Wang Kun hails from Linyi in Langya. His grandfather, Wang Hui, was a general of the Jin Dynasty. His father, Wang Yi, was not particularly bright. Wang Kun was born to Wang Yi and a concubine, which led to him being originally named Wang Kunlun. Later, Wang Yi took a wife from Nanyang named Le Xuan, but they had no sons. They changed Wang Kun's name and made him the heir. Wang Kun was always cautious and serious from a young age, and he was greatly loved by his uncle, Situ Wang Mi. During the Yongchu era of the Song Dynasty, because he married the daughter of Huan Xiu, the Emperor appointed him as a Langzhong and the General of the Cavalry, enjoying the privileges of a court official. In the early years of the Yuanjia era, his brother Wang Hua was highly favored in the court. Although the Wang family's standing was waning, his brother still treated him like a true brother and recommended him for promotion multiple times.
As a result, Wang Kun successively held positions as the Gentleman of the Rituals, the Prefectural Governor, and gradually rose to the position of military advisor to the Left Army, overseeing the Records Office. Later, he was sent to serve as the Prefect of Xuan Cheng, the Attendant Officer of the Minister of Works, and the Prefect of Yi Xing. He held all these positions with integrity and simplicity. He later returned to the court as the Chief of the Northern Central Army, the Gentleman of the Yellow Gate, the General of Ning Shuo, and the Prefect of Dongyang. In the early years of the Xiaojian era, he was promoted to the Minister of Justice, and then served as the Chief of the Cavalry of Prince Jingling, was also appointed as the Prefect of Lin Huai, and then transferred to the Ministry of Personnel. The Ministry of Personnel oversaw the selection of officials, and many high-ranking officials often leveraged their connections to advance. However, Wang Kun treated all individuals equally, regardless of their status, and followed the rules, only accepting two students from each person. Even Prince Yigong of Jiangxia had approached him twice for assistance and to recommend individuals, but Wang Kun declined both requests.
Later, he was transferred to Guangzhou, serving as the Governor, Governor of Guang and Jiao Provinces, General of Establishing Might, General Who Pacifies the Southern Tribes, General of the Central Yue Army, and Governor of Guangzhou. The land in the south is fertile and abundant in resources. Those who have served as Governor of Guangzhou have been able to accumulate huge wealth. There's a saying that "just passing through the city gates once, the Governor of Guangzhou can obtain thirty million." However, Wang Kun was honest and upright, never corrupt or accepting bribes. He even presented half of his salary to the court. There used to be a music band in Guangzhou, and he saved all those expenses and handed them over to the court. After stepping down, Emperor Xiaowu knew of his integrity and asked how much wealth he brought back. Wang Kun replied, "I bought a house, spent 1.3 million, and the rest isn't worth much more than that." Emperor Xiaowu was very pleased to hear this. Later, he served as Grand Justice, was appointed as an Imperial Consultant, and then transferred to the post of Chief Clerk to the Generals of Ning and Shuo, and Governor of Liyang. The emperor valued Wang Kun's loyalty and integrity, and transferred him to the side of his beloved son, Prince Xin'an, as Chief Clerk of the Eastern General, appointed as the General Who Aids the State, and later promoted to Right Guard General and Minister of Revenue. He also served as Chief Clerk of the Left Army of Prince Yongjia, Chief Clerk of the Expedition against the Lu of Prince Shi'an, and was appointed as the General Who Aids the State and Prefect of Guangling, all of whom were sons of Emperor Xiaowu. In the first year of Taishi, he was promoted to Minister of Revenue, and shortly after was appointed as a Grand Master of Joyous Splendor.
At first, my cousin, the Huasun, inherited the title and became the Marquis of Xinjian, but he had a particular fondness for drinking and frequently made errors. I reported to the emperor, saying, "The younger generation of my family is not competent. My nephew, Zhang, who was originally the heir to the title of Left Guard General, didn't have much talent when he was young, but I hoped he would achieve something in the future. However, recently he has become increasingly consumed by wine and women, engaging in reckless and unrestrained behavior. His father, General Huazhongsu, was loyal and made great contributions to the country, passing on his merits to his descendants; but he has squandered this legacy. After inheriting the title, he is bringing ruin to our family’s legacy. His brother, Tong Xian, is disciplined and of good character. If the emperor could give him a chance to repent, then our family could continue to enjoy honor and wealth; otherwise, we will face destruction. These are my personal thoughts; I humbly ask for Your Majesty's judgment." The emperor then sent him away, appointing him as the Champion General and the Prefect of Wu County, and was later promoted to the Chief Military Officer.
