youdao of surrendering to the enemy and captured his wife and children. Song Youdao traveled far and wide to rescue them, and together with the son of King Guangyang, returned King Guangyang's body to his hometown for burial. The lieutenant Li Shanchang greatly admired his character and invited him to the palace as an Imperial Censor. People in the palace said, "If you run into trouble, just look for Song Youdao!"

After Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang took power, Youdao was dismissed from his post as Left Zhongbing Langzhong. Wang Yu, the Linhuai Prince and Minister of Personnel, reprimanded him. Youdao took his tablet, bowed deeply, and said, "I appreciate Your Highness's anger, but I do not appreciate Your Highness's decision." That day, he went directly to the palace to submit a memorial, which stated in summary: Yuan Fu, the governor of Xu Zhou, had repeatedly reported, "The pretender Liang is mobilizing troops with the intention of attacking Pengcheng, requesting an additional two thousand Yulin troops." Since Yuan Fu was a royal relative and an important minister, his request seemed reasonable, so the court allocated one thousand troops to him. However, after Yuan Fu took over from his predecessor, he only accepted eight hundred Yulin troops on the grounds of road blockages and said, "The border is peaceful, I request to send these eight hundred men back to the capital." As the official in charge, I understand this is not right. Wang Yu, the Minister of Personnel and a nephew of Yuan Fu, sent people to pressure me eight times in three days to act according to Yuan Fu's request. I did not dare to disobey the imperial edict, deceive the emperor, or betray his trust. However, since Yuan Fu is still in office, requesting additional troops is reasonable; after he leaves, we can withdraw the troops, which is a reasonable course of action and does not suggest any intention to harm the state. If my request is found unreasonable, then please punish me according to the law!

Yù asked me to go to the Hall of the Minister of Rites and said, "You, a mere young official, do you truly care for the country more than I do?" He berated me, completely disregarding court etiquette. The Right Minister, Shìlóng, the Minister of Personnel Xuè Huā, and more than a hundred others witnessed this scene. At that moment, I spoke frankly and said, "A loyal minister serves the country with steadfast loyalty; what does it matter how high or low one's official rank is? When you entered Luoyang from the North Sea, you did not fight for the country; instead, you cleared the palace to welcome the bandits. Zheng Xianhu stood firm in his principles in Guangzhou, yet you personally led your troops to suppress him. You show such leniency towards the wicked but are so quick to act against the righteous! Now that you are the highest-ranking official, you still harm the country's interests for personal matters!" Because of what I said, Yù became even angrier. My capabilities were limited, and I had offended the powerful, so I requested to be relieved of my position as an official. The emperor summoned me and even praised me. Yù also submitted a petition saying, "As the head of all officials, I have allowed a mere young official to shout at me and act recklessly; I request to be relieved of my position as Minister of Rites." The emperor then ordered that both of them be dismissed from their posts.

Later on, Yóudào became a junior official in Sizhōu. Just when he was about to return to Yè City, it was pouring rain, and travelers were stuck on the river bridge. Yóudào spent every night drinking and singing with his colleagues, and someone said, "It's raining now, and you're still singing; that's just plain silly!" Yóudào replied, "When is it not a good time to sing? It's the people who say such things that are foolish!"

Later, Gao Huan came from Taiyuan to the capital to visit the emperor. Upon seeing You Dao, he said, "This must be Song You Dao, right? I have heard his name long ago, and today I finally see the real deal." Thus, Gao Huan promoted You Dao to Deputy Director. After some time, Gao Huan came to Sizhou and hosted a banquet for the officials of the court. He raised his wine cup to toast You Dao, saying, "Only those who can drink this wine with gusto are real men, and you should drink this cup!" When Gao Huan returned to Jinyang, the officials said their goodbyes to him on Zimo. Gao Huan held You Dao's hand and said, "I know some people in court are jealous of you. Just keep doing your job and don’t worry; I’ll make sure your rank matches theirs." Thus, Gao Huan promoted You Dao to the position of Lieutenant.

However, King Wenxiang (Gao Cheng) strongly requested, and in the end, the Minister of Personnel, Cui Xian, was made the Inspector Lieutenant, and You Dao became the Left Chancellor of the Ministry of Personnel. King Wenxiang said to Cui Xian and You Dao, "One of you will be at the Southern Platform (Inspectorate), and the other at the Northern Ministry (Ministry of Personnel). You need to instill a sense of awe in the people!" After You Dao took office, he impeached the Grand Tutor, Prince of Xianyang, Tan, Grand Protector Sun Teng, Minister of Works Gao Longzhi, Minister of War Hou Jing, Recorder of the Ministry of Personnel Yuan Bi, and the Minister of Personnel Sima Ziru, accusing them of taking bribes and pressuring people for fees. While it wasn’t outright bribery, they still couldn’t escape the influence of the powerful. He also submitted a memorial refuting hundreds of violations and mistakes from the Ministry of Personnel, and those powerful officials in the ministry, like Wang Ruzhi and others, were harshly criticized by him. He even set up access control in the Ministry of Personnel, keeping track of when officials came and went, and even servants had to be on their best behavior around him.

Prince Anping of Wei died as a result of his misdeeds, and those closely related to him, including the Second Prince Zhangwu and other princesses and royal concubines, were also implicated and held accountable. Official Bi Yiyun was responsible for this matter; he directly banned some memorials and also prohibited others that were not reported. The verdict from the judicial court was sent to the Court of Judicial Review, but Gao Longzhi disagreed and accused Youdao of being obstinate and of humiliating him. He then distorted the facts and coerced minor officials into providing false testimony. Together with the Left Minister Wang Xu of Xiangcheng and Minister Zheng Shuzhu, he submitted a memorial declaring: "Falsifying evidence and obscuring the truth is absolutely not permitted by the laws of the state; deceiving those below and concealing the truth from those above is intolerable under royal law. Investigate the Left Minister Song Youdao carefully; his reputation has never been good, and what merits does he possess that are worth recording? At the beginning of the Yong'an years, officials in the court were either dead or scattered, and there was a shortage of talent, yet he fortuitously became a court official. His behavior is frivolous and immature, his words flattering; he is unscrupulously cunning, ignorant of the rules, indifferent to the law, and everyone despises his character while fearing his tongue. He has risen from local to central government, with increasingly higher official positions, yet he has not changed his bad habits, never knowing remorse, allowing his reputation and slander to be at his discretion. In this matter concerning Prince Anping, he acted recklessly, abusing his public office for personal gain, and mutually impeaching with Official Bi Yiyun. Furthermore, the Left Military Official Wei Shudao reported back: 'Those demoted in the bureau, such as Zuo Ze, were sent from the capital to the province, ordered to be released.' When the General was in the province, the verdict was 'approved.' Youdao became furious, saying: 'What kind of government was that before? From now on, we will handle everything according to this example!' He also said: 'According to previous edicts, what can be accomplished?' Inquiring about this matter, Youdao admitted everything. According to the law: 'To confront an envoy is a breach of the etiquette of subjects and is a great disrespect punishable by death.' If confronting an envoy warrants death, how much more so for Youdao, who spoke words unbefitting a subject, committing the crime of offending the sovereign, talking about Yi and Qi while secretly thinking of Dao Zhi, deceiving the public, betraying the law, accepting bribes, and amassing wealth and status with each promotion? Though his illicit gains remain hidden, his cunning is clearly evident. Citing this incident, other fraudulent acts can also be verified. Now, in accordance with both ritual and law, Youdao is sentenced to death.

