Cai Kuo, courtesy name Zidu, was a native of Jiyang Kaocheng. His great-grandfather Cai Mo served as the Minister of Personnel in the Jin Dynasty. His grandfather Cai Xi served as the Chief Military Historian. His father Cai Chen served as the Left Assistant Minister of the Western Region. Cai Kuo was well-read, and his words and actions were very appropriate. He began his career as a junior clerk. At that time, Huan Xuan assisted the emperor of the Jin Dynasty and was discussing the restoration of corporal punishment. Cai Kuo submitted a memorial opposing this, saying, "The establishment of laws and regulations and the promotion of education must be based on the actual situation at the time to formulate policies, emphasizing both moral education and the use of penalties. Use righteousness to eliminate evil, use education and prohibitions to restrain people's frivolous behavior, nurture with gentle care and enforce discipline with strictness; let those who obey feel peaceful and comfortable, and let those who harbor evil intentions feel fear after hearing the law. Although the severity of penalties may vary, the underlying principles remain the same. The establishment of corporal punishment originated in the ancient era of wise kings. This is because in the past, society was simple and the people were mostly honest and cautious. When the threat of punishment was evident, people's minds would converge, and those who committed crimes would change their behavior when walking on the road, thus stopping cruelty, reducing killings, promoting education, and bringing peace to the world. By the end of the dynasty, societal morals declined, laws became more severe, people's desire for personal gain became stronger, shame and fear diminished, and even lifelong servitude penalties failed to deter their deceitful behavior, let alone branding and mutilation. These punishments only lead to cries of agony and are of no benefit to governing the country. As for the death penalty, it is not necessarily a capital offense. If one does not kill with their own hands, according to legal provisions, there are corresponding punishments for different crimes, and options for leniency have been closed off. Zhong Liziqi and Chen Zhongzi have spoken out about this, and Emperor Yuan also regretted it. Now you are assisting the emperor; your moral integrity is commendable, akin to that of Yi Yin and the Duke of Zhou. Although the dark times have only recently ended, the difficulties left behind have not been resolved. Therefore, the use of penalties should be more cautious, showing compassion for the people and nurturing them, using forgiveness to reduce excessive punishment, substituting the death penalty with amputation, upholding the supreme value of life, and accumulating strength for the future development of the country. Allow those who are sentenced to, like nature in spring, be revitalized, may their experiences serve as a cautionary tale for future generations, let them know fear. By balancing grace and severity, instilling both fear and gratitude in the people, preserving life and saving the violent, this is the way.
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Next is the second paragraph. I started as the chief scribe of the Situ Mansion, and later was promoted to the position of Gentleman of the Ministry of Revenue and Gentleman of the Imperial Clan. I also served as a military advisor to the Grand Marshal and held positions in the Situ Mansion, the Secretariat, and as a Palace Attendant. Because of my integrity and upright character, I earned the Grand Marshal's trust.
When the Grand Marshal became the Inspector of Yanzhou, he brought me to his side as his assistant historian, giving me substantial authority in the province. Not long after, I was appointed as a military advisor to the Central Army, and then promoted to Gentleman of the Grand Marshal. Unfortunately, before I could take up the new position, my mother passed away. I am deeply filial, and during the three-year mourning period, I did not comb my hair or bathe, and I looked utterly worn out.
After the mourning period ended, the Prime Minister's residence asked me to return as Gentleman and took on the role of a secretary. Later, when the Songzhou Inspector's Office was established, I was appointed as an attendant. At that time, I made a suggestion: "When handling cases, descendants should not be present in front of the judge and reveal the crimes committed by their ancestors. This would harm education and damage family ties, and there's nothing worse than that. From now on, only allow family members and the accused to meet; do not force family members to confess the crimes of the accused. As long as the accused admits guilt, there is no need to further press the relatives." Everyone found my suggestion reasonable, so they took it on board.
That scoundrel Xie Lingyun, as the Crown Prince's Left Guard Commander, actually committed murder! Chief Imperial Censor Wang Zhun was dismissed for failing to address the issue. The Grand Marshal trusted that I, Wang Kuo, was straightforward and would not compromise the law for personal gain, so he appointed me to fill the vacancy of Chief Imperial Censor. Upon taking office, I conducted thorough investigations into numerous cases, and the court officials were all on edge.
At that time, the Chancellor Fu Liang was a prominent figure, knowledgeable and well-connected, and all matters of court etiquette and protocol had to be cleared with him before being implemented. If Fu Liang was dissatisfied with my opinions, I wouldn't back down easily. At that time, there were questions about the seating arrangement for Prince Yizhen of Luling, the Governor of Yangzhou, in court. Fu Liang wrote to me, "The Governor of Yangzhou should certainly wear the official robes of a governor. But his seat should be in front of other officials in court, not based on the size of their official positions. Please look into this further. The preface of the Classic of Poetry states, 'When a princess marries a prince, her attire and etiquette are not determined by her husband, but are one level lower than the queen.' This implies that a princess ranks lower than a queen, so shouldn’t a prince rank higher than a duke? Lu Ji’s Records of the Court notes that at the gathering in the Qian Palace, the princes sat in front of the three ministers. I have a copy here for you to review. Also, during the accession of the Emperor of Haixi, the Grand Marshal Wuling Wang ranked first, the General of the Agile Army Kuaiji Wang was second, and the Grand Marshal was third. The Grand Marshal holds the highest rank and commands the military both within and outside, yet is ranked behind the two princes. I have found these documents for you. During the Yonghe era, Duke Cai served as the Minister of Works, and General Sima Jianwen served as the General of Agile Army and Imperial Chancellor, and both were involved in court affairs. Duke Cai should not be ranked below the Three Excellencies, but at that time, the Crown Prince was seated in front of Duke Cai. There are many similar instances, but I won’t enumerate them all. The Governor of Yangzhou’s seat is ranked below that of high-ranking officials, which may not conform to proper etiquette. Shouldn't it be changed?"
