This person is called Dao Huo, courtesy name Maoqian, from Wuyuan, Pengcheng. His grandfather was named Dao Yanzhi, a Cavalry General during the Song Dynasty; his father was named Zhongdu, a Cavalry Officer. Dao Huo inherited the Duke of Jianchang title. Initially, he served as a Scholar of the Imperial College, then as the Director of Carriages, and later as the magistrate of Yanling County. However, he did not enjoy this job and resigned. He then served as a military advisor to the Prince of Xin'an (Liu Ziluan), but was dismissed due to his official duties. He was then appointed as a military advisor to the Prince of Xin'an, but before taking office, the Prince was killed, and he was appointed as the Left Minister of Personnel.
After Emperor Ming ascended to the throne and wanted to understand the people's sentiments, he promoted Dao Huo to be the Crown Prince's horse groom. Later, he was appointed as a military advisor to Wang Jingwen. Dao Huo was wealthy, enjoying a lavish lifestyle. His house and garden were one of the finest in the capital, and he had the finest entertainers. He was talented, good at making friends, and his home was always bustling with guests. He particularly liked a singer named Chen Yuzhu. When Emperor Ming heard about her and wanted her, Dao Huo refused to give her up. As a result, the Emperor forcefully took Chen Yuzhu away, which left Dao Huo feeling resentful. Later, the Emperor orchestrated a plot against Dao Huo, arrested him, and prepared to execute him. Dao Huo spent a few days in prison, his hair and beard had turned white. In the end, his death sentence was commuted, but he was imprisoned in the Shangfang, and his title was stripped and conferred upon his brother Dao Ben. Since then, Dao Huo curbed his extravagant lifestyle and embraced a simpler life. The Emperor appointed him as a military advisor to Yang Xigong, then to Liu Yun as a military advisor, and to Wang Jingwen as a military advisor, but he declined, citing illness. Shortly after, he was awarded the title of General of Mingwei, then appointed as the military advisor to the Prince of Guiyang, and later promoted to a high-ranking official, and ultimately resigned from his position.
After the emperor's death, his younger brother went to the capital to request the return of his title, and the court agreed. He was appointed as the Left Minister of Works, but he did not take office and remained at home for several years. His younger brother, Dao Dun, rose to the rank of general during the Yuanhui era, serving in Guangzhou as General of Ningyuan, Chief Historian of Fuguo, and Administrator of Nanhai. In the first year of Shengming, when Shen Youzhi rebelled, the governor Chen Xianda raised troops to support the court. Dao Dun was killed because he had prior knowledge of the rebellion. His family lived in the capital, and one night when they returned from the countryside, they saw a few people whitewashing their door. The next day, news of Dao Dun's death spread. Dao Wei was filled with fear and hastily went to the emperor to apologize, who then appointed him as a military advisor to the emperor. In the early years of Jianyuan, he was promoted to the Right Chief Historian of the Ministry of Works, then appointed Administrator of Yongjia, and later served as Chamberlain of the imperial household before resigning from office.
After ascending to the throne, the emperor first appointed Xie Mao as the Crown Prince's Imperial Household Attendant, but he did not take up the position. Later, he was appointed as Chief Historian of the Central Army of the Prince of Changsha, and then as Left Chief Historian of the Ministry of Works. During the Song Dynasty, the emperor visited Xie Mao's home several times and even went hunting with him and Emperor Ming. Once during a hunt, everyone felt thirsty and tired, and Xie Mao happened to find an early ripe cucumber, which he shared with the Emperor. The emperor, recalling Xie Mao's past kindness, treated him exceptionally well. Therefore, that year, Xie Mao received three promotions.