During his time in Wu County, he used the 360,000 coins allocated by the court to support the imperial palace and the princes, and also made crimson clothes for the army. As a result of this, he was demoted to the Grand Master of Ceremonies, but shortly after was later appointed as the Grand Master of Ceremonies and the Purple Gold Grand Master, and was also appointed as an Attendant Cavalry Officer. At that time, the Minister of Justice, Yu He, proposed to consolidate the deities of the state into a single entity, but I countered his proposal with references from classical texts. Yu He was highly trusted by the emperor at the time, and many in the court considered me overly principled and inflexible.
When Emperor Ming passed away, I was appointed as the military governor of the five counties of Kuaiji, Dongyang, Xin'an, Linhai, and Yongjia, the General of the Left Army, and the Governor of Kuaiji, while retaining the position of Cavalier Attendant of the Imperial Court. Later, I was imprisoned for making a mistake, and my rank was reduced to Champion General. During the Yuanhui reign, I was promoted to the position of Golden Purple Guanglu Daifu, Hongxun Taifu, while retaining the position of Cavalier Attendant of the Imperial Court. I also served as the Chief Justice of the province and was granted the title of Special Advisor. After the emperor ascended the throne, I was promoted to Right Guanglu Daifu, while retaining my other official positions. When the emperor abdicated, I accompanied him in resigning from his position, crying profusely.
After Emperor Taizu ascended the throne, I was appointed as the great general of the Prince of Wuling, appointed as a Palace Attendant to the Emperor, and equipped with twenty trusted aides. At that time, Wang Jian served as the prime minister and sent me to Donghai County to meet with officials. I instructed my trusted aides, "Tell him that the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers of the court are all personally appointed by the emperor; as for the officials of the small counties, they should be selected from humble origins. How can court officials arbitrarily take their positions?" So this matter was never resolved.
I have always been cautious and excessively frugal, personally taking care of the trivial matters at home. When attending court, I always woke up early, carefully inspecting my clothes and hat, checking them repeatedly, which often drew laughter from others. Later, I resigned from my position as the great general of the Prince of Wuling.
In the fourth year of Jianyuan, Emperor Taizu passed away. When Zhang Kun heard the tragic news, his ox cart was not at home, and the imperial palace was several miles away, so he walked directly to the palace. Officials in the court advised him, "You should take a carriage; walking in this manner damages the country's image." Zhang Kun said, "In such an urgent situation today, this is how it should be." Consequently, he fell ill and soon thereafter passed away. The court posthumously granted him the title of Left Guanglu Daifu, with all other honors unchanged. He lived to the age of eighty-four.
Zhang Dai, courtesy name Jingshan, was from Wuxian, Suzhou. His grandfather, Zhang Chang, was the Minister of Revenue of the Jin Dynasty; his father, Zhang Maodu, was a Golden Purple Official of the Song Dynasty. When Zhang Dai was young, he, along with his elder brother, Zhang Yin, the Crown Prince's Attendant, his younger brother, Zhang Jing, the Administrator of Xin'an, Zhang Yong, the General of the Northern Expedition, and his younger brother, Zhang Bian, the Inspector of Guangzhou, were all very famous, and people referred to them as the "Five Dragons of the Zhang Family." Among them, Zhang Jing was neighbors with the Golden Purple Official Yan Yanzhi when they were young. Yan Yanzhi liked to discuss literature, drink, and was quite the loud character, creating a lively atmosphere, while Zhang Jing was very quiet and never made a sound. Later, Yan Yanzhi overheard Zhang Jing talking with guests by the fence, so he grabbed a small stool to sit and listen. He found Zhang Jing's words to be both clear and profound, and he greatly admired him, telling his guests, "Hey, there's a talented guy over there!" From then on, Yan Yanzhi no longer made so much noise. Zhang Yin and Zhang Jing were the most renowned, while Zhang Yong, Zhang Bian, and Zhang Dai were a bit less famous.
