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Written by: Realhistories

Category: Book of Song （宋書）

Published: 04 January 2025

Created: 04 January 2025

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Liu Yuanjing, courtesy name: Xiaoren, was a native of Jie County in Hedong. His great-grandfather Liu Zhuo moved from his hometown in Hedong to Xiangyang, where he became the Prefect of Runan. His grandfather Liu Tian was the Prefect of Xihe. His father Liu Jiping was the Prefect of Fengyi. Liu Yuanjing was skilled in horseback riding and archery from a young age, often accompanying his father on expeditions against the barbarians. He was known for his bravery, and although he spoke little, he was very capable. The Governor of Jingzhou, Xie Hui, heard of his reputation and wanted to recruit him, but before Liu Yuanjing could go, Xie Hui failed. The Governor of Yongzhou, Liu Daochan, greatly admired his talents, but at that time Liu Yuanjing was in mourning, so he was not able to appoint him. Later, the Governor of Jingzhou, Prince Yi Gong of Jiangxia, summoned him. Liu Daochan said, "I originally wanted to keep him for a long time, but now that the prince has summoned him, I can't force him to stay. I'm quite regretful about it."

After his mourning period ended, Liu Yuanjing was appointed as the General of the Central Army of the Kingdom of Jiangxia and later promoted to the General of the Palace. He was then appointed by Yi Gong as a military advisor to the Minister of Works, and as Yi Gong rose in rank, he successively served as a military advisor in the Ministry of the State and the Ministry of the Grand Commandant. The founding emperor valued him highly. Earlier, when Liu Daochan held office in Yongzhou, his governance was effective and won the hearts of the people. Distant barbarian tribes submitted and relocated to the Han and Mian rivers to establish villages, which greatly increased the population. After Liu Daochan's death, these barbarian tribes began to rise up again. The Emperor Shizu stationed himself in western Xiangyang, and Yi Gong appointed Liu Yuanjing as a military leader, appointing him as General of Guangwei and Prefect of Sui County. When Liu Yuanjing arrived in Sui County, the barbarians cut off the post road and planned to attack the county. The county faced food shortages and lacked weapons. Liu Yuanjing devised a battle strategy, assembling six or seven hundred men and stationing five hundred men to guard the post road. Some said, "The barbarians are about to attack the city; we should not divide our forces in this situation."

Liu Yuanjing said, "The barbarians heard that the county had sent heavy troops to defend; how could they have thought the troops in the city were few? Attacking from both inside and outside is more advantageous for us." When the barbarian soldiers were fast approaching, he ordered the soldiers stationed at the post road to be prepared for defense, and then led the remaining troops to launch a surprise attack from behind the barbarian soldiers, commanding, "Charge as soon as you see the signal fire." With attacks from both sides, the barbarian soldiers fell into chaos; over a thousand of them jumped into the Yun River and drowned, and hundreds were killed or captured. The county was secured, and no more barbarian raids occurred. Later, Zhu Xiuzhi campaigned against the barbarians, and Liu Yuanjing joined him. He also aided Shen Qingzhi in the conquest of Yunshan and the capture of Taiyang City. Finally, he was appointed as a military officer in the Anbei Mansion by Emperor Sui Zu.

I accompanied General Wang Dan to garrison Xiangyang and served as a military officer in the rear army. Later, the court initiated a major northern campaign and ordered troops from various towns to march. In August of the twenty-seventh year, Wang Dan sent General Zhenwei Yin Xianzu to transport supplies and dispatched Generals Lu Fangping, Xue Andou, Pang Faqi (the governor of Lueyang), and others to march to Lushi, while General Guangwei Tian Yiren advanced to Luyang. I was promoted to General Yuanjing Jianwei as well, commanding these generals.

Pang Ji, the external general of the rear army, was seventy-three years old that year. He was from a prominent family in Qin territory, and many Qiang people were loyal to him. He requested to advance to Chang'an and surrender the Guanzhong region. He personally financed the transport of supplies into Lushi. Zhao Nan of Lushi welcomed him, and some of the major families in Hongnong had intended to submit to the court, and allowed Pang Ji to seek refuge with them. In October, Lu Fangping, Xue Andu, and Pang Faqi's armies arrived at Baiting, but I had not yet set out. Pang Faqi led Fangping, Andu, and other troops ahead, crossing Xiong'er Mountain from Xiuyang Pavilion. Pang Ji reached Gaomenmu City and met Prince Yongchang, who was entering Hongnong, so he returned to Lushi, secured a strategic position and held it firmly. After some time, he recruited young men from Lushi to Yiyang Gougong Valley to inspire their patriotic hearts. Later in the month, I led the army to continue advancing.

In November, Pang Faqi, Xue Andu, Lu Fangping, and other troops entered Lushi, killed the county magistrate Li Feng, appointed Zhao Nan as the magistrate of Lushi, and also appointed him as the Fenu General. Zhao Nan led the militia and guided the main forces. Pang Faqi and others crossed Tieling Mountain and reached Kaifangkou. Pang Ji came out from Mucity and met with Pang Faqi. My main army arrived at Jiukou, but since the vanguard had advanced too far and the rear could not catch up, I quickly dispatched Yin Xianzu to Lushi for reinforcements. Due to insufficient military supplies and could not sustain a prolonged standoff, I had to halt and lead the army to scale a hundred-foot cliff, entering Lushi via Wengu.

Legend has it that Fa Qi led his army to Fangbodui, located just five miles from Hongnong City. The bandits dispatched over two thousand men to scout the route, and Fa Qi ordered his troops to launch a counterattack, driving away those cavalry. Then, our army quickly made siege weapons and charged toward the city. The impostor Hongnong Prefect, Li Chugu, took refuge in the city with his followers. Fa Qi, Andu, Fang Ping, and their troops attacked fiercely, with the battle cries shaking the heavens, while Ji Ming and Zhao Nan led the militia to charge. Siege vehicles surrounded the city walls from all directions, attacking from several directions at the same time. The soldiers bravely killed the enemies, rushing up one after another. At that time, Li Chugu and his son guarded the south gate, personally commanding the battle, with over three thousand residents of Hongnong inside. They raised white flags on the north tower, and some even fired arrows without arrowheads attached. The deputy generals Tan Jin and Xue Xixiao from Andu's army were the first to scale the city and captured Li Chugu and his son alive. Lu Fangping rushed in from the south gate and also captured the fake county magistrate, finally restoring calm among the city's residents.

General Yuan Jing marched his troops over Xionger Mountain, General Andu set up camp in Hongnong, General Fa Qi occupied Tongguan, and General Ji Ming led the troops of Fang Ping and Zhao Nan towards the Seven-Mile Valley in Shaanxi. General Deng Sheng and Chief Liu Can of the Palace even sent people to the wilderness to recruit Liu Kuan from Yiyang, who rallied over two thousand militia to assault Jinmen Wu, capturing the place. They also killed the garrison commander Li Maidi, who was Li Chugu's son and a famous brave general who previously served as a chief historian under King Yongchang. King Yongchang was deeply saddened to hear of his death, feeling as though he had lost a vital ally. King Yongchang then sent the Chief Clerk Yao Fan with three thousand men to follow General Yuan Jing's command. In November, General Yuan Jing led a large army to Hongnong and established his camp at Kaifangkou. The court appointed General Yuan Jing as the new Prefect of Hongnong and provided him with officials and assistants.

At first, Andu was stationed in Hongnong, while other armies had already entered Shaanxi. General Yuan Jing arrived and said to Andu, "We can't just sit and guard an empty city, letting General Pang infiltrate the enemy's territory. This is not a good strategy! We should quickly send troops to attack the enemy together with General Xianzu. I have to wait to collect taxes before bringing troops to support." So everyone went to Shaan County together, marched straight into the city, set up camp, and prepared to launch an assault, also constructing many siege weapons. The enemy's city was strategically built along the river, leveraging the challenging terrain, and they took advantage of the terrain to mount a strong defense. Generals Jiming, Andu, Fangping, Xianzu, Zhaonan, and other armies attacked three times in a row but failed to capture the city. The Governor of Luozhou, Zhang Dihe, who led twenty thousand troops, crossed the river from Maoshan to rescue the enemy. Andu and Fangping lined up in the south of the city on standby, while General Xianzu led the elite troops as a reserve army. General Jiming led the volunteer army from Gaoming and Yiyang to deploy at the south gate, and General Zhaonan led the young soldiers from Lushi and Leyong to support General Jiming. The enemy launched a major attack, with light cavalry challenging us. General Andu, with his eyes wide and spear drawn, rode alone into the enemy's formation, launching fierce attacks from all directions. The enemy soldiers were scattered and unable to resist, leaving countless enemies in his wake. Meanwhile, our other troops rallied and charged forward, with the soldiers fighting valiantly. At first, the enemy cavalry charged from all sides, and our army was a bit overwhelmed. General Andu was furious; he took off his helmet and armor, donning only a red tunic, and removed the equipment from his warhorse. He rode into the enemy's formation with fierce determination and unstoppable courage, and no enemy in his path could escape. The enemy was terrified by his audacity; despite their desperate attempts to shoot him down, none succeeded. This happened several times; each time he charged into the enemy's formation, the enemy could not regroup.

Initially, General Yuan Jing ordered General Lu Yuan to defend Hangu Pass. The enemy was too strong, and General Lu Yuan was unable to hold out alone, so he led his soldiers to set up a defensive formation, raised many flags, and slowly retreated, taking advantage of the treacherous terrain. At that moment, General An Du and other troops were fighting the enemy. The enemy's General San Lang saw General Lu Yuan's army retreating from the mountain and thought that General Yuan Jing's main army had arrived. Moreover, it was already late in the day, so the enemy panicked and fled, with many cavalrymen escaping back to the city.

Trouble was approaching, so Fang Ping quickly sent a messenger on a fast horse to inform General Yuan Jing. At that time, all the troops were running out of food, with only a few days' rations remaining. General Yuan Jing was busy collecting taxes and preparing mules and horses to transport the grain. Upon receiving Fang Ping's message, General Yuan Jing immediately sent Deputy General Liu Yuanhu to lead two thousand infantry and cavalry to swiftly support Shanzhou. The entire army prepared for battle, marched through the night, and arrived in just one night.

The next morning, the enemy came out again and established their formation outside the city. Fang Ping's army also formed their battle formation, with General An Du commanding the cavalry and Fang Ping personally leading the infantry. The two flanks coordinated, while other volunteer soldiers lined up in the southwest of the city. Fang Ping said to An Du, "The formidable enemy is right in front of us, with the strong city walls behind us. Today is the day we fight to the death. If you retreat, I will kill you; if I retreat, you will kill me!" An Du said, "Alright, you are right! Why would I hold back my own life?" Thus, the two sides engaged in battle.

At this time, Liu Yuanhu arrived as well. He ordered the army to conceal their flags and war drums. The soldiers gritted their teeth and remained silent, sneaking forward in ambush. They did not notice them at all. Fang Ping and the others were engaged in fierce battle with the enemy, while Liu Yuanhu led a large army to charge out directly from the passage outside the south gate of the city, forming up to the north, with banners flying and a formidable presence. They charged out suddenly, catching the enemy off guard and instilling fear. Liu Yuanhu and the banner commander Zong Yue led elite cavalry to charge into the enemy formation, launching a fierce attack together. An Du, seething with anger, charged into the enemy formation with a spear in hand, moving back and forth, taking down numerous enemies. His arms were splattered with dried blood, his spear broken, but he grabbed another and charged back in. Deputy General Tan Jin led the cavalry closely behind to support him.

From morning until evening, the enemy was defeated, Zhang Shiti was slain, and over three thousand others were killed. Countless others committed suicide by jumping into rivers and ditches, while more than two thousand surrendered.

Yuan Jing arrived early in the morning with light cavalry and found that many of the captured soldiers were from Hanoi. Yuan Jing asked them, "Did you surrender to the enemy because you felt that the court did not show you favor? Now that you are fighting hard for the enemy, it indicates that you never had loyal intentions. Those who are willing to submit to the court will be spared; those who commit wrongdoing will be punished. You should understand that this is how the court's army conducts itself!" The captives all said, "We were forced to come here by the enemy. Their cavalry chased the infantry, and before the battle even began, we surrendered. We witnessed it ourselves and dare not betray the court!" Many generals wanted to kill them all, but Yuan Jing thought otherwise and said, "The banners of the royal army are advancing north, so we should let our reputation for benevolence and righteousness precede us." So he released them all. For those from Guannei, Yuan Jing provided them with credentials to pass through the guarding troops, and the captives all cheered and left.

Since the Xiaoshan and Shanshan areas had been pacified and needed to be reassured, the court appointed Liu Kuanqiu from Hongnong as the governor of Hongnong. The court also provided Yuan Jing with an honor guard.

Fa Qi then arrived at Tongguan. Prior to this, General Jianyi and Prefect Liu Huai of Huashan had assembled a volunteer army to assault Tongguan, captured the city, but lacked the strength to hold it. After some time, they gathered more troops to support the royal army. When Fa Qi arrived at Tongguan, Liu Huai was already there. The bandit leader guarding Tongguan, Lou Xu, saw the royal army's banners and fled in fear, resulting in many enemies falling into the river and drowning. Fa Qi and Liu Huai immediately occupied Tongguan.

The commander of Pucheng Town sent a decoy general to set up three camps at Fenglingdui to confuse Faqi. Faqi marched straight through, passing the old camps of Wang and Tan. The enemy believed Faqi was making a direct march towards Chang'an, so He Nan led his troops in an attempt to cross the Yellow River and cut off Faqi's retreat. Faqi ordered his soldiers to shoot arrows when they arrived at the river, which caused the enemy to scatter in panic. Local militias in Guanzhong rose up, and the Qiang and Hu tribes from all quarters also sought to join the fight. The court then sent General Yang Wu Kang Yuan to lead two thousand troops from Shangluo to operate under Yuan Jing's command and support the troops stationed at Hangu Pass.

After Yuan Jing left, the enemy marched towards Guanzhong. By this time, the army had run out of supplies, so Yuan Jing retreated to Baiyangling to make a stand. Before the enemy arrived, Yuan Jing descended the mountain into Hongnong and entered Huguan Pass. Du Daosheng, the Inspector of Wozhou and defender of Puban, led twenty thousand troops to Wanan River, one hundred and twenty miles from Huguan Pass. Yuan Jing recruited one thousand elite soldiers, preparing to launch a night attack on the enemy camp, but got lost and returned at dawn. Du Daosheng led his elite troops to rain arrows down on the enemy, and after the two sides fought, the enemy was routed once more.

Speaking of the pressing situation in the north, General Wang Xuanmo and other generals were defeated and retreated, as enemy troops pursued them, advancing deep into our territory. Emperor Taizu believed that Yuan Jing should not advance alone, so he ordered a retreat of all troops. Yuan Jing then led his soldiers to cross the Baiyang Ridge from Huguan, detouring through Changzhou, leaving Xue Andu to hold the rear and Zong Yue to support him. General Fa Qi departed from Tongguan and headed to Shangcheng to meet up with Yuan Jing; General Ji Ming also returned from Hugu, and they all achieved notable victories, returning triumphantly with a grand procession and banners that obscured the sun. Emperor Taizu ascended the city to greet Yuan Jing in person, appointing him as General of Ning Shuo, Prefect of Jingzhao County, Prefect of Guangping County, and establishing a mansion for him in Fancheng, where he would lead his troops to be stationed there and oversee northern barbarian affairs. At the same time, Pang Jiming was appointed as the Chief of Barbarian Affairs, Xue Andu as the Rear Army Attendant, Lu Fangping as the Assistant of Ning Barbarians, Zang Zhi as the Inspector of Yongzhou, and Yuan Jing was promoted to Champion Marshal and Prefect of Xiangyang, while retaining his position as a general.

General Lu Shuang led his troops to Hu Lao, and Emperor Taizu ordered Yuan Jing to lead Xue Andu and others north to reach the city of Guancheng. The defenders of Guancheng, realizing the situation was hopeless, fled, allowing Yuan Jing to occupy the city. After arriving at Hongguan, Yuan Jing wanted to pursue the victory and, together with Xue Andu, crossed the Yellow River to attack Du Daosheng in Puban, but at this time Lu Shuang withdrew his troops, which forced Yuan Jing to retreat. Later, Yuan Jing led his troops north again to campaign, his reputation spread far and wide, instilling fear beyond the borders. Emperor Taizu once again ordered him to take his troops to Xiyang to engage in the campaign against the Wushui Barbarians.

When Emperor Shizu personally led the campaign to defeat the instigator, he appointed Yuan Jing as a military councilor, commanding the central forces, and granted him the title of Champion General while retaining his position as Governor. He was given a vanguard of ten thousand troops, with thirteen armies, including Zong Que and Xue An, all under his command. Yuan Jing also wrote to his colleagues in the court, saying: "The nation is suffering greatly from disasters, the culprit runs rampant, the people and the deities are filled with grief and fury, as if the very heavens and earth are on the verge of collapse. The Southern General is leading the righteous forces against the instigator, the Minister of Works and Zang the Champion are also mobilizing troops, and warships stretch for miles, while the court has made ample provisions and rewards. Though my martial skills are lacking, I am fortunate to hold a significant post in the army, leading the vanguard. The situation is in our favor; our forces outnumber the enemy a hundred times over. You, who have been loyal to the country for generations, have devoted yourselves to the nation, having received favor from the previous dynasty, and having enjoyed wealth and glory for many years. Now, you find yourselves under enemy rule, unable to display your talents. I believe that upon hearing this news, you will be filled with mixed emotions. The army has already set out, and the clearing of obstacles has just begun. I look forward to meeting you all soon, so we can seek revenge together."

The rebel ships are both few and in poor condition, and the marshal fears they can't win a naval battle against the enemy. Upon arriving in Wuhu, Marshal Yuan Jing was particularly pleased and quickened their pace. He heard that warships had been dispatched from Shitoucheng, so Yuan Jing disembarked outside Jiangning City, established defensive fortifications near Banqiao, and secured their position. Then, he stationed himself in Yinshan and sent Xue Andu to lead the cavalry to deploy defenses on the south bank. Yuan Jing himself stealthily made his way to Xinting, constructed fortifications along the mountains and rivers, and took up strategic positions on both the eastern and western flanks. The emperor also sent General Longxiang and Staff Officer Cheng Tianzuo to reinforce the troops. Cheng Tianzuo also built a camp on a high ground in the southeast direction. Many defectors urged Yuan Jing to launch an attack quickly, but he said, "No! We cannot rely on unreliable surrendering people. Rogues collude with one another; reckless, unprepared attacks will only provoke the enemy. We must rely on our own indestructible advantages. Are we afraid that the enemy will not attack?"

Before Yuan Jing's fortifications were completed, Zhan Shuer, a subordinate of General Longxiang, discovered this. Zhan Shuer advised Zhang Shao (Zhang Shao is the marshal, for ease of reading, the full name is used here) to send troops to attack, but Zhang Shao refused. After several days, he ordered the troops to launch a combined land and naval assault, and Zhang Shao personally led the troops to the front. When the army arrived at Waguansi, they encountered the rebel patrol team. The patrol team was routed, allowing the enemy to close in on Yuan Jing's fortifications. Seeing that Yuan Jing's fortifications were still incomplete, Zhang Shao believed they could engage in a decisive ground battle. However, upon arrival, they discovered that the wooden barriers were already quite robust, leaving them with no choice but to launch a ground assault. Yuan Jing had earlier instructed his troops, "Excessive drumming can weaken morale; excessive shouting can drain strength. Just grit your teeth and fight with all your might, and follow only the drum signals from my camp for orders."

The enemy generals Lu Xiu, Wang Luohan, and Liu Jianzhi, as well as the cavalry general Chang Bo and their soldiers, fought to the death. Liu Jianzhi first attacked in the southwest direction, successfully burning the rebel forces' grass boats multiple times and even crossing the river. Cheng Tianzuo's camp was still under construction and was already in disarray due to enemy attacks. Wang Luohan and others attacked the north gate of the camp, and the enemy's warships arrived as well. Yuan Jing faced attacks from both land and water, but his troops' morale was high. He sent out all his brave warriors to fight, leaving only a few aides to relay military orders. He divided his troops to support Cheng Tianzuo, stabilizing their position and ultimately driving back the enemy. Seeing that the enemy was exhausted, he ordered the camp to be opened, drums to be beaten, and shouts to pursue the enemy. The enemy was defeated, with many killed by the Huai River. Zhang Shao led the remaining army to attack the camp, but was once again defeated by Yuan Jing, with more casualties than the last time. Zhang Shao personally killed fleeing soldiers, but couldn't regain control of the situation and fled back to the palace in a panic to save his life, while Xiao Bin was injured. Liu Jianzhi retreated with his troops, but before the troops dispersed, Yuan Jing pursued, and the enemy was scattered, many jumping into the Dead Horse Gorge, causing the gorge to fill with bodies. Yuan Jing killed Liu Jianzhi and military leaders Yao Shuyi, Wang Jiangbao, Zhu Mingzhi, and Zhuge Maizhi. Navy commander Chu Zhanzhi and deputy general Liu Daocun surrendered.

After the Emperor ascended to the throne at Xinting, he appointed Yuan Jing as an attendant while concurrently serving as the Left Guard General. Later, he was appointed as the commissioner, responsible for overseeing the military affairs of Yongzhou, Liangzhou, North and South Qinzhou, Jingling County in Jingzhou, and Sui County. His official titles were former general and pacification officer, while also serving as the governor of Yongzhou. This was a highly lucrative position! When the Emperor was at Bako, he asked Yuan Jing, "After things are settled, what do you want?" Yuan Jing said, "If Your Majesty's grace is overly generous, I hope to return to my hometown." So the Emperor gave him so many official positions.

Initially, Zang Zhi rebelled, believing that King Yixuan of Nanqiao was weak and easily manipulated, hoping to install him as emperor. He secretly contacted Yuan Jing, asking him to lead the army back west. Yuan Jing took Zang Zhi's letter directly to the emperor and said to Zang Zhi's envoy, "General Zang may not be aware of Your Highness's wise actions! Now is the time to suppress the rebels; there's no way you can head back west!" Because of this, Zang Zhi held a deep resentment toward Yuan Jing. Later, Yuan Jing became the Governor of Yongzhou. Zang Zhi feared that Yuan Jing might pose a threat to Jingzhou and Jiangzhou later, so he advised the emperor not to let Yuan Jing's army stray too far from the capital. Instead of heeding his advice, the emperor went a step further and appointed Yuan Jing as the General of the Guard, tasked with defending Shitoucheng. Yuan Jing declined this appointment. Later, the emperor promoted Yuan Jing to the position of Army Commander, and also granted him the title of Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, appointing him as Duke of Qujiang County with a fief of three thousand households. The pace of his promotions was astonishing! In January of the year 452 AD, Lu Shuang rebelled, and the court dispatched General Wang Xuanmo of the Left Guard to quell him. At the same time, Yuan Jing's rank was elevated, appointing him as the General of the Army, giving him command authority, permitting him to appoint his own staff, and allowing him to direct operations after Wang Xuanmo. Later, Yuan Jing received another promotion and was appointed the military commander of Yongzhou, Liangzhou, North Qinzhou, South Qinzhou, Jingling County in Jingzhou, and Sui County, while holding the title of General of the Army, also serving as Colonel of Pacification of the Man Barbarians and Governor of Yongzhou, with unchanged command authority. Zang Zhi and Yixuan joined the rebellion as well. Wang Xuanmo occupied Liangshan, constructed fortifications along the river, reinforcing them with earthen walls. Yuan Huzhi and Xue An crossed the Yangtze River and seized Liyang. Yuan Jing deployed his troops at Caishi. Wang Xuanmo learned that the enemy forces were formidable, so he sent Sima Guanfaji to request additional troops. The court subsequently ordered Yuan Jing to lead the army to Gu Shu.

