In ancient times, emperors governed the realm by enforcing severe laws to curb wrongdoers and using ritual and moral teachings to regulate people's desires. Therefore, it was necessary to assign responsibilities and appoint officials to collaboratively govern the state. The Book of Documents states: "Understanding how to use people is wisdom; being able to employ good people to pacify the people is benevolence." A wise ruler naturally has honest officials; a foolish court is typically rife with greedy and cruel officials. Emperor Gaozu rectified the chaos and showed compassion for the people, which is why many local officials at that time were competent. However, those generals elevated to local lords for their military achievements lacked understanding of governance and political strategy. They not only failed to comprehend the previous lessons learned but also relied on their subordinates when they first began to handle state affairs, being greedy and cruel, and even when advised, they remained unrepentant. Alas! This is indeed a great loss for the court!
After the Danning period, the social climate deteriorated, and the phenomenon of selling official positions and judicial roles became very common, with systemic deception at all levels. By the end of the dynasty, the greed for wealth intensified further. During the Qi Dynasty, there were several officials as honest as Xin Shu, most of whom were recorded in historical texts due to their prominent positions. Officials like Fang Zhonggan demonstrated exceptional talents during the Wuping era, which is particularly commendable. Now, I am including Zhang Huayuan and others in the "Biographies of Honest Officials."
Zhang Huayuan, styled Guoman, was from Dai County. He was clever and quick-witted from a young age and had a great demeanor. When Emperor Gaozu established the Cavalry Command, he recruited him as a judicial officer and later promoted him to serve in the Grand Chancellor's office, often serving Emperor Gaozu. He accompanied Gaozu to Xindu and was highly valued by him. Whenever Gaozu issued commands to the armies, he always had Zhang recite the edicts.
When Emperor Wen of Zhou first occupied Yongzhou, Gaozu still wanted to persuade him to submit, so he sent Zhang Huayuan to enter the pass and talk him into it. Emperor Wen of Zhou considered detaining Zhang Huayuan and said to him, "If you can stay, we will enjoy wealth and honor together; otherwise, your life will be at great risk!" Zhang Huayuan replied, "The King of Bohai is a born leader, destined by fate. You only control a small part of Guanzhong, yet you want to carve out your own territory. That's why I was sent to persuade you. If you do not take this opportunity to change your mind and turn calamity into fortune, but instead wish to threaten me, then I have no choice but to accept my fate!" Emperor Wen of Zhou admired his integrity and let him return. Gaozu often sighed, worried about Zhang Huayuan's long absence, and when he heard that he was back, a look of joy appeared on his face.
Song Shiliang, styled Yuanyou, was from Guangping. At the age of fifteen, he was already brave and full of spirit, voluntarily enlisting in the army to fight in the north, where he earned many military accolades. Later, he became a palace censor and was ordered to Hebei to investigate household registrations, uncovering many people evading taxes. When he returned, he saw many bones near the city of Ji County and wrote to the local government, requesting that they collect and bury the bones. That night, a torrential rain fell. Upon his return to court, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang praised him, saying, "I know that the number of registered households you found is twice the original count. If only all officials were as dedicated as you, the world would be a better place!" Afterwards, he was appointed as the governor of Qinghe.
Song Shiliang was very talented and had broad-mindedness, especially excelling in local governance. His reputation rose remarkably in Qinghe County shortly after he took office. In the southeast of the county, there was an area known as Qu Di, which was occupied by the Cheng clan, and many thieves gathered there. The locals used to say, "Better to cross the Kuaiji Mountains of Dongwu than to pass through Cheng Gong's Qu Di." Song Shiliang implemented eight measures for governance, and the thieves fled. The locals began to sing, "Although Qu Di is perilous, what good are the thieves? As long as Governor Song is here, the thieves will naturally vanish." Later, during the reign of Qi Tianbao, a general amnesty was announced, and there wasn't a single prisoner in Qinghe County; the officials only had to read the decree. The prison had become a jungle of weeds, and peach trees and wild wormwood were everywhere. Every day, the government office was eerily quiet, with no one coming to lodge complaints. That winter, a spring of fresh water emerged in the county. When he left office, all the citizens came to see him off, creating an incredibly moving scene. An old man named Ding Jingang stepped forward, tears in his eyes, to express his gratitude, saying, "I am ninety years old this year and have seen thirty-five governors come and go. Not only did you govern well, but you were also utterly incorruptible. Now that we have lost such a good official, what are we common folks supposed to do?" Everyone held onto his sleeves and cried incessantly. Later, he was appointed as the governor of Dongjun and ultimately passed away while in office. Song Shiliang was hardworking and eager to learn, had a passion for writing, and authored five essays known as "Zi Lue" and ten volumes of "The Song Family Chronicles." He and his brother Song Shigui were both celebrated for their devotion to family and brotherly affection.