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At that time, the court officials all thought You Dao was incompetent. When Wen Xiang heard about You Dao's confrontation with Gao Longzhi, he said to Yang Zunyan, "This person is truly a principled tough guy!" Zunyan replied, "It’s like having a dog; initially, you want it to guard the house, but if it barks too much, you might just end up putting it down. I'm afraid there won't be any dogs barking in the future." The emperor ordered the case to be reviewed by the Court of Judicial Review, and You Dao was dismissed from his position. Wen Xiang sent Yuan Jingkang to tell You Dao, "You should come to Bingzhou with me soon; otherwise, someone will kill you." When You Dao arrived in Jinyang, he served as an official in the Grand Secretariat and also as a consultant for the Taiyuan Public Office. When the Duke of Pingyang was made lieutenant, You Dao concurrently served as a consultant and a secretary to the censor. Soon after, he also took on the role of left chief historian of the Minister of Works.

Wen Xiang suspected that palace attendant Wen Zisheng might be aware of Yuan Jin's plans, so he had him arrested and imprisoned, ultimately starving him to death. Wen Zisheng even ended up eating his clothes before dying by the roadside. Later, someone collected his body and buried him. After hearing this, Wen Xiang remarked, "Recently, I wrote to the dignitaries in the capital, talking about the court officials and saying that you (referring to You Dao) were favoring your friends, which cou

Wang Daoxi of Donglai participated in the selection of the imperial censor, but because he did not meet the eligibility criteria, he submitted a self-recommendation letter. Daoxi and Youdao had known each other before, so he asked his subordinates to submit Daoxi's letter. Wenxiang was furious and gave Youdao a severe beating, then ruled: "Youdao is straightforward and outspoken, unable to tell right from wrong, and often points out others' shortcomings and nitpicks. Previously, he had a dispute with the physician Lan Jingyun, accusing him of ten charges. Upon further investigation, all of them were found to be baseless. He also, along with Daoxi, disregarded court regulations, and as a judge, violated legal discipline, which is truly unforgivable and should be dealt with by the provincial authorities." Youdao was imprisoned, and the jailer offered to loosen his bindings, but he firmly refused, saying, "This is a government order; it can't be undone lightly." Upon hearing this, Wenxiang granted him a pardon. Youdao consistently upheld his integrity and incorruptibility.

In the first year of the Tianbao era, Youdao was appointed as the Minister of Finance, responsible for auditing the accounts of the Minor Treasury. As a result, he discovered that the chief official was embezzling and accepting bribes, amounting to millions. Those corrupt officials then falsely accused Youdao, leading to his imprisonment. Not long after, Youdao was released, but instead of going home, he went straight to the yamen to attend to official business. After his death, his will requested a simple burial with no monument and no posthumous title. The court posthumously appointed him as Governor of Guazhou. During the Wuping era, due to his son Shisu's long tenure managing confidential matters, the court once again posthumously appointed Youdao as Yitong Sansi and conferred the posthumous name "Zhenghui" upon him.

You Dao is a person of uncompromising integrity, who particularly detests evil people. Whenever he sees someone committing a crime, he feels compelled to bring them to justice. He handles public affairs seriously and meticulously, and he enjoys investigating secret matters. During interrogations, he employs very harsh methods. When the governor of Yanzhou, Li Zizhen, was corrupt and acted tyrannically during his tenure, You Dao submitted a petition for his impeachment. At that time, Emperor Wenxiang decided it was best to let it slide because Li Zizhen had previously made contributions. You Dao suspected Chen Yuankang was an accomplice of Li Zizhen, so he secretly wrote to the emperor, saying, "Li Zizhen and Chen Yuankang have a close relationship; they may have some collusion in secret." Emperor Wenxiang was furious and summoned all officials in the Hall of the Ministry of Personnel, where he executed Li Zizhen on the spot. Later, the people of Yanzhou built a temple for You Dao, with a plaque reading "Loyal and Honest Official."

You Dao also impeached five others, including Ji Ning, leading to their execution, and he smirked. Many officials in the court looked down on his actions. However, You Dao valued friendship, was loyal, and kept his promises. He was always strict and upright while in office, but privately he often accepted bribes, distributing money to impoverished relatives and friends, and helping orphans and widows arrange marriages. When there were funerals, he would personally assist with the arrangements. While serving as the official overseeing governance in Sizhou, he had a poor relationship with the princes Mu Changle and Xihe, but after their deaths, he took great care in handling their funerals. He became close friends with Li Jiang from Dunqiu at first sight. Li Jiang said, "I am getting old and plan to have my younger brother be your assistant, so he can treat you with utmost respect." You Dao replied, "That's not acceptable." Later, when Li Jiang became the governor of Henan, he invited You Dao to be the Chief of Justice. Many envoys came to visit him and held him in great respect, and the two often shared drinks and stories, enjoying each other's company.