I replied, "The position of the Prefect of Yangzhou is ranked below that of the noble officials, which I have always found strange. However, the seating arrangement in the court is based on the rank of official positions, not on titles, and there is no explicit rule that princes should receive special treatment. When Qi Xian Wang was appointed as the General of the Cavalry, Emperor Wu wanted to honor him after Sun Xiu surrendered, so he made him the General of the Cavalry, demoting Qi Wang to the General of the Garrison, placing him below the General of the Cavalry. If, as you claim, princes ought to be seated to the right of the officials, then why was Qi Wang, who originally held a noble position, demoted to the General of the Garrison, ranking below the General of the Cavalry? This clearly demonstrates that the seating is based on official rank. In addition, when Qi Wang served as the Minister of Works and Jia Chong served as the Grand Commandant, both were involved in the affairs of the Imperial Secretariat, yet Qi Wang was always seated behind Jia Chong. When Pan Zhengshu raised the matter of the "Gongyang Commentary," the three record keepers included Wang Rong, the Prince of Wei, who served as the Guard General, and his seat was behind the Grand Commandant Longxi Wang Tai and the Minister of Works Wang Xuan Chong. In the early years of Taiyuan, when the new palace was completed, the Grand Preceptor served as the General of the Central Army, but Qi Wang Ruo was the first to congratulate him. When Emperor An was appointed as the Crown Prince, according to the ceremony, Xu Mai was a Lang official, and his seat was also behind the Grand Preceptor and the princes; for example, when visiting Empress Li, the Chief Secretary of the Ministry of Rites, the Prince of Gaomi, was the first, while Wang Dongting was the Minister of Works. Wang Dongting and Xu Mai are both experts in ancient and modern times. The seating arrangement of the princes at the Qian Palace meeting you referenced cannot serve as a valid basis. You said that at the Qian Palace meeting, the first to be summoned were the attendants Pengcheng Wang Zhi, Xun Zu, Pan Yue, Ji Shao, and Du Bin, before the four kings you mentioned in your letter, who, although above the three ministers, were seated behind the Yellow Gate attendants. What sense does this make? Furthermore, after those four kings, there were the Grand General Liang Wang Rong and the General of Chariots and Cavalry Zhao Wang Lun, followed by the Minister of Works Wang Rong. Both Liang Wang and Zhao Wang are princes, and their positions should be similar, yet they are ranked below the Attendant to the Prince of Yuzhang, which seems illogical. Generally speaking, written records are not bound by seating arrangements; the Qian Palace meeting was a private banquet, different from the court. Currently, in the west hall of the Hanzhang Hall, your seat is behind the Minister of Works, and the seat of the attendant is behind the Chief Secretary. In your letter, you mentioned that your great-grandfather and Emperor Jianwen were involved in court affairs together, with your great-grandfather seated behind Emperor Jianwen. Our family's records do not show this, and I have written another version for you. Wang Ji holds no title herself, so she is not required to follow her husband's title and can be recognized as a princess. Once a prince takes on an official position, he has a title, and with a title, he should follow the rules of the court in seating arrangements. Only the amnesty edict you mentioned makes some sense. However, the edict is inconsistent. The Grand Preceptor should rightly be seated before the Grand Marshal. Although Emperor Jianwen was the General Who Pacifies the Army, he had already been appointed as Prime Minister at the time and commanded the military inside and outside, so his seat was arranged according to his official position, not because he commanded the military inside and outside and ranked above the officials. Currently, the seat of the Protector General is also behind the Commander-in-Chief, so I encourage you to reconsider."
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Cai Kuo was appointed as the Left Minister of Works, then was sent to serve as the Prefect of Yuzhang, and later was summoned back to the court to serve as the Minister of Personnel. Cai Kuo remarked after Fu Long, a man from the northern region, asked Xie An about the appointment of the Minister of Personnel, "If all the matters of selecting officials are left to me to handle, then it's fine; otherwise, I cannot accept this position." Xie An told this to the Minister of Works, Xu Xianzhi, who said, "Officials below the rank of Yellow Gate Official will all be decided by Cai Kuo, so we older folks won't have to worry; as for officials above the rank of Yellow Gate Official, it should of course be decided together." Cai Kuo said, "I can't just be a lackey signing under Xu Ganmu's name!" So he did not accept the position. Ganmu was Xu Xianzhi's nickname, and official selection documents were written on yellow paper, which both the Minister and the Minister of Personnel had to sign, and that’s why Cai Kuo referred to it as "signing at the bottom of the document." Xu Xianzhi also thought that Cai Kuo was upright and did not want him to hold any power, so he transferred him to the position of Minister of the Ancestral Temple.
Emperor Taizu Liu Yu wanted to proclaim himself emperor. The Chancellor, Fu Liang, led a group of officials to welcome him, with Cai Kuo also following along. When they reached Xunyang, Cai Kuo fell ill and could not continue the journey. Fu Liang wanted to press on, so he bid farewell to Cai Kuo. Cai Kuo said to him, "The camp at Yingyang (referring to Liu Yu) is now in the Wu region. You should treat him well. If anything happens to the camp at Yingyang, you and the others will be branded as regicides. Do you think you can survive in this world with such a reputation?" Fu Liang had already discussed with Xu Xianzhi about killing the young emperor. He quickly sent a letter to stop them, but it was too late when the letter arrived. Xu Xianzhi was very angry and said, "We agreed on this matter together. How can you go back on your word and pass the buck to others?" After Liu Yu became Emperor Taizu, Xie Hui wanted to go to Jingzhou to bid farewell to Cai Kuo. He quietly asked him, "Can I escape this disaster?" Cai Kuo replied, "You have accepted the late emperor's will, bearing the heavy burden of the nation, overthrowing the foolish ruler and backing a wise leader. This is only natural. However, you have killed two brothers, then submitted to him in the north, holding the power of having killed an emperor, occupying a strategic position on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. Historically, it's going to be very hard for you to save yourself."
Cai Kuo was young and held a low official position, but he was highly respected by scholars back then. During every festival, everyone would dress up nicely to pay him a visit. He served his elder brother Cai Gui like he was his dad, discussing all family matters with him before making decisions. He handed over all his salary and rewards to his brother to keep safe, and if he needed anything, he would go to the steward to withdraw it. When Cai Kuo accompanied his ancestor Liu Yu in Pengcheng, his wife Xi wrote a letter asking for summer clothes. Cai Kuo replied, "I know you need summer clothes; these should be provided by your family, so there's no need to send them." At that time, Cai Gui was working as an official. In the second year of the Yuanjia era, Cai Kuo passed away at the age of forty-seven. Liu Yu once remarked that "Yang Hui and Cai Kuo are on par with the three top officials of the day." Cai Kuo left behind a son named Cai Xingzong. Xingzong lost his father when he was just ten, and he was so heartbroken that he seemed even sadder than most kids. After his brother Kuo came back from Yuzhang County, he wanted to build two houses. The east house was finished first, and he moved in with his brother. When Kuo passed away, the west house was not yet completed. His brother Gui came back from Changsha County and gave Xingzong 500,000 coins to help with the building costs. At just ten years old, Xingzong told his mom, "Our family has always stuck together through thick and thin; I cannot accept the money for this house." His mother was really happy and agreed. Gui felt embarrassed and said to his son in a light tone, "I am sixty years old, and I am not as capable as a ten-year-old child." Before long, Xingzong lost his mom too.
