Wei Shou, styled Boqi, also known as Fozhu, was from Quyang, Xiakou, Julu, Hebei. His great-grandfather was Wei Ji, and his grandfather was Wei Shao. His father, Wei Jian, styled Jingzhong, was posthumously honored with the title Yitong and appointed as the Governor of Dingzhou. By the age of fifteen, Wei Shou was already capable of writing impressive essays. Later, he followed his father to the frontier, developed a passion for horseback riding and archery, and aspired to achieve fame through martial prowess. As a result, Zheng Bo of Xingyang teased him, saying, "Young Master Wei, how many years have you been practicing the halberd technique?" Wei Shou was quite embarrassed, so he gave up martial arts and focused on his studies. In the summer, he would sit on a bench bed, shifting his position to follow the shade of the trees to read and memorize; after a few years, the bench had become worn down, yet he persevered. Ultimately, he rose to prominence due to his exceptional literary talent and was initially appointed as a Doctor at the Imperial Academy.
Later, when Er Zhu Rong massacred court officials at Heyin, Wei Shou found himself caught in the chaos, and he narrowly escaped thanks to the cover of darkness. The Minister of Personnel, Li Shenjun, greatly admired Wei Shou's talent and petitioned the emperor to appoint him as an advisor in the Ministry of Personnel. In the third year of Yong'an, he was appointed as the Northern Guest Minister. After Gao Huan established Emperor Xiaowu, he valued Wei Shou's abilities and tasked him with drafting the "Fengshan Document." Wei Shou wrote it in one go, without a draft, producing nearly a thousand characters with minimal revisions. At that time, the palace attendant Jia Situ, who was serving nearby, was taken aback and remarked to the emperor, "Even someone with the talent to compose poetry in seven steps cannot compare to him!" Wei Shou was subsequently promoted to the position of Sanzhi Shilang, and then he was tasked with writing the daily records while also contributing to the compilation of national history, concurrently serving as the Shilang of the Central Secretariat; he was just twenty-six years old at that time.
Emperor Xiaowu had just ascended the throne when he issued an edict to reinstate Cui Shou to his original position. Cui Shou managed the mountain of documents and memorials to the emperor's satisfaction. At that time, Court Gentleman Cui Ang had entered the capital with Emperor Qi Shenwu and was highly favored in court, but he initially did not visit Cui Shou. Cui Ang, upon hearing the emperor's amnesty for the people, said, "I follow the example of Emperor Xiaowen," which Cui Shou thought was too blunt and somewhat foolish. The official Li Shen informed Cui Ang of this, which filled Cui Ang with anger and resentment towards Cui Shou.
Later, after Emperor Jiemin passed away, the emperor ordered Cui Shou to draft an edict. Cui Ang then went around proclaiming that Cui Shou had been entering the emperor's bedroom during the Puta period and could write several edicts in a day, with beautiful prose and ornate language. However, he had labeled those who participated in the uprising as rebels. With his elderly father in mind, Cui Shou resigned from office to care for him. The Southern Terrace sought to impeach him, but fortunately, Minister Xin Xiong defended him before Lieutenant Qi Jun, allowing him to escape punishment. Cui Shou had a younger brother, Cui Zhongtong, who had not been appointed to an official position before, so Cui Shou was very anxious and quickly reported his family's situation, requesting to resign and return home to serve his parents.
Emperor Xiaowu once mobilized troops on a large scale to hunt south of Mount Shaoshi in Songshan, continuing for sixteen days. The weather was cold, and there were complaints from both the court and the people. The emperor, along with the officials, concubines, and various bizarre talents and eccentric clothing, exceeded the norms of propriety. Cui Shou wanted to offer counsel but was afraid; he wished to remain silent but found himself unable to do so, so he wrote a "Rhapsody on the Southern Hunt" to satirize the emperor when he was only twenty-seven years old. While the writing was ornate and somewhat excessive, it ultimately expressed an upright viewpoint. The emperor personally replied to commend him. Zheng Bo said, "If you hadn’t crossed paths with me, old man that I am, you would have been hunted down like a rabbit on the run."
At first, Qi Shenwu firmly declined the position of Grand General of the Heavenly Pillar, so Emperor Wei had Cui Shou draft an edict for him to accept the position. The emperor intended to promote Qi Shenwu to the position of Chancellor and asked Cui Shou about the rank of the chancellor. Cui Shou replied honestly, leading the emperor to abandon the idea. Because Cui Shou had not yet grasped the thoughts of the emperor and Qi Shenwu, and considering that past events had been unstable, he requested to resign, which the emperor granted. Not long after, the emperor appointed his nephew, Prince Guangping Zhan, as the Director of Court Affairs, and Cui Shou felt he could not refuse, so he wrote a piece titled "Ode to the Courtyard Bamboo" to convey his sentiments. Soon after, Cui Shou also assumed the role of a Secretary in the Central Secretariat, gaining recognition alongside Wen Zisheng from Jiyin and Xing Zicai from Hejian, and people referred to them as the "Three Talents." At that time, Emperor Xiaowu was suspicious of Qi Shenwu, and their relationship was tense, so Cui Shou cited illness as his reason for resigning. His uncle, Cui Xiaofen, was confused and inquired about the reason; Cui Shou replied, "I fear that something similar to what happened in Jinyang might happen." Not long after, Qi Shenwu marched south to muster troops, while the emperor headed west into Guanzhong.