General Wu Nian of the Yuanjing faction went to Gushu, but was ambushed by General Pang Faqi of the Zangzhi faction, who launched a surprise attack on Gushu. Pang Faqi fled alone after his defeat at the hands of Wu Nian. The Zangzhi faction breached the western camp of Wang Xuanmo. Wang Xuanmo sent Yuan Huzhi to tell Yuanjing, "Now we only have ten thousand men on the east bank; the enemy outnumbers us several times. The situation is dire; I think we should retreat and join forces with you to fight the enemy."

Yuanjing said to Yuan Huzhi, "There are rules of engagement in warfare; we cannot retreat first. Although the enemy is many, they are suspicious and disorganized. We should concentrate our forces to attack them now." Yuan Huzhi said, "There are thirty thousand rebels in Yunnan Province, but your troops are only one-tenth of theirs. If we rashly attack the enemy, our weakness will be exposed, and their morale will rise." Yuanjing heeded his advice and dispatched elite troops to support Wang Xuanmo, leaving behind the elderly and weaker soldiers to defend. The troops sent out were carrying many flags. Looking from Liangshan, it looked as if tens of thousands of people had come. Everyone said, "The troops from the capital have all arrived!" As a result, they quickly achieved victory.

The emperor sent Yan Jun, the magistrate of Danyang, to deliver an imperial decree of consolation, and at the same time appointed Shen Qingzhi and Yuan Jingdu as the Grand Coordinators of the Three Departments, granting the title of Duke of Jin'an County, with no change in stipends. Yuan Jingdu firmly declined the position of Grand Coordinator of the Three Departments and instead took on the roles of General of the Army, Prince's Advisor, and was also appointed as an attendant. Not long after, he was promoted to Cavalry General and Governor of Benzhou, while retaining his roles as General of the Army and attendant. In the second year of Daming, the emperor once again granted him the title of Grand Coordinator of the Three Departments, which he again declined. The following year, he was promoted to Minister of the Left, while retaining his positions as Prince's Advisor, attendant, and Governor. Since his fief was located in Lingnan and the long distance for transporting autumn taxes, his fief was changed to Duke of Badong County. Five years later, the emperor appointed him as Grand Minister of Splendor of the Left, Grand Coordinator of the Three Departments, attendant, Minister of the Left, and Governor, which he declined once again. Following the example of Zheng Mao, Marquis of Miling in the Jin Dynasty, who did not accept the position of Minister of Works, further details can be found in "Biography of Shen Qingzhi." Six years later, he was appointed as Minister of Works, while retaining his positions as attendant, Minister of the Left, and Governor, which he firmly declined. Finally, he was appointed as attendant, Cavalry General, and Governor of Nanyanzhou, but remained in the capital. After the death of Emperor Shizu, he, along with Prince Yaigong of Jiangxia and Yan Shibai, were entrusted to assist the young emperor. He was later promoted to Minister of the Left, concurrently serving as magistrate of Danyang, while retaining his roles as attendant and general, and was assigned twenty sword-bearing guards, which he firmly declined.

Yuan Jing began his career as a military general and later became involved in court politics. Although this was not his expertise, he was a man of elegance and dignity. Many high-ranking officials in the court at that time were keen on managing industries, but Yuan Jing refrained from managing any business ventures. He had dozens of acres of vegetable gardens on the south bank. When the gardeners brought back 20,000 coins earned from selling vegetables, Yuan Jing said, "I planted this vegetable garden to feed my family; now selling the vegetables to make money, isn't this taking advantage of the people's interests?" So he gave the money back to the gardeners.

Emperor Shizu was stern and extraordinarily harsh. Although Yuan Jing was favored, he was always worried about attracting disaster. Grand Preceptor Wang Yigong and other ministers were all trembling and dared not show any signs of arrogance, let alone have private interactions. After Emperor Shizu's death, Yigong, Yuan Jing, and the others remarked to one another, "Today we have finally escaped the disaster." Yigong, Yiyang, and other princes, as well as Yuan Jing and Yan Shibo, often played together, singing, drinking, and having fun day and night.

That deposed emperor had a history of wrongdoing since childhood, creating chaos in the internal affairs, and even killed Dai Faxing, completely exposing his cruel nature. Yigong, Yuan Jing, and a few other ministers were terrified, feeling anxious and indecisive, secretly plotting to depose the emperor and support Yigong. They gathered every night to plot, but they hesitated and struggled to make a decision.

During the Yongguang period, in the summer, Yuan Jing was appointed as the Imperial Envoy, commander of the military forces in southern Yu and Xuan Cheng, the governor of Nanyu Prefecture, and retained the positions of Attendant Minister and Minister of Personnel. Before he could take office, his plans were uncovered! The emperor personally led troops to arrest him. The emperor first sent someone to summon Yuan Jing. Yuan Jing's people quickly reported that the approaching troops were imposing and heavily armed. Yuan Jing sensed trouble, so he quickly donned his official robes, got into a carriage, and went to answer the summons. As he stepped out of his house, he encountered his younger brother, Yuan Shuren, the charioteer marshal, who was clad in armor and accompanied by dozens of warriors attempting to prevent him from leaving. Yuan Jing earnestly tried to dissuade his brother. As they left the alley, the imperial soldiers surged in, and Yuan Jing was killed instantly as he stepped out of the carriage. In his final moments, he appeared remarkably calm. He was sixty years old that year.

His eldest son, Qing Zong, though talented, was known for his eccentric personality. Later, Emperor Shizu ordered Yuan Jing to send him back to Xiangyang, and he was executed on the way. His second son, Yuan Sizong, was serving as a charioteer for the Prince of Yuzhang at the time. Yuan Jing had several other sons: Sizong, Shaozong, Maozong, Xiaozong, Wenzong, Zhongzong, Chengzong, and Xiuzong. His younger brother, Yuan Shuren, and his nephew, Yuan Sengzhen (a military consultant), as well as other brothers and nephews, were killed in the capital and Xiangyang, amounting to dozens in total. Only Yuan Jing's youngest son, Chengzong, and his grandson Zuan managed to survive.

After Emperor Taizong ascended to the throne, he ordered, "The former Palace Attendant, Minister of Rites, General of the Flying Cavalry, Duke of Ba Dong Commandery, newly appointed as the General of the Household with equal rank to the Three Excellencies, and Governor of Nanyuzhou, Yuan Jing, was a man of grace, steady character, who upheld justice and was humble. He was loyal to the country, assisting the monarch, but was unfortunately framed by treacherous individuals and cruelly murdered; it was a true injustice! Having inherited my ancestors' legacy, I am deeply saddened and must honor his contributions to show loyalty and righteousness. I posthumously appoint him as Commissioner-in-Chief, Commander of the armies of Nanyuzhou and Jiangzhou, Grand Commandant, Palace Attendant, Governor, and Duke, and bestow upon him thirty guards, a feathered banner, and a musical ensemble, with the posthumous title of 'Duke of Loyalty and Valor.'"

Yuan Jing's uncle, Ren, served as the Inspector of Liangzhou and a Yellow Gate Attendant. Because he defeated Zang Zhi, he was granted the title of Marquis of Yiyang, with a fief of eight hundred households. Yuan Jing's cousin, Yuan Hu, took over as the Inspector of Liangzhou during the late Ming Dynasty after Ren. He later rebelled alongside Prince Zixun of Jin'an but surrendered to the court after the rebellion failed. Yuan Jing's uncle's younger brother, Xian Zong, served as the Colonel of the Sikong in the early Ming period. However, when Prince Dan of Jingling rebelled, Xian Zong was killed and posthumously honored as a Yellow Gate Attendant. Yuan Jing's cousin, Guang Shi, initially stayed in his hometown but was later appointed as the General of Zhechong and the Governor of Hebei by Northern Wei (Suo Lu), and was also titled the Lord of Xiling. His father-in-law was the pretender to the position of Minister of Works, Cui Hao, who was also the Prime Minister of Northern Wei. In the 27th year of Yongjia, the Emperor of Northern Wei, Tuoba Tao, marched south to attack Ruzhou and Yingzhou. Cui Hao had other intentions; therefore, Guang Shi rallied the righteous men of Hebei to support Cui Hao. However, Cui Hao's plot was exposed, and he was killed, resulting in the destruction of many prominent families in Hedong. Guang Shi fled south to save his life. Later, Emperor Taizu of the Song appointed him as the General of Zhenwu. During the reign of Emperor Jiahe, he was promoted to the position of Left General and served as the Director of the Secretariat. When Emperor Taizong pacified the rebellion, Guang Shi participated in military planning and was appointed as the Right Guard General, with a fief of one thousand households. Later, when rebellions broke out again, his colleagues, Zong Yue and Tan Jin, were executed. Guang Shi fled to Xue Andu, who asked him to guard Xiapi City. However, Xue Andu colluded with Northern Wei, so Guang Shi led his troops to surrender to Emperor Taizong of the Song. The Emperor pardoned him and appointed him as the Prefect of Shunyang. However, his son Xinwei later conspired to rebel, which resulted in Guang Shi being executed.

Master Yan, whose courtesy name is Changyuan, is a native of Linyi in Langye and the cousin of the provincial governor of Dongyang, Jun. His father, Yan Shao, was upright and capable, highly regarded by Xie Hui. When Xie Hui was appointed as the General of the Army, he appointed Yan Shao as a military strategist. Yan Shao also participated in the political machinations surrounding the succession of emperors. After Xie Hui was stationed in Jiangling, he appointed Yan Shao as a military advisor and in charge of records, entrusting him with all military affairs. Yan Shao had a premonition that Xie Hui would encounter trouble, so he requested to be appointed as the Prefect of Jingling. Before he could take up the position, Xie Hui was already summoned by the court. Xie Hui wanted to rebel against the court with Yan Shao, but Yan Shao chose to poison himself.

Master Yan grew up poor and lonely, but he was self-taught, read extensively, and even had some knowledge of music. Later, when Liu Daochan was appointed as the provincial governor of Yongzhou, he valued Yan's talents and appointed him as a deputy military advisor. His younger brother, Yan Shizhong, married the daughter of Zang Zhi. When Zang Zhi served as the provincial governor of Xuzhou, he appointed Yan as his chief clerk. Later, Prince Hengyang Liu Yiji succeeded Zang Zhi as the provincial governor of Xuzhou, and Zang Zhi recommended Yan to him. Liu Yiji immediately appointed Yan as the military advisor for the western expedition. After that, Marquis Xing'an Liu Yibin succeeded Liu Yiji, and then Emperor Wu succeeded Liu Yibin, and Yan continued to serve as a deputy military advisor for the state and the northern campaigns.

At that time, Wang Jingwen served as a consultant, greatly appreciated Yan Shibei's cleverness and ability to handle matters, and recommended him to the Emperor. Yan Shibei took the opportunity to request the Emperor to grant him the title of Chief Scribe, so the Emperor appointed him as the Chief Scribe of Xuzhou. He was very good at flattery and sycophancy, so he was held in high regard by his superiors. When he left Xuzhou, he was still sent off as the Chief Scribe. When the Emperor was stationed at Xunyang, he petitioned the Emperor to appoint Yan Shibei as the Chief Scribe of the Southern Central Command. However, the Emperor refused and said to his close officials, "How can Yan Shibei be the Chief Scribe of the Southern Central Command?" The Emperor then requested him to be the Chief Assistant of Changliu, but the Emperor still said, "The court cannot give him this position; you'll have to figure it out." So the Emperor had to let him serve as a military advisor, in charge of legal and prison affairs. After suppressing the rebels, he was promoted to Chief Scribe.

After Emperor Yuan ascended the throne, my protagonist was first appointed as a Yellow Gate Attendant, following Wang Dan, and became the Grand Historian of the Cavalry and the Governor of Nanjun. Later, he was promoted to Grand General of the Cavalry, the Grand Historian of Nan Puyang, and also served as the Deputy Director of the Imperial Censorate; his official position was rising rapidly!

However, Zang Zhi rebelled, and he was sent to serve as General Ningyuan and Governor of Dongyang, leading troops to form a staff responsible for eastern front defenses. After the rebellion was quelled, he returned to the court, became a Yellow Gate Attendant again, and also served as the Colonel of Infantry. Not long after, he was promoted to Front General, then transferred to Deputy Director of the Imperial Censorate, and finally appointed as an Imperial Attendant. His rapid promotions were the envy of many!

In order to commend those who pacified the rebellion, the Emperor issued a decree in the first year of the Ming Dynasty; the original text is as follows:

"In the past, during times of national crisis, many hesitated and were afraid. However, Pang Xiuzhi was able to uphold righteousness and be the first to express loyalty, allowing us to uncover the enemy's plot in advance, prepare our military early, and quickly suppress the rebellion. He made a tremendous contribution! We must not forget his loyalty. Also, Yan Shibai, Yuan Minsun, Wang Qianzhi, and Zhang Yan, who participated in the rebellion suppression from the start, offering strategic advice and facing considerable risks, deserve special rewards. Therefore, I hereby appoint Pang Xiuzhi as the Earl of Le'an County with a fief of six hundred households each; Yan Shibai as the Viscount of Pingdu County, Yuan Minsun as the Viscount of Xingping County, Wang Qianzhi as the Viscount of Shiyang County, and Zhang Yan as the Viscount of Guangjin County, each with a fief of five hundred households.

My mentor, Yan Shibai, was promoted to General of the Right Guard, but later resigned to observe mourning for his mother. Two years later, he was appointed as the Chief Military Officer overseeing Dong'an County and Dongguan County in the Qing and Ji provinces, as well as the military officer of Jibei County in Yanzhou, holding the title of Assistant General while also serving as the Governor of Qing and Ji provinces."

In the same year, the Northern Wei Dynasty's Tuoba Jun sent a man named Shi Ben, with the title of Acting Cavalry Commandant, General of the West, and also granted him the title of "Duke of Tianshui," to lead troops to attack Qingkou. The defending general of Qingkou, Fu Qian'ai, who held the title of General Zhu Qi, decisively defeated the enemy.

The emperor sent Huben Zhu Pang Mengqiu and Jishe General Yin Xiaozu to support, instructing them to follow the command of my uncle. My uncle then sent Deputy Commander Gou Sida to fight alongside Pang Mengqiu. When they reached Shagou, they encountered the enemy's Kuhuan Gong and Wujun Gong, who had many cavalry and infantry, with tens of thousands of troops ready for battle. Pang Mengqiu and his men fought desperately all day, with Pang Mengqiu personally killing Wujun Gong, which led to the enemy's retreat. Yin Xiaozu also killed Kuhuan Gong, and thousands of enemies drowned in the river.

The enemy subsequently dispatched Henan Gong, Heishui Gong, Jizhou Gong, and Zhang Huaizhi, the Governor of Qingzhou, to camp by the Jishui River. My uncle sent Deputy Commander Jiang Fangxing to support Fu Qian'ai, and together they defeated them, killing Henan Gong Shulan and others. Another enemy leader, "Tamen," brought over ten thousand men to attack Qingkou City. Fu Qian'ai and Jiang Fangxing went out to meet them, killing "Tamen" on the spot, with the rest of the enemy scattering in every direction.

The Duke of Tianshui, Shi Ben, returned with another twenty thousand troops to assault the city once more. Fu Qian'ai and his men went out to meet them, once again defeating the enemy and pursuing them all the way to Chilongmen, resulting in the deaths of many enemy soldiers.

The emperor is extremely pleased and issued a decree praising: "The enemy is like a pack of rabid dogs, attempting to invade our borders. Our General of the Auxiliary State, Governor of Qing and Ji provinces, Shi Bo, commanded effectively and adapted swiftly, and the valiant soldiers defending the city fought valiantly, winning four battles within a month. The various troops cooperated with each other, fought bravely, repeatedly killed enemy generals, and annihilated a large number of enemies. I am very pleased with this! Special envoys were dispatched to commend them, and the Auxiliary State Government was instructed to carefully examine their merits and reward them accordingly."

Gou Sida and Pang Mengqiu chased the enemy all the way to Duliang, only to discover that the enemy was overwhelming, surrounding them on all sides. The Deputy South Army Tong Taiyi joined Gou Sida and others, riding into the enemy camp and sending the enemy scattering. Pang Mengqiu and the others arrived later, and the enemy fled in disarray, with many plunging into the river and drowning. After a while, the enemy regrouped with a significant force and attacked again, but Pang Mengqiu and his men defeated them once more.

The emperor then sent the Deputy Minister of Works Bu Tiansheng to support Shi Bo. Zhang Huaizhi had taken control of Migou City, so Shi Bo sent Bu Tiansheng and his troops to attack. Zhang Huaizhi emerged from the city to engage in battle, but Bu Tiansheng, accompanied by the main generals Liu Huaizhen, the White-Clothed Guest Zhu Shiyi, and the Palace General Meng Jizu, attacked Zhang Huaizhi. Zhang Huaizhi was defeated and fled back to the city, narrowly avoiding death. Meng Jizu lost his life in the battle and was posthumously promoted to the position of county governor. Next, the Longxi King stationed his troops in Shencheng, with their backs to the Ji River and facing the Yellow River, flanked by treacherous terrain on three sides. Bu Tiansheng led his troops to attack, and Zhu Shiyi and his armored men were the first to storm the city walls. The enemy jumped into the river to escape, with countless drowning in the river, and Shencheng was captured that very day.

The enemy launched another attack on Yue'an City, and General Jianwei, the governor of Pingyuan Yue'an, and Bu Tiansheng, the military commander of Wudu, fought together to defeat the enemy. The enemy fled, and we pursued them all the way to Qingkou. The enemy surrounded Fu Qian'ai, who mounted a defense right there. When the emperor arrived, the enemy broke the siege and fled. Shi Bo was promoted to General of Conquering Barbarians.

In the third year, the Prince of Jingling rebelled, and Shi Bo sent his chief of staff, Ji Xuanjing, with five thousand men to suppress the rebellion. This was a crucial moment!

In the fourth year, he was summoned by the court to serve as an imperial attendant and also held the position of General of the Right Army. The emperor personally took him to Longmi for an inspection tour. At that time, he held a status unmatched by any other court official. Later, he was promoted to Minister of Personnel, while still retaining the position of General of the Right Army. The emperor was wary of letting all power fall into the hands of others, so he personally inquired about various matters. The officials in charge of selecting candidates merely dealt with paperwork, while Shi Bo could make decisions independently, and the emperor almost always agreed with his suggestions. Later, he was promoted to attendant and also held the position of General of the Right Guard. In the seventh year, he was promoted to Minister of the Right as well. At that time, the court created two Minister of Personnel positions, and Xie Zhuang from Chen County and Wang Tansheng from Langye were both appointed to these positions.

Shi Bo's son wanted to place Zhang Qi, who came from a humble background, in the position of Gongche Ling. The Emperor believed Zhang Qi's qualifications and rank were insufficient, so he appointed him as the Market Purchase Officer too, and then appointed Cai Daohui to take over as Gongche Ling. As a result, several officials under Shi Bo—Pan Daoqi, Chu Daohui, Yan Yizhi, Yuan Congfu, Ren Danzhi, Shi Dao'er, Huang Nan, and Zhou Gongxuan—deliberately defied the Emperor's orders, allowing Zhang Qi to assume the position of Gongche Ling first, completely ignoring the order for him to also serve as Market Purchase Officer. As a result of this incident, the Emperor held Shi Bo accountable. Because of his son's meddling in personnel matters, Xie Zhuang and Tan Sheng were removed from their positions, Pan Daoqi and Chu Daohui were executed, and Yan Yizhi along with six others received a hundred lashes. Later, Shi Bo was appointed as a Consultant to the Crown Prince, and despite having been punished previously, the Emperor continued to rely on him as before.

Before Emperor Shizu passed away, he left a testament appointing his Shibo as the assistant to the young emperor, entrusting him with all matters of the Ministry of Personnel. After the abdication of the emperor, he was reappointed to his original position and also took on the role of Weiwei. As he held power for a long time, people from all walks of life flocked to him. Those who visited his mansion experienced rapid promotions, often exceeding their rightful ranks. He accepted many bribes and amassed considerable wealth, employing the finest singers, dancers, and musicians, and owning the most luxurious garden estate of the time. His lavish lifestyle drew envy from many. Later, he was promoted to Shangshu Pushe and concurrently appointed as Dan Yang Yin. When the abdicated emperor wanted to take control, he issued a decree transferring him to the position of Left Pushe, also appointing him as Sanqi Changshi, and appointing the Minister of Personnel, Wang Jingwen, as Right Pushe. His position as Dan Yang Yin was revoked, and he was assigned other tasks. It was then that he began to feel fearful. Shortly after, he was executed alongside Grand Preceptor Jiangxi Wang Yigong and Liu Yuanjing, at the age of forty-seven. His six sons were also killed. My younger brother, Shizhong, served as a Zhongshu Lang and Governor of Jinling. My uncle held the position of Chief Clerk in the Ministry of Works and also served as Governor of Nankang. After Emperor Taizong of Tang ascended the throne, he issued a decree saying, "The former Sanqi Changshi, Pushe, Dan Yang Yin, and Pingdu County's son, Shibo, who once held esteemed positions and honors during the country’s tumultuous times, tragically perished under the tyranny of the era, and his descendants were also cut off, which is truly sympathetic and regrettable. However, due to his avarice, his awarded titles should be downgraded. He may be posthumously honored as a marquis to appease his spirit. His posthumous title was 'Huangzi'." My nephew, Shigan, inherited the title. Later, following the abdication of the Qi Dynasty, the national title was abolished.

Shen Qingzhi, styled Hongxian, was from Wukang in Wuxing. His older brother Shen Changzhi had served as a military officer under Zhao Lunzhi, who was the Commandant for Conquering the Barbarians, and as the Prefect of Nanyang Commandery. He achieved military achievements in the campaign against the barbarians and was officially appointed as the Prefect.

