It is said that to govern a country well, four elements are essential: benevolence, righteousness, proper rites, laws, and penalties. Benevolence, righteousness, and proper rites are the foundation of governing a country, while laws and penalties are auxiliary means. Without a foundation, one cannot stand, and without these auxiliary means, effective governance is impossible. However, educating the populace is a long-term strategy, while penalties provide immediate results. Penalties can assist in education, but they must not be misused. Just as Laozi said: "When governance is overly transparent, the people may become complacent." He also said: "When laws are too numerous, thieves are likely to increase." Therefore, overly complex and harsh laws, along with cruel officials, are signs of poor governance, and this principle has remained the same for centuries.
Looking back at history, sometimes severe punishment is indeed necessary. For example, during the Qin Dynasty, the streets were filled with people wearing red prisoner's clothing, and the jailers were in charge. The Han Dynasty improved this atmosphere, but went too far in the other direction, with laws having too many loopholes, resulting in the big fish slipping through the net. Those who were particularly heinous, violating morality and trampling on rites, were able to evade justice. Therefore, although tough officials can combat evil and prohibit villainy, temporarily solving some problems, their methods may not necessarily be worth emulating.
After Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang pacified the world, the regions in the south and throughout the country all submitted to the imperial court, adhering to education and following morality. The instances of local officials abusing their power, oppressing nobles, arbitrarily collecting taxes, and abusing officials were virtually nonexistent. In comparison to the past, the situation had seen significant improvement.
However, there are people like Shiwen who, despite their insignificant merits and mediocre talents, have gained undeserved positions by being in the right place at the right time. They display their narrow-mindedness, engaging in many improper deeds that harm both gentlemen and commoners, instilling fear wherever they appear. The populace views them with the same fear as one would view snakes or scorpions. Those under their jurisdiction steer clear of them as if they were foes. Their supposed kindness is insincere, and their punishments stem not from a hatred of evil. They often punish the innocent, acting worse than wolves. They have no intention of curbing wickedness or rooting out evildoers, only intent on preying on the weak and vulnerable. Gentlemen detest them, which led to their deeds being compiled in the "Biographies of Harsh Officials."
Shiwen of Sheji hails from Dai County. His grandfather was the Left Prime Minister of Northern Qi, and his father was a general and the governor of Sizhou. Shiwen was proud, upright, and solitary, even distancing himself from neighbors and close friends. He had a passion for reading since childhood. After the fall of Northern Qi, he inherited the title of Prince of Zhangwu and became a military general. When Emperor Wu of Zhou conquered Northern Qi, most Shandong officials and nobles rushed to greet the Zhou army, but Shiwen stayed behind closed doors, resolutely refusing to show himself. Emperor Wu of Zhou found him to be exceptional and appointed him as a Palace Attendant and Inspector of Suizhou.
After the founding emperor of the Sui Dynasty, Yang Jian, declared himself emperor, he also appointed Shi Wen as the Grand Chancellor, granting him the title of Count of Hubei County. Shortly after, he appointed him as the governor of Beizhou. Shi Wen was known for his honesty and frugality, never accepting any provisions from the government and having no extra money at home. His son once stole bread from the government kitchen, so Shi Wen locked him up in jail for several days, gave him 100 lashes, and then escorted him back to the capital. His servants and slaves dared not leave the house, having to purchase salt and vegetables from other places. Whenever someone entered or left the house, he would bar the doors, cutting off all contact with relatives and friends, even during festivals. His enforcement of the law was strict, terrifying officials to the extent that no one dared to pick up anything from the streets. Even for minor offenses, he would investigate thoroughly and punish severely.
Once, when he went to the capital to pay an audience to the emperor, he coincidentally arrived during a banquet for the ministers, where they were allowed to select rewards from the treasury. Everyone took a lot, but Shi Wen only held one piece of silk in his mouth and two in his hands. When asked by the emperor, he replied, "My mouth and hands are full; I do not require anything else." The emperor was surprised, rewarded him, and let him go. Upon returning to Beizhou, Shi Wen vigorously pursued corrupt officials, not sparing even those who embezzled a foot of cloth or a peck of rice. He investigated over a thousand people, and the court ordered that they all be exiled to Lingnan. Their relatives cried as they bid farewell, resonating throughout the city. In Lingnan, due to the unfamiliar environment and diseases, many of them died, causing their parents and wives to weep and blame Shi Wen. Upon hearing this, Shi Wen had them apprehended and harshly punished, resulting in even louder cries.
