It is said that when there are signs in the sky, corresponding events will happen on earth. Look at those courtiers favored by the emperor, like stars hanging high in the presence of the emperor. The emperor's favoritism towards close ministers has been a long-standing practice. Since the decline of the Zhou Dynasty, the feudal lords listened only to their trusted advisors. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, those overlords favored their close confidants even more, which was quite common. Emperor Wen of Han favored Deng Tong; despite his wealth and high status, Deng Tong held the lowly position of Langzhong. Emperor Wu of Han favored Han Yan and Huo Qubing, who attained the rank of Shizhong Dasi Ma. In the Wei and Jin periods, these favored courtiers wielded significant power, even if their abilities didn't always match their positions. The Ministry of Personnel primarily managed confidential affairs in the past. Emperor Yuan of Han used Lingpu to handle political affairs, while Emperor Ming of Wei let the supervisor hold great power. Even in the central government, the position of the Ministry of Personnel remained very important. Chen Zhun was transferred back to his original superior for a position, leading Xun Xu to regret his oversight. The "Jin Ling" stipulated that the official position of the chamberlain was the ninth rank, and the position of Tongshi Lang was created in the Jiangzuo region, responsible for managing edicts and decrees. Later, the Langguan became the Shilang, and the chamberlain also came to be known as Tongshi Lang. Emperor Yuan favored Liu Chao from Langye because of his cautious and serious approach to work. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Song, Qiu Dang and Zhou Jiu were both from humble backgrounds. After Emperor Xiaowu, the selection of officials became increasingly diverse, like Bao Zhao from Donghai, who gained fame for his talent. For example, Chao Shangzhi from Lu County felt he shouldn't have been chosen. The emperor issued over twenty edicts for discussion, and Yigong exclaimed, "The emperor really knows people!" During the reign of Emperor Ming of Song, Humu Hao, Ruan Tianfu, and others gained favor solely through flattery.
In the early days of the Qi dynasty, those who had long served the court and those who were close to the emperor were held in high regard. Documents related to criminal cases and the issuance of decrees, as well as any document writing, were all drafted by them. The duties of the Attendant Minister were once again encroached upon. During the Jianwu period, the emperor's decrees rarely went through the Secretariat, but were directly issued by the Chamberlains. There were four Chamberlains in the province, each responsible for a department, with Chief Clerks and Historiographers below them, who were previously held by military officials but were changed to civil officials during the Song dynasty, with no set limit on their numbers. This was all because the emperor's close confidants held great power, with all official documents and archives sent to them, especially confidential documents. Just like the Outer Bureau of the Ministry of Personnel, which oversaw military officials, as well as the Bureau of Armaments and Military Service, these departments often employed commoners who had received the emperor's favor. Now, I write this "Lucky Courtiers" to address the shortcomings of earlier historical records.
Ji Sengzhen was from Jiankang in Danyang. When he was young, he followed General Xie Sihua and his son Xie Huikai in campaigns to the west, and both were recognized and rewarded. Xie Huikai had a bad temper, and Ji Sengzhen was punished for a minor mistake, yet he was still entrusted with important tasks. When Xie Huikai returned from Yizhou to the capital and faced difficulties in his career, Ji Sengzhen became even more respectful and cautious towards him. On his deathbed, Xie Huikai reflected, "Ji Sengzhen will definitely become wealthy and noble in the future, but sadly, I won't live to see it." He entrusted Ji Sengzhen to Liu Bing and Zhou Yu.
Earlier, when Xiao Huikai was stationed in Yizhou, a local rebellion broke out and he was besieged; the situation was dire. A Taoist told him, "The city siege will soon be lifted, and your patrons will thrive, so don't worry about external enemies." Xiao Huikai confided in Ji Sengzhen, "My descendants have no special talents; they can only rely on Daocheng (referring to myself)." Ji Sengzhen remembered Xiao Huikai's words and asked to serve Emperor Taizu (Xiao Daocheng). He accompanied Taizu, who was stationed in Huaiyin, tasked with managing some minor documents and replying to official correspondence from various places. He rose from a lowly official position to become Taizu's champion mansion military officer and registrar gradually.
