Cui Jishu, courtesy name Shuzheng, was from Anping, Hebei. His father, Cui Yuzhi, served as Honglu Qing (equivalent to a diplomat) during the Wei Dynasty. Cui Jishu lost his father when he was young, but he was intelligent and well-read, especially skilled at writing letters, and was a very talented individual. At the age of seventeen, he became the chief clerk of the prefecture (equivalent to a county government secretary) and was later recognized by General Gao Chen, the Duke of Zhao Jun, who recommended him to Emperor Xiaowen of Wei. The emperor personally selected officials and appointed Cui Jishu as Langzhong of the Daxing Tai (equivalent to a central government official). Later, when Gao Huan, known as Wang Wenxiang, came to power, Cui Jishu was promoted to the position of military advisor in the General's Office, gaining significant favor from Wang Wenxiang.
Because Emperor Xiaowu of Wei needed individuals he could absolutely trust around him, Wang Wenxiang promoted Cui Jishu to Deputy Minister of the Zhongshu (equivalent to the chancellor's assistant). At that time, Wang Wenxiang was the Director of the Zhongshu (equivalent to the chancellor), and he centralized the court's administrative affairs within the Zhongshu. Moreover, Cui Jishu also understood music, so the palace orchestra was managed by the Zhongshu, starting with Cui Jishu's tenure. Whenever Wang Wenxiang submitted memorials to the emperor, if any suggestions or requests were too verbose, Cui Jishu would revise and polish them to help the emperor more easily accept his suggestions. Emperor Xiaowu often discussed state affairs with Cui Jishu and joked, "Cui Zhongshu, you are like my wet nurse." Later, Cui Jishu was promoted to Minister of the Yellow Gate and also managed the palace's clothing. Although he appeared to serve in the Wei Dynasty, his loyalties lay with the powerful minister Gao Huan of Northern Wei, and he was involved in many of Gao Huan's secret plans. Consequently, many people flocked to him and held him in high esteem; his reputation soared, even surpassing that of Cui Xian. Cui Xian once sought out Cui Jishu in court and bowed, saying, "If I can become Pushe (equivalent to chancellor), it's all thanks to you!" This shows how great his power was.
At that time, many powerful nobles ran amok, but King Wenxiang was unyielding. As a result, many people outside were filled with grievances against figures like Cui Jishu and Cui Xian due to their actions. Later, after King Wenxiang died, King Wenxuan Gao Yang was to go to Jinyang (Taiyuan). Yang Xiuzhi, a court attendant, urged Cui Jishu to accompany him, saying, "If you don’t show up at court even for a day, you could end up being executed!" However, Cui Jishu was hedonistic and just wanted to live a leisurely life, so he did not go, wishing to continue enjoying his life. As a result, Sima Ziru, who had previous conflicts with Cui Jishu, along with others like Chen Shan, who was in charge of the imperial kitchen, uncovered his misdeeds. Consequently, both Cui Jishu and Cui Xian were given two hundred lashes and then exiled to the northern frontier.
During the Tianbao period, the emperor felt that Wenxuan had done nothing wrong, so he posthumously bestowed upon him the title of Grand Craftsman and later promoted him to the position of Shizhong. Not long after, he also assumed the roles of Left Minister of Personnel and Yitong Sansi, and the emperor was especially kind to him. By the Qianming era, Yang Yin, in possession of Wenxuan's last will, dismissed him from the position of Minister. After his mother passed away, Wenxuan resigned from official duties but was later reinstated and became the Minister of Rites, also concurrently serving as the Minister of Military Affairs. He was subsequently appointed governor of Qizhou, but ended up being impeached by the censors for allowing people to secretly cross the Huai River for smuggling and accepting bribes. When a nationwide amnesty was announced, this incident was ultimately brushed aside.
When King Wucheng was a vassal king, he fell ill, and Wenxuan sent Ji Shu to treat him, who dedicated himself fully to the task. During the Danning period, King Wucheng was summoned back to the court, where the emperor personally met and comforted him. He was later promoted to Minister of Revenue and given the title of "Equal to Three Excellencies." At that time, construction of Zhaoyang Hall was underway, and the emperor appointed him to oversee the project. However, due to Judge Shi's complaint against Hu Changren, the emperor reprimanded him and dismissed him from office. He was also reprimanded for submitting a document to the Ministry of Personnel and even went to the Guangning Wang family, where he lashed out at them with a whip dozens of times. As a result, King Wucheng died, and he couldn't mourn for him. After some time, he was appointed as the governor of Jiaozhou, and later promoted to Chamberlain and appointed to the court, receiving pay from Xin'an and Heyin counties. He was subsequently promoted to Left Grand Master and assigned to the Wenlin Pavilion to help compile the "Imperial Review." Later, he was further promoted to Special Advisor, overseeing the editing of the national history. Ji Shu had always enjoyed reading, and as he grew older, he became even more diligent and keen to learn. He frequently recommended talented individuals and encouraged the development of literature, earning widespread praise and becoming famous far and wide.
