Wei Langen, from Xiaquyang in Julu, Hebei, was the son of Wei Bocheng, who had served as the Grand Administrator of Taishan in the Wei Kingdom. Langen was tall and handsome, well-read, particularly knowledgeable about the "Zuo Zhuan" and the "I Ching," and was renowned for his sharp wit and keen insight. He first served as an official in the Kingdom of Beihai, and later became a military advisor in Dingzhou. After his mother passed away, he observed mourning rites with great devotion and gained a good reputation. When it came time for her burial, he chose to bury her in the Changshan Commandery, which housed a shrine to Dong Zhuo surrounded by cypress trees. Langen believed Dong Zhuo to be a cruel and brutal man who did not deserve to have a shrine, so he cut down the cypress trees to fashion the coffin. Despite advice to the contrary, he remained resolute and unafraid. After his father's death, he erected a shelter beside the grave to keep vigil, personally shoveling soil to mound the grave. He was consumed by grief and nearly broke down. Later, he served as a scribe in the offices of Sikong and Situ, then advanced to the position of Chief Clerk of Pingbei Prefecture in Xiazhou, before being reassigned to the court as a clerk under Situ. Finally, he was sent back to his hometown as the Grand Administrator, excelling in every aspect of his role.
During the end of the Zhengguang era, the Minister of Rites, Li Chong, was appointed as the military governor of his command and led troops to campaign against the Ruru tribe, appointing Lan Gen as his chief aide. Lan Gen said to Li Chong, "The military strongholds along our borders have extensive jurisdictions and have been in place for a long time. Initially, when these strongholds were set up, the land was wide and sparsely populated. The recruited soldiers were either descendants of powerful families from the Central Plains or the elite forces of the country, sent to guard the borders. However, in recent years, the government has been in chaos, designating these soldiers as 'households' and treating them almost like servants, with restrictions on promotions, marriages, and other aspects of life, leading to many talented individuals being unwilling to join. Meanwhile, the powerful families have all prospered, causing resentment among the border troops. Now is an opportune moment for reform to stabilize the borders. The military strongholds should be restructured as provinces, with counties established beneath them, and the 'households' should be transformed into commoners, enabling them to take the imperial examinations and serve as officials, integrating civil and military roles, employing both benevolence and authority. If this is done, the state won't have to worry about threats from the north anymore." Li Chong submitted Lan Gen's proposal to the court, but it was ultimately rejected. After the war, Lan Gen was appointed as the Champion General, promoted to the Right Chief Historian, given military governorship powers, and served as the acting governor of Yuzhou.
During the years of Xiangchang, Lan Gen was promoted and became the prefect of Qizhou. Later, he followed the acting prefect Xiao Baoyin to fight in Wanchuan, won the battle and captured many prisoners, intending to use them as slaves. Xiao Baoyin even rewarded Lan Gen with ten beautiful maidens. However, Lan Gen said, "The people of Wanchuan rebelled only because they were forced by strong enemies. The might of our army has yet to reach this place, and they do not know what to do, which is why they turned against the court. Now, we should clothe the poor and feed the hungry; how can we turn them into slaves?" Thus, Lan Gen returned the ten maidens and all the captives to their families. During that time, Qizhou had a record wheat harvest, with each ear producing five grains, while the neighboring state was plagued by a mice infestation; strangely, the mice did not dare to enter Qizhou's territory.
Later, the Qinlong region rebelled, and Xiao Baoyin was defeated in Jingzhou. The rebel army from Gaoping came to attack Qizhou, and the townspeople pressured Lan Gen to surrender to the rebels. When Xiao Baoyin arrived in Yongzhou, he reassembled his troops, and the army became strong again. The people of Qizhou executed the treacherous governor Hou Mochenzhong and supported Lan Gen's reinstatement as governor. The court, recognizing Lan Gen's deep favor among the western populace, promoted him, granting him the title of General of the West and Deputy Commander of the Military for the Four Provinces of Jing, Qi, East Qin, and South Qi, and also appointed him as the acting Secretary of State for the four provinces. Shortly thereafter, he was elevated to Grand Minister of Ceremonies.