After Yuan Hao attacked Luoyang, Li Jiang accepted Yuan Hao's appointment and was dispatched to Xuzhou as an envoy, but was ultimately killed by the Xuzhou governor Yuan Fu and a local resident, Zhao Sha. You Dao sought to vindicate Li Jiang and eventually cleared his name, petitioned the court for a posthumous promotion of Li Jiang's official rank, while voluntarily accepting a demotion to compensate for Li Jiang's loss of status. He also befriended Liu Xun and entrusted Liu Xun's brother, Liu Cui, with the task of killing Zhao Sha in Xuzhou. Later, Liu Xun was executed in Luoyang, and Liu Cui rebelled in Xuzhou. The court dispatched troops to suppress the rebellion and displayed Liu Cui's severed head in Ye City. Sun Teng sent an emissary to bribe the city officials, offering five million coins to secure the return of Liu Cui's head. At that time, You Dao was an official in Sizhizhong, and he had his family pretend to be Liu Cui's relatives to accuse Sun Teng in the province, seeking a legal judgment, and then reported to the court. The court's order was issued, but the city officials still refused to hand over the money. You Dao then punished the city officials with a beating, forcing them to promptly hand over the money. Sun Teng was furious upon hearing this.

At that time, Li Jiang's two sons, Li Gou and Li Xun, lived in poverty. You Dao later had them expose three wealthy men for capital offenses, and their sentences were commuted, and they received a total of 1.5 million coins, which was all given to Li Gou and Li Xun. You Dao wielded his power to bully others and formed cliques for personal gain. At that time, people said, "You Dao has a monkey-like face and a figure like a fighting chicken. Who would have thought that his heart was not as ugly as his appearance? How could someone who looks ugly necessarily lack loyalty?" Li Gou once jokingly said when You Dao was entertaining guests, "Xian Cong is outside the door; he is a good person and should be personally welcomed." He jokingly referred to him as "Cousin You Shan." When You Dao went out to look, it turned out to be someone dressed in a monkey suit. You Dao wanted to cut ties with him, but Li Gou apologized, and the two reconciled. After You Dao died, Li Gou became the Chief Historian of Dingzhou, and You Dao's third son, You Shixun, became the registrar of Moca and Boling Wang. He conspired with the official to falsely accuse Li Gou. Li Gou honored You Dao in prison and shared his grievances with him. During the day, You Shixun slept as if in a dream, and in his dream, You Dao said to him angrily, "Don't you know the bond between me and Li Gou? How could you conspire with those petty people to harm an upright person?" You Shixun was so scared that he knelt down and said, "I dare not, I dare not." He died just a few days later.

You Dao advised his sons Shi Su, Shi Yue, and Shi Shen, saying: "I have been too rigid in my dealings with the world, and that's why I often face setbacks. This is my character, and you shouldn't follow my example!" All the sons heeded their father's words and became gentle and humble in how they interact with others. Shi Su was steady and spoke little, but he was very capable. He gradually rose through the ranks and became a secretary of the Central Secretariat. Later, Zhao Yan Shen recommended him to the inner court to participate in confidential affairs, and he successively held the positions of Deputy of the Central Secretariat and Deputy of the Yellow Gate, eventually promoted to the positions of Yitong Sansi and Sanqi Changshi, often serving as Deputy of the Yellow Gate at the same time. He worked in core departments for nearly twenty years, known for being cautious, gentle, and respectful, earning Zhao Yan Shen's deep trust. At the time when Zu Ting was in control of the government, he had appointed Zhao Yan Shen as a regional governor. Zu Ting suggested appointing Shi Su as the governor of Dongjun, and Li Delin, the Deputy of the Central Secretariat, pleaded with Zu Ting to keep him, so Shi Su was reappointed as Deputy of the Yellow Gate and continued to participate in confidential affairs. Shi Yue was also a good person, reaching the position of Left Assistant Minister.

Lu Fei, courtesy name Zizhang, was a native of Zhuojun, Fanyang. His father, Lu Tong, was a minister in the court of the Wei state. Lu Fei was known for his brutality and notorious for his ruthless decisiveness. Emperor Shizong recommended him to the imperial court, where he served as an assistant to the penal officer in the Ministry of Justice. The emperor also remarked about him, saying: “'Kuangjian' and 'Feiran Chengzhang' are not good names at all!” During the Tianbao era, he gradually rose in rank, becoming the Left Minister of the Ministry of Justice, specifically responsible for the imperial prisons in the capital region. He systematically tortured prisoners, committing acts that were utterly inhumane. Regardless of the size of the case, he excessively tortured prisoners, resulting in dozens of deaths due to his brutal methods. Some prisoners were thrown out onto the ice and snow during the harsh winters, while others were left to suffer under the scorching sun during sweltering

Bi Yiyun, nicknamed Tu'er, was a rough and uncouth bandit in his youth. He lived on the northern border of Yanzhou, which gave the locals quite a headache as he often robbed passing merchants. Later, he reformed and became an official. He gradually rose through the ranks to become the Minister of the Interior. He was stern and ruthless, and when handling affairs, he was swift and resolute. When Qi Wenxiang was the prime minister, he considered Bi Yiyun capable and appointed him to investigate corrupt officials, notably employing cart spokes to extract confessions, which led to the capture of many. However, this also bred considerable resentment. An official from Sizhou accused him of corruption and forgery. Qi Wenxiang believed that despite his ruthless methods, he had captured many corrupt officials, and since the public was complaining, he chose not to hold Bi Yiyun accountable; instead, he arrested and executed several of his accusers. After this incident, Bi Yiyun intensified his interrogations and punishments, and his notoriety grew.

After Emperor Wenxuan ascended to the throne, he appointed Yiyun as the Deputy Censor-in-Chief. This guy enforced the law with an iron fist, even going after royal relatives who thought they were untouchable. He was later promoted to Chief Censor, and his investigations became even more rigorous. However, Yiyun was quite domineering and handled matters unfairly, often facing accusations against him.