Shen Qingzhi had ambition and capability from a young age. During the rebellion led by Sun En, when Sun En's forces attacked Wukang, Shen Qingzhi, still a minor, joined his fellow villagers in resisting, becoming known for his bravery. After the chaos subsided, with his hometown in disarray, Shen Qingzhi personally worked the land, working hard to make a living. After years of relative obscurity, at the age of thirty, he quietly visited his brother in Xiangyang. Zhao Lunzhi, the superior of his brother, was impressed by Shen Qingzhi. At that time, Zhao Lunzhi's son, Zhao Bofu, was the Prefect of Jingling, so Zhao Lunzhi had Zhao Bofu recruit Shen Qingzhi as an officer. Barbarians in Jingling frequently harassed the region, but Shen Qingzhi devised strategies to defeat them every time, earning Zhao Bofu a reputation as a skilled commander. Later, when Zhao Bofu was transferred from Jingling Commandery to lead a campaign against the barbarians of Xiling, he did not take Shen Qingzhi along and returned without any military achievements.

In the second year of the Yongchu era, Shen Qingzhi was promoted to the position of Palace Gentleman-General and then joined Liu Yu (Bofu) on a northern campaign, participating in military operations under the command of Yan Zhi. When Liu Yu fell ill and returned, Shen Qingzhi continued to follow Tan Daoji. Tan Daoji recommended Shen Qingzhi to see Emperor Wu of Song, praising his loyalty, caution, and military knowledge. As a result, Emperor Wu of Song appointed him in charge of the defense of the East Gate, gradually giving him closer access to the palace. Later, Shen Qingzhi was assigned to garrison the new city of Qiantang, and upon his return, he served as the Prefect of Huaili.

General Liu Zhan knew Shen Qingzhi and wanted to win him over, saying, "You have been in the court for so many years; you should be promoted." Shen Qingzhi solemnly replied, "I have been in the court for ten years, and by rights, I should have been promoted. There's no need to trouble you about it." Soon after, he was promoted to General. On the night when Liu Zhan was arrested, Emperor Song Wudi opened the palace gates in the dead of night to summon Shen Qingzhi. Shen Qingzhi, dressed in military attire, rushed in without having time to change. Emperor Song Wudi was taken aback and asked, "Why are you dressed in such a hurry?" Shen Qingzhi replied, "I didn't have time to get properly dressed." Afterwards, Shen Qingzhi was tasked with arresting and executing Liu Bin, the Prefect of Wu Commandery. Later, he was promoted to Military Advisor for Prince Liu Jun of Shixing and also served as Attendant Cavalry Officer.

In the nineteenth year of Yuanjia, Liu Daochan, the governor of Yongzhou, passed away, and various barbarian tribes across different regions revolted. Zhu Xiuzhi, the Deputy Marshal of the West, failed in his campaign against the barbarian tribes, so the court appointed Shen Qingzhi as the General of Might to lead troops to support Zhu Xiuzhi. Zhu Xiuzhi was imprisoned for breaching military discipline, so Shen Qingzhi took it upon himself to continue the campaign against the barbarian tribes, defeating the tribes in the Yuanmian region and capturing over 7,000 enemy combatants. He then marched to Huyang and captured over 10,000 enemy combatants. He was later promoted to Military Advisor to Prince Guangling, Liu Dan, while also serving as Military Advisor to Emperor Wen of the Song Dynasty, Liu Yilong (Shizu). Emperor Wen led his army to the west as the Governor of Yongzhou. At that time, the barbarian raiders were rampant, and both land and water transportation were hindered, trapping Emperor Wen's army on a levee and halting their advance. Consequently, Emperor Wen split his forces and dispatched Shen Qingzhi to confront the bandits, defeating them and capturing 20,000 surrendering foes. After Emperor Wen arrived at Zhendi, the barbarian tribes along the postal route revolted again, killing Shen Shi. Shen Qingzhi launched another attack against them. Wang Xuanmo commanded the army from Jingzhou, and Wang Fanghui commanded the forces from Taiwan, and they joined forces with Shen Qingzhi to subdue the mountainous regions, capturing over 70,000 enemy combatants. The Yanshan barbarian tribe was the strongest, and Lu Zongzhi had attempted to conquer them multiple times without success. Shen Qingzhi finally pacified them, capturing over 30,000 enemy combatants. After quelling the rebellion, Shen Qingzhi returned to the capital to once again serve as Military Advisor to Prince Guangling, Liu Dan, and was promoted to General of Might, and concurrently appointed as Prefect of Nanjiyin.

The barbarians of Yongzhou are making trouble again. General Qingzhi, along with the governor and Prince Wang Dan, marched into the Mian River Basin. After arriving in Xiangyang, General Qingzhi led more than 20,000 troops to attack the barbarians in the mountains north of the Mian River, including military adviser Liu Yuanjing, county governor Zong Que, General Zhenwei Liu Yong, military adviser Lu Shangqi, military adviser Gu Bin, Ma Wengong, military adviser Xiao Jingsi, former Qingzhou deputy Cui Muli, military adviser Liu Yongzhi, General Wang Jingshi, and others. Zong Que marched to Taihong Mountain from Xin'an, Liu Yuanjing took the Wushui Ridge from Junshui, Ma Wengong attacked Chixi Wu from Caiyangkou, Wang Jingshi marched to Chiqi Ban from the foot of Yanshan, and Cui Muli, Lu Shangqi, and other eight-way armies attacked simultaneously. General Qingzhi himself attacked Wuqu, quickly captured Wu, and used it as the command center for the various armies.

In the previous few battles against the barbarians, the army camped at the mountain's base to force the barbarians into battle. However, the barbarians defended the mountains, taking advantage of the terrain, showering us with arrows and stones, resulting in repeated defeats with minimal impact. General Qingzhi then gathered the troops at the base of Ruqiu Mountain and said, "If we attack along the mountain road, our soldiers and horses will surely suffer heavy losses. The barbarians had a great harvest last year, with mountains of grain stored up. They have not suffered from hunger and poverty yet, so it will be difficult to eliminate them for a while. Now I propose that each of you lead your troops to set up camp directly on the mountain and catch them by surprise. The barbarians will surely be scared, and we can win without a fight while they are!"

So the various armies started chopping down trees together to clear the way, no longer engaging in direct combat with the tribes. They beat drums and gongs loudly while charging up the mountain, heading straight for the center of the barbarian territory, seizing strategic positions. The tribes were thrown into chaos, and General Qing took advantage of their fear to surround them, which made the barbarian soldiers flee in all directions. From winter to spring, the army sustained themselves with the local resources, consuming the tribes' food.

After some time, the leader of the tribes in Nanxin County, Tian Yansheng, rebelled with his ten tribes and over six thousand followers. They attacked and surrounded the county seat. Qing then sent Yuan Jing with five thousand men to support. Before the army arrived, the county seat was breached, the warehouses and government offices were burned down, and the common folk were captured. Tian Yansheng and his followers occupied Baiyang Mountain. Yuan Jing chased them to the foot of the mountain, where the troops gathered to surround the mountain. Zong Que led his vanguard troops to charge first, and the entire army launched a fierce attack, scoring a major victory that sent the tribes in the mountains into a panic, who begged for their lives. Qing was plagued by headaches and liked to wear a fox fur hat, which the tribes despised, calling him "Cangtou Gong." Every time they saw Qing's army, they would tremble and say, "Cangtou Gong is here again!"

Qing led the army out of Ruqiu Mountain to inspect the city defenses and claimed another significant victory, beheading three thousand enemies, capturing over twenty-eight thousand tribespeople, with another twenty-five thousand laying down their arms. They also seized over seven hundred cattle and horses and more than ninety thousand bushels of grain. Following Wang Dan, they constructed two towns in Baichu to accommodate the surrendered and captured tribespeople.

Qing then led his troops to campaign against the Qiang and Yi tribes in the Xingzhu Mountain region. They were located in rugged terrain and had constructed formidable fortifications complete with gates and watchtowers. The mountains were thick with trees and boulders, which they piled up as defensive works. They established various departments, raised flags, appointed generals, and had groups of armored cavalry. Qing set up camps in the mountains, connecting them with gates. He also instructed his soldiers to dig ponds within the camps to avoid venturing outside for water and to prevent the tribes from setting fires. One night, a strong wind blew, and the tribes descended from the mountains with torches to set fire to the camps. The soldiers swiftly doused the flames with water from the ponds while firing arrows at the tribes, forcing them to scatter. Qing ordered the army to cut through the mountains to attack the tribes, but the terrain was difficult and it was the rainy season. Six forts were established—Donggang, Shushan, Yimin, Xichai, Huangjiao, and Shangjiang—before pulling back the troops. The tribes were besieged for a long time, enduring hunger and deprivation, and eventually surrendered. The captured tribespeople were resettled in the capital as new inhabitants.

In the year 454 AD, Xie Qingzhi was promoted to Prince's Infantry Commander. In the same year, the emperor was planning a northern campaign, and Xie Qingzhi strongly advised against it, saying, "Our infantry has never been able to defeat the enemy's cavalry! Please think twice before acting; just look at what happened with Tan Daoji and Wang Xuanmo before. Tan Daoji failed twice in his northern campaigns, and Wang Xuanmo also returned from battle defeated. The generals under your command now are at best comparable to them in strength, and the size of the army is not much different from before. I fear this northern campaign will end in disgrace again, and victory will be hard to come by." However, the emperor said, "Those fools are occupying Henan. If we take back Henan, even if we suffer some losses, we can find other solutions. Furthermore, Tan Daoji failed because he allowed the enemy to grow stronger, and Wang Xuanmo failed because he acted recklessly halfway. The reason why the enemy is arrogant is mainly that they have cavalry. It is now summer; the Yellow River is rising, and the river is unobstructed. We can sail north; the garrison at Qiao and Huatai will definitely flee, and the garrison at Huatai will be easy to attack. If we capture these two locations and win over the people, Hulao Pass and Luoyang will inevitably fall. By winter, the enemy's city garrisons won't be able to react, and their cavalry won't be able to cross the river, and they will be like turtles in a jar!" Xie Qingzhi still insisted on his opinion. At that time, the Intendant of Danyang, Xu Zhanzhi, and the Minister of Personnel, Jiang Zhan, were also present. The emperor asked Xu Zhanzhi and others to refute Xie Qingzhi. Xie Qingzhi said, "Running a country is like running a household; you consult farmers about farming and weavers about weaving. Your Majesty wants to go to war now, but only consults with us scholars; how can we expect to win this war?" The emperor laughed heartily upon hearing this.

The Northern Expedition has begun. Xie Qingzhi, as the deputy of Wang Xuanmo, launched an attack on Qiao Ao together, and the enemy defenders in the city fled at the first sight of them. Later, Wang Xuanmo went to besiege Huatai, while Xie Qingzhi and Xiao Bin remained at Qiao Ao, where Xie was appointed as Xiao Bin's deputy marshal. Wang Xuanmo besieged Huatai for a long time but was unable to take it. The enemy commander, Tuoba Tao, marched a large army southward, so Xiao Bin sent Xie Qingzhi to lead five thousand troops to rescue Wang Xuanmo. Xie Qingzhi said, "Wang Xuanmo's army is worn out, and the enemy is about to arrive. Each army must have at least ten thousand troops to attack; having too few troops would be pointless!" Xiao Bin insisted on sending him anyway, which resulted in Wang Xuanmo's retreat. Xiao Bin wanted to execute Wang Xuanmo, but Xie Qingzhi strongly advised against it. Later, the emperor asked Xie Qingzhi, "Why did you advise Xiao Bin not to kill Wang Xuanmo?" Xie Qingzhi replied, "Defeated generals who flee are all terrified of punishment. They will either surrender or run away, causing the army to scatter. Moreover, the enemy's large army has arrived; this is no time to lose our heads. It is better to attack." Xiao Bin, who had previously suffered defeat on the battlefield, wanted to hold his ground in Qiao Ao. Qingzhi said to him, "You've pushed deep into enemy territory to achieve your objectives, but now you've faced such a defeat. How can you possibly stay here long-term? Qingzhou and Jizhou are both very weak now, yet you are holding on to this remote small city. If the enemy comes from the east, we could lose everything east of Qingzhou. Qiao Ao is remote and isolated, and it risks repeating Zhu Xiu's mistakes at Huatai."

The imperial envoy happened to arrive and did not allow Xiao Bin to retreat. Other generals also believed they should stay. Xiao Bin asked Qing Zhi what to do. Qing Zhi said, "Decisions about military actions on the front line should be made by the generals themselves. Imperial orders come from afar, and the situation has already changed. You have strategists like Fan Zeng at your disposal, yet you don't utilize them. What good is mere talk?" Xiao Bin and the others present chuckled and said, "Shen Gong (referring to Qing Zhi), you're starting to lecture again." Qing Zhi exclaimed, "Although you have read many ancient and modern books, learning from personal experience like me is more effective!" Xuan Mo requested to remain at Qiao Ao after suffering a defeat, so Xiao Bin went back to Li Cheng, while Shen Tan and Yuan Huzhi held their ground at Qing Kou. Qing Zhi rode a fast horse back to the court. Before he could arrive, he received an imperial edict from the emperor, ordering him to halt his advance and return to rescue Xuan Mo. Consequently, the enemy had already reached Peng Cheng, and Qing Zhi could not advance north. Grand Commandant Wang Yigong of Jiangxia stayed in his residence to lead the troops. Tuoba Tao arrived at Maoshan, and Yigong sent Qing Zhi to lead three thousand men to resist. Qing Zhi felt the enemy was too strong, and if he went, he would likely be captured, so he refused to go. Later, Emperor Taizu said to him, "Your handling along the Yellow River was very appropriate, except for not abandoning Qiao Ao. You have been by my side for a long time and understand my intentions well. You haven't done anything wrong by disobeying the edict." In the year 227 AD, the envoy Qing Zhi moved several thousand displaced families from Peng Cheng to Guabu. General Cheng Tianzuo of the Northern Expedition also moved refugees from Jiangxi to Nanzhou, using the same method.

In the year 229 AD, the emperor planned another northern campaign. Qing Zhi strongly counseled against it, but the emperor did not listen because of their disagreements, so Qing Zhi did not participate in the campaign. At that time, the fugitive Sima Heishi and the rebel official Xiahou Fangjin deceived and incited the barbarians in the Xiyang Wushui area, bringing disaster from the Huai and Ru Rivers to the Yangtze and Han River basins. In October, the emperor dispatched Qing Zhi to lead the various generals against them and ordered troops from Yuzhou, Jingzhou, and Yongzhou to follow Qing Zhi's command.

In January of the year 230 AD, Emperor Shizu arrived at Wuzhou and personally led the generals. Qing Zhi departed from Bashui to Wuzhou to consult Emperor Shizu on military strategy. Coincidentally, Emperor Shizu's adviser Dong Yuansi returned from the capital and reported the situation regarding the traitorous murderers of the emperor. Emperor Shizu then sent Qing Zhi back to rally the troops. Qing Zhi told his confidants, "We needn't concern ourselves with Xiao Bin's wife and her associates. I know all the other generals and they are easy to deal with. There are only about thirty conspirators in the East Palace; the others were coerced and won’t resist. Now we are fighting for justice against the rebels, and we will surely prevail." After the army assembled, the emperor appointed Qing Zhi as the General for Conquering the Barbarians, the Interior Minister of Wuchang, and also made him the leader of the palace guards. Emperor Shizu returned to Xunyang, where Qing Zhi and others believed there was no ruler and urged Emperor Shizu to ascend to the throne, but he did not agree.

The rebel Shao sent Qing Zhi's student Qian Wuji to persuade Qing Zhi to lay down his weapons, but Qing Zhi instead captured Qian Wuji and handed him over to Emperor Shizu. After Emperor Shizu ascended the throne, he appointed Shen Qing Zhi as the General of the Army and also conferred upon him the title of Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary. Not long after, he appointed Qing Zhi as the Commissioner-in-Chief, Commander of the Southern Yanzhou, Yu, Xu, and Yanzhou armies, General Who Guards the Army, Governor of Nanyanzhou, while retaining his title of Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, stationing him in Yuyi.

The emperor fought battles to suppress rebellion, thinking of the achievements of the generals. He issued a decree saying, "I have been abandoned by heaven, and I have experienced much hardship and shed tears on my long journey back. I am determined to completely suppress the rebellion, lead the army to attack the rebels, and the righteous army is as unstoppable as a raging torrent. All the generals have been loyal and fulfilled their duties, completing the mission smoothly as if returning home. Not long after, the country was restored to peace. As an insignificant person, I have come to inherit the throne. I have always remembered your achievements and want to reward you generously. The newly appointed officials: Shen Qingzhi, Liu Yuanjing, Zong Que, Xu Yibao, Shen Faxi, and Gu Bin, all of you have contributed with your strategies, tactics, and military command. Some of you have given advice, some have fought and suppressed the rebellion in one battle, some have commanded elite troops and achieved victory with precision. Your loyalty to the nation, putting your own safety aside, surpasses that of the heroes of old. Your achievements have benefited the people and moved me deeply. Now, how should I reward your merits? I will grant you land and titles, so your families may thrive for generations to come. Qingzhi is granted the title of Prince of Nanchang County, Yuanjing is granted the title of Prince of Qujiang County, both with land grants of three thousand households. Que is granted the title of Count of Taoyang County, with a land grant of two thousand households. Yibao is granted the title of Count of Yiyang County, with a land grant of one thousand five hundred households. Faxi is granted the title of Count of Pinggu County, and Bin is granted the title of Count of Yangxin County, both with a land grant of one thousand households." The emperor then summoned them in front of the court and appointed them to official positions. He then ordered Shen Qingzhi to return from Xuyi to Guangling to take up garrison duty.

In the first month of the first year of the Xiaojian era, Lu Shuang rebelled, and the emperor dispatched General Wang Xuanmo of the Left Guard to quell the rebellion. Wang Xuanmo's army marched upstream along the Huai River toward Shouyang, commanding several other generals as well. Soon after, news arrived that Jingzhou and Jiangzhou had also rebelled, so the emperor summoned Tan Daoji back to the court. Tan Daoji entered the palace with fifty armored soldiers through the six gates. Lu Shuang first sent his brother Lu Yu to occupy Menglong, and the governor of Liyang, Zhang Youxu, led troops to suppress Lu Yu. However, upon Lu Shuang's arrival, Zhang Youxu's forces scattered and joined Lu Shuang's rebellion. Therefore, the emperor ordered Tan Daoji to cross the Yangtze River to confront Lu Shuang.

Upon hearing of Tan Daoji's arrival, Lu Shuang ordered his troops to gradually retreat while he stayed behind to cover their withdrawal. Tan Daoji and his men engaged Lu Shuang in battle, and Xue Andu directly killed Lu Shuang on the battlefield. The emperor subsequently promoted Tan Daoji to Grand General of the North, placing him in command of the three provinces of Qingzhou, Jizhou, and Youzhou, and gave him an escort. The frontline army defeated the enemy, but Tan Daoji was promoted only one rank because he arrived late. Shortly after, he and Liu Yuanjing were appointed as Palace Attendants, but he turned down the offer. He was later appointed as Duke of Shixing County, with no change in income.

At seventy years old, Tan Daoji firmly requested to retire, a request the emperor respected and granted. The emperor appointed him as Palace Attendant, Left Grandee of the Palace, and Grand Minister, but he firmly declined. He submitted numerous memorials and even knelt before the emperor, saying, "Even Zhang Liang, a famous virtuous man, was allowed to retire by Emperor Gaozu of Han; what use am I that Your Majesty must need me?" He even wept as he spoke. The emperor had no choice but to allow him to retire as a duke, granting him a monthly stipend of ten thousand coins and one hundred bushels of rice, along with fifty guards. In the first year of the Daming era, the emperor reiterated his previous order, but Tan Daoji once again firmly declined.

Three years later, Jingling Wang of Sikong rebelled in Guangling. The emperor appointed Tan Daoji as the envoy with imperial authority, commander of military affairs in the three provinces of Nanyan, Xu, and Yanzhou, grand general of chariots and cavalry, ceremonial officer of the court, and governor of Nanyanzhou, tasking him with leading the army to quell the rebellion. When the army reached Ouyang, Prince Jingling sent gifts to his relative Shen Daomin, who was connected to Tan Daoji, requesting him to deliver a letter and a jade-handled knife to persuade Tan Daoji. Tan Daoji returned Shen Daomin and enumerated Prince Jingling's crimes. When Tan Daoji reached the city gates, Prince Jingling called out to him from the city tower: "Why has Shen Jun come at such an old age?" Tan Daoji replied: "The court believes you have lost your senses, not worthy of young men wasting their energy, so they sent me." The emperor was worried that Prince Jingling would flee to the north, so he tasked Tan Daoji with blocking his escape. Tan Daoji relocated the camp to Baitu, eighteen li from the city walls. That evening, he set up camp at Xinting. Prince Jingling did manage to escape, but he didn't get far before returning to the city. This incident is recorded in the "Biography of Dan."

Qingzhi arrived at the camp on the west side of Luoyang city, intending to set fire to the east gate, but the rain thwarted his plans and he failed. Qingzhi's nephew, Seng Rong, who was the governor of Yanzhou at the time and stationed in Xiaqiu, sent his son Huai Ming with several hundred cavalry to meet Qingzhi and officially take over the position of military governor. Qingzhi blocked the enemy's access routes, constructed siege roads, and erected siege towers and earthen ramps, preparing various siege weapons. Due to the heavy summer rains, they were unable to launch an assault on the city. The emperor sent the chief censor, Yu Huizhi, to reprimand Qingzhi, attempting to provoke a reaction from him, but the emperor did not pursue the matter. Then, the emperor sent a large amount of military provisions to Qingzhi, with over a hundred people bringing them into the city through the north gate. Qingzhi burned everything without a second thought. The leader of the rebel army in the city, Dan, sent letters and seals to Qingzhi, hoping he would assist in sending them out. Qingzhi said, "I am ordered to suppress the rebels; I cannot assist you in sending these out. If you truly want to plead your case to the court, you should open the city gates and send people out; I will escort them." Every time they attacked the city, Qingzhi led the charge at the front. The emperor once warned him, "As a commander, you should exercise sound judgment. Why do you always charge to the front, risking danger from arrows and stones? If something goes wrong, the consequences could be dire." From April to July, they ultimately breached the city and killed the rebel leader, Dan. The emperor promoted Qingzhi to the position of Minister of Works, but he resolutely declined. Finally, emulating the precedent established by Zheng Mao, the Marquis of Miling in the Jin Dynasty, he and Liu Yuanjing went to court together. Qingzhi occupied the Minister of Works seat, while Liu Yuanjing took his place behind him. The court also allocated him fifty officials and several horses.