Zu Ting was dispatched by the emperor on an errand, and then he recommended Ji Shu to take charge of the projects in the palace. Later, Zu Ting fell out of favor and was dismissed, and Han Changluan believed Ji Shu was Zu Ting's accomplice and also wanted to get rid of Ji Shu. Just then, the emperor was about to go to Jinyang, and Ji Shu discussed with Zhang Diao: Shouchun City was besieged, and the army was to be dispatched for rescue; the messengers coming and going needed the approval of the governor. Furthermore, the common people along the way might be alarmed, and if someone spread rumors that the emperor was going north to evade the enemies from the south, it could lead to serious trouble. If they did not quickly advise against it, it would definitely cause public resentment. Thus, they, along with other court officials, submitted a joint petition advising against it. At that time, some high officials, including Zhao Yanshen, Tang Yang, and Duan Xiaoyan, initially supported the advice but later wavered. Ji Shu argued with them for a long time but could not persuade them. Han Changluan informed the emperor, saying, "These Han officials have jointly submitted a petition, claiming to advise the emperor not to go to Jinyang; in fact, they may have ulterior motives and should be executed!" Upon hearing this, the emperor immediately summoned the officials who signed the petition to Hanzhang Hall, arrested Ji Shu, Zhang Diao, Liu Ti, Feng Xiaoyan, Pei Ze, Guo Zun, and others, and executed them in the hall. Han Changluan also ordered their bodies to be thrown into the Zhang River. Those officials outside who had also signed the petition were threatened with whipping, but fortunately, Zhao Yanshen's strong counsel spared them from death. The men, women, and children of Ji Shu's family were all exiled to the northern frontier, their wives and daughters assigned to the Xianbei people as slaves, while the young boys were sent to silk-rearing rooms as laborers, and their property was completely confiscated.
Ji Shu was highly skilled in medicine. Even in exile, he devoted himself to studying medicine and later became a renowned doctor, saving many patients. Despite his rising status, he remained diligent, treating even the impoverished with the same seriousness. His son Changjun became the Right Minister of Military Affairs, while another son Jingxuan became an Assistant to the Minister of Literature. The two brothers were also exiled to a remote and desolate place. Not long after, the wives of Ji Shu and six others were released due to old age. Later, when the King of Nan'an planned to attack the court, he used the killing of Ji Shu and others as an excuse to summon the brothers and nephews of the six to join his army to Jinyang. Ultimately, the plot was uncovered, and Changjun along with the others were executed, while the wives of the six were captured again. After Emperor Wu of Zhou destroyed the Qi state, he ordered posthumous honors for Hu Lu Guang and Ji Shu, among others. Ji Shu was posthumously awarded the title of Grand General of the Opening Office and Governor of Dingzhou.
Zu Ting, styled Xiao Zheng, was from Qiu County, Fanyang, Hebei. His father, Zu Ying, was a General of the Guard in Northern Wei. Zu Ting was exceptionally clever and possessed remarkable literary talent, gaining fame at a young age, with everyone praising his abilities. He initially served as a Secretary, later excelled in examinations, and was promoted to the Minister of Rites, responsible for rituals and records. Once, he wrote a "Praise of Pure Virtue" for the Governor of Jizhou, Wanqi Shouluo, which was beautifully crafted, catching the attention of Emperor Gao Yang. At that time, Gao Yang was still the Governor of Bingzhou and appointed Zu Ting as his Assistant in the Office of Granaries. Gao Yang dictated thirty-six matters for Zu Ting to record, and the memorials he submitted were impeccable, earning him widespread acclaim from his colleagues.
When Gao Yang sent Princess Wei of Lanling beyond the borders to marry the Rouran Khan, Wei Shu wrote two poems, "Beyond the Borders" and "The Princess's Distant Marriage," to which Zu Ting also composed responses. At that time, these two poems became widely recited.