At that time, Wei Kun from Jingzhao was the Sima of Beizhou, and Zhao Da from Hedong was the magistrate of Qinghe County. These two individuals were very strict, while the Changshi was the only one who was relatively lenient and kind. People at that time came up with a rhyme to describe them: "The governor is a ruthless demon, the Sima a viper's glare, the Changshi smiles as he judges, while Qinghe breeds cannibals." Upon hearing this, the emperor sighed and said, "The cruelty of officials surpasses that of wild beasts!" Eventually, Wei Kun was dismissed. Not long after, he was appointed as the Changshi of Yongzhou. He told others, "I've always enforced the law strictly and won't play the sycophant for a promotion. I am sure I will die in this position." After taking office, he enforced the law even more strictly, fearless of the powerful, which made guests hesitant to visit. Many people complained about him.
Wei Kun's aunt was a concubine of the Qi State, known for her beauty. After the Qi State was destroyed, she was given to the Duke of Xueguo, Changsun Lan, as a concubine. Changsun Lan's wife, Lady Zheng, was jealous and spoke ill of her in front of the Empress Dowager, who ordered Changsun Lan to cast her aside. Wei Kun felt ashamed and never met her again. Later, Tang Junming, the Inspector of Yingzhou, married her after his mother's death, resulting in both Wei Kun and Tang Junming facing accusations from the Imperial Censor. Wei Kun, with a strong character, died of anger in prison a few days later. He left behind three sons, who could not afford to eat properly every day, with no family or friends to support them.
Tian Shi, styled Xianbiao, was from Fengyi (now Dali, Shaanxi). His grandfather, Tian Anxing, and his father, Tian Changle, both served as the Prefect of their county during the Wei Dynasty. Tian Shi had a strong and decisive character, excelled in martial arts, and was unmatched in boxing and martial skills.
During the reign of Emperor Ming of the Zhou Dynasty, Tian Shi became a military governor at the age of eighteen, in charge of the local troops. After a few years, he was promoted to the position of Governor of Weinan, where he ruled with an iron fist, instilling fear in both officials and commoners, who dared not break the law. Later, he was promoted to the position of Governor of his home county, keeping his relatives and friends at arm's length and turning down any requests or favors. Emperor Wu of the Zhou Dynasty heard about him and admired him, promoting him to the position of General of the Three Departments, granting him the title of Duke of Xindu County, and further appointing him as the Inspector of Yanzhou. He assisted the emperor in pacifying the Qi state, and for his contributions, he was granted the title of Kaifu, then transferred to the position of Inspector of Jianzhou, and further titled as Duke of Liangquan County.
During the reign of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, Wei Jiong rebelled in Ye City, and Tian Shi followed Wei Xiaokuan to suppress the rebellion. For his achievements, he was appointed as Grand General and his title was elevated to Duke of Wushan County. After Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty ascended the throne, he appointed Tian Shi as the General Manager of Xiangzhou, where he was solely focused on establishing his authority. Whenever he conducted business outside, he displayed a domineering attitude, making his subordinates too frightened to look him in the eye. Anyone who committed a crime, even if they were his close relatives or friends, he showed no mercy.
His son-in-law, Du Ning, a resident of Jingzhao, traveled from Chang'an to visit him, and Tian Shi warned Du Ning not to come and go as he pleased. Du Ning stayed for a long time and couldn't leave, so he secretly went up to the northern tower to express his homesickness. When Tian Shi found out, he gave Du Ning fifty lashes. One of his favorite servants once came to report something to him, and a bug flew onto his collar. He brushed it off with his sleeve. Tian Shi felt that the servant had disrespected him, so he beat him to death on the spot.
