Lu Zhiming, courtesy name Zhongtong, was a native of Fuchun in Wu Commandery. His father, Lu Ao, once served as the Cavalier Attendant of the Chen Dynasty. Lu Zhiming loved learning from a young age, was well-educated and knowledgeable, upright and principled. He initially served as a military aide under the Prince of Shi Xing of the Chen Dynasty, later becoming a Doctor of the Imperial Academy and the Chief of the Southern Prison. After the fall of the Chen Dynasty, he returned to his hometown. At that time, Gao Zhihui and others were leading a rebel army in Jiangzuo, while Prince Jin Yang Guang was stationed in Jiangdu. Recognizing Lu Zhiming's influence across the three commanderies of Wu, he was summoned by Yang Guang to persuade the rebel army to surrender.
Lu Zhiming successfully persuaded seventeen cities to surrender, capturing more than three hundred people, including rebel leaders Chen Zhengxu and Xiao Sixing. For this great achievement, he was appointed as a Sima, granted land and property, and his younger brother Lu Ke was appointed as the magistrate of Qianyang. Lu Zhiming believed that his brother Lu Ke did not have the ability to govern a territory of a hundred li, so he petitioned the court to relieve his brother of his official duties, and the court agreed to his request.
After the unification of the country, Lu Zhiming persuaded Emperor Gaozu Yang Jian to relocate the capital to Luoyang and composed a "Song of Great Peace" to convey his ideas. After several years without a promotion, he personally went to the court to request an envoy position to Goguryeo. In his memorial, he said: "I have heard that when a sage rules, he will recruit talents widely. Even common people, as long as they are talented, will be valued. I hope Your Majesty can take a moment to consider my request. In ancient times, Emperor Huang Di of Xuanyuan used military force, yet still forgave the Su Sha tribe; even Emperor Shun, when dealing with the Miao clan, first tried to resolve it peacefully. Your Majesty is now in a prosperous era, with the country unified, and only Goguryeo, this small country, still looks covetously at the Great Sui. Your Majesty is generous and always seeks to win people over through virtue, because you abhor killing, love peace, and want to influence them with benevolence and righteousness. I request to go to Goguryeo, to proclaim Your Majesty's benevolence, so that their king and officials will come to pay homage." The Emperor greatly appreciated his memorial. One year later, he was appointed as the General of Puning. Many people praised his integrity, and he was summoned by the court to the Imperial Censorate to await further orders.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended to the throne, Lu Zhiming was appointed as the Imperial Secretary for Document Affairs. He was upright and incorruptible, commanding the respect and fear of all officials, including Emperor Yang of Sui. Later, he was dismissed from his position due to some incidents but was reinstated a year later. During the campaign in Liaodong, he served as the envoy for surrender negotiations and ultimately died on the battlefield at sixty-seven. He was posthumously promoted to the position of Chief of Records.
Fang Yanqian, whose courtesy name was Xiaochong, hailed from Qinghe. Seven generations ago, an ancestor named Chen held the position of Chief Commandant in the State of Yan and later settled in the State of Qi alongside the Murong clan. They were a prominent family for generations. His great-great-grandfather, Fashou, had served as the Inspector of Qingzhou and Jizhou in the State of Wei and was granted the title of Marquis of Zhuangwu. His great-great-grandfather's brother was the Prefect of both Qi County and Pingyuan County. His grandfather, Yi, served as the Prefect of Anping in the State of Song and inherited the title of Marquis of Zhuangwu. His father, Xiong, began his career as a county registrar and eventually became the Prefect of both Qinghe and Guangchuan.