In the first year of Yongming, Xie Tiao was appointed as the General of the Protectorate and then promoted to Deputy Imperial Censor. Once, when the emperor went to Danyang County to attend a banquet, Xie Tiao, relying on his previous relationship with the emperor, got drunk and made some inappropriate remarks with his colleagues, which was reported by Left Chancellor Yu Gao and almost led to punishment. Three years later, he became the Left Historiographer of the Minister of Works and was later promoted to the General of the Left Guard. When he followed Prince Zilong to Pengcheng County, Xie Tiao did not take good care of the people and was criticized by the relevant departments, which ultimately led to his dismissal. After some time, although he did not hold an official position, he also served as Deputy Imperial Censor. Later, he was promoted to Chief of Staff for Prince Linchuan, the Left Historiographer of the Minister of Works, and then further promoted to Minister of War. Finally, he was appointed as the General of the Protectorate and Chief of Staff for Prince Luling. After his mother passed away, he resigned from his official position to fulfill his mourning duties, but before the mourning period ended, he died at the age of fifty-eight.
Xie Tiao's younger brother, Xie Ben, initially served as the Chief Clerk of the Guard and later became the Commandant of the Imperial Carriage. In the early years of the Shengming era, he became a Gentleman of the Central Secretariat and then served as an Adviser to the General of the Cavalry under Emperor Taizu. During the Jianyuan period, he became the Marshal of the Conquering Barbarians. He later died.
Xie Ben's younger brother, Xie Tan, initially served as a Censor in the provincial government. In the second year of Shengming, he also became an Adviser to the General of the Cavalry under Emperor Taizu. He later served as an Adviser to the Governor of Yuzhang for the Western Garrison of the Two Prefectures. Xie Tan was handsome and had a beautiful beard. He knew Emperor Taizu and Prince Yuzhang previously. He was promoted alongside Prince Yuzhang and later became a Military Advisor to the Grand Commander. He was then sent to Jin'an as the Intendant, and upon his return, he served as an Advisor to the Grand Commander and a Gentleman of the Central Secretariat, eventually dying.
Liu Quan, styled Shi Cao, was from Anshangli in Pengcheng. The Liu family of Pengcheng was a descendant of King Yuan of Chu, and their territory was divided into three parts, distinct from the Song royal family. His grandfather, Liu Yingzhi, served as the Prefect of Runan and Xinchai counties. His father, Liu Men, served as the Minister of Works.
Liu Yansun served as a staff officer under the Governor of Nan Xu Prefecture, initially as a clerk. Later, he followed his father Liu Men to Guangling to campaign against King Dan of Jingling. Due to his achievements, he was appointed as the Cavalry Commandant. He was then transferred to Zong Que's Ningman Prefecture as the Chief Scribe, and later to Prince Jian'an's Minister of War as a Cavalry Officer. He also followed his father Liu Men to Shou Chun to battle Yin Yan, achieving victories in Hengtang and Sihu. He steadily rose through the ranks to become an Assistant Officer, serving as a military officer in the Grand Commandant's office and the Minister of War, and even temporarily serving as the Librarian of the Imperial Archives. He was later promoted to General of Ningshuo and Prefect of Shu County, but before he took office, he joined his father Liu Men in battle and was granted the title of General of Ningshuo, as well as being named the heir to the Marquis of Poyang County. He was then transferred to Prince Guiyang's Northern Military Command as a military officer, and served alongside the Emperor in the palace, winning the Emperor's favor and maintaining a close relationship with him.
He was later promoted to the position of a Cavalry Officer, then was sent to Anyuan as a military commander, and later served as the Prefect of Wuling. There was an old riverbank on the southern border of Wuling County that had not been repaired for a long time and was in disrepair. Liu Quan started the repairs, but before they were completed, the river suddenly rose, causing the locals to flee. Liu Quan personally encouraged them and finally repaired the embankment. There was a man named Shao Rong in Hanshou, whose family had lived under the same roof for six generations. Liu Quan made a special visit to their home. Liu Quan was honest, capable, and very popular among the locals. There was a mountain king named Tian Tong who lived in the mountains and was over a hundred years old. When Wang Yixuan was serving as the Inspector of Jingzhou, Tian Tong had visited him. This time, Tian Tong came to visit Liu Quan. After Emperor Ming passed away, Liu Quan submitted a request to attend the funeral, and the court ordered him to complete county matters before returning to the capital. Thousands turned out to see him off, and Liu Quan shook hands and bid farewell to each one, moving the people who then gave him many gifts.