Zhang Dai was recommended as a Shangji Clerk, but he did not take up the position. He was later appointed as an official and was promoted all the way to the position of Chief Clerk of the Right Army of Nanping Wang, and then as Minister of the Water Department. He was subsequently appointed as the magistrate of Dongqian County. At that time, Yin Chong was the Governor of Wuxing, and he said to others, "Zhang Dongqian comes from a humble background and needs to support his parents, so he is working in a remote small county. But his reputation and status will soon grow, and he will eventually reach a high position." Later, Wang Dan raised troops in Kuaiji and appointed Zhang Dai as the General of Jianwei and Chief Historian of Fuguo, in charge of handling local affairs. After the situation was settled, Zhang Dai was appointed as the Left-West Cao of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. His mother was eighty years old, and according to regulations, his term in office had not yet been completed, so Zhang Dai resigned and returned home to fulfill his filial duty. The authorities believed Zhang Dai had violated regulations and sought to punish him. Emperor Xiaowu of the Song Dynasty said, "His actions demonstrate his filial piety; there is no need to investigate further." Zhang Dai was later promoted to Military Advisor while also serving as the magistrate of Shanyin County. His responsibilities were manageable, and he ran his administration efficiently.
Prince Xiu of Baling aspired to become the Governor of North Xuzhou, but he was still young and had yet to begin managing political affairs. He was first appointed as the Champion Military Advisor, concurrently serving as the Governor of Pengcheng, helping manage various affairs in the prefecture, state, and kingdom. Later, the Prince of Linhai was sent to Guangzhou as the General of Pacifying the Barbarians, the Prince of Yuzhang went to Yangzhou as the General of Chariots and Cavalry, and the Prince of Jin'an went to Nanyanzhou as the General of Pacifying the Barbarians. He accompanied these three princes as their Military Advisor and staff, collaborating with officials and generals, managing affairs effectively, and earning a good reputation. Someone asked him, "The princes are still young; how do you manage to serve so many people and handle both public and private matters so effectively?" He said, "As the ancients said, 'with one heart, one can serve a hundred rulers.' I act fairly and justly, treat people with courtesy and respect, never have regrets, and never leave any grounds for criticism. Whether I can be valued depends on my abilities and the opportunities that come my way."
Later, he was promoted to the position of Gentleman of the Yellow Gate, then to the position of Chief of Cavalry, and also served as the Governor of Guangling. Prince Ziluan of Xin'an was appointed as the Governor of Southern Xuzhou due to the Emperor's favor, and Wu County was assigned to his jurisdiction. The court carefully selected officials to assist him, and Emperor Xiaowu even personally summoned him, saying, "You are capable and experienced. I now want you to serve as Ziluan's assistant, in charge of all affairs in the Inspector's office. Although the position may not seem significant now, it will definitely have great development in the future!" Unfortunately, Emperor Xiaowu passed away, and he continued to be promoted, eventually becoming the Minister of Personnel.
When Emperor Ming just ascended to the throne, rebellions were breaking out across the country. The Emperor trusted his extensive experience and strong abilities, so he appointed him as Commissioner and Commander of Military Affairs in Western Yuzhou, Assistant General of the State, and Governor of Western Yuzhou. Not long after, he was transferred to the north, becoming the Champion General, Inspector of North Xuzhou, and also serving as the supreme commander of the Northern Expedition, although he ultimately did not assume the role. During the Taishi period, he became the Governor of Wuxing. In the Yuanhui era, he was promoted to Commissioner, Commander of Military Affairs in Yining and Ningzhou, Champion General, and Governor of Yizhou. Several years later, the people of Yizhou thrived under his governance. The court summoned him back and appointed him as a Palace Attendant, while concurrently serving as Chief of Changshui, Minister of Finance, and General of the Left Army, eventually rising to the position of Minister of Personnel. At that time, Wang Jian held the position of Lang of the Ministry of Personnel, with great power and often acting unilaterally, but he always stood up against Wang Jian. Later, Wang Jian became the Prime Minister, and this strained their relationship.
My elder brother's son Gui and my younger brother Shu together killed the Governor of Wu County, Liu Xia. My grandfather (the Emperor) wanted to appoint Shu as the Governor of Jinling County, but my father (Dai) said, "Shu still doesn't understand political affairs; you can't just cut fine silk haphazardly!" My grandfather said, "I know what kind of person Shu is. Moreover, he and Gui have achieved merit together, and they should be rewarded." My father said, "If he is given an official position because our family is poor, that's understandable, but if he is promoted due to relationships, it would be a disgrace to our family!" Later, my father was appointed as the Cavalry Officer. In the first year of the Jianyuan era, he was appointed as the General of the Left and the Governor of Wu County.
