Xu Xiaosi, whose courtesy name was Shichang, hailed from Tan County in Shandong. His grandfather, Xu Zhanzhi, held the position of Minister of Works during the Song Dynasty, and his father, Xu Yuzhi, served as a Gentleman of Letters. Unfortunately, they were both killed by the emperor of the Song Dynasty during the early years of his reign. Xu Xiaosi narrowly escaped a calamity while still in his mother's womb. He grew up tall, with a dignified appearance and noble demeanor. At the age of eight, he inherited the title of County Duke of Zhijiang and was so moved upon meeting Emperor Xiaowu of Song that he ascended the steps in tears, continuing to cry until he sat down. The emperor took a great liking to him. Later, he married Princess Kangle.
In the second year of Taishi, the war on the western front ended, and the emperor returned to the palace. When Xu Xiaosi attended court, he was not wearing court boots and was reported by the Imperial Historian Cai Zhun and fined two taels of gold. He was later appointed as the Commandant of the Cavalry and a Gentleman of Letters, but resigned after the passing of his mother. He then served as a military officer in both the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of War, and also as a literary officer to Prince Ancheng. Xu Xiaosi's aunt married Liu She, a man from Dongguan, and Xu Xiaosi paid a visit to Liu She's brother, Liu Zang, the Deputy Secretary of the Left. Liu Zang confided to Liu She, "Xu Lang is exceptional and will reveal his talents after turning thirty. Make sure to cultivate a good relationship with him."
During the Shengming period, Xu Xiaosi was promoted to be the Cavalry Attendant of the Taizu, concurrently serving as Prefect of Nanpeng City. Later, with changes in the mansion, he was reassigned as a Consultative Officer in the Grand Marshal's Office, while still retaining his position as Prefect. After the establishment of the Qi dynasty, he became the illegitimate son of the Crown Prince. In the early years of the Jianyuan era, the country underwent changes, and he was assigned to Jinling as Prefect. Later, he returned to the court as the Crown Prince's deputy, concurrently serving as Colonel of Changshui Guards. Before he could take office, he was appointed as General of Ning Shuo, Chief Historian of Prince Liang of Wenxi, and later promoted to the Ministry of Personnel Affairs, Right Guard of the Crown Prince, and finally transferred to Chief Historian of the Imperial Court. He walked with elegance and composure, on par with the Grand Preceptor Chu Yuan. Emperor Shizu valued him highly. The Minister of Personnel Affairs, Wang Jian, once said to someone, "Xu Xiaosi will definitely become a prime minister in the future." Later, Xu Xiaosi was promoted to Deputy Censor. Emperor Shizu asked Wang Jian, "Who can replace you?" Wang Jian said, "When I leave the capital, that person will be Xu Xiaosi!" Later, Xu Xiaosi was assigned to Wuxing as Prefect, and Wang Jian even gave him a four-character poem: "Following the virtuous path, pursuing the wise and clear. Neither yielding to softness nor speaking harshly." At that time, people used this poem to describe the character of Cai Zini. Xu Xiaosi's notable achievements during his tenure as Prefect of Wuxing were remarkable. Later, after Wang Jian passed away, the Emperor summoned Xu Xiaosi back and appointed him as Minister of War.
That year, the emperor ordered several junior officials from the Department of Rites, Chen Shu, Wang Jingzhi, Zhu Xuanzhen, and Chen Yimin, to organize the laws and regulations from the Eastern Jin Dynasty and consult with the opinions of Crown Prince Xiaosi. The following year, Xiaosi was promoted to the position of Grand Minister of the Crown Prince. The emperor took Xiaosi to Fangshan for a visit. The emperor said, "I plan to build another palace on the south side of Fangshan, so it should surpass Lingqiu Mountain." Xiaosi replied, "We should go around Huangshan and then visit Niushou Mountain. That is a sight only seen during the prosperous Han Dynasty! The Jiangnan region is still not prosperous enough, and the common people are struggling. I hope Your Majesty will take this into greater consideration." In the end, the emperor did not build the palace. Prince Liang of Jingling commended Xiaosi's suggestion. Prince Liang was very fond of Buddhism, so he appointed Xiaosi and He Yin from Lujiang to oversee the management of the temples and monks. Later, Xiaosi was promoted to the Minister of Personnel. Shortly after, he was reassigned as the Commander of the Left Guard of the Crown Prince, and he was entrusted with many matters in the court.