Fang Yanqian lost his father when he was very young and had no idea what his father looked like. He was raised by his mother and his maternal uncle. His older brother, Fang Yanxun, was known for his integrity and was particularly fond of Fang Yanqian due to his exceptional intelligence, personally teaching him to read. By the age of seven, Fang Yanqian could recite tens of thousands of words, which was remarkable in the family. At fifteen, he served his stepmother and stepbrother, Zhen, more devotedly than his own son, and Zhen, moved by this, treated him well. After his stepmother passed away, Fang Yanqian went without food for five days. He also served his uncle, the magistrate of Le Ling County, wholeheartedly, always waiting until everyone else had eaten before taking his share of the precious fruits sent during the holidays. Whenever there was a funeral in the family, he would eat vegetarian meals as a sign of filial piety, and he was regarded as a role model within the clan.
Later, Fang Yanqian studied under the scholar Yin Lin, devoting himself to his studies and eventually mastering the Five Classics. He was skilled in writing, especially in cursive and clerical script, and had good eloquence, having the demeanor of a hermit. At the age of eighteen, when Prince Xiaoheng of Guangning became the governor of Qizhou Province, he appointed Fang Yanqian as his registrar. Although the laws were lenient at the time and officials were negligent, Fang Yanqian was honest and law-abiding, improving the public security of the entire province, gaining both respect and a bit of fear. When the Zhou army invaded Ye City, causing the Emperor of Qi to flee, Fang Yanqian was appointed as the magistrate of Qizhou Province. Seeing the country's downfall, he felt deep sorrow and sought to gather loyalists to covertly assist in reviving Qi, but unfortunately, he was unsuccessful. After the fall of Qi, he returned home.
During the Zhou Dynasty, the emperor appointed Xin Zun, the Duke of Pillar State, as the governor of Qizhou. However, Xin Zun was captured by local bandit forces, whose leader was wielding a sword. Fang Yanqian sent a letter urging him, and the sword-wielding bandit leader, feeling ashamed, returned Xin Zun to the city. The remaining bandits also laid down their arms. Later, after Emperor Gaozu, Yang Jian, ascended the throne, Fang Yanqian lived a leisurely life in the countryside, vowing never to serve in an official capacity again.
In the seventh year of the Kaihuang reign, the governor Wei Yi highly recommended him, and he reluctantly agreed. The Minister of Personnel, Lu Kai, recognized his potential and appointed him as an imperial attendant, and he was soon elevated to the position of imperial censor. He was later assigned to Chen Ping's command to pacify ten states including Quanzhou and Kuozhou. In recognition of his outstanding performance, the emperor rewarded him with 100 rolls of cloth, 100 measures of rice, a complete outfit, and seven servants. He was subsequently promoted to General Manager of Qinzhou and appointed as a military officer.
Once during a court session, the Left Deputy Prime Minister Gao Jiong was assessing officials' performance. Yan Qian said to Gao Jiong: "According to historical texts, officials should be assessed every three years based on their performance, and promotions or demotions should follow accordingly. This system has existed since the times of Yao and Shun. The assessment should be fair and reasonable, with clear rewards and punishments, so that talented individuals can be promoted and incompetent ones eliminated. If there are deviations in the assessment, then this system becomes meaningless. Recently, I have seen the assessment results from various provinces, and the standards vary. The numbers of promotions and demotions are also inconsistent, not to mention that some assessment results are influenced by personal biases, leading to unfair outcomes. Those who are honest, upright, and incorruptible individuals may not always receive the recognition they deserve; while those who engage in flattery and manipulation may receive undue praise instead. As a result, the lines between truth and falsehood are blurred, and right and wrong are inverted. Senior officials do not carefully investigate and consider, so those who cater to senior officials often receive praise for their flattery, while those who have not worked in the central government are considered unqualified and eliminated. Furthermore, because of the remoteness of certain regions, it is challenging to gain a full understanding of the situation, and assessments are often based on numerical proportions, with half deemed qualified and half unqualified. Only looking at the quantity of officials, without considering their quality, it is impossible to achieve a fair assessment result. Your Excellency, your keen insight and impartiality are commendable, so this assessment will definitely be unbiased. But if the previous issues persist, I would like to know how you intend to address these issues? I hope you can collect information extensively, conduct thorough investigations, reward every act of virtue, and condemn even the smallest wrongdoing. This approach will not only clarify the country's political landscape but also better select talents." Yan Qian spoke with great determination, and everyone's attention was focused on him. Gao Jiong was moved by Yan Qian and held him in high regard. Thus, Gao Jiong inquired about the performance of officials in Hexi and Longyou, and Yan Qian responded fluently. Gao Jiong told the governors and magistrates of other provinces: "Instead of telling you, it's better to talk to the Chief of Qinzhou (Yan Qian)." A few days later, Gao Jiong reported this to the emperor, but the emperor chose not to act on it.