My grandfather knew that my father had been upright and honest in all his previous official positions. Not long after he arrived in Wu County, my grandfather personally wrote to him, "The nation's important responsibilities are such that, for now, I don't plan to transfer you back, but the military affairs are busy, and we need you to do things practically. You are now appointed as the Army Protector." He was also appointed as the Censor. After my father thanked him, the Emperor issued a decree to elevate his family residence to a mansion. Later, he fell ill, and in the second year, he was promoted to the Grand Master of Joy and concurrently appointed as the Teacher of Prince of Poyang.
After my grandfather passed away, my great-grandfather (the Emperor) appointed my father as the Cavalry Officer and the Governor of Wuxing, with an official rank equivalent to 2,000 stones. In his later years in Wuxing, my father became well-known for his generosity and kindness. Later, he was appointed as the Military Affairs Supervisor in the five provinces of Nanyuan, Yanzhou, Xuzhou, Qingzhou, and Jizhou, General, and he still retained the position of Cavalry Officer. However, before he could take office, he passed away when he was seventy-one. In his youth, my father wrote a will, dividing the family property and sealing it in a box, and as the family's assets increased or decreased, he redistributed them—a practice that continued for over a decade. After his death, he was posthumously honored and given the posthumous title of Zhenzi.
Chu Xuan, courtesy name Yan Xu, was a native of Yangdi, Henan. His grandfather Chu Xiuzhi served as the Grand Preceptor of the Song Dynasty; his father Chu Faxian served as the Prefect of Poyang; his older brother Chu Zhao, courtesy name Yan Xuan, was known for his integrity from a young age, he lost an eye, and held the position of Doctor of the National University, but did not assume his position. His brother often criticized his cousin Chu Yuan for serving two successive emperors. After Chu Yuan was appointed Minister of Works, he sighed, "If Chu Yuan had died while serving as an Imperial Clerk, wouldn't he also be a famous scholar? His reputation and virtue never thrived, but he lived to a ripe old age." Chu Xuan was known for his honesty and simplicity in his youth, and caught the attention of his uncle Wang Jingwen. His brother Chu Yuan said to others, "My younger brother's honesty and integrity surpass mine tenfold!" When Wang Chang served as Grand Preceptor during the Song Dynasty, he recommended Chu Xuan to become an attendant to the prince, a recorder in the cavalry, and a senior official.
Emperor Song Ming went hunting for wild chickens and hadn't shot any by noon. Feeling embarrassed, the Emperor turned to his officials and asked, "I came out early this morning to hunt, but returned empty-handed; it's quite ridiculous!" The ministers were hesitant to speak. Only Fan Xuan stepped forward and said, "Although the season is right, the morning dew has not yet dissipated, so the wild chickens have not been startled and are not very alert. As long as Your Majesty keeps enjoying the outing, everyone will naturally be happy." The Emperor felt relieved upon hearing this and hosted a banquet in the hunting grounds. Later, Fan Xuan was promoted to be the Deputy Director of the Imperial Secretariat and the Right Chief Historian of the Ministry of Works.
During the Shengming era, Fan Xuan, known for his integrity and purity, served the emperor alongside Liu Yu, Xie Mo, and Jiang Jiao in the palace, responsible for document-related work, and they were called the "Four Friends." Later on, Fan Xuan was promoted to Gentleman of the Yellow Gates, Grand Historiographer under Emperor Taizu, then promoted to Imperial Attendant, and once again served as Grand Historiographer. After the completion of the Qitai, he served as Imperial Attendant again, concurrently holding the position of Infantry Colonel. Due to his family's poverty, during the Jianyuan period, he was sent as the Governor of Dongyang, with his rank raised to that of a Middle Second Rank official. Upon returning to the capital, he once again served as Imperial Attendant, leading the infantry. He served as Imperial Attendant a total of three times. Later, he was sent to serve under the Prince of Jingling as the Chief Historiographer for the Northern Campaign, and was appointed as General of Assistance to the State, shortly after being transferred to the Chief Historiographer of the Champion, and the Interior Minister of Jiangxia, maintaining his military position. In the first year of Yongming, Fan Xuan was appointed as the Minister of Personnel. He was known for his integrity and honesty, rarely socializing with others unless for condolences or visits, which was highly appreciated by all. As a result, during his tenure at the Ministry of Personnel, he was somewhat isolated and received few visitors. When he traveled, the wind blew away the box holding his yellow paper hat. After being transferred back to the capital from Jiangxia, he only received 170,000 coins, all of which he distributed to his relatives, leaving him without even enough money for medicine. He submitted his resignation and was later appointed as a Cavalier Attendant, leading the army of Prince Ancheng. After the completion of the National University, he served as a scholar in his official role, but passed away before taking office, leaving his family without enough money to afford a proper funeral. He was only 41 years old at the time of his death and was posthumously honored with the title of Minister of Ceremonies, with the posthumous title of Zhenzi.