After the death of the founding emperor, a decree was issued appointing Xiaosi as the Right Minister. In the first year of Longchang, he was promoted to Cavalier Attendant, General of the Front, and Intendant of Danyang. Emperor Gaozong wanted to depose Prince Yulin, so he first confided in Xiaosi. Xiaosi carried out the decree without expressing any opinions. When Emperor Gaozong entered the palace, Xiaosi followed behind in military attire. After Prince Yulin's death, Emperor Gaozong needed an edict from the Empress Dowager. Xiaosi took out the Empress Dowager's edict from his sleeve and read it aloud, which delighted Emperor Gaozong. For his role in deposing Prince Yulin, Xiaosi was appointed as the Marquis of Zhijiang, with a fief comprising one thousand households, a ceremonial escort, and fifty soldiers allowed to enter the palace. Later, he was promoted to Left Minister, while retaining his position as Cavalier Attendant. When Emperor Ming ascended the throne, Xiaosi was further promoted to Palace Attendant and Grand General of the Central Army. Due to his merits, he was elevated to a duke, with his fief increased to two thousand households, and assigned twenty sword-bearing attendants and one hundred soldiers. Previously, only those appointed as Three Excellencies could be enfeoffed in front of the emperor, but this time the emperor issued a decree allowing Xiaosi, along with Chen Xianda and Wang Yan, to receive their enfeoffment in front of him.
The northern nomadic tribes were in turmoil, and the emperor ordered Xiaosi to go to Xinting to station troops. At that time, Wang Yan was serving as the Inspector of Yangzhou, but the people and officials trusted Xiaosi more. Wang Yan was later killed, and Xiaosi was promoted to Minister of Rites, also serving as the Chief Justice of the province, with his other positions unchanged. Xiaosi loved literature, admired elegant and refined things, was known for his broad-mindedness, and did not let his power go to his head, which is why he was highly valued during the Jianwu era. He was modest and cautious, taking care of himself, and praised by both court officials and the general public.
It is said that when Xiaosi was working in the Governor's Mansion, he took a nap during the day and slept under the wall on the north side of the study. He dreamt that two children suddenly said, "Move Grandpa's bed!" Xiaosi woke up startled, heard a noise in the wall, took a few steps forward, and the wall suddenly collapsed, burying his bed. In the fourth year of Jianwu, he was appointed as the Supervisor of the Crown Prince's Household.
When Xiaosi heard that the Emperor wanted to appoint him to an official position, he dressed up and said to those around him, "My virtues pale in comparison to those of the ancients, yet here I am, promoted to such a high position; how can I possibly be worthy? If Your Majesty could reconsider the decree for the sake of reason, I would rather die than accept this honor. If Your Majesty does not revoke the decree, then I can only wear a straw hat, go back to the countryside, and face my punishment at my doorstep." He firmly declined the offer, refusing to accept the appointment.
At that time, there were frequent invasions by minority ethnic groups from the north, and both the national army and the people lacked food and clothing. Xiaosi (孝嗣) suggested the establishment of a garrison farming system, stating, "The country's most pressing issue is to solve the problem of food and military supplies for the army. If even a single farmer stops farming, the situation will worsen significantly. Therefore, from ancient times to the present, the amount of arable land has always exceeded that of the Zhou Dynasty, and the scale of garrison farming has been larger than in the Han Dynasty, as can be found in historical records. However, a thorough discussion spanning from ancient times to the present would be too lengthy; let's just talk about the current situation, there should be solutions available. I have privately investigated the various garrisons in the Huai River basin, and they all rely on supplies from the capital, with huge transportation costs and very difficult canal transportation. Accumulating food and waiting for the enemy to attack often leads to insufficient supplies; there is no issue more critical than this. I have privately visited local residents and local officials, and the previously reclaimed fields in the Huainan area are now overgrown with weeds, and the water facilities have not been repaired. The plains and surrounding lands are desolate. Now, with strict border defense and increased garrison troops, the supplies transported from distant areas are plentiful, but the fertile land nearby is abandoned, and most soldiers are starving, which is truly disheartening! I propose that the regional governors and officials take it upon themselves to cultivate the land, carefully search for irrigation sources, and investigate the variations in soil fertility. Officials below the level of prefects in the prefectures and counties must take turns participating in agricultural production. Although the planting season for paddy fields is late, it is just in time for planting soybeans and wheat, which are well-suited for northern cultivation and are traditionally grown by the locals, with yields comparable to rice. The key to successful land reclamation lies in acting promptly. If the court approves my proposal, please plan accordingly in Xuzhou, Yanzhou, Sizhou, Yuzhou, as well as Jingzhou and Yongzhou, without overlooking anything. In addition, establish a dedicated institution to oversee this initiative, and farming tools and oxen will be provided by the court. At the year's end, assessments will be conducted along with clear guidelines for rewards and penalties. If this project is successfully implemented, it will undoubtedly yield significant benefits. If the border areas have sufficient food, the Jiangnan region will naturally prosper, and the degree of its prosperity would be beyond measure." His suggestion was accepted by the emperor. However, by that time, the emperor was gravely ill, and the war was still ongoing; thus, his proposal ultimately went unimplemented.