Gao Ting is a guy who is carefree and easygoing, not one to follow rules or take things seriously. When he was in charge of the granary, although he was just a local official, he was responsible for the taxes of Shandong, so he took quite a few bribes, which made his family quite well-off. He could play the pipa and even write his own songs, often inviting young folks from the city to perform and have a good time, getting pretty close with the courtesans. He would party with guys like Chen Yuankang, Mu Zirong, Ren Zhou, and Yuan Shiliang. Once, when these people stayed at Gao Ting's house, he pulled out over a hundred rolls of fine silk from Shandong and some peacock-patterned cloth, letting the maids have a go at a gambling game called Chupu for fun.
The soldier Yuan Jingxian, the son of the Minister of Personnel Yuan Shijun, had a wife who was the daughter of Sima Qingyun and the niece of Emperor Xiaojing of Wei, born to Princess Boling. Gao Ting even invited Jingxian's wife to the banquet and took turns sleeping with her, all of which he paid for. This guy was completely wild and often said, "A real man only lives once, so don’t skimp on yourself!" Later, when King Wenxuan was dismissed and left the provincial government, Gao Ting was meant to leave too, but he wanted to stay in the granary, so he asked Chen Yuankang to put in a good word for him. Chen Yuankang indeed spoke on his behalf, allowing him to remain in the granary.
Gao Ting was also flattering the military official while also handling the paperwork for Lu Zixian. The two conspired together, and when requesting food supplies, they had Lu Zixian falsely issue a command to take ten carts of grain from the warehouse to distribute to their colleagues. Gao Huan (Emperor Shenwu) personally inquired about the matter, and Gao Ting claimed he hadn’t taken anything, pushing the responsibility onto Lu Zixian. Gao Huan believed him and did not pursue the matter further. Afterward, Gao Ting said, "This is a huge favor from the Prime Minister; it was actually all done by Xiao Zheng (referring to Gao Huan)." He had a wild and carefree personality; once, he went drinking at the home of Sima Shiyun, the governor of Jiaozhou, and even stole and hid two bronze mirrors. When the cook wanted to search the guests, they found them on Gao Ting, and everyone thought he was incredibly embarrassing. He rode an old horse but insisted on calling it a "liujun" (fine steed). He also had an affair with a widow named Wang, which everyone knew about.
Pei Rang had a good relationship with Gao Ting and teased him in front of everyone, saying, "What a quirky guy you are! Your old horse is already ten years old, yet you still call it 'liujun'; your wife is sixty years old, yet you still call her 'niangzi'!" At that time, this matter spread widely. Later, Gao Ting became a clerk in the inner and outer court offices of Emperor Shenwu. Once, during a banquet for his subordinates, a golden wine cup went missing, and Dou Tai had everyone take off their hats to search. They ended up finding it in Gao Ting's hair, but Gao Huan didn’t punish him severely. Later, he became the secretary minister and also took charge of the attendants, working under Wang Wenxiang. Once, a guest asked to buy a copy of "Hualin Bianlue." There were many scribes under Wang Wenxiang, and they finished copying it in a day and night, then returned the original manuscript to the guest, saying, "No need." As a result, Gao Ting took several copies of "Hualin Bianlue" to gamble with them on chupu, which infuriated Wang Wenxiang, who ended up giving him forty lashes.
He also colluded with the registrar Li Shuang, the warehouse supervisor Cheng Zu and others to forge memorials to Jinzhou, requesting three thousand shih of grain, and falsely invoked the orders of the staff officer Zhao Yanshen to pass them on to the city bureau's staff officer. This matter aroused suspicion in Gao Jinglüe, who privately asked Zhao Yanshen, and Zhao Yanshen said that there was no such thing. Consequently, Gao Ting was interrogated, and he immediately confessed. Gao Huan was furious and ordered him to receive two hundred lashes, exiled to Jiafang, and had his land taxes doubled. Before the punishment was executed, the Dingguo Temple in Bingzhou was completed, and Gao Huan remarked to Chen Yuankang and Wen Zisheng, "The inscription I composed for Mangshan Temple was once hailed as a masterpiece. Now, who should compose the inscription for Dingguo Temple?" Chen Yuankang recommended Gao Ting, saying he was talented and could speak Xianbei. Thus, Gao Huan supplied him with writing materials and instructed him to draft it in prison. Within two days, it was completed, and the draft was exceptionally ornate. Noticing his quick and skillful writing, Gao Huan granted him a special pardon but still dismissed him from his official position and sent him to the Ministry of Personnel. After King Wenxiang ascended the throne, he reinstated him as a staff officer.