Upon his return, he resumed his position as a Cavalry Officer. When there was trouble in Guiyang, he was appointed as the General of Ning Shuo and went to help defend the city of Shitoucheng. His father Liu Meng died in the battle of Daheng, and Liu Quan happened to be sick at that time. He cried all the way to find his father's body, leaning on a crutch. There was a large wound on the back of his father's neck, so Liu Quan cut off his own hair to cover it. He mourned by his father's grave and refused to wear warm clothes even in winter. After his father Liu Meng's death, Taizu took over as the commander of the army. Taizu had a good relationship with his father and wrote Liu Quan a letter of comfort, saying, "I know you are very devoted to your father, but now you are grieving too much, and I am really worried about your health. Ancient sage kings all emphasize mourning and adapting to changes, so why do you not wear warm clothes and sleep on a cold bed in such sorrow? Your body cannot bear it! You should take care of yourself and find a way to cope."
Prince Jianping Wang Jingsu rebelled, and Emperor Taizu personally led a large army stationed at Xuanwu Lake. Xiao Quan was still in mourning after just losing his father and specifically summoned Xiao Quan and his brothers. However, when he saw them, they all looked emaciated and unrecognizable, so Taizu dismissed the idea. Later, Xiao Quan was appointed as a Secretary of the Central Secretariat and sent to manage political affairs in Nanyang, the former territory of the Song Dynasty. Not long after, he was promoted to Marshal of the Southern Central Army and Prefect of Changsha, responsible for managing Xiangzhou. Before he could set out, the Xiao Liang regime fell, and Xiao Quan promptly pledged his loyalty. As the situation with Shen You escalated, Xiao Quan was appointed as an Assistant General of the State. Later, while in Pengcheng, Emperor Shizu requested a westward campaign, wanting Xiao Quan to go in his place. When Emperor Shizu declined, Xiao Quan was reassigned as a Gentleman of the Yellow Gate, overseeing Wu County affairs. Shortly after, he was promoted to Chief of Staff for the Prince of Jinxi’s army, in charge of managing Yangzhou. Eventually, he was appointed Inspector of Guangzhou while retaining his general rank and inheriting the title of Marquis of Poyang. Upon returning from Xunyang, Emperor Shizu encountered Xiao Quan by the water, and the two joyfully reminisced for more than ten days before parting. Emperor Shizu even had Crown Prince Wen Hui and Prince Liang of Jingling personally see to Xiao Quan's attire, showing respect for their old friend.
After Emperor Taizu ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor, the country stabilized. Xiao Quan was promoted to Champion General. Xiahou Gongshu, a military secretary, submitted a memorial stating that Liu Yuanjing was a meritorious official of the dynasty and Liu Mian sacrificed himself for the country, so their titles should be preserved. Emperor Taizu issued an edict saying, "The rise and fall of dynasties has been this way since ancient times. The court has already made a decision, so this matter should not be brought up again." Earlier, Cangwu County was disbanded. Emperor Taizu held a meeting at Zhonghua Gate and saw Xiao Quan, asking him, "How have you been lately?" Xiao Quan replied, "I have been doing well recently, just busy with official duties." At this point, Emperor Taizu said to Xiao Quan, "Building a career and achieving merit are things that everyone will remember. Your earlier response at Zhonghua Gate sounded like you wanted to resign and retreat." Xiao Quan said, "I have received the grace of the Song Dynasty for generations and also the support of the Qi Dynasty. I cannot claim such extraordinary merits. I neither resent the previous dynasty nor disappoint the emperor. I can only answer you truthfully." Later, Xiao Quan was promoted to the Crown Prince's Imperial Secretary and concurrently appointed as Chief of Yueqi. It is said that when Emperor Shizu was still the Crown Prince, he often went to Quanfang to play, sometimes not returning until late at night. The Crown Prince would even reward him with screens and curtains. After Emperor Shizu ascended the throne, he promoted Xiao Quan to Front General, and his position as Imperial Secretary remained the same. Later, when the Prince of Jingling led troops to South Yanzhou, he appointed Xiao Quan as Chief Historian and also conferred upon him the titles of Champion General and Governor of Guangling. He was later promoted to Grand Commandant, Commander of Military Affairs in Sizhou, while retaining the title of General.