Once, Ji Sengzhen dreamed that the river was overgrown with mugwort and wormwood, which startled him, so he quickly told the dream to Taizu. Taizu said, "In the poem it says 'the poet picks Xiao'; Xiao refers to wormwood. When wormwood grows, the water flow will be cut off, so don't spread this around." This shows the level of trust Taizu placed in him.
In the early years of the Yuanhui period, Ji Sengzhen followed Taizu, stationed in Xinting, to resist the rebel army in Guiyang. Xiao Huilang broke in from the east gate, and Ji Sengzhen and his men fought back together. After the rebel army retreated, Taizu ordered Ji Sengzhen to lead his personal soldiers to patrol the city. Once the situation had stabilized, Ji Sengzhen was appointed as the Imperial Censor of the Southern Tribunal and Taizu's military officer in charge.
The court was about to depose the emperor, and some individuals plotted, including Yuan Can and Chu Yuan. Ji Sengzhen advised Taizu, "Now the court is in chaos; everyone is too busy to care. The fate of the realm does not rest with Yuan Can and Chu Yuan. How can you remain silent and wait to be destroyed? The key to survival depends on your careful consideration." Taizu accepted his advice.
The founding emperor wanted to cross Guangling and rise up in rebellion. Ji Sengzhen once again advised, "Although Your Majesty has repeatedly made mistakes and harmed the people, the imperial family's foundation for several generations is still as solid as a rock. Now, taking your whole family across the river may not necessarily all make it through. Even if you capture Guangling City, the emperor living in the deep palace will definitely treat you as a rebel. How will you avoid that? If you lose the battle, you can only escape to the territory of the northern Hu people, which I believe is not a foolproof plan." The founding emperor said, "Are you worried about your family? Can't you follow me together?" Ji Sengzhen kowtowed to show that he would never betray. In the first year of Shengming, Ji Sengzhen was appointed as a junior official and also served as the magistrate of Dongwucheng. Shortly afterwards, he was promoted to the position of Geishizhong and a military advisor to Prince Shaoling.
It is said that Zhu Yuanzhang, known as Old Zhu, sat in the high tower of the East Palace, looking at the stone city, with Monk Sengzhen by his side. Old Zhu said, "Those generals all advise me to quickly eliminate Yuan Shu and Liu Yu, but I feel it is not yet the right time." Later, when the incident with Shen You broke out, Sengzhen followed Old Zhu into the imperial palace. That night, the rebellion broke out in the stone city, and Old Zhu sent troops to suppress it. The people in the palace looked at the flames rising from the stone city, the shouts of battle shaking the heavens, and each of them was in a panic. However, Sengzhen told everyone, "This endless shouting of battle must be our official troops attacking! As for the flames, why would the rebels set their own city on fire? This must be the official troops winning the battle!" Before long, the stone city was brought under control.
Lao Zhu set up camp in Xinting, Nanjing, and had Monk Zhen command a thousand men to stand by in their tents. Earlier, when Lao Zhu was in charge of the army, he had Monk Zhen practice his handwriting and sign papers on his behalf. Now, all the official papers needing responses were given to Monk Zhen to deal with. After reading them, Lao Zhu smiled and said, "I can barely recognize my own handwriting these days!" Previously, when Lao Zhu was building the city in Huaiyin, he dug up a large antique tin incense burner, with seal script engraved on the base that nobody could make out. Monk Zhen said, "There's no need to bother identifying these characters; this thing is really old; it's a symbol of the Nine Tins!" Lao Zhu said, "Don't be ridiculous!" Later, Lao Zhu was to be appointed as the Duke of Qi, the date was set, but Yang Zu had other plans to stir up trouble at the emperor's enthronement ceremony. Monk Zhen advised Lao Zhu to choose an auspicious day, and Yang Zu's conspiracy was soon discovered. Lao Zhu said, "I could've handled this even without your heads-up; at most it would have been a little trouble, what's the difference between this and 'calling ice in Hu Dun'?" Later, Monk Zhen was promoted to be the Secretary of Qi State. During the Jianyuan period, Monk Zhen was appointed as the prefect of Dongyan County, titled as the Lord of Xinyang County, with a land grant of three hundred households. Later, he was promoted to the Supervisor of the Imperial Guard, promoted to General Jianwei, and then further promoted to the Chief Guest Officer of the Ministry of War, without any change in his role. Later, he also served as the Secretary. Lao Zhu fell seriously ill and put Monk Zhen in charge of keeping the will safe. In Yongming Year One, Lao Zhu died, and Monk Zhen was appointed as General Jianwei, and soon after, he was promoted to Governor of Nantai Mountain, and later returned to the Secretary, without any change in his role. He was also in charge of managing the affairs of the princes' estates.