After the death of King Wenxuan, Chen Yuankang was gravely injured and asked Gao Ting to write a letter to his family, saying, "There are some things at Zu Xi's house that should be taken back soon." Instead of sending the letter, Gao Ting secretly approached Zu Xi and obtained twenty-five taels of gold, only giving two taels to Zu Xi while keeping the rest for himself. He also made off with several thousand scrolls from Chen Yuankang's house. Harboring resentment, Zu Xi informed Chen Yuankang's two younger brothers, Shu Chen and Ji Qu. Shu Chen informed Yang Yin about this, and Yang Yin frowned, saying, "It probably won't help the deceased." Thus, the issue was dropped. When King Wenxuan was prime minister, Gao Ting recommended more than a dozen officials, all of whom engaged in bribery and should have faced execution according to the law, but they were let off with a reason found. He also made off with an official copy of "Hualin Bianlue." After the matter was exposed, King Wenxuan ordered Wang Shiya to investigate and wrote to Duke Yuwen Yan of Pingyang, asking him to capture Gao Ting and not let him escape. Yuwen Yan sent Tian Cao's army officer Sun Zikuan to arrest him, but upon receiving the order, Gao Ting fled secretly. Huangmen Lang Gao Dezhen was handling the current affairs of the Liutai, and he devised a plan: "Gao Ting knows he has committed a crime, so it's only natural for him to run. If we issue an order to the Secretariat stating, 'In accordance with the orders from Bingzhou, we need three volumes of the Five Classics, requesting the Prime Minister to personally check and expedite their delivery,' Gao Ting will feel at ease and return home at night, and then we can capture him." Gao Ting did return home, just as Gao Dezhen had predicted, and in the evening, officials and soldiers arrived at his house and arrested him, binding him and sending him to the Court of Judicial Review. By law, he should have faced execution, but King Wenxuan, in light of his ancestors' contributions to the court, ordered the relevant departments to impose a lighter punishment. In the end, it was petitioned that he be spared from the death penalty and removed from his official position. In the first year of the Tianbao era, he was called back to court and, following his previous reprieve, served in Jinyang.
This fellow is named Yang Ting. He's exceptionally talented and can pick up anything, mastering all sorts of skills. Not only can he write well, but he can also play music and speaks several foreign languages. He excels at fortune-telling and medicine, especially skilled in healing. Although Emperor Wenxuan thought he often bent the rules, he still appreciated his talent and appointed him to the Central Secretariat to draft edicts. Yang Ting also had private dealings with Lu Yuangui, the Deputy Minister of the Central Secretariat, which eventually caught the emperor's attention, leading to an inquiry into Lu Yuangui. Lu Yuangui stood his ground against the emperor and got exiled to Jiafang. Later, Yang Ting was promoted to the position of Minister of Medicine and also served as a ceremonial official. He presented the emperor with walnut oil he made himself and was let off from his duties because of that. Every time the emperor saw him, he'd call him "thief," indicating the complexity of their relationship.
After Emperor Wenxuan died, the court held a big ceremony to recognize meritorious officials, and Yang Ting was appointed as the Governor of Zhangwu. However, when Yang Yin and others were executed, Yang Ting didn’t take the job and was reassigned as a Gentleman of Letters. He secretly submitted petitions multiple times, which ticked off Emperor Xiaozhao, leading to a ban on his petitions.
Yang Ting was really good at painting with walnut oil, and he presented his paintings to Prince Changguang, saying, "Your Highness, you look just like an emperor. Emperor Xiaozheng even dreamed of you riding a dragon to the heavens!" Hearing this, Prince Changguang replied happily, "If that's true, my brother will definitely prosper!" Later on, Prince Changguang became emperor, taking the name Emperor Wucheng, and immediately promoted Yang Ting to Deputy Minister of the Central Secretariat. The emperor had Yang Ting play the pipa in the garden while the gents danced, and rewarded each of them with a hundred bolts of silk. But the gents were unhappy and jealous of Yang Ting. Eventually, they were sent off to be Governor of Ande, then transferred to serve as the governor of Qijun. Finally, because of his elderly mother, he asked to go home to take care of her, and the emperor granted his request. Later on, when envoys from Jiangnan came to pay their respects, Yang Ting was put in charge of welcoming the envoys. After that, he got promoted to Minor Minister of Rites, Regular Attendant, and Acting Minister of the Three Departments, continuing to be responsible for drafting edicts.
In fact, as early as the Qianming and Huangjian eras, Yang Ting had long recognized Emperor Wucheng's ambition, so he had been flattering him all along. When Emperor Wucheng was still the crown prince, he was often reprimanded by the emperor and harbored resentment. Yang Ting seized the opportunity to submit a proposal to honor the founding emperor posthumously as the Divine Martial Emperor and to rename the Wenxuan Emperor to the Wei Zong Jinglie Emperor, thereby pleasing Emperor Wucheng, and the emperor agreed.
