Xin Shu, courtesy name Huaizhe, was bright and insightful from a young age. When he first became an official, he served as a military officer under the Minister of Works, working alongside the Grand Minister Gao Longzhi to oversee the construction of the palace in Ye. Xin Shu had many ideas and was organized in his work, allowing the laborers to complete their tasks smoothly.
Later, he was promoted to Right Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. After that, he was dispatched to Qinghe as the governor, earning notable achievements and a solid reputation. After his death, he was posthumously honored with the title of Long History of Bingzhou, but he stepped down from his position following his father's death. Hundreds of citizens from Qinghe went to the capital to ask the court to erect a monument in his honor.
After King Wenxiang ascended the throne, Xin Shu was invited to Jinyang along with Left Minister of Personnel Song Youdao and Deputy Minister of the Secretariat Li Hui, and was warmly welcomed by the court. Subsequently, Xin Shu was promoted several ranks, eventually becoming a Regular Attendant of the Imperial Court.
In the year 550, when Hou Jing rebelled, I was appointed as the Minister of the Southeast Circuit and made Baron of Jiangxia County. Alongside Gao Yue, I defeated Hou Jing and captured Xiao Ming. Later, I was promoted to Governor of Dongxuzhou, while also serving as the Chief of Huainan.
In the year 551 AD, Hou Jing dispatched officials to Jiangxi to levy taxes. I led my troops across the Huai River, cut off his escape route, and burned millions of shi of his rice. After that, I returned to Xia Pi to take up my post, and over 30,000 households followed me as we crossed the Huai River northward. Guo Zhi, the governor of Dong Xuzhou, executed the county magistrate, and upon hearing of this, Emperor Wenxuan ordered that henceforth, in the more than a dozen states under my jurisdiction, if anyone committed a crime, the governor must first report to the court before taking any action, and minor matters could be handled first and reported later. It is worth noting that the Qí dynasty's executive office overseeing personnel matters began with my initiatives. The governors of Anzhou, Linqing, and the two towns of Xuyi and Qicheng committed crimes, and I dealt with them in accordance with the law, executing their sentences. The governor of Suizhou and his subordinate county magistrate committed capital offenses, and the court granted me over a hundred of their slaves and all their property. I declined the offer three times, but my refusals were not accepted, and ultimately, I handed them over to the judicial authorities for proper processing, without further reporting to the court.
After hearing this, Xing Shao wrote to me saying: “In the past, Zhong Li Yi said, ‘Confucius endured thirst at the thief's well,’ and then threw the treasures on the ground. Today, if you can do this, you truly are a rare honest official across different eras!” Later, Wang Sengbian defeated Hou Jing, and I surrendered and pacified various regions, with towns and cities successively submitting, amounting to over twenty states. Thus, I was transferred to Guangling to guard it. I received the Imperial Seal and delivered it to Ye City, where Emperor Wenxuan enshrined the seal in the Grand Ancestral Temple. This seal was made during the Qin Dynasty, measuring four inches on each side, with entwined coiling dragons on top, and it is inscribed with the eight characters: “Received the mandate from heaven; may it last long and prosper.” It passed down through the Han, Wei, and Jin dynasties. After the defeat of Emperor Huai of Jin, the seal fell into the hands of Liu Cong, and after Liu Cong's defeat, it passed to Shi Le. After Shi Le's defeat, during the Yonghe period of Emperor Mu of Eastern Jin, the governor of Puyang, Dai Sengshi, obtained it and sent the overseer He Rong to deliver it to Jianye. It passed through the Song, Qi, and Liang dynasties. After the fall of the Liang dynasty, Hou Jing obtained it, and after Hou Jing's defeat, Chamberlain Zhao Sixian handed the seal over to Guo Yuanjian, the governor of Nanyanzhou, who then sent it to me, which is how I came to present it to the court.
Soon after, I was recalled to the court and served as the Minister of the Interior while also holding the position of Minister of Rites, where I collaborated with the ministers to discuss and formulate laws and regulations. Later, I was promoted to Minister of Personnel and also received my salary from Liang County in Nanyanzhou.