Quan's father, Meng, once quelled the rebellion of Yin Yan, captured Shouyang, and during the battle, not a single innocent bystander was harmed. The common people were grateful to him and even erected a monument in his honor. Quan later passed by Shouyang and, upon seeing his father's monument, dismounted, knelt down, and wept uncontrollably. Years ago, Xia Boyi from Yiyang killed the garrison commander in Gangling, defected across the Huai River, and was appointed as the Governor of Yiyang by the enemy. Quan devised a plan to lure him out and had the Provincial Governor Xie Jing kill Xia Boyi's brother, which caused Li Rong, the Prefect of Beixiangcheng, to surrender. Quan established a school in the province and unearthed ancient ritual vessels, including bronze jars, wine vessels, and bells, each in pairs, which he offered up.
Later, Quan was promoted and appointed as an Imperial Advisor. The emperor visited Quan's home several times. Quan's residence was well-built, set amidst mountains and ponds, and even had specially made small windows. Once, Emperor Shizu wore a deerskin hat and covered himself with Quan's rabbit fur blanket, celebrating and enjoying themselves by the window, and even gave the hat to Quan before he finally left late that night. Another time, Quan accompanied the emperor to climb Jiangshan, where the emperor repeatedly sighed, "One should not forget friends in poverty, nor abandon one's wife in adversity!" He then looked at Quan and said, "This is what I mean when I say you! They say that wealth and power can change who you are, but although I rule the world, being with you today feels as comfortable as it did when we were both in humble clothing." Quan quickly expressed his gratitude. Subsequently, Quan was promoted to General Champion, Left Chief Historian of the Ministry of Works, and soon after was tasked with military affairs along the Huai River in Beiyanzhou in his official capacity. He was later appointed as the Chief Historian of the Vanguard of Prince Shixing, Inspector of Pacification of the Southern Tribes, and Prefect of Shu Commandery, retaining his military titles and overseeing the affairs of Yizhou. Shu Commandery was later renamed Neishi. He was later transferred to Anxi along with the prefectural office. Quan was hardworking and responsible in his role, earning the emperor's deep appreciation.
When Song Taizu was in power, he intended to mint coins, but because of the abdication issue, it had not yet been implemented.