The empress had a particular fondness for her youngest son, the Prince of Dongping, and wanted to establish him as the crown prince. However, the problem was that Emperor Wucheng's legitimate eldest son—the crown prince—was still there, and it wasn't something that could be easily changed. Therefore, Gao Shiheng secretly spoke to Shikai, saying, "You are currently so favored by the emperor, a favor not seen throughout history! If one day the emperor's favor towards you slightly changes, what will you do then?" Upon hearing this, Shikai quickly asked Gao Shiheng if he had any good ideas.
Gao Shiheng suggested, "You should advise the emperor that none of the sons of the Han Dynasty's Emperor Xiang, Emperor Xuan, or Emperor Zhao ever ascended to the throne. We should let the crown prince ascend the throne early to stabilize the relationship between the ruler and his subjects. If this succeeds, both the empress and her son will be grateful to you; this would be the safest approach! You should bring it up to the emperor first to give him an idea, and I will then submit an official proposal from an external source." Shikai agreed.
At that moment, a comet appeared in the sky, and the officials responsible for astronomical observations reported that this was a sign of overthrowing the old and establishing the new. Gao Shiheng seized this opportunity to write to the emperor, saying, "Your Majesty, although you are the Son of Heaven, this is not the highest glory! You see, the 'Chunqiu Yuanming Bao' states: 'In the Year of Yi You, old systems should be reformed, and new policies should be implemented.' This year is indeed the Year of Yi You; the throne should be passed to the Crown Prince to establish the relationship between ruler and subjects early, which also aligns with the will of Heaven!" He also cited the example of Wei Xianwen Emperor abdicating to his son. After hearing his words, the emperor agreed. Thus, Gao Shiheng was appointed as the Chief Secretary, and he was promoted to a higher rank, becoming the emperor's most favored person.
Gao Cheng valued me, and I also wanted to become a prime minister. I had a good relationship with Liu Ti, the Palace Attendant, so I wrote to him, asking him to inform the emperor about the misdeeds of the Minister of Ceremonies Zhao Yanshen, the Left Deputy Minister Yuan Wenyao, and He Shikai. Liu Ti was afraid and did not dare to report it; this matter was somewhat exposed, and Zhao Yanshen and the others went to complain to the emperor first.
The emperor was furious and pointed at me with his sword sheath, questioning, "Why did you ruin He Shikai's reputation?" I shouted, "I was promoted thanks to Shikai; I never meant to tarnish his reputation! Since Your Majesty has asked me, I dare not withhold the truth. Shikai, Wenyao, and Yanshen are overbearing, controlling the court, colluding in corrupt practices, selling offices and unjustly imprisoning people, and using bribery to manipulate affairs. Everyone is spreading their bad reputation. If knowledgeable people find out, it will spread like wildfire! Your Majesty, if you disregard these matters, I fear that the great Qi dynasty will be doomed!"
The emperor said, "You are defaming me!" I replied, "I dare not defame, Your Majesty; you have taken someone else's daughter." The emperor said, "Her family is too poor, so I adopted her." I asked, "Why don't you open the granaries to relieve them, but instead bring her into the palace?" The emperor became even angrier, used a knife ring to gag me, and whipped me, almost killing me. I shouted, "Your Majesty, if you kill me, you’ll gain fame; if you kill me, I’ll gain fame too! If you want to be famous, then don't kill me; let me help you create some elixirs instead!" This eased the tension a bit.
I continued, "Your Majesty, you have a Fan Zeng whom you do not utilize; do you see yourself as Xiang Yu and me as Fan Zeng?" The emperor was furious again: "Do you think of yourself as Fan Zeng and me as Xiang Yu?" I said, "I can’t measure up to Xiang Yu; he was lacking the Mandate of Heaven. Xiang Yu came from a commoner background, led a rabble, and became a hegemon in five years. Your Majesty, you have relied on the foundation and wealth of your father and brothers to reach where you are today; I think Xiang Yu shouldn't be underestimated. I’m not even in the same league as Fan Zeng; Zhang Liang is also not better than me! Zhang Liang assisted the crown prince and needed the help of the Four Hao to stabilize the Han dynasty's succession. I don’t hold a high official position, and I’m just a marginal figure in the court, but I’ve done my best to loyally advise you, Your Majesty, suggesting you abdicate and honorably become the retired emperor, allowing your son to inherit the throne; this would be good for both you and your son. What’s so special about that insignificant Zhang Liang?"