The emperor fell seriously ill, and Xiaosi moved into the palace to take care of him. Before the emperor passed away, he entrusted him with some matters and emphasized once again that he should take on the role of Governor. The emperor also promoted him to be the Grand Secretary. During the Yongyuan period, Xiaosi began his role in governance. He moved from the Ministry of Personnel to a residence south of the palace and could not return home. The emperor's behavior deteriorated, but Xiaosi felt he could not advise him. When Jiang Ji was executed, Xiaosi was very afraid, but he did not show it on his face. Later, Prince Shi'an Yaoguang rebelled, causing widespread panic. When Xiaosi arrived, the palace regained its calm. However, corrupt officials were in power, and Xiaosi could not control them. The court wanted to promote him to the position of Minister of Works, but he firmly turned it down. He requested to resign from the position of Intendant of Danyang, but he was not allowed to resign.
Xu Xiaosi was refined and did not easily express his own opinions. Although he held a high position, he managed to avoid trouble. General Xuzhun was audacious. He led the army under Xiaosi's command and often analyzed the situation with Xiaosi, urging him to depose the emperor. Xiaosi hesitated for a long time, feeling that there was no need to resort to force. He decided to first allow the young emperor to go out and enjoy himself, and then close the city gates, summon the officials, and depose the emperor. Although Xiaosi had this idea in mind, he ultimately did not make a firm decision. The schemers gradually turned against Xiaosi and advised the emperor to summon the officials and take the opportunity to get rid of him. In winter, the emperor summoned Xiaosi to Hua Lin Province and sent Rufenzhen to give him poison. Xiaosi remained calm and drank the poison, ultimately succumbing after consuming over a dou of it. Subsequently, the court issued a decree saying, "During the flourishing moral values of the Zhou Dynasty, the 'Three Supervisors' rebelled; during the long and prosperous history of the Han Dynasty, the prime ministers engaged in infighting, ultimately facing their doom, and their families were wiped out. The lessons from the Yin and Shang Dynasties are clear and present, warning future generations. Xu Xiaosi relied on his family's influence and was promoted early. Due to fortuitous circumstances, he ascended to a high position. His contributions to the court were unheard of, but his sycophancy was all too common. The Shen Wenji family for generations..." (The text after the decree is missing)
Shen Wenji, also known by his courtesy name Zhongda, was from Wukang in Wuxing. His father Shen Qingzhi served as Minister of Works in the Song Dynasty. Shen Wenji was known for his generosity and integrity from a young age. In the second year of the Xiaojian era, he was appointed as a registrar and later summoned as a secretary. Due to the great achievements of his father Shen Qingzhi, in the fifth year of Daming, he was granted the title of Fifth Count of Shanyang County. He later served as an attendant to the Crown Prince, Chief Clerk of the Northern Army of Prince Xin'an, Military Advisor of Prince Xiyang, and Recorder of the Eastern Bureau of the Grand Commandant of Prince Jiangxia, and eventually rose to the position of Gentleman of the Palace Library. Later, Shen Qingzhi was executed by Emperor Jinghe, and the army surrounded the Shen family's residence to capture the family members. Shen Wenji's older brother, Shen Wenshu, told him, "I can die; you can seek revenge." He then committed suicide. Shen Wenji took up a knife, rode a horse, and escaped, and his pursuers dared not follow, allowing him to flee. After ascending the throne, Emperor Ming appointed Wenji as General of Ning Shuo, later promoting him to Right Guard of the Crown Prince, and then to Minister of Household Affairs and Cavalry for Prince Jian'an. After winning the Battle of Zheqi, Wenji was appointed as General of Xuanwei and Chief Clerk of the Grand Commandant of Prince Lujiang. He subsequently served as General of Ning Shuo, Commander of the Northern Expedition, and Administrator of Guangling. He was later appointed as a Yellow Gate Attendant in the palace, also serving as Chief of Changshui. On one occasion, when Emperor Ming hosted a banquet for court officials and appointed the Imperial Censor He Zang to supervise everyone's drinking, forbidding anyone from abstaining, Wenji, who disliked drinking, was ultimately driven out of the hall by He Zang.