Sima Zuirui, the Left Chancellor of the Imperial Secretariat, again impeached Yiyun, saying: "In the fourth month of the first year of the Tianbao era, the Emperor's aunt from the Dou family passed away, and all the officials went to offer condolences. Yiyun only sent a censor to deliver a mourning card, and he didn't bother to show up himself. Yiyun also claimed that after becoming a widower, he was living in poverty and married the daughter of Li Shi'an. Although Li Shi'an was still in mourning, his daughter had already completed her mourning period, so Yiyun secretly married her without a grand celebration. However, on the day of the wedding, the ceremony was quite lavish, and he sent twenty officials dressed in bright attire following the carriage. This is clearly a deception against the Emperor! Yiyun's family is wealthy, living in a mansion, yet he pretends to be poor; this is downright hypocritical! If judges behave this way, who can we trust? Furthermore, when the Emperor arrived in Jinyang, the court mandated that officials ranked fourth and below, as well as those ranked fifth and above, should sign at the Nandu a day in advance, while those of the third rank and above should sign on the same day. Yiyun, however, violated the regulations and signed at home in advance, claiming he felt unwell that day and did not come." After hearing this, the Emperor handed Yiyun over to the Tingwei for trial, but later granted him a pardon. Sima Zuirui then continuously impeached Yiyun on more than ten charges, most of which were minor offenses, and in the end, he was merely fined a small sum and faced no significant repercussions. Sima Xiaonan, Sima Zuirui's brother, was the governor of Beiyuzhou, and Yiyun dispatched Censor Zhang Zijie to Beiyuzhou for an investigation, even going so far as to prohibit guests at Sima Xiaonan's home. In fear, he fled to Xizhou. At that time, many believed Yiyun was to blame, claiming he was retaliating against Sima Zuirui, and this incident also came to the Emperor's attention. Previously, when the Emperor held banquets for the officials, Yiyun always attended, but after this, he was sidelined, and his reputation took a nosedive.

In the early years of the Qianming era, Zi Rui was promoted to the position of Deputy Censor-in-Chief. At that time, Zheng Zi Mo had just been appointed to court, and interestingly, Yi Yun's aunt was also Zheng Zi Mo's grandmother. Consequently, Yi Yun's aunt was appointed Minister of Revenue and also took on the role of Acting Left Chancellor. Later, following Zheng Zi Mo's execution, Yi Yun's aunt was relieved of her duties as Left Chancellor.

Emperor Xiao Zhao went to Jinyang, while Gao Yuanhai remained in Ye City to maintain order. Yi Yun had a particularly close relationship with Gao Yuanhai and relied heavily on him. Gao Yuanhai, aware of Yi Yun's Buddhist practices, often accompanied him to listen to sermons, resulting in a close bond where they shared everything. Later, as Emperor Xiao Zhao fell gravely ill, he entrusted the throne to Emperor Wu Cheng on his deathbed. Upon Gao Guiyan's arrival in the capital, Emperor Wu Cheng remained uncertain.

Gao Yuanhai sent an ox cart to the North Palace to summon Yi Yun for discussions. Yi Yun, along with Gao Yuanhai and others, backed Emperor Wu Cheng's ascension, and then followed him to Jinyang to participate in state affairs. Before long, Yi Yun was appointed as the Governor of Yanzhou, and the court even assigned him a band of musicians to accompany him, as Yanzhou was his place of office. At that time, he was charismatic and brimming with ambition, dreaming of future promotions to higher positions.

He welcomed visitors with genuine enthusiasm. He also told others that this goodbye was just temporary and that he wouldn't linger in the province for long. When he traveled, a band would precede him, and when he arrived at the government office to conduct business, he had the band play again, thus employing both bands. He frequently wrote to Gao Yuanhai about significant political issues.

On one occasion, when Gao Yuanhai went to the palace to meet the emperor, he accidentally dropped Yi Yun's letter, which was found by the official Li Xiaozhen and shown to the emperor. This incident gradually strained the relationship between Gao Yuanhai and Yi Yun, while Li Xiaozhen was subsequently elevated to Secretary of the Central Secretariat. Later, when Gao Guiyan staged a rebellion, Yi Yun secretly recruited soldiers and stockpiled weapons in the province, claiming it was for self-defense, but in truth, he had ulterior motives.

He was reported to the court, and after Gao Guiyan was captured, Yiyun was also accused of colluding with Gao Guiyan and abusing his power, so he was summoned back by the court. However, Emperor Wucheng, considering his past contributions, ultimately chose not to punish him; instead, he appointed him as the concurrent Minister of War.

To be honest, Yiyun is a generous and charitable person; his family had been governors of the province for several generations, and they are very wealthy. Many impoverished scholars have received his assistance. However, after he became an official, he became arrogant and extravagant, building grand houses and estates, which he completed in no time. His household was chaotic, and his reputation was in tatters both at court and among the public. When he was a court official, he had a conflict with the Left Chancellor Song Youdao over official business, which led to a quarrel. Song Youdao publicly humiliated him, saying, "The poem 'Xiong Hu' has been waiting for you for thousands of years!" Yiyun said nothing in response.

In reality, he is a ruthless and brutal man, far from being normal. At home, he was even more vicious; his son, grandson, and servants were often left battered and bruised. He had a wicked son named Shan Zhao, who was utterly vile; he had a sordid affair with Yiyun's maid and often beat her severely. Once, he even put a bridle on her, tied her to a tree in the yard, and fed her grass for over ten days before releasing her. Later, Yiyun was killed in the middle of the night, and the murder weapon was Shan Zhao's dagger, which was deliberately thrown into Yiyun's courtyard. After hearing the news of the incident, Shan Zhao ran over in tears; when his family discovered his dagger, he was so frightened that he quickly fled and hid in Ping'en Shushe.

The next day, Emperor Shizu sent the attendant Lanzichang to investigate the Yiyun family. Previously, Yiyun had just married a young and beautiful woman from the Lu family from Fanyang. Lu's wife suspected that she conspired with someone to kill Yiyun and wanted to arrest her for interrogation. Lu's wife explained what happened, saying it was Shan Zhao who did it. Consequently, they arrested Shan Zhao and locked him up in Linzhang prison, preparing to execute him by beheading. Xing Shao protested that this was a serious injustice, and since Yiyun was an important minister of the court, this couldn't be made public. In the end, Shan Zhao was executed in prison, and his body was dumped into the Zhang River.

Details

Written by: Realhistories

Category: Book of Northern Qi （北齊書）

Published: 09 January 2025

Created: 09 January 2025

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In ancient times, emperors governed the realm by enforcing severe laws to curb wrongdoers and using ritual and moral teachings to regulate people's desires. Therefore, it was necessary to assign responsibilities and appoint officials to collaboratively govern the state. The Book of Documents states: "Understanding how to use people is wisdom; being able to employ good people to pacify the people is benevolence." A wise ruler naturally has honest officials; a foolish court is typically rife with greedy and cruel officials. Emperor Gaozu rectified the chaos and showed compassion for the people, which is why many local officials at that time were competent. However, those generals elevated to local lords for their military achievements lacked understanding of governance and political strategy. They not only failed to comprehend the previous lessons learned but also relied on their subordinates when they first began to handle state affairs, being greedy and cruel, and even when advised, they remained unrepentant. Alas! This is indeed a great loss for the court!