Four years later, the southern tribes rebelled again, and the court dispatched General Qingzhi to lead the army against the rebellion. After a year of fighting, the rebellion was ultimately suppressed, and tens of thousands of captives were taken. Qingzhi had four very luxurious houses outside of Qingming Gate, and a beautiful, spacious courtyard in Louhu. One night, Qingzhi moved with his descendants to live in the courtyard in Louhu, returning all the houses outside Qingming Gate to the court. He also moved his relatives and friends to Louhu, living in close quarters. He actively promoted agriculture, often pointing to the ground and saying, "This is where my wealth lies!" He enjoyed the generous treatment of the country; his family was already quite affluent, with assets valued in the millions and thousands of servants. He also twice presented large sums of money and food to the court. Since his hometown of Shixing was relatively close to the capital, he sought a promotion to Nanhai County, but the court did not agree. He had dozens of beautiful and capable concubines. Qingzhi led a comfortable and carefree life, filled with joy every day, rarely leaving the house except to attend court meetings. Whenever he went out to enjoy leisure or hunt, he rode on horseback, full of vitality, not resembling an old man at all. The Crown Princess gave Qingzhi the gold-inlaid dagger and chopsticks bequeathed by the late emperor, saying, "You have toiled greatly and deserve to indulge in them. And these wine cups and spoons should be toasted first to you, this great doctor."

One time, the emperor held a banquet and requested all the officials to compose poetry. Qingzhi couldn't read or write, but the emperor insisted that he compose a poem. Qingzhi said, "I can't write; please let me dictate and have Yan Shibai write for me." The emperor then let Yan Shibai write, and Qingzhi dictated a poem: "My humble official position has brought me such good fortune, catching up with the peaceful and prosperous era. I am old and weak, exhausted, only wanting to return to my old home on Nangang. Resigning from my official position, in this prosperous era, what shame could I have compared to Zhang Liang?" The emperor was very pleased, and everyone praised the poem.

After the death of the late emperor, Qing Zhi and Liu Yuanjing, along with others, assisted the new emperor. The will stated that in the event of war or need for military campaigns, Qing Zhi would be in charge. After the new emperor ascended the throne, he granted Qing Zhi several canes and three prestigious carriages. Every time Qing Zhi attended court, he only rode a simple, uncovered carriage, accompanied by only three to five people. When he rode out to inspect the fields, there was only one person to lead his horse. During the busy farming season, he sometimes found no one in the fields, and those who crossed paths with him had no idea he was a high-ranking official. After being granted the three carriages, he said to others, "When I usually inspect the fields, if someone is with me, it’s three of us, and if I’m alone, just the two of us." When the emperor offered him the canes, he firmly refused.

That deposed emperor was simply mad and wicked, not at all what an emperor should be. Many people advised the reigning emperor, Liu Jun, the Xiaowudi of Liu Song, to depose him. They conspired with Liu Yuanjing and informed Liu Jun of the plot. Liu Jun had a tense relationship with Liu Yigong, the Prince of Jiangxia, and upon hearing this, he quickly revealed the conspiracy. As a result, the deposed emperor executed Liu Yigong and the others. Then, Liu Jun elevated a man named Xie Qingzhi, appointing him as an attendant and Grand Commandant, and granting his second son, Xie Wenji, the title of Marquis of Jian'an County, with a thousand households under his command.

Later, King Yiyang, Liu Chang, rebelled. Xie Qingzhi accompanied the emperor across the Yangtze River, taking charge of the army. Xie Qingzhi's youngest son, Xie Wenyao, excelled at horseback riding and archery as a teenager. The emperor liked him very much, so he appointed him the Marquis of Yongyang County, granting him a thousand households of land. The emperor grew increasingly cruel and tyrannical, but Xie Qingzhi persisted in advising him, even as the emperor grew impatient. Later, when the emperor sought to execute He Mai, fearing Xie Qingzhi would oppose him, he ordered all the bridges in Qingxi to be sealed off to prevent his passage. Xie Qingzhi indeed arrived, but turned back when he found the way blocked. The emperor then sent Xie Qingzhi's cousin, Xie Youzhi, with poison to compel him to take his own life, as Xie Qingzhi was eighty years old at the time. Earlier that year, Xie Qingzhi dreamt that someone gifted him two pieces of silk, saying, "This silk is sufficient." Xie Qingzhi remarked to others, "I certainly won't survive this year. Two pieces of silk, eighty feet each, just enough, not a bit more." Following his death, the emperor bestowed numerous honors upon him, posthumously appointing him as a Palace Attendant and Grand Commandant, and providing him with a luxurious carriage and a ceremonial escort, with the posthumous title of Duke Zhongwu. Before Xie Qingzhi could be buried, the emperor was defeated. Later, Liu Ziye, brother of Emperor Xiaowu of Song, ascended the throne and posthumously appointed Xie Qingzhi as a Palace Attendant and Minister of Works, with the posthumous title of Duke Xiang.

Xie Qingzhi's eldest son, Xie Wenshu, served as an Attendant of the Yellow Gate in the Imperial Secretariat and as an Attendant during the Jinghe period. When Xie Qingzhi died, he refused to drink poison, so Xie Youzhi suffocated him with a blanket. Xie Wenshu secretly hid the poison. Some urged Xie Wenshu to flee, but he saw how the Emperor had Prince Liu Yigong of Jiangxia dismembered and feared that if he escaped, the Emperor would treat him the same way out of anger, so he took the poison and ended his life. His brother, Xie Zhaoming, followed suit and took his own life. In the seventh year of the Taishi era, Xie Qingzhi was posthumously titled Duke of Cangwu. In the first year of Yuanjia, his previous title was restored. At that time, Shixing County was renamed Guangxing County, and Xie Zhaoming's son, Xie Tanliang, succeeded him as Duke of Guangxing. Later, during the Qi Dynasty's usurpation, these titles were lost. Xie Qingzhi's younger brother, Xie Shaozhi, served as a military officer under Prince Liu Shao of Luling during the Yuanjia period, where he fell ill and died after campaigning against bandits in Jian'an and Jieyang. Seng Rong, the nephew of Qingzhi and son of Changzhi, became the magistrate of Ancheng County during the Xiaojian period. During the Jinghe period, the court summoned him to serve as an Attendant of the Yellow Gate, but he passed away before assuming the position. His son, Huaiming, returned home to observe mourning when his father died during the Taishi period of Emperor Taizong. After completing his mourning period, he was appointed as General of Jianwei, achieved numerous military successes, and was granted the title of Viscount of Wuxing County with a fief that included four hundred households. He later served as a Yellow Gate Chamberlain and twice as Governor of Nanyanzhou. During the Yuanhui era, his mother died, so he resigned from office to observe mourning at home. When Prince Guigang Xiu Fan rebelled, he was appointed Champion General to command the naval defense of Shitoucheng. When the Vermilion Bird Gate fell, Huaiming abandoned his troops and soon after, he died from overwhelming anxiety.

Qing Zhi's cousin, Fa Xi, whose courtesy name was Xian, was a military strategist. He initially served as a general under Zhao Bofu and later joined Qing in the expedition against the Wushui barbarians. During Emperor Shizu's campaign against the rebels, Fa Xi was appointed as a military officer in Nan Zhonglang, promoted to General of Ning Shuo, and commanded three thousand troops as the vanguard, and arrived at Xinting alongside Liu Yuanjing. Liu Yuanjing stationed at the central camp, Zong Que stationed at the western camp, and Fa Xi stationed at the eastern camp. The eastern camp held a strategic position, and when the enemy launched an attack on Liu Yuanjing, Fa Xi led the troops to target the enemy, inflicting heavy casualties. Fa Xi ordered all the trees outside the camp to be cut down, obstructing the enemy's advance. The enemy moved along the tree line, but Fa Xi created multiple gaps among the trees, selecting soldiers skilled in archery to shoot arrows, resulting in numerous enemy casualties. Once the fighting ceased, Fa Xi was appointed as General of Ning Shuo and Prefect of Shixing, and later went to Guangzhou to confront Xiao Jian. It was said that the imperial army was nearing, but Xiao Jian misled the soldiers by claiming, "The imperial army is made up of bandits." The soldiers believed him. Gu Mai, the former Northern Expedition Officer who had been captured, was imprisoned in the city. He was proficient in astronomy and predicted, "There will be a large army coming to Jingzhou and Jiangzhou." This led the townspeople to remain resolute. Initially, Emperor Shizu dispatched Deng Wan to besiege Xiao Jian, only planning a single line of attack. When Fa Xi arrived, he said, "We should attack from all sides at the same time. If we only defend one direction, when will we be able to capture it?" Deng Wan, fearing he wouldn't receive credit, was reluctant to heed his advice. Fa Xi said, "Let's coordinate our efforts for fifty days." After fifty days of failed attempts, Deng Wan finally followed Fa Xi's advice. By attacking from all eight directions at once, they captured the city in just one day, killed Xiao Jian, and pacified Guangzhou. Fa Xi relinquished the treasury to Deng Wan before returning. Fa Xi was promoted to General of the Valiant Cavalry and Prefect of Xunyang, and also held the position of Marshal for Prince Ziluan of Xin'an. Several dozen officials in the court were relatives of Fa Xi's cousin, Qing Zhi. Wen Xiu, the son of Shao, is documented in a separate biography.

The historian records that Zhang Shizhi believed that if law enforcement is biased, lawsuits across the country will become inconsistent and chaotic. If the court is just, everyone can enjoy fairness, but if law enforcement is in disarray, the common people will be left helpless. Shi Dan, favored by the emperor, replaced the ministers and instilled fear in both the court and the populace. He ingratiated himself with the powerful, used money to forge connections, and bribed officials from central departments to local government offices. He catered to personal requests, even delaying the emperor's edicts. Heaven was enraged, and misfortune struck one after another, yet Shi Dan persisted in his ways while Wang and Xie lost their positions as a result. The gentlemen believe this issue is more than just a simple error in governance and law enforcement! This saying captures that very truth!

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Written by: Realhistories

Category: Book of Song （宋書）

Published: 04 January 2025

Created: 04 January 2025

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Zhu Xiuzhi, courtesy name Gongzu, was a native of Pingshi, Yixing, Jiangsu. His great-grandfather Tao was the General of Pingxi in the Jin Dynasty, his grandfather Xu was the Governor of Yuzhou, and his father Shen was the Governor of Yizhou. Zhu Xiuzhi initially served as the chief clerk of the state, later rising to become Langzhong. Emperor Wen praised him, saying, "Your great-grandfather used to be the Langzhong of Prime Minister Wang Dao, and now you are the Langzhong of Wang Hong. It can be said that you have not disappointed the reputation of your ancestors!" He later joined Dao Yanzhi on a northern expedition. When Dao Yanzhi withdrew his troops from Henan and left Zhu Xiuzhi to guard Huatai, they were surrounded by enemies. Several months later, with provisions running out, the soldiers even resorted to eating rats. Ultimately, Huatai fell, leading to Zhu Xiuzhi's capture.

Initially, Zhu Xiuzhi's mother was deeply concerned upon hearing that he had been besieged for an extended period. One day, her milk suddenly started flowing, and she cried to her family, "I am already so old, how come my milk suddenly started flowing again? This can’t be a good omen! I fear my son is in danger!" Later, news confirmed her fears, as Zhu Xiuzhi was captured on the day the city fell.

Tuoba Tao admired Zhu Xiuzhi's loyalty and appointed him as a court attendant, marrying a royal female relative to him. Zhu Xiuzhi secretly planned to return to the south, leading his wife to suspect him, often crying and questioning his intentions. Zhu Xiuzhi appreciated his wife's loyalty immensely, yet he never confided in her. Later, the Xianbei leader Feng Hong proclaimed himself the King of Yan and established his capital in Huanglong City. Tuoba Tao attacked him, and Zhu Xiuzhi and his fellow townsman Xing Huaiming participated in this war. There was also a man named Xu Zhuo who wanted to lead the people of the south in a rebellion, but his plan was uncovered, resulting in his execution. Zhu Xiuzhi and Xing Huaiming were afraid, so they fled to Feng Hong, but Feng Hong did not treat them well.

They stayed there for a year, and just then the envoy from the Song Dynasty arrived with a decree. Zhu Xiuzhi had a great reputation, and as soon as the envoy saw him, he paid his respects. Feng Hong's country attached great importance to envoys from the Song Dynasty, referring to the Emperor of the Song Dynasty as the "Son of Heaven." Seeing how respectful they were to Zhu Xiuzhi, they started treating him with courtesy. At that time, the Wei Kingdom had been attacking Feng Hong repeatedly. Someone suggested that Feng Hong send Zhu Xiuzhi back to the Song Dynasty for help, so Feng Hong sent him away. Zhu Xiuzhi sailed out to sea, heading for Donglai. Along the way, they encountered a strong wind, the rudder broke, and they had to tie the ship with a long rope to stabilize it. The sailors at sea saw seabirds and knew they were close to shore, and soon they arrived at Donglai.

In the year 432 AD, I arrived in the capital and became a Yellow Gate Attendant. Later, I gradually rose through the ranks and became the Interior Minister of Jiangxia. After the death of the Jingzhou Governor, Prince Yi Xuan of Nanjun, the barbarians started causing trouble. The court sent me to be the Western Expedition Commander, leading troops to suppress the barbarians, but we didn’t succeed. After Emperor Xiaowu ascended the throne, I was appointed as the Barbarian Pacification Inspector, Governor of Yongzhou, and also given the title of Commander. During my tenure, I governed with a light touch, and the people supported me greatly.

Later, the Jingzhou Governor, Prince Yi Xuan, rebelled and sent out proclamations calling for me to join the rebellion. I pretended to go along with him but secretly sent someone to inform the Emperor of my loyalty. The Emperor was pleased and appointed me as the Governor of Jingzhou and also gave me the title of Commander. When Yi Xuan found out I did not rebel with him, he sent Lu Xiu to become the Governor of Yongzhou and attack Xiangyang. I ordered a blockade of the Ma'an Mountain road, which stopped Lu Xiu from advancing, forcing him to retreat. When Yi Xuan was defeated at Liangshan and fled on a small boat, I led the army to pacify the remaining rebels. At that time, Zhu Chaomin captured Yi Xuan, and when I got there, I had him executed. As a reward for this achievement, I was made the Marquis of Nanchang County.

I lead a very honest life; I never accept gifts from others. Sometimes when someone gives me a gift, I accept it but immediately take it to gamble with my subordinates, never keeping a thing for myself, always focused on appeasing the barbarians. Later, the court transferred me to the central government as the Left Minister of Civil Affairs and promoted me to General of the Army. When I left Yongzhou, I left with nothing, only calculating the expenses for oil, cattle, horses, and fodder from the state capital, which I paid for with my own 160,000 coins. However, I tend to be frugal and not easily swayed by sentiment. My sister in my hometown often went hungry and cold, but I hardly helped her at all. Once when I went to see her, she purposely prepared some plain food to get under my skin; I said, "This is a rare good meal for a poor family!" and I ended up eating and leaving. Previously, when Yud Yan Da was the governor of Yizhou, he brought my sister to his post and even spent half of his salary on her, which earned him praise from the folks in the west.

Later, I accidentally fell off a carriage and broke my leg. I resigned from the position of Minister of Civil Affairs and was appointed as the Grand Preceptor of Chongxian, and was also given the title of Grand Master of Golden Purple Radiance. I was unable to walk, so the court sent people specifically to attend to me. After I passed away, I was posthumously appointed as a Palace Attendant, with my title of Special Advancement remaining unchanged, and was posthumously honored with the title of Marquis Zhen.

Zong Que, whose courtesy name was Yuangan, hailed from Nanyang. His uncle Zong Bing was a noble man who chose not to take an official position. When Zong Que was young, Zong Bing asked him what his aspirations were, and Zong Que said, "I hope to ride the long wind and break through the waves for thousands of miles!" Zong Bing joked, "If you don't make it big, you'll drag our family down!" Zong Que's older brother Zong Bi got married, and on their wedding night, they were robbed at home. At the time, Zong Que was only fourteen years old but bravely confronted the robbers, scaring them off before they could get inside.

At that time, the world was peaceful, and most scholars took literature as their profession. Zong Bing had always been of noble character, and his sons and nephews also loved to study. However, Zong Que had a bold personality and liked martial arts, so the villagers did not hold him in high regard. Later, Liu Yigong, the King of Jiangxia, became the General of the Northern Expedition and the Governor of South Yanzhou. Zong Que accompanied him to defend Guangling. Zong Que's cousin, Zong Qi, served as the chief clerk of the Northern Expedition, and one day, when Zong Qi was on duty, an official named Niu Tai was found to be having an affair with Zong Qi's concubine. Zong Que killed Niu Tai on the spot. Although Zong Qi was angry, he admired Zong Que's courage and did not investigate further. In the twenty-second year of the Yuanjia era, the court launched a campaign against Linyi, and Zong Que volunteered to fight. Liu Yigong believed that Zong Que was courageous and appointed him as the General of Zhenwu, serving as the deputy of the Anxi military officer Xiao Jingxian, and besieged Qusucity with the Governor of Jiaozhou, Tan Hezhi. Linyi sent General Fan Pisha Da to rescue Qusucity. Tan Hezhi dispatched a detachment to resist, but they were overwhelmed by the Linyi forces. Tan Hezhi then sent Zong Que, who skillfully divided his forces into several groups and advanced stealthily, defeating the Linyi army, capturing Qusucity, and then attacking Xiangpu. The King of Linyi, Fan Yangmai, mobilized all his resources to mount a defense, deploying armored elephants in a formation that the soldiers could not withstand. Zong Que remarked, "I've heard that the majesty of a lion can intimidate all beasts." So he had lion-shaped figures made to deal with the elephants, which indeed frightened them off. The Linyi army scattered, and Zong Que eventually captured Linyi. Despite the countless treasures of Linyi, Zong Que took none, dressing in a plain and simple manner. Emperor Wen of the Song Dynasty held him in high regard for this.

Zong Que later became the prefect of Suijun. At that time, the barbarians of Yongzhou frequently raided, and General Jianwei Shen Qingzhi led Zong Que, Liu Yuanjing, and other generals to engage them in separate battles, resulting in the barbarians suffering a crushing defeat. Later, the leader of the barbarians in Nanxin County, Tian Yansheng, rebelled with his men, burned the county city, and occupied Baiyang Mountain. Liu Yuanjing went to attack but was unsuccessful. Zong Que took the lead and charged up, with other soldiers following suit, which finally made the barbarians surrender in fear.

Twenty years later, Emperor Xiaowu launched a campaign against the ringleader and appointed Zong Que as a military advisor in Nanzhong, overseeing the central army. After Emperor Xiaowu ascended the throne, he bestowed upon Zong Que the title of Marquis of Taoyang, with accomplishments second only to those of Liu Yuanjing. During the Xiaojian period, Zong Que was promoted to the post of Governor of Yuzhou, also overseeing military affairs in five provinces. Earlier, Zong Que's fellow villager, Yu Ye, was quite wealthy, and the meals he served to guests were quite lavish; but when Zong Que visited his house, Yu Ye only served plain tea and rice, explaining to his guests, "General Zong is a military man, used to eating rough food." Zong Que had his fill and then left. Later on, Yu Ye became Zong Que's chief of staff and took charge of Liangjun. Zong Que treated him very well and completely forgot about that meal incident.

In the third year of the Ming Dynasty under Emperor Taizong, Prince Liu Dan of Jingling staged a rebellion in Guangling. Zong Que submitted a memorial requesting to lead the campaign against the rebellion. He rode a fast horse day and night to rush to the capital, to personally receive the emperor's command. The emperor even stopped his carriage to encourage him, and Zong Que was so overjoyed that he jumped up and down repeatedly, with everyone watching, including a pleased emperor. When he set off, he was accompanied by General Shen Qingzhi. At the beginning, Liu Dan deceived his subordinates by saying, "Zong Que will come to help us." When Zong Que arrived, he rode around the city on horseback shouting, "I am Zong Que and I have arrived!" After the rebellion was quelled, Zong Que returned to the capital and continued to serve as the Left Guard General. Five years later, while hunting, he fell off his horse and broke his leg, unable to fulfill his court duties, so he was then appointed as the Grand Master of Splendor and was also granted the title of Grand Master of Splendor with the title of Golden Purple. Zong Que had a very good bull that he could offer to the emperor, but the government wanted to buy it and he refused to sell, which led to his dismissal from office. The following year, he was reinstated to his official position. After Emperor Fei ascended the throne, Zong Que was appointed as Colonel of Ningman, Inspector of Yongzhou, and also received the title of Commander. Later, Zong Que passed away and was posthumously honored as the General Who Conquers the West, with the posthumous title of Marquis of Su. In the second year of the Taishi era, the court issued a decree for Zong Que to be commemorated in the temple of Emperor Xiaowu. After his son Zong Luoyun passed away, his grandson, Zong Yuanbao, succeeded him in the title.

Wang Xuanmo, styled Yande, was from Qi County in Taiyuan. Six generations ago, his ancestor Wang Hong served as the Administrator of Hedong and was titled the Marquis of Mianzhu. Due to being implicated in his uncle's troubles, Minister Wang Yun, he resigned and moved to live in the newly established Xinxing Commandery in the north. He later served as the Administrator of Xinxing Commandery and Yanmen Commandery, as recorded by himself. His grandfather, Wang Lao, served as the Administrator of Shanggu under the Murong clan's regime and was later captured by Murong De, living in Qingzhou. His father, Wang Xiu, passed away at a young age.

Wang Xuanmo was extraordinary since he was young. His uncle, Wang Rui, was very good at judging people and often said with a smile, "This child has a high spirit, very much like the demeanor of Grand Commandant Wang Yanyun!" Later, when Emperor Wu went to Xuzhou, he summoned Wang Xuanmo to serve as a historian and record keeper. After speaking with him, the emperor found him to be quite exceptional. During the reign of the Young Emperor, Xie Hui, as the Inspector of Jingzhou, invited Wang Xuanmo to serve as an army officer in the south and as the Prefect of Wuchang. After Xie Hui was defeated in battle, Wang Xuanmo was exonerated because he did not participate in his military decisions. During the Yuanjia period, Wang Xuanmo was appointed as the General of the Army of Prince Changsha Liu Yixin, concurrently serving as the Prefect of Ruyin. At that time, the northern invaders captured Huatai and took Zhu Xiuzhi back with them. Wang Xuanmo wrote to the emperor, saying, "We have just begun to expand our territory, but we have lost territory once more. This is not only a matter of bad timing but also of personnel issues. The loss of Hulao Pass and Huatai is not solely due to the incompetence of the generals, but also because the defense is not stable! The reason for the unstable defense is that the common people fear long-term military service. I propose recruiting troops from Luyang County in Xiyang and Nanxiang County in Xiangyang, dividing them into two routes, directly attacking Xiaoyang and Mianchi. This way, the soldiers will have fewer complaints about long-distance campaigns, and the officials and soldiers can take turns to rest. If you want to use the eastern army to attack Hulao Pass and Luoyang, the journey is too far, and it is difficult to win by force alone." Wang Xuanmo often proposed strategies for the Northern Expedition to the emperor, and the emperor told Yin Jingren, "Listening to Wang Xuanmo's advice inspires a desire to reclaim lost territory and push beyond the borders!" Later, Wang Xuanmo also served as the Deputy General and Prefect of Pengcheng under the Marquis of Xing'an, Liu Yibin. After Liu Yibin passed away, Wang Xuanmo submitted a memorial to the court, noting that Pengcheng was a strategic stronghold for both land and water routes, and suggested sending a prince there to guard it. As a result, Emperor Xiaowu dispatched a prince to Pengcheng.