In the fourth year of Jianyuan, a court official named Kong Ji submitted a memorial suggesting minting coins to stabilize prices, with detailed arguments. The gist is that the circulation of food and currency is closely related, which is a natural principle. Just like Li Kui said: "If food prices are too high, it harms the people; if they are too low, it harms the farmers." When the people are harmed, they will disperse, and when the farmers are harmed, the country will be poor. The dangers of food prices being too high or too low are identical. Look at the border areas in Wu region, where there have been consecutive years of floods, yet food prices are not high. This indicates a nationwide currency shortage, and it is not because food is cheap due to abundant harvests. The drawback of minting coins is the fluctuation in their weight. If the coins are too heavy, it is inconvenient for the people to use, which leads to the coins becoming lighter; if the coins are too light, they are easily counterfeited, and the risks of counterfeiting are even greater. Common people dare to counterfeit coins because the court's strict laws fail to deter them, largely due to the court's excessive frugality with copper and labor in minting. Saving copper and labor leads the court to view coins as insignificant, as long as they can be used for transactions. Therefore, they try to make the coins lighter and more in quantity to save labor and materials, making it easier to produce, without carefully considering the harm of doing so. From the Han Dynasty's minting of Wu Zhu coins to Emperor Wen of the Song Dynasty, more than five hundred years have passed. Although the system has been abolished and revived, the system governing Wu Zhu coins has remained unchanged, indicating that the weight ratio is appropriate and meets the needs of circulation. It is essential to establish a coin minting institution to collect copper from all regions and vigorously develop the coin minting industry. The weight of the coins should be set at Wu Zhu, following the standard of the Han Dynasty. With the treasury enriched and the country having reserves, salaries can be appropriately increased and taxes reduced, ensuring that the common people can live without worries. Those who counterfeit new coins now use scissors and chisels to modify old coins, rather than minting new coins themselves. They grind the coins flat, then dye them, making them look similar to old coins at first glance. However, after several transactions, flaws will be revealed, and they will become new coins again. Common people will not grind and dye coins, so these coins will not be used, causing losses to the sellers. Counterfeiters buy these new coins cheaply, grind and dye them for continued use, perpetuating a cycle of fraud. This is behavior that a wise ruler must prohibit and should not tolerate. Once government-issued coins circulate among the public, cutting and modifying them must be strictly prohibited: light, damaged, defective, and coins without round edges should not be circulated; if the government-issued coins are too small, they should be melted down according to the standard weight and minted into larger coins. This benefits the poor and also closes off the deceptive practices of fraudsters. With normal circulation of coins, prices in various regions will be unified, people will live and work in peace, and the market will be free from competition, ensuring clothing and food are guaranteed. At that time, many officials believed that low coin circulation necessitated large-scale minting, increasing the weight of coins to prevent people from committing crimes. Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty ordered various states and counties to purchase copper in large quantities, but after his passing, the matter was left unresolved.
In the eighth year of Yongming, Xiao Quan told the emperor, "At the foot of Mengshan in Nanguang County, there is a city called Mengcheng, which is about two hectares in size, with four smelting furnaces measuring one zhang high and one zhang five chi wide. If you walk south from Mengcheng and cross the river for more than a hundred steps, you can dig down two feet into the flat ground to find copper ore. There are ancient copper mining pits over there, up to two zhang deep, and the nearby ruins of ancient residences are still visible! Deng Tong hails from Nan'an. Emperor Wen of Han once gave him the copper mountain in Yandao County for minting coins. Currently, Mengshan lies to the south of the Qingyi River, and the west bank of the Qingyi River corresponds to the former territory of Yandao during the Qin Dynasty. Qingyi County was later renamed Hanjia. Moreover, Mengshan is two hundred li away from Nan'an. Given these circumstances, this mine is likely where Deng Tong minted coins. I recently sent someone to gather information from the locals in Mengshan, and they remarked, 'This place is definitely worth developing.' If you take my advice, the profits could be immense!" With that, Xiao Quan presented a piece of Mengshan copper ore, a sample of it, and a Pingzhou iron knife. The emperor agreed to his proposal and dispatched people to Shu to mint coins, resulting in millions of coins being minted; however, the costs were too high, leading to its eventual cessation.
Xiao Quan then succeeded King Xiao Jian of Shixing as the military governor of Yining and Ningzhou, while retaining his military title. Xiao Quan relied on his past favors, as well as his ability to please the emperor and flatter the powerful. His home was always bustling with guests, living a luxurious and wasteful lifestyle, spending money recklessly. He gathered the wealth of Guangzhou and Sichuan as offerings to the emperor, leaving no savings at home. He even had a bathtub made of gold in Shu, along with countless other gold and silver items. After stepping down, he brought these treasures back to the capital to offer to the emperor, only to discover that the emperor had died. The new emperor, Xiao Yulin, ascended the throne, and Xiao Quan's offerings decreased. When Xiao Yulin found out about this, he signaled the relevant authorities to arrest Xiao Quan and hand him over to the court, intending to execute him. Later, Emperor Gaozong intervened, and Xiao Quan was spared from death but was sentenced to life imprisonment. Despite his dismissal from office, he still had many visitors coming to see him every day. Xiao Quan's brother-in-law, Wang Faxian, separated from him due to an incident involving Gaozhou County of the Song Dynasty, and they never met again.