Wei Shou, who rose to the position of Gentleman of the Imperial Guard, was sent to the Liang Dynasty as a vice envoy, accompanying Wang Xin. Wang Xin was exceptionally talented and eloquent, while Wei Shou was known for his ornate language and graceful writing style. Both were highly respected by Emperor Wu of Liang and his ministers. Previously, when the Northern and Southern Dynasties had just reconciled, Li Xie and Lu Yuanming were the first envoys to establish communication, and both of their talents and virtues were valued by neighboring countries. This time, Emperor Wu of Liang remarked, "Lu and Li are the talents of our time, while Wang and Wei are ministers of the revival; I wonder what kind of talents will emerge in the future!" While in the Liang capital, Wei Shou bought a maid from Wu, and his subordinates also followed suit, leading to a gathering of these maids for immoral activities, which resulted in the punishment of Liang officials. Although people praised his talent, they despised his behavior. On the road, he wrote a *Rhapsody on the Invitation to Travel*, which was beautifully worded and outstanding.
After the envoys returned home, the Right Minister of Personnel, Gao Longzhi, wanted to obtain some southern delicacies from Wang Xin and Wei Shou but was unsuccessful. He then suggested that Inspector General Gao Zhongmi obstruct Wang Xin and Wei Shou at the Inspectorate. They were detained for a long time before being released.
After Sun Qian's death, Sima Ziru recommended Wei Shou, summoning him to Jinyang and appointing him as the chief clerk of the Central and Outer Ministries. However, Wei Shou often disobeyed orders during his service and was reprimanded multiple times, even receiving corporal punishment, which significantly delayed his promotion. Later, when Sima Ziru was sent on a mission to Northern Qi, Wei Shou benefitted from Sima Ziru's influence. At a banquet, Sima Ziru jokingly said to Gao Yang, "Wei Shou is a prominent secretary of the Wei court, a great talent of the state; I hope Your Majesty can show him some favor." Thus, Wei Shou was transferred to work in the ministry, but he did not receive favorable treatment.
Wei Shou's uncle, Wei Jijing, was very talented and held a relatively prominent official position. He had served in government even before Wei Shou, yet Wei Shou always held him in contempt. When Wei Jijing and Wei Shou first arrived in Bing Prefecture, they encountered Li Shu from Dunqiu, the son of Li Xie, the former Minister of Agriculture, who was known for his exceptional eloquence. He once said to Wei Shou, "There are two people from Wei in the Northern Qi court!" Wei Shou responded nonchalantly, "Comparing me to my uncle is like comparing me to Yeshu!" This Yeshu was the son of the former Minister of Personnel, Chen Qingshi, and was infamously dim-witted, often going to the market to buy things at high prices, to the merchants' amusement. Wei Shou looked down on Wei Jijing, so he made this comparison, and there were many similar disrespectful behaviors.
I make my living through writing, and of course, I hope my talents will be recognized, but my official position has not progressed much. I thought about working on the national history. Cui Xian went to tell King Wenxiang, "Compiling the national history is of utmost importance; we must properly record the achievements of our royal family through generations, and it must be done by Wei Shou!" King Wenxiang then appointed Wei Shou as the acting attendant of the imperial guard, tasked with compiling the national history. By the second year of Wuding, Wei Shou was promoted to the chief attendant of the imperial guard and also took on the role of Vice Minister of the Central Secretariat, continuing his work on the history.
Once, the Emperor of Wei hosted a banquet for his officials and asked everyone what day it was on the first day of the lunar calendar, but no one could answer. Wei Shou immediately said, "Dong Xun, a scholar from the Jin Dynasty, wrote in 'Answers to Questions on Ritual and Customs': 'The first day of the lunar month is for the rooster, the second for the dog, the third for the pig, the fourth for the sheep, the fifth for the ox, the sixth for the horse, and the seventh for humans.'" At that moment, Xing Shao was also there and felt embarrassed. Since the Wei and Liang states had established friendly relations, the letters sent from Liang to Wei always started with "Wishing for peace in your land and harmony throughout your territory." Later, when Liang sent envoys, the word "that" was dropped from their letters, only writing "this," intending to imply that the whole world belonged to Liang. When Wei Shou replied to Liang, he wrote, "Wishing for tranquility within your borders; may all nations enjoy peace." After receiving the letter, Liang adopted the same phrasing in their replies.
Later, when Gao Huan entered the court, Emperor Xiaojing wanted to make him Prime Minister, but Gao Huan declined and asked Wei Shou to write the memorial. After the memorial was prepared and submitted, Wang Wenxiang was present beside Gao Huan, who gestured toward Wei Shou and said, "This person will become the second Cui Guang in the future!" Four years later, at a sacrificial banquet held at the Ximen Bao Temple, Gao Huan said to Sima Ziru, "Wei Shou is now a historian, recording our merits and demerits. I heard that during the northern campaigns, all the ministers sent food and drink to the historians. Sima Pushe, did you send them anything?" Everyone burst into laughter. Gao Huan then said to Wei Shou, "Don’t think that just because you see Yuan Kang and the others busying themselves around me, I value their hard work. My future reputation rests entirely in your hands; don’t think I’m not aware of that." Shortly after, Wei Shou was also appointed as a Literary Officer.
