Prince Chen of Zhao, courtesy name Yongbao, was the younger brother of the founding emperor Gaozu. He was skilled in horseback riding and archery from a young age and had great ambitions. After Gaozu unified the country, during the early period of the Northern Wei Dynasty, he was appointed as Cavalry General, General of the Western Guard, and Grand Minister of the Golden Purple Light. Chen served diligently as a palace guard, carrying out his duties cautiously and conscientiously, always setting a good example.
During the Taichang era, he was promoted to Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry and Left Imperial Secretary, and was granted the title of Duke of South Zhao County, with a fief comprising five thousand households. Not long after, he received further promotions to Grand General of the Vanguard, Special Advisor, Supervisor of the Palace Secretariat, and Cavalry Commandant, with his official rank steadily rising. In the second year of Yongxi, he was appointed as Commissioner, Governor of Dingzhou, and Grand Supervisor of the Six Provinces. Chen was sincere and good at pacifying the people, promoting talents, and had a good reputation.
Later, Husi Chun and others rebelled. Gaozu planned to personally lead the campaign to suppress the rebellion, so he left Chen in charge of the rear affairs, appointing him as Chief of the Grand Court of Bing, Si, and Fen, concurrently leading the Grand Supervisors of the Six Provinces and the Nine Tribal Leaders. Chen was responsible for all court affairs in the rear. During the Tianping era, he was appointed as Chief Imperial Secretary, upholding justice and enforcing the law, daring to impeach without hesitation, earning the respect and awe of all.
Later, due to his involvement in a scandal within the founding emperor's harem, he was punished by the emperor and beaten to death at the age of only twenty-three. After his death, he was posthumously appointed as Commissioner, Palace Attendant, Governor of Jidong, Ding, Cang, Ying, You, Yin, Bing, Si, Yun, and Shuo Ten Provinces, Grand General of the Vanguard, Governor of Jizhou, Grand Commandant, Prefect of the Masters of Writing, and Governor of Jizhou, with the posthumous title of Zhenping. In the third year of Tiantong, he was further posthumously granted the title of Acting Yellow Battle-axe, Left Prime Minister, Grand Preceptor, Director of the Imperial Secretariat, Governor of Jizhou, and his title was elevated to a prince, with offerings made to him at the temple of the founding emperor. His son Rui succeeded him in his title.
Xiao Ming's nickname was Xu Ba. His father died when he was three years old. He was smart and clever from a young age, especially loved by Emperor Gaozu, raised in the palace, with You Shi as his foster mother, treated with the same favor as his own son. During the reign of Wei Xing, he inherited the title of Duke of South Zhao. By the time he was four, he had never met his biological mother, Princess Wei Huayang. There was a woman named Zheng, who was Rui's mother's cousin and his own cousin. One day, she joked with Rui, "You are my cousin; why did you recognize You Shi as your mother instead?" After hearing this, Rui began to question his origins and fell into a deep sadness.
Emperor Gaozu found it strange and suspected he might be ill, wanting to summon the imperial physician to examine him. Rui replied, "I'm not sick; I just heard that I still have a mother and I want to see her." The Emperor Gaozu was very surprised, "Who told you this?" Rui explained everything to the Emperor. The Emperor Gaozu then had Lady Yuan bring Rui's mother to the palace to meet Rui. Rui knelt and bowed his head, then cradled his head in his arms and wept bitterly. Seeing this, Emperor Gaozu felt a deep sadness and said to Prince Ping Qin, "This child is naturally filial; my other sons cannot compare to him." He then called off court for the day out of compassion.
When Rui was young, he read the "Classic of Filial Piety," and when he read the phrase "to serve one's father," he couldn't help but cry uncontrollably. When he was ten years old, his mother passed away, and the Emperor personally sent him to the military office to pay respects for his mother. At that time, the Emperor was heartbroken and cried uncontrollably, moving even the attendants. For three days and nights, the Emperor did not eat or drink. Later, Empress Wu Minglou and the Emperor made great efforts to console him. During the mourning period, Rui was extremely devoted, following a vegetarian diet and chanting Buddhist scriptures. He became so emaciated that he could only stand with the aid of a cane. The Emperor even had Prince Changshan accompany him day and night to provide support. He specifically ordered that no one was allowed to give him water, not even to rinse his mouth, and he refused to eat in the afternoon. So whenever the Emperor ate, he would always invite Rui to join him. This shows how much the Emperor cherished him. When the Emperor passed away, Rui cried until he vomited blood.