After Prince Hailing ascended to the throne, Xiao Quan was appointed as the Left Minister of the Ministry of Personnel in white robes, and soon was promoted to an official position. After Emperor Gaozong ascended the throne, Xiao Quan was promoted to the General of the Vanguard, restoring his original position, and was also appointed as the Marshal of the Cavalry. In the second year of Jianwu, the Northern Wei army invaded Shouyang, and the court ordered Xiao Quan, in his official capacity, to station himself at Xi Lake. He was later promoted to the Cavalry Attendant and Right Guard General. As enemy forces advanced aggressively, Xiao Quan was ordered to guard Xinting in his official capacity.
A man named Quan has been favored by emperors throughout the ages. When Emperor Taizu was the Prince of Poyang, he took Quan's sister as a concubine; when Emperor Gaozong was the Prince of Jin'an, he married Quan's daughter as his concubine, so their family became related to the imperial family. Later, Wang Jing rebelled, and Quan went to defend Langya City. He was then promoted to Grand Master of the Sanqi and also served as the General of the Elite Cavalry. Before he could officially take office, the Ming Emperor died, and Dong Hunhou ascended the throne. His official position was changed to Sanqi Changshi, while still retaining his position as a Shangshu. Later, he escorted the emperor's coffin but died on the way at the age of sixty-one. He was posthumously appointed as Taichang, and his positions as Changshi and Duwei were also retained, and he was posthumously named "Jing."
Yu Cong, whose courtesy name was Jingyu, was from Yuyao, Kuaiji. His grandfather Yu Xiao was the Left Minister of the Jin Dynasty, and his father Yu Xiuzhi was a Chamberlain of the Yellow Gate. Yu Cong was cautious from a young age and especially filial. When his father Yu Xiuzhi passed away in the capital, Yu Cong mourned all the way, not even stopping for a drink of water during the journey. Later, he was appointed as the chief registrar by the state and served as a military officer under Prince Jianping, a court gentleman of the Ministry of Rites, the Crown Prince's Groom, the Chief Military Historian, and a regular official, eventually rising to the positions of state governor, special assistant, and Chamberlain of the Yellow Gate.
In the beginning, when Emperor Taizong first began his official career, his family was still very poor. Yu Cong held great respect for Emperor Taizong, often sharing his possessions with him; every time he went out, he would take Emperor Taizong with him in the carriage. Emperor Taizong was deeply grateful to him. During the Shengming era, when Emperor Taizong became the commander of the central forces, he promoted Yu Cong to be a military counselor and even sent a personal letter via Jiang Mi from the Ministry of Personnel, saying: "Now, because of Jiang Lang's recommendation and considering your talent, I would like you to assume this position." During the Jianyuan period, Yu Cong was promoted to Imperial Secretary to the Crown Prince and later promoted to Chief Historian of the Rear Army, leading the infantry as General of Zhenbei, General of Ningshuo, and Governor of Southeastern Sea. Shortly thereafter, he became the Interior Minister of Yuzhang, while still retaining his military titles. Yu Cong's family was quite affluent, and all the servants in his household were diligent and dedicated. Although he served in the south, seafood from his hometown of Kuaiji was consistently sent to him. Later, he was promoted to Assistant General, Chief Historian for Prince Shixing, Inspector of Pacification of the Barbarians, and Prefect of Shu County. Eventually, he was promoted to Minister of Works, while still retaining his military titles.