The Northern Wei launched a large-scale northern expedition, sending Xuanmo as the General of Ning Shuo to spearhead the advance across the Yellow River, under the command of the Assistant General Xiao Bin. Xuanmo fought all the way to Qiaoao (pō ní), scaring off the defenders of the city, but then laid siege to Huatai, failing to capture it for over ten days. The enemy leader Tuoba Tao led a massive army of a million soldiers to attack, with the sound of war drums shaking the earth, creating an intimidating atmosphere! Although Xuanmo's army was numerous and well-equipped, he relied solely on his instincts, leading to indiscriminate killings of innocent people, which led to a decline in military morale.

Initially, as he besieged the city, the city was filled with many thatched cottages, and everyone suggested burning them with rockets, but Xuanmo feared that burning the houses would deplete the army's resources, so he refused. Consequently, the city's inhabitants demolished the houses themselves and dug tunnels to hide. Later, as Wei reinforcements approached, everyone suggested using carts to form a defensive camp, but Xuanmo still disagreed. The soldiers grew discontented with him, and his greed—demanding eight hundred pears for a piece of cloth—further alienated him from them. When Tuoba Tao's army arrived, Xuanmo quickly fled, resulting in the near-total annihilation of his troops. Xiao Bin was ready to execute him, but Shen Qingzhi quickly intervened: "Tuoba Tao has a huge momentum and tens of thousands of soldiers and horses. How could Xuanmo possibly withstand that? Besides, executing a great general would only weaken our own forces, which is a terrible idea!" Xiao Bin then relented.

Earlier, Xuan Mo had a premonition that he was going to be killed. He dreamed that someone told him, "Recite the 'Avalokitesvara Sutra' one thousand times, and you will be spared from death." He woke up and started reciting, and after reciting one thousand times, he was supposed to be executed the next day. He kept reciting, and suddenly someone came to relay the message that the execution was suspended. Later, he was sent to guard Qiao, and King Yi Gong of Jiangxia was appointed as the commander to suppress the rebellion. Thinking that Qiao couldn't hold on, he ordered Xuan Mo to return. As a result, he was intercepted by the Wei army on his way back and suffered a major defeat, during which Xuan Mo was shot in the arm. In the first month of the twenty-eighth year, he returned to Licheng, and Yi Gong wrote to him, "It is said that success often comes after failure. Is the arrow wound on your arm a sign of obtaining the golden seal?"

After the usurpation of the throne, Shen Yue was appointed as the Governor of Yizhou. Later, Emperor Xiaowu launched a campaign against the rebels, and Shen Yue sent the Governor of Jinan, Yuan Hu, to lead troops to support. After the war was settled, Shen Yue was promoted to the Governor of Xuzhou and also appointed as commander. Later, Prince of Nan County Xiao Yixuan and Inspector of Jiangzhou Zang Zhi rebelled, and the court appointed Shen Yue as General of the State, and also made him the Governor of Yuzhou, ordering him and Liu Yuanjing to march south to suppress the rebels.

The army was stationed at Liangshan, and they built crescent-shaped defensive fortifications on both sides of the river, preparing for defense from both land and water forces. Xiao Yixuan sent Liu Chen to contact Zang Zhi, and the army lined up south of the city. Shen Yue left the elderly and infirm soldiers to defend the city, leading the elite troops to battle. As a result, they achieved a great victory, and the rebels were defeated. For this, Shen Yue was promoted to General and was granted the title of Marquis of Qujiang County. However, Sima Liu Chong of the Central Army secretly informed Emperor Xiaowu that Shen Yue was colluding with Xiao Yixuan at Liangshan. Unsure of its truth, the Emperor ordered an investigation into Shen Yue, which revealed that he had embezzled significant amounts of wealth and falsely claimed military achievements. As a result, he and Yuan Hu were dismissed from their positions.

Not long after, Shen Yue was reappointed as the Governor of Yuzhou. At that time, there was an outlaw named Sima Heishi on the banks of the Huai River. He supported Xiahou Fangjin as the leader and even changed Xiahou Fangjin's surname to Li, naming him Hong, to deceive the people. Shen Yue attacked and killed them. Afterwards, Shen Yue was promoted to Colonel of Ningman, Inspector of Yongzhou, and also appointed as a Commander. There were many immigrants in Yongzhou, and Shen Yue wanted to implement a "local registration" policy to register the displaced persons, but at that time the common people were reluctant to register their households, so the matter ended without resolution. In the same year, Shen Yue stipulated that officials of Grade 9 or above must pay taxes, aiming to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor, but this led to widespread resentment against him. Rumors spread that Shen Yue was planning a rebellion. At that time, Liu Yuanjing held significant power, and Liu Yuanjing's brother Liu Sengjing was the Prefect of Xincheng. Liu Sengjing exploited Liu Yuanjing's influence to rally the counties of Nanyang, Shunyang, Shangyong, and Xincheng against Shen Yue.

Shen Yue kept the city calm inside and out to quell any doubts and quickly wrote a letter to Emperor Xiaowu, explaining the situation in detail. The Emperor recognized it as a misunderstanding and immediately sent the Chief Secretary Wu Xigong to appease Shen Yue, replying, "The troubles on Liangshan are of no concern to me. Between sovereign and subject, trust is what truly matters. This matter is now resolved, so there's no need to frown anymore!" Shen Yue was serious and rarely smiled, so people at that time said that Shen Yue's brow had never relaxed, and the Emperor's letter was teasing him about it. Later, Shen Yue was appointed as the Golden Purple Grand Minister of Rites, in charge of the Ministry of Rites. When it was time to build the Mingtang, Shen Yue also served as Minister of Rites and the official responsible for Northern Selection alongside his other duties.

Emperor Xiaowu had a particular fondness for teasing his ministers, giving them nicknames based on their appearances. A lot of the ministers had bushy beards, so he nicknamed them "sheep"; Yan Shibo was missing a tooth, so he called him "Toothless"; Liu Xiu was a real tightwad, so he dubbed him "Old Stingy"! Zong Lingshou, the Chamberlain for Palace Revenues, was quite portly and struggled to stand. Every time he attended court, Emperor Xiaowu would give him many things just to see his awkward expression when he bowed in thanks. He even had a wooden statue made, a gift from Zong Lingshou's father, Zong Shuxian, the Grandee of the Palace, which he displayed in Zong's family hall. Liu Yuanjing and Yuan Hu were both from the north, but only Xuan Mo got the nickname "Old Ruffian." Whatever nicknames the emperor came up with, they were also used in the official memorials. He even penned a seasonal poem just for Xuan Mo, which went like this: "Spring meals served with garden cress, summer meals with millet porridge. Autumn dishes flavored with bottle gourd sauce, winter's chill eased with white fermented wine." He also favored a slave from Kunlun named "Zhu," who was always by his side, allowing "Zhu" to whack the ministers with a stick. None of them, from Liu Yuanjing on down, could escape.

Xuanmo was later promoted to General of the North, Governor of Xuzhou, and given the title of Commander. At that time, there was a famine in the north, and he donated one hundred thousand bushels of grain and one thousand cattle from his own stock to help the disaster relief efforts. Later, he became the General of the Forces. After Emperor Xiaowu passed away, he and Liu Yuanjing were entrusted with regency duties, and the emperor entrusted Xuanmo with significant state affairs. At that time, the imperial court was in chaos, but Xuanmo was upright and outspoken, making many enemies. Eventually, he was demoted to Governor of Qingzhou and Jizhou, and was also appointed as a commander. Later, the young emperor executed Yan Shibai, Liu Yuanjing, and others, growing increasingly tyrannical, even dispatching troops to apprehend Xuanmo. Xuanmo's relatives advised him to feign illness and hide, but Xuanmo said, "I have received great kindness from the late emperor, how can I cowardly hide because of fear of calamity?" So he went. When he arrived at the young emperor's place, Xuanmo repeatedly advised and pleaded tearfully for leniency, imploring the young emperor to spare lives so that the common people could live in peace and happiness. The young emperor was enraged. After Emperor Ming came to power, he treated Wang Xuanmo with great favor, granting him numerous honors. At that time, there were rebellions everywhere, so the emperor appointed Wang Xuanmo as Grand Commander, commanding the navy in campaigns to the south. Due to Wang Xuanmo's leg ailments, he was allowed to travel by carriage. Shortly after, he was promoted to the position of General of Chariots and Horsemen, Governor of Jiangzhou, and collaborated with Prince Jian'an in Zheqi. The emperor even bestowed upon him a tube-sleeved armor designed by Zhuge Liang, a prized possession! Later, he was appointed Left Guanglu Doctor, Minister of the Household, and concurrently held the position of Guard of the Army. He was later promoted to Governor of Nanyuezhou, with the additional title of commander, and his career continued to ascend.

Wang Xuanmo, he has a rather strict personality and isn't very lenient. However, the general under his command, Zong Yue, is even more ruthless, particularly with the soldiers. Behind his back, the soldiers say, "I'd rather be a laborer for five years than cross paths with Wang Xuanmo. Wang Xuanmo is bearable, but Zong Yue is a whole different story!" Wang Xuanmo passed away at the age of eighty-one and was posthumously granted the title Duke Zhuang. His son, Wang Shen, died young, and his grandson Wang Hui inherited his title.

Historical records state that Wang Xiu and Zong Que were both outstanding generals known for their integrity and commendable character. Although Wang Xuanmo was strict and harsh, he had many admirable qualities when viewed from a broader perspective. Consider this: at a time when the young emperor was incompetent and unjust, Wang Xuanmo risked his life to support the emperor wholeheartedly. This truly exemplifies self-sacrifice for the country and loyalty.

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Written by: Realhistories

Category: Book of Song （宋書）

Published: 04 January 2025

Created: 04 January 2025

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Wang Sengda, from Linyi in Langya, is the youngest son of the current Grand Tutor, Wang Hong. His older brother, Wang Xi, is awkward and lacking charisma. The Emperor heard that Wang Sengda was exceptionally intelligent from a young age, so he summoned him to Deyang Palace to inquire about his knowledge and family background. Wang Sengda answered with ease and agility, greatly impressing the Emperor, who arranged for his daughter, the Princess of Linchuan, to marry him.

Wang Sengda had a passion for learning from a young age and was particularly skilled in writing. Before he was even twenty, he became a junior military officer under Prince Jun of Shixing and later rose to become a courtier of the Crown Prince. Once, he became ill and went to Yanglie Bridge to watch duck fights, which resulted in a complaint being filed against him. The Emperor deemed the matter trivial and chose not to pursue it. He had a particular fondness for raising eagles and dogs, often riding horses and hunting with young men from the neighborhood, and even personally slaughtered cattle. When his father-in-law, Yiqing, heard about these things, he found it unbelievable and sent Wang Sengda to pay a visit to the monk Huiguan, wanting to see what kind of person he really was. When Wang Sengda arrived, the table was covered with books, and he discussed the meaning of articles with Master Huiguan, who struggled to keep up with him and praised him highly. He had a poor relationship with his brother Wang Xi and told his family he was in need and sought a position as a county governor. The Emperor wanted him to be the Governor of Qin County, but the Minister of Personnel, Lang Yu Bingzhi, remarked, "Wang Hong's son is not fit to be the Governor of Qin County, and neither is Wang Sengda suited for local office." The issue was set aside. Shortly after, Wang Sengda was promoted to serve as the Crown Prince's stable keeper, and after his mother's passing, he resigned and returned home to observe the mourning period. His brother Wang Xi returned from his post in Linhai County, returning with numerous gifts and a salary amounting to over a million, which Wang Sengda promptly distributed to others, keeping nothing for himself. After the mourning period, he was appointed as the Governor of Xuancheng.

Wang Sengda enjoys hunting, and Xuan Cheng is a mountainous area with not much going on, so he takes the opportunity to relax and enjoy himself. He often disappears for several days, and even holds court in the hunting grounds. Sometimes, the common folk fail to recognize him when they encounter him and ask where the lord is. Wang Sengda would reply, "He's right behind me!" In the spring of the twenty-eighth year of Yuanjia, the enemy invaded, and the capital was in danger. Wang Sengda requested to enter the capital to defend the court, and the emperor granted his request. After the enemy retreated, he was appointed as the governor of Xuan Cheng, and shortly after was transferred to Yi Xing for duty.

Thirty years later, a usurper seized the throne and killed the emperor. The founding emperor mustered an army to quell the rebellion and issued a decree to all the provinces and counties. At that moment, Sengda was at a loss.

One of his guests suggested, "The situation is dire, rarely seen in history! You must find a way to protect yourself. The best way is to respond to the founding emperor's decree, quickly notify the nearby counties, and let those eloquent individuals explain the situation clearly. As long as there is still a sense of justice in their hearts, who wouldn't respond? This is the best strategy. If this method doesn't work, you can personally lead those who support justice, carefully choose a convenient land and water route, and head south to join the founding emperor; this is also an option."

After listening, Sengda headed south along the main road to join the founding emperor and encountered him at Que Tou. The founding emperor immediately appointed him as the chief advisor and also bestowed upon him the title of General Conquering the Barbarians.

At the beginning, when the founding emperor set out from Xunyang, Shen Qingzhi said to others, "Wang Sengda will definitely come to join the righteous army." When questioned on his certainty, Shen Qingzhi said, "Look, even the enemy's war horses are galloping to the river for a drink; Wang Sengda will definitely come to face the danger. In the presence of the former emperor, his speech was straightforward and his attitude was resolute; from this, you can see that he will definitely come."

After Emperor Shizu ascended the throne, he appointed Wang Sengda as the Right Deputy Minister. Shortly afterwards, he also sent him to serve as an Imperial Envoy and Colonel of the Southern Barbarians, and bestowed the title of General of Conquering the Barbarians. At that time, Prince Yixuan of Nanjun requested to stay in Jiangling, but the Southern Barbarians did not understand, so this mission was unsuccessful. Later, Wang Sengda also served as the Guard General.

Wang Sengda considered himself very talented and believed he was one of the few outstanding talents at the time. When Emperor Shizu had just ascended the throne, he held an important position and within a year or two, he was already thinking about becoming the Prime Minister. However, after serving as the Guard General, he found himself unfulfilled. Therefore, he submitted a memorial requesting to be appointed to an official position in Xuzhou, in which he wrote:

"As I am old and my health is declining, my remaining years are few. Being able to seize this good opportunity is an achievement in itself. The late Emperor remembered the contributions of veteran officials, also took into account my humble position as a surviving minister, tolerated my shortcomings, promoted and used me, allowing me to participate in military and state affairs for eleven years. Thanks to the late Emperor's favor, I have enjoyed a peaceful and prosperous life during this era. Although I aspire to learn, I lack exceptional talent, and although I am diligent in my duties, I do not have unique insights. Therefore, I truly feel unqualified to take part in governing the country and discerning the situation. Personally, I think the Emperor's kindness is immense, and I will never be able to repay it fully in my lifetime. As an ordinary person, I am not suited for long-term important roles, so I often take the liberty of expressing my thoughts."

Your Majesty, you are filial, sincere, and benevolent, and all beings are moved by your benevolence. Since you ascended to the throne, the people should be rejoicing, and the world should be peaceful. However, as I observe the lives of the common people privately and listen to their discussions, their sufferings have not been effectively resolved, and public opinion has not improved. I am filled with worry day and night, unable to find peace in sleep or food! I have reviewed historical records and compared the current situation with the time of Emperor Wen of Han. At that time, Emperor Wen inherited a stable foundation, remained frugal and governed diligently with the welfare of the nation and its people in mind. Even when Jia Yi sincerely advised him, Emperor Wen still sighed and wept. Moreover, we find ourselves in a time of national unrest, with various matters just beginning to be addressed, and the benefits have yet to reach everyone, and trust has not been fully established. It is said by the ancients that the world is like a precious vessel; once it is stable, it will not quickly fall into crisis; once it falls into crisis, it will not quickly stabilize. Your Majesty, being wise, should give this matter serious thought.

I believe our most pressing task is to inspire the people to take responsibility for the nation, unite in heart and mind, empathize with the wishes of the people, and follow the will of the people. When the people face difficulties, the monarch must seek solutions; when the people have complaints, the monarch should listen carefully. When the people suffer, the monarch must not indulge in luxury. Officials should be appointed based on their abilities, granted titles based on their expectations; it is better to overlook deserving rewards than to unjustly punish the innocent. As for those who manage important departments and guard the border areas, the country's governance and stability depend on them, and their actions should be reformed based on the realities at hand, handling things flexibly without being bound by rigid rules. The world is full of talents; the key lies in whether we can effectively utilize their talents.

I am not just a bystander, witnessing the difficulties of the world, but have personally experienced and deeply understand its challenges. Why do I say this? Although I have been fortunate enough to avoid poverty, I have not had the opportunity to receive an education, and I have not committed any wrongdoings. I possess no notable talents of my own; I am only due to the protection of my ancestors that I have been able to hold a high position. Although I have recently been toiling along the rivers and roads, serving in the capital, what accomplishments can I truly claim in history? The Emperor has repeatedly bestowed favor upon me. If it weren't for my existing talents and reputation, why would the Emperor value me so much? I feel deeply anxious about this. I should seriously reflect on my own identity and reflect on the Emperor's kindness, but I do not know how to repay it or when I will be able to do so. Those who sacrifice their lives for the country, viewing death as a return home, are all following the teachings of the sages; they all put life and death aside. I am grateful for the teachings of the sages; I aspire to serve my country, hoping to live out my ambitions and to face death with no regrets. If I enjoy a generous salary, hold a high position, but make no contribution to the country, then I will find no peace within myself.

The four corners of the world are still not peaceful, and the country has not forgotten about war. Those who wear their hair in braids harbor ill intentions and should be more cautious. Some time ago, before the army achieved victory, the enemy had already begun to underestimate us Han people. It is feared that those restless spirits might once again breach our borders to scout our defenses. Moreover, it is now deep autumn, and the barbarians' warhorses are in their prime; we should take the opportunity to strike them and prepare early. Every day, I constantly reflect on my actions, wanting to serve the country. Regardless of the size of the matter, I am deeply concerned about the safety of the people. I carefully consider even reports from remote areas and strive to resolve the issues. I am wholeheartedly sincere and have no hidden agendas. If you were to entrust me with leading the army and managing political matters, my abilities are really not enough for the task, and this is not my wish. Your Majesty has already been very tolerant and understanding towards me; I hope you can understand my intentions again. I do not feel worthy of the role of protecting the army; I will promptly report to the Pengcheng Military Office. Besides, I have always preferred to be diligent and not to seek high positions or wealth. My abilities are limited; I just want to live a stable life. I hope Your Majesty can understand my difficulties, especially to grant me rewards, so that I may bring honor both internally and externally, and my contributions may be remembered for generations to come.

The emperor did not agree. Monk Da submitted three petitions, but the emperor was extremely displeased. In the end, he was ultimately appointed as the General for Conquering Barbarians and Prefect of Wu County. Within a year, he was promoted five times, but Monk Da was still not satisfied. There were many wealthy monks at the West Terrace Temple in Wu County, but when Monk Da requested money from them and was unsuccessful, he sent his chief clerk Gu Kuang to lead his men to rob Monk Zhu Fayao at the temple, stealing millions. There were rebellions in Jingzhou and Jiangzhou, so the emperor appointed Monk Da as an assistant commander to lead troops into battle. The court permitted him to establish a thousand-man unit, but he unauthorizedly formed thirty teams of eighty men each. He also built a mansion in Wu County, relying heavily on civilian labor. In the end, he was dismissed from his position because of these actions.

Initially, Monk Da served as a stable attendant to the Crown Prince, and he had a particular fondness for a soldier named Zhu Lingbao during his time in the Eastern Palace. Later, when Monk Da was transferred to Xuan Cheng for official duties, Lingbao had already matured. Monk Da pretended that Lingbao had died, secretly registered Lingbao's name under the household register of Zuo Yongzhi in Xuan Cheng, claiming him as his own son and renaming him Yuan Xu. He then requested the emperor to appoint Yuan Xu as the commander of the Wuling State Defense Guards, then later as the chief scribe of Jingling State, and finally as the General of the Central Army of Jianping State. However, in the spring of the first year of the Xiaojian reign, this ruse was uncovered, and Monk Da was imprisoned. He submitted a memorial to the emperor explaining, "I have never flattered those around me or sought favor with the powerful." This only served to infuriate the emperor further.

Seng Da had a young and handsome nephew named Que, with whom he had an inappropriate relationship. Que's uncle, Xiu, served as the governor of Yongjia and wanted to take Que back to Yongjia County. Seng Da wanted to keep Que close and pressured him to stay. Que saw through Seng Da's intentions and deliberately avoided him. In a fit of anger, Seng Da secretly dug a large hole behind his house, planning to trick Que into saying farewell and then kill and bury him. Fortunately, Seng Da's brother, Seng Qian, learned of his scheme and intervened. Deputy Chief Censor Liu Yu reported Seng Da's actions and sought his arrest, but the Emperor refused.

In the third year of the Xiaojian era, the Emperor appointed Seng Da as the Grand Minister, but he remained dissatisfied. Eventually, Seng Da submitted his resignation, stating in his letter:

"I consider my talents to be mediocre, lacking official experience in my youth, and I have suffered from a serious illness since childhood. Over the years, my health has worsened. I have always longed for a leisurely life in the countryside. The Emperor's earlier favor enabled me to secure an official position early in my career. Previously, due to my family's poverty, I had to reluctantly accept an official position to support them. After serving in the palace for over ten months and being promoted to an attendant, I barely had to attend court sessions. In reality, I didn't have the chance to receive any special favor from the Emperor, merely holding an official title at home. I requested to resign multiple times, and finally, the Emperor approved my request, allowing me to return to my original civilian status. However, before I could enjoy a peaceful life, I was promoted to a position of stable master. The Emperor's kindness is truly remarkable! The Emperor also promised me a position as a county magistrate to handle government affairs. As Langye County needed officials, the Emperor assigned me to an important position there. The Emperor showed great concern for me, even allowing me to bring attendants along. Langye County had previously suffered from flooding, resulting in significant losses. I am deeply grateful for the Emperor's kindness and will always remember it."