During the Xiaochang era, a large number of refugees from Hebei migrated south. The court appointed Lan Gen as the Minister of State and sent him to the four states of Qizhou, Jizhou, Yanzhou, and Yuzhou to pacify the people and establish counties. At this time, Xing Gao from Hejian rebelled in Qingzhou and Yanzhou, and ironically, Xing Gao was Lan Gen's nephew. The court then sent Lan Gen to convince Xing Gao to surrender. When Xing Gao refused to surrender, Lan Gen joined Yuan Tianmu in the campaign against him. After the battle, the court appointed Lan Gen as the Minister of Finance, but he refused. Later, he was appointed as the General of the East Army and the Minister of the Palace Library.
Legend has it that Emperor Zhuang of Northern Wei wanted to eliminate Erzhu Rong. Lan Gen knew about this plan and secretly leaked the information to Erzhu Shilong. After Erzhu Rong's death, Lan Gen was afraid that Emperor Zhuang would find out that he had leaked the information, and he was anxious and fearful, unsure of his next move. At that time, Wang Daoxi was very trusted by Emperor Zhuang, so Lan Gen went to ask Wang Daoxi for help, hoping to find a chance to prove himself. Wang Daoxi informed Emperor Zhuang of the situation, and Lan Gen was appointed as the Governor of Hebei, recruiting troops and gathering supplies in Dingzhou to prepare for a defense against Jingxing. However, Erzhu Rong's general Hou Shen arrived from Fanyang to Zhongshan, engaged Lan Gen in battle, and defeated him. Lan Gen then fled to Gao Qian in Bohai Prefecture. As luck would have it, Gao Qian and his brothers rebelled, and Lan Gen joined their ranks.
Later, Emperor Gaozu, referring to Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei, arrived, and because Lan Gen had a good reputation, he treated him with particular courtesy. Following the resurgence of Northern Wei, Lan Gen was appointed Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry and Right Minister of Rites. When Emperor Gaozu was about to enter Luoyang, he sent Lan Gen ahead to the capital. At that time, no decision had yet been made about who would become emperor, and Emperor Gaozu asked Lan Gen to observe the situation of the former emperor who had been deposed. Lan Gen found that the former deposed emperor appeared quite energetic and worried that trouble might arise in the future, so he, together with the Gao Qian brothers and the eunuch Cui Xin, strongly persuaded Emperor Gaozu, arguing that the former emperor had originally been placed in power by the Hu people, and if he were allowed to become emperor again, it would not be appropriate. With no other option, Emperor Gaozu had no choice but to establish Emperor Wu. The former emperor was indeed quite virtuous, but he was undermined by Lan Gen and his associates, and many people criticized them at that time.
During the Tai Chang period, Lan Gen was appointed Minister of Ceremonies, and soon he was promoted to Grand Chancellor, and granted the title of Marquis of Julu County, with a fief of seven hundred households. He also secured an official position for his nephew Tong Da. Due to Lan Gen's involvement in previous achievements, his official rank rose significantly, and he was then recognized for his earlier contributions in Qizhou, being granted the title of Marquis of Yongxing County with a fief of one thousand households. Later, after Gao Qian's death, Lan Gen feared being implicated, so he moved out and took refuge in a temple. Emperor Wu was furious and harshly criticized him. Lan Gen was so frightened that he feigned illness and resigned from his position as Minister. During the Tianping period, Lan Gen claimed to be seriously ill and submitted a request to return to his hometown. The Wei emperor dispatched the attendant Shi Changxuan to visit him at home, retained his title as Grand Chancellor, and sent horses and men to escort him back home. Two years later, Lan Gen passed away at the age of sixty-one. After his death, he was posthumously honored as the Military Governor of Jideng and Yin across the three provinces, Governor of Dingzhou, Duke of Situ, and Palace Attendant, with the posthumous title Wenxuan. Though Lan Gen built his career on merit, he was adept at flattery and always prioritized his own interests, which led to his lack of recognition among the scholars of his time.