He Ji, styled Huijing, was from Lin County in Lujiang. His ancestor, He Shangzhi, once served as the Minister of Works in the Song Dynasty; his father, He Yan, was a Grand Master of the Order of Splendid Happiness, highly valued by Emperor Wu of Song. He Ji married Princess Shanyin and was appointed as Colonel of the Imperial Guard. He initially worked as a Secretariat Drafter, and later as the Chamberlain of the Crown Prince, Registrar of the Minister of Works, Literary Officer to Prince Xin'an, Deputy Secretary, and Gentleman of the Palace Library.
During the Jinghe period, Princess Shanyin requested the Emperor to summon the official of the Ministry of Personnel, Chu Yuan, to serve her in order to seek his help. Chu Yuan felt pressured and refused to agree, so he stayed with Xie Ji for several months, and their relationship became particularly good as a result. Later, when Emperor Ming ascended the throne, Xie Ji was promoted to be the Attendant to the Minister of Works, accompanying Prince Jian'an, Xiu Ren, on the campaign against Zheqi. During this time, he was also appointed as Xiu Ren's Marshal, and later became a Gentleman of the Yellow Gate. He was then appointed as General Who Displays Might and Prefect of Dongyang, before eventually returning to his position as an official of the Ministry of Personnel. At the beginning of the Yuanhui period, Chu Yuan participated in court politics and recommended Xie Ji to be appointed as an Attendant. At that time, Xie Ji was only twenty-nine years old. Feeling that it was not quite appropriate to hold such a position at a young age, Xie Ji repeatedly submitted his resignation, which was deemed reasonable by court officials. As a result, Xie Ji was reassigned as the Chief of Staff of the Left for the Ministry of Works. At that time, the Emperor served as the General Who Leads the Army, and he had a good relationship with Xie Ji, often sharing meals and drinks together. The Emperor liked a snack known as "Shuiyin Cake," so Xie Ji had his household maid personally make it and send it to the Emperor. After some time, Xie Ji was appointed as an Attendant, and later promoted to be the Chief of Chariots and Cavalry for Prince Ancheng, as well as being appointed as the General Who Supports the State and Prefect of Jiyin, responsible for the administrative affairs of the prefecture and the state. He was then appointed as the Prefect of Wu County, but he returned home due to illness. He later served as an Attendant, Head of the Imperial Secretariat, and then promoted to be the Prefect of the Palace Secretariat, while also serving as the Chief Clerk of the Left of the Prime Minister. In the first year of Jianyuan, Xie Ji was promoted to be the Cavalier in Regular Attendance and the Prince's Consultant, and shortly thereafter reassigned as an Attendant, while still retaining the position of the Prince's Consultant.
The emperor wanted Xie Ji to be in charge of selecting officials, so he asked for the opinion of the Minister of Personnel, Chu Yuan, because Xie Ji held a high position and the emperor wanted to give him the title of Court Attendant. Chu Yuan said, "During the Song Dynasty, Wang Qiu was directly promoted from the position of Privy Councilor and Imperial Secretary to the position of Minister of Personnel. His qualifications were similar to those of Xie Ji, and at that time the standards for selecting officials were relatively lenient, so we cannot directly give him the title of Court Attendant. Furthermore, His Majesty has always felt that there shouldn't be too many people wearing crowns; Wang Jian and I already wear jade ornaments in our left ears. If we give Xie Ji the title of Court Attendant, there would be too many people in court wearing the mink crown. If we give him the position of General of Swift Cavalry or General of Agile Infantry, it would also be considered good." Therefore, Xie Ji was appointed as Minister of Personnel and was also given the title of General of Swift Cavalry. Xie Ji was strikingly handsome and elegant, much like Chu Yuan, so people at that time called him "Little Chu Gong." His family was wealthy, and he lived a luxurious life, dressing in lavish attire. Three years later, Xie Ji was reassigned to Wuxing as General of the Left and Prefect.