King Ping of Jin Xiu You arrived in Southern Xuzhou to take office. The emperor asked Chu Yuan what kind of talent he needed as his deputy, and Chu Yuan recommended Wen Ji. Therefore, Wen Ji was promoted to General of Ning Shuo, Chief of Cavalry, and Governor of Nandonghai. Later, Xiu You was assassinated. Although the court gave him high honors, many of his subordinates did not dare to mourn. Only Wen Ji went to Xiu You's grave to express his condolences. He was later appointed as the Prefect of Linhai. In the early years of the Yuanhui period, Wen Ji was recalled to the court to serve as a Cavalier Attendant while also holding the position of Rear Army General, and later promoted to the Secretary of the Bureau. He was later appointed as the Prefect of Wuxing. Wen Ji could drink as much as five dou. His wife, Lady Wang, the daughter of Wang Xi, also had a strong tolerance, able to drink three dou. Wen Ji and his wife could drink all day long without it affecting their work.
In the first year of the Shengming era, Shen Youzhi rebelled, and the emperor promoted Wen Ji to Champion General, overseeing military affairs in Wuxing and Qiantang. Shen Youzhi had previously killed Qingzhi as an envoy of Jinghe. At this time, Wen Ji seized the opportunity to kill Shen Youzhi's brother, the Prefect of Xin'an, Shen Deng, and eliminated Shen Youzhi's family. The emperor also granted Wen Ji the authority to command, promoted him to General Conquering the Barbarians, renamed him Marquis of Lueyang County, and granted him a fief of one thousand households. The following year, Wen Ji was promoted to Intendant of Danyang while keeping his general position.
When the State of Qi was newly established, Wen Ji served as Palace Attendant while also holding the position of Secretary of the Bureau. In the first year of Jianyuan, Wen Ji was promoted to Right Guard of the Crown Prince while retaining his position as Palace Attendant. The emperor also granted him the title of Marquis of Xifeng County, with a fief of twelve hundred households.
Shen Yue, known as Wen Ji, was a person of strong character and knew how to act appropriately. At that time, the Minister of Works, Chu Yuan, was a powerful figure, somewhat disdainful of Shen Yue's background, and wanted to put him in his place, but Shen Yue did not take it.
One day, the then crown prince (later Emperor Xiao Daocheng) hosted a feast for the ministers in the Xuanpu of the Eastern Palace. Shen Yue repeatedly poured drinks for Chu Yuan, which greatly displeased Chu Yuan. He reported to the crown prince, saying, "Shen Wenji is treating me like I’m one of his subjects, constantly pouring me drinks." Shen Yue immediately retorted, "Only mulberry trees and catalpa trees deserve my respect. You have experienced the loss of your country and territory; how can you not even recognize such trivial trees as elm and zelkova?" Shen Yue then discussed the military actions of the northern nomadic tribes. Chu Yuan said, "Chen Xianda and Shen Wenji are rare military talents these days; they can certainly be entrusted with important border responsibilities." Upon hearing this, Shen Yue quickly sidestepped any mention of his family background, which angered Chu Yuan. Chu Yuan reported to the crown prince again, saying, "Shen Yue thinks he is a loyal minister, but he doesn't know how he will face Emperor Song Ming (referring to Emperor Song Wendi) after his death." The crown prince laughed and said, "Shen Yue has had too much to drink." The Chief Minister Liu Xiu reported this incident, which ultimately went unresolved.