The eldest son is named Xiangru. He served as a secretary and was later appointed as a ministerial official in the Ministry of War, and for his meritorious service, he was subsequently promoted to general. He inherited his father's title and was further promoted to General of Andong, Prefect of Yinzhou, and finally became a censor of the court. He passed away in the third year of Wuding.
The second son is named Jingzhong. During the reign of Emperor Suzong of Tang, he assisted the emperor and should have been honored in the temple with other meritorious officials but was not included. Jingzhong submitted a petition to the emperor, who replied that the decree was already issued and could not be altered, so he was promoted to the Ministry of Rites. He later passed away during his tenure as Prefect of Zhangwu.
Minglang, the younger brother of Lan Gen, was knowledgeable in classical texts and literature. He gradually rose through the ranks to become an official in the Grand Marshal's office and also held a concurrent position as a junior official in the Ministry of Finance. When Yuan Hao attacked Luoyang, Minglang, who was then serving as a junior official in the Southern Circuit, was captured by Yuan Hao. He later escaped and returned to the court, where he was appointed General Longxiang, Chamberlain for Law, and granted the title of Marquis of Julu. Towards the end of the Yong'an era, Lan Gen appointed his younger brother Minglang as his assistant when he served as the Intendant of the Hebei Circuit. After Lan Gen faced defeat in Zhongshan, the two returned to the side of the founding emperor.
During the early period of the Zhongxing era, Minglang was appointed General of the Army and later served as the Prefect of Ande. He was then promoted to General of the Guards, Chief Secretary for Rites, and Grand Supervisor of Dingzhou. In the early years of Wuding, he became an advisor to Xianzu. He was later sent as the Prefect of Pingyang, but was impeached by a censor and subsequently dismissed. He later fell ill and passed away.
Ming Lang's younger brother, Kai, has always been straightforward and very eloquent. In the late Wei Dynasty, he was appointed as the Chief Military Officer and later gradually rose to the position of Shangshu Lang and the Chief of Qizhou. During the Tianbao period, he was sent to Chen State as a deputy envoy. He was later promoted to Chief of Qingzhou, but he firmly declined the position. Yang Yin reported this matter to Emperor Gao Yang, who was furious and shouted at Yang Yin, "What kind of person is this, refusing the official position I give him! Tomorrow, bring him here; I will personally talk to him!" At that time, Gao Yang had already begun to indulge in debauchery and tyranny, causing anxiety among the court officials, but Kai remained calm and composed, showing no signs of panic. Gao Yang severely reprimanded him and said, "Do you want to live or be the Chief of Qingzhou? You choose!" Kai replied, "Only Your Majesty can kill me. I, your foolish subject, refuse to accept the position of Chief. I await Your Majesty's decree." Gao Yang said to Yang Yin, "Are we short of officials? Why do we need to keep this boy? Send him home and never use him again!" And so, Kai was neglected for several years. Later, he met Yang Yin on the road and explained the situation to him tactfully. Yang Yin replied, "The appointment of officials is the Emperor's decree. We in the selection department are not all clear. You don't need to explain to me." Kai immediately said, "Though it rains, the clouds will eventually part. How can you say you don't know?" Yang Yin was pleased and replied, "You've spoken clearly and concisely; there's no need to elaborate further." A few days later, Kai was appointed as Inspector of Huozhou. He achieved remarkable political accomplishments in his position and was deeply loved by the border residents. During the Daining period, he passed away while serving as Inspector of Jiaozhou. Kai's cousin Yan Qing was the son of Ji Jing, the Grand Minister of Agriculture of the Wei Dynasty. During the Wuping period, he also held the position of Attendant Cavalry in the Imperial Guards and was sent to Chen State as a deputy envoy.
Yan Qing's younger brother is called Dan; he is very knowledgeable and writes well. In the early period of the Wuping era, he served as a court censor, later promoted to the position of a scholar in the Imperial Academy, and also served as an attendant in the Imperial Library. During the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty, he became an attendant to the Crown Prince and a compiler of texts. He wrote the "Book of Later Wei" in ninety-two volumes, demonstrating a profound knowledge of historiography, and was praised by people of his time for his excellent writing.