If any of his subordinates were found to be corrupt or involved in robbery or theft, regardless of the scale, he would lock them up in the dungeon, forcing them to sleep in filth and endure suffering. They would remain imprisoned indefinitely unless they died. Every time the court issued an amnesty decree, he would preemptively execute serious criminals b
Therefore, he was condemned by the court, dismissed from his official position, and reverted to commoner status. Tian Shi felt ashamed and angry, refused to eat, and would always get angry whenever his wife came to see him, with just two attendants waiting on him. He asked for pepper from home in a desire to end his life, but his family did not give it to him. He then secretly sent his attendants to buy poison, but his wife seized the poison from him and disposed of it. Tian Shi, consumed by rage, lay on the bed. His son, Tian Xin, who held the title of Yitong at that time, ran to him crying, saying, "Father, you are an old minister of the court, and you have not committed any major crimes. Many court officials have been dismissed and humiliated, only to be reinstated later. How can you endure this? How did it come to this state?" Tian Shi suddenly stood up, drew his sword in an attempt to strike Tian Xin, who quickly dodged, causing the sword to hit the doorstep.
After Emperor Wen of Sui learned of this incident, he believed that Tian Shi had shown genuine remorse and reinstated his official position and title. Shortly after, he was appointed as the Governor of Guangzhou and eventually died while in office.
Yan Rong, with the courtesy name Guigong, was from Huayin, and his father was a great general of the Zhou Dynasty. He had a particularly strict personality and was skilled in martial arts, serving as a senior attendant in the Zhou Dynasty. He followed Emperor Wu in the campaign against the Qi state, achieved merit, and was appointed Duke of Gaoyi County. After Emperor Gaozu ascended to the throne, Yan Rong was promoted to the rank of Grand General, appointed as the Duke of Luocong, and later served as the Inspector of Jinzhou. He later followed Prince Hong of Hejian in the campaign against the Turks, achieved merit, and was honored with the title of Grand Pillar of the State, and was transferred to Qingzhou as the Governor.
While serving as an official in Qingzhou, he chose particularly strong men as corporals. If any official or commoner made a mistake in front of him, he would immediately punish them severely, often to the point of exposing bones. The petty thieves were so terrified that they didn't dare to show their faces, and Qingzhou suddenly became quiet. People from other prefectures passing through his territory were as scared as if they were encountering bandits and dared not stop to rest. The emperor thought he was doing a great job. Later, Yan Rong went to the capital to meet the emperor, who praised him specifically. Yan Rong mentioned that his mother was old and requested to visit the capital only once a year, and the emperor agreed. Before leaving, the emperor hosted a banquet in the inner hall, inviting the nobles and ministers to compose poems in his honor.
During the campaign against the Chen Dynasty, Yan Rong was appointed as the commander-in-chief, leading the navy from Donglai along the coast into Lake Tai, attacking Wu County. After capturing Danyang, the people of Wu rallied behind Xiao Huan as their leader and put up a resistance in Jinling. They were ultimately defeated by Yuwen Shu and retreated to Baoshan. Yan Rong pursued them with five thousand elite troops, defeated and captured Xiao Huan in battle, and restored peace to Jinling and Kuaiji. Later, Yan Rong also served as the governor of Yangzhou, but was soon called back to the court as the Right Martial Marquis. When the Turks invaded the frontier, he was appointed as the commander-in-chief stationed at Youzhou. After his mother passed away, he resigned from his post. The next year, he was appointed governor of Youzhou again.
Yan Rong, a person with a stern personality and imposing demeanor, intimidates even his chief officials, leaving them pale with fear. The Lu family of Fanyang, a prestigious clan in the area, has their children deliberately assigned by Yan Rong to the lowest ranks of officials, in a deliberate act of humiliation. He frequently lashes out at his attendants, sometimes beating them thousands of times until blood stains the ground, while he himself feasted and drank as if nothing was amiss. Once, during an inspection, he saw some thorns by the road and had them cut down to use as whips for punishing people. When someone protested their innocence, Yan Rong said, "If you make a mistake in the future, I'll spare you." Later, when that person made a minor error, he reminded him of what he had said before, but Yan Rong replied, "Back then, even when you did nothing wrong, I acted the same. Now that you've erred, I'll punish you." He proceeded to beat the person severely. During his patrols, whenever he heard of an official or a civilian with an attractive wife or daughter, he would go to their homes and assault them. His greed and cruelty were boundless, becoming increasingly brazen.