After his term expired, he was transferred to Changge County as the county magistrate. He performed very well, and the people called him a kind father. During the Ren Shou period, the emperor sent envoys to inspect various states and counties to assess the performance of local officials. The result was that Yan Qian was considered the best in the realm, and he was promoted to be the Sima of Ruozhou. The people wept and said to one another, "Prefect Fang is leaving, how will we survive?" Later, the people missed him and erected a monument in his honor. Ruozhou had not had a governor for a long time, and all the affairs of the state were handled by Yan Qian, who did many good deeds and had a great reputation.
Xue Daoheng, a renowned literary figure of the time, held a prominent position and mingled with celebrated scholars nationwide. He had a particularly good relationship with Yang Su and greatly respected him. Later, Xue Daoheng became the governor of Xiangzhou, and he frequently communicated with Yang Su and met with him often. After Emperor Yang Guang took the throne, Xue Daoheng was transferred to Fanzhou as governor. Passing through Yang Su's territory, the two of them spent several reluctant days together before finally parting, crying profusely at the farewell. Zhang Heng, the Huangmen Shilang, also shared a good rapport with Yang Su.
At that time, Emperor Yang Guang was extravagantly building the Eastern Capital, inflicting immense suffering on the populace and disappointing the entire nation. In addition, Prince Yang Liang rebelled, leading to the punishment of many others. Yang Su saw that Zhang Heng, despite his high rank and influence, was powerless, so he penned a letter to him, stating:
I've heard that rewards are meant to encourage good deeds while punishments aim to deter bad ones. Therefore, people of lower status will surely be rewarded for doing good, and even those in high positions will face punishment for their mistakes. No one has ever overlooked their relatives to avoid suspicion, nor have they ignored rewarding the poor and humble to show favoritism. Now all provincial governors are tasked with governing their regions, and issues of right and wrong will be reported to the court. They all fear the court's rules and regulations and dare not be negligent. Our country is blessed by heaven and cares for its people like a parent. Heaven sees whether rewards and punishments are fair, and heaven is always watching over us, so we should be more cautious. Just as King Wen said: "I must be vigilant day and night, and fear the majesty of heaven." In this way, although the status of different provinces may vary, the principles of caring for the people and enforcing the law fairly are the same.
As for the rebellion in Bingzhou, it must be thoroughly investigated. If Yang Liang really gathered troops and resources because he was worried about the safety of the state and the people due to the court's decree not being communicated properly, and not with malicious intent, then his true situation should be investigated, and his punishment should be decided accordingly. This would align with the emperor's kind intentions and clarify the people's concerns. If it is found that he conspired internally and externally, plotted to usurp the throne, caused chaos and sought to seize the imperial throne, then he should be dealt with just as King Wu of Zhou dealt with Guan Shu and Cai Shu. The co-conspirators should also be punished together; none should escape their punishment. They should be executed publicly, their families exterminated, and their properties confiscated. This is the consistent law of the country. However, there may be some who were not truly involved in the conspiracy, and whose own strength is not great, who were forced into this rebellion and ultimately suffered the loss of their families and homes. This would likely be unjust. Heaven is just; how could this happen? Suspected crimes should be punished lightly; this is the right principle.