After moving to Ye City, the selection of officials was a notable affair, with four or five prominent candidates, each with their own strengths and weaknesses; none were perfect. Emperor Wen of the Xiang Dynasty was quite spirited in his youth, but he had a flaw of being somewhat careless; Yuan Shude was steady and reliable, but he tended to be overly meticulous; Yang Yin was charming and eloquent, but he focused too much on superficial qualities in his selections. Only Gao Xiaoyu stood out for his integrity, focusing on both ability and character in his talent selection, and he was true to his word, promoting treasury officials based not only on their family background. Reviewing his selection of officials over time, his approach was the most equitable, and he received widespread praise. Near the end of the Tianbao era, Emperor Wenxuan once asked Gao Xiaoyu to select one hundred officials; two to three thousand candidates registered for the selection. Gao Xiaoyu questioned the scholars, and none dared to voice complaints, and those he promoted later became high-ranking officials.
Gao Xiaoyu lived simply, with little desire. He was conscientious and responsible in his work, never slackening. He was dignified and decisive in leading troops into battle, and he ruled the people with kindness and compassion. He enjoyed reading historical texts from a young age and worked hard to study in his later years; even in the military camp, he was never without his books. After pacifying Huainan, he did not take any of the riches; instead, he collected a large number of books, many of which were valuable editions from the Song, Qi, and Liang dynasties, collecting over ten thousand volumes, along with paintings by famous masters like Gu Kaizhi, as well as calligraphy works by Wang Xizhi and his sons, which were also numerous. None of these were sent to the royal palace; they were all kept at his home. After returning to court, he seldom used these items to bribe the powerful, which led some to label him as stingy. He passed away ten years into his tenure at the age of sixty. In the second year of the Huangjian reign, he was posthumously awarded the titles of Minister of State, Director of the Central Secretariat, and Governor of Qingzhou. His son Gao Geqing served as a Minister of State; Gao Geqing's brother, Gao Hengqing, was knowledgeable and served as a military advisor, dying in the role of Taichang Cheng during the early years of the Sui Dynasty's Daye period.
Yuan Wenyiao, courtesy name 'Deyuan', was from Luoyang, Henan, and was a sixth-generation descendant of Emperor Zhao of Wei. His fifth great-grandfather was Wang Yuan Zun of Changshan. His father, Yuan Xi, was extremely filial, and after his father passed away, Yuan Wenyiao mourned beside the tomb until his own death. After Yuan Wenyiao passed away, he was posthumously granted the titles of Special Advisor, Minister of State, and Chief of the Secretariat, earning the posthumous name 'Filial.' Yuan Wenyiao was intelligent and wise, demonstrating his talents from a young age. Prince Jiyin, Yuan Huiye, once remarked, "This child will be able to assist the emperor in the future." Once, during a gathering hosted by Yuan Huiye, someone brought the 'Collected Works of He Xun' to Luoyang, and everyone praised it. Xing Shao from Hejian tested Yuan Wenyiao, asking, "How many times do you need to read it to memorize it?" Yuan Wenyiao read it once and memorized it; he was only in his teens at the time. Prince Jiyin said, "What about my thousand-mile steed now?" Xing Shao replied, "Such a talent has likely never been seen before."
Initially, he served as a junior official. After his father's death and the mourning period ended, he was appointed as the Minister of War and the Sacrificial Wine of the East Pavilion. However, due to the chaos in the realm, he resigned and returned home to care for his mother, choosing to live in seclusion on Mount Linlu.
During the Wuding era, King Wenxiang summoned him to serve as a military officer in the General's Mansion. After the Emperor of Northern Qi abdicated, he was appointed as a Secretary in the Imperial Secretariat during the coronation ceremony, responsible for conveying the emperor's orders, with all commands from civil and military officials relayed through him. Yang Zunyan once said, "The one capable of wielding the seal of the Marquis of Rang must be him." Unexpectedly, he was later suddenly ordered by the emperor to be imprisoned, without knowing the reason why. He was kept in prison for several years.
Until Emperor Wenxuan personally visited him in prison, shook his hand to convey his apologies and gratitude, and even took off his own golden belt and imperial garments to reward him. On that very day, he was promoted to the role of Minister of the Department of Sacrifices. During Emperor Xiaozhao's regency, he was appointed as a military officer in the Grand Chancellor's Office, involved in managing state affairs.