As he grew up and approached marriage, he still wore a sorrowful expression. Emperor Shizong asked him, "I've arranged for you to marry Zheng Shuzu's daughter, who hails from a distinguished family. Why are you so unhappy?" Rui replied, "I've always mourned my mother’s loss, and I have always been thinking of her. Now that I am getting married, this feeling has grown stronger." Before he could finish, his voice broke and he was unable to continue. Emperor Shizong also felt sympathy and regret for this. Rui was dedicated to his studies, often burning the midnight oil. During the Wuding era, he was appointed as the Prince's son. After Emperor Xianzu ascended the throne, he was granted the title of King of Zhaojun, with a fief consisting of twelve hundred households, and was promoted to the position of Cavalier in Regular Attendance.
Speaking of this person named Rui, he is tall, standing a full seven feet tall, and quite handsome. He enjoys studying matters of officialdom and is especially good at judging people. At only seventeen years old, he became the Governor of Dingzhou and was also appointed as the General of the Army and the Grand Commander of the Six Provinces. His rise in rank was truly rapid! He took his position very seriously, tackling corrupt officials, promoting agricultural production, and treating talented individuals well. He managed Dingzhou very efficiently, and everyone praised him as a good official. Three years later, he was promoted to the position of Ceremonial Secretary. Six years later, the court sent him with tens of thousands of soldiers from Shandong to repair the Great Wall.
It was the peak of summer in June, and the weather was unbearably hot. On the way, Rui deliberately removed the sunshade umbrella and fan, enduring hardships alongside the soldiers. There used to be an ice cellar in Dingzhou that stored ice every year. His Chief of Staff, Song Qindao, saw him enduring the scorching heat and quickly sent people to deliver ice as quickly as possible. Just as they were taking a break at noon, unable to bear the heat, the ice arrived, and everyone felt it was a timely blessing. However, Rui sighed and said, "All the soldiers are drinking warm water, why should I be the only one drinking ice water? It's not that I want to imitate those famous ancient generals, but I just can't bring myself to do it!" In the end, the ice melted, and he didn't take a single sip. The soldiers were deeply moved, and he was praised far and wide.
Previously, when repairing the Great Wall, the laborers were sent home after finishing their work. The stronger laborers left first, leaving the weaker ones behind in the northern mountains, hungry and sick, and many died from exhaustion. When Rui found out, he personally led his troops to bring them back, made arrangements for their care, organized them into camps, supervised and managed them, had the strong ones take care of the weak ones, allowed them to rest in places with abundant water and grass, distributed surplus food to those in need, and in the end, only about one in thirteen or fourteen survived.
Seven years later, he was promoted once more to the position of governor of Cangzhou and was also in charge of military affairs in six states: Cangzhou, Yingzhou, Youzhou, Anzhou, Pingzhou, and Dongyanzhou. Eight years later, the court summoned him to Yecheng, where he was appointed as the governor of Beishuozhou and also managed the military affairs of three states: Beiyan, Beiyu, and Beiheng, as well as along the Great Wall west of the Yellow River. Upon taking office, he pacified the newly relocated citizens, set up beacon towers and garrisons reasonably, and arranged internal and external defenses in an orderly manner, earning the admiration and respect of both the military and the people. In some areas facing water shortages, he led everyone in prayer and then dug wells; water miraculously sprang forth as they dug, and even to this day, the well is still known as "Prince Zhao's Spring."
It is said that nine years later, the emperor went to Loufan to conduct an inspection, handling state affairs at the palace before returning to Jinyang. At that time, King Jin (referring to Li Bing) served as regent for the crown prince, establishing a grand governor's office and managing state affairs together with the Ministry of Personnel, also opening an office and appointing officials. The emperor placed great importance on Li Bing's abilities, appointing him as an imperial attendant and acting as the chief of the grand governor's office. Once, while dining with the emperor, Li Bing was casually asked by the emperor about Wang Yan of Changshan and others, “Has there ever been a chief like him before? How do you feel about appointing him as chief?” Wang Yan replied, “Your Majesty, you are concerned about state affairs, value talent, and promote him to such an important position, and even after stepping down, you still entrust him with significant responsibilities. Since ancient times, I have truly not heard of such a method of appointment.” The emperor said, “I think this arrangement is quite appropriate.” In the tenth year, Li Bing was promoted to the title of Yitong San Si, imperial attendant, general, and chief, with his noble rank unchanged. Soon after, he was further promoted to the title of Yitong San Si of the grand governor's office, as well as General of the Cavalry and Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince.