In the past, Uncle Xiang was praised by the people of Jin State for sentencing a criminal to death, while Emperor Wen of Han commended Shizhi for pardoning offenders. Yang She Ning did not lack affection for his younger brother, and the Chief Justice did not deliberately disobey the orders of the monarch; they simply upheld the law impartially, without bias and without regard for severity. Furthermore, the supreme power of a sage is granted by heaven and cannot be easily obtained without divine decree. Therefore, despite the valor of Chi You and Xiang Yu, the influence of Yi Yin and Huo Guang, the wisdom of Li Lao and Confucius, the military acumen of Jiang Taigong and Sun Wu, the advantageous positions of Wu and Chu, and the power of Empress Lu and Empress Dowager Dou, they failed to receive the mandate of heaven and ultimately did not become emperors. How could Yang Liang, a mere local official who gathered a band of rebels, dream of invading the capital and seizing what he had no right to? Since time immemorial, historical records chronicle the rise and fall of emperors, from which we can draw lessons. Without accumulating virtue, performing good deeds, and achieving great merit, who can win the people's love and the blessings of heaven? Therefore, the wise rulers of antiquity were diligent and responsible, constantly mindful of their responsibilities and wary of becoming arrogant. In later generations, monarchs were unafraid, acted recklessly, and indulged in pleasure, committing countless atrocities. I won't enumerate them all here.
Speaking of the states of Qi and Chen, both occupied high positions of power and believed their virtues aligned with those of heaven and earth. They shone as brightly as the sun and the moon, without worry, and ignored laws and governance. Their close officials were favored by the emperor, only singing praises and hiding faults. Historians distorted facts, covering up shortcomings and only recording strengths. Therefore, the common people complained endlessly, but their voices were stifled, while false praises surrounded the emperor from his ministers. Although the laws were strict, more and more people were being punished, burdened with heavy labor, and the common people were exhausted.
In the past, the state of Zheng had Zi Chan, Qi had Yan Ying, Chu had Shu Ao, and Jin had Shi Hui. Even these small states had many talented officials. With the vast territories of Qi and Chen, how could there be no talented individuals? It was simply because the rulers were foolish and blinded, only concerned with personal gain, forgetting about the affairs of the state. While they seemed united, they actually distrusted each other. If there were upright and capable individuals capable of handling important tasks, they were sidelined and oppressed. On the other hand, flatterers and sycophants were elevated and favored, regardless of their despicable behavior, as long as it served their interests. How could they ever discover true talent this way? Genuine talent does not rely on sheer force or eloquence, but on integrity and righteousness, like the pillars that support a house or the bones that support a body. This is what true talent is all about. Qi and Chen did not use upright individuals but believed in flatterers and sycophants. Witnessing their debauchery, heaven stripped them of their power, and they ultimately submitted to the mighty Sui dynasty.
If these two countries can respect heaven, show compassion to the people, value honest talents, discard extravagance and vanity, have humility in their hearts, and prioritize compassion, then even if the Hehuai region is strong and prosperous, and the rivers and lakes are treacherous, they will each be able to fulfill their duties and the people will not cause chaos. The country will be as stable as Mount Tai, unshakable. However, they are immersed in indulgence, ultimately leading to the destruction of the country, and they will regret it too late! An ancient poem says: "Before the fall of the Yin and Shang dynasties, they still made offerings to the gods and received their blessings. You should take this as a warning; do not easily lose the favor of heaven." In handling national affairs, is there any that does not require serious consideration?
Your Majesty, you are renowned for your filial piety, great deeds, and wise governance of the country, and the people all hope for your grace. Your achievements in the Huaihai region have won the hearts of the people near and far, with praises resounding. Your benevolent governance has made the people everywhere ecstatic. However, a rebellion suddenly erupted in Binxian, all due to the deceit and manipulation of Yang Liang. The people did not truly betray the court; they were forced to join the rebels out of desperation. Yet the officials and generals of the court claim that they willingly rebelled, which not only falsely accuses the innocent but also tarnishes the Emperor's wise reputation. You have always been trusted by the Emperor, playing a crucial role in the court, valued since your time in the fiefdom, a pillar of the court. You should be remembered in history, becoming a virtuous and wise minister like Jie, Qi, Yi, and Lv. Now is the time for you to realize your ambitions, to dare to speak out and set an example for future generations, becoming a model for posterity. Never act unjustly to curry favor with the Emperor, nor allow those coerced into rebellion to face unfair punishment. I am writing this boldly to express my loyalty; if I have offended you in any way, I hope you will forgive me.