Yu Cong was highly skilled in cooking, with a refined sense of flavor and pairing. When Prince Yuzhang hosted a lavish banquet for guests, he asked Yu Cong, "Is there anything missing from today's dishes?" Yu Cong replied, "It's a pity that there is no yellow-necked bird, which is a dish mentioned in 'Shi Shu'." He was initially appointed as Cavalry Attendant and later became the Right Commander of the Crown Prince. In the eighth year of Yongming, a great flood occurred, and all the officials went to rescue the ancestral temple in military uniforms. However, this fellow, dressed in bright red, rode in a carriage with a grand presence as he rode out from Xuanyang Gate, even bumping into people with his horse. He was reported, but ultimately, the matter was dismissed.
The emperor remembered his past when he wore coarse clothes, and graciously said to him, "I intend to let you return to your ancestral occupation." So he was promoted to the position of Attendant, and the court officials all thought the emperor's appointment was quite impressive. Later, he was promoted to the position of Minister of Rites. One day, the emperor went to relax at Fanglin Garden and asked him for some good rice and noodles. He sent dozens of carts filled with rice, noodles, and various dishes all at once, even more lavish than the royal banquets! The emperor wanted to learn some cooking techniques from him, but he refused to say. Later, when the emperor was drunk and feeling unwell, he finally shared a recipe for pickled fish to help sober up.
Afterwards, he was appointed Champion General and Chief of Chariots and Cavalry, then later as the Minister of Revenue, and also served as Infantry Colonel. When Prince Yulin was made emperor, he was appointed as the Right General, the Chief Justice of Yangzhou, and also served as the Master Craftsman. Later, he was dismissed from his position due to the use of cow wine in the construction of the tomb at Xiu'an Ling. In the first year of Longchang, he was reappointed, this time as a commoner. After Prince Yulin was deposed, he privately lamented, "The Wang and Xu families could conspire to depose the emperor—how could such a thing happen?" In the first year of Yanxing, he was reappointed as the Right General. After Emperor Ming ascended the throne, he claimed illness and did not attend court meetings. The emperor sent the decree regarding the deposition of the emperor through the Minister of Personnel, Wang Yan, because he was an old minister and wanted him to assist the new emperor. But he said to Wang Yan, "The emperor is wise, and the court officials are doing their utmost; what need is there for an old man like me to assist? I dare not accept the order." Some people in the court wanted to investigate his responsibility, but the Minister of Works, Xu Xiaosi, said, "This was also the way of upright individuals in ancient times." As a result, the matter was dropped.
He reported being seriously ill, returned to his hometown, and submitted a request to resign from his official position. In the letter, he said: "My family is humble and my status is low, but I have received the emperor's favor and have been promoted several times. I am truly ashamed. My health has been poor for a long time; I have seen many doctors, but there has been no improvement. My health is really failing now, and it is difficult to recover. I request to resign from my official position and recuperate properly." The emperor approved his request and granted him a hundred days of leave. Later, he was appointed as an official, the Grand Minister of Splendor, and was soon promoted to the position of an attendant. In the first year of the Yongyuan era, he passed away at the age of sixty-five.
He had a sincere and honest character. In his interactions with others, he would always make it a point to visit them, regardless of their relationship, and would always follow through on his commitments. Everyone praised him.
His younger brother was named Mao and was resolute in his decision not to pursue an official career. When Wang Jing rebelled, Mao was forced to become the inspector of Kuaiji County, and the military power was handed over to a commoner named Zhang Lingbao. The county residents attacked the government office and killed Zhang Lingbao, but Mao was spared because he had not taken part.
Hu Xiezhi hailed from Nanchang in Yuzhang. His grandfather, Lianzhi, served as an imperial secretary; his father, Yizhi, was called upon by the state to take an official position, but he declined. Hu Xiezhi was initially summoned by the state to serve as a registrar and later served as an attendant, a junior official, a military advisor, a military advisor in the Anxi region of Prince Linhe, and the governor of Nanliang County, thanks to his exceptional talents. He was later appointed as the military advisor of the South Central Army of Prince Shaoling and concurrently as the governor of Runan, but he turned down this position. He was later appointed as the Archery Director and the state carriage commander. He was then appointed as the General of the Left Army, but he declined that role and was subsequently appointed as the military advisor to Prince Shaoling's Left Army.