After the Danning period, the social climate deteriorated, and the phenomenon of selling official positions and judicial roles became very common, with systemic deception at all levels. By the end of the dynasty, the greed for wealth intensified further. During the Qi Dynasty, there were several officials as honest as Xin Shu, most of whom were recorded in historical texts due to their prominent positions. Officials like Fang Zhonggan demonstrated exceptional talents during the Wuping era, which is particularly commendable. Now, I am including Zhang Huayuan and others in the "Biographies of Honest Officials."

Zhang Huayuan, styled Guoman, was from Dai County. He was clever and quick-witted from a young age and had a great demeanor. When Emperor Gaozu established the Cavalry Command, he recruited him as a judicial officer and later promoted him to serve in the Grand Chancellor's office, often serving Emperor Gaozu. He accompanied Gaozu to Xindu and was highly valued by him. Whenever Gaozu issued commands to the armies, he always had Zhang recite the edicts.

When Emperor Wen of Zhou first occupied Yongzhou, Gaozu still wanted to persuade him to submit, so he sent Zhang Huayuan to enter the pass and talk him into it. Emperor Wen of Zhou considered detaining Zhang Huayuan and said to him, "If you can stay, we will enjoy wealth and honor together; otherwise, your life will be at great risk!" Zhang Huayuan replied, "The King of Bohai is a born leader, destined by fate. You only control a small part of Guanzhong, yet you want to carve out your own territory. That's why I was sent to persuade you. If you do not take this opportunity to change your mind and turn calamity into fortune, but instead wish to threaten me, then I have no choice but to accept my fate!" Emperor Wen of Zhou admired his integrity and let him return. Gaozu often sighed, worried about Zhang Huayuan's long absence, and when he heard that he was back, a look of joy appeared on his face.

Song Shiliang, styled Yuanyou, was from Guangping. At the age of fifteen, he was already brave and full of spirit, voluntarily enlisting in the army to fight in the north, where he earned many military accolades. Later, he became a palace censor and was ordered to Hebei to investigate household registrations, uncovering many people evading taxes. When he returned, he saw many bones near the city of Ji County and wrote to the local government, requesting that they collect and bury the bones. That night, a torrential rain fell. Upon his return to court, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang praised him, saying, "I know that the number of registered households you found is twice the original count. If only all officials were as dedicated as you, the world would be a better place!" Afterwards, he was appointed as the governor of Qinghe.

Song Shiliang was very talented and had broad-mindedness, especially excelling in local governance. His reputation rose remarkably in Qinghe County shortly after he took office. In the southeast of the county, there was an area known as Qu Di, which was occupied by the Cheng clan, and many thieves gathered there. The locals used to say, "Better to cross the Kuaiji Mountains of Dongwu than to pass through Cheng Gong's Qu Di." Song Shiliang implemented eight measures for governance, and the thieves fled. The locals began to sing, "Although Qu Di is perilous, what good are the thieves? As long as Governor Song is here, the thieves will naturally vanish." Later, during the reign of Qi Tianbao, a general amnesty was announced, and there wasn't a single prisoner in Qinghe County; the officials only had to read the decree. The prison had become a jungle of weeds, and peach trees and wild wormwood were everywhere. Every day, the government office was eerily quiet, with no one coming to lodge complaints. That winter, a spring of fresh water emerged in the county. When he left office, all the citizens came to see him off, creating an incredibly moving scene. An old man named Ding Jingang stepped forward, tears in his eyes, to express his gratitude, saying, "I am ninety years old this year and have seen thirty-five governors come and go. Not only did you govern well, but you were also utterly incorruptible. Now that we have lost such a good official, what are we common folks supposed to do?" Everyone held onto his sleeves and cried incessantly. Later, he was appointed as the governor of Dongjun and ultimately passed away while in office. Song Shiliang was hardworking and eager to learn, had a passion for writing, and authored five essays known as "Zi Lue" and ten volumes of "The Song Family Chronicles." He and his brother Song Shigui were both celebrated for their devotion to family and brotherly affection.

When he served as the Prefect of Yanzhou, the people were very grateful to him, and banditry ceased. There were more than a thousand prisoners before in the Yanzhou prison, and he set them all free. By the end of the year, only a few dozen who had committed serious crimes remained, and he sent them home, with the requirement that they report back to prison at a designated time. Wild beasts had frequently attacked people in the region, but since Song Shiliang took office, six strange horses suddenly appeared and devoured the wild beasts, causing everyone to believe that it was his virtue that had moved the heavens. After his death, the people of the region, regardless of their social standing, held him in fond memory.

Song Shigui was strict and diligent from a young age, with a passion for studying law, and later rose to the position of Chief Justice. One time, the people of Luozhou gathered to rob a river bridge, and the authorities arrested them, which implicated over 1,700 accomplices. When Cui Xian served as the Chief Justice, he categorized this incident as a rebellion, and no verdict was reached for several years. When Song Shigui became the Junior Minister, he ruled that this was merely a robbery case, executing only the ringleader and releasing all the others. At that time, Su Zhenzhi of Dali was renowned for his fair judgments. People in the Dali Temple said, "The one who can determine the suspects is Su Zhenzhi, and the one who can see both the surface and the underlying truth is Song Shigui." People then considered these two to be the two foremost experts of the Dali Temple. When prisoners from Nantai arrived at the Ministry of Justice, Shigui often spoke up for their grievances. Later, Shigui was reassigned as an Imperial Censor, preparing to investigate the abuse of power by Lieutenant Bi Yiyun, but Bi Yiyun refused to cooperate, delaying repeatedly. Song Shigui then wrote to the emperor, detailing Bi Yiyun's oppressive actions. Emperor Xianzhu summoned both of them and personally told Song Shigui, "I know that the Tai Fu has long oppressed the Si Fu. You can uphold your principles and stand against them. As long as you uphold this integrity, you needn't worry about wealth and status." He then said to Bi Yiyun, "What you've done truly deserves death, but because your intent is to punish evil, I will spare you this time." He then addressed the court officials, saying, "Both of these men are upright and outspoken ministers of my dynasty." Later, Song Shigui died from illness, and upon hearing of his death, the prisoners from the Ministry of Justice and the Imperial Censorate wept, saying, "Song, the Chief Justice, has died; what chance do we have now?"