Xing Zong has loved learning since childhood and is famous for his noble character and knowledge. He initially served as a military advisor to Prince Yingkang of Pengcheng, and later became an attendant to the prince, the chief military officer for King Mu of Nanping, and the governor of Wuchang. He also served as a stable master, a companion of Prince Yiyang, and an official in the Imperial Secretariat. Xing Zong had a close relationship with Wang Hong, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, and Wang Sichuo, an attendant. Later, during a rebellion, Wang Sichuo was killed, and at that time, the murderer was still at large, and no one dared to mourn for him, except for Xing Zong, who went alone to pay his respects, expressing extreme sadness. He was later appointed as the chief historian under Minister He Shangzhi and subsequently promoted to the Chief Attendant to the Crown Prince.
After Emperor Shizu ascended to the throne, Xing Zong returned to his original position and was subsequently promoted to governor of Linhai. He was then summoned to serve as a Yellow Gate Attendant, a Chief Attendant to the Crown Prince, and shortly thereafter promoted to the Ministry of Personnel. At that time, Minister He Yanshi of Personnel fell ill, and the Emperor said to Xing Zong, "You are meticulous and can distinguish clearly between the talents of people. Now I entrust the selection of talents to you; you can proceed without excessive worry." Xing Zong was later promoted to the Chief Historian of the Minister of Works, once more serving as the Chief Attendant to the Crown Prince while also holding the position of General of the Front Army, and finally promoted to the Imperial Attendant. He always pointed out the faults of the Emperor without reservation, which offended the Emperor. Later, when Prince Dan of Jingling rebelled in Guangling City, after the rebellion was suppressed, Xing Zong was ordered to offer condolences. Xing Zong had a good relationship with the deputy governor of Guangling, Fan Yi, who was also killed during the rebellion. After arriving in Guangling, Xing Zong personally prepared his remains and transported them back to his ancestral tomb in Yuzhang for burial. The Emperor was displeased upon hearing this.
Zhou Lang, the internal historian of Luling, fell out of favor with the emperor for his blunt advice. He was imprisoned and sent to Ningzhou, and none of his relatives or friends dared to come see him off. At that time, Xing Zong was on duty and asked the emperor for permission to say goodbye to Zhou Lang. Upon hearing this, the emperor became even angrier. Xing Zong, who had been ill for many days, wore white when he took office. Not long after, he was demoted to Changshi under the Minister of Works, Shen Qingzhi, in charge of Yanzhou's affairs, and later served as the Minister of Justice.
A man named Jie Shixian claimed that he and Prime Minister Yixuan had plotted a rebellion with Shen Tan before his death. Shen Tan was already dead, and his son, Shen Lingsun, was an official in Shanyang County, while Jie Shixian was imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice. Xing Zong remarked, "If Shen Tan had truly been involved in the rebellion and were still alive, he should be forgiven for his many crimes. His son, Shen Lingsun, is innocent and deserves protection. Moreover, since he is already dead and this matter happened a long time ago, it is unreasonable to pursue false accusations and use the law to pass judgment. If Shixian truly knew about the rebellion back then, he should have reported it instead of hiding it for so many years out of personal grievances. Furthermore, what he said was mere hearsay, lacking solid evidence, and he deliberately deceived and misled the emperor, which deserves the death penalty." He also oversaw the cases of twenty-two commoners, and before the facts were fully established, Xing Zong ordered a thorough interrogation and temporary detention in Shangfang. Since these commoners sought justice, Xing Zong refrained from using torture on them. Although they were detained in Shangfang, it was still a painful experience for them. Additionally, the case involving Wu Kangling, Xie Shen, and eleven county officials, previously accused by the Minister of Works for their involvement in the Zhongliang coin case, had long been resolved, and Xing Zong reinstated them to their positions. Regarding the nine individuals, including county registrar Qiu Yuanjing, some were on sick leave while others had long since left their posts, and Xing Zong also resolved their cases.
Xing Zong was later appointed Governor of Dongyang, promoted to Rear Marshal for Prince Sui of Anlu, and the Minister of the Interior for Jiangxia, overseeing the affairs of Yingzhou. The court summoned him back to the capital, but before he could take office, he was retained as the Minister of the Left. Shortly after, he was transferred to the position of Minister in charge of the Ministry of Personnel. At that time, the court was rife with debauchery, and the Emperor cruelly insulted his ministers. From Wang Yigong of Jiangxia onwards, they all suffered humiliation, except for Xing Zong, who was respected by the Emperor for his righteousness and integrity, and thus remained unscathed. Minister Yan Shibai said to court official Wang Danzhi, "Minister Cai has always kept his distance from the Emperor and does not engage in intimate games with him." Wang Danzhi replied, "Minister Cai Yuzhang served in the Imperial Court, and he also maintained his distance from the Emperor because of his righteousness and strictness. When the Emperor held private banquets, he never summoned him. Whenever there were gambling activities in the palace, he always stayed with the winners. Minister Cai can now be considered capable of handling important responsibilities."
At the end of the Ming Dynasty, when the deposed Emperor ascended the throne, Xing Zong told the Grand Preceptor Wang Yigong that they should write a policy statement. Yigong said, "Establishing an heir is already a matter for today; why bother with a policy statement?" Xing Zong replied, "This has been customary throughout history. For example, during the end of the Yongchu era, when the Crown Prince ascended the throne, there was also a policy statement. It can still be found in the Ministry of Personnel; you can take a look." Yigong still disagreed. At that time, Xing Zong personally presented the Imperial Seal and the ceremonial sash to the new Emperor, who remained composed, showing no sign of sadness. Xing Zong came out to tell his relatives and friends, "When Duke Zhao of Lu was in the territory of Qi, although he had a dignified appearance, he ultimately met his end due to his grudges with powerful ministers, and his son even requested to be buried alongside him. Perhaps this is where the country's disaster begins!"