Seng Zhen had a scholarly appearance and demeanor. Emperor Shizu once saw him off with a smile, saying, "Why do people always have to worry about their background and status? People like Ji Seng Zhen are unmatched by many high-ranking officials." He was especially favored among the powerful. He was later appointed as the Chief of the Yueqi, and he kept his other official titles. He was then sent as the General of Jianwu, Jiankang Prefect, and upon his return, he served as both the Left and Right Langjiang, Taishan Prefect, and was even promoted to Pioneer Envoy. Shortly after, he was promoted to the General of the Vanguard, but his mother passed away, and when her tomb was opened, they discovered a colorful two-headed snake inside. When Emperor Shizu passed away, Seng Zhen wept profoundly for him. Given Seng Zhen's significant roles under multiple emperors, in the first year of Jianwu, Emperor Ming appointed him as a General of the Guards and as the Minister of Agriculture, keeping his previous rank. Emperor Ming wanted Seng Zhen to govern a certain county, but Seng Zhen recommended his brother, Seng Meng, for the position of Guard General and Jinxi Prefect. In the first year of Yongtai, Seng Zhen was appointed as the Minister of Agriculture. After Emperor Ming's passing, Seng Zhen was responsible for overseeing the affairs of the imperial tombs. Later, he was assigned as the Interior Minister of Luling and passed away at the age of fifty-five.
In the Song Dynasty, there was a Taoist named Yang Fachi, who had known Emperor Taizu previously. During the Yuanhui period, he took part in secret planning activities. During the Shengming period, he was appointed as the Buddhist Abbot. In the early years of Jianyuan, he was dismissed from his Taoist position and appointed as the General of Ningshuo, titled as the Baron of Zhoulingshi County, with a fief consisting of three hundred households. Two years later, when enemy troops surrounded Qushan, the court appointed Fachi as the military commander to lead a rescue mission. In the fourth year of Yongming, he lost his title and fief for withholding rations from the soldiers. He later died.
Liu Xizong was a native of Danyang. He showed great talent in calligraphy and painting since childhood and once served as a court scribe by the side of Jingcui, the son of King Dan of Jingling in the Song Dynasty. When Dan launched an attack on Guangling, the city fell, and its inhabitants perished, but he ordered that Liu Xizong be pardoned, allowing him to continue serving as a scribe in the Eastern Palace. During the reign of Taishi, he served as the chief scribe, steadily advancing to higher ranks due to his hard work. In the early years of Yuanhui, he was appointed as a court official, concurrently serving as a secretary in the Imperial Academy and a junior official. He was ennobled as the Marquis of Nan Ting in Shixing, with a fief comprising 370 households, and also served as the magistrate of Moling.
Legend has it that on the morning Emperor Taizu abolished the official position of Cangwu County, he summoned the upright courtier Yu Zheng. At that time, the Emperor was drunk and unable to get up, so he cheerfully sent Yu Zheng to receive the imperial decree. Emperor Taizu said, "Today is the day when the heavens and earth are reopened, and it is also the time for you, Yu Zheng, to display your talents!" He then sent Yu Zheng to draft edicts distributed throughout the land and handle official documents from all directions. He also assigned him ten chief scribes and twenty clerks to assist him. Yu Zheng handled all matters to the Emperor's satisfaction. Later, the Emperor promoted him to Yulin Supervisor, then further promoted him to Colonel of Infantry. He was later appointed as the General of Longxiang and assigned as the magistrate of Haiyan County.