Cui Xiang, whose courtesy name was Changru, was from Dongwucheng County, Qinghe Commandery. His father, Cui Xiu, was formerly the Minister of War for the Wei Kingdom and was posthumously honored with the title of Minister of Works. Cui Xiang was tall, handsome, and graceful, and gained recognition from a young age. Initially serving as a minor official under Emperor Wen of Wei, he later became a Doctor of the Imperial Academy. During the Yong'an period, he was dismissed from office for misconduct and returned to his hometown. Later, when Gaozu led a rebellion in Xindu, Cui Xiang joined him. Gaozu was delighted to see him and immediately appointed him as an advisor to the army. Shortly after, he was promoted to Yellow Gate Attendant, and later to General and Right Guanglu Daifu.
After Gaozu captured Luoyang, he had to make a decision regarding the emperor's abdication. Grand Minister Qi Jun strongly recommended Emperor Putai, arguing that he was wise and capable of leading the country well. However, Cui Xiang countered, "If he is truly wise, he should come and join our High King and gradually ascend to the throne. Since he was supported by the rebel Hu people to become emperor, how can he still be deemed worthy of the throne? If we follow Qi Jun's advice, what claim to righteousness does our High King's army have?" As a result, both Emperor Zhongxing and Emperor Putai were deposed, and Prince Pingyang was enthroned as the new emperor. Due to his significant contributions, Cui Xiang was granted the title of Duke of Wucheng County, with a fief of 1,400 households, and was promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry and Left Guanglu Daifu, while also continuing his role as a Yellow Gate Attendant.
Cui Zuo served as an official in the court, having participated in the uprising, and became increasingly arrogant and unruly. Later, he was impeached by the censors for corruption and bribery, and he fled back to his hometown, only to return after the amnesty. Emperor Gaozu, recalling his early involvement in the uprising, appointed him as a courtier. During the Tianping era, he became a reader, responsible for managing the classics. Soon after, he was appointed as the governor of Xuzhou, with three hundred soldiers from Guangzong and one thousand from Qinghe assigned to him. Cui Zuo was haughty and especially favored his concubine Feng, who, taking advantage of his power, behaved recklessly, engaged in corruption and bribery, resulting in a deterioration of Xuzhou's political environment.
When Cui Zuo was a chamberlain, he wanted someone to write his daily records. Someone recommended Wei Shou. Cui Zuo said, "Wei Shou is frivolous and shallow, not up to the task." So he chose Zu Hongxun instead. After Cui Zuo took an important position in the court, he replaced Wei Shou with Lu Yuanming as the secretary, which made Wei Shou resentful. Later, when Wei Shou was sent to the Liang kingdom and passed through Xuzhou, Cui Zuo sent him off with all the pomp of a governor, even sending someone ahead to tell Wei Shou, "Don't think the ceremony is excessive; this is following the ancient rites!" Wei Shou replied, "Tell Cui of Xuzhou that his achievements have nothing to do with ancient rites!" Cui Zuo, believing he came from a distinguished family, was quite offended by Wei Shou's words. Wei Shou already held a grudge against him, so he deliberately aimed to strike at him. As a result, Cui Zuo was removed from his position as governor of Xuzhou and reassigned as the Minister of War and the Prefect of Qinghe.
Li Hun from Zhao County once held a banquet, inviting many celebrities, where everyone drank and recited poetry, creating a vibrant atmosphere. However, when Cui Zuo arrived, the atmosphere suddenly fell silent, and everyone stopped talking. Zheng Boyou sighed, "Cui Zuo is eight feet tall, looking as if he were sculpted, his cough resounding like a great bell, as if his chest contained a thousand volumes of books, making it impossible not to admire him!"