My sins and misfortunes have come one after another, and I have encountered difficult punishments. Just when I could finally catch my breath, the emperor came to inquire about my well-being. I reported my circumstances and thoughts to the emperor in detail because I was burdened with too many responsibilities. The emperor asked me to take up a position in Xuan Cheng, a place that is truly destitute. I was transferred in early spring, and in winter, the northern tribes invaded the south. As a loyal subject, I felt compelled to plead for permission to return to the capital to serve the emperor. On the day I arrived in the capital, the enemy's flag was already flying in the city. Although I had not served in the county for long, the issue of corruption and bribery left me overwhelmed. Just as I had taken off my official robes and was getting ready to return home to farm, the people of Xuan Cheng came to the capital to plead with the emperor to let me return. At that moment, the emperor ordered my cousin, Seng Chuo, to announce the imperial decree, allowing me to remain in my position.

My health is poor, my abilities are limited, and I have longed to return home. I have repeatedly pleaded with the Emperor to allow me to return to my hometown. Before I could go home, my brother passed away. I requested the Emperor to let me return home to mourn, and he allowed me to return to the capital after mourning. I had barely settled in the capital when I was appointed as governor of Yixing. I felt as free as a fish in water and a bird in the sky, without needing any external help. I merely wished to contribute more to my country and serve it tirelessly. Since becoming an official, I have not accumulated any wealth; I am weak and sickly, and I have no friends to help me. I have a deep affinity for nature, especially mountains, rivers, birds, and fish. My pursuits often conflict with the court's duties. Therefore, I have restrained my behavior and dare not slack off, all because I struggle to make a living. My official attire is not complete, the salary in the Eastern District is too low, and the salary in the Western District is too high. I elaborated on my request and reiterated my original desire, hoping to be sent to remote areas like Jiang and Xiang to serve as an official. This way, in one or two years, I could return home to farm, ensuring I have sufficient food and medicine. The Emperor finally approved my request and agreed to it.

Oh, I have truly been unfortunate. During that time, the world was in turmoil, and it felt as if everything was on the brink of collapse. Fortunately, the Emperor extended great mercy and offered me exceptional care. This was not merely a relationship of ruler and subject, but one akin to a father and son. I recognize my limitations and feel as humble as the grass and trees. During the Emperor's days of mourning, I even braced myself for death. Alone with my young child, I journeyed thousands of miles, facing various dangers and the risk of death at any moment. Life is as fragile as morning dew, with an uncertain future. It was through the Emperor's grace that I survived and was able to behold the world and the sunlight once more.

Alas, at that time, my elder brother and my nephew, Monk Liang, were both imprisoned on false charges, our family was shattered, and dangerous mountains and rivers surrounded us; the journey was fraught with difficulties, and I didn't know if they could come out safely. My heart was filled with worry and anxiety! They were willing to face any danger for the rise and fall of the family; this was their responsibility and duty. Meanwhile, my heart was also filled with worry and pain, which was my own selfish concern. "Mountains and rivers are perilous, and the paths of fortune and misfortune are obstructed; who can escape the toil of distant thoughts?" This poem truly expressed my feelings at that time!

The Emperor is wise and valiant, having successfully recovered lost land; the world is peaceful, and the four corners are tranquil. My father, my son, my uncle, and my nephew were all blessed by the Emperor's grace, allowing us to preserve our lives and fulfill the wish of our ancestors to be buried in their hometown. I had intended to die with honor, yet I was fortunate enough to survive; although I expressed a desire to retire, I bore all with humility, always maintaining integrity. However, my abilities are limited, and despite my lack of significant achievements, I repeatedly received grace and rewards far beyond my merits.

However, whenever I fell ill, I dared not decline the Emperor's favors, so I could only stifle my tears at Quezhu and wallow in self-reproach at Xinting. When the culprit was eliminated, the world was peaceful, and I was appointed to a prominent position, I immediately requested to resign. The Emperor was merciful and generous, his grace towards me always exceeded reason; positions like Nanman and Army Protector were conferred upon me privately in a short period of time. Upon reflection, I felt overwhelmed by such grace; I approached my duties with caution, fearing I might violate the law, much less take on significant court positions. The consequences of failure would be dire, far beyond what I could have anticipated; this was beyond my expectations.

Therefore, I sincerely write this memorial, submitting multiple requests, either to request a reduction from a high position to a lower one, or to request a leisurely position to replace a demanding one. I vow to endure hardship, all of which are written in the memorial. I know my abilities are limited, which may lead to legal violations. Last year and the year before, I violated the laws multiple times and, theoretically, should be punished. The charges are clear; I have disrupted the order of the court and brought shame upon my family. I am willing to accept punishment, regardless of public opinion. Your Majesty forgave my transgressions, showed compassion for my situation, overlooked my violations, and granted me special consideration. I am deeply grateful for this and will never forget it.

Your Majesty not only promoted me and granted me a title but also gave me my current position. At that time, I was shocked and at a loss, originally wanting to retire to the countryside, but I dared not disobey the imperial decree. I pondered repeatedly in my heart and consulted with my family, believing in the kindness of the world, that grace should not be repaid. I dare not easily bear the favor of Your Majesty. Therefore, I purify myself and bask in the emperor's grace, enjoying the emperor's blessings. With the auspicious occasion of my birthday, I have gone from humble to noble, changing the perceptions of everyone around me. However, I have been tempted by glory and wealth and unexpectedly received favor again this year. I realize I have been a burden to Your Majesty; my heart is uneasy, and I should withdraw to the countryside to put my worldly affairs in order.

Your Majesty, I hope that you can inherit the grace of the late emperor and show me kindness. I'm feeling really worn out and would like to resign and retire quietly. I hope you can understand my situation and let me enjoy my old age in peace. It's noble to step back from recognition, and even though I haven't earned any, I'd like to bow out; it's also virtuous to be dedicated, but I have already received enough honor. Therefore, I request retirement and hope that you can show mercy to me. Besides, my family is settled, and I have no other burdens. There are over a dozen servants in the house, and a few acres of thin fields, with enough harvest throughout the year to sustain our livelihood. Lately, my dizziness and blurred vision have worsened, and I'm feeling weaker with more symptoms, making me unable to perform my duties. I'm feeling down and can barely hold on anymore, completely worn out. So, I sincerely hope you can approve my request and let me live out my days in peace. It's like the difference between calm water and a blazing sun—it's hard to compare. I hope you can understand my difficulties and approve my request.

The memorial written by Seng Da was quite impressive, and the emperor passed it on to the Ministry of Personnel to handle. But He Yan, the attendant, thought Seng Da's memorial came off as disrespectful, so he reported to the emperor and transferred the memorial to the Southern Court for handling. This led to Seng Da being removed from his post. Shortly after, he was appointed Grand Historiographer and also Prefect of Linhuai under Prince Yigong of Jiangxia. He was later moved to the role of Grand Historiographer of the Grand Preceptor while retaining his position as Prefect. In the first year of Daming, he got promoted to General of the Left Guard, concurrently serving as the Prince's Chief Scholar. Because of his loyal service, he was made the Fifth Marquis of Ningling County. The next year, he got another promotion to Chief of the Imperial Secretariat.

Previously, the residents of Ban County in Nanpeng, such as the monk Tan Biao, Dao Fang, and others, deceived one another, claiming they could communicate with ghosts, dragons, and phoenixes. They frequently claimed to hear the sounds of flutes and drums, and colluded with individuals from Moling, including Lan Hongqi, to stage a rebellion. They sought to win over General Miao Yun, Cavalry Attendant Yan Xinzhi, Military Advisor Kan Qianzuan, Commander Cheng Nong, Wang Tian, and others, planning to launch an attack on the palace gate on the night of August 1st of the second year, and to assault King Yigong of Jiangxia the following morning, while also dispatching forces to assassinate other ministers before proclaiming Gaozha as emperor. Ultimately, the plot was uncovered, resulting in the deaths of dozens of conspirators.

Seng Da, this scoundrel, has always been up to all sorts of mischief. The Emperor saw that he was incorrigible, so he used the rebellion led by Gaozha as an opportunity to get rid of him. The imperial decree stated: "Wang Seng Da, I have shown him great favor and elevated him to a high position early on. Yet he acted recklessly and irresponsibly, with a terrible reputation that everyone knows about. When the country was in trouble, his entire family pledged their loyalty. In light of his supposed sincerity, I pardoned his heinous crimes and allowed him to hold high office and enjoy wealth and prosperity. And what was the result? He showed no gratitude, colluded with the Western Chu, and stirred up trouble in the east, plundering, forming gangs, and deceiving the court. I repeatedly showed him leniency, hoping he would change his ways, but he only got worse, colluding with Gaozha and Subao to plot rebellion. When Gaozha was arrested and his accomplices interrogated, they confessed, but he still tried to deny it, demonstrating a complete lack of remorse! His underlings also stirred up trouble, and their ambitions were all too clear. How could I ignore the safety of the state and extend mercy to such traitors? Punishing evildoers is the duty of all wise rulers, and eradicating evil is the law of our ancestors. So, deliver him to the court officials for appropriate punishment! Grand Preceptor Huarong Wenzhao Gong, I have shown him great favor; how could I forget his contributions and neglect his descendants? His titles and family relationships, I will not revoke." Ultimately, Seng Da was executed in prison at the age of just thirty-six.

His son Wang Daoyan was banished to Xin'an County. Later, after the deposed emperor took the throne, he returned to the capital. Subsequently, during the reign of the deposed emperor Yuanhui, he was appointed as the Internal Historian of Luling State but passed away before he could assume his post. As for Su Bao, originally named Baosheng, he hailed from a humble background yet was exceptionally talented. During the Yuanjia period, when the National University was established, he served as an assistant teacher for the "Book of Songs," caught the founding emperor's attention, and eventually became the Assistant Imperial Secretary of the Southern Terrace and Magistrate of Jiangning. Because he was aware of Gao Zha's rebellion but failed to report it in time, he was executed along with Gao Zha.

Yan Jun, courtesy name Shixun, was from Langya Linyi and was the son of the Grand Master Yan Yan. The founding emperor asked Yan Yan, "Which of your sons resembles you?" Yan Yan said, "Jun inherited my calligraphy, understood my writings, upheld my virtues, and also shared my fondness for drinking."

Lao Zhang, at first, worked as a doctoral candidate at the Imperial Academy, then became a personal attendant to the Crown Prince, and was subsequently appointed by Emperor Shizu as the Chief Clerk of the Military Garrison. The emperor held him in high regard, and Lao Zhang worked diligently. During the Yuanjia period, the emperor believed that the imperial princes should not form factions, so he wanted to transfer Lao Zhang to the position of Gentleman of the Imperial Secretariat. However, the Minister of Personnel, Jiang Zhan, noted that Lao Zhang had excelled in his duties at the prince's residence and there was no need to transfer him, so the emperor dropped the idea. Thus, Lao Zhang remained at the prince's residence and steadily advanced to the roles of Chief Clerk of Anbei, Zhenjun, and Beizhonglangfu.

In the twenty-eighth year of Yuanjia, the northern enemies withdrew from Pengcheng and sought to engage in trade with us. Lao Zhang expressed his opinion: "I see no benefit in getting close to the enemy. Past examples have clearly shown this. Why do I say this? The reason those barbarians want to invade us is primarily their lack of strength. They have no regard for trust and will invade whenever they have the chance. Disaster struck due to our closeness with the enemy in that battle on the river back then. For so many years, we have interacted with them, nearly forming an alliance. The court has consistently tried to win them over with goodwill, but over time, they have grown increasingly arrogant. The barbarians' greed is insatiable; they still remember past grievances, which emboldens them to intrude into our territory. Now that we have finally fought a battle and separated ourselves from them, if we engage in trade again, we risk repeating the same mistakes. Those advocating for trade are merely after cheap warhorses. Even if we acquire over a thousand, it's not worth the trade, especially since they can probably only offer around a hundred horses in return. Once trade starts, it will be hard to put a stop to it. The enemy, emboldened by their small victory, will only grow more arrogant and cunning. They may claim it's trade, but in reality, they are just probing our defenses. If we concede to their demands, they will only become more aggressive. Therefore, it's best to thwart their intentions from the outset, preventing them from harboring any illusions. We must effectively govern our country, strengthen our borders, and safeguard our territory, and wait for them to reveal their weaknesses. This is the most prudent long-term strategy."

In the beginning, there was a monk named Seng Han who had some knowledge of metaphysics. He said to Yan Jun, "I've taken a cursory look at some prophecies, and in the future, there will be a destined emperor who will fulfill them. According to the order of the prophecies, this person is you." Yan Jun once mentioned this to his family in Pengcheng, and later it spread out; even Emperor Taizu knew about it. At that time, the witchcraft incident was uncovered, so the emperor did not pursue Yan Jun. Later, during the time when Emperor Song Wen Liu Yilong was stationed in Xunyang, Yan Jun was promoted to the position of a military secretary in the Southern Central Army. In the spring of the thirtieth year of his reign, his father Yan Yanzhi retired, and Yan Jun also requested to resign, but the emperor denied his request. Before he could even take leave, Emperor Taizu passed away, and Emperor Song Wen Liu Yilong raised an army to suppress the rebellion. Yan Jun was promoted to the role of a military advisor, also in charge of managing internal and external affairs, as well as drafting proclamations.

When Emperor Song Wen Liu Yilong set out from Xunyang, he fell ill. Officials below Shen Qingzhi could not see him; only Yan Jun could enter his bedroom to handle urgent military matters. At that time, Emperor Song Wen Liu Yilong was seriously ill several times, unable to attend to government affairs at all, so all matters were decided by Yan Jun alone. After Emperor Song Wen Liu Yilong ascended the throne, he appointed Yan Jun as a chamberlain and soon promoted him to the position of Left Guard General, while also holding the title of Cavalier Attendant. Yan Jun resigned from the position of Cavalier Attendant, which the emperor accepted. Later, Yan Jun was granted the title of Marquis of Jiancheng County, with a fief consisting of two thousand households.

In the first year of the Xiaojian era, Yan Jun was promoted to Minister of Personnel and concurrently served as General of the Valiant Cavalry. He placed great emphasis on talent selection, worked diligently, and because of his high position and great power, most of his requests were granted. Later, Xie Zhuang took over Yan Jun's role in selecting talents, and many things were often unsuccessful. Yan Jun had a serious demeanor, while Xie Zhuang was quite attractive. When guests came to report matters, Xie Zhuang always responded with a smile. People at the time said, "When Yan Jun is displeased, he might grant you an official position; when Xie Zhuang smiles, you might not get one."

Prince Nanjun Liu Yixuan, Zang Zhi, and others staged a rebellion, and Yan Jun was appointed as the commander of the troops. The sons of Liu Yixuan and Zang Zhi were in hiding in the areas of Jiankang, Moling, Hushu, and Jiangning County. Emperor Wen of Song, Liu Yilong, was furious and dismissed Danyang Yin Chu Zhanzhi, arresting the magistrates of these four counties. He appointed Yan Jun as Danyang Yin and granted him the title of Cavalier Attendant. Prior to this, Yan Jun had no sons, and the sons of Grand Marshal Jiangxia Prince Liu Yigong were all killed by the instigator. At this time, both Yan Jun and Liu Yigong had sons. The emperor personally named them, naming Liu Yigong's son Bo Qin, drawing a parallel to Bo Qin of Lu (the son of Zhou Gongdan), and naming Yan Jun's son Bi Qiang, comparing him to Zhang Liang's son, the attendant of the Han Dynasty.

During the Yuanjia era of the Song dynasty, the court minted a new type of coin known as "four zhu qian," which was similar in shape and size to the earlier five zhu qian. However, this coin was costly to produce and offered no advantages, which discouraged the common people from secretly minting it. Later, Emperor Xiaowu of the Song dynasty ascended the throne and minted coins known as "Xiaojian four zhu."

After three years, the Right Chancellor of the Ministry of Personnel, Xu Yuan, submitted a memorial saying, "Ancient books say that valuable goods are beneficial to the people; this is one of the five principles of governance! The casting and circulation of currency is a major event among the nine branches of the national treasury! Only when the common people are prosperous can the country be strong and society stable. Times are changing, customs are changing, so the weight of currency should also change with the times. Look at the Zhou Dynasty and the Han Dynasty; both adjusted the weight of currency according to the actual situation. Later on, when the country became wealthy and money was abundant, everyone continued to use the previous currency without further changes. However, over time, following several wars, many coins were destroyed, leading to a decrease in currency circulation, the impoverishment of the people, and difficulties in national finances. If currency casting is not reformed, serious problems will definitely arise in the future. Ancient books record that copper can be used to atone for sins, and now it should be done in the same way, collecting different amounts of copper based on the severity of the crime, and then using it to mint coins." The emperor approved his suggestion.

As a result, the newly minted coins were thin and small, and did not look good. This caused a sudden increase in private coin minting among the people, and they even mixed lead and tin into the coins, making them completely unreliable. What's even worse is that some people hollowed out ancient coins to extract copper for minting new coins, causing the coins to become thinner and smaller, virtually unrecognizable. Although the court cracked down severely, many officials lost their lives because of this, and some were even sentenced to death, but the issue of private coin minting grew increasingly severe, prices soared, and the common people suffered greatly. In the end, the court had no choice but to declare that all thin, small, and shapeless coins were banned from circulation.

Shen Qingzhi stood up and said, "In the past, Qin coins were too heavy, which was a headache for Emperor Gaozu. He ordered the common people to mint their own coins and changed the shape of the coins to resemble light elm pods. As a result, the coins were light, but the goods were heavy, causing chaos during bad times. Later, Emperor Taizong also allowed coin minting, and Jia Yi criticized him for using the 'cutting mountains technique,' which means that copper is abundant but heavy, and making weapons and such was previously done by the common people, leading to numerous drawbacks. Yet, Emperor Xiaowen ignored Jia Yi's advice and allowed the common people to continue minting coins, so the national treasury was full of money, and the country became prosperous.

The current situation is different. There's no need for farming or warfare, and coin minting has been stopped for a long time. Most of the copper used for smelting has been made into objects, which is laborious and unrewarding. The copper mines in Wudi and Dengzhou have been exhausted, and the common people are not skilled in minting coins, so we needn't worry about them abandoning their farming tools to mint coins. Now is the time for rejuvenation and prosperity. Although there is no need for war, the national treasury is still not sufficient, and both the court and the people lack money. I believe that the common people should be allowed to mint coins themselves. We should establish coin minting facilities in counties and districts. Families willing to mint coins should live in these facilities, standardize the design of the coins, eliminate counterfeit coins, and the government should only charge for minting costs. The minted coins should be gathered and stored as long-term assets. The new coins that were prohibited last spring can now be introduced for circulation, and all future minted coins should follow this style. For every ten thousand coins collected in taxes, three thousand coins should be handed over, and counterfeiting should be severely punished, while damaging coins should be prohibited. In a few years, both the nation and its people will thrive; there will be enough copper coins, and the activities of counterfeiting coins will naturally cease. Furthermore, by banning coin minting, copper will become objects; by allowing coin minting, objects can become money, transforming waste into wealth, which benefits everyone!"

Dear leaders, King Yigong of Jiangxia, Taizai, believes: Shen Qingzhi's suggestion, "Allowing ordinary people to privately mint coins, let those coin minting workshops relocate to official quarters. Standardize the specifications of coins, eliminate those inferior counterfeit coins." I think ordinary people are not willing to deal with officials; this has been an ongoing issue. Moreover, many of these individuals are well-known and definitely would not want to move to official quarters. Those who profit from privately minted coins derive their profits primarily from these counterfeit coins. If counterfeit coins are prohibited, then even fewer people would be willing to relocate to official quarters. Shen Qingzhi also said, "Collect the scraps of coins as a permanent reserve." I think whatever is emphasized above will definitely be followed by action below. When ordinary people hear that officials want to collect coin scraps, the price of scrap will skyrocket; all transactions will be affected. Who would want to mint coins after that? If they are forced to exchange them, it will feel like theft. Also, "Cancel the new coins prohibited in spring, allow temporary use." I think this point is worth considering. Shen Qingzhi also said, "Now coin minting should follow this specification, with a tax of three thousand coins per ten thousand coins minted." He also said, "Strictly inspect privately minted coins; no longer allow production." I think the prohibition of privately minting coins will not take effect overnight. People often break the law for their own gain; this is common behavior, not because they are afraid of light punishment, but because they are afraid of being caught. If now moving to official quarters to mint coins requires a tax of three thousand coins per ten thousand coins, while privately minting coins does not require paying as much tax, people will still break the law for profit; this situation won't change anytime soon. Shen Qingzhi also said, "When copper is used up, those deceitful counterfeiting practices will naturally stop." I think the country's copper won't run out all at once. By the time copper is used up, those deceitful counterfeiting practices will have already caused significant problems. He also said, "Prohibit coin minting, copper will become utensils; allow coin minting, utensils will become coins." But what we're currently concerned about is the lack of coin standardization, along with issues like clipping and the mixing of lead and tin, causing public discontent. There’s no need for such harsh prohibitions just aimed at those privately minting copper coins.

Junyi said: "Using coins as currency is something that has been widely recognized throughout history. The standards for the weight of coins were established during the Han Dynasty and have remained unchanged since the Wei and Jin Dynasties. The reason it has not been changed is that the value of goods and coins has reached a balance, and forcibly changing it would only cause trouble. However, over time, the drawbacks have gradually emerged, so reform is necessary, and there must be a solution. I strongly agree with the establishment of government minting, but what worries me is that if mining stops and goods keep deteriorating, copper will become scarcer, driving up the prices of goods. For example, if the price of a piece of goods is one thousand coins, if the minting volume is cut in half, minting coins will become unprofitable, and this policy simply won't work. Furthermore, last spring, private minting was prohibited, and now it is allowed again. Is this really meant to make everyone rich? If small coins are allowed to circulate without being minted by the government, we'll see a surge in fraud, and we won't be able to control private minting and coin clipping at all. Coins like wuzhu and half-liang will likely vanish within a year. If we don't replenish the money supply, the larger coins will run out, and within a few years, they will all become worthless. How can we let such harmful practices take root in our great Tang Dynasty?"

Now the money in the hands of the common people has somewhat reduced, but the common folk have no complaints. This is due to the recent implementation of the new ban; the coin specifications haven't been standardized, and it will sort itself out soon enough. It's not worth your worry. What truly concerns people is the empty treasury! Even if small change is allowed to circulate now, the government isn't able to collect taxes. Although the people may be doing well financially, the government still lacks money. Therefore, the best approach is to cut expenses, practice frugality, and find solutions to the financial issues—nothing is more important than this. However, the supply of coins is limited, yet there are numerous ways for them to vanish; even if cutting, carving, and minting are banned, they will eventually run out. The government shouldn't set up copper mining operations while also banning the use of copper in everyday items. Coin specifications need to be established, and they should be minted gradually each day. In the long run, this will benefit the country.