Later, at a gathering in the back hall of Prince Yuzhang Xiao Yi's residence, both were accomplished pipa players. After a few rounds of drinks, Chu Yuan picked up the instrument and played a piece titled "The Loyal Ruler." Shen Yue jumped up and sang loudly, "Shen Yue is not a clown!" Prince Yuzhang Xiao Yi quickly intervened and said, "It's just a bit of fun; it won't tarnish Zhongrong's character." Chu Yuan didn't show any signs of discomfort, and the performance ended after the piece was played.
Shen Yue was later appointed as General of Conquering the Barbarians while still serving as a Palace Attendant. He was later promoted to Cavalier In Regular Attendance, General of the Left Guard, while continuing to hold his general position. After Xiao Daocheng ascended the throne, Shen Yue was promoted to the position of Supervisor of the Crown Prince, continuing to serve as Cavalier In Regular Attendance. In the first year of the Yongming era, he was appointed General of the Left Wing and Prefect of Wu County. Three years later, he was promoted to General Pacifying the East. Four years later, he was appointed Prefect of Kuaiji, while still retaining his position as general.
At that time, for several consecutive years, people complained about the requirement to register their household registration. Tang Yuzhi from Fuyang, who lived in Tonglu, came from a family that had been making a living by tending to graves for generations. Tang Yuzhi boasted that his family's burial grounds had a royal aura, claiming to have discovered a golden seal in the mountains, deceiving people far and wide. In the winter of the third year, Tang Yuzhi gathered a band of over four hundred followers and ambushed a merchant caravan on the road in Xincheng, with his subordinates spreading out to nearby counties. Xincheng County Magistrate Lu Chifen and Tonglu County Magistrate Wang Tianmin were so frightened they fled their county towns.
Tang Yuzhi pillaged the locals in Fuyang. County Magistrate He Xun swiftly reported to the commanding officer in Yupu, asking the able-bodied men of Yupu Village to quickly rally and defend the county town. The commander Xiahou Tanxian from Xiling Garrison in Yongxing led soldiers and local militia to the rescue. Tang Yuzhi thus seized control of Fuyang. Zhang Sizu, the county magistrate of Kuaiji, dispatched envoys including Kong Jing, Wang Wansui, and Zhang Yao, armed with weapons and troops to defend over a dozen counties, including Yongxing. The court also dispatched troops to reinforce Qiantang. Tang Yuzhi attacked Qiantang, where County Magistrate Liu Biao and Garrison Commander Nie Senggui sent Zhang Gan to mount a defense on a small hill, but they were overwhelmed due to their insufficient forces. Tang Yuzhi pressed his advantage, landed at Pukou, set fire to the buildings in the city, and Liu Biao abandoned the county and fled. The court then mobilized militias from Wuxing, Jiaxing, Haiyan, and Yanguan to provide assistance.
Tang Yuzhi's rebel forces attacked various county towns separately. The county governor of Yanguan, Xiao Yuanwei, and the county governor of Zhuji, Ling Ju, both escaped. The county governor of Yuhang, Le Yan, also fled after being defeated in battle. That spring, Tang Yuzhi declared himself emperor in Qiantang, appointed a crown prince, and converted the military camp in Xincheng into the imperial palace and the county yamen into the prince's residence. His younger brother, Tang Shaozhi, was appointed Governor of Yangzhou. Qiantang's wealthy man, Ke Long, was appointed Minister of Personnel, concurrently serving as the Imperial Secretary, and provided Tang Yuzhi with thousands of weapons for his military. He was also granted the title of Minister of Works. Tang Yuzhi sent his subordinates Gao Daodu and Xu Kou to attack Dongyang. Prefect Xiao Chongzhi of Dongyang and County Magistrate Liu Guozhong of Changshan fought back but were both killed in battle. Xiao Chongzhi, styled Maojing, was a younger cousin of the founding emperor, undaunted and loyal. The court posthumously honored him with the title of Champion General and retained his position as prefect. The rebel forces captured Dongyang commandery. Tang Yuzhi then sent the self-proclaimed Prefect of Kuaiji, Sun Hong, to attack Shanyin. At that time, the Prefect of Kuaiji, Wang Jingze, was at the court, so Tang Yuzhi thought he could take advantage of the situation. Sun Hong arrived at Puyang River, where the commandant of Jiaokou Garrison, Tang Xiuwu, led the resistance and defeated Sun Hong's army. The emperor heard the news of Tang Yuzhi's rebellion at Leyou Yuan and said to Prince Yuzhang, "In the early years of the Song Dynasty, there were rebels all over the country. These minor characters dare to act recklessly. Let General Xiao, referring to Xiao Daocheng, take their heads!" The emperor sent thousands of imperial troops and hundreds of warhorses to the east to suppress the rebellion. Tang Yuzhi's ragtag army was filled with fear. When the official army arrived in Qiantang, they defeated Tang Yuzhi's forces in a single battle. Tang Yuzhi was captured and executed, and the official army continued to advance, restoring order across the various commanderies and counties.