The emperor had a particular fondness for painted fans, and Emperor Xiaowu of Song once rewarded him with a fan painted with cicadas and sparrows, created by the renowned painter Gu Jingxiu. At that time, Lu Tanwei and Gu Yanxian were both very talented painters, and everyone admired Gu Jingxiu's superb painting skills. Later, the emperor rewarded this fan to Wang Yan and asked Wang Yan to properly thank Gu Jingxiu. Four years later, Gu Jingxiu passed away at the age of thirty-six. The emperor posthumously honored him with the titles of Cavalier Attendant and General Who Calms the Army, while he retained his position as Prefect. He was posthumously granted the title of Yizi. His daughter later married the Prince of Yulin, and the emperor posthumously conferred upon him the titles of Privy Councilor and Grand Master of Splendid Happiness.
Wang Yanzhi, courtesy name Xiji, was a native of Linyi in Langya. His grandfather Wang Yu was the Left Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary of the Song Dynasty. His father Wang Shengzhi served as the Minister of Personnel in the capital. Wang Yanzhi was adopted by his uncle Wang Canzhi, a scholar. Wang Yanzhi has been quiet and steady since he was a child, rarely participating in social activities. He was once summoned by the local government to serve as the registrar, but he declined. Later, he passed the imperial examination and was appointed as a military officer in the Northern Central Army. He was then transferred to the Ministry of War and the Ministry of External Affairs as a registrar, but he declined these positions. Later, he was successively appointed as the registrar and secretary to the Prince of Jianping, while also holding positions in the Sikong and Beizhonglang Mansions. He was later promoted to Secretary, military advisor to the Prince of Xiyang, state official of the Zhou Dynasty, champion of the Prince of Xunyang, and military officer under the Prince of Anlu. He was also awarded the title of General Zhenwu, and later appointed as the military guard of Anyuan and the internal historian of Wuling, but he declined these appointments. After Emperor Song Ming ascended to the position of Guard General, Wang Yanzhi was appointed as the Chief Historian and was awarded the title of General Xuanwei. When the Minister of War, Prince Jian'an Xiu Ren, led a campaign against Zheqi, Wang Yanzhi was transferred to be the Left Chief Historian and was awarded the title of General Ningshuo.
Wang Yanzhi lived in poverty, and his house had leaks. Chu Yuan went to visit him, saw how simple his living conditions were, and reported this to Emperor Song Ming. Emperor Song Ming immediately ordered officials from the Ministry of Works to build three houses for him. Later, Wang Yanzhi was promoted to be a court attendant, concurrently serving as the Director of Archery, but before he could take up the position, he was appointed Governor of Wu County. After his term ended and he returned home, his wealth did not increase. He was reappointed as the Minister of Personnel, concurrently as the General of the Elite Cavalry, but he did not assume these positions. He was again appointed as the Minister of Personnel, concurrently as the General of the Rear Army and the Governor of Wuxing County. He was later promoted to Commander of the Five Counties of Eastern Zhejiang and Governor of Kuaiji. Afterwards, he was promoted to court attendant, Chief of the Imperial Secretariat, while retaining his position as Prince Jinxi. Before taking office, he was transferred to be the Minister of the Right. In the second year of Shengming, he was promoted to be the Minister of the Left.
After the decline of the Song Dynasty, Emperor Taizu seized power, which left the court officials anxious, all on edge. Yanzhi and the Minister of Personnel, Wang Senqian, maintained a neutral and impartial stance. At the time, they were described as follows: "The two Wangs remain neutral, not showing favoritism." Taizu held them in high regard. Three years later, Yanzhi was appointed as a Commissioner, Commander of the armies of Xinchai, Jinxi, and Southern An, General for Pacifying the South, and Inspector of Jiangzhou. In the second year of Jianyuan, he was promoted to General of the South.