Cui Xuan always boasts about his illustrious family background. He said to Lu Yuanming, "Among all the prestigious families in the world, only my family and yours are truly distinguished. What do families like the Cui, Zhao, and Li clans amount to?" Cui Xian was deeply unsettled by this. After the death of the founding emperor, Cui Xuan muttered privately, "Can that blond kid (referring to Emperor Shizong) bear such great responsibilities?" Cui Xian's brother-in-law Li Shen told Cui Xian about Cui Xuan's words. Cui Xian reported this to Emperor Shizong, requesting that he no longer meet with Cui Xuan. When Cui Xuan sought an audience with Emperor Shizong, the emperor was furious and retorted, "What right does that blond kid (referring to himself) have to request an audience?" He then ordered Cui Xuan imprisoned and dispatched to Jin Yang for interrogation. Cui Xuan steadfastly refused to confess, so Cui Xian called upon Xing Zicai to testify, but Xing Zicai insisted there was no such incident.
After being imprisoned, Cui Zizhan said to Xing Zicai, "Do you know that I actually wanted Cui Zizhan to act as a matchmaker?" After Xing Zicai left, he told Cui Zizhan, "Your father wants to marry his daughter off to Chen Yuankang." Since Cui Zizhan had a daughter, he agreed to marry her off to Chen Yuankang's son and asked for Chen Yuankang's help. Chen Yuankang interceded with Emperor Shizong, saying, "Cui Zizhan has always had a high reputation, and he should not be killed for some offhand remarks." Emperor Shizong said, "Even if I spare his life, he must be exiled to a remote area." Chen Yuankang said, "If Cui Zizhan is on the border, he might defect. It is inappropriate to use such a talented person to help the enemy." Emperor Shizong asked, "If he is guilty, how about sending him to serve hard labor?" Chen Yuankang said, "I once read the 'Biography of Cui Yan' and have always regretted that Emperor Wu of Wei, Cao Cao, didn't give him a chance. If Cui Zizhan dies while serving hard labor, won't future generations say you spared him?" Emperor Shizong asked, "What should I say?" Chen Yuankang said, "Everyone knows Cui Zizhan deserves to die. If you can show leniency instead of severity, slightly reduce his punishment, then your mercy will shine through, and the people of the world will be loyal to you." So Emperor Shizong pardoned Cui Zizhan. When Cui Zizhan came to express his gratitude, Emperor Shizong still angrily said, "Although I may lack ability, I have taken on great responsibilities, but you call me a 'yellow-haired boy.' Gold and stone can be melted, but those words are hard to forget!"
During the Tianbao period of the Northern Qi dynasty, Cui Ang was appointed as a court attendant and later served as the official responsible for court records. At that time, it was the era of abdication, and he took part in overseeing various ceremonial affairs. He was also granted the title of Marquis of Xinfeng County, with a fief of two hundred households, but he relinquished the title to his ninth younger brother. The Cui family engaged in marriages with prominent noble families, and the customs and rituals surrounding weddings and funerals were highly regarded during that period. Empress Dowager Lou wanted to arrange for Prince Boling to marry a girl from the Cui family and specifically instructed the palace messenger, saying, "Make sure everything is handled properly, so the Cui family doesn't ridicule us." On the night of the wedding, Emperor Xiaozhao raised his cup to toast, saying, "I hope the new bride bears a son who will be filial and bring wealth and peace to his parents." Cui Ang replied, "Filial piety is a virtue of our Cui family, while wealth and honor rely entirely on Your Majesty's favor." Five years later, Cui Ang was appointed as the governor of Dongyanzhou, taking his Feng clan retinue with him. Later, Cui Ang faced a sudden misfortune, and his Feng clan retinue grew arrogant and unruly, engaging in various misdeeds, which led to their impeachment by the censors. Both Cui Ang and the Feng clan were summoned to the Court of Judicial Review for interrogation. Soon after, another imperial edict was issued, ordering the public execution of the Feng clan. Cui Ang, who had fallen ill, died in prison at sixty-one.
Cui Ang was well-read, his literary talent outstanding. From the Northern Qi Dynasty to the reign of Emperor Wu, he drafted many edicts, decrees, memorials, and proclamations. However, he was extravagant and indulgent, obsessed with wealth and beauty, and did not get along well with his brothers, which led to considerable criticism from others. Cui Ang had a longstanding rivalry with Wei Shou, who was in charge of compiling national history. Cui Ang feared that Wei Shou would portray him negatively in the historical records, so he tried to please Wei Shou by saying, "In the past, there was Ban Gu; now we have Mr. Wei!" Wei Shou accepted graciously but harbored lingering resentment. Cui Ang's son, Cui Zhan, inherited his title.