At that time, Yi Gong was acting as the head of the Ministry of Personnel, assisting the new emperor as per the imperial edict, but neglected the young emperor's affairs, handing over all power to those around him. The Cavalry Captain Dai Faxing and the Imperial Secretary Chao Shangzhi held significant power and exerted influence over both the court and the populace. Xing Zong was in charge of managing talents across all fields and wielded the authority to select them. Every time he attended court, he discussed promoting talented scholars with officials ranked below Ling Shi, frequently advising them on correcting their mistakes and engaging in broad discussions about court affairs. Yi Gong, being timid and risk-averse, constantly flattered Dai Faxing and worried about making errors. Upon hearing Xing Zong's remarks, he felt completely at a loss. During the previous era of the Ming Dynasty, extravagance and waste had reached unprecedented levels, with extensive construction projects, heavy taxes, and hard labor. Now, Xing Zong issued an edict to abolish all of this, so structures such as the Chidao, located north and south of the Purple Pole Hall, were torn down. From the Xiaojian period to the end of the Ming Dynasty, none of the previous systems remained intact. Xing Zong sighed at home while speaking to Yan Shibai, saying, "Although the late emperor was not particularly wise, he at least remained steadfast in his beliefs. The ancients valued consistency, and he maintained his ideas for three years. Now, the coffin has only just been laid to rest, and the tomb has yet to be constructed, and all previous systems and structures, regardless of their merit, have been dismantled. Even if it is a matter of abdication, it shouldn't be done this way! The wise of the world should glean some insights from this." Yan Shibai could not persuade him.
Every time Li Xingzong promotes officials, Fa Xing and Shang Zhi always make arbitrary alterations, leaving very few in the end. Li Xingzong said to Yi Gong and his uncle in the court, "The emperor is incompetent and unclear, not taking personal responsibility for political affairs. These important lists of selected officials have been messed up by them, resulting in opinions that are anything but fair, and I don't know whose idea this is." The promotion orders for Wang Jingwen and Xie Zhuang are all in disarray, and Li Xingzong wants to select talents properly. At that time, Xue Andou served as the Cavalier Attendant, General Who Conquers the Caitiffs, and Left Commander of the Crown Prince, while Yin Chang served as the Middle Privy Secretary. Li Xingzong first wanted to promote Xue Andou to the Left Guard General, without changing his position as Cavalier Attendant; Yin Chang would then serve as the Minister of the Yellow Gate, concurrently holding the office of Commandant. The Grand Preceptor believed that Xue Andou was being promoted too much and wanted him to only be the Left Guard General. Li Xingzong said, "The positions of Left Guard General and Left Commander of the Crown Prince are quite similar. Besides, he has already lost the position of General Who Conquers the Caitiffs, which wasn't even a promotion to begin with. If Xue Andou is a latecomer, he should have been held back somewhat and had his title match his position, progressing step by step. This time, I adhered strictly to the selection rules and did not show favoritism towards Xue Andou." Yi Gong said, "If court officials are to be promoted out of turn, Yin Chang should be the Chief Palace Attendant; how can he only be the Minister of the Yellow Gate?" Li Xingzong then said, "The gap between the Middle Privy Secretary and the Chief Palace Attendant is significant. Furthermore, Xue Andou has been the Left Commander of the Crown Prince for ten years, and Yin Chang has been the Middle Privy Secretary for a hundred days and now concurrently holds the office of Commandant, which is already quite substantial." Li Xingzong had the official historians Yan Yizhi and Xue Qingxian engage in a lengthy debate until Yi Gong eventually signed off on it.
Goodness, this boy has been appointed as the General of the Right Guard and has also been given the position of a Gentleman-in-Waiting. This has really upset Yi Gong and Fa Xing, so they have sent Xing Zong to be the Governor of Wu County. Xing Zong refused to go, which made the officials even more furious, so they transferred him to Xin'an to be the Military Commander under Prince Wanluan, as well as the Deputy General of the State Military, the Governor of South Donghai, and even assigned him to oversee the affairs of South Xuzhou. He still refused to go, crying out that he wanted to go to Yizhou. This made Yi Gong completely furious, and he reported to the Emperor, saying, "I have heard that one must be cautious in speech, as stated in the Book of Changes. The selection of talents must also follow the rules and not be done recklessly. Now these people are forming factions, filing complaints against each other, and rumors are spreading everywhere, with no one taking responsibility. This is a serious threat to the court's discipline! The Minister of the Secretariat Yu's father is ill and wants to return to take care of him. The Emperor sympathizes with his filial piety and agrees, allowing him to be transferred to my office as an official, overseeing both the military and local affairs. While my abilities are limited, this position carries significant responsibility, and it is not unfair to him compared to past officials. Official positions in the capital are meant for rewarding, regardless of one's background. When there is a vacancy, it should be filled, regardless of the rank of the position. The Chief Historian Zhuang Zhi has been serving in the court for many years, always complaining about his lack of ability to handle both internal and external affairs. Only Lord Wang Qiu, who was previously favored by the Emperor, enjoys such generous treatment, which is incomparable. The newly appointed Governor of Wu County, Xing Zong, previously served in the selection department and did many unjust things. The Emperor, being magnanimous, forgave his mistakes and appointed him as a Grand Commandant, extending him the same favor as others. However, he still insisted on going to Yizhou, clearly disobeying the imperial order! Look at the Inspector of Yangzhou, Zi Shang, and the Governor of Wuxing, Xiu Ruo, both of whom are relatives of the Emperor. There are also officials from Lu and Wei who serve diligently in their respective regions, working hard for the people. As for Xing Zong, coming from a commoner background and being able to hold a position in the northern fiefdom is already quite good, yet he is not content. The Deputy Censor-in-Chief Yong, who made mistakes in the past, is now being trusted by the Emperor again. The Honored Minister Yan, although serving as a substitute official, has been demoted several times without any achievements. Why should he be promoted? The Chief Historian Kong Ji, who was previously appointed as the General of the Right Guard, was later transferred to his current position, which is a standard rotation. There are rumors outside that Yu and others are neglecting their duties, and it is said that Xing Zong is extremely resentful and has written a letter to the Minister of the Right Shifu Bo, expressing his grievances in a very intense manner. Although I have not seen it with my own eyes, the rumors should be true. My abilities are limited, and I am not suitable for handling these political affairs. Despite receiving the favor of three emperors, my promotion does not bear the honorable title of promoting talents like the ancients, and I have not left any political achievements behind. I feel both ashamed and fearful about the current situation. However, if we do not stop this source and change this trend, it will damage the court's righteousness and tarnish the reputation of the Emperor. I respectfully implore the Emperor to exercise his discernment!" The Emperor said, "I have read the Prime Minister's memorial and feel very uneasy. I inherited the throne with the intent of continuing our ancestors' legacy, but the court is filled with internal strife, creating a corrupt atmosphere. How can we inherit the merits of our ancestors and achieve great governance in this way? Prime Minister, you are concerned about the country and the people, and you understand the great principles. I entrust this matter to you to handle."