When the emperor fell seriously ill, he, along with Prince Qin Guiyan and Prince Zhao Junrui, was given the important task of supporting Emperor Wucheng. After Emperor Wucheng ascended the throne, he further promoted him, appointing him to successive positions such as Deputy Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, Cavalry Commandant, Palace Attendant, and Director of the Central Secretariat. In the second year of the Tiantong era, the emperor specially granted him the surname Gao, adding him to the family tree of the Zongzhengfu, and his descendants were required to attend court annually. Later, he was promoted to Left Chancellor of the Ministry of Personnel, granted the title of Duke of Ningdu, and served as Palace Attendant.
Wen Yao had served three emperors and was notably sharp-witted. Every time the emperor summoned him, he would have him read the imperial edict and oversee the civil and military officials. His voice was loud and clear, and he spoke in a well-organized manner without any hesitation. However, he could sometimes guess the emperor's true thoughts and even hear some insider information, which caused the ministers who truly understood the emperor's thoughts to regard him with disdain.
After the fall of the Qi dynasty, the Wei dynasty took power, and many county magistrates were incompetent individuals, leading talented people to feel that serving as a county magistrate was shameful, and many were unwilling to take up positions in remote areas. Wen Yao believed the system for selecting county magistrates was flawed and almost laughable, so he proactively sought to implement reforms. He secretly ordered the selection of children from prominent and noble families to serve as county magistrates. To avoid any potential complaints, he gathered them at the Shenwu Gate, where Prince Zhao Junrui read the imperial edict, appointed them individually, and offered them reassurance. From that point on, those of noble lineage became more willing to accept positions as county magistrates.
He and Zhao Yanshen, as well as He Shikai, were all entrusted with important positions at the same time. Although he was not as upright and honest as Zhao Yanshen, nor as corrupt as He Shikai, his abilities were moderate, falling between the two. However, he was a kind-hearted person who never competed with others, so his reputation was equally commendable as Zhao Yanshen's. When Wen Yao first moved from Luoyang to Ye City, he only had ten mu of land, and his family was very poor, barely making ends meet. As the Wei Dynasty was on the verge of collapse, the royal family was oppressed, and some people impersonated the royal family to seize their land; Wen Yao gave his own land to them. Later, when Wen Yao became a high official, that person was still in the area and subsequently fled with his family. Wen Yao was very surprised and quickly sent someone to reassure him, even returning the land to him. The person was very embarrassed and refused to accept it, and the two of them insisted on refusing it back and forth until the land was left abandoned.
When the new emperor ascended to the throne, Prince Rui of Zhao, Lou Dingyuan, and others conspired to dismiss He Shikai, and Wen Yao also participated in this plan. As a result, Prince Rui of Zhao was killed, and Wen Yao was demoted to Xiyanzhou and appointed as its inspector. Before leaving, he went to bid farewell to He Shikai, who said, "I actually arranged for those incapable people to be county magistrates; I am truly sorry to the court!" After saying this, he regretted it and held Wen Yao's hand to comfort him. He was also worried that Wen Yao might harbor doubts about him, so he made his son Xing Gong serve as a Shangshu Lang to reassure Wen Yao. After He Shikai died, Wen Yao was recalled from being the inspector of Dong Xuzhou to the court, but ultimately he was not entrusted with any significant roles and ultimately passed away.
Xing Gong was good-looking and had the demeanor of his father, and he was exceptionally talented. He became a secretary in the Ministry of Personnel and also served as a secretary at the Wenlin Academy. After the fall of the Qi dynasty, he, along with Yang Xiuzhi and eighteen others, sought refuge in the Sui dynasty, and gradually rose through the ranks to become an official in the Ministry of Rites. During the Kaihuang era of the Sui dynasty, he was appointed as a secretary, but after falling out of favor, he was demoted to Guazhou, where he ultimately died. In his youth, Xing Gong was somewhat spoiled; his father, Wen Yao, encouraged him to associate with Lu Sidao from Fanyang. Wen Yao once told Lu Sidao, "My son has made some progress recently, and it's all thanks to you! However, he enjoys drinking and gambling, which he must have inherited from you!" Lu Sidao replied, "Your son is exceptionally talented and accomplished; that is his own achievement. As for drinking and gambling, that is probably just his nature." Xing Gong's younger brother, Xing Ru, was also very intelligent and became accomplished early on, serving as a literary assistant during the Wuping period of the Northern Qi dynasty.