The Taiwanese army won the battle, but many civilians suffered greatly and lost a lot of their belongings. After the military withdrew, the emperor found out about this and executed General Chen Tianfu, while General Liu Mingche was dismissed, demoted, and exiled to Dongye. Chen Tianfu was a favorite general of the emperor, and his execution shocked the court and the people, which made everyone think twice before acting recklessly. Chen Tianfu was especially skilled in using a long weapon known as a horse spear, and even today, many generals are still studying his techniques.
The Deputy Imperial Censor Xu Xiaosi submitted a memorial saying: "I've heard that there are many bandits in the Shandong area, burning, killing, and looting all over the place. Although things have mostly calmed down now, it still temporarily affects the court's strategic deployment. The defense measures in various counties are inadequate, and there's a lot of corruption going on in the warehouses. We need to reward good deeds and punish bad ones; these issues must be addressed properly. The county cities under Wu County's jurisdiction, including Salt Official Xiao Yuanwei, Tonglu's County Magistrate Wang Tianmin, and Xincheng's County Magistrate Lu Chifen, have all been attacked and looted by bandits. They didn’t put up any fight and just abandoned their posts to run away. Xiao Yuanwei and Wang Tianmin fled back to Taizhou, while Lu Chifen is now missing. As for Qiantang's County Magistrate Liu Biao and Fuyang's He Xun, they did lead officials and townsfolk in resistance, but they couldn’t hold out and ended up fleeing without reporting the situation to Taizhou. As for Jiande and Shouchang counties, located upstream of the looted area, it's unclear if they got looted. Yuhang County under Wuxing County was also breached, and County Magistrate Le Yan led the officials and townsfolk in resistance, but they couldn’t win and also fled. Zhuji County under Kuaiji County was also breached by bandits. County Magistrate Ling Ju didn’t resist at all and just ran away, leaving the city behind; now it’s unknown where he went. It turned out that Xiao Yuanwei and the others had abused the Emperor's favor, wore luxurious clothes, concealed their crimes, and deceived the Emperor. Kuaiji's magistrate, Zhang Sizu, was negligent and didn’t take any action. The General of Pingdong, the Prefect of Wu County, Wen Ji, and the General of Conquering Barbarians, the Prefect of Wuxing, Marquis of Xichang, Hou Luan, are responsible for border defense and have great responsibilities. The Emperor ordered that Liu Biao, Le Yan, and He Xun be punished, while Zhang Sizu and Wen Ji continued on with their duties, and Luan and others requested redemption." In the end, the Emperor removed Xiao Yuanwei and the others from their posts, while Zhang Sizu, Luan, and Wen Ji were pardoned.
Wen Ji was originally appointed as the Governor of Kuaiji, later transferred to the position of Minister of Personnel, and further honored as Cavalier Attendant. He was then sent to serve as the military commander overseeing Jingzhou, Sizhou, Yiyang, and other regions, as well as Left General and Inspector of Jingzhou. Upon returning to the capital, he was appointed again as Cavalier Attendant and General of the Army. Emperor Gaozu said to Wen Ji, "There are no Secretaries (equivalent to Prime Ministers) among the officials in the south; many have served for many years." Wen Ji replied, "The winds in the south don’t blow just for a day, do they?" Although Wen Ji was not particularly learned, he was always eloquent in his speech, and people at the time praised his ability to respond. He was particularly skilled at playing board games and chess, playing the former with five pieces.