After receiving the letter, Heng sighed deeply, but did not dare to submit it to the court. Mr. Yan Qian saw the court's deteriorating discipline, so he resigned and retired, planning to build a residence at the foot of Meng Mountain to spend the rest of his life peacefully. Later, the court established the position of a Sili official, extensively selecting famous individuals from all over the country. The court believed that Mr. Yan Qian was upright, honest, and highly respected, and was the most suitable candidate for the position, so they summoned him to serve as the magistrate. Mr. Yan Qian also harbored lofty ambitions to rectify the world, recommending only people of noble character. Even those accused by him did not complain. The deputy magistrate Liu Yifei was arrogant and domineering, deceiving others and boasting of his righteousness. The magistrates were afraid of him and treated him with great respect. Only Mr. Yan Qian adhered to his principles; unfazed, he showed him the utmost respect, gaining the admiration of many learned people. Liu Yifei could not afford to resent him. In the ninth year of Daye, Mr. Yan Qian accompanied the emperor across the Liao River to oversee the troops in Fuyu Dao. As the political situation of the Sui Dynasty became increasingly chaotic, court officials began to betray the court, but only Mr. Yan Qian remained steadfast in his principles, standing firm, upright, and unyielding. As a result, he incurred the jealousy of those in power and was relegated to the post of Jingyang magistrate. Not long after, he passed away while in office, at the age of sixty-nine.
When Li Yanqian was at home, whenever his grandchildren came to visit, he always reasoned with them, encouraging them to work hard and make progress. He would ramble on without feeling tired. His family had a well-off background, and he had been an official before, using his official salary to assist relatives and friends. His household had no surplus money; even their horses, clothes, and daily necessities were kept modest. Throughout his life, his words and actions were always honest, never corrupt. Although this often left him financially strained, he remained content. Once, he smiled casually and said to his son Li Xuanling, "Others get rich because they are officials, but I am poor because I am an official. The only thing I leave to my descendants is a clean reputation." His writings were broad in style and elegant, with profound meaning like ancient scholars. He was also skilled in cursive and clerical script, and those who received his letters treasured them like gems. Wang Shao in Taiyuan, Gao Gou in Beihai, Li Gang in Liao County, Liu Yu and Xue Ru in Hedong were all famous literati at the time, and Li Yanqian counted them among his friends. Although high-ranking officials frequently visited, his family never entertained idle people. He was elegant, knowledgeable in government affairs, and wise men believed he had a bright future.
At the beginning of the Kaihuang era, after pacifying the Chen dynasty and unifying the world, everyone said that a peaceful and prosperous era was coming. Li Yanqian privately told his relative Zhaojun Li Shaotong, "The emperor is suspicious and stubborn, not accepting advice from others. The crown prince is weak, and the princes hold power. The court only implements harsh and cruel policies, without implementing lenient political measures. Although the world is at peace, I am worried that chaos will soon arise." Li Shaotong initially did not believe him, but by the time of the Ren Shou and Daye eras, Li Yanqian's words had all come true. After the Tang Dynasty unified the country, he was posthumously made governor of Xuzhou and Duke of Linzi County, honored posthumously with the title "Ding."
The historian said: A grand palace can't be built with just a single piece of wood; the achievements of an emperor can't be accomplished by just one person. Each has its own purpose and appropriateness, and the "beams and pillars" must not be discarded. People like Li E have outstanding literary talent and can uphold justice, while others have exceptional abilities and can serve the country. Their talents and contributions were evident at the time, and their deeds are recorded in history. When examining the many talents of the Sui Dynasty, it's clear they all created careers and achieved great accomplishments; all were pillars of the nation, much like the many stars surrounding the North Star.