Cui Zhan was intelligent and diligent, with outstanding literary talent and an elegant demeanor. He was sharp-witted and articulate, never speaking casually. At the age of fifteen, the governor Gao Ang appointed him as his chief secretary, and the Duke of Qinghe, Yue, made him the sacrificial official at the West Pavilion. Later, Cui Xian recommended him to be an imperial censor, not out of genuine desire to promote him, but due to Cui Zhan's reputation and talent. When the founding emperor returned to Jin Yang, he brought Cui Zhan along to serve alongside Prince Xi of Beihai, and they both became friends of the prince. Later, Cui Zhan became a military officer in the Prime Minister's office and was eventually promoted to chief secretary. When Emperor Shizong passed away, the court kept his death a secret, and Emperor Xianzong appointed Cui Zhan as deputy marshal in the Prime Minister's office to handle affairs in Ye City.
Emperor Xiaojing of the Wei Dynasty went to Yunlongmen on Renri Festival, where Cui Zhan's father joined the emperor for a meal. The emperor specifically invited Cui Zhan to sit beside him and even asked him to write a poem. Afterwards, the emperor asked Xing Shao and others, "How does this poem compare to the one written by his father?" Everyone said, "Cui Zhan's father is knowledgeable and talented, his writing is magnificent; Cui Zhan's poem is fresh and unpretentious; both of them are prominent figures in the world of poetry." After the banquet, everyone praised and said, "Today's banquet was so wonderful because of Cui Zhan and his father!" At the start of the Tianbao era, Cui Zhan was appointed as a Langzhong in the Ministry of Personnel. Not long after, his father passed away, and he returned home to fulfill his mourning duties. After the mourning period, he was appointed as an official in the Ministry of Works.
Yang Yin wanted to promote Cui Zhan to the position of Gentleman of the Palace Library. At that time, Lu Sidao was serving directly in the Palace Library, so Yang Yin asked Lu Sidao, "I have been too busy recently and haven't seen much of Cui Zhan's writings; you know him well and must be familiar with his talents, right?" Lu Sidao replied, "Cui Zhan's literary talent is indeed excellent and worthy of praise, but everyone focuses too much on his elegance and charm, which tends to overshadow his true talent." Yang Yin said, "You are right." He then submitted a petition to the court to promote Cui Zhan. After the matter was settled, Yang Yin said, "Previously, Pei Zan served as a Gentleman of the Palace Library during the Jin Dynasty; he had a noble temperament, and every time he entered and exited the palace, the guards would show great respect. Cui Zhan possesses a dignified presence and is certainly no less impressive than Pei Zan."
In the year 714, he was appointed as the Deputy Minister of the Yellow Gate Secretariat. He was particularly good friends with Li Gai from Zhao County. As Li Gai was preparing to return to his hometown in the east, he left him a letter that said: "I usually like to show off and indulge in drinking, which has always been my bad habit. It's only fair for you to criticize me and point it out. If you go back, how will I know my mistakes in the future?" He was quite introverted and slow to act. Although he held an important position in the court, he was not very good at handling official business and was not fluent in speech. Later, he was promoted to General of the Expeditionary Army and transferred to the position of Zhongzheng in Qinghe County.
After Emperor Suzong ascended the throne, the Crown Prince began his studies, and he was appointed as a Deputy Minister for the Crown Prince and summoned to Jinyang. The emperor ordered him to focus on serving the Crown Prince, overseeing the Crown Prince's studies, lectures, and the etiquette for entering and exiting, all of which were his responsibility. The Crown Prince married a concubine from the Hu family, and the emperor instructed him to work with Cui Jie, the Minister of Rites, to plan the wedding ceremony. The emperor also personally instructed him: "While there are old precedents, they might not be sufficient. You need to carefully establish this wedding ceremony as a standard for the future."