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Second paragraph: After the emperor finished speaking, the Chancellor's memorial was also presented. The matters in the court were a real headache. The emperor understood that these ministers were all fighting for power and profit, backstabbing each other. This situation needed to change, or the safety of the kingdom would be in jeopardy. But how could this be changed? The emperor was also in a tough spot, as the issues mentioned in the memorial were all difficult problems. As for Xingzong, the emperor felt that he was being ungrateful. He was given a good task, but he was not satisfied and insisted on going to Yizhou, which was downright foolish. As for Yigong, the emperor thought he was overreacting. Although there were some problems mentioned in the memorial, they did not rise to the level of "threatening the court's integrity." After much consideration, the emperor decided to hand this matter over to the Chancellor to handle and see his take on it. After all, the Chancellor was an experienced old minister and should be more adept at dealing with such matters. The Chancellor was also a crafty old fox. He knew what the emperor was thinking. The emperor wanted him to solve this difficult problem and also wanted to see his approach. Court affairs were really tangled and messy!
Liu Yuanjing, the Minister of Personnel, respectfully submitted a memorial, stating, "The memorials I submitted and the imperial edicts are all included here. I have carefully examined the report from Minister Yuan Minsun. The report states: 'On the 17th of this month, I visited Supervisor Yan Shibo. During the conversation, he mentioned that Minister Cai Xingzong wrote a letter firmly refusing this appointment and even showed me his letter, which spanned several pages. I couldn't grasp the details immediately, but the letter mentioned the issue of court officials. We are currently in a time of peace and prosperity, and we cannot allow there to be too few court officials. That is the content of the report.' The court's arrangements are indeed appropriate, and we believe they have been managed well. People often come to us, and Yuan Minsun is not dissatisfied either. However, I believe the arrangements in the inner court should be reconsidered. This is merely my humble opinion, and I hope it will be taken into account. The selection of the Lingshi is tasked with conveying confidential matters, so I included this incident in my report as well, as has been mentioned by outsiders."
Xue Qingxian reported again: "On the 18th of this month, I went to discuss the selection of officials with Minister Yuan Minson. Minister Yuan said that two days ago, he visited Yan Xiuye, who showed him a very heated letter from Minister Cai. He also said that there were too few talents selected this time. The Emperor has just ascended the throne, and there aren't many talents like him in the court. Everyone agreed he should be promoted, but he felt that there were too few people and suggested hiring him after consulting on related matters. He also said that Xie Zhuang is still young and his illness is gradually improving. It is not suitable to appoint him to this position now, believing that the Chief Secretary position would be more suitable for his qualifications and prestige. He also said that Kong Ju is an outstanding talent from the south, who has held various positions and has been frequently appointed and transferred recently, which is not appropriate at all. With no one else available in the Ministry of Personnel, this is a solid choice. He also mentioned that Zhang Yong's position could be considered; his mistake last year wasn't a major offense, and based on his qualifications, he should be given a position in the Ministry of Personnel. Zhang Yan previously served in the south; we worked together before. Even though he's been demoted several times, it's been a while, and he should be appointed as the Secretary." Minister Yuan also brought a few pages of handwritten letters from Cai Xingzong, which were written clearly and definitively, without the need for further verification. Minister Yuan, in a high position responsible for selecting officials, should speak up directly if anything seems off, but he privately promised to make selections and appointments himself, justifying it with public opinion, ultimately deceiving and concealing the truth, leading to conflicts. I heard that the Nine Officials should show humility towards one another, following the example of Yu Shun, and slandering the monarch and resenting the situation were swiftly punished during the Han Dynasty. Moreover, speaking for personal gain, slandering court officials, disrupting the selection of officials, harming political affairs, tarnishing the court's rules and regulations, causing chaos and numerous errors—all of these must be met with strict punishment to uphold the law. I request that Cai Xingzong be dismissed from his new position and sent to the Ministry of Justice for punishment, along with the dismissal of Minister Yuan Minson."
The translation cannot be revised as there is no source text provided. Therefore, it should be removed entirely.
The emperor decreed, "Cai Xingzong has disrupted the court's affairs and should be punished according to the law. However, he previously served me in the palace, so I cannot bring myself to punish him harshly. I will let him go far away to reflect. Yuan Minsun secretly commented on himself and shifted the blame to others, allowing him to continue in his position."
Xingzong became the new governor of Xinchang, overseeing the area belonging to Jiaozhou. Everyone in the court was both shocked and fearful. Earlier, Xingzong took the nun Zhifei from Hehou Temple to be his concubine. Zhifei was renowned for her beauty and well-known in the capital. Just as Xingzong was about to bring her home, his mentor secretly sent someone to abduct Zhifei, and Xingzong was completely unaware. Later, Xingzong was demoted, and everyone said it was his mentor's doing, which infuriated him.
Initially, Fa Xing and the others didn't want to escalate the demotion of a high official, and his mentor also wanted to calm public opinion, so the issue was set aside. Eventually, Fa Xing was killed, Shangzhi was arrested, and both Yigong and his mentor were executed. The court reinstated Xingzong, appointing him as the former military historian for Prince Xu of Linhai, the auxiliary general, and the governor of Nanjun, in charge of the affairs of Jingzhou, but Xingzong chose not to accept the position.