Yanzhi and the Palace Attendant Ruan Tao were both nephews of the Song Dynasty general Liu Zhan, and they had both gained early recognition. Liu Zhan greatly favored them and once said, "Ruan Tao will become the first, Yanzhi will be second." Yanzhi was very dissatisfied with this. Every time Yanzhi sent military supplies to the capital, Ruan Tao and other court officials were treated the same. When Taizu heard about this, he wrote to Yanzhi specifically asking, "Ruan Tao said you didn't mean anything else; is it due to the Liu family's frequent gatherings and discussions?" In the county, apart from his regular salary, Yanzhi did not accept any additional benefits, living alone in a modest room, rarely seen by anyone.
Four years later, Yan Zhi was promoted to the position of Chancellor, concurrently serving as Right Guanglu Daifu and Chief Justice of Benzhou. Later, he was promoted to Left Pushe, retaining the titles of Guanglu Daifu and Chief Justice. He then served as the tutor of Prince Jingling. In the second year of Yongming, Yan Zhi requested to resign due to illness, which was approved by Emperor Wu. He was granted the title of Special Advanced, with the titles of Right Guanglu Daifu, tutor of the prince, and Chief Justice still retained. He passed away in the same year at the age of sixty-four. He was posthumously appointed as Sanqi Changshi, and the titles of Right Guanglu Daifu and Special Advanced were also retained, and he was posthumously honored with the title of Jianzi.
Yan Zhi had very strict family upbringing and rarely saw his descendants casually; even for holiday greetings, he would choose a date in advance. His son Yan Lunzhi was also like this. During the Yongming era, Yan Lunzhi served as an attendant. When Emperor Wu visited Langye City, Yan Lunzhi, Guanglu Daifu Quan Jingwen, and twenty-one others did not participate in the service and were reported by the relevant authorities. The emperor ordered Yan Lunzhi to personally serve as an attendant, but deemed him negligent like the others, so he was dismissed from his position, while Quan Jingwen and others were fined. During the Jianwu period, Yan Lunzhi served as an attendant again, concurrently serving as the General of the Front Army, Minister of Personnel, and General of the Guard, before passing away.
Ruan Tao, style name Changming, was from Chenliu and the great-grandson of Ruan Yu, the Jin Dynasty's Jinzi Guanglu Daifu. Ruan Tao held positions of integrity from a young age and once served as the Assistant to the Governor of Nanyanzhou. When Liu Yigong, the Prince of Jiangxia and Governor of Nanyanzhou, asked him for money, Ruan Tao said, "This is the money of the court," and firmly refused to comply.
Emperor Xiaowu of the Song Dynasty selected four attendants primarily based on their looks. Wang Yu and Xie Zhuang were a pair, while Shen Yue and He Yan were another pair. They often took turns handling temporary tasks. Towards the end of the Taishi period, Shen Yue was appointed as the Chief Secretary of Jiangzhou, the Southern Expedition General. Prince Xiufan of Guiyang was stationed in Jiangzhou at that time and often went out for leisure, but Shen Yue was upright and never blindly followed him around. Later, Shen Yue was promoted to Cavalry Officer in Regular Attendance, a Grand Master of Joyful Splendor, and also served as the tutor to Prince Shixing. In the second year of Yongming, Shen Yue died.
Historical records comment that being an attendant in the palace is a position very close to the core of the emperor and has always been chosen from among the talented and good-looking. Those adorned in gold and lavish court attire have long since forgotten the Confucian classics, only pursuing the reputation of famous families. Moreover, the court selects talents based solely on appearance, with those in magnificent headpieces relying on family connections to gain power, prioritizing looks over talent, doing jobs similar to those of palace guards, merely getting by on appearance, which is very different from before. Think about the talented individuals like Bi Qiang of the Han Dynasty, who showed great ability from a young age; or Cao Zhi of the Wei Kingdom, who, despite having an average appearance, was still highly valued. Although He Ji may not fully understand the standards of excellence for ancient talents, compared to those who hold positions without merit and only care about dressing up, the difference is striking!
Praise: The caution of Lord Wanshi and the talent of Kun (Shi Chong) have become role models. The Zhang family, represented by Zhang Hua, inherited the excellent qualities of Xun Yu. The Shen family is prominent, and He Ji's marriage is also remarkable. Shen Yue was upright and simple, with a distinguished reputation among nobles and officials.