The emperor became even angrier and had someone stuffed my mouth with dirt. I spoke while spitting out the dirt, not yielding at all. Then, he whipped me two hundred times and exiled me to a place called Jiafang, and later sent me to Guangzhou. The governor of Guangzhou, Li Zuxun, treated me kindly. But the deputy Zhang Fengli flattered those in power and reported, "Although Gao Cheng is an exiled prisoner, he often sits equally with the governor." The emperor ordered, "Put him in a cell!" Zhang Fengli said, "A cell means a dungeon." So they dug a deep pit and confined me there, keeping a strict watch, with shackles on my feet and hands constantly, and my family and relatives were not allowed to visit. At night, they used lamps filled with turnip seed oil that burned my eyes, which ultimately left me blind.
Emperor Wucheng died, and the new emperor longed for him, so he appointed Gao Xiaozheng as the governor of Haizhou. At that time, Lu Lingxuan and her son controlled the court, and her son Mu Tibo was favored by the emperor. Gao Xiaozheng wrote a letter to Lu Lingxuan's brother, Siddha, saying, "Zhao Yanshen is a very scheming person who seeks to emulate Yi Yin and Huo Guang in seizing power. Can Lu Lingxuan and her son have a good life? Why don't you appoint talented people earlier?" He Shikai also felt that Gao Xiaozheng was well-suited for making important decisions and wanted him to be his advisor, therefore, he put aside past grievances and treated him with sincerity.
He Shikai also spoke well of Gao Xiaozheng to Lu Lingxuan and reported to the emperor, "The sons of the Xiang Emperor, Xuan Emperor, and Zhao Emperor of the Han dynasty all failed to inherit the throne. Now Your Majesty can still firmly sit on the throne, which is actually all thanks to the merits of Gao Xiaozheng's ancestors. He has made significant contributions to the state and deserves substantial rewards. While Gao Xiaozheng may not be particularly admirable, his strategies are very clever and absolutely reliable in critical moments. Moreover, he is blind, so he definitely won't have any rebellious intentions. Please summon him, Your Majesty, and ask for his thoughts." The emperor agreed and appointed Gao Xiaozheng as the Silver Blue Grand Master of the Imperial Granary and Secretary Supervisor, and also promoted him to the position of Minister of State with equal rank to three departments.
After Gao Xiaozheng's death, Gao Xiaozheng once again used Lu Lingxuan to have Zhao Yanshen removed from court, while he was appointed as a palace attendant. While in Jinyang, Gao Xiaozheng secretly submitted a memorial requesting the execution of Wang Langya. After his plan was carried out, he gradually gained more trust and was increasingly relied upon.
Unfortunately, the Empress Dowager was under house arrest, and Zhao Ting sought to elevate Lu Ao to the position of Empress Dowager, even referencing the story of the Empress Dowager of Emperor Wei to discuss it with the Grand Empress (referring to Empress Xiaozhao). He told others, "Although the Grand Empress is a woman, she is truly a formidable figure; I haven't seen anyone like her since Nuwa!" The Grand Empress also held Zhao Ting in high regard, calling him the National Scholar and National Treasure. As a result, Zhao Ting was promoted to Left Minister of the Ministry of Works, also overseeing the national history, and was given the title of Special Advisor, entering the Wenlin Academy, responsible for the compilation of books. He was conferred the title of Duke of Yan County, drawing a salary from Taiyuan County, and was assigned seventy soldiers. He lived in Yijingfang and even encroached on his neighbor's land, undertaking extensive construction to build his residence, with Lu Ao personally overseeing the project. At that time, his power was so immense that it eclipsed the entire court!