Song Shiliang was a descendant of the Prince of Filial Piety, knowledgeable and versatile, and he enjoyed collecting and organizing manuscripts. Although he had an average appearance, he often critiqued others, which resulted in a negative public perception of him at the time. He served as a military advisor to Duan Xiaoyan and was later recommended as a literary figure for Prince Beiping. He requested to enter the Wenlin Academy but was unsuccessful, so he smeared the court officials and wrote a twenty-volume work titled "Separate Record." After the Qi state was pacified, he renamed the book "Customs of the East," expanding its content, and ultimately wrote over thirty volumes. The book contained many falsehoods and inaccuracies, and the chapter arrangement was disorganized and lacked the structure of a proper scholarly work.

Lang Ji, styled Shiye, was from Zhongshan. He was tall, about eight feet, handsome, and had a beautiful beard. He was well-read and particularly skilled in handling political affairs.

He started as a low-ranking court official but steadily climbed the ranks and eventually became the general of Haixi. Wu Mingche of the Liang Dynasty led troops to attack Haixi, laying siege to it. Lang Ji motivated both the soldiers and the civilians, holding out for over a hundred days. As their food supplies dwindled and weapons ran low, he even had to fashion arrows from wood and create fletchings from paper.

Finally, the siege was finally lifted, and Lang Ji returned to report back to the court. Minister Yang Yin personally came out to welcome him and praised him, saying, "You originally served as a civilian official, but I didn't expect you to have such remarkable military talent! Carving wood and cutting paper to make weapons is unprecedented; you truly deserve our respect!"

Later, Lang Ji was appointed as the governor of Yingchuan County. He served in this position for several years, efficiently handling cases and public affairs, managing to resolve a backlog of cases in just a few days. Additionally, his decisions were acknowledged by the court. He organized various affairs in the county in an orderly manner, resolving various lawsuits thoroughly, bringing great satisfaction to the common people.

Lang Ji was an honest man who never coveted wealth. He once told others, "In a position of power, one doesn't even need to prepare a wooden pillow, much less those more significant things!" His only small hobby was writing. Pan Ziyi once wrote to him, saying, "Being an official and writing, this can be seen as a kind of romantic 'indulgence', right?" Lang Ji replied, "Understanding benevolence and righteousness through mistakes isn't necessarily a bad thing!" Later, Lang Ji passed away while in office. His coffin was to be transported back to his hometown, and along the way, many mourners followed the hearse, crying bitterly and deeply saddened. Meng Ye, courtesy name Jingye, was from Anguo, a town in Julu, Hebei. He came from a very poor family, and when he was young, he served as a minor official. He was known for his integrity and caution; once, when his colleagues embezzled silk from the government and offered him thirty bolts, he firmly refused and confiscated them.

Later, Sima Shao, the King of Pengcheng in the Wei state, was appointed as the Governor of Dingzhou and promoted Meng Ye to be the chief clerk (equivalent to a secretary). Liu Renzhi, the Chief of Dingzhou, said to Meng Ye, "I’m out here, and you’re in there. If we work together with one heart, we will definitely make a difference!" Soon after, Liu Renzhi was recalled by the court to serve as the Chancellor. As he was leaving, he said to Sima Shao, "Your Highness, the only person you can truly trust is Meng Ye; please make sure to value him. The others are unreliable!" He also bid farewell to Meng Ye, holding his hand and saying, "I’m leaving Dingzhou now, and you will lose your support. I’m worried you’ll have a hard time looking after yourself alone. You must remain upright and work hard!" Meng Ye only had one horse, which later died because it was too weak. Sima Shao, knowing that Meng Ye came from a poor background, asked the officials to share a meal of horse meat, hoping to compensate him well, but Meng Ye firmly declined and couldn’t bring himself to accept. Sima Shao then joked with Meng Ye, saying, "Looks like you’re trying to rub elbows with the influential!" Meng Ye replied, "I’m just an insignificant person serving a superior like you. I can’t really contribute anything, nor do I want to ruin your good name." Later, Emperor Gaozu wrote to Sima Shao, saying, "That secretary named Meng is really diligent and responsible. Why don't you promote him to be by your side?" Sima Shao was the son-in-law of Emperor Gaozu. Liu Renzhi later became the Governor of Yanzhou, and before leaving, he said to the Minister of Personnel, Cui Xian, "Among the officials of Yanzhou, only Meng Ye is worth promoting; the others are not capable." Cui Xian asked Meng Ye, "What did you do in Dingzhou that made Liu Xiyuan think so highly of you?" Meng Ye replied, "I’m just naturally a bit simple and straightforward, only knowing how to cultivate myself and nurture my character, without any notable accomplishments."

In the early years of the Tianbao era, King Gao of Qinghe was appointed as the governor of Sizhou. Hearing that Meng Ye had a good reputation and character, he summoned him to serve as a legal official. Meng Ye was short and slight, and when Gao Yue first saw him, he looked down on his slight build and merely smiled without saying a word. Later, after carefully reviewing Meng Ye's judgments, he said to him, "Your decisions are very wise and can be said to exceed what one might expect from your appearance." Soon after, Meng Ye was promoted to the governor of Dongjun, earning a reputation for his kindness and compassion. That year, it was common for a wheat stalk to bear five ears of wheat, while most others had three or four ears; the entire county believed this was a good omen of Meng Ye's benevolent governance. Later, Meng Ye passed away due to illness.

Cui Boqian, also known as Shixun, hailed from Boling. His father, Cui Wenye, had served as the magistrate of Julu County. Cui Boqian lost both parents at a young age and grew up in poverty, but he was very filial to his mother. Later, he was summoned to Jinyang by Emperor Gaozu and appointed as an assistant in the Ministry of Personnel Affairs. Emperor Gaozu praised him, saying, "He is honest and upright, dedicated to the public good, truly an excellent aide!" Afterwards, he was promoted to be the deputy of Yingzhou. Later, Emperor Shizong appointed him as the military officer in the capital and praised him, saying, "You have made remarkable achievements in Yingzhou, and the people live and work in peace. Now, the supervisory office is busy with affairs, so I am asking you to help." He had a cousin named Cui Xian, who held great power at the time, but despite being colleagues and classmates, Boqian never sought his help because of Xian's influence, no matter the circumstances.