At that time, Yuan Hongsi was appointed as the Chief of Youzhou. Fearing insult from Yan Rong, he resolutely declined. When the emperor learned of this, he ordered Yan Rong to say, "For any punishment of more than ten strokes, it must be reported to the court." Yan Rong angrily exclaimed, "This brat dares to mess with me!" So he sent Yuan Hongsi to supervise the grain in the warehouse, punishing him harshly for any grain found to be substandard. While each beating was fewer than ten strokes, it happened several times a day. This continued for several years, with resentment building until Yan Rong was imprisoned and his food supply was cut off. Hungry and cold, Yuan Hongsi tore the cotton from his clothes, mixed it with water, and swallowed it. His wife went to the palace to complain, prompting the emperor to send the official Liu Shilong to investigate, revealing Yan Rong's atrocities and numerous other misdeeds, which led to his recall to the capital and subsequent execution. Prior to this, Yan Rong's bedroom inexplicably filled with maggots that had emerged from the ground. Not long after, Yan Rong died in the very spot where the maggots had appeared. He had a son named Yan Xun.
Zhao Zhongqing was from Tianshui Longxi, and his father was a great general of the Zhou Dynasty. Zhao Zhongqing was known for his rough demeanor but immense strength, and the Prince of Qi treated him with unusual kindness. He followed the army to attack the Qi Kingdom, capturing five cities such as Linqin, Tongrong, Weiyuan, Fulong, and Zhangbi. Later, he battled the Qi general Duan Xiaoxian at Yaoyang City, fighting for many days until he finally defeated Duan Xiaoxian. In recognition of his achievements, he was appointed Grand Commander and later became the emperor's guard. After pacifying the Qi Kingdom, he received promotions, becoming the Chief of Yitong and concurrently the Prefect of Zhao Jun. He then returned to the capital, where he became a senior official.
Wang Qian staged a rebellion, and Zhao Zhongqing was in Lizhou at the time, leading troops alongside General Dou Luji in resistance. Wang Qian attacked them, and Zhao Zhongqing led the troops into battle, engaging in a total of seventeen battles. After Wang Qian was defeated, Zhao Zhongqing was promoted to Grand General and granted the title of Duke of Changyuan County, with a fief of one thousand households. Emperor Gaozu subsequently ascended to the throne and elevated Zhao Zhongqing's title to Duke of Hebei.
In the third year of the Kaihuang era, the Turks invaded the border, and Zhao Zhongqing followed Prince Hong of Hejian to fight at Helan Mountain. Zhao Zhongqing took a different route and returned without encountering the enemy. He then went back to guard Pingliang and was later appointed as the Inspector of Shizhou. He was notorious for his strict enforcement of laws, not tolerating any form of mistake and frequently resorting to whipping his subordinates, sometimes up to two hundred lashes. The officials below him feared him; no one dared to disobey his orders, and even thieves disappeared, with everyone acknowledging his toughness.
He was later promoted to the Inspector of Yanzhou, but before taking up the post, he was appointed as the General of Shuozhou. At the time, there was a strong development of farmland in the northern border, which Zhao Zhongqing was responsible for managing. If anyone mismanaged, Zhao Zhongqing would call them and severely beat their backs, sometimes even stripping them of their clothes and dragging them through thorn bushes. People at the time described him as fierce like a wild beast.
He was very efficient in his work, leading to bountiful harvests each year, and the border no longer needed supplies transported from the rear lines. Later, the Khan of the Turks, Qimin, sought marriage with the Sui Dynasty, which the Sui Dynasty accepted. Zhao Zhongqing seized this opportunity to sow discord among the Turks, leading to infighting among them.
In the seventeenth year, Khan Qimin, under immense pressure, fled to Hanzhen alongside the Sui envoy, Changsun Cheng. Zhao Zhongqing led over a thousand cavalry to support, but he dared not approach too closely. He secretly sent people to persuade Qimin's subordinates to surrender, resulting in the surrender of over twenty thousand households.