In the first year of the Huangjian period, Li Bing went to Bingzhou to handle government affairs. Before Emperor Xiaozhao passed away, he entrusted Li Bing to Emperor Shizu (referring to Yang Jian). Li Bing welcomed Emperor Shizu to Yecheng and, due to his contributions, was appointed as the Minister of Officialdom. He was also granted the title of Duke of Fuyang County, concurrently serving as the Chief Historian and the Tutor to the Crown Prince, participating in the development of laws and regulations. Additionally, due to his achievements in the campaign against the Northern Di, he was granted the title of Duke of Yingchuan. He was appointed again as the Minister of Officialdom, serving as the Chief of the Grand Council. During the Tian Tong era, Li Bing's father, Chen, was posthumously granted the honorary title of "Yellow Axe," and his mother, Yuan, was titled Princess of Zhao County, with the posthumous title of Zhenzhao. Princess Huayang's title remained unchanged, and relevant departments performed ceremonial rites at the tomb. It was the height of winter, and the weather was extremely cold; Li Bing walked barefoot, weeping bitterly, his face was chapped, and he spat up several liters of blood. When he returned, his health was too poor to attend the gratitude ceremony, and the emperor personally visited his residence. Later, Li Bing was appointed as the Minister of Works, serving as the Minister of Officialdom.
The Turks once invaded Bingzhou, and the emperor personally led the troops into battle, placing all military operations under Li Bing's command. Due to his achievements, Li Bing was again granted the title of Duke of Xuancheng County. He served as the Chief of the Clan, was promoted to Grand Commander, and participated in the development of the Five Rites. Li Bing managed state affairs for a long time, known for his honesty and integrity, his reputation grew, gradually attracting the envy of others. Therefore, he wrote a book titled "Essentials," focusing on ancient loyal ministers and righteous men to express his aspirations.
After the emperor died, a few days later, Emperor Ruizong, King Li Run of Fengyi, King Li Yanzong of Ande, and Yuan Wenyao jointly submitted a memorial to the young emperor, saying, "He Shikai is not suitable to continue holding important positions in the court." They also submitted the memorial to the empress dowager. As a result, He Shikai was appointed as the Inspector of Yanzhou. The empress dowager said, "He Shikai has always served the court before; I want to allow him to serve for another hundred days." Emperor Ruizong stubbornly refused. In the following days, the empress dowager tried repeatedly to persuade Emperor Ruizong. A eunuch in the palace, who was aware of the empress dowager's secret intentions, said to Emperor Ruizong, "Since the empress dowager has said so, why do you have to resist?" Emperor Ruizong said, "The important affairs of our country's future are at stake; I am not afraid to die. If we let the country fall into chaos just because of fear of death, it is not my aspiration. Moreover, I have accepted the late emperor's decree; the responsibility is great. Now the emperor is still young; how can we allow treacherous officials to remain close to him? If we do not uphold justice, how can I face myself?" So, he insisted again. The empress dowager ordered wine to be served to Emperor Ruizong. Emperor Ruizong said solemnly, "We are discussing important state affairs now, not the time for drinking!" After speaking, he left. That night, as Emperor Ruizong had just fallen asleep, he saw a figure towering over him at five meters tall, with arms over three meters long, standing in front of his bed, pressing him with his arms. After a long time, the figure disappeared. Emperor Ruizong was very scared, sitting up alone and sighing, "Is this the fate of a great man?" He was worried that the empress dowager might have him killed. The next day, when he wanted to attend court, his wife and children urged him not to go. Emperor Ruizong said, "Since ancient times, loyal ministers have disregarded their own safety; the safety of the state is what matters most. I should sacrifice myself for the country; how can I allow a woman to jeopardize the ancestral temple? Moreover, what kind of arrogant and domineering person is He Shikai? I would rather die for the late emperor than see the court fall into chaos."
At the palace gate, someone advised him again: "Your Highness, it's better not to go in; there may be danger." Rui Zong replied, "I have no regrets before the heavens; even if I die, it doesn't matter." After he entered, the Empress Dowager tried to persuade him again, but his attitude became even more resolute. When he came out and walked to Yongxiang Alley, he was apprehended by soldiers and taken to Hualin Garden, where Liu Taozhi strangled him at the Queli Buddhist Monastery, at the age of thirty-six. The thick fog lasted for three days, and people both in court and in society mourned his passing. A year later, the court issued an edict to grant him a royal burial, but ultimately did not posthumously bestow a title.