When Wei Shou was young in Luoyang, he was particularly frivolous, and everyone called him "Wei Shou, the startled moth." Once, Duke Wenxiang went on a trip to Dongshan and invited the Minister Huangmen Shilang Yuan Hao and others to a banquet. Duke Wenxiang said, "Wei Shou is someone who relies on his talent and looks down on others, not quite fitting in with the crowd. We should call him out on his flaws." A few people started to poke fun at Wei Shou, and he suddenly exclaimed loudly, "Yang Zunyan has run out of excuses and is already defeated!" Yuan Hao, unperturbed, replied, "I still have plenty of time, steady as a rock; if I encounter someone as frivolous as Wei Shou, I might not even notice him." The term "当涂" is a jab at Wei Shou, and "翩翩" indicates someone as frivolous as a moth, indirectly pointing to him. Duke Wenxiang saw this coming and burst out laughing, praising Yuan Hao for his cleverness.
Duke Wenxiang then said, "What was just said was still a bit too subtle; we should be more direct in criticizing him." Yuan Hao immediately responded, "Wei Shou once wrote a poem in Bingzhou and, after sharing it with everyone, said, 'Even if Uncle Ji Jing sends six hundred measures of rice, I still can’t get the hang of it.' Everyone knows this; it's not just me talking nonsense." Duke Wenxiang happily said, "I've heard about it long ago." Everyone laughed. Although Wei Shou explained himself, he didn’t dare to argue back with Yuan Hao anymore and felt uneasy inside.
During the rebellion of Hou Jing, he attacked the Liang dynasty and disturbed the southern borders. At that time, Duke Wenxiang was in Jinyang and he instructed Wei Shou to draft memorials, completing over fifty in just a few days. He also instructed Wei Shou to draft a memorial to the Liang dynasty, requesting the return of Hou Jing. That night, Wei Shou began writing and finished by the third watch, producing over seven pieces in total. Duke Wenxiang held great admiration for his talent. The Wei Emperor once held a grand archery ceremony in the autumn, inviting everyone to compose poetry; the last two lines of Wei Shou's poem read: "A letter sent to Jianye, a summons to Chang'an." Duke Wenxiang appreciated this greatly and said to everyone, "With talents like Wei Shou in our court, it truly is a national honor! His writing is exquisite, and he is well-versed in various styles. Even if I asked Zicai or Zisheng to write, they wouldn't match his flair and literary elegance. Sometimes I have thoughts in my mind that I forget to express, and when I do, I cannot convey them fully. Some ideas remain unexpressed, but when Wei Shou looks at my drafts, he can completely grasp my meaning, which is no small feat." Later, Duke Wenxiang appointed Wei Shou as the head of the guest officials to receive the Liang dynasty envoys, Xie Ting and Xu Ling. After Hou Jing seized control of the Liang dynasty, Wang Fanzhen of Poyang was appointed as the governor of Hezhou, and Duke Wenxiang had Wei Shou write a letter to persuade him. After receiving the letter, Wang Fanzhen led his troops westward to pledge allegiance, while Governor Cui Shengnian also occupied his city. Duke Wenxiang remarked to Wei Shou, "Now that we’ve pacified a state, you’ve put in tremendous effort, but it’s a shame that the line 'A letter sent to Jianye' hasn’t come to fruition yet!" Duke Wenxiang passed away, and at that time, King Wenxuan was in Jinyang, so he instructed palace attendants Cui Jishu, Gao Dezheng, and Minister of Personnel Liang Jin to manage confidential affairs at the Northern Palace. Later, he was promoted to Secretary Supervisor while also serving as a Literary Official, and then he was transferred to serve as the Chief of the Dazhongzheng in Dingzhou. At that time, the Northern Qi was preparing to abdicate the throne, and Yang Yin suggested that King Wenxuan be placed in a separate residence, where he could draft the abdication edict and related documents, and assigned Xu Zicai to guard the gate, ensuring he wouldn’t be allowed to go out.
In the first year of the Tianbao era, King Wenxuan was appointed as the Minister of the Central Secretariat, while continuing to serve as the Master of Writings, and was granted the title of Viscount of Fuping. Two years later, the emperor ordered me to write the history of the Wei state. Four years later, I was again appointed as the Governor of Weijun, but the emperor favored me and allowed me to devote myself entirely to writing historical texts, relieving me of the duties of the governorship. At the beginning, the emperor asked the ministers to express their wishes, and at that time, I said, "I hope to write the 'History of Wei' with an honest pen in the Eastern Pavilion." So the emperor entrusted me with full authority over this project. He also appointed Prince Pingyuan Gao Longzhi to supervise, but it was essentially a figurehead role. The emperor specifically told me, "Write well, use an honest pen; I will never make the same mistake as Emperor Taiwu of Wei, who executed historians." In the early period of the Wei dynasty, Deng Yanhai authored over ten volumes of 'Chronicles of the Dai,' later Cui Hao oversaw the historical records, and You Ya, Gao Yun, Cheng Jun, Li Biao, Cui Guang, and Li Yan gradually joined in the compilation. Cui Hao adopted a chronological format, and it was Li Biao who began to divide the historical texts into annals, tables, treatises, and biographies, but the work was still incomplete. During the reign of Emperor Xuanwu, the emperor assigned Xing Luan to continue writing the 'Daily Records of Emperor Xiaowen,' which continued until the fourteenth year of Taihe, and then had Cui Hong and Wang Zunye continue to supplement and improve it. It continued to be written until the time of Emperor Xiaoming, with highly detailed content. Prince Jiyin Huiye also wrote a thirty-volume 'Records of the Distinction of the Lineage.' Then, I, along with the regular attendant Fang Yanyou, Sima Xin Yuanzhi, the Doctor of the National University Diao Rou, Pei Angzhi, and the Secretary of State Gao Xiaogan, was tasked with organizing and reviewing these historical materials, ultimately completing the 'History of Wei.' We carefully distinguished the names of figures, carefully sifted through the materials, and gathered many lost historical records and supplemented them with later events, and finally completed this comprehensive history book reflecting the history of the Wei dynasty, which was then submitted to the emperor.