In the same year, Zhao Zhongqing followed General Gao Feng to attack Datou. Zhao Zhongqing led three thousand soldiers as the vanguard, arrived at Zuli Mountain, encountered the enemy, and fought for seven days, ultimately defeating them. They chased the enemy to Qifu Po, where they defeated them again, captured more than a thousand people, and seized a vast number of livestock. The Turks emerged in full force, and Zhao Zhongqing formed a square formation to defend against attacks from all sides. After five days of fighting, General Gao Feng's army arrived and attacked the enemy together, leading to the Turks' defeat and retreat. They pursued the enemy through the Badao, crossing over seven hundred li through the Qin Mountains.
At that time, more than ten thousand Turkic households surrendered, and the emperor ordered Zhao Zhongqing to settle them in Heng'an. Because of his achievements, Zhao Zhongqing was promoted to the rank of Upper Pillar of State and was rewarded with three thousand bolts of cloth. The court was worried that Datou would attack Qimin Khan, so they ordered Zhao Zhongqing to station twenty thousand troops as a precaution. Han Hong, the Governor of Daizhou, Li Yaowang, the Duke of Yongkang, and Liu Long, the Governor of Weizhou, led ten thousand infantry and cavalry to guard Heng'an.
Datou launched an invasion with a hundred thousand cavalry, and Han Hong's army was defeated. Zhao Zhongqing set out from Lening Town to intercept, taking the heads of over a thousand enemies.
The following year, Zhao Zhongqing oversaw the construction of the cities of Jinhe and Dingxiang and settled Qimin Khan. At that time, someone accused Zhao Zhongqing of cruelty, so the emperor sent the imperial censor Wang Wei to investigate. The investigation revealed the truth, but because Zhao Zhongqing had great merit, he faced no punishment. The emperor reassured him, saying, "I know you are upright; you are simply unpopular with your subordinates." He also rewarded him with five hundred bolts of cloth.
Zhao Zhongqing grew increasingly arrogant and was eventually dismissed from his position. During the Renshou period, he served as the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce. When the Shu King Yang Xiu committed a crime, he was ordered to investigate in Yizhou. Everywhere Yang Xiu's guests passed, Zhao Zhongqing deliberately found faults, took legal action against them, and most of the local officials faced punishment. The emperor trusted in his exceptional administrative skills and rewarded him with fifty slaves, 200 taels of gold, five thousand stones of grain, and many treasures.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, Zhao Zhongqing served as the Minister of War and Minister of Works. He passed away in the same year, at the age of sixty-four, posthumously honored with the title Sù, and the court also posthumously awarded him with five hundred rolls of cloth. His son Zhao Hong inherited his title.
Cui Hongdu, styled Moheyen, hailed from Anping, Hebei. His grandfather Cui Kai was the Minister of Works of Northern Wei, and his father Cui Shuo served as the Governor of Fuzhou in the Zhou Dynasty. Cui Hongdu was naturally strong, tall and imposing, with particularly thick eyebrows and beard, and had a notably stern demeanor. At the age of seventeen, he caught the attention of the powerful minister Yuwen Hu of the Zhou Dynasty, who took him under his wing as a trusted confidant. Shortly after, he was promoted to a commanding officer, and later rose several ranks to become a grand commander. At that time, Yuwen Hu's son, the Duke of Zhongshan, Yuwen Xun, became the Governor of Puzhou and had Cui Hongdu follow him. Once, when they were climbing a tower together, reaching the highest level about four to five zhang high from the ground, looking down, Yuwen Xun said, "It's so scary!" Cui Hongdu replied, "What's so scary about this!" and jumped straight down, landing safely without any harm. Impressed by his agility, Yuwen Xun was amazed. Later, for his military achievements, Cui Hongdu received the title of Yitong. He followed Emperor Wu of Zhou in defeating Northern Qi and was granted the title of Upper Prefect and Duke of Yexian, and rewarded with three thousand rolls of cloth, three thousand stones of grain, one hundred slaves, and a multitude of livestock. Subsequently, he accompanied the Duke of Runan, Yuwen Shenju, to defeat Lu Changqi in Fanyang.