Zi Zheng, the old man kept his promise and had once held positions such as Sanqi Changshi (Gentleman of the Imperial Horse) and Yitong Sansi (Equivalence of the Three Offices). He was studious and self-disciplined, but when he was young, he fell off his horse while hunting, injuring his waist and legs, and was unable to walk after that. He eventually passed away in Chang'an. His maternal younger brother Huibao had died early, and during the Yuanxiang reign of Northern Wei, Huibao was posthumously honored with titles such as Shizhong, Shangshu Ling, and military governor of four provinces, as well as the governor of Qingzhou. In the third year of the Tian Tong era of Western Wei, he was again posthumously honored with the title of governor of ten provinces and was granted the title of King of Chenliu, with the posthumous title of Wengong, which was inherited by Jingwen, the tenth son of King Qinghe Yue.
King Qinghe Yue, courtesy name Honglue, was the cousin of Gaozu (Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei, Tuoba Hong). His father was named Fan, courtesy name Feique, and was posthumously granted the title of Grand Marshal Xiaoxuangong by the Wei dynasty. Yue grew up in poverty and obscurity, with few people recognizing him, but he grew up to be upright, tall, imposing, calm, and reserved, possessing great leadership abilities. Initially, Yue's family lived in Luoyang, and every time Gaozu was sent on official business to Luoyang, he would stay at Yue's home. Yue's mother, Lady Shan, once woke up in the middle of the night and saw a light emanating from Gaozu's room. She secretly went to see, only to find that there was no light on. She then moved Gaozu to another room, but witnessed the same phenomenon again. Perplexed, she consulted a fortune teller, who interpreted it as an auspicious sign, saying, "This is an auspicious sign. The Book of Changes says 'A dragon flying in the sky, great man is at work.' The dragon soaring to the ninth place is the hexagram of the emperor. Your son is destined for greatness!" Lady Shan told Gaozu about this incident. Later, when Gaozu raised his forces in Xindu, Lady Shan was delighted and urged Yue to join him, saying, "The auspicious sign of the red light I saw before is now coming true. Hurry and go to Xindu to join him and discuss important matters together!" Yue then went to Xindu, where Gaozu was thrilled to see him.
In the early Northern Wei dynasty, Gao Yue was appointed as a Cavalry Attendant, General Who Guards the East, Purple Gold Imperial Attendant, and concurrently as General of the Guards. Later, during a battle with the northern minority tribes at Hanling, Gaozu led the central army, Gao Ang led the left army, and Gao Yue led the right army. The central army was defeated and the enemy pursued, but Gao Yue bravely rushed forward, waving his flag and shouting loudly, charging into the enemy ranks, enabling Gaozu to lead the troops in retreat. A fierce battle broke out, culminating in a decisive victory. For his valor in this battle, Gao Yue was promoted to Guard General and Right Imperial Attendant, while still serving as General of the Guards.
During the Taichang era, he was promoted to General of Cavalry and Chariots and Grand Minister of the Left, while also commanding the Left and Right Guards. He was bestowed the title of Duke of Qinghe, with a fief consisting of two thousand households. His mother, from the Shan clan, was granted the title of County Lady, and his daughter was chosen to serve the Empress in the palace. At that time, Er Zhu Zhao was instigating turmoil in Bingzhou, and Emperor Gao planned to campaign against him, so he appointed Gao Yue to guard the capital and promoted him to General of Cavalry and a member of the Three Councils. In the second year of the Tianping era, Gao Yue was subsequently promoted to Imperial Attendant and Military Governor of the Six Provinces, and soon afterward, he was also appointed as Chief of the Office. Gao Yue was adept at using people and promoted many talented individuals of the time to be his subordinates, and everyone recognized his exceptional talent for selecting personnel. Later, he took on roles as Director of Books and Academic Attendant, and then was appointed as Envoy with Special Authority, Grand Governor of the Six Provinces and Grand Justice of Jizhou. Before long, he was elevated to Grand Governor of the Capital Region, taking charge of the affairs of the Six Provinces, which now fell under the Grand Governor of the Capital Region. At that time, Emperor Gao was handling state affairs in Jinyang, while Gao Yue, Imperial Attendant Sun Teng, and others stayed in the capital to assist in governance.