Later, Cui Boqian was appointed governor of Jibei. He ruled with compassion and earned the deep affection of the people. He even replaced his whip with one made of soft leather, as he could not bear to see the common people suffer under the whip, as a reminder to himself. Once, a high official from the court passed through Jibei and asked the locals about their governor's achievements. The people replied, "Governor Cui's benevolence is unmatched even in ancient history!" They even sang a song: "Lord Cui governs well, easily replaces the whip, spreads virtue, and the people live in harmony." The official asked, "Since you say he is so benevolent, why is there still a whip?" The people explained, "It's because the higher officials fear the whip's authority that the common people can enjoy his kindness!" Later, Cui Boqian was summoned to Ye City, and the people cried out and tried to block his path, reluctant to let him go. Since his brother held a position in Guanzhong, Cui Boqian gave up his chance to serve in the court and was instead appointed magistrate of Nanjulu County. He managed government affairs with meticulous care, personally attending to every detail. If any poor or weak individuals had unresolved issues, they would say, "We have the white-bearded elder (referring to Cui Boqian), so we have nothing to fear!" Ultimately, Cui Boqian rose to the rank of Silver Green Grand Minister of Rites before passing away.

Su Qiong, courtesy name Zhenzhi, hailing from Wuqiang, had once served as a minor official in the Wei kingdom. Su Qiong grew up on the frontier with his father and once visited the governor of East Jingzhou, Cao Zhi. Cao Zhi playfully asked him, "Do you want to be an official?" Su Qiong replied, "It should be the government that needs talent, not talent seeking the government." Cao Zhi was surprised by his response and appointed him as a military officer. Later, King Wenxiang appointed him as an official with the title of Yitong Kaifu and promoted him to a military judge, often encouraging and supporting him. One time, a gang of bandits emerged in Bingzhou, and he was tasked with investigating the case. He apprehended some suspects, and the stolen items were claimed by their owners, but the actual stolen goods remained unfound. King Wenxiang reassigned the case to Su Qiong, and Su Qiong identified over ten criminals, including Yuan Jingrong, and found the stolen goods. King Wenxiang burst into laughter and said to those who had previously made wrongful arrests, "If it weren't for our good military officer, you might have wrongfully condemned them to death!"

Su Qiong became the governor of Nanjinghe, where theft was rampant. Upon his arrival, both the citizens and officials respected him greatly, and the thieves vanished without a trace. If any wrongdoers from outside tried to pass through the border, none managed to escape; all were captured and handed over to the authorities.

In Lingling County, there was an ordinary farmer named Wei Shuangcheng who lost a cow and suspected that Wei Zibin from the same village had stolen it, so he reported him to the magistrate. Su Qiong carefully questioned him and found that Wei Zibin had not stolen the cow at all, so he released him. Wei Shuangcheng was worried and said, "Sir, you've let the thief go; how am I supposed to find my cow?" Su Qiong brushed him off and discreetly sent someone to investigate. Soon, they caught the real thief. From then on, the villagers no longer worried when they lost their cattle or sheep; they would casually say, "Just leave it to the magistrate, and we'll be at ease!" Even wealthy people from neighboring counties stored their valuables at the border to keep their valuables safe from thieves. When thieves actually came to rob, the wealthy would tell the thieves, "My things are already stored with Magistrate Su!" Upon hearing this, the thieves would quickly flee in fear.

In Pingyuan County, there was an infamous bandit leader named Liu Heigou, who had a large gang and whose influence reached all the way to the coast. However, in Su Qiong's territory, every village was very peaceful and completely unaffected. People from neighboring counties admired Su Qiong’s fair governance. More than a hundred former bandits who originally roamed the county were recruited by Su Qiong to work under him. He had a remarkable knack for seeing through people's intentions; he was in the know about everything going on, big or small, even knowing who the governor had a drink with. Su Qiong was known for his integrity and caution, and he never wrote personal letters.

In Jizhou, there was an affluent monk named Daoyan, who owned many properties in the county and was frequently targeted for tax collection. He wanted to meet with Su Qiong, but Su Qiong had already figured out his intentions and would discuss profound principles with him every time they met, showing him great respect. Although Daoyan had many tax issues he wanted to discuss with Su Qiong, he could never find the right moment to speak. His disciples asked him why, and Daoyan replied, "Every time I meet the magistrate, he takes me to another level; how can I think about all that other stuff?"

Su Qiong's governance not only maintained peace but also instilled a sense of trust among the people, reflecting a commitment to integrity and justice.

Zhao Ying, a commoner from the county, was previously the governor of Leiling. He retired at the age of eighty and returned home. In early May, he sent a pair of fresh melons to Su Qiong. Due to his old age, Zhao Ying earnestly pleaded with Su Qiong to accept them, and she did, specially hanging them on the beam of the hall where matters were heard, without having eaten them. Later, everyone began to send fresh fruit, and when they saw Zhao Ying's melons still there, they all turned back.

There were also two brothers, Yi Puming, who had quarreled for many years over a land dispute, gathering a crowd of over a hundred people. Su Qiong called the two brothers and, in front of everyone, advised them: "The hardest thing to come by in this world is brotherly love; land is actually easy to obtain. If you lose your brotherly bond over land, is that really worth it?" As she spoke, tears streamed down Su Qiong's face, and soon everyone present was in tears. The Puming brothers bowed and admitted their mistakes, asking Su Qiong for time to consider. Ten years later, they reconciled and lived together again.

Every spring, Su Qiong would invite great scholars like Wei Jilong and Tian Yuanfeng to give lectures at the county school, and after officials finished their duties, they would attend the classes. People at the time said that the government offices had turned into a "student dormitory." Su Qiong also banned improper temples and advocated for simplicity in weddings and funerals, making sure everything adhered to proper etiquette. Each year during silkworm season, she would send cotton and silk samples to various departments in advance, and clear regulations were established for military duties and taxes. Even for labor assignments, arrangements needed to be made in advance, so county officials rarely faced punishment for delays. At that time, people from various states and counties came to learn from Su Qiong's governance methods.

In the Tianbao period, a major flood occurred in the county, leaving many families without food. Su Qiong gathered all the families in the county that had surplus grain to lend it to the disaster victims. The state’s household registration officials wanted to collect taxes and even intended to count the grain Su Qiong had lent out. The disciplinary officer warned Su Qiong, "Although you have helped the disaster victims, you may be punished for it." Su Qiong replied, "If I have to face punishment alone to save thousands of families, what’s there to complain about?" Thus, Su Qiong submitted a report detailing the situation, and the state ultimately exempted everyone from taxes, enabling the people to live and work in peace. Those who benefited from Su Qiong's kindness expressed their gratitude, saying, "The governor is like our reborn parents!" Su Qiong served for six years and was greatly beloved by the people, with no one ever reporting him to the state government. He submitted petitions four times, all of which were rated outstanding. Later, due to unexpected events, he was dismissed from office, and when old friends tried to give him gifts, he turned them all down. Not long after, he was reinstated as the Director of Justice and the Chief of the Court, and the court ministers all felt sorry for him. The Minister of Personnel, Xin Shu, said, "Su Qiong is both upright and incorruptible, truly living up to his reputation, and there’s no need to worry that his contributions won't be acknowledged."