Someone proposed at that time that, because copper was becoming harder to come by, they wanted to mint smaller two-zhu coins instead. Jun (name) countered by saying, "Those who proposed this idea want to ensure that the government's treasury does not run empty, which is why they want to change the coinage. However, copper is already in short supply, so we should reduce the coin specifications to solve the current dilemma, help the country and ease the burden on the people. I believe this approach won't work. Minting two-zhu coins now, which are small and thin, won't help the government tackle its financial issues; instead, it will make ordinary folks more shrewd and crafty, leading to chaos in the market, with nothing left in the end. Even if strict measures are taken, it will be tough to stamp out these shady practices, and in one or two years, the disadvantages will be irreparable. This is the first reason why it won't work. Even if melting and minting can quickly produce one or two billion coins, even if it really can, it will take a long time. Taxes are due at the end of the year, and with a change in the coinage system, daily expenses will be difficult to sustain for several months. Even if taxes are temporarily collected, how's that going to solve the financial problems? It will only make those deceitful individuals more audacious, leading to more mischief. This is the second reason why it won't work. People will have to get used to the new, bigger coins and fear the recent new prohibitions, causing chaos in the market. The benefits have not been seen yet, but the disadvantages are already looming, while rich merchants are feeling smug, the poor folks will just get poorer. This is the third reason why it won't work. If the economy is already in such bad shape, and this method won't work, let alone seeing any benefits, with so many disadvantages, messing up now will just lead to future generations laughing at us!"

After the former usurper emperor ascended to the throne, he began to mint two-zhu coins, and the style of the coins became smaller and thinner. Every time the government issued new coins, the public would immediately imitate them, but their size and thickness fell short of the standards. Those coins had no outlines, were not polished, and were crudely cut out, resembling those made with scissors today; they were referred to as "lei zi." In the first year of the Jinghe era, Shen Qingzhi suggested allowing private coinage, and from that point on, the currency situation became even more chaotic. A thousand of these coins barely measured three inches in total length, all of similar size; they were referred to as "goose eye coins." The ones even worse were called "shen huan coins." These coins would not sink when thrown into water, easily shattered when squeezed, and could not be reliably counted in the marketplace. Even ten thousand of these coins barely filled a handful, and ten thousand coins were needed for a dou of rice, rendering commercial transactions nearly impossible. At the beginning of Taizong's reign, only the "goose eye coins" and "shen huan coins" were initially prohibited, while others could still be used. Later, private coinage was banned as well, and the government ceased minting coins. Soon after, it was ultimately banned altogether, and only ancient coins were used.

Lao Zhang, originally the Scattered Riders' Attendant Cavalry and the Intendant of Danyang, has also been given the position of Chancellor of the Imperial Secretariat. I continue to serve as the Intendant of Danyang as before. As a result, he submitted a memorial of thanks, saying, "I, a mere country bumpkin, have inexplicably obtained such a high official position, truly feeling fearful and uneasy, terrified. I have grown up in the countryside since I was young, I've never seen much of the world; how can I handle such a high position? My family has no money; I never even thought about becoming an official. I used to be a farmer, poor and cold. Thanks to the late Emperor's grace in exempting me from taxes, I barely scraped by and later became a minor official. Your Majesty is wise and mighty, and you welcome talents from all walks of life, yet you chose to promote someone as unworthy as me to this position. Over the years, I have worked diligently, but I haven't accomplished anything remarkable. It is all thanks to your favor that I have been able to keep this local official position. Unexpectedly, disasters and calamities have followed one after another; Your Majesty, in order to save the people, has promoted me to an even higher position, and the speed has been like a rocket, with my rank raised by several levels. Upon careful consideration, I truly don't deserve these honors; in terms of merit, I am not much better than others. I was hoping to find a chance to explain myself to Your Majesty and ask for a demotion to avoid blame, but then the imperial edict came down again, and my position was raised! I know my limitations, and I don’t think far ahead; this wealth and glory have come too fast for me to handle! If this continues, it will only bring misfortune upon me, provoke public criticism, and when disaster strikes, I will not be able to bear it. I truly feel I can't accept this official position right now; if Your Majesty insists on keeping me in this position, once something goes wrong, I will be in danger, and then everyone will blame me. So, I live in constant fear and anxiety every day." The Emperor agreed to his request.

At that time, there was a drought, and the common people were starving. Old Zhang suggested in a memorial suggesting a month-long ban on alcohol production, which could save nearly ten thousand shi of grain. Later, he took over as the Minister of Personnel and also served as the Commander of the Crown Prince's Left Guard. Before he could take office, his father passed away, and he had to observe the mourning period. After the mourning period, he was appointed as the General of the Right, but he still held the position of Intendant of Danyang.

Jun was an old minister. He sincerely advised the emperor on many national matters. Since the emperor ascended the throne, he had initiated many large-scale construction projects. Jun repeatedly advised against it, speaking frankly and openly. The emperor was very unhappy, and many of the suggestions were not accepted. Jun considered himself quite capable and had a good relationship with the emperor. He believed he should hold an important position in the court and help the emperor govern the country for the long haul. However, most of his suggestions were not accepted, and he suspected that the emperor wanted to push him out. Therefore, he requested to be transferred elsewhere to see what the emperor truly meant.

In the first year of the Daming era, he was appointed as the Inspector of Dongyangzhou, while retaining his military position. Although the emperor agreed to his request, he grew even more anxious and uncertain about what to do. When he arrived in the province, his mother passed away. The emperor wouldn't let him resign but permitted him to return home for the funeral and then return to the capital, offering him generous benefits. However, Jun still felt uneasy and often complained to his old friends about the numerous mistakes in court politics, critiquing the emperor's poor decisions. Later, Wang Sengda was killed, and some claimed that Jun had schemed against him. Before his death, Wang Sengda also accused Jun of being dissatisfied with him and complained that his suggestions were not accepted. Many of the things Wang Sengda said could be backed up with evidence. The emperor then sent Chief Imperial Censor Yu Hui to investigate the matter, saying:

I heard that as a minister serving the monarch, one should be willing to sacrifice everything for the country, wholeheartedly and selflessly. If someone is rude, oppresses the people, and looks down on others because of their wealth, that is not acceptable! As the Book of Songs says, "Uncle Wang made a warning, Zixi was put to death," that illustrates the point. I’ve never heard of anyone who could betray their principles, block the source of integrity, seek personal gain, forget their morals, and still live freely in a prosperous era while muddying the waters of right and wrong.

This guy Yan Jun got promoted way too quickly, almost like he hit the jackpot! After the emperor took power, he held all matters in his hands, but he secretly plotted to seize political power for himself. When he was put in charge of selecting officials, he grew even bolder; when he was made the chief official of the capital, he became even more arrogant. According to regulations, if he encountered a memorial that displeased him, he would whip the person and report them, completely disregarding the emperor's authority—that's just outrageous! The emperor repeatedly ordered severe punishment, and officials should have followed through, but he deliberately did not comply, stirring up complaints and hiding a bunch of bad intentions while carrying out all kinds of misdeeds.

He went around spreading the emperor's private orders; he shifted the blame for punishments onto the emperor, and took credit for rewards. He slandered those who had helped him and put on a false front to comfort those who were punished. He totally flouted the court's rules, confused the emperor and the people, feared the emperor's punishment, and incited the common people. The emperor also began to doubt him, so he pretended to request to go to the east to herd horses, to gauge the emperor's intentions.

Once at the border, he became even more reckless in cursing the emperor, speaking ill behind his back, and that’s just the beginning. Furthermore, every time he submitted a memorial, he slipped in personal gain, showed off to his friends and family, and sent his lackeys running wild everywhere.

When my mother passed away, it was winter. The emperor graciously allowed me to return home for my mother's funeral. After the funeral was over, I did not immediately return, but lingered in the capital for a while. During that time, my interactions with some high-ranking officials varied widely. I often wore a mask of worry and fear, secretly observing the situation, inquiring about the thoughts of the ministers, and worrying that I would not be able to stand firm. In the end, I ultimately chose to request a transfer because I felt that the country was about to collapse, and the resentment I harbored only deepened, while my behavior became increasingly worse.

When I was young, I failed to meet my family's expectations during my youth. When I held a high position and had a large salary, I was consumed by the desire to flaunt my wealth and status, and could not even support my parents. I nursed a longstanding grudge against my younger brother, and used my power to kill at will, leading to a rift in our family, with relatives and friends feeling shocked and scared of me. In every position I held, I turned a blind eye to state affairs, recklessly squandered the funds from the Danyang treasury, and frequently lent money and bribed my followers. I was arrogant and self-indulgent, exploiting public resources for my own gain, even accepting bribes to support my slaves. My guests spent their days in a drunken stupor, indulging in song and dance as was their custom, while the gossip on the streets had turned decidedly unfavorable.

I was merely an ordinary civil official, but I received special favor from the emperor. The emperor disregarded my faults and chose to promote me, allowing me to participate in national affairs. I have made no significant contributions, yet I reveled in wealth and honor, enjoying favor that surpassed others. However, I am like a mountain stream that overflows when it is full, insatiable in greed like a tiger or wolf. How can I even begin to describe my greed! Now the emperor's wisdom shines, the country is prosperous, but I have descended into decadence, undermining societal morals, harming the country, and should receive severe punishment to demonstrate the emperor's wisdom. Therefore, I request the emperor to remove my official position, strip me of my title and land, and hand me over to the court for lawful disposal.

The emperor did not want to execute me immediately, so he first removed my official position. I repeatedly begged for forgiveness and pleaded for my life. The emperor became angrier and issued a decree saying, "The circumstances described in the memorial of the Xian Si are not what we expected. You have enjoyed so much wealth and honor, but now you have come to this end. You blame fate and others, have disappointed our expectations, and are overly worried, afraid for your own safety. Is this your idea of loyalty?" Later, Prince Jingling instigated a rebellion, which implicated me. The emperor summoned the Chief Imperial Censor Yu Huizhi, and after receiving the report, the emperor decreed, "You have disappointed our favor and fallen to this point. Give him death in prison, pardon his wife and children, and let them escape far away." His son, Bi Qiang, was exiled to Jiaozhou, where he was killed en route. Jun's works have been passed down through the ages.

Historians note that Emperor Shizu was young during his time as a regional prince, still immature in his dealings with people, straightforward in his interactions with ministers, speaking his mind openly. Later, when the situation became turbulent and his own safety was threatened, he exhibited remarkable courage and decisiveness, feeling extremely anxious, as if he hadn’t finished expressing his thoughts.

After he ascended to the throne, wielding power and authority, his authority was recognized throughout the realm. He could achieve anything he desired and managed affairs effectively and without error. However, as time went on, his feelings of joy and sorrow began to shift, and his perception of things changed as well. While the emperor was thinking about the current situation, the ministers remained nostalgic for the past. Similar to Song Chang, whose loyalty was unwavering, the emperor had already rewarded him; and just like those who share the same boat, the ministers' expectations of the emperor grew increasingly high.

As a result, there arose a rift between the emperor and the ministers, resulting in mutual blame. Perhaps this was the point at which Jun (referring to the founding emperor) sealed his own fate? As a subject, if one can wholeheartedly serve the monarch, not seek personal gain or rewards for their achievements, even if someone wanted to conspire against him, they would find no opportunity.

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Written by: Realhistories

Category: Book of Song （宋書）

Published: 04 January 2025

Created: 04 January 2025

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Yan Yanzhi, courtesy name Yannian, was from Linyi in Langya. His great-grandfather Yan Han held the title of Right Guanglu Daifu; his grandfather Yan Yue was Governor of Lingling Prefecture; and his father Yan Xian was Commander of the Guard. Yan Yanzhi lost both parents at a young age, grew up in poverty on the outskirts of town, and his house and the alley were in disrepair. But he devoured all kinds of books and wrote exceptionally well, unparalleled at the time. He wasn't particularly mindful of his behavior when drinking, and he remained unmarried by the age of thirty. His sister married Liu Xian, the son of Liu Muzhi from Dongguan. Liu Muzhi and Yan Yanzhi were old friends, and upon hearing about Yan Yanzhi's talent, he sought to promote him and wanted to meet him first, but Yan Yanzhi declined the invitation. Later, General Liu Liu and the Minister of the Interior of Wu appointed him as a military advisor, and later promoted him to Chief Clerk, and subsequently served as a military advisor to the Prince of Yuzhang.

In the twelfth year of the Yixi era, Emperor Wu of Song launched a northern expedition. Song Gong sent someone to deliver an appointment to him, asking him to participate in the writing of the daily records. Yan Yanzhi and his colleague Wang Canjun were ordered to go to Luoyang, and on the way, they wrote two poems that were highly praised by Xie Hui and Fu Liang for their magnificent language. After the establishment of the Song Dynasty, Zheng Xianzhi recommended him to be a scholar, and he was later promoted to be an attendant to the crown prince. After Emperor Wu of Song became emperor, he appointed him as an attendant to the crown prince. At that time, there was a man named Zhou Xuzhi from Yanmen, who lived in seclusion in Lushan. His knowledge of Confucianism was very high, and he was summoned to the capital during the Yongchu era. The court specially opened a residence for him to stay. Emperor Wu of Song personally visited him, and all the court officials went as well. Although Yan Yanzhi held a relatively low position, the emperor arranged for him to sit at the top seat. The emperor asked Zhou Xuzhi to expound extensively on the "three virtues," and Zhou Xuzhi spoke confidently. However, Yan Yanzhi consistently countered him with succinct arguments each time. After Yan Yanzhi had refuted Zhou Xuzhi multiple times, the emperor asked him to explain himself. Zhou Xuzhi's explanation was concise and well-organized, earning everyone's approval. Later, Yan Yanzhi was transferred to be a clerk in the Ministry of Rites and also served as an attendant to the crown prince.

Fu Liang believed he was the greatest writer of his time and considered himself superior to others. However, Xie Lingyun matched his talent, which made Fu Liang very unhappy. Prince Luling Xiao Yizhen held Xie Lingyun's writing in high regard and treated him well; Xu Xianzhi and the others doubted Xie Lingyun's allegiance, which left them quite displeased. Later, when the young emperor ascended the throne, Xie Lingyun was appointed as a regular attendant and also served as an attendant in the Imperial Library. Not long after, he was promoted to be an assistant grand secretary, and was ultimately appointed governor of Shian County.

General Xie Hui, the leading general, said to Xie Lingyun, "Before, Xun Xu was jealous of Ruan Xian and demoted him to Shiping County. Now you have also gone to Shi'an, this is quite the 'double beginning,' isn't it?" The Yellow Gate Attendant Yin Jingren also said to him, "As the saying goes, society tends to shun outstanding talents and disparage those with literary flair." Xie Lingyun went to take up his post in Shi'an County, passing by the Miluo River, where he happened to encounter the Governor of Xiangzhou, Zhang Ji, who was offering sacrifices to Qu Yuan. Xie Lingyun also expressed his respect, saying:

I respectfully carry out the Emperor's orders, honoring the old Chu. Visiting the depths of Huai Sha, receiving offerings at the Juan Pei. Calming the waters of Luo Tan and mooring the boat at Mi Zhu, respectfully honoring the spirit of Lord Qu, the esteemed figure of Chu:

The fragrance of orchids fades, and jade integrity shatters. It is said that a gentleman faces a lack of auspicious days. Warm winds until the time, flying frost urgent. My body is severed from Ying Que, with traces scattered across Xiang Gan. Like plants and herbs, I am connected to the dragons and phoenixes. My voice resonates like gold and stone, and my ambition shines like the sun and moon. Like those fragrant trees, truly remarkable and thriving. Gazing at Mi with a heavy heart, and looking at Luo with thoughts of crossing. Lying down amidst the dust, my shining loyalty is hard to fault.

In 426 AD, Yan Yanzhi was implicated in certain matters and faced punishment. Later, he was appointed as a Deputy Director of the Imperial Secretariat, and soon after was promoted to the Prince's Chief Attendant, and then served as the Colonel of Infantry, enjoying a successful official career, with the emperor generously rewarding him.

However, Yan Yanzhi, a heavy drinker with a straightforward personality who doesn't read the room, was unhappy to see Liu Zhan and Yin Jingren in power. He often angrily said, "National affairs should be discussed with everyone; how can one person's smarts solve all the problems?" He spoke fiercely and often confronted those in power. He even directly told Liu Zhan, "I haven’t been promoted because of you lot!" Liu Zhan was so angry with him that he went to Prince Pengcheng Liu Yikang to complain, and as a result, Yan Yanzhi got demoted to governor of Yongjia.

Yan Yanzhi was very resentful, so he wrote a poem called "The Five Lords' Ode," drawing on the story of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove to poke fun at Shan Tao and Wang Rong for their demotions due to their high status. In the poem, he wrote about Ji Kang: "The phoenix feathers sometimes preen; who can tame the dragon nature?" He wrote about Ruan Ji: "You can’t forget the dead, and you can’t avoid the path to poverty." He wrote about Ruan Xian: "Repeatedly recommended but not appointed, only to be sent out as a governor." He wrote about Liu Ling: "Hiding talents and sinking into drinking; who knows it’s not just a wild party?" These four lines actually reflect his own state of mind. When Liu Zhan and Liu Yikang saw this poem, they felt that Yan Yanzhi's words were disrespectful and were very angry.

At that time, Yan Yanzhi had already taken up the position of governor of Yongjia, and they wanted to demote him to a more remote place. Emperor Wen of Song and Liu Yikang issued a decree together, saying, "Demote Yan Zhi to a remote small country to govern. Some say that his presence in the capital city is enough to disturb the people; his wrongdoings are obvious, and the people all know. Originally, they wanted to replace him and let him think things over in the countryside. But he still does not repent, so he will be exiled to the east. His ambitions are intolerable, and we'll handle him based on how things go later. The intentions of Yin Jingren and Liu Zhan are the same." In the end, they replaced Yan Yanzhi with Guanglu Xunche Zhongyuan.

Yan Yanzhi and Zhongyuan had a strained relationship, so Yan Yanzhi stayed away from officialdom, lived in seclusion in the countryside, and stayed there for seven years. Later, Wang Qiu, the Chancellor, was known for his integrity and did not engage in political disputes. Yan Yanzhi greatly admired him, and Wang Qiu also recognized Yan Yanzhi's talents, so their relationship was very good. Yan Yanzhi lived frugally, and Wang Qiu often supported him.

When Empress Dowager Jin Gongsi was buried, all officials were required to attend. Taking the opportunity in the first year of Yixi to usher in the new year, Liu Zhan appointed Yan Yanzhi as an attendant. When the county officials delivered documents, Yan Yanzhi was drunk and threw the documents on the ground, saying, "Yan Yanzhi can't even handle matters while alive; how can he handle things for the dead!" In his spare time, Yan Yanzhi also wrote a "Family Instruction," deleting some of the tedious texts and keeping only the main essence, which was included in the article.

A "Family Instruction" is used to admonish future generations, which means you don't need to have grand ambitions; just be a good person at home. As I grow older, I feel like a leaf falling in autumn, so I quickly write down some advice I haven't had the chance to share with you. The principles of good conduct have been clearly stated by the sages, so I will not repeat them. What I am writing now is my accumulated thoughts, coming from the heart and put into practice. I emphasize clarity in writing, not pursuing complexity, but striving to say what I need to say to help you avoid mistakes. As the ancients said, if the holes in a birdcatcher's net are too small, the birds cannot be caught; similarly, in life and work, one must grasp the balance.

This is the purpose of my writing these words.

You must stick to your principles and be fair and impartial, as this is the foundation of being a person; personal feelings are private. Fairness and impartiality can earn the blessings of heaven; if one's selfishness is too strong, even one's family will leave. Therefore, great individuals from ancient times abandoned selfish thoughts, followed principles, prioritized fairness, and rejected personal desires.

Although our lives are short, only a few decades, our hearts should be as vast as the heavens and the earth; although our lifespan is limited, our actions should be as solid and enduring as rock and gold. Look at the warnings of the ancients, the teachings of our elders, though they may seem minor, they can leave a lasting legacy, remembered by future generations; those exquisite buildings can also be preserved for a long time, embodying the aspirations of the people. Shouldn't we think long-term when cultivating virtues, achieving success, and honoring our ancestors? It's not enough to do good deeds on your own; you should also be remembered by future generations. If you want your children to be filial, you must first be loving; if you want your siblings to get along, you need to be friendly first. Filial piety may not necessarily require parental love, but parental love is the foundation of filial piety; sibling harmony may not necessarily require mutual love, but love is the cornerstone of harmony.

It is said that sometimes success can be achieved with insufficient preparation, but if there is not enough trust, then it will definitely not work. If you understand that kindness and intentions nurture each other, and reason and emotions are mutually promoting, then you can have talents in your family like those of Shen and Chai, with everyone contributing and sacrificing. Pay attention to moral cultivation at home, earn a good reputation outside, speak confidently but act with humility; stand out in talent for a while, but be humble and cautious in your dealings with others. Do not interfere with the public based on your own abilities, do not comment on matters based on your own strengths; only then can you flow into the great path like a deep and wide river, be in harmony with heaven and earth; that kind of person is a true gentleman. If you cannot leave a lasting legacy and want others to praise you, understand that this kind of thinking is in vain; do not force it, be humble and cautious, avoid arrogance and pride, broaden your knowledge and aspire to the lofty ideals of the wise. No matter how well you write, if your expressive abilities are lacking, no matter how brilliant your arguments are, if they can't contribute to your personal growth, they're merely second-rate.

If one only values practical benefits, relies solely on debate skills to win, places too much importance on the glory that comes from reputation, thinks that success can be won through competition, stays indoors, believing themselves to be noble, doesn't even trust their own servants and maids, and boasts of being better than others, this leads to a reckless ambition for quick gains, pursuing superficial fame and fortune, without realizing they've sunk to the standards of the discerning, contradicting the teachings of self-cultivation and family harmony! Remember the saying, "When a thousand people point fingers, one dies a death without illness." Those who behave like this, I don't want to hear about them anymore.

Those with talent ought to prepare their arguments ahead of time. Ordinary scholars lacking practical experience, how can they gain recognition by comparing their writings to others' opinions? If they merely sigh at home, boast among their peers and gossip about oddities, using hollow arguments to counter others' views, this is a shortsighted approach, lacking a long-term vision. If esteemed guests are present, and everyone is reading and discussing extensively, but you can't express your own opinions, you'll be looked down upon, feeling lost and dejected, silently returning home, unaware that your earlier boasting has only led to your present frustration! This is indeed a common issue among young people; you must take heed!

Those harboring resentment and slander will not succeed, only inviting ridicule from others. Such behavior is that of a slave; how can a person of broad mind act this way? Therefore, moral standing and demeanor—the higher, the better; resentful words and arguments will only lead to deeper entanglement. For those aspiring to be gentlemen, shouldn't they strive diligently? While it's often said that all people are the same, emotions can't always stay calm, therefore, one should employ lofty reasoning to rise above them, using shrewd calculations to dispel them. Shouldn't one work to distinguish themselves and avoid sinking into the ranks of the vulgar?