In the second year of the Yuanxiang era, Gao Yue's mother passed away, and he resigned from his official post. Gao Yue was especially filial, wholeheartedly serving his mother. Whenever his mother fell ill, even slightly, he would care for her day and night. After his mother passed away, he was consumed by grief and became extremely thin. Emperor Gaozu was deeply concerned about him, sending someone to check on him daily. After some time, Emperor Gaozu reinstated him. Two years later, he also served as a military general. During the Xinghe period, Emperor Shizong took the reins of power, and Gao Yue was sent to the countryside to serve as a governor, inspector, and governor of Jizhou, while keeping his previous titles. Three years later, he was transferred to be the governor of Qingzhou. As Gao Yue held significant power for an extended period, both the court and the people respected and feared him. Later, when he served in Qingzhou and Jizhou, the local populace held him in great fear. In the first year of Wuding, he was appointed as the governor of Jinzhou and the grand commander of the Southwest Road, earning the nickname "the pacifier of the border" for his merits in guarding the frontier. Later, when Gao Yue fell seriously ill, Emperor Gaozu ordered him to return to Bingzhou to recover. Once he recovered, he was reinstated to his former post.
After the passing of Emperor Gaozu, Hou Jing staged a rebellion. Emperor Shizong returned from suppressing Southern Liang, and everyone gathered to strategize against Hou Jing. At this moment, Emperor Wu of Liang seized the opportunity and sent his general Hou Ming to ambush in Hanshan, using the Si River to irrigate Pengcheng, and collaborating with Hou Jing. General Yue commanded multiple armies southward, attacking Hou Ming with Xing Tai Muren and others, securing a resounding victory, capturing Hou Ming and his important generals on the spot, capturing tens of thousands of soldiers and decapitating their leaders. Hou Jing fled to Guoyang with his army, confronting General Liu Feng and his forces. General Yue pursued and defeated Hou Jing again, leaving him no choice but to flee on horseback.
Six years later, due to his contributions, General Yue was appointed as Chamberlain and Grand Commandant, while his other positions remained unchanged. He was also granted the title of Baron of Xinchang. He was later promoted to Envoy with Imperial Authority, Governor of Henan, and Grand General, leading Murong Shaozong, Liu Feng, and others in an attack on Wang Sizheng at Changshe. Wang Sizheng relied on the fortifications of the city, so General Yue and his men diverted the Weishui River to inundate the city. As a result, Murong Shaozong and Liu Feng were captured by Wang Sizheng, and reinforcements from the Western Regions were sent to support him. General Yue effectively managed both internal and external defenses, employing astute strategies. The city came under siege three times. Later, Emperor Shizong personally arrived at Changshe and held out for several days at the city walls, ultimately capturing Wang Sizheng and others. For this achievement, General Yue was additionally granted the title of Viscount of Zhen Ding, but Emperor Shizong felt it was his own merit, so the rewards were rather modest.
After Emperor Shizong's death, Emperor Xianzu went to Jinyang to comfort both the military and the civilians, allowing General Yue to continue in his original position while also taking on the role of Left Minister of the Ministry of Rites, continuing to guard the capital. In the early years of Tianbao, General Yue was promoted to Prince of Qinghe, and not long after, he was elevated to Envoy with Imperial Authority, General of the Cavalry, and held the titles of Prefect of the Three Departments, Clan Master, and Governor of Sizhou. Five years later, he was further honored as Grand Protector. Xiao Yi of the Southern Liang was facing intense pressure from the Western Wei army and sent envoys to request urgent assistance. In winter, the court appointed General Yue as the Grand Commander of the Southwest, leading Minister Pan Xiangle to rescue Jiangling. In the first month of the sixth year, the army arrived at Yiyang, only to discover that Jiangling had already fallen. They then advanced south, fighting all the way to Yingzhou, capturing the Liangzhou Governor, Minister Lu Fa, and also conquering Yingzhou. General Yue first sent Lu Fa back to the capital, and then stationed Minister Murong Yan to guard Yingzhou. Upon learning of the fall of Jiangling, the court commanded General Yue to return to the capital.
Yue Fei achieved remarkable military accomplishments during his campaigns against Hanshan and Changshe, as well as during his expeditions to Suizhou and Luzhou, gaining increasing fame. However, he was relatively extravagant, particularly fond of drinking and entertainment, hosting many singing and dancing girls at home, throwing lavish banquets, and playing music with bells and drums, making him more extravagant than the princes.