At that time, the former Emperor was particularly cruel and brutal. Yuan Yi, the nephew of Emperor Xingzong, was the Governor of Yongzhou. He advised Emperor Xingzong to leave the capital quickly, saying, "Everyone can see the situation in the court. Among the courtiers, no one can predict who will be the next to suffer misfortune. Uncle, you are currently assigned to Shaanxi, overseeing eight provinces. I am in Xiangyang and Mianyang, with a strategic location and a strong military presence, close to Jiangling, and convenient waterway transportation. If trouble arises in the court, we brothers can follow the example of Huan Wen and Xie An to achieve great success. It's better than being at the mercy of that madman here. If something were to happen, it would be a real mess. We both passed the imperial examination in the same year, and I can't watch you take risks! Now, if you don't escape from danger but stay in this perilous place, it will be difficult to come out later!" Emperor Xingzong said, "I come from humble beginnings, and I'm not particularly close to the Emperor. There's not much to worry about. In the palace and outside the palace, no one can really guarantee their own safety. If the internal chaos isn't resolved, the external threats could be serious. You want to look after yourself out there while I want to stay safe in here. Let's just rely on our own abilities; that's good enough." At that time, the people in the capital were in a panic, and the high-ranking officials were all looking to leave. Later, most people ended up displaced, and countless people died or were injured, with fewer than one in a hundred surviving. After taking over as the Minister of Personnel, Grand Commandant Shen Qingzhi knew very well that the situation was critical, and he feared getting into trouble, so he shut his doors and seldom saw anyone. Once, he sent his subordinate Fan Xian to see the Prefect of the Masters of Writing, He Chengtian (Emperor Xingzong). He Chengtian told Fan Xian, "Grand Secretary Shen refuses to see visitors to avoid those endless pleas and requests, right? He doesn't have any requests himself, so why does he still refuse people at the door?" After that, He Chengtian personally visited Shen Qingzhi. Shen Qingzhi sent Fan Xian back with a message inviting He Chengtian to come by.
After He Chengtian arrived, he advised Shen Qingzhi, saying: "Although the late emperor may not have achieved much for the world, he at least pacified the rebellion and passed away peacefully after reigning for eleven years. After Your Majesty ascended the throne, the realm was peaceful, but there were a few missteps at the start of your reign. These minor missteps can be overlooked, considering the country is still prosperous and can continue to progress. However, some recent actions by the court have seriously undermined moral integrity. Now, the greatest fear among everyone is you; the people are sighing in despair, having lost hope in the court, and their only hope lies with you. If you continue to stand idly by and let things unfold, not only will you face disaster, but the heavy burden of the people will also rest on your shoulders. You hold great prestige, and everyone respects you. Now, everyone in the court is on edge, and as long as you give the order, who would dare disobey? If you don't act soon, disaster will follow. Having worked under you before and received your special consideration, I feel emboldened to speak frankly, hoping you will thoughtfully consider a course of action."
Shen Qing said, "Recently, I have also been worried about not being able to survive. I just want to remain loyal to my country and see it through to the end; everything else is beyond my control. Besides, I am already old, have retired from public office, and the military strength has greatly decreased. Even if I have such a plan, I can't do it at all." He Chengtian said, "Those who are looking to make significant plans aren’t motivated by wealth or glory; they’re just trying to save their own lives. The generals in the palace are all paying attention to the outside news. As long as someone takes the lead, things can be quickly resolved. Moreover, your reputation is far-reaching; you have led the army for many years, and your former subordinates are spread throughout the palace and beyond, people such as Song Yue and Tan Jin, who are your students and old officials; Lu Youzhi and He Enren are even your relatives—who would dare to defy you? Besides, you have many students, old officials, and brave warriors from Sanwu, and there are also hundreds of servants in the mansion. Lu Youzhi is now going to the east to suppress the rebels and has brought a large supply of armor and weapons with him; he has not set off from Qingxi yet. Youzhi is your fellow villager, brave and good at fighting. You can give him these weapons and let him lead the army to take action first, and the situation can be quickly settled. As part of the Ministry of Personnel, I will lead the officials to emulate the practices of previous dynasties and select talents to serve the country. In the past, Tai Jia made mistakes but did not harm the people; King Changyi was tyrannical but did not affect the common people. Yi Yin and Huo Guang were able to achieve great things, not to mention that now the people are so miserable, and the chaos has persisted for so long? Moreover, recent court actions are rumored to have been orchestrated by you. If you hesitate now, others are likely to take the initiative first, and then you will inevitably be implicated. The emperor has visited your mansion many times, got drunk, and stayed at your mansion. I heard that the emperor dismissed his attendants and entered your study alone. This is a rare opportunity that you cannot afford to miss. I am deeply grateful for your kindness, which is why I feel compelled to speak frankly. You should carefully weigh the pros and cons."
Shen Qing said, "I am very grateful for your kindness. But this matter is too big, and it is not something I can accomplish. At this point, I can only meet my end with loyalty and resolve." Not long after, Shen Qing was indeed harmed due to the court's fear of him.
At that time, General Wang Xuanmo was well-known, but rumors circulated among the villagers that he had been executed, creating panic and chaos in the streets. Wang Xuanmo's assistant Bao Farong, who lived in Dongyang and was a fellow townsman of Emperor Taizong, was deeply trusted by Wang Xuanmo. Bao Farong went to see Emperor Taizong, who said, "The general must be feeling quite anxious and scared right now, don't you think?" Bao Farong replied, "The general hasn’t eaten much these past few days, can’t sleep at night, and keeps saying that things are not going well and could be in danger at any moment." Emperor Taizong said, "The general is so worried; he can’t just sit around waiting for disaster to strike!"
Initially, Wang Xuanmo had three thousand soldiers under him, but the emperor doubted them and transferred them to other departments. Wang Xuanmo sighed in frustration, requesting to keep five hundred soldiers in the mountains to help him prepare his tomb. But before that could be arranged, the young emperor decided to go hunting and called back the five hundred soldiers to the city. Those soldiers remained in the palace. Emperor Taizong advised Wang Xuanmo to use these soldiers to rise up, saying, "Now, based on your reputation as a general, leading these men to set a strong precedent for the court, this plan will surely succeed. Even if things go wrong later, the emperor can still find you a safe haven. It is very dangerous now; don’t miss this chance! When you go back, you can tell the general this." Wang Xuanmo sent Bao Farong back to reply, "This plan is too risky; I assure you I won’t let your words slip."
Later, Taizong ascended the throne. Wang Xuanmo called out his relatives and old associates, including Guo Jichan and his son-in-law Wei Xizhen, saying, "When I was at my lowest, none of you who I considered friends even offered a word of help!" Guo Jichan replied, "The methods proposed by Minister Cai Baofa are clear enough, but such major matters are too difficult to handle. Whatever I say is useless." Upon hearing this, Wang Xuanmo looked visibly ashamed.