In the year 714, he was appointed as the Minor Official of the Imperial Guard, and soon also took on the role of a Special Cavalry Officer, being sent on a diplomatic mission to the Chen Kingdom. He spoke with elegance and refinement, earning great respect from the people of the South, who remarked, “Lord Special Attendant, why didn’t you come when the two countries were on friendly terms before?” This illustrates his high regard in the South at the time. After returning to court, he was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Rites, promoted to General of Champion, and then advanced to the position of Minister of Personnel Affairs. However, due to his low work efficiency, he failed to complete his tasks within ten days. According to the old regulations, one could only be dismissed if tasks were not completed within a hundred days, but the Minister of Personnel, Wei Jin, was impatient and thought he worked too slowly. At that time, the department was busy, so Wei Jin hastily reported him for impeachment, leading to his dismissal and he returned home to live in retirement. During the Tian Tong era, he was again promoted to General of Cavalry and granted the title of Grand Minister of Rites, Silver and Blue. He passed away in the third year of Wu Ping at the age of fifty-four. After his death, he was posthumously awarded the titles of Envoy with Special Authority, Commander of Military Affairs in Jizhou, Chief of Dali, and Regional Inspector, and was posthumously honored with the title "Wen."
Cui Zhan was a person of proud and aloof character, somewhat arrogant because of his talents, and his acquaintances were all prominent figures of his time. He worked at the Censorate and often had meals at home, filled with lavish dishes, but he would eat alone in a separate room, entirely disregarding others. A man from Hedong surnamed Pei, who was also a censor, saw Cui Zhan eating and rushed to his house. Cui Zhan paid him no heed and did not offer him chopsticks or a bowl. Pei sat there, watching Cui Zhan finish his meal before he left. The next day, Pei brought his own bowl and chopsticks and began to eat with gusto. Cui Zhan then said, “I didn’t invite you to eat or speak to you at first, yet you are so unconcerned about etiquette; how is this any different from Liu Yi’s bold request for roast goose in Jingkou? You really are quite the distinguished gentleman!” From then on, Cui Zhan often shared meals with Pei.
Cui Zhan's younger brother, Cui Zhongwen, was very knowledgeable and served as the Prefect of Heyang and the Inner Historian of Qinghe in the State of Wei. During the Xinghe period, he became an official under the Prime Minister. After the defeat in the Battle of Shayuan, Cui Zhongwen crossed the river grasping a horse's tail, sometimes sinking and sometimes surfacing. Emperor Gaozu saw him from a distance and said, "That's Cui Yuan!" He quickly sent a boat to fetch him. Upon reaching the shore, Emperor Gaozu also comforted him, saying, "You put your life on the line for the country and for me; you're a true son at home and a loyal minister to the state!" He was then promoted to General of the Central Army. In the early years of Tianbao, he was further promoted to the position of Cavalry Regular Attendant and Grand Minister of Rites. He passed away seven years later at the age of sixty. His son, Cui Yan, served as the Prince's Horsekeeper and later as a Secretary during the Wuping period.
Cui Yan's younger brother, Cui Ran, was very knowledgeable and talented, with a refined demeanor. During the Wuping period, he served as an Officer of the Central Army in the Grand Marshal's office of King of Langya, participated in formulating the Five Rites, and was summoned by the court to serve in the Wenlin Pavilion. In the Renxiu era of the Sui Dynasty, he passed away while serving as a Regular Attendant of the Tongzhi. Their uncle, Cui Shuren, served as the Governor of Yingzhou in the State of Wei. Cui Shuren's son, Cui Yanwu, was very insightful and capable, serving as the County Magistrate of Chao Ge and later as the Governor of Weizhou in the early years of the Kaihuang period of the Sui Dynasty. Cui Yanwu's son, Cui Kan, served as a Regular Attendant during the late Wei Dynasty and was also sent as an envoy to the Liang Kingdom. Another son, Cui Ji, served as the Prince's Attendant in the early Wuping period and was the Governor of Wude at the time of his death. There was also a son, Cui Yu, who served as the Governor of Dongguan in the State of Wei, and another son, Cui Yue, who served as the Minister of Works' Sacrificial Official.