At first, Emperor Gaozong's son Gao Xiaogong (Gao Guiyan) lost his father at a young age, and Emperor Gaozu (Song Gaozong) entrusted Yue Fei to raise him. Due to Gao Xiaogong's young age, Yue Fei's care for him was rather superficial and lacked attention. Gao Xiaogong held a grudge about this but never spoke up. When Gao Xiaogong became a general and gained the emperor's favor, Yue Fei thought he was grateful and relied on him even more. But Gao Xiaogong secretly gathered evidence to frame Yue Fei.
Yue Fei built a residence in the south of the city and created an alley behind the official office. Gao Xiaogong went to the emperor and said, "King Qinghe (Yue Fei) has constructed a residence that overstepped the imperial palace's standards and has even built a permanent alley, only lacking a gate tower!" Hearing this, Emperor Song Gaozong got angry and gradually distanced himself from Yue Fei.
To make things worse, Song Gaozong summoned a woman named Xue from Ye City into the palace, and Yue Fei had previously invited this Xue to his home because she was a friend of his sister. The emperor then hanged Xue's sister and sawed her to death, framing Yue Fei by accusing him of violating a commoner woman. Yue Fei defended himself, saying, "I originally intended to marry her, but found her frivolous, so I did not pursue her; it was not a violation!" This only made the emperor angrier.
In November of the sixth year of his reign, the emperor sent Gao Xiaogong to sternly admonish Yue Fei at his home. Yue Fei was both shocked and frightened, unsure of how to respond, and a few days later he died. Many speculated that the emperor had poisoned him. His death was mourned by both the court and the public; he died at the young age of just forty-four. The court ordered the Grand Minister of Ceremonies to oversee his funeral, posthumously granting him the titles of Envoy and Commander of the military forces across the seven provinces of Jidong, Cangying, Zhao, You, and Ji, as well as the positions of Grand Chancellor, Grand Tutor, and Governor of Dingzhou. He was awarded a yellow ceremonial scepter, provided with a chariot, given two thousand bolts of silk, and posthumously honored with the title of Zhaowu.
At first, the Yue family fought alongside Emperor Taizu to establish the dynasty, maintaining private troops and stockpiling a considerable amount of weaponry, including over a thousand sets of armor. As Emperor Shizong was nearing his death, the Yue family believed that peace had been restored and submitted a request to surrender these private troops and weapons to the court. Emperor Shizong valued the Yue family as close kin and trusted them greatly, saying, "Uncle, you are like my cherished treasure and the pillar of the nation. These armors are originally resources of the state; why hesitate? Just hand them over!" When Emperor Wenxuan ascended the throne, the Yue family made repeated requests to surrender, but the emperor still refused. As Emperor Wenxuan was nearing death, the Yue family submitted a letter of gratitude while also requesting to send the armors to the royal armory. Only after Emperor Wenxuan's burial did the court finally allow the Yue family to surrender these weapons. Later, the Yue family was posthumously honored and worshipped alongside Emperor Shizong in the temple.
Later, a man named Gui Yan rebelled. Emperor Shizu knew that he had previously defamed the Yue family and said, "The loyal and dedicated Yue family of Qinghe County has served the royal family wholeheartedly, but they were slandered by this villain Gui Yan, who also sowed discord between us and our ministers!" So, Emperor Shizu seized Gui Yan's estate and rewarded the hundreds of slaves and freemen in Gui Yan's family to the Yue family. Some time later, Emperor Shizu remembered the achievements of the Yue family and once again bestowed upon them the titles of Grand Preceptor and Grand Protector, while maintaining their other titles. Yue Dai, the son of the Yue family, inherited the titles.
Yue Dai, courtesy name Jingde, was bright and clever from a young age and was greatly loved by Emperor Xianzu. At the age of seven, he was appointed to serve the Crown Prince. Later, he was appointed as the Inspector of Qingzhou. On the day he took office, Emperor Xianzu specifically instructed him, "Your uncle had performed well as an official in Qingzhou in the past, so I am sending you there to bring peace to the people and uphold your ancestors' good name." Yue Dai was moved to tears and replied, "I am young and have been given such a high position; I truly feel unworthy. Although I will do my best, I am still worried that I cannot continue the achievements of my ancestors." The Emperor said, "Since you can think this way, I can rest assured." Shortly after, Yue Dai was later appointed as General of the Guards, Commander of the Army, Minister of the Ancestral Temple, and appointed as the Duke of Le'an, given that Qinghe County is relatively close to the capital. He was later promoted to Palace Attendant, Supervisor of the Right of the Secretariat, and finally appointed to Shuozhou as the Prefect of the Imperial Secretariat.