Emperor Xuan of Zhou, after ascending to the throne, fought alongside Duke Wei Xiaokuan of Yun in Huainan. Cui Hongdu, Yuwen Xin, and Helou Zigang reached Feikou, where General Pan Chen of the Chen Dynasty led several thousand soldiers to resist, forming a battle line across the river. Yuwen Xin sent Cui Hongdu to persuade him to surrender, and Pan Chen fled by night. They attacked Shouyang, where the defender Wu Wenli of the Chen Dynasty surrendered, with Cui Hongdu making the most significant contribution. As a result of these military achievements, he was promoted to Grand General and inherited the title of Duke of Anping County from his father. When Yu Jiao rebelled, Cui Hongdu was appointed commander-in-chief and accompanied Wei Xiaokuan to suppress him. Cui Hongdu recruited hundreds of brave warriors from Chang'an to form an elite force, achieving remarkable victories. Cui Hongdu's sister was married to Yu Jiao's son. When Ye City was breached, Yu Jiao had no escape and climbed to the top of a tall building, and Cui Hongdu chased him to the rooftop. Yu Jiao drew his bow to shoot Cui Hongdu, who took off his helmet and said, "Do you recognize me? Today, we are both serving our country, and we can't let personal feelings get in the way. For the sake of our kinship, I advise you to lay down your arms and prevent the soldiers from causing unnecessary bloodshed. Given the current situation, you should think about your own life now. What are you waiting for?" Yu Jiao threw his bow on the ground, cursed the Grand Chancellor, and then committed suicide. Cui Hongdu told his brother, Cui Hongsheng, "Go and fetch Yu Jiao's head." Cui Hongsheng then beheaded Yu Jiao. As a result, Cui Hongdu was promoted to Chief Pillar of State.
At that time, the marching general was usually granted the title of Duke, but Cui Hongdu was instead made the Duke of Wuxiang County because he failed to eliminate Wei Jiong promptly and even let him speak ill of others. In the early years of the Sui Dynasty, when the Turks invaded, Cui Hongdu, as the marching general, was stationed in Yuanzhou to resist the invasion. After the enemy retreated, Cui Hongdu stationed in Lingwu, returned to court a month later and was appointed Inspector of Huazhou. He married his sister off to Prince Xiao of Qin. Shortly after, he was transferred to be the general in charge of Xiangzhou. Cui Hongdu, who held a high position, was very strict with his subordinates, often punishing them, and the officials were very afraid of him, trembling at the mere sound of his voice. Wherever he went, his orders were obeyed, and thieves dared not show their faces. When Prince of Liang, Xiao Cong, came to visit Emperor Wen of Sui, Emperor Wen appointed Cui Hongdu as the general in charge of Jiangling, guarding Jingzhou. Before Cui Hongdu could take office, Xiao Cong's uncle Yan Yong led a local rebellion, which Cui Hongdu could not quell in time. The people of the Chen Dynasty feared Cui Hongdu greatly and dared not even spy on Jingzhou. As the marching general, Cui Hongdu followed Prince Xiao of Qin to march out of Xiangyang during the war to pacify the Chen Dynasty. After the fall of the Chen Dynasty, he was rewarded with five thousand bolts of cloth. Gao Zhihui and others rebelled, and he was appointed as the marching general again, marching out of Quanmen under Yang Su's command. Cui Hongdu and Yang Su held the same rank, but Cui Hongdu was older than Yang Su, and Yang Su always made him take a subordinate role. Cui Hongdu was quite dissatisfied with this and often disregarded many of Yang Su's orders. However, Yang Su remained relatively tolerant of him.