When he served as the Prefect of Yanzhou, the people were very grateful to him, and banditry ceased. There were more than a thousand prisoners before in the Yanzhou prison, and he set them all free. By the end of the year, only a few dozen who had committed serious crimes remained, and he sent them home, with the requirement that they report back to prison at a designated time. Wild beasts had frequently attacked people in the region, but since Song Shiliang took office, six strange horses suddenly appeared and devoured the wild beasts, causing everyone to believe that it was his virtue that had moved the heavens. After his death, the people of the region, regardless of their social standing, held him in fond memory.
Song Shigui was strict and diligent from a young age, with a passion for studying law, and later rose to the position of Chief Justice. One time, the people of Luozhou gathered to rob a river bridge, and the authorities arrested them, which implicated over 1,700 accomplices. When Cui Xian served as the Chief Justice, he categorized this incident as a rebellion, and no verdict was reached for several years. When Song Shigui became the Junior Minister, he ruled that this was merely a robbery case, executing only the ringleader and releasing all the others. At that time, Su Zhenzhi of Dali was renowned for his fair judgments. People in the Dali Temple said, "The one who can determine the suspects is Su Zhenzhi, and the one who can see both the surface and the underlying truth is Song Shigui." People then considered these two to be the two foremost experts of the Dali Temple. When prisoners from Nantai arrived at the Ministry of Justice, Shigui often spoke up for their grievances. Later, Shigui was reassigned as an Imperial Censor, preparing to investigate the abuse of power by Lieutenant Bi Yiyun, but Bi Yiyun refused to cooperate, delaying repeatedly. Song Shigui then wrote to the emperor, detailing Bi Yiyun's oppressive actions. Emperor Xianzhu summoned both of them and personally told Song Shigui, "I know that the Tai Fu has long oppressed the Si Fu. You can uphold your principles and stand against them. As long as you uphold this integrity, you needn't worry about wealth and status." He then said to Bi Yiyun, "What you've done truly deserves death, but because your intent is to punish evil, I will spare you this time." He then addressed the court officials, saying, "Both of these men are upright and outspoken ministers of my dynasty." Later, Song Shigui died from illness, and upon hearing of his death, the prisoners from the Ministry of Justice and the Imperial Censorate wept, saying, "Song, the Chief Justice, has died; what chance do we have now?"
Song Shiliang was a descendant of the Prince of Filial Piety, knowledgeable and versatile, and he enjoyed collecting and organizing manuscripts. Although he had an average appearance, he often critiqued others, which resulted in a negative public perception of him at the time. He served as a military advisor to Duan Xiaoyan and was later recommended as a literary figure for Prince Beiping. He requested to enter the Wenlin Academy but was unsuccessful, so he smeared the court officials and wrote a twenty-volume work titled "Separate Record." After the Qi state was pacified, he renamed the book "Customs of the East," expanding its content, and ultimately wrote over thirty volumes. The book contained many falsehoods and inaccuracies, and the chapter arrangement was disorganized and lacked the structure of a proper scholarly work.
Lang Ji, styled Shiye, was from Zhongshan. He was tall, about eight feet, handsome, and had a beautiful beard. He was well-read and particularly skilled in handling political affairs.
He started as a low-ranking court official but steadily climbed the ranks and eventually became the general of Haixi. Wu Mingche of the Liang Dynasty led troops to attack Haixi, laying siege to it. Lang Ji motivated both the soldiers and the civilians, holding out for over a hundred days. As their food supplies dwindled and weapons ran low, he even had to fashion arrows from wood and create fletchings from paper.
Finally, the siege was finally lifted, and Lang Ji returned to report back to the court. Minister Yang Yin personally came out to welcome him and praised him, saying, "You originally served as a civilian official, but I didn't expect you to have such remarkable military talent! Carving wood and cutting paper to make weapons is unprecedented; you truly deserve our respect!"
Later, Lang Ji was appointed as the governor of Yingchuan County. He served in this position for several years, efficiently handling cases and public affairs, managing to resolve a backlog of cases in just a few days. Additionally, his decisions were acknowledged by the court. He organized various affairs in the county in an orderly manner, resolving various lawsuits thoroughly, bringing great satisfaction to the common people.