The Later Ruler suffered a defeat in Jinzhou, and the empress dowager returned to the capital from Tumen Road, ordering Mai to lead the army to protect her safety. At that time, those treacherous sycophants, namely the palace guards, continued their tyrannical behavior, oppressing the common folk. The chickens and pigs in the homes of the commoners were captured by their hunting dogs to catch food. Mai captured the high-ranking official Guo Ziyi, planning to execute him as a warning to others. The empress dowager ordered that he be released.
Liu Wenshu secretly said to Mai, "People like Guo Ziyi can decide the life and death of others with a single word. Is it really wise to treat them this way? Aren't you worried about how future generations will judge you?" Mai rolled up his sleeves and replied, "Since Emperor Xianwu, our country has always valued soldiers and entrusted power to capable individuals. We've never lost a battle. Now the enemies from the west have invaded Binzhou, and many high officials have defected. This is all due to the corruption and chaos among those in power, which has led to discord both inside and outside the country, and the country is on the brink of collapse! If I take out these guys today and more tomorrow, I won't regret it. Our royal relatives and friends should all hate these villains together. It's really disappointing to hear you say that!"
After the empress dowager returned to Ye City, the Zhou army started arriving one after another. Everyone was very afraid and had completely lost their fighting spirit; court officials surrendered left and right, day and night. Mai then suggested to the Later Ruler, "Most of the defectors are high-ranking officials, while ordinary soldiers have not defected much. We can capture the families of officials above the fifth rank and imprison them at the San Tai, and then threaten them: 'If we lose the battle, we'll burn the San Tai down.' These folks will fight tooth and nail for their families. Plus, our royal army has been going north to fight time and again, and the enemy underestimates us. Now that we're backed into a corner, we're bound to win this fight; it's the best plan we've got!" However, the Later Ruler ultimately chose not to take his advice.
After the fall of the State of Qi, he submitted to the Zhou Dynasty and, according to custom, was granted the position of Kaifu (a high-ranking official position). During the Sui Dynasty, he served as the governor of four states: Yangzhou, Chuzhou, Guangzhou, and Taozhou. He passed away during the Kaihuang period.
The historical records say this: The "Book of Changes" states, "Heaven and Earth follow the principles of balance and change; how much more so for humans!" This means that everything has its own developmental laws; by following these laws, one can succeed, while going against them leads to failure. Everyone wants to govern the country well, so you should showcase your benevolence in response; if unscrupulous individuals are in power, then you should be frugal and cautious to avoid conflict with them. If you're holding a faulty map and hiding in a remote place, and still think of deceiving the ruler and defying orders, how could you possibly succeed?
Zhao Jun bears a very important responsibility due to his close relationship with the emperor. "The bond of close kinship," how heavy is this burden! If you become arrogant and overconfident, the nation will be in danger; if you eliminate treachery, the country can achieve peace, and the common people can live in peace and prosperity. Therefore, he adhered to his principles, always maintaining a loyal heart, never doubting even when walking a dangerous path, and not fearing even in the face of crisis. With his loyalty and integrity, he ultimately eradicated those evildoers. If he could meet a wise ruler like King Cheng of Zhou, he could effectively govern the realm; if he encountered a foolish ruler like the Yin Shang, he would ultimately meet a bad end. Otherwise, the country would decline, and the speed of that decline can be alarmingly fast!
The Prince of Qinghe participated in national affairs, held a high position, served as a general and a minister, and assisted the emperor in achieving great accomplishments. Even Liu Jia of the Han Dynasty and Cao Hong of Wei could not compare to his merits. Unfortunately, unexpected events occurred later, resulting in some mistakes, but this does not diminish his accomplishments; it merely indicates some faults in his ancestry.
It is praised that: The Prince of Zhao County is brave and imposing, exuding a dignified and solemn presence. Heaven shows no favoritism; each person's fate is unique. The accomplishments of the Prince of Qinghe County are outstanding and more than enough to govern the nation. Minor mistakes in his later years should not be seen as a blemish on his character.