After Emperor Taizu ascended the throne, he appointed him as the General of Longxiang and the magistrate of Jiankang County. In the first year of Yongming, he was appointed as the General of Ningshuo. Shortly after, he was promoted to the General of the Right Army and the Prefect of Huailing, concurrently serving as a secretary in the Imperial Academy. After the death of his mother, he resigned from his official duties to observe the mourning period, and was later reappointed as the General of Ningshuo, resuming his original position.
In the fourth year of Yongming, the rebel Bai Zei Tang Yu staged a revolt. The court dispatched guards to the east to suppress the rebellion, and the emperor also dispatched Xi Zong to visit and console the affected people in the areas impacted by the rebels. Xi Zong inquired about the common people who had been oppressed by the rebel soldiers, helping them return to their normal lives. After Xi Zong returned, the emperor commended him, saying, "This rebellion was quickly quelled without much fighting, and the people are living in peace and prosperity. It's really great!" He also rewarded him with a substantial amount of money. Later, the emperor wanted to repair the city of Baixia but faced challenges in securing labor. Xi Zong suggested employing the exiled laborers from the east who had followed Tang Yu in his rebellion, and the emperor adopted his suggestion. Subsequently, the emperor personally inspected Baixia City and remarked, "Liu Xi Zong has won this city for the country!"
During the Yongming period, envoys from northern minority ethnic groups sent letters, and the emperor frequently tasked Xi Zong with drafting replies. The Secretariat and the Imperial Academy were under his supervision. Later, he was promoted to the position of Shao Fu, then promoted to Guerrilla General and Prefect of Lu County. After Emperor Yulin ascended the throne, he appointed him as Valiant Cavalry General, as well as Frontier General and Prefect of Xuan City. Xi Zong stayed in the court for a long time, with a relatively light workload. Emperor Ming said, "Those scholars who only know how to read cannot effectively govern the country; they only know how to read. Talented individuals like Liu Xi Zong can accomplish the work of five hundred mere bookworms!" It is evident that the emperor valued him highly. In the second year of Jianwu, Xi Zong passed away at the age of seventy-seven years.
Ru Faliang was from Wukang, Huzhou, Zhejiang. During the Song Dynasty, he started in a minor official position and gradually climbed the ranks. By the later years of Emperor Xiaowu's reign, he was responsible for overseeing wine production. Due to his harsh punishments, he created significant trouble. Later, he was sent to the Jiangyou region for hunting, accompanied by one hundred and eighty plainly dressed followers, all from wealthy and influential families. As they traveled south, more than half of them received lashes. Ru Faliang, feeling very fearful, found an excuse to become a Taoist monk.
When Emperor Song Ming ascended to the throne, he gave up his Taoist identity and formed a relationship with Ruan Dianfu, who appointed him as Meng Ciyang's assistant, the Inspector of Yanzhou. Later on, he was promoted all the way to become a military officer in the Crown Prince's office. In the Yuanhui era, he was appointed as Palace General, and also served as the assistant to Prince Jinxi of Yingzhou, as well as the Imperial Censor of the Palace.
Xiao Daocheng (Emperor Shizu), stationed at Pengcheng, needed people he trusted, and Ru Faliang volunteered to stay behind and serve as his assistant in Shangjiang Prefecture. He was later appointed as the Imperial Censor of the Southern Platform, and also served as the magistrate of Songzi. Ru Faliang was skilled at observing and flattery, gradually gaining Xiao Daocheng's trust. Later, he accompanied Xiao Daocheng back to Shitoucheng (modern-day Nanjing). In the Jianyuan era, he was appointed as the Chief Clerk of the Eastern Palace, then promoted to Imperial Envoy, and further promoted to the Attendant of the Eastern Palace. After Xiao Daocheng became emperor, Ru Faliang continued to serve as the Attendant of the Central Secretariat. He was later promoted to the position of Gentleman of the Imperial Gate, concurrently serving as the Administrator of Nanjiyin. In the first year of the Yongming era, he was appointed as the General of Longxiang.