General Liu Daolong, the Right Guard, was highly favored by the emperor and held exclusive control over the Forbidden Army. One night, the emperor secretly visited the home of Assistant Scholar Jiang Jiao, with Taizong's carriage following behind Liu Daolong's carriage. Taizong said to Liu Daolong, "General Liu! I have been thinking of finding an opportunity to rest recently." Liu Daolong instantly grasped what Taizong meant and quickly took his hand, saying, "Sir Cai, let’s not discuss it further!" The emperor frequently struck ministers during court banquets, from the General of Chariots and Cavalry Prince Xiuren to the Attendant Yuan Minsun, humiliating them, but Taizong was spared.
Shortly afterwards, Taizong launched a coup. That night, the body of the deposed emperor was found at the entrance of the Grand Medical Pavilion. Taizong said to the Minister of the Right Shangshu, Wang Jingwen, "Although this person is very bad, he is, after all, the monarch, and he deserves a proper funeral. If we let this slide, it will set a bad example for everyone."
At that moment, rebellions erupted in various regions, and the court could only maintain control over a few counties, including Danyang and Huainan, with some of these counties already having surrendered to the rebels. The eastern rebels had already reached Yongshe, which caused panic within the palace. The emperor summoned his ministers to strategize on countermeasures. Xingzong said, "Currently, the entire country is suppressing the rebellion, and people's hearts are unstable. We should use calmness to control the situation and treat the people sincerely. Recently, relatives of the rebels have infiltrated the palace. If we treat them according to the law, it would collapse like a landslide in an instant. We should clearly explain the principle that family members should not be held accountable for the actions of the rebels. Once the people's minds are at ease, everyone will be willing to fight. Our army is elite, strong, well-equipped, and stands a good chance against those untrained rebels. The emperor has no reason to worry." The emperor accepted his advice.
The emperor promoted him to general of guerrilla warfare, and before he could formally take office, he was promoted to the position of Right Minister of Personnel, and soon also took on the role of Minister of Guards, as well as the Grand Inspector of Yanzhou. Emperor Taizong asked Xingzong, "The wars in various regions have not yet subsided, and Yin Yan has colluded with the rebel army again. How is public sentiment now? Can we win this battle?" Xingzong replied, "I can't accurately assess the rebellion and stability. The commercial routes are now cut off, but rice prices are low. Although troops are gathering everywhere, the common people are quite at peace. From these signs, the rebellion is bound to be defeated. But what will happen after the war worries me, as Yang Gong said, after the rebellion is quelled, it is the real test of the emperor's wisdom." Shangshu Chu Yuan rapped Xingzong on the hand, but Xingzong still insisted on his own point of view. The emperor said, "Do as you say." After Zheqi was pacified, Yuan Yi's head was sent over. The emperor ordered Xingzong to ascend the South Yamen Tower to watch, and Xingzong couldn't help but cry, which the emperor was very unhappy about. After the war was over, the emperor conferred the title of Earl of Shichang County upon Xingzong, with a fief of five hundred households; Xingzong firmly declined, but the emperor did not allow it, and instead appointed him as the Earl of Le'an County, with a fief of three hundred households. He consistently refused to accept the official position and salary from the court.
Yin Yan occupied Shouyang and rebelled, and the court sent General Liu Meng of the Fu Guo to besiege him. After pacifying the four sides, Yin Yan relied on the city's strong defenses to hold out. The emperor had the Ministry of Personnel draft a letter to persuade Yin Yan to surrender. Xingzong said, "The world is already pacified; this is the time for Yin Yan to reflect on his mistakes. The emperor should personally write a few words to him to offer reassurance. Now, directly having the Ministry of Personnel draft a letter, he will definitely doubt its authenticity, which isn't an effective way to quickly quell the rebellion." The emperor did not listen to him. After receiving the letter, Yin Yan believed it was forged by Liu Meng and refused to surrender. The siege dragged on for a long time before he finally surrendered.
Xue Andu, this rascal, was originally the governor of Xuzhou, but he ended up rebelling and taking control of Pengcheng. Later, he sent people to surrender. In the winter of the second year of Taishi, the emperor sent Zhang Yong to meet him. At that time, Xingzong said, "Andu sent people to surrender; this must be true. We should reassure him and just send a messenger with a letter. If we send a large army to meet him, he will be suspicious and may even collude with the Xiongnu from the north, which could lead to serious trouble for us. Andu has committed serious offenses, but we've already been quite lenient with him in the past. Besides, he occupies a strategically important position near the border. We should stabilize him for the country's interests. If he rebels again, we will be in trouble. Pengcheng is tough to besiege, and attacking it would be nearly impossible. We really need to think carefully about border security." At that time, Zhang Yong had already set off, and the emperor couldn't stop him.
When Xue Andu got word that the army had crossed the Huai River, he shut the city gates tight and started plotting to ally with the Xiongnu. Zhang Yong took a heavy defeat, with most of his soldiers succumbing to the snow, and the four northern provinces were lost. He had seen this coming. When news of Zhang Yong's defeat reached the palace, the emperor called in Situ Jian'an, King Xiuren, and Xingzong, saying, "I feel bad for Cai Puyi." Then he showed the report of the defeat to Xingzong, saying, "I am sorry for you."
In the spring of the third year AD, I was appointed as the governor of Yingshou, the general of Anxi, and also the governor of Yingshou. Because I pushed hard for He Shizhen to be made a military advisor, I was initially rejected, but after repeated requests, the emperor got mad and knocked me down to the general of Pingxi. But not long after, I got my old position back.
Earlier, Qiu Zhensun, a man from Wuxing, often spoke disrespectfully to Xing Zong (the author). Zhensun's son Jingxian was a very talented person, and Xing Zong had a close relationship with him. Later, Jingxian was appointed Prefect of Poyang Commandery but was killed by Wu Xi during the rebellion of Prince Xun of Jin'an. His mother was old, his daughter was young, and they were displaced and fled to Xiakou. Upon my arrival in Yingzhou, I went to mourn for him personally, made arrangements for his coffin and family, and allowed them to return to their hometown.
I served in Yingzhou for three years, where I was promoted to General of Zhen Dong, Prefect of Kuaiji, and appointed as a Cavalier Attendant. Soon after, I led troops, appointed officials, and took command of military affairs across the five commanderies of Kuaiji, Dongyang, Xin'an, Yongjia, and Linhai, and provided them with a band. Kuaiji had many powerful families who did not obey the imperial laws. Moreover, those courtiers favored by the emperor often entered and left the palace, seizing mountains, forests, and lakes, causing harm to the people and disrupting government affairs. I punished all of them according to the law.