This monumental work has finally been completed! It contains a total of twelve sections and ninety-two biographies, making a total of one hundred and ten volumes, which is truly no easy feat! In the third month of the fifth year, I presented it to the emperor. In autumn, I was again appointed as the governor of Liangzhou. However, I was still concerned that the "Book of Wei" had not yet been fully completed, so I requested the emperor to allow me to continue working on the remaining parts, and the emperor granted my request. In November, I submitted ten volumes of records: four volumes on "Celestial Phenomena," three volumes on "Geography," two volumes on "Law and Calendar," four volumes on "Rites and Music," one volume on "Food and Goods," one volume on "Punishments," two volumes on "Spiritual Omens," two volumes on "Official Families," and one volume on "Exegesis of Laozi," totaling twenty volumes. With these records added to the chapters and biographies, the entire work was expanded to 130 volumes, divided into twelve sections. Additionally, there are thirty-five case studies, twenty-five prefaces, ninety-four discussions, as well as two tables and one proclamation at the beginning and end of the work.
At that time, when looking for people to write the history, Wei Shou was worried they might become too arrogant, so he only selected those who had good relations with him. Although Fang Yanyou, Xin Yuanzhi, and Sui Zhongrang had previously held official positions in the court, they lacked the genuine ability to write history. Although Diao Rou and Pei Angzhi were favored due to their Confucian scholarship, they also lacked the capability to compile historical texts. Gao Xiaogan had only scraped by through questionable means. Those who participated in the historical compilation, as long as they had some connection to the royal family, were included in the historical records and were lavishly praised. Wei Shou was known for his irritable temperament and handled matters unfairly; those who had crossed him in the past saw their good qualities erased. He often said, "What kind of lowly creatures dare to show their faces to me, Wei Shou? Whoever I want to elevate, I will elevate to the heavens; whoever I want to belittle, I will belittle to the depths!"
Initially, Wei Shou served as the Junior Minister of Rites during the reign of Emperor Shunwu, tasked with compiling the national history, with the assistance of Yang Xiuzhi. Therefore, Wei Shou expressed his gratitude to Yang Xiuzhi, saying, "I really don’t know how to repay your kindness; I will certainly write an excellent biography for you." Yang Xiuzhi's father, Yang Gu, served as the governor of Beiping during the Wei dynasty. He was accused of corruption and brutality by the lieutenant Li Ping and was punished for it, a matter recorded in the "Chronicles of Wei." However, while writing the history, he noted, "Yang Gu did many good deeds while in office in Beiping; he was dismissed solely due to official matters." He also wrote, "Li Ping held him in very high regard." Er Zhu Rong was considered a rebel during the Wei dynasty, but Wei Shou downplayed Er Zhu Rong's crimes because of the Gao family's ties to him and the financial support he received from Er Zhu Rong's son, while exaggerating his merits. He wrote in the text, "In terms of cultivating virtue, how do people like Wei, Peng, Yi, and Huo measure up?" Some claimed that Wei Shou's "Book of Wei" was biased, prompting Emperor Wenzu to order the "Book of Wei" be submitted to the Ministry of Personnel for Wei Shou to discuss and revise it with the descendants of various families. Over a hundred individuals lodged complaints, some claiming that Wei Shou had omitted their family lineages and official titles, others stating that their families were not recorded whatsoever, and some accusing Wei Shou of intentional defamation. Wei Shou addressed each of their grievances individually.
Lu Fei from Fanyang and Li Shu from Dunqiu both produced their ancestral family trees. Li Shu's family tree indicated that their ancestors hailed from the Mengdi people of the Liang state. Lu Fei and Li Shu criticized Wei Shou, saying, "Your historical records are not objective!" Wei Shou, furious and unable to bear such accusations, maligned them, accusing them of wanting to harm him. The emperor was furious and personally questioned Wei Shou. Lu Fei said, "My father served in the Wei dynasty, reaching the rank of Yitong Sansi, with significant accomplishments and a reputation that resonated throughout the land. I don’t even know Wei Shou, so why should he be honored with a biography? Cui Chuo from Boling only attained the rank of county official and lacked any notable achievements, yet you wrote a biography for him simply because he is related to Wei Shou!" Wei Shou countered, "Although Cui Chuo's official position is not high, he has a good reputation, therefore, he deserves a biography." The emperor asked, "How do you know he is a good person?" Wei Shou said, "Gao Yun once wrote a commendation for Cui Chuo, saying he was very virtuous." The emperor said, "A great talent like Sikong writing commendations for others will naturally praise them. Just like when you write articles, saying nice things about others, can they all be taken at face value?" Wei Shou was trembling with fear. However, the emperor had initially valued Wei Shou's talent and was reluctant to punish him.
At that time, Wang Songnian of Taiyuan also criticized the "Book of Wei." He, along with Lu Fei and Li Shu, were punished and were all beaten and subsequently exiled to Jiafang; some even died as a result, and even Lu Sidao was implicated. Because there were too many people criticizing the "Book of Wei," the emperor ordered that its implementation be temporarily halted, allowing officials to discuss it widely and permitting those with family disputes to appeal to the Ministry of Rites, where inaccuracies could be formally addressed. As a result, everyone began to discuss it, calling the "Book of Wei" a "dirty history," and complaints flooded in, overwhelming Wei Shou. At that time, Left Deputy Minister Yang Yin and Right Deputy Minister Gao Dezhen wielded immense power and had a good relationship with Wei Shou, so Wei Shou wrote biographies for their families as well. They wanted to prevent any claims that the "Book of Wei" was inaccurate, so they suppressed those appeals, and after Emperor Wenxuan's death, this issue was never brought up again.