Initially, Su Qiong served as the governor of Qinghe, while Pei Xianbo was the inspector of Jizhou. Pei Xianbo was particularly strict and liked to use harsh measures, while Su Qiong was known for his leniency towards others. Later, Fang Yanyou became the governor of Yeling and passed through Jizhou, where Pei Xianbo asked him about Su Qiong's reputation. Fang Yanyou said, "I have only heard that Governor Su Qiong is highly regarded, while Inspector Pei Xianbo is very strict." Pei Xianbo replied, "Just because someone is well-regarded by the people doesn't mean they are truly just." Fang Yanyou countered, "If that's the case, then Huang Ba and Gong Sui must also be criminals." Later, the court ordered that all states to recommend honest and capable officials. Pei Xianbo, worried that Su Qiong would frame him because of his earlier comments about Su Qiong, found that Su Qiong actually defended Pei Xianbo, proving that he had done nothing wrong, and everyone admired Su Qiong's fairness and justice.

Bi Yi Yun served as the Deputy Censor-in-Chief and was known for his severity and temper, causing officials to fear him and no one dared to disobey his orders. However, Su Qiong was committed to handling cases fairly and justly, vindicating many individuals of wrongful accusations. The case handling practices of the Dali Temple and various government levels began to change due to Su Qiong's influence. Later, Su Qiong was promoted to a high-ranking position. At that time, in the regions of Zhao Zhou, Qinghe, and Nanzhong, there were consecutive reports of rebellion conspiracies, and these cases were assigned to Su Qiong for investigation. After uncovering the truth, he vindicated many individuals. Minister Cui Ang said to Su Qiong, "If you want to establish a reputation, you might want to consider other strategies; you are always exonerating those accused of rebellion. Are you not worried about your own life?" Su Qiong replied earnestly, "I clear their names because they are innocent, not because I support rebellion." Upon hearing this, Cui Ang felt very ashamed. At that time, a saying circulated in the capital: "Known for his decisive case handling, Su Zhen (Su Qiong's courtesy name) is without a doubt the best!"

Su Qiong was later promoted to Left Chancellor, responsible for the administration of Xuzhou. A five-level temple in Xuzhou was suddenly robbed, which lost a hundred bronze statues. The authorities searched everywhere, suspecting nearby neighbors and some dubious individuals, arresting dozens of people. However, Su Qiong let them all go. The monks of the temple complained that Su Qiong was not capturing the thieves, and Su Qiong sent someone to comfort them, saying, "You all go back to the temple; the bronze statues will come back on their own." Ten days later, Su Qiong identified the thieves and located the stolen goods, quickly mobilizing his men to catch all the thieves in one go, recovering all the stolen items, and the thieves all confessed. The locals were deeply impressed by Su Qiong. Previously, there was a ban on crossing the Huai River for trade, and the Huainan region often faced bad harvests. Su Qiong petitioned the court to let folks from Huabei buy grain in Huainan. Later, a famine also occurred in the Huabei region, and he requested permission to buy grain in Huainan as well, allowing merchants to travel freely between the two regions, helping each other, and facilitating smooth water and land transportation, which also benefited the Hebei region. Eventually, Su Qiong became the Minister of Justice, and after the fall of the Qi dynasty, he served as the Governor of Boling during the Zhou dynasty.

Fang Bao, styled Zhonggan, was from Qinghe. His grandfather, Fa Shou, is recorded in the "Book of Wei"; his father was named Yi Zong. Fang Bao was tall and strong, with a great presence. He initially served as an assistant military officer and also held a bureaucratic position, following Murong Shaozong. Murong Shaozong claimed he was fated to face a flood disaster, so he bathed on a warship and even jumped directly into the water, hoping to dodge the disaster. Fang Bao said, "Fate is in the hands of heaven; how can we control it? General, if you're really facing a disaster, just praying won't help; if you're not in any danger, then why pray at all?" Murong Shaozong laughed and said, "I just seek psychological comfort." Not long after that, Murong Shaozong drowned, and people at the time thought Fang Bao was impressive for seeing right through it.

Later, he was promoted to be the governor of Yueling County. He was steady and composed, showing deep compassion for the impoverished. In the places where he served, the official residences were clean and tidy, and the jails were devoid of prisoners. The county was near the sea, and the water was salty and bitter; therefore, Fang Bao had a well excavated, which yielded sweet spring water. People from near and far viewed this as a testament to his integrity in governance. After Fang Bao retired and returned to his hometown, the water from that well became salty again. After the Northern Qi was destroyed, he returned to his hometown to spend his later years. The court summoned him repeatedly, but he declined each time, citing illness as his excuse. In the end, he passed away at home.

Lu Qubing hailed from Yangping. He was graceful and had an extraordinary appearance. Initially, he served as a military advisor. The court appointed scholars to serve as county magistrates, and Lu Qubing was sent to Raoyang County in Dingzhou as the county magistrate. Lu Qubing had a clear grasp of administrative affairs, strict yet decisive, and no one dared to deceive him. However, he was also very fair and incorruptible, deeply loved by the people. Later, he was promoted to be the magistrate of Cheng'an County. Near the capital, there were three counties: Ye County, Linzhang County, and Cheng'an County, located under the emperor's feet, which had always been difficult to manage. Moreover, it was a time of chaos, with disorder rampant, and requests and petitions from court officials and royal relatives were incessant. Lu Qubing managed administrative matters in accordance with the law, responding with reason and evidence. Even the influential, including their household servants, feared his authority but did not harbor resentment against him. Since he was reassigned to Ye County, among the magistrates of these three counties, his record was the most distinguished. After Emperor Wu of Zhou subdued the Northern Qi, he valued Lu Qubing's talents, and neither he nor Gongsun Jingmao, the governor of Jiyin, were dismissed; the court even issued an edict to commend them. He passed away during the Daye period of the Sui Dynasty while serving as the magistrate of Jishi County.