Our family's five-generation ancestor, Cheng Xuan's grandson, my uncle Jingfeng, also known as Luan Shu, was a famous doctor and even served as a court physician during the Wei Dynasty. In the Tianbao period, he served as the Governor of Qiao Prefecture. His brother, Jingzhe, also held a high-ranking position as Grand Minister and Chief Historian of the Wei Dynasty.
My great-uncle Jing Feng's son, who is my cousin, is named Guo, with the courtesy name Fajun. He loved studying from a young age, read various books, and acquired many skills, particularly in physiognomy. In the Tianbao era, he served as an imperial physician, later promoted to the governor of Gaoyang County and the Grand Master to the Heir Apparent. During the Wuping era, he was awarded the title of Yitong Sansi, and at the time of his death, he held the position of Hongluqing. In the sixth year of Wuping, he accompanied the emperor to Jinyang and once told the Deputy Minister of the Central Secretariat, Li Delin: "Today, I observed the facial features of the civil and military officials serving under King Gao Xiang; their fates are written on their faces, and it's better left unsaid. Only my brother will one day become very wealthy and noble, but it will be in a different country, not in our dynasty, and I won’t be around to see it." His skill in physiognomy was truly remarkable!
Our family member Zhao Shi is a descendant of Liang, who served as the Minister of Works during the Wei dynasty. His father, Shi Tai, was an advisor. Zhao Shi was somewhat carefree in his youth, but he matured into a very steady individual. He read extensively and had a remarkable talent for literature, inheriting his father's title and becoming the Marquis of Yueling. He initially served as the ceremonial official at the Eastern Pavilion, later promoted to the military advisor for external affairs, and then to the military advisor in the Grand Marshal's office. During the Tianping period, he was promoted to Deputy Minister of the Central Secretariat and was dispatched to provide assistance to Qingzhou. However, he was captured by bandits under the leadership of Cui Jiaye in the territory of Qizhou, who attempted to force him and his colleagues to surrender. Zhao Shi stood firm, reasoning with them about the situation, and the bandits eventually let him go. He completed his mission in Qingzhou before heading back. In the Yuanzhang era, he was sent multiple times as an envoy to the Liang dynasty. During the Wuding era, he also served as a member of the Central Justice Office and went to Xuzhou to deliver a message to the envoy of the Liang dynasty. Upon returning, he was appointed by the court to compile the Daily Affairs Annals. Soon after, he also assumed the role of Deputy Official in the Central Secretariat and was once again sent as a deputy envoy to the Liang dynasty. Later, he was promoted to an official in the Central Secretariat. In the Tianbao era, he was involved in drafting the rituals for the abdication ceremony and was bestowed the title of Marquis of Xiangcheng, and also served as Deputy Minister of the Central Secretariat. He passed away two years later, at the age of forty-nine.
The historical records say that Cui Yantong (Lan Gen) had a good reputation long ago, and everyone praised him for being upright and decent. Chang Ru (Wei Yuanzhong) had both talent and fame, and was highly regarded at the time. Both of them participated in the major event of Wu Zetian's rise to power and became high officials, along with Li Yuanzhong and Lu Wenwei, who were also prominent figures of that era. Wei Yuanzhong rose to prominence due to his close ties with Wu Zetian, whereas Cui Yantong took pride in his distinguished family background. Although he possessed virtues similar to those of Duke Zhou, this ultimately became a burden for him, let alone comparing who was superior or inferior to Wei Yuanzhong. Cui Yantong's writings were refined and graceful, making him one of the leading figures of his time.
It is said: Cui Yantong and Wei Yuanzhong's talents and reputations were highly regarded at the dawn of Wu Zetian's reign. However, their participation in such political events often evokes a sense of regret. Cui Yantong continued to uphold noble aspirations, and his family had a long-standing tradition of virtue.
It is praised: The talents and reputations of Cui and Wei were recognized at the beginning of the hegemony. The legacy of moral education still appears to be a burden. Yantong maintained his aspirations, and his family tradition was rich.