The Minister of Rites Lu Cao once said to Yang Yin, "Wei Shou's 'Book of Wei' is a testament to his scholarship and talent, with great contributions to the Wei dynasty." Yang Yin replied to Wei Shou, "This can be considered an immortal work, to be passed down through the ages. It's a shame that your accounts of family branches and relationships were overly complicated and diverged from the format of earlier historical texts." Wei Shou said, "Because the Central Plains had been ravaged by war in the past, many people's family trees were lost, which is why I detailed their branches. I hope you can understand my challenges and won't hold it against me."
In the summer of the eighth year of his reign, Wei Shou was promoted to the position of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince and Historian of the State, and he also participated in the revision of laws and regulations. Later, when the Palace of the Three Platforms was completed, Emperor Wenxuan said, "Now that the palace is built, we should compose a poem to celebrate it!" Wei Shou first informed Yang Yin, who then submitted a grand piece titled "Ode to the New Palace." It was written with such grandeur that none of the literati of the time, from Xing Shao on down, could rival its quality. Yang Yin only told Xing Shao a few days before submitting the ode, and later, Xing Shao remarked to others, "Wei Shou is really cunning; it would have been better if he had told me earlier."
On one occasion, when Emperor Wenxuan went to East Mountain for a leisure trip, he asked Wei Shou to draft an imperial decree to extol his own achievements, comparing the western regions to something else. Wei Shou quickly completed it, with grand wording and clear logic. The Emperor praised him greatly in front of all the civil and military officials. After that, Wei Shou also took on the role of Grand Master of the Crown Prince. He married his uncle Cui Ang's sister and had a daughter, but no sons. Later, the granddaughter of Grand Minister Liu Fang and the daughter of Zhongshu Lang Cui Zhao were bestowed upon Wei Shou as concubines due to their families' misdeeds. People at the time compared him to Jia Chong, noting that Jia Chong had two wives, and so did Wei Shou. Yet, Wei Shou remained without sons.
Later, Wei Shou fell seriously ill and worried that after his death, the status of his legitimate wife and concubines would be unequal, so he released the two concubines. After he recovered, he missed them, so he wrote an essay titled "Ode of Longing for Separation" to express his feelings of longing. Emperor Wenxuan often said at banquets, "The crown prince's character is weak, and the affairs of state are of great importance; ultimately, the throne should be passed to the Prince of Changshan (Emperor Wenxuan's brother)." Wei Shou said to Yang Yin, "The ancients said that the crown prince is the foundation of the nation and should not be easily shaken. The emperor has mentioned passing the throne to the Prince of Changshan three times at banquets, which has caused confusion among the ministers. If the emperor truly intends to do so, he should take immediate action. The emperor is not joking; since I, Wei Shou, am the crown prince's teacher, I must vow to protect him with my life, but I fear this may cause instability in the state!" Yang Yin conveyed Wei Shou's words to Emperor Wenxuan, and from then on, Emperor Wenxuan no longer mentioned the matter.
Emperor Wenxuan often held banquets to entertain his ministers, and Wei Shou was always by his side. One time, the crown prince selected Zheng as his favored concubine, and the appropriate officials prepared a lavish feast. Emperor Wenxuan got drunk and stood up, overturning all the food and drink. Then he asked Wei Shou, "Do you understand my meaning?" Wei Shou replied, "I am dull-witted; I believe that since she is a concubine of the Eastern Palace, such a lavish feast is unnecessary. I inferred Your Majesty's intentions, which is why I acted as I did." Emperor Wenxuan burst into hearty laughter and held Wei Shou's hand, saying, "You understand my meaning."
King Ande's son, Yan Zong, married the daughter of Li Zu Shou from Zhao County as his consort. Later, Emperor Wenxuan attended a banquet at the Li family, where Li Fei's mother from the Song family offered two pomegranates to Emperor Wenxuan. Nobody knew what it meant, so Emperor Wenxuan threw the pomegranates to Wei Shou in confusion. Wei Shou said, "The pomegranate seeds are many; the prince is newly married, and the consort's mother wishes them many offspring." Emperor Wenxuan was very pleased and told Wei Shou, "Send more like this in the future!" He also rewarded Wei Shou with two pieces of exquisite brocade.
Ten years later, Wei Shou was appointed as the Yitong Sansi. One time during a banquet, Emperor Wenxuan verbally ordered Wei Shou to serve as Zhongshu Jian and asked Zhongshu Lang Li Yin to draft an edict under a tree. Li Yin thought Wei Shou was a great talent of the time and was hesitant to act hastily, so he took a long time to complete the draft. By the time the edict was finished, Emperor Wenxuan had already sobered up and did not bring it up again, and Li Yin did not submit it, so the matter remained unresolved.
It is said that the Northern Wei Emperor passed away in Jinyang, and the court urgently summoned Yang Xiuzhi, the governor of Zhongshan, to participate in discussions regarding the funeral rites and to be responsible for drafting the edict. Afterwards, Yang Xiuzhi was promoted to Shizhong and later to Taichang Qing. The Emperor's posthumous title, temple name, and the name of the tomb were all determined with his involvement.