Due to illness, Wen Ji was promoted to the position of Senior Grand Master of the Violet Guards, with an additional twenty trusted guards, while keeping his role as Cavalier Attendant. He was later transferred to the position of Palace Attendant, also serving as the Crown Prince's advisor, and then promoted to Central Army Protectorate, maintaining his position as Palace Attendant. His household was treated as an official residence. In the first year of Longchang, he was appointed as General of the Army, while retaining his position as Palace Attendant. The Yulin commandery was abolished in Yuzhou, and Emperor Gaozu wanted Wen Ji to take up an official position in Jiangzhou, sending the official Duan Jingjuan to convey the imperial edict. Wen Ji declined, citing his age and unwillingness to travel far, also asking about suitable candidates for the Right Law Officer role. Jingjuan reported this back to the Emperor in detail. In the first year of Yanxing, Wen Ji was promoted to the position of Right Deputy Director.
After Emperor Ming ascended the throne, he appointed Wen Ji as the Grand Minister of the Heir Apparent and increased his land grant by five hundred households. The Minister of Works, Wang Yan, once jokingly said that Wen Ji was a bureaucrat from Wuxing. Wen Ji replied, "It seems that the law enforcement officials of Langye also cannot leave your house." Shortly after, he was further appointed as Gentleman of the Cavalry, while retaining his position as Right Deputy Director. In the second year of Jianwu, during the invasion of Shou Chun, Yao Chang, the Duke of Fengcheng and Governor of Yu Province, defended the city and repeatedly sent out small groups of soldiers to attack the enemy. Emperor Ming was worried about this and ordered Wen Ji to lead troops to guard Shou Chun. After Wen Ji entered the city, he prohibited the soldiers from leaving the city and instead opened the city gates, strictly defending it. The enemy soon retreated, and the civilians were unharmed. His land grant was increased to 1,900 households. Shortly after, he was further appointed as General Who Protects the Army, while retaining his positions as Right Deputy Director and Gentleman of the Cavalry.
Wang Jing staged a rebellion, and the emperor ordered Wen Ji to station troops at Hu Tou to secure the route to the capital. In the first year of Yongyuan, Wen Ji was promoted to Palace Attendant and Left Deputy Director, while his military duties remained the same.
Later, Prince Shi'an, Yao Guang, also rebelled. That very night, Yao Guang dispatched three hundred men to Wen Ji's house, with the intent of capturing him to serve as a commander. However, Wen Ji had already returned to the palace. The next day, Wen Ji and the Minister of Works, Xu Xiaosi, guarded the palace together, dressed in armor and sitting side by side at the South Yemun Gate. At that time, the emperor had begun to indiscriminately execute innocent people, which made Xu Xiaosi anxious and eager to discuss the situation with Wen Ji. However, Wen Ji always steered the conversation away and avoided discussing it. Once things settled down, Wen Ji was appointed as General Who Guards the Army and established his own residence, while his positions as Palace Attendant and Deputy Director remained unchanged.
Wen Ji saw chaos in the world and claimed he was too old and sick to withdraw from court politics. His nephew Zhao Lue advised him, "Uncle, you only became an official at the age of sixty. Now you want to retire, how is that possible?" Wen Ji smiled and did not respond. Later, Wen Ji and Xu Xiaosi were both killed. That day, Wen Ji was summoned to the palace, knowing he was in trouble, but he acted as usual. When he got on the carriage, he turned back and said, "I'm afraid I won't be coming back this time." In the end, Wen Ji died in Hualin Province at the age of fifty-eight. Both the court and the people felt he was wronged. In the first year of Zhongxing, the court posthumously appointed him as a Palace Attendant and Minister of Works, posthumously naming him Zhongxian.