When the emperor was stationed in Pencheng, he sent Hu Xie to guard Xunyang City. Later, he appointed him as the Assistant to the Prefect of Jiangzhou and entrusted him with significant responsibilities. When Prince Wenhui was stationed in Xiangyang, the emperor trusted Hu Xie and sent him to serve as the General of the Northern Middle Army, the Governor of Fufeng, and also appointed him as the Marquis of Guannei. He assisted the prince in the local area with utmost dedication. In the second year of Jianyuan, he returned to the court and served as Court Attendant, General of the Elite Cavalry, and Chief Justice of Benzhou. He was later transferred to the Commander of the Feathered Forest, concurrently serving in the same position as Chief Justice. In the first year of Yongming, he was transferred to the Guard Commander, with his position as Chief Justice unchanged. In the second year, he was promoted to Court Attendant. In the third year, he was promoted to Sanqi Changshi and the Right Rate of the Crown Prince. In the fifth year, he was promoted to Left Guard General, with an additional title of Court Attendant and his position as Chief Justice unchanged.
Hu Xie was handsome and composed, and many officials in the court associated with him because of the emperor's favor. In the sixth year, he was promoted to Minister of Personnel. The emperor wanted to promote him and casually inquired, "How many Shizhong are there in Jiangzhou?" Hu Xie replied, "In recent years, there has only been Cheng Daohui." The emperor said, "Then there ought to be two." Later, the emperor told the Prefect Wang Jian about this conversation, but Wang Jian had a different opinion, so Hu Xie was appointed as the Crown Prince's Chief Assistant, concurrently serving as the Left Guard Rate.
When Xie's older brother died, he submitted a memorial saying, "My family has grave misdeeds and has endured much suffering. The three brothers grew up together and supported one another. We all had sicknesses in our youth and finally grew up. The eldest brother, Chen, passed away early, and I and the deceased second brother, Mo, grew up together at home, with deep affection like brothers. I never anticipated such a sudden separation; fortunes are fickle, and I have failed to fulfill my filial obligations. I humbly request to be relieved of my duties." The emperor did not acquiesce and instead appointed him as the Guard Commander, keeping his position as Chief Assistant the same.
Eight years later, the emperor sent Xie to lead the imperial army to Jiangling to quell the rebellion led by Prince Xiang of Badong. Xie also served as Chief Historian, responsible for handling government affairs. The army was defeated by Prince Xiang, and the relevant authorities petitioned for Xie's removal from his post, but he was allowed to continue overseeing military affairs. Later, he was promoted to Commander of the Imperial Guards, continued to serve as Chief Clerk, and also held the position of Chief Justice of the province. Xie was remarkably insightful and strategic. Whenever there were vacancies or transfers needed among officials, he would secretly recommend suitable candidates to the emperor. The emperor always accepted his suggestions, and Yu Cong greatly admired him for this. Ten years later, he was promoted to Minister of Revenue and also served as Commander of the Imperial Guards. He passed away at fifty-one. The court posthumously appointed him as Right General and Governor of Yuzhou, and conferred upon him the posthumous title "Su."
Historians say: By sending two fine horses, he showed that he would not forget kindness; by giving a cart of gifts, he obtained the rank of Commandant. Money can be lost, but the human heart is the most precious. He was cautious, honest, and had a wide-ranging concern for others, so he received many benefits. Moreover, he was talented from a young age, like a lurking dragon, he forged deep friendships among the common folk. It is only fair to assign official positions according to one's talent.
Praise: He experienced wealth and honor only in his later years, yet he maintained a simple and contented mindset. Yu Cong was wealthy, but he was never extravagant or wasteful, living in moderation. Xie engaged with others at court with integrity, without flattery or sycophantic behavior. His remarkable abilities enabled him to ascend rapidly in his career.