Later, Emperor Xiaozhao took power and ordered Yang Xiuzhi to draft various edicts and documents, which had been piled up for several days without being sent out. Subsequently, Yang Xiuzhi was promoted to the position of Director of the Central Secretariat. In the first year of the Huangjian era, he was appointed as both the Imperial Attendant and the Right Minister of Grace, while concurrently serving as the Chief of the Three Departments and Inspector. Earlier, Yang Xiuzhi had assisted Wang Xin in a mission to the Liang state, and their relationship was not very harmonious. Wang Xin's brother, Wang Xi, had a close relationship with Emperor Xiaozhao. The emperor appointed Yang Xiuzhi as the Minister of the Central Secretariat, responsible for drafting edicts in Jinyang, while postponing the drafting work in Ye City. This was clearly a maneuver by Wang Xi, and Yang Xiuzhi was very dissatisfied, telling Lu Xunzu, the Crown Prince's attendant, "If you were to write the edicts, I wouldn’t have a problem with it." He also promoted Zu Ting to the position of Official of Literature, hoping to replace himself with Zu Ting. Li Zhu, the Secretary of State, was a talented individual who, upon hearing about this matter, told others, "The drafting of edicts has all fallen to Yang Zilie (the courtesy name of Yang Xiuzhi), while the position of Official of Literature is held by Zu Xiaozheng (Zu Ting). The state's literary and historical efforts are in jeopardy, and I'm afraid the reputation of Duke Wei (referring to Emperor Xiaowen) will also be ruined." At that time, the court was discussing the rituals concerning the "Two Kings and Three Ke," and Yang Xiuzhi insisted on the viewpoints of Wang Su and Du Yu, advocating for the Yuan and Sima families to be the "Two Kings" and Cao Wei to be the "Three Ke." The court ordered all officials of ceremonial studies to follow the rituals of Zheng Xuan's five generations. Since Emperor Xiaozhao's surname was Yuan, he was reluctant to broaden the definition of the "Three Ke," thus adopting Yang Xiuzhi's opinion. Afterwards, Yang Xiuzhi also concurrently served as the Crown Prince's tutor and resigned from the position of Imperial Attendant. The emperor felt that the historical records of the Wei state had not yet been properly compiled and ordered Yang Xiuzhi to carefully review and revise them. Following the emperor's decree, Yang Xiuzhi made numerous modifications to the historical records. Once the Wei history was revised, Yang Xiuzhi believed it should be stored in the secret archives, away from the eyes of outsiders, so he ordered copies to be sent to the central government and to Ye City, so that everyone could access them.
In the first year of Daming, Yang Xiuzhi was promoted to the position of Minister of State with the title 'Kaifu Yitong Sansi.' In the second year of the Heqing era, he also concurrently served as Right Minister. At that time, Emperor Wucheng was immersed in wine and pleasure, leaving major state affairs to the court official Gao Yuanhai. Gao Yuanhai was mediocre and unable to shoulder heavy responsibilities, so he humbly relied on both of them. Yang Xiuzhi, fearing to offend anyone, did not dare to speak out or offer direct advice, which resulted in public criticism. The emperor built the Xuanzhou Garden within Hualin Garden, erected magnificent pavilions and towers, and even painted a portrait of Yang Xiuzhi in the loft, demonstrating the emperor's esteem for him.
Wei Shou began to rise to prominence slightly later than Wen Zisheng and Xing Shao. Wen Zisheng was imprisoned and died due to his crimes, and Xing Shao was also alienated by the court. However, Wei Shou was thus entrusted with significant responsibilities and rose to prominence. At that time in the literary world, everyone criticized and accused one another, forming factions for personal gain. Wei Shou often diminished Xing Shao's literary talent, and Xing Shao retorted, saying: "Ren Fang from Jiangnan has a rough writing style, and Wei Shou is not merely imitating; he is blatantly plagiarizing!" Upon hearing this, Wei Shou replied, "Ren Fang himself copied from Shen Yue's collection; what right does he have to accuse me of stealing from him?" Both Ren Fang and Shen Yue were renowned literary masters of that time, and Xing Shao and Wei Shou each had their share of supporters. During the Wuping years, the court official Yan Zhitui inquired of Minister Zu Ting about the opinions of the two gentlemen, and Zu Ting replied, "By comparing the strengths and weaknesses of Xing Shao and Wei Shou, one can discern the superiority of Ren Fang and Shen Yue." Wei Shou believed that Wen Zisheng was utterly incapable of composing poetry, while Xing Shao had written one or two, but it wasn't his forte. As a result, he often remarked, "To truly become a literary genius, one must be able to write poetry. Simply being content with writing memorials and inscriptions is just child's play."