My brother Shen Zhaolue was a man of great character. During the Southern Dynasty Shengming period, he became an official serving under the Prime Minister, equivalent to a chancellor, and Emperor Wu of Song, Liu Yu, admired him greatly. When Liu Yu became emperor, he asked Wang Jian, "Among the scholars in the south, there is a Shen Zhaolue. What official position would be suitable for him now?" Wang Jian replied, "I've already thought about it." So he petitioned the emperor to appoint him as General of the Guard. The emperor initially did not want to go against Wang Jian's wishes, so he approved the petition. Shortly after, Shen Zhaolue was promoted to be a Gentleman of the Palace Library. In the early years of Yongming, he successively served as the Grand Commandant and Grand Marshal's subordinate, as well as the Cavalry Commander and Chamberlain of the Yellow Gates. The Nanjun princes, Liu You and Liu Xiuren, admired his talent and appointed him as their strategist, later also serving as the Left Minister. In the first year of Yongming, he was appointed governor of Linhai and later promoted to Deputy Chief Imperial Secretary.
When Shen Zhaolu was young, he used to mask his brilliance with alcohol and was close friends with Xie Tiao. He later gradually rose through the ranks, becoming the Palace Attendant, Champion General, and Chief of Military Affairs. In the first year of the Yongyuan era, Prince Shi'an Liu Yaoguang rebelled from the Eastern Palace and captured Shen Zhaolu. Shen Zhaolu secretly escaped from the South Gate, crossed the Huai River, and returned to Jiankang (now Nanjing). Later, he and Wen Ji were summoned to Hualin Province. Ruo Fazhen and others brought him drugged wine, and Shen Zhaolu was furious, furiously yelling at Xu Xiaosi, declaring, "Deposing the incompetent emperor and enthroning a wise monarch is a rule that has existed since ancient times. The prime minister's incompetence has brought us to this point!" With that, he picked up a wine cup and smashed it towards Xu Xiaosi's face, causing him to be covered in blood, and cursing him as a "damned face monster!" Shen Zhaolu died in his early forties.
My younger brother Shen Zhaoguang, upon hearing that the officials were coming to arrest him, was urged by his family to escape, but he couldn't bring himself to leave his mother behind, and was ultimately captured and executed. In the first year of the Zhongxing era, the court posthumously honored Shen Zhaolu as Grand Minister and Shen Zhaoguang as Court Officer.
The historian said: The basic principle of governing a country is to ensure that the common people have enough food and clothing, and the army has sufficient food and weapons, so that the common people will trust you. The strategy of setting up military agricultural lands is actually to strengthen military preparedness. Like in the past when Chongguo developed agriculture to combat the Qiang and Rong tribes, as well as Han Hao and Zao Qi, they all established agricultural officials and proposed large-scale farming recommendations. Jincheng built important city defenses, the fortresses on the border were continuous, and the vehicles transporting grain and fodder were in constant motion, but maintaining logistical support was challenging. If a person does not farm, they risk going hungry and cold, while thousands of soldiers on the border cannot eat or dress warmly. Therefore, it is essential to fully utilize land resources and use military actions to ensure food supply. Farm peacefully in peacetime and take up arms in wartime. Having surplus food every year can help deal with emergencies. In the past, those well-governed dynasties made these principles very clear.
Since Jiangnan, there has been no time to consider long-term strategies. When the army goes on expedition, they rarely eat well or sleep soundly, with enemies closing in from all sides of the border, and food supplies are as scarce as withering grass. It takes several years for the county's army to come to the rescue, and transporting food goes through storms and long waterways, making it very difficult. Taking out the stored grain from the cellar and using up all the grain in the warehouse, even when using carts, horses, and wooden oxen, still continues the previous drawbacks. The key to food reserves is located in the Jianghuai region. All the counties and states jointly develop agriculture, but distant water cannot quench immediate thirst. Therefore, the Wu clan stationed troops on the south bank of the Yangtze River, while farming on the right bank, the Wei dynasty engaged in large-scale farming north of the Huai River, and Shi Chong excavated canals, all of which worked together to better confront the enemy. When the country faced a crisis, Xiaosi proposed this effective strategy, but the emperor failed to adopt a long-term strategy. The people were suffering and could only react to circumstances, ultimately rendering this suggestion meaningless, which is truly a pity!
It is praised that Wen Zhong is well-suited to be a prime minister, possessing exceptional talents and moral character. He is both accommodating and accomplished, making him well-qualified for high-ranking positions in the government. Throughout his career, he has maintained an excellent reputation. Like a vessel, his fate is intricately linked to the nation's rise and fall.