Hulu Guang had a particular disdain for him, and when he saw him from afar, he would scold, "What does this meddling poor kid want?" He often told his subordinate generals, "In the past, Zhao Ling would discuss border news and troop movements with us. Now this blind man (referring to Zhao Ting) holds the secrets, and he doesn't discuss anything with us at all. I'm afraid he will mess up the country's affairs!" Meanwhile, Zhao Ting had caught wind of some of Hulu Guang's remarks about him. Just as his daughter fell out of favor after becoming empress, he spread rumors to frame Hulu Guang, telling the emperor, "'A hundred sheng fly up to the sky, the bright moon shines on Chang'an; this rumor was spread by Hulu Guang!" He also had his brother-in-law Zheng Daogai submit a petition. When the emperor asked Zhao Ting, he said it was true. He also mentioned another rumor: "'The high mountain collapses, the oak tree rises, the blind old man carries a big axe, the meddlesome old woman can't say a word,'" claiming that this "blind old man is me," saying he was concerned for the country and its people, urging the emperor to govern diligently, and stating that this "meddlesome old woman" referred to Lady Lu, the palace attendant. The emperor then consulted Han Changluan and Mu Tibo, and also had Gao Yuanhai and Duan Shiliang secretly discuss the matter, but everyone dismissed his claims. As a result, a military officer from Hulu Guang's residence, Feng Shi, reported that Hulu Guang was plotting rebellion, and ultimately, Hulu Guang's entire family was exterminated. Zhao Ting then turned to Empress Dowager Lu for help, wanting to become the general in charge of the army, and the emperor agreed. However, the imperial edict had to be signed and sealed by the palace attendant Hulu Xiaoqing first. Xiaoqing secretly told Gao Yuanhai, who then brought it up with Hou Lufen and Mu Tibo, saying, "This Zhao Ting, a Han man with no military experience and bad eyesight, how can he possibly be the general in charge of the army?" Early the next morning, in front of the emperor, Gao Yuanhai laid out several reasons why Zhao Ting wasn't fit for the general position, also pointing out that Zhao Ting was too chummy with Prince Guangning, Xiao Hang, and didn’t act like a proper minister at all.
Ting also requested to see the emperor, and the emperor let him in. Ting wrote a petition himself, claiming that he and Gao Yuanhai had always been enemies, and it must be Gao Yuanhai who was scheming against him behind his back. The emperor looked a bit displeased and stammered, "Uh... yeah." Ting then accused Gao Yuanhai of colluding with the Agriculture Minister Yin Zihua, the Junior Minister of the Treasury Li Shuyuan, and the Commissioner of the Price Control Zhang Shulüe to form a faction and engage in private dealings. As a result, the emperor demoted Yin Zihua to governor of Renzhou, Li Shuyuan to governor of Xiangcheng, and Zhang Shulüe to the registrar and military officer of Nanyingzhou. Empress Lu also jumped on the bandwagon and took the opportunity to demote Gao Yuanhai to governor of Zhengzhou.
From then on, Ting monopolized power, responsible for all cavalry and auxiliary troop matters. His relatives and friends all landed high-ranking official positions. The later emperor even specially arranged for several people to assist him in entering and leaving the palace, allowing him to wear a gauze hat, walking all the way to Yongxiang and then from Wanchun Gate to Shengshoutang, spending every day by the emperor's side, discussing and managing state affairs together. The emperor's trust and reliance on him were unmatched by any other ministers.
Since Shi Kai came to power, the state affairs have been deteriorating day by day, while I, Ting, have been praised for my noble character and sense of duty, receiving widespread acclaim for my work both internally and externally. I plan to push for further government reforms and clean up the bureaucracy. First, I submitted a request to abolish the capital prefecture and merge its functions into the General Command Office, so that issues affecting the common people can be dealt with directly by the counties. As for the titles of the guards and the attire of civil and military officials, they will follow the previous regulations. I also want to get rid of those eunuchs and shady characters, fully supporting the court to run the country effectively. However, Lu Aop and Mu Tipoba see things differently regarding my proposals.
So, I secretly instructed the Deputy Censor Li Bolu to bring charges against the chief scribe Wang Zichong for accepting bribes. I knew this matter involved Mutibo and hoped to use it to implicate them in each other's crimes, aiming to take them all down and also deal with Lu Ao in the process. However, I was worried that the emperor was being deceived by the treacherous people around him, so I sought support from the empress's faction. Therefore, I requested to appoint the empress's brother Hu Junyu as the Grand Master and Central General, and also requested to summon Junyu's brother Hu Junbi, the Governor of Liangzhou, to serve as the Deputy Censor. Upon hearing this, Lu Ao was very angry and sought to obstruct my plans, immediately demoting Hu Junyu to the position of Grand Minister of Golden Purple and removing him from his role as Central General, while Hu Junbi was also recalled to Liangzhou. The empress's eventual deposition was somewhat tied to this affair. As for Wang Zichong, it ultimately ended without resolution.
Day by day, I found myself increasingly marginalized. Those eunuchs even united to slander me, sparing no effort. Later, the emperor questioned several palace maids, but they all stayed silent. After the emperor asked three times, an old maid knelt down and said, "I, this old servant, deserve to die. At first, I saw He Shikai's profound skills and exceptional talent, and heard he was a good person, so I recommended him. Now it seems he has committed a great mistake; it is truly difficult to discern people's character! I, this old servant, deserve to die!" The emperor then ordered Han Changluan to investigate my case, uncovering more than ten instances of my fraudulent claims for court rewards. Because the emperor had previously sworn to me that he would not kill me, I was ultimately removed only from my positions as Grand Master and Deputy Minister and demoted to the Governor of Northern Xuzhou.