Zhao Yanshen was from Yangwan in Yunnan and was a descendant of Zhao Xi, the Grand Tutor of the Han dynasty. His great-grandfather, Zhao Nan, served as the governor of Qinghe and had significant achievements, so he settled there. Later, Qinghe was renamed Pingyuan, and thus he became known as a person from Pingyuan. His original name was Zhao Yin, but to avoid the taboo of the Qi dynasty emperor, he changed his courtesy name to Xing. His father, Zhao Fengbo, had served as a secretary and the magistrate of Luoyang during the Wei dynasty. After Zhao Yanshen's death, he was posthumously granted the title of Sikong. Zhao Yanshen lost both parents when he was young and was raised in a poor family, but he was extremely devoted to his mother. At the age of ten, he once visited the Minister of Education, Cui Guang. Cui Guang remarked to his guests, "The ancients believed that one could discern a person's character just by looking into their eyes; this person will surely achieve great things in the future." Zhao Yanshen was gifted, talented in calligraphy and mathematics, and led a quiet and humble life, rarely interacting with others, but he was highly respected for his scholarship. Every morning at dawn, he would sweep in front of his door by himself, not wanting others to see him, and this became part of his daily routine.
He started as a low-level servant in the household of Sima Ziru, the Minister of Officialdom, responsible for copying documents. Sima Ziru appreciated him because he was meticulous and never made errors, and he wanted to bring him to work in the government. At that time, Zhao Yanshen had no felt lining in his shoes, and his clothes and hat were in tatters, so Sima Ziru provided him with new clothes and shoes. He was then made the clerk of documents, and a month later, he was promoted to the chief clerk of documents. When Emperor Gaozu of Northern Qi was in Jinyang and needed to find two historians, Sima Ziru recommended Zhao Yanshen. Later, Zhao Yanshen was appointed as Sima Ziru's military aide and was soon promoted to a position in the Ministry of Water Resources. When Wang Wenxiang was the Minister of Officialdom responsible for selecting officials, he cut down on officials from various departments, and Zhao Yanshen was demoted to Cangzhou as a deputy magistrate due to his origins in a cold region, but he chose not to accept the position. Sima Ziru advised Emperor Gaozu to summon him back and appointed him as a military aide in charge of confidential affairs, where he drafted numerous documents, earning praise for his efficiency and effectiveness. Emperor Gaozu once sat face to face with him, had him draft military orders, and gently touched his forehead, saying, "If heaven allows you to live long, you will surely achieve great things in the future." Emperor Gaozu often told Sima Ziru's son, Sun Teng, "Zhao Yanshen is cautious and careful, a rarity both in ancient times and today."
After Gao Huan's death, this situation was managed discreetly. Gao Yang (Wenxiang) worried that there might be trouble in Henan, so he personally went to oversee and entrusted the follow-up matters to Gao Yan (Yanshen), promoting him to the position of Grand Commandant. When they parted, the two clasped hands in tears, saying, "I entrust this matter to you, my brother, hoping you grasp my intentions." Later, both the internal and external situations stabilized, due to Gao Yan's efforts. When Gao Huan was buried, Gao Yang praised him highly and appointed him to select officials for the counties, bestowing upon him the title of Earl of Anguo County.
Once, when they were campaigning in Yingchuan, the enemy had flooded the city, and the city walls were almost submerged. General Wang Sizheng of the Western Wei still wanted to fight to the death. Gao Yang sent Gao Yan alone into the city to persuade them to surrender, and as a result, it was successfully achieved that very day. Gao Yan even personally escorted Wang Sizheng out of the city. Previously, Gao Yang had told Gao Yan, "Last night I dreamed of hunting and encountered a group of wild boars. I shot them all, except for one big pig that I couldn't catch. Do you think this big pig should be caught by you?" When this matter was accomplished, Gao Yang laughed and said, "What I dreamed about turned out to be spot on!" He then gave Wang Sizheng's dagger to Gao Yan, saying, "Let you also achieve such military exploits often."