The following year, the emperor issued a decree stating: "Ru Faliang has been in Pengcheng recently, carrying out orders multiple times, pacifying the army. He is brave and resolute, boosting morale, overcoming numerous difficulties with dedication. He should be rewarded and commended for his achievements." As a result, he was granted the title of Viscount of Wangcai County, with a fief comprising three hundred households. He was further promoted to the position of Censor, concurrently serving as the Supervisor of the Imperial Guards. Seven years later, he was appointed as the Administrator of Linhuai, and later transferred to the position of Military Officer in the residence of Prince Jingling.
Prince of Badong, Xiao Zixiang, killed his subordinate in Jingzhou. The emperor sent troops to march west to suppress him and sent Ru Faliang to deliver an imperial decree to comfort and appease Xiao Zixiang. When Ru Faliang arrived at Jiangjin, Xiao Zixiang asked him to come over, but Ru Faliang was too afraid to go. Xiao Zixiang then sent someone to deliver the decree, inviting him to meet, but Ru Faliang still refused to go. Xiao Zixiang, in a fit of rage, defeated the imperial army. Once the situation settled, Ru Faliang arrived at Jiangling and was in charge of judicial matters, ensuring his judgments aligned with the emperor's wishes. After the troops returned, the emperor regretted having executed Xiao Zixiang and blamed Ru Faliang. Some time later, the emperor trusted him again as before.
After Emperor Yulin ascended to the throne, he appointed Faliang as the infantry colonel. In the first year of Yanxing, Faliang was promoted to the rank of General of the Vanguard. Yanchang Hall was the mausoleum of Emperor Shizu, where many emperors' clothes were stored. The two young emperors resided in the West Hall, and Emperor Gaozong lived in the East Chamber after his ascension. Emperor Gaozong opened the mausoleum and took out the white gauze hat and defensive dagger worn by Emperor Shizu during his lifetime. Faliang cried at that time, overcome with grief. Later, he was appointed as a General of the Flying Cavalry. During the reign of Emperor Gaowu, most of the people from that time had passed away, but Faliang, who primarily handled clerical duties, was not suspected and his official position remained unchanged. In the first year of Yongtai, the situation regarding Wang Jingze had been resolved, and Faliang was again ordered to comfort and appease. Later, the emperor appointed Faliang as the Grand Minister of Agriculture. However, Faliang did not like the lucrative posts within the Ministry of Personnel, so he resolutely declined and refused to accept. By the time others had taken over, Faliang left in tears. Faliang passed away while still in office at the age of sixty-four.
Lu Wenxian was a native of Linhai. He initially served as the Director of Rituals under Emperor Xiaowu of the Song Dynasty. During the Shengming era, he served as the Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel for Emperor Taizu, and gradually rose through the ranks to become the Imperial Attendant, the Supervisor of the Imperial Guards, as well as the Magistrate and Prefect of Lanling County, General of the Dragon's Might, and Prefect of Moling County. He was also titled as the Baron of Liuyang County. In the first year of the Yongming era, he was appointed as the General of Ning Shuo, Attendant of the Central Secretariat, while retaining his previous positions. Wenxian was known for his meticulous and diligent work ethic. Three years later, he was later appointed as the Prefect of Nanqinghe. He and Ru Faliang took turns serving as Attendants, both of whom gained the Emperor's favor. Gifts and money from various regions totaled millions of dollars each year, enabling them to construct large houses, as well as gardens and ponds. Five years later, he became the Prefect of Jiankang, and later was promoted to Chief of Water Patrol, as well as the Prefects of Nantai Mountain and Nanqiao. He then served as a Military Aide in the Ministry of War, Prefect of Huainan, and concurrently as the Attendant of the Central Secretariat. He continued to rise through the ranks, eventually becoming the Left General, Prefect of Nandongguan, and General of the Right Army. During the reign of Emperor Gaozong, he was appointed as the Minister of the Treasury and was often assigned important tasks. From the Jianwu era to the Yongyuan era, he held the positions of Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and Minister of the Treasury. He ultimately passed away.