I was adamant about seeing the emperor, but Han Changluan, having had a previous grudge against me, sent someone to push me out from the Bai Pavilion. I refused to leave my seat. Han Changluan then ordered soldiers to drag me out and brought me to the court, where I was harshly reprimanded. After the emperor issued his decree, he also ordered the revocation of my titles of Grand Chancellor, Third Minister, and Duke of the County, leaving me only with the position of Governor.
When they arrived at the prefectural city, they happened upon Chen Kou's rebellion, and the common people had risen up in revolt. Lu Ting did not close the city gates, and the guards let him go down to the city, forbidding pedestrians from walking in the streets and alleys, not even letting chickens or dogs make a sound. The bandits couldn't see anything and were baffled, suspecting that everyone in the city had fled, and the city was completely empty, so they relaxed their vigilance. Lu Ting suddenly ordered a loud shout, beating drums and making a clamor that shook the heavens and the earth, startling the bandits, who immediately scattered and fled. Later, they regrouped to attack the city again. Lu Ting personally rode out to battle, ordering the military officer Wang Junzhi to lead the troops, and he himself charged into the fray. The bandits had previously heard that Lu Ting was blind and thought he would surely be unable to resist; unexpectedly, they saw him personally engaging in battle, drawing his bow and shooting arrows, which terrified them and sent them fleeing in panic. At that time, Mu Tibo was quite displeased with Lu Ting and wanted the city to fall into the hands of the bandits. Although he knew the situation was urgent, he didn't send any troops to help. Lu Ting fought while defending for more than ten days, ultimately leading to the bandits' rout and preserving the city. Later, Lu Ting died in the prefectural city.
Lu Ting's son, Lu Junxin, was well-read and skilled in various arts, rising to the position of Tongzhi Sanqi Changshi, serving as an envoy to Chen and as a Zhongshu Lang. After Lu Ting was dismissed, he was caught up in the fallout. Lu Junxin's younger brother, Lu Junyan, was short in stature, spoke with a thick tongue, and lacked talent. During the Daxing period of the Sui Dynasty, he served as a clerk in Dongping County. Dongping County was captured by Zhai Rang and later fell under the control of Li Mi, who held him in high regard and made him the record keeper, with all the military documents and letters penned by him. After Li Mi's defeat, Lu Junyan was executed by Wang Shichong.
Lu Ting's younger brother Lu Xiaoyin was a man of literary talent and gained fame at an early age. Though his literary works weren't as polished as his brother's, he was quick-witted, good at debate, and knowledgeable about music. In the late Northern Wei period, he served as a court attendant and envoy to Liang. At that time, Xu Ling and Yu Xin visited the Wei state and were very renowned. The Wei court held them in high regard and received them with the best talents of the time, with individuals like Lu Yuanjing lowering their status to greet them, taking turns as reception officials. Lu Xiaoyin was among them, earning widespread praise.
Lu Xiaoyin's cousin Lu Mao also had some literary talent, but he was fond of drinking and quite headstrong, so he was not given much responsibility. During the Danning period of the Northern Zhou, he was recommended by his hometown for his scholarly achievements and was appointed as an official, but he resigned, citing illness, and never held an official position again. Due to some circumstances, Lu Ting sent for Lu Mao, who reluctantly agreed to come and help temporarily. Lu Ting wanted him to take an official position, but Lu Mao ran away.
My cousin Chongru was quite talented academically and had a way with words. He gained a reputation for his strong work ethic at a young age. During the Wuping period of the Northern Zhou, he served as Deputy Commander of Sizhou and Palace Attendant. After the Northern Zhou fell, he went to the Sui Dynasty and became the governor of Rongchang County. By the Kaihuang period of the Sui Dynasty, he ultimately achieved the role of Long History of Tangzhou before retiring.
This fellow has been good at studying since childhood, with remarkable literary talent, and gained fame early on due to his outstanding work ability. During the Wuping period of the Northern Zhou, he successively served as Deputy Commander of Sizhou and Palace Attendant. After the change of dynasties, he went to the Sui Dynasty and was appointed as the governor of Rongchang County. By the Kaihuang period of the Sui Dynasty, his official career ultimately concluded with the position of Long History of Tangzhou.