Lang Ji was an honest man who never coveted wealth. He once told others, "In a position of power, one doesn't even need to prepare a wooden pillow, much less those more significant things!" His only small hobby was writing. Pan Ziyi once wrote to him, saying, "Being an official and writing, this can be seen as a kind of romantic 'indulgence', right?" Lang Ji replied, "Understanding benevolence and righteousness through mistakes isn't necessarily a bad thing!" Later, Lang Ji passed away while in office. His coffin was to be transported back to his hometown, and along the way, many mourners followed the hearse, crying bitterly and deeply saddened. Meng Ye, courtesy name Jingye, was from Anguo, a town in Julu, Hebei. He came from a very poor family, and when he was young, he served as a minor official. He was known for his integrity and caution; once, when his colleagues embezzled silk from the government and offered him thirty bolts, he firmly refused and confiscated them.
Later, Sima Shao, the King of Pengcheng in the Wei state, was appointed as the Governor of Dingzhou and promoted Meng Ye to be the chief clerk (equivalent to a secretary). Liu Renzhi, the Chief of Dingzhou, said to Meng Ye, "I’m out here, and you’re in there. If we work together with one heart, we will definitely make a difference!" Soon after, Liu Renzhi was recalled by the court to serve as the Chancellor. As he was leaving, he said to Sima Shao, "Your Highness, the only person you can truly trust is Meng Ye; please make sure to value him. The others are unreliable!" He also bid farewell to Meng Ye, holding his hand and saying, "I’m leaving Dingzhou now, and you will lose your support. I’m worried you’ll have a hard time looking after yourself alone. You must remain upright and work hard!" Meng Ye only had one horse, which later died because it was too weak. Sima Shao, knowing that Meng Ye came from a poor background, asked the officials to share a meal of horse meat, hoping to compensate him well, but Meng Ye firmly declined and couldn’t bring himself to accept. Sima Shao then joked with Meng Ye, saying, "Looks like you’re trying to rub elbows with the influential!" Meng Ye replied, "I’m just an insignificant person serving a superior like you. I can’t really contribute anything, nor do I want to ruin your good name." Later, Emperor Gaozu wrote to Sima Shao, saying, "That secretary named Meng is really diligent and responsible. Why don't you promote him to be by your side?" Sima Shao was the son-in-law of Emperor Gaozu. Liu Renzhi later became the Governor of Yanzhou, and before leaving, he said to the Minister of Personnel, Cui Xian, "Among the officials of Yanzhou, only Meng Ye is worth promoting; the others are not capable." Cui Xian asked Meng Ye, "What did you do in Dingzhou that made Liu Xiyuan think so highly of you?" Meng Ye replied, "I’m just naturally a bit simple and straightforward, only knowing how to cultivate myself and nurture my character, without any notable accomplishments."
In the early years of the Tianbao era, King Gao of Qinghe was appointed as the governor of Sizhou. Hearing that Meng Ye had a good reputation and character, he summoned him to serve as a legal official. Meng Ye was short and slight, and when Gao Yue first saw him, he looked down on his slight build and merely smiled without saying a word. Later, after carefully reviewing Meng Ye's judgments, he said to him, "Your decisions are very wise and can be said to exceed what one might expect from your appearance." Soon after, Meng Ye was promoted to the governor of Dongjun, earning a reputation for his kindness and compassion. That year, it was common for a wheat stalk to bear five ears of wheat, while most others had three or four ears; the entire county believed this was a good omen of Meng Ye's benevolent governance. Later, Meng Ye passed away due to illness.
Cui Boqian, also known as Shixun, hailed from Boling. His father, Cui Wenye, had served as the magistrate of Julu County. Cui Boqian lost both parents at a young age and grew up in poverty, but he was very filial to his mother. Later, he was summoned to Jinyang by Emperor Gaozu and appointed as an assistant in the Ministry of Personnel Affairs. Emperor Gaozu praised him, saying, "He is honest and upright, dedicated to the public good, truly an excellent aide!" Afterwards, he was promoted to be the deputy of Yingzhou. Later, Emperor Shizong appointed him as the military officer in the capital and praised him, saying, "You have made remarkable achievements in Yingzhou, and the people live and work in peace. Now, the supervisory office is busy with affairs, so I am asking you to help." He had a cousin named Cui Xian, who held great power at the time, but despite being colleagues and classmates, Boqian never sought his help because of Xian's influence, no matter the circumstances.