After Gao Yang became emperor (Emperor Wenxuan), Gao Yan continued to be responsible for confidential matters and was also granted the title of marquis. During the Tianbao era, he was promoted several ranks and became the Secretary Supervisor. Because everyone thought he was loyal and prudent, every time there were sacrifices to heaven and earth, he was appointed as the Imperial Transport Minister, responsible for the emperor's ceremonial escort and guards during his outings. Later, he was promoted to the Grand Minister of Agriculture. When the emperor went on an inspection tour, he assisted the crown prince in handling state affairs and was responsible for logistical support. Afterwards, he was dispatched to the Southeast Road as the Minister of the Circuit and the Governor of Xuzhou. He was well-regarded for his loyalty and integrity, and his subordinates respected him greatly; he handled many matters very well. The places where he was stationed remembered him fondly, and people referred to those places as "Zhao Xingtai's Camp." Gao Yang even wrote a special letter praising him and summoned him back to the court as a court official, continuing to handle confidential matters. In the first year of Heqing, he was made Duke of Anle and was promoted several ranks, becoming the Left Minister of the Secretariat, the Grand Justice of Qizhou, and the National Supervisor. Later, he was promoted to the Minister of the Secretariat and awarded the honor of Special Advisor, and he was also titled Prince of Yiyang. In the second year of Wuping, he was appointed Minister of Works, but was framed by Zu Ting and exiled to serve as the governor of Xiyanzhou. Four years later, he was again recalled to the court as Minister of Works and later promoted to Minister of Education. After his mother passed away, he soon returned to his former post. In June of the seventh year of Wuping, he suddenly fell ill and died at the age of seventy.
Zhao Yanshen served as an official during multiple reigns, consistently working by the emperor's side. He was gentle and cautious, never showing his emotions on his face. Since the Huangjian era, the emperor's treatment of him became increasingly ceremonious; each time he summoned him, he would even allow him to sit on the imperial couch at times, always addressing him solely by his official title. Whenever officials were to be selected, he would first have the examiners carefully evaluate the candidates, prioritizing talent in promotions and disregarding those who were frivolous. After Emperor Xiao Zhao took control of the court, many ministers secretly advised him to declare himself emperor, but Zhao Yanshen remained silent. Emperor Xiao Zhao once said to Wang Xi, "Everyone says the world should submit to me; why hasn’t Zhao Yanshen expressed his stance?" Wang Xi conveyed this to Zhao Yanshen, who, with no other choice, had to submit a memorial stating his opinions, which underscores the significance of his position at that time. He was always humble and cautious, never arrogant or complacent, which allowed him to remain safe both in court and in society.
His mother, Fu, was a woman of great integrity and insight. When Zhao Yanshen was three, his mother Fu became a widow. Her family wanted her to remarry, but she vowed to uphold her chastity. When Zhao Yanshen was five, Fu said to him, "Our family is poor, and you are still young; what will we do in the future?" Zhao Yanshen cried and said, "If heaven has mercy on us, I will surely repay you when I grow up." Fu was deeply moved by his words, tears streaming down her face as she looked at him. When Zhao Yanshen became the Minister of Rites and returned home, he took off his official robes and first went to see his mother, kneeling to tell her about his childhood hardships and how her teachings helped him reach where he was today. The mother and son wept together for a long time before he finally changed out of his official robes. Later, his mother was bestowed the title of Grand Consort of Yiyang. Zhao Yanshen had seven sons, and his second son, Zhao Zhong, gained considerable renown.
Zhao Zhongjiang is steadfast and quick-witted, inheriting his father's virtues. He is gentle and kind, respectful and frugal, never neglecting his duties, even to his wife, and maintains proper conduct throughout the day. He is well-read and excels in cursive and clerical script. Even when writing to his younger brother, his handwriting is neat and orderly because he feels that cursive writing is too casual; writing in cursive to others might come off as disrespectful, and if he wrote in cursive to the household servants, they might think there was a hidden message, so he can only write in clerical script. Zhao Yanshen petitioned the court to grant the title of county prince of Wannian to his son. Zhao Zhongjiang eventually became Deputy Minister of the Imperial Secretariat and a Regular Attendant. During the Kaihuang period of the Sui Dynasty, he served as a Minister of Personnel and passed away while serving as the Governor of Anzhou.
In the Qi Dynasty, the only chancellor known for his integrity from start to finish was Zhao Yanshen. However, he recommended that the court appoint his son Zhao Shujian as a Secretary of the Central Secretariat, which stirred quite a bit of controversy. At that time, Feng Zicong's son Feng Ciming and Zu Ting's son Zu Junxin had both successively held the position of Secretary of the Central Secretariat, resulting in the saying: "Feng, Zu, and Zhao have sullied my Phoenix Pool," indicating a perceived decline in status or honor. Additionally, Zhao Shujian was notably short.