Wealthy people and impoverished people are in two entirely different situations. It's not always easy for wealthy people to relate to poor people. However, in the past, some people were able to get along without resentment or annoyance; there's surely a reason for that. After all, where there is wealth, there must be poverty—that's just the way of the world. If I'm holding onto wealth, then someone else must be holding onto poverty, right? That's not quite right either. This is where the reasoning lies, and this is the logic behind it, but some people insist, speculate randomly, thinking that they have not reached the position they deserve.

Raising silkworms and weaving cloth is essential for having enough food and clothing; this is the foundation of the common people's lives. Farming is really tough, so they can only hire servants to help. We need to be mindful of their needs, provide clothing and food, arrange their work, alternate between light and heavy tasks, let them rest and have fun, and punish them when necessary. Even if you try hard to comfort them, you should not let them suffer too much. First, effectively manage public taxes to reduce the extortion of officials; don't rush to add extra expenses to steer clear of rumors; adjust taxes based on the season and the quality of the harvest; live simply and share what you can with others. This is how to live in harmony with the world and manage life effectively.

There are many ways to lead subordinates; you should appeal to their emotions. There are many strategies to lead subordinates; you should be straightforward and transparent. If you treat them with genuine sincerity, things can be done well; even if you work in the fields, as long as you are honest, you can achieve remarkable results. If you deprive them of their normal lives and make them do heavy work, even if you come across as imposing and intimidating, like a clap of thunder, you cannot suppress their desires; even if you abandon their strengths and only focus on their minor flaws, even if you shine as brightly as the sun and moon, you cannot suppress their ill intentions. Thus, it is said: "Too much leniency leads to mistakes, while too much strictness discourages people." Etiquette values generosity, whereas laws demand strictness. Generosity helps make people better, while strictness helps make people cautious. Although farming and harvesting are crude tasks, mistakes cannot be made in work. This means that while the work may be crude, it should not be approached with a crude mindset.

Alas, in this life, we all come from the same roots, but unfortunately, there is a strict hierarchy, clear distinctions between the rich and the poor, the noble and the lowly, which confines people's understanding to their professions and dulls their true nature with worldly concerns. Even if everyone has their own wishes and preferences, there should not be any differences; even in employer-employee relationships, respect is essential, and one should not arbitrarily insult others! Look at those wealthy families, warm in winter like spring, their dogs and horses eat well, while the stewards and maids often go hungry. If those wealthy people could understand the hardships of the poor, understand the benevolence of rulers like King Zhou, eat less delicacies, comprehend the hunger of the poor, and embrace kindness and forgiveness, wouldn't that be wonderful? How can those who see human life as expendable and treat others like livestock think the same way? Punishment should be applied carefully and not misused; favors should be given fairly and not skewed. Abusing punishment loses its meaning, and biased favors are worse than none at all; even in minor matters, one should be as careful as skilled doctors and those who lack expertise. Reflect on your actions more, and be mindful of others' feelings when interacting; only then can one gain others' favor and satisfy one's heart. During festivals and gatherings, everyone comes together, chatting and laughing; this is a positive thing. But if a lack of respect leads to insults, it’s simply not worth it. If one can be respectful and cautious usually, especially when dealing with unpleasant situations, one should be even more careful to avoid unnecessary conflicts. Instead of this, it is better to reduce interactions, simplify matters, maintain a calm mindset, not speculate about others' thoughts, speak sincerely and thoughtfully, making your friends feel at ease; let your smile come naturally and warmly, so those around you feel happy. This way, you will not offend others for no reason, nor invite insults; it’s like mastering the art of social interactions, and everyone must be cautious!

Doubt, suspicion, and mistrust are indeed difficult to distinguish. This is not only because shameless people hide their intelligence, and indecisive people hide their determination. If you constantly harbor suspicions and resentments and deceive the wise, your emotions will become erratic; if you want to change those who behave like dogs and horses, their words and actions will become strange. Moreover, acts of theft, corruption, and bribery are even less worthy of mention. Therefore, the ancient wise rulers established laws and systems, carefully handled cases, avoided abuse of power, and changed their original intentions; just as Zhu Gong discussed prices and Lin Xiangru discussed jade, fairness and justice must prevail, and prices should not be swayed by personal preferences. Although these principles are grand, they can be used to guard against minor faults. Making many friends is good, but friendship should be loyal. The key to long-lasting friendship lies in long-term companionship, while broken friendships often stem from hasty breakups. Long-lasting friendship stems from mutual respect, while broken friendship stems from mutual disdain. Love your friends, but do not overburden them; support them on the right path. Be loyal to your friends, but do not overly lecture them; let them recognize their own mistakes. Help them develop their skills and enhance their literary talents, so that close friends remain respectful and distant friends do not become suspicious. Always maintain noble character and avoid holding grudges. If you can do these things, you'll forge friendships that last a lifetime.

Drinking can bring happiness, but one should not overindulge. Few people actually get sick from overindulgence, and those who become seriously ill are even rarer. If someone is already ill and it worsens, they will lose their normal judgment. To maintain normal judgment, the best approach is to practice caution and restraint. While one can enjoy music or performances, it's important not to completely reject them. Those who are not offended by refusal are rare, and those who are not negatively affected by offense are even rarer. If negative effects have already happened and offense has taken root, corresponding harm will be suffered. To achieve inner peace, one must overcome obstacles and control their preferences.

Doing good deeds should not only stem from the heart but also align with ethical principles. Doing good deeds does not require prior accumulation or meticulous calculation. Even if one spends all their wealth, it is certainly possible. Helping those in urgent need should always come first, even if you're struggling financially. Being generous like Wang Dan when giving and accepting help graciously like Du Lin exemplifies true interaction.

Extravagant outfits and superficial decorations only serve to hide one's true self. Unique clothing and exquisite food are ways to abandon simplicity and authenticity. While these things may draw envy and attention, they rarely fulfill one's inner needs. Recognizing that life's true essence isn't found in superficialities, one can naturally uphold nobility and self-restraint, steering clear of meaningless actions despite the temptations of luxury.

Fortune-telling and physiognomy must have a basis. After listening to the analysis of the fortune-teller and verifying it on oneself, the reasoning can be examined. People have innate endowments and acquired cultivation, as well as the virtues of the Five Constants. Innate endowments are characterized by yin and yang, and the virtues of the Five Constants have strengths and weaknesses. Once a person comes into the world, how can one avoid some misfortunes? This is like the distinction between beauty and ugliness from birth, and the difference between premature death and longevity at death, which everyone knows is predetermined by heaven. As for encountering misfortunes in one's prime and hardships in middle age, how can they be easily changed? Therefore, the more difficult it is for a gentleman to cultivate the Dao, the stronger their understanding of the Dao grows.

Ancient people were ashamed to use themselves as tools of greed, which means restraining desires. Desires are the impurities of human nature, the evaporation of human vitality, so their harm lies in clouding the mind, depleting true feelings, damaging interpersonal relationships, and violating human nature. Although desires exist from birth, human nature is like smoke that smothers fire, and like worms that infest cinnamon trees, which destroy the cinnamon tree. Therefore, when the fire is strong, the smoke will be extinguished; when the worms are strong, the cinnamon tree will break. Thus, people with clear minds have simple desires, while those with many indulgences have turbid breath. Without clarity, they become turbid and cannot survive for long. The wisdom of sages, both within and outside, is often dismissed, and the insights of many Confucian and Taoist scholars are denied. However, those with desires are not worried about going astray, so those who advise them always feel that their methods are shallow and powerless, resulting in more people abandoning moral principles and fewer who uphold them. It is difficult to completely abandon desires, but making even small changes each time counts as progress.

The nature of integrity and desire is different, so feelings of awe and admiration may also be different. People who do things for others, if they do not have a mindset of being selfless and considerate of others, cannot truly be considered wise. Only by not abandoning one's principles because of others' demands can one stay true to oneself. Believing one is right while others disagree is like a flaw in chess; admiring others' strengths while overlooking one's own weaknesses is a pitfall in learning from them. To eliminate these flaws, one must constantly reflect on yourself and be cautious and self-restrained.

Gossip is inevitable for anyone, let alone those of low status, who are even harder to guard against it. The best way to handle gossip is to speak sincerely. Without a good reputation, one will attract suspicion and slander; if one is not sociable, resentment will build. If these situations occur, it becomes difficult to avoid defamation. If one can reflect on oneself, not blame others, one will gain the appreciation of wise individuals, demonstrate one's noble character, and let others understand the truth. Reflect on yourself daily and review your aspirations monthly; be generous and reserved, and live a simple, content life. Your heart will find peace, so why worry about others' idle chatter?

As the saying goes, wealth leads to prosperity, poverty leads to decline. The pain of poverty goes beyond just a rough lifestyle; it can also lead to spiritual decline, causing one to lose friends and face blame from family members. How can one maintain their integrity without noble character and a broad perspective? Therefore, the best way to alleviate worries and hardships is to reflect on the past. This aspiration should be as clear-sighted as that of the ancient sages, reducing worries and diluting hatred. Once, there was a person who played music and sang in a humble thatched cottage, and he used this method.

Integrity will not be concealed; justice will eventually be revealed. Friends should help each other, and honest people illuminate one another. As long as there is a sincere understanding between each other, emotions will be as strong as mountains; as long as a word reaches the heart, thoughts will be as clear as deep springs. With such communication, even water and fire can coexist; even gold and stone can be worn down. Why wait until you've achieved success and fame to think about giving back with lavish gifts as a way to express your gratitude? If you can work with such people, you should think seriously and not slack off at all.

People who pursue salaries and benefits can easily obtain them, and things that are easily obtained are highly valued; those engaged in agriculture face difficulty in obtaining harvests, and things obtained with difficulty are easily despised. Difficulty and ease reflect hard work and comfort; wealth and poverty reflect people's inclinations. These two paths are opposite. Using hard work to stabilize the country and using your achievements to benefit the community means that even those who command the people can enjoy wealth and honor; if one is only focused on working hard and living for oneself, one can only urge one's wife and children to engage in farming and weaving. This can help avoid bullying and contempt, as well as admiration and longing. It allows both the wise and the foolish to find their place, and the rich and the poor to live in peace and contentment.

People, in order to appreciate things, do not rely on harsh laws to force it out; in order to stay committed, it is not for the pursuit of high positions and riches. Those who appreciate things treat them with care, preserving them wisely; those who stay committed can see things through to the end. Some people, once they lose their position, also lose their emotions, which doesn't truly reflect cherishing. And some people, once the task is done, their mindset shifts, which is not called perseverance.

But this is not all. Some people see others succeed and try to flatter them, wanting to build relationships with them. Once they hear unfavorable comments about themselves, they sow discord, even secretly causing trouble and creating conflicts. They praise others with a smiling face in the morning, but criticize them behind their backs in the evening. Their relationships were once good, but now they pretend not to know each other. These kinds of people are truly vile! Even more infuriating are those who rely on the favors and teachings of others to succeed, depend on others' comments and publicity to become famous, rely on others for everything, and are willing to be freeloaders. Once they fall out of favor, they become wary of others, avoid them, and even bite the hand that feeds them, unscrupulously defaming others, looking down on others' abilities, exaggerating their own abilities, being self-righteous, and despising those who are knowledgeable. These people are the real parasites of society, keeping everyone on their toes.

When encountering odd occurrences, it is best not to spread them casually; when facing sudden changes, think about where you might have gone wrong to find peace. If the odd occurrences are caused by yourself, but you turn around and accuse others, resisting when under pressure, you will only become more excessive. Only those who can calmly handle different opinions like Pei Kai, and remain calm under pressure like Pei Xia, can truly be called gentlemen!

It is normal for people to experience joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness; these emotions often stem from a narrow mind, and controlling them requires a broad mind. However, excessive joy is not dignified, and excessive anger is not dignified. If you can adopt a calm and indifferent attitude towards life, and a tolerant and joyful approach to handling things, then even if great joy impacts your heart, you can calm down with a little restraint; even if extreme anger disturbs your nature, you can calm it down with a little patience. Therefore, when actions are faultless and behavior consistent, things will naturally be resolved smoothly, and people will naturally get along harmoniously.

Oh, the impact of the environment on people is immense. It's not merely about altering your personality and behavior; it can even change your thoughts and judgment. Just as the ancients said: "Living with good people is like entering a room filled with fragrance; eventually, you’ll stop noticing the fragrance." If you spend a long time with good people, you will naturally be influenced by them. "Spending time with bad people is like being in a fish market; eventually, you won't even notice the stench." That's why the ancients were very careful in choosing who to associate with. Only those with noble character can avoid being tainted by the impurities of the world. Just like the saying: "Cinnabar can be destroyed but never loses its redness, and a stone can be shattered but never loses its hardness." If you don't have a steadfast character like cinnabar and stone, you must be cautious to steer clear of negative influences.

If you want to be a moral person, you must have a heart that follows reason. As long as you adhere to your moral principles and act according to reason, you shouldn't worry about wealth or poverty; just enjoy life. Some people may say, "How can there be happiness in poverty?" They fail to grasp the true essence of 'Dao.' The 'Dao' can help you maintain a peaceful mindset in both wealth and poverty, as reason is inherently equal. It's only when you lose this mindset that you feel unhappy; as long as you maintain this mindset, what is there to be unhappy about?

Some people say that having enough food and clothing is essential. Only with enough food and clothing can one live well. If one is hungry and cold, talking about following principles becomes meaningless. This represents a misunderstanding of principles. In fact, there are many methods of health preservation, and there are no absolute standards. Some people who eat delicacies may have a short life, while some who eat simple meals may live to be a hundred. Just as Ge Hong said, what is sufficient doesn't always have to come from outside. So, eat what you need; even in tough times, you won't go hungry; cook what you need; even if your family is well-off, you won't have too much left over. The key isn’t the quantity of food, but a balanced mindset. Moreover, if your inner self is fulfilled, physically and mentally healthy, with a clear mind and modest desires, and a remarkable disposition, even if you go hungry nine days out of ten, you won't feel it; even if the mat is thin, you won't feel cold. Doesn't that sound believable?

You can't understand others' thoughts by judging them through your own standards. The universe operates in cycles; this is the vastness of the natural order. Rivers flow and mountains stand tall; this represents the strength of the earthly realm. People's emotions and thoughts are interconnected; this is the brilliance of humanity. Those in ancient times who understood these principles didn't get caught up in trivial disputes. They likely had open minds, were fair, made friends easily, and held no grudges. Therefore, as long as they are friends worth having, righteous people will go out of their way to befriend them; as long as they are respected elders, benevolent and righteous individuals will treat them with respect. This fosters harmonious relationships and a positive social atmosphere, benefiting the upper class while also bringing peace to the lower class.

Although the world is constantly changing, the lessons of the past remain etched in memory. People should return to their authentic selves and find their place in life. Think about it: from birth to death, it's just a fleeting moment. Childhood and youth pass in the blink of an eye, and old age quickly approaches. The hardships and bitterness experienced in between are truly indescribable. Even if one is fortunate enough to live until the end, how much longer can one live? Our fragile bodies will soon return to dust, and even the most talented individuals will ultimately become mere dust. Looking back, even if one has lived for decades, what does it really mean?

All the glory and wealth cannot be retained; self-cultivation alone can't guarantee peace of mind. In my life, as I travel and see things, if I can find guidance from wise individuals, then I can understand the underlying principles. Grasping these principles opens the door to divine understanding. As long as there is goodness in the heart, one will naturally not do evil deeds. If one can believe in the ways of heaven, one will face no shame in the afterlife. To calm down and cultivate oneself, one’s aspirations should reflect those of the ancient sages. It might feel out of reach, but one must persevere every day.

Once this understanding is achieved, one can forget about aging. If one cannot achieve this, then who can we journey with? I'm sharing these thoughts with you all; if I tried to express everything I think, I'd never stop writing. The key to sustaining oneself is through farming and living simply; the path to a good life is found in peaceful living and hard work, fulfilling the responsibilities of being a child.

Liu Zhan initially served as a logistics officer for King Jun of Shixing and later became the Deputy Imperial Censor. During his tenure, he indulged himself and did not inquire or report on anything. He was later promoted to the position of Grand Sacrificial Official and Left Chief Historian. He was accused of secretly purchasing others' land and refusing to return the money. Xun Chisong, the Left Minister of Works, submitted a memorial stating, "Greed for land and houses is despised by the sages of the past. Liu Zhan is solely focused on his own interests, recklessly defying imperial orders, relying on the emperor's favor, and refusing to return the excess money for a year without resolution. He stops at nothing for personal gain. Liu Zhan was demoted for his mistakes in the past but was later reinstated. However, he showed no remorse, and his complaints and slanders never ceased. He associates with dubious characters and indulges in drink and debauchery, spreading mockery and slander far and wide, defaming the officials of the court. He feigns integrity and contentment, but in reality, he is filled with ambitions for power and profit, constantly seeking advancement and wealth, never satisfied. He even curses at people at banquets. The emperor is magnanimous and forgiving, valuing even the smallest talents, yet Liu Zhan remains arrogant and indulgent, and his behavior is worsening. I’ve heard that even Mencius deemed 'believing slander and failing to verify' as shameful, let alone that Liu Zhan’s words are not hearsay but his own. Although he is not very intelligent, he is self-righteous, boastful, and devoid of remorse. How can he serve the emperor and uphold the court's honor? I urge the emperor to dismiss Liu Zhan from his post due to the baselessness of his land purchases, attempting to deceive the emperor and take advantage of others." The emperor approved the request.

Later, he became Secretary to the Emperor, Grand Minister of Rites, and Minister of Ceremonies. At that time, there was a monk named Huilin, who was highly regarded by Emperor Taizu for his outstanding talent. Every time Huilin was summoned, he was always seated beside the Emperor. Liu Zhan harbored a deep resentment for Huilin. Once, in a drunken state, he boldly declared in front of the Emperor, "In the past, when we rode in the carriage together, Yuan Si was still serious. Now, how can a criminal occupy one of those three positions?" The Emperor's expression shifted dramatically upon hearing this. Liu Zhan was already impatient by nature, and being drunk made him speak without restraint, never shying away from expressing his thoughts. Therefore, many people dared not say much to him. He lived a simple life, not pursuing wealth, wearing coarse clothes, eating vegetarian food, drinking alone in the outskirts, finding joy in solitude as if no one else existed.

When he was twenty-nine, he submitted a memorial to the emperor saying, "I've heard the saying, 'Those who travel a hundred miles are only halfway when they reach ninety,' which means that the hardest part of any task comes at the end. I used to think that was just an exaggeration, but now I see it's true. I've enjoyed the emperor's favor, but I haven't really accomplished much. My reputation keeps growing while my health declines day by day. Even though my rank is going up, so are my troubles. I've wanted to retire and live out my days in peace for a long time, but the court's rules tie my hands, and I can't bear to leave. So, I'm risking mistakes by asking to retire. Recently, my health has really been failing. From last summer to autumn, I’ve been feeling dizzy and dealing with toothaches. My old ailments are flaring up again; my hands and feet are cold and numb, and my left shoulder is especially severe. I can’t eat; my appetite has dropped by half. I used to rely on medicine, but now I'm just getting weaker. I'm getting old, plagued by illness, and feel like my days are numbered. Even though I hold a high position, I feel unworthy. I can’t handle the affairs of the ancestral temple and the sacrifices anymore, let alone go to the palace to see the emperor in person. I'm limited in ability, serving as Prime Minister and governor of the capital's outskirts by imperial grace, but I am incompetent. I sincerely ask for the emperor's permission to resign, to retire at home and recuperate. I hope the emperor will grant my request so I can repay his kindness and spend my later years in peace. I long to return to my hometown, always grateful for the emperor's kindness." The emperor didn’t agree. The following year, he finally retired and returned home. Later, after a political upheaval, the usurper appointed him as the Grand Master of Splendor.

Before this, his son Jun had served as a military advisor for the Southern Zhonglang Emperor and participated in important military planning when the rebel army was being suppressed. He was also responsible for drafting documents. The regicide Sima Shao summoned Yan Zhi and showed him the proclamation, asking, "Who wrote this article?" Yan Zhi replied, "Jun wrote it." Sima Shao asked again, "How do you know?" Yan Zhi said, "I can recognize Jun's handwriting." Sima Shao asked, "Is this article written so passionately?" Yan Zhi replied, "Jun doesn't even care about his own father, so why would he care about Your Majesty?" After hearing this, Sima Shao cleared his doubts, and Yan Zhi was spared from disaster.

After the Emperor ascended the throne, he appointed Yan Zhi as the Grand Minister of the Golden Purple Light and also made him the teacher of the Prince of Xiangdong. Although Yan Zhi had a prominent status and power, he lived simply, never accepting any gifts, and dressing and living simply as before. He often rode a rickety cart pulled by a scrawny ox when traveling, and would quickly hide by the roadside if he encountered the prince's entourage. He enjoyed riding horses through the streets, stopping to drink wine with old friends, and would get really happy after a drink. He often told the prince, "I've never been fond of meeting high officials and nobles, but now that I'm in a tough spot, I have to meet you." The prince built him a house and said, "Live well and don't let future generations laugh at you for not knowing how to enjoy life!" He also freed him from his teaching duties and assigned him thirty loyal attendants.

In the third year of Xiaojian, Yan Zhi passed away at the age of seventy-three. The court posthumously appointed him as a Cavalier Attendant and a Specially Promoted Official, while his position as a Grand Master of Splendid Grace remained unchanged. He was posthumously given the title "Xianzi". Yan Zhi and Xie Lingyun of Chen County were both famous in literature, and no literati could surpass them after Pan Yue and Lu Ji. People in the Jiangnan region at that time all praised Yan Zhi and Xie Lingyun. Their works have been passed down to this day. There is also a biography of his eldest son, Jun. Yan Zhi's younger brother, Ce, was also famous for his writings and achieved the rank of Grand Minister of Justice and Army Recorder for King Fu Yigong of Jiangxia, but passed away at a young age. After Emperor Taizong took the throne, he issued a decree stating, "Yan Zhi had previously taught me and shared a deep bond with me. Former Secretary and Governor of Jiyang Furen Qinfan had old ties with Yan Zhi. He can be promoted to the position of Minister of the Central Secretariat." Furen Qinfan was Yan Zhi's third son. Historians noted that despite Yan Zhi's humble origins, he served the monarch faithfully. He might have set aside personal feelings for the sake of duty, but he struggled to balance his duties to the monarch and his parents. As a son and a subject, fulfilling their respective duties at different times would suffice. His success in literary and military affairs was not solely due to these factors. However, he angered the nobles with his writings that criticized others, mistreated his kind mother, and placed her in a precarious situation. In his misguided loyalty, he ignored prior warnings. If someone can mistreat their own family, they will likely mistreat others' families as well. His letting his son starve and releasing a deer serve as clear evidence. The Book of Rites states, "At the age of eighty, a son should not participate in political affairs; at the age of ninety, the whole family should refrain from political involvement." Isn't it due to old age and looming dangers that someone in court can resign? Moreover, in times of turmoil and uncertainty, dangers are unpredictable. If Yan Zhi's request to resign wasn't reasonable, how could he have escaped dismissal?