Later, Cui Boqian was appointed governor of Jibei. He ruled with compassion and earned the deep affection of the people. He even replaced his whip with one made of soft leather, as he could not bear to see the common people suffer under the whip, as a reminder to himself. Once, a high official from the court passed through Jibei and asked the locals about their governor's achievements. The people replied, "Governor Cui's benevolence is unmatched even in ancient history!" They even sang a song: "Lord Cui governs well, easily replaces the whip, spreads virtue, and the people live in harmony." The official asked, "Since you say he is so benevolent, why is there still a whip?" The people explained, "It's because the higher officials fear the whip's authority that the common people can enjoy his kindness!" Later, Cui Boqian was summoned to Ye City, and the people cried out and tried to block his path, reluctant to let him go. Since his brother held a position in Guanzhong, Cui Boqian gave up his chance to serve in the court and was instead appointed magistrate of Nanjulu County. He managed government affairs with meticulous care, personally attending to every detail. If any poor or weak individuals had unresolved issues, they would say, "We have the white-bearded elder (referring to Cui Boqian), so we have nothing to fear!" Ultimately, Cui Boqian rose to the rank of Silver Green Grand Minister of Rites before passing away.
Su Qiong, courtesy name Zhenzhi, hailing from Wuqiang, had once served as a minor official in the Wei kingdom. Su Qiong grew up on the frontier with his father and once visited the governor of East Jingzhou, Cao Zhi. Cao Zhi playfully asked him, "Do you want to be an official?" Su Qiong replied, "It should be the government that needs talent, not talent seeking the government." Cao Zhi was surprised by his response and appointed him as a military officer. Later, King Wenxiang appointed him as an official with the title of Yitong Kaifu and promoted him to a military judge, often encouraging and supporting him. One time, a gang of bandits emerged in Bingzhou, and he was tasked with investigating the case. He apprehended some suspects, and the stolen items were claimed by their owners, but the actual stolen goods remained unfound. King Wenxiang reassigned the case to Su Qiong, and Su Qiong identified over ten criminals, including Yuan Jingrong, and found the stolen goods. King Wenxiang burst into laughter and said to those who had previously made wrongful arrests, "If it weren't for our good military officer, you might have wrongfully condemned them to death!"
Su Qiong became the governor of Nanjinghe, where theft was rampant. Upon his arrival, both the citizens and officials respected him greatly, and the thieves vanished without a trace. If any wrongdoers from outside tried to pass through the border, none managed to escape; all were captured and handed over to the authorities.
In Lingling County, there was an ordinary farmer named Wei Shuangcheng who lost a cow and suspected that Wei Zibin from the same village had stolen it, so he reported him to the magistrate. Su Qiong carefully questioned him and found that Wei Zibin had not stolen the cow at all, so he released him. Wei Shuangcheng was worried and said, "Sir, you've let the thief go; how am I supposed to find my cow?" Su Qiong brushed him off and discreetly sent someone to investigate. Soon, they caught the real thief. From then on, the villagers no longer worried when they lost their cattle or sheep; they would casually say, "Just leave it to the magistrate, and we'll be at ease!" Even wealthy people from neighboring counties stored their valuables at the border to keep their valuables safe from thieves. When thieves actually came to rob, the wealthy would tell the thieves, "My things are already stored with Magistrate Su!" Upon hearing this, the thieves would quickly flee in fear.
In Pingyuan County, there was an infamous bandit leader named Liu Heigou, who had a large gang and whose influence reached all the way to the coast. However, in Su Qiong's territory, every village was very peaceful and completely unaffected. People from neighboring counties admired Su Qiong’s fair governance. More than a hundred former bandits who originally roamed the county were recruited by Su Qiong to work under him. He had a remarkable knack for seeing through people's intentions; he was in the know about everything going on, big or small, even knowing who the governor had a drink with. Su Qiong was known for his integrity and caution, and he never wrote personal letters.
In Jizhou, there was an affluent monk named Daoyan, who owned many properties in the county and was frequently targeted for tax collection. He wanted to meet with Su Qiong, but Su Qiong had already figured out his intentions and would discuss profound principles with him every time they met, showing him great respect. Although Daoyan had many tax issues he wanted to discuss with Su Qiong, he could never find the right moment to speak. His disciples asked him why, and Daoyan replied, "Every time I meet the magistrate, he takes me to another level; how can I think about all that other stuff?"