After the second year of Wuding, most state decrees and military documents were almost all written by Wei Shou. Whenever there was an urgent situation, he could complete them immediately after receiving the edict; sometimes, even when urged by messengers from the palace, Wei Shou could finish as quickly as he would at home. No one could match his writing speed, not even Xing Shao or Wen Zisheng. His advisory work in ceremonies was also on par with Xing Shao. Later, after Duke Zhao of Jun was punished and dismissed, Wei Shou knew about it but chose to ignore it. Once this came to light, Wei Shou was dismissed from his official position. In the same year, he was also punished for entrusting certain matters to Chen Shifeng Xiaoyan, involving Xiaoyan's followers to help. Coincidentally, a ship from the Kunlun Kingdom arrived, bringing many rare treasures, including exquisite bedcovers and jade pieces over a foot long, totaling dozens of items, which led to his exile as punishment, but he ultimately bought his way out. Three years later, Wei Shou was reinstated as the Governor of Qingdu. Soon after, Huangmenlang Yuan Wenyiao, acting on the emperor's orders, informed Wei Shou: "You are my old minister, serving my family the longest. Your past mistakes are understandable. Now I appoint you as the governor, not as a reward for a prestigious position, but merely to allow you to return to duty for the time being. How could I overlook your talents because of your mistakes? By October, you will be restored to your position as a minister." In the first year of the Tiantong era, Wei Shou was appointed as the Left Minister of Rites. In the second year, he became the Inspector of Qizhou and soon took office officially. Wei Shou was strict in educating his nephews and wrote a book titled "Zhenzhong Pian," in which he stated:
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"I have read the book of Guan Zi, which states: 'The greatest responsibility lies within oneself, the most daunting thing on the path is one's words and actions, and the most enduring goal is time. Only a true gentleman can shoulder heavy responsibilities, navigate perilous paths, and reach enduring goals.'" I pondered this statement repeatedly and couldn't help but let out a sigh.
Just like Mount Tai, which towers high and can withstand immense pressure without collapsing; as solid as a mountain range, remaining steady like Mount Tai even under heavy loads; as steep as the Lüliang Mountains, yet one can traverse them leisurely and fearlessly; even the treacherous mountain paths of Jiaozuo can be navigated without panic; a nine-story platform is built layer by layer and completed swiftly; a five-year plan is formulated step by step and eventually completed smoothly. As long as one understands the limits of responsibility, the burden will become steadier; as long as one masters the skills to handle crises, one can respond effortlessly and without worry. Those with lofty goals will inevitably achieve them. Is this just some kind of magical principle? In fact, matters in the world are the same.
Alas! We live between heaven and earth, toiling for a living, driven by personal desires, entangled by fame and fortune; wealth and riches come unexpectedly, while treasures and valuables flow in steadily; thus, we become arrogant and indulgent, which ultimately leads to disaster. Therefore, wise and virtuous individuals, whether they are prominent or reclusive, always maintain inner balance. When they pursue their ambitions, they benefit the state and achieve great things; when they retreat, they do so quietly, leaving no trace. Precious treasures, descendants, fine herbs and wines, musical celebrations, flattery fills the atmosphere; they read the room with skillful rhetoric, and voices of resentment soon follow. Achievements and fame can stand alongside mountains and rivers, aspirations and ambitions can be as solid as rock. This is like a strong beam that doesn’t bend and a sharp blade that cuts easily. However, if virtue is not enduring, one risks losing its original purity. In the hustle and bustle of the world, while catering to the secular, one still feels a sense of coldness, and even with many possessions, one still feels insufficient. When the source is unclear, the water becomes murky; when the appearance is not upright, the shadow becomes distorted.
Alas! Although glue and paint have strong adhesion, they are quickly affected by changes in temperature. Ultimately, beneficial things can turn harmful, and glory can become shame. Joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness are in constant flux, and gains and losses follow one after another. Some may even fall prey to evil spirits and end up ensnared. Is this not a result of inadequate personal ability, leading to confusion in the face of circumstances? Who can remain vigilant before danger strikes and be aware before events unfold? As Guanzi states: "There is no heavier burden than the self, no greater fear than the mouth, and no longer expectation than the years. To carry a heavy responsibility while fearing the path, and to look far ahead, only a gentleman can achieve this."
I have heard that you are all knowledgeable and virtuous individuals who enjoy traveling and studying various classics, and are very familiar with different texts. Your writing is sharp, and your discussions are reasoned and evidence-based. You are filial to your parents and loving to your siblings, achieving the highest standards, almost attaining divinity! You can distinguish right from wrong, follow the right path, recognize your limits, and know when to draw the line. Whether dealing with others or managing your own affairs, you can prioritize others before yourselves and practice self-restraint for the public good. Neither wealth nor honor can shake your resolve, nor can sorrow or anger sway your mood. You do not pursue the lofty detachment of seclusion in the mountains, nor do you yearn for high office and riches in the city. "Words and actions reflect upon each other, and one must be cautious from beginning to end," your every word and deed is careful and consistent. By doing this, you can become a paragon of both virtue and talent. Approach every task with seriousness, dedicating yourself fully, and leave no stone unturned. No matter what position you occupy, you can become a pillar of society; because you have no regrets and are generous with your efforts, you can maintain your nobility without risk.
This is quite different from those who charge ahead without a thought for the consequences, single-mindedly chasing after fame and fortune. They risk enormous dangers, even risking their lives, to gain immense wealth and prestigious positions, often leading to their demise or even death, or sacrificing their integrity and luck. Shouldn't this be a cautionary tale? Shouldn't we always be on guard? The old adage, "Words and actions should reflect each other, and one should be careful from start to finish," is worth deep reflection for each of us.