At that time, the land was fertile, and the people thrived, with the residences of nobles, concubines, and wealthy individuals being plentiful. Those powerful families exploited their power to oppress the people, with many descendants who continuously extorted from them. I abolished the estates of these powerful families. I also addressed various outstanding debts and corvée obligations from the past, and my suggestions were all accepted. The Three Wu region had a long-standing tradition of village archery that had not been practiced for a long time, and I reinstated this tradition with well-defined rituals. During the Yuanjia period, Yang Xuanbao, who served as the county magistrate, also organized village archery competitions.
Emperor Taizong of the Song passed away, and Emperor Xingzong, along with the Minister of Works Yuan Can, Right Chancellor Chuzhuan, General Wang Daolong of the Right Army, and General Shen Youzhi of the Garrison, were entrusted with the task of governing the country. Xingzong was appointed as the Commissioner-in-Chief, Commander of the Eight Provinces (Jing, Xiang, Yong, Yi, Liang, Ning, Nan, Bei, and Qin), General Who Conquers the West, and Inspector of Jingzhou, and was also assigned twenty additional sword-bearing guards. His previous title as Palace Attendant remained the same. He was summoned back to the capital. At that time, General Wang Daolong of the Right Army was in charge of internal affairs and wielded significant power. When he went to see Xingzong, he didn't even dare to take a seat, standing for quite a while before leaving, and Xingzong did not ask him to sit down.
During the Yuanjia era, the Imperial Secretariat Aide Qiu Dang went to visit the Prince's Secretary, Wang Tan, but also did not dare to sit down. Later, the Imperial Secretariat Aide Wang Hong gained the appreciation of Emperor Taizu, who told him, "If you want to be a true scholar, you must be able to sit next to Wang Qiu to be considered qualified. You do not understand the affairs of the Yin and Liu dynasties at all. If you go to visit Wang Qiu, you can sit down as I wish." Wang Qiu replied, "No!" After Wang Hong returned and reported it to the Emperor, the Emperor said, "I didn't expect it to be like this at that time." In the fifty years that followed, these three incidents took place. Wang Daolong and others believed Xingzong was upright and did not want him to hold military power in the northern regions, so they reassigned him to Chief of the Imperial Secretariat and Left Grandee, while his title as Palace Attendant remained unchanged, but he firmly refused to accept the position.
Xing Zong has always been very graceful since childhood, and his family has a strong moral reputation. He is dutiful to his aunts, takes care of his late sister-in-law, and raises his orphaned nephew with great care. These acts were well-known and admired in his time. Lady Fan, the wife of Crown Prince Wang Xi, is an intelligent and insightful woman. She chastised Wang Xi's younger brother, Monk Da, in a letter, saying, "In the past, the Grand Tutor of Xie An was so respectful to his sister-in-law Lady Wang, treating her like his own mother. Now Cai Xing Zong also has the reputation of being respectful and harmonious." This shows how highly regarded Xing Zong is among the people. Xing Zong's wife, Lady Liu, died young, leaving behind a small daughter. His nephew Yuan Yi had just welcomed a son, but his wife, Lady Liu, also passed away. Xing Zong's sister is also Yuan Yi's mother. He has the responsibility of raising both a grandson and a nephew, caring for them himself. As they grow older, Xing Zong is also considering arranging marriages for them. Whenever his sister sees Xing Zong, she always brings this up.
During the early days of the Ming Dynasty, the emperor wanted to arrange a marriage between a princess and Prince Jingyou of Nanping. The princess's brother, Xingzong, felt sorry for his sister and repeatedly asked the emperor not to arrange the marriage this way. The emperor said, "Each of you wants to do things according to your own wishes, then how can the country arrange marriages? Besides, can't your sister's words be disobeyed?" Since the emperor said so, the marriage naturally fell through, and Xingzong's sister ultimately married another man. Later, her husband's family fell on hard times, got into trouble, and eventually became impoverished. Jingyou, the sister's husband, was murdered, leaving Xingzong's sister a childless widow. Coming from a prestigious family, she attracted many suitors. The Ming emperor even commanded her to marry into the Xie family, but Xingzong firmly opposed this and ultimately arranged for her to return to her original husband. At that time, a man named Fu Long in the north was close friends with Cai Kuo. Xingzong was also friends with Fu Long's father, strengthening their ties.
In the first year of the Taiyu era, Xingzong passed away at the age of fifty-eight. He left a will requesting a simple burial and submitted a request to resign from his title to the court. The court posthumously elevated him to a higher official position, but his son Jingxuan resolutely declined, repeatedly petitioning to resign from his position. After submitting more than ten memorials, the emperor ultimately approved his request. The emperor issued a decree: "Xingzong, Attendant Cavalry, Director of the Palace Library, Left Grand Master of Guanglu, Sima of the Household, and Marquis of Le'an, loyal and upright, assisting the court with remarkable strategies, made significant contributions to the state during times of crisis. The titles and lands awarded to him by the court were well-deserved. His son Jingxuan's earnest request fully embodies the characters of father and son, both honest and well-reputed. Jingxuan's insistence on fulfilling his father's last wishes is moving. Although according to the system, these honors should be preserved in full, considering his grief and sincerity, I hereby approve his request to commend his virtue of humility." In his youth, while Xingzong served as a military officer in Yingzhou, a man named Yan Jing from Pengcheng predicted that in the Year of the Pig, he would hold a high official position, but warned him that the title would contain the word "big," which he must not accept. Later, he was indeed granted the title of Grand Master, and that year happened to be the Year of the Pig. He passed away shortly after receiving the title of Guanglu Grand Master. His writings have been preserved and passed down through generations. Xingzong's son Jingxuan inherited his father's admirable qualities, serving as a palace secretary, Prefect of Jinling, and Attendant of Taifu. He passed away in the later years of the Shengming period.
The historian commented: At that time, society valued philosophical discussions, and scholars valued integrity and uprightness. Although Cai Kuo was talented and of good character, he held a low official position, and compared to those renowned ministers of the time, he was not as influential. The Xingzong father and son duo adamantly rejected high-ranking positions and lucrative salaries, unwilling to compromise their aspirations. Were they unaware that the court ought to select talent fairly and justly? Their actions were due to the bleak political climate and challenging times, as they did not want to take on positions that could easily entangle them in political strife. It’s truly admirable!