Su Qiong's governance not only maintained peace but also instilled a sense of trust among the people, reflecting a commitment to integrity and justice.
Zhao Ying, a commoner from the county, was previously the governor of Leiling. He retired at the age of eighty and returned home. In early May, he sent a pair of fresh melons to Su Qiong. Due to his old age, Zhao Ying earnestly pleaded with Su Qiong to accept them, and she did, specially hanging them on the beam of the hall where matters were heard, without having eaten them. Later, everyone began to send fresh fruit, and when they saw Zhao Ying's melons still there, they all turned back.
There were also two brothers, Yi Puming, who had quarreled for many years over a land dispute, gathering a crowd of over a hundred people. Su Qiong called the two brothers and, in front of everyone, advised them: "The hardest thing to come by in this world is brotherly love; land is actually easy to obtain. If you lose your brotherly bond over land, is that really worth it?" As she spoke, tears streamed down Su Qiong's face, and soon everyone present was in tears. The Puming brothers bowed and admitted their mistakes, asking Su Qiong for time to consider. Ten years later, they reconciled and lived together again.
Every spring, Su Qiong would invite great scholars like Wei Jilong and Tian Yuanfeng to give lectures at the county school, and after officials finished their duties, they would attend the classes. People at the time said that the government offices had turned into a "student dormitory." Su Qiong also banned improper temples and advocated for simplicity in weddings and funerals, making sure everything adhered to proper etiquette. Each year during silkworm season, she would send cotton and silk samples to various departments in advance, and clear regulations were established for military duties and taxes. Even for labor assignments, arrangements needed to be made in advance, so county officials rarely faced punishment for delays. At that time, people from various states and counties came to learn from Su Qiong's governance methods.
In the Tianbao period, a major flood occurred in the county, leaving many families without food. Su Qiong gathered all the families in the county that had surplus grain to lend it to the disaster victims. The state’s household registration officials wanted to collect taxes and even intended to count the grain Su Qiong had lent out. The disciplinary officer warned Su Qiong, "Although you have helped the disaster victims, you may be punished for it." Su Qiong replied, "If I have to face punishment alone to save thousands of families, what’s there to complain about?" Thus, Su Qiong submitted a report detailing the situation, and the state ultimately exempted everyone from taxes, enabling the people to live and work in peace. Those who benefited from Su Qiong's kindness expressed their gratitude, saying, "The governor is like our reborn parents!" Su Qiong served for six years and was greatly beloved by the people, with no one ever reporting him to the state government. He submitted petitions four times, all of which were rated outstanding. Later, due to unexpected events, he was dismissed from office, and when old friends tried to give him gifts, he turned them all down. Not long after, he was reinstated as the Director of Justice and the Chief of the Court, and the court ministers all felt sorry for him. The Minister of Personnel, Xin Shu, said, "Su Qiong is both upright and incorruptible, truly living up to his reputation, and there’s no need to worry that his contributions won't be acknowledged."
Initially, Su Qiong served as the governor of Qinghe, while Pei Xianbo was the inspector of Jizhou. Pei Xianbo was particularly strict and liked to use harsh measures, while Su Qiong was known for his leniency towards others. Later, Fang Yanyou became the governor of Yeling and passed through Jizhou, where Pei Xianbo asked him about Su Qiong's reputation. Fang Yanyou said, "I have only heard that Governor Su Qiong is highly regarded, while Inspector Pei Xianbo is very strict." Pei Xianbo replied, "Just because someone is well-regarded by the people doesn't mean they are truly just." Fang Yanyou countered, "If that's the case, then Huang Ba and Gong Sui must also be criminals." Later, the court ordered that all states to recommend honest and capable officials. Pei Xianbo, worried that Su Qiong would frame him because of his earlier comments about Su Qiong, found that Su Qiong actually defended Pei Xianbo, proving that he had done nothing wrong, and everyone admired Su Qiong's fairness and justice.