After the war ended, Cui Hongdu was appointed as the governor of Yuanzhou, still serving as the commander of the army, responsible for guarding against the Turks. He returned safely, and Emperor Wen of Sui highly appreciated him, arranging for his brother Cui Hongsheng's daughter to marry the Prince of Henan. During the reign of Renshou, Cui Hongdu served as the Minister of the Imperial Household. Because his family had two princesses, he took great pride in this and often admonished his subordinates, saying, "One must be honest and generous, and not deceive others." Everyone said, "Yes." Once, he ate soft-shelled turtle, with seven or eight attendants. Cui Hongdu asked each of them, "Is the turtle delicious?" The attendants were all very scared and said, "Delicious." Cui Hongdu shouted angrily, "How dare you lie to me? You haven't even eaten; how do you know it's delicious?" Then he punished each of them with eighty strokes. All the officials and craftsmen who witnessed this scene were terrified, and they no longer dared to deceive him. At that time, there was a general named Qutu Gai, who was also very strict. A saying spread in Chang'an City: "Would rather drink three liters of vinegar than see Cui Hongdu; would rather eat three liters of mugwort than encounter Qutu Gai." Cui Hongdu's discipline at home was also very strict; his descendants were left with white hair, and he often scolded and beat them, but his home was very neat and orderly, and the people at the time praised him. Soon after, the Queen of Qin was executed for making a mistake, and the Princess of Henan was also deposed. Cui Hongdu was saddened and angry about this, so he reported his illness to the court; his brothers also lived separately from him, and he grew increasingly despondent. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, the Prince of Henan became the crown prince. Emperor Yang of Sui wanted to reinstate the Cui clan as a princess and sent envoys to decree it. When the envoys arrived at Cui Hongsheng's house, Cui Hongdu was not aware. When the envoys returned, Emperor Yang of Sui asked, "What did Cui Hongdu say?" The envoys said, "Cui Hongdu said he was sick and couldn't get up." Emperor Yang of Sui remained silent, and the matter was left unresolved. Cui Hongdu fell ill from his sorrow and anger, and soon passed away.
Hong Sheng, styled Shangke, was a right ministerial officer in the Zhou Dynasty and was quite a formidable figure. Later, when Wei Jiong rebelled in Xiangzhou, he and his brother Hong Du led troops to fight, achieved great success, and were ennobled as Shang Yitong together. Not long after, he was promoted again, becoming the Governor, and was also ennobled as the Marquis of Huangtai, with a fief of eight hundred households!
After the founding emperor ascended the throne, Hong Sheng's title was elevated to Duke, and he was appointed as the General of Cavalry. He served as a guard in the imperial palace for more than ten years, and due to his status as a veteran, he was transferred to Cizhou as a governor. Several years later, he was promoted to governor of Zhengzhou. As his relationship with the imperial family grew closer, his status improved, and he was eventually promoted to the Governor of Xiangzhou, a lucrative position. Unfortunately, he was later dismissed from his post due to the Queen of Henan's misconduct.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, Hong Sheng was reinstated to his former position, successively serving as the governor of Jizhou, the Prefect of Xindu, and was promoted to Grand Minister of Golden Purple. Later, he was transferred to serve as the Prefect of Zhuo County. When Emperor Yang of Sui waged war in Liaodong, Hong Sheng was temporarily appointed as the Left Martial Guard General, tasked with the offensive against Pyongyang. However, they lost the battle, and he and others, including Yu Wenshu, retreated in disgrace. As a result of these events, Hong Sheng fell ill and soon passed away at the age of sixty.
Yuan Hongsi, a native of Luoyang, Henan, was the grandson of the Prince of Yuyang during the Wei Dynasty, and his father was the Duke of Yuyang County in the Zhou Dynasty. Hongsi inherited his title at a young age, and at eighteen years old, he became the Left Guard. In the ninth year of the Kaihuang era, he accompanied the Prince of Jin in pacifying the Chen Dynasty, and for his contributions, he was granted the title of Shang Yitong.
Fourteen years later, he was appointed as the Governor of Guanzhou. He was particularly strict in his role in Guanzhou, and his subordinates resented him deeply. Twenty years later, he was transferred to Youzhou as the Chief Steward. At that time, Yan Rong was the governor of Youzhou, and he often bullied Hongsi, frequently beating and scolding him. Hongsi felt wronged, and in response, Yan Rong imprisoned him with plans to kill him. After Yan Rong was executed, Hongsi took power and ruled with even greater severity. During interrogations, he often poured vinegar into prisoners' noses or inserted objects into their genitals, ensuring they revealed the truth. The corrupt were forced to confess under his rule.