Lv Wendu, a native of Shaoxing, Zhejiang, was a minor official responsible for the treasury during the Song Dynasty. He also worked as a craftsman making bamboo products. During the Yuanhui era, he was appointed to oversee hunting wild chickens and traveled to Yingzhou with his superior Mo Xiuzong. When Emperor Song Shizu resisted Shen Youzhi in Pencheng, Lv Wendu stayed behind to handle military affairs and managed various tasks within the army, earning the appreciation of Emperor Song Shizu. After the army returned to the capital, he was appointed as the administrator of Shitoucheng and often visited the Eastern Palace. After Emperor Song Shizu ascended the throne, Lv Wendu was appointed as the supervisor of the Imperial Bureau, holding the rank of Yuanwailang, and also served as the Prefect of Nan Puyang. He wielded significant power over the palace's military and personnel dispatched to other regions. There is a folk legend that when the governor of Yuezhou found himself in need of a replacement, Lv Wendu recommended his acquaintance Fei Yanzong, who was then appointed by the emperor. During the Yongming period, the emperor decreed that close associates were not allowed to recommend others for promotion, exempting officials of high rank, while commoners faced a punishment of one hundred lashes. The emperor was strict, and once, when Lv Wenxian coughed loudly by the hall, the emperor ordered Ru Faliang to scold him for showing disrespect. As a result, everyone in the palace feared the emperor and dared not speak out of turn. Ru Faliang was in charge of managing labor and conveying secret decrees; Lv Wenxian managed food and cloth; the other attendants had no specific responsibilities. The General of the Palace Guard, Pan Chang, was responsible for supervising construction projects. When the newly completed Chanling Temple was inspected by the emperor, he was quite pleased. Pan Chang, overjoyed, secretly invited Lv Wenxian to ascend the tower at the south gate of the temple. When the emperor found out, he imprisoned Pan Chang, and Lv Wenxian was demoted to Nanqiao County, and he was only reinstated after a considerable time.
Jiang Qutan from Jiyang and Shen Huifu from Wuxing, among others, were just ordinary scholars, serving as officials in the palace as attendants or secretaries, without real power. Shen Huifu had some writing skills, and during the Jianwu period, many imperial edicts were drafted by him. He later rose to the rank of Gentleman of the Yellow Gate.
Historical records say that since the middle ages, the prime ministers wielding the power of the realm managed a complex array of political affairs daily, and other departments had no chance to intervene. The eight departments of the Ministry of Rites, along with the five Cao offices, each fulfilling its role, cooperated with the nine ministers and six ministries, and the affairs were handled by the deputy officials. These individuals were all high-ranking officials of prominent status who did not need to personally submit memorials or work hard. They were responsible for conveying the emperor's intentions, and all internal and external information had to pass through them.
Think about it: they served the emperor by his side every day, greeting him in the morning and evening, standing straight next to him, looking around proudly in the palace, reading the emperor's expressions and understanding his preferences. Over time, the emperor trusted them more and more. With their solid positions, they controlled the power of the court. As long as the emperor was young and strong, diligent in political affairs, and fair in rewards and punishments, these prime ministers managed to avoid favoritism and corruption. They could predict the development of events and could also benefit from the emperor's favor inadvertently, with power spreading throughout the country.
Over time, they began accepting bribes, amassing large sums of money annually, their wealth rivaling that of the nobility. They were powerful and influential, with even local officials needing to heed their authority. They also controlled military power, maintaining their own guards within the palace, elite soldiers stationed around the palace. When the emperor went into battle or returned to the court, they were responsible for clearing the way, protecting the emperor's safety, checking people coming and going, managing vehicles and horses, commanding the army, serving directly at the emperor's side, and tasked with ensuring palace security and establishing various rules and regulations.
If conscription or mobilizing labor is needed, they are in charge of organizing personnel and managing various requests, and even arbitrarily altering taxes, forging documents, hunting down rebels, and exiling prisoners. The military can hold onto their positions for generations, while ordinary people rarely live beyond a hundred. They harm the people and endanger the country; they are akin to parasites. Furthermore, when the emperor is either young or inept, they will act with even greater impunity, and their crimes are innumerable!
Praise: Grant titles and nobility, favored and privileged. A burden to those around them, both rich and powerful.