Bi Yi Yun served as the Deputy Censor-in-Chief and was known for his severity and temper, causing officials to fear him and no one dared to disobey his orders. However, Su Qiong was committed to handling cases fairly and justly, vindicating many individuals of wrongful accusations. The case handling practices of the Dali Temple and various government levels began to change due to Su Qiong's influence. Later, Su Qiong was promoted to a high-ranking position. At that time, in the regions of Zhao Zhou, Qinghe, and Nanzhong, there were consecutive reports of rebellion conspiracies, and these cases were assigned to Su Qiong for investigation. After uncovering the truth, he vindicated many individuals. Minister Cui Ang said to Su Qiong, "If you want to establish a reputation, you might want to consider other strategies; you are always exonerating those accused of rebellion. Are you not worried about your own life?" Su Qiong replied earnestly, "I clear their names because they are innocent, not because I support rebellion." Upon hearing this, Cui Ang felt very ashamed. At that time, a saying circulated in the capital: "Known for his decisive case handling, Su Zhen (Su Qiong's courtesy name) is without a doubt the best!"
Su Qiong was later promoted to Left Chancellor, responsible for the administration of Xuzhou. A five-level temple in Xuzhou was suddenly robbed, which lost a hundred bronze statues. The authorities searched everywhere, suspecting nearby neighbors and some dubious individuals, arresting dozens of people. However, Su Qiong let them all go. The monks of the temple complained that Su Qiong was not capturing the thieves, and Su Qiong sent someone to comfort them, saying, "You all go back to the temple; the bronze statues will come back on their own." Ten days later, Su Qiong identified the thieves and located the stolen goods, quickly mobilizing his men to catch all the thieves in one go, recovering all the stolen items, and the thieves all confessed. The locals were deeply impressed by Su Qiong. Previously, there was a ban on crossing the Huai River for trade, and the Huainan region often faced bad harvests. Su Qiong petitioned the court to let folks from Huabei buy grain in Huainan. Later, a famine also occurred in the Huabei region, and he requested permission to buy grain in Huainan as well, allowing merchants to travel freely between the two regions, helping each other, and facilitating smooth water and land transportation, which also benefited the Hebei region. Eventually, Su Qiong became the Minister of Justice, and after the fall of the Qi dynasty, he served as the Governor of Boling during the Zhou dynasty.
Fang Bao, styled Zhonggan, was from Qinghe. His grandfather, Fa Shou, is recorded in the "Book of Wei"; his father was named Yi Zong. Fang Bao was tall and strong, with a great presence. He initially served as an assistant military officer and also held a bureaucratic position, following Murong Shaozong. Murong Shaozong claimed he was fated to face a flood disaster, so he bathed on a warship and even jumped directly into the water, hoping to dodge the disaster. Fang Bao said, "Fate is in the hands of heaven; how can we control it? General, if you're really facing a disaster, just praying won't help; if you're not in any danger, then why pray at all?" Murong Shaozong laughed and said, "I just seek psychological comfort." Not long after that, Murong Shaozong drowned, and people at the time thought Fang Bao was impressive for seeing right through it.
Later, he was promoted to be the governor of Yueling County. He was steady and composed, showing deep compassion for the impoverished. In the places where he served, the official residences were clean and tidy, and the jails were devoid of prisoners. The county was near the sea, and the water was salty and bitter; therefore, Fang Bao had a well excavated, which yielded sweet spring water. People from near and far viewed this as a testament to his integrity in governance. After Fang Bao retired and returned to his hometown, the water from that well became salty again. After the Northern Qi was destroyed, he returned to his hometown to spend his later years. The court summoned him repeatedly, but he declined each time, citing illness as his excuse. In the end, he passed away at home.
Lu Qubing hailed from Yangping. He was graceful and had an extraordinary appearance. Initially, he served as a military advisor. The court appointed scholars to serve as county magistrates, and Lu Qubing was sent to Raoyang County in Dingzhou as the county magistrate. Lu Qubing had a clear grasp of administrative affairs, strict yet decisive, and no one dared to deceive him. However, he was also very fair and incorruptible, deeply loved by the people. Later, he was promoted to be the magistrate of Cheng'an County. Near the capital, there were three counties: Ye County, Linzhang County, and Cheng'an County, located under the emperor's feet, which had always been difficult to manage. Moreover, it was a time of chaos, with disorder rampant, and requests and petitions from court officials and royal relatives were incessant. Lu Qubing managed administrative matters in accordance with the law, responding with reason and evidence. Even the influential, including their household servants, feared his authority but did not harbor resentment against him. Since he was reassigned to Ye County, among the magistrates of these three counties, his record was the most distinguished. After Emperor Wu of Zhou subdued the Northern Qi, he valued Lu Qubing's talents, and neither he nor Gongsun Jingmao, the governor of Jiyin, were dismissed; the court even issued an edict to commend them. He passed away during the Daye period of the Sui Dynasty while serving as the magistrate of Jishi County.