As the Ren Shou era was coming to an end, he was appointed as the Chief Carpenter and tasked with building the Eastern Capital. In the early days of the Daye period, Emperor Yang of Sui secretly planned to attack Liaodong and sent Hongsi to oversee the construction of ships at Donglai Harbor. Laborers conscripted from various provinces faced brutal treatment, as officials forced them to stand in water day and night with hardly any rest. About one in seven of them died. He was later promoted to the Yellow Gate Attendant and then to the Deputy Director of the Palace. During the Liaodong campaign, he was awarded the title of Golden Purple Illuminated Official.
The following year, Emperor Yang of Sui launched another campaign against Liaodong, coinciding with the invasion of the Turks in Longyou. The Emperor ordered Hongsi to suppress them. When Xuan Gan rebelled and approached the Eastern Capital, Hongsi deployed his troops in Anding. He was accused of conspiring with Xuan Gan, and Prince Yang You sent people to arrest him and bring him to the Emperor's presence. Although no evidence of rebellion was found against Hongsi, and he should have been released, the Emperor remained suspicious and refused to believe him. Consequently, Hongsi was removed from his official position and exiled to Rinan, where he died en route at the age of forty-nine. He left behind a son named Renguan.
Wang Wentong, from Yingyang County near the capital city, was a clever and talented man who was good at distinguishing right from wrong. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui, he was granted the title of Yitong for his military achievements, and later appointed as the Sima of Guizhou. When Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, he was summoned to serve as a junior official in the Ministry of Rites, but due to offending the emperor's decree, he was demoted to serve as the county magistrate of Hengshan County.
In Hengshan County, there was a notoriously arrogant and overbearing man who often criticized and accused local officials. Previous magistrates had feared him and did not dare to provoke him. Upon his arrival, Wang Wentong heard about this man's reputation and severely reprimanded him. He then ordered his subordinates to carve a large wooden stake, bury it in the middle of the courtyard with only a foot exposed, and bury four small stakes at the corners. He had that man pinned to the ground, head facing the large stake, limbs tied to the four small stakes, and then ruthlessly beat his back with a stick, causing severe ulceration. The people of the county were horrified; officials looked at each other in fear, and none dared to speak.
Later, Emperor Yang of Sui campaigned in Liaodong and sent Wang Wentong to inspect the various counties in Hebei. When Wang Wentong saw the vegetarian monks chanting scriptures, he suspected them to be demons and monsters, and arrested them all, throwing them into prison. In Hejian County, he gathered the officials from various counties, and anyone who arrived even a bit late was beaten to death by him. He also rounded up hundreds of monks who had gathered to chant scriptures and conduct Buddhist ceremonies, as well as some elders, believing they were causing chaos, and had them all killed. He stripped all the monks and nuns bare for inspection and found thousands of instances of illicit relationships between men and women, all of whom were also killed. The county echoed with the cries of men, women, and children, and other counties were also terrified, reporting this to the court one after another.
Emperor Yang of Sui was very angry when he heard about it. He sent an envoy, Da Xi, to escort Wang Wentong with the intention of doing him a favor, and had him executed by beheading in Hejian County to quell the public outrage. Wang Wentong's enemies even opened his coffin, cut up his flesh, and quickly devoured it all.
Historians commented: Good governance doesn't depend on complicated strategies; good politics does not rely on harsh punishments. Therefore, although both leniency and severity are used, rewards and punishments are applied equally, the best governance is one that ensures the people's obedience without resorting to harsh punishments, which is valued by wise monarchs of the past. Individuals like Wang Wentong, who lived during the times of Emperor Wen and Emperor Yang of Sui, didn't face particularly malicious or cunning people during that era. He did not study ethics, but was filled with cruelty. He treated people as if they were wood or stone, showing utter disregard for human life, and valued it even less than a dog's. He committed countless wrongs without remorse, ultimately facing execution or dying in despair. All upright people see this as the cycle of divine justice! Alas! Later scholars and officials, even if they can't achieve the wealth and high positions of someone like Zigao, should they really have to worry about whether they'll come back alive when visiting their mothers' graves?