It is said that the family door is like a place that easily attracts misfortune, so one must be cautious and careful in their actions and cannot disclose any secrets; there may also be bad people lurking outside the walls, so one must be even more cautious in speech and must never say the wrong thing. We must carefully consider our words and actions, speak pleasantly, and act with integrity. Speaking unpleasantly or acting improperly can lead to trouble, from being tormented by spirits to being captured by officials. It could even result in a short life. Therefore, one must never engage in illegal activities or stray onto the wrong path. One should be upright and selfless like the ancient bronze tripod, and one must be honest and trustworthy; personal treasures are not true wealth. One should continuously improve oneself, just as indigo dye deepens to blue and azure dye becomes even more vibrant. Actions should be as precise as measuring straightness with a rope and levelness with water, ensuring fairness and justice. One must seize opportunities and ideally should not have too many desires; contentment brings happiness, thus avoiding many troubles. Therefore, one must carefully observe the signs of events, act with caution, and start from the minutiae. This way, one can avoid disasters. As long as one remains meticulous and careful, good fortune and success will naturally follow. Look at the ancient poet Qu Yuan, who could discern forty-nine kinds of improper behavior, and Yan Hui, who could adhere to propriety for months without deviation. You see, by taking one step at a time, one can travel thousands of miles; by accumulating bit by bit, one can build a mountain of earth thousands of feet high. Therefore, long journeys begin from nearby, and climbing high starts from low; as long as one can persevere, great achievements can be accomplished. However, everything has its rise and fall; the moon waxes and wanes, and the hibiscus blooms and withers. Every benefit has its drawback, and every gain has its loss, so one should not be greedy for too many advantages or too great a profit. Only those with virtue fear their virtue may be insufficient, and those truly talented fear their talent may not be great enough. Those with noble morals often attract much slander; those with heavy responsibilities often incur much resentment. Look at Confucius traveling through various states, tirelessly on the move; Duke Zhou assisting King Cheng also often labored and traveled. Instead of saying others treat me poorly, I should focus on whether I have acted rightly; also, do not say others treat me well; the key lies in whether I have acted rightly. No matter how big the mountain, there are gaps; no matter how deep the valley, it can accommodate all things; a person must balance firmness and softness to bear heavy responsibilities; a person must be honest and trustworthy to turn danger into opportunity; a person must be clever and wise to stand the test of time. The temple officials of the Zhou Dynasty were very discreet, being cautious in their words and actions. Therefore, one should be as vigilant as a leaking vessel and maintain balance like a weeble, passing these principles down to future generations as guiding maxims.
Second section:
Later, many ministers said that the records in the Wei Shu were not accurate, and Emperor Wucheng ordered a re-examination, resulting in the changes being reverted. As a result, a biography was written for Lu Tong, and Cui Chuo's biography was revised and supplemented. Yang Yin's family genealogy originally recorded "since the Wei dynasty, we have been one family," but later changed those eight characters; it originally stated "people from Hongnong and Huayin," but was later changed to "from Hongnong" to match Wang Huilong's "from Taiyuan." This was their mistake.
Wei Shou was put in charge of imperial edicts and appointed as Right Vice Minister of Personnel. After Emperor Wucheng passed away, before the mourning period had begun, the court ministers were uncertain about the amnesty decree because the new emperor had just taken the throne. The ministers asked for Wei Shou's opinion, and he insisted that a general amnesty should be granted, stating that it was a form of grace, and everyone agreed. Later, Wei Shou requested that Zhao Yan, He Shikai, and Xu Zhicai supervise the formulation of the Five Rites together. He first went to inform He Shikai, who was surprised and declined, saying he lacked the knowledge to take on such a responsibility. Wei Shou said, "Major affairs are decided by the emperor; matters like the Five Rites can’t move forward without his decision." Only then did He Shikai thank Wei Shou and agree. Wei Shou also recruited many scholars to draft, with Confucians Ma Jingde, Xiong Ansheng, and Quan Huishi leading the effort. In the third year of Wuping, Wei Shou passed away and was posthumously awarded the titles of Sikong and Left Vice Minister of Personnel, with the posthumous title Wenzhen, leaving behind a collection of seventy volumes.
Wei Shou was knowledgeable and talented, but he had a narrow-minded personality and could not grasp the principles of life or understand the greater truths. When he encountered powerful officials and nobles, he always tried to flatter them with his words and demeanor. However, he valued the reputation and character of those he promoted among the younger generation; he would not value those who were showy, superficial, or opportunistic, even if they were very talented. Initially, Xie Zicai from Hejian and Ji Jing were renowned alongside Wei Shou, famous for their writings, and people referred to them as "Big Xie, Little Wei," with both of them being outstanding writers. Wei Shou's son was only ten years old when Xie Zicai often said, "May the Buddha bless Wei Shou to achieve greatness." Later, Wei Shou and Xie Zicai began to compete for reputation, and Emperor Wenxuan belittled Xie Zicai by saying, "Your talent is not as good as Wei Shou's." This pleased Wei Shou immensely. In a preface he penned, Wei Shou stated, "In the past, people praised Wen and Xing, and later spoke of Xing and Wei." In fact, Wei Shou looked down on Xie Zicai and did not acknowledge him at all. In his later years, Wei Shou's health deteriorated, and he enjoyed listening to music and was skilled in Hu dance. In the later years of Emperor Wenxuan's reign, Wei Shou often played around like a couple of monkeys with performers on East Mountain, and the emperor was very fond of him and quite close to him. Wei Shou's nephew, Cui Yan from Boling, once mocked Wei Shou with a pun, saying, "Silly Wei Shou, washed-up Wei Shou." Wei Shou replied, "Yan Yan (Cui Yan) is weak and foul-smelling; I don’t even know who his mother is. With a sheepish chin, dog-like cheeks, a round head, a flat nose, and a body like a sack of rice, he still dares to mock me!" He was quick-witted and unrestrained in his speech. Wei Shou offended many people for writing history books. The year the Qi dynasty collapsed, Wei Shou's grave was opened, and his bones were discarded outside. The disciple he took in, Ren Biao, inherited his memorial offerings and later became a minister in the Department of Meals. During the Kaihuang period of the Sui dynasty, Ren Biao passed away while serving as the magistrate of Wen County.
