Feng Ciming, styled Wuyi, was a native of Changle in Xindu. His father Feng Cong held an official position in Northern Qi and rose to the rank of Right Deputy Minister of the Secretariat. Feng Ciming, due to his family connections, became a military officer for the Prince of Huaiyang at the age of fourteen during the Northern Qi period. He was later promoted to the position of Registrar of Sizhou Province and then further promoted to the position of Gentleman of the Imperial Library.
After Emperor Wu of Zhou conquered Northern Qi, Feng Ciming was appointed as a military commander. When Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, ascended to the throne, he established three offices, and Feng Ciming was appointed as a military officer in the Ministry of Works and Granaries. He continued to rise through the ranks and eventually became the Deputy Minister of Rites. When Prince Jin, Yang Guang, was the governor of Bingzhou, he carefully selected his staff and brought Feng Ciming on board as a military officer. Feng Ciming later became a Deputy Director in the Ministry of Personnel and also served as an Aide in the Palace Library.
After Emperor Yang of Sui, Yang Guang, came to power, Feng Ciming resigned from his position due to the death of his mother. Emperor Yang of Sui felt that Feng Ciming had served in both the fiefdom and the court in the past and had his doubts about him, so he demoted him to Deputy General in Yiwu Town. Before he could assume the position, he was reassigned as the County Magistrate of Jiaozhi. In the ninth year of Daye, Feng Ciming was summoned back to court. At that time, the Minister of War, Husi Zheng, had defected to Goguryeo, and Emperor Yang of Sui comforted Feng Ciming when he saw him. Shortly after, Feng Ciming was appointed as a Gentleman of Military Records and was also granted the title of Court Official. In the thirteenth year of Daye, he served as the acting County Magistrate of Jiangdu.
When Li Mi attacked Luoyang, Emperor Yang of Sui ordered Feng Ciming to pacify the people in the areas around the Chan and Luo Rivers and pursue Li Mi. Feng Ciming reached Yanling, where he was captured by Cui Shu, one of Li Mi's subordinates. Li Mi invited Feng Ciming to sit down and offered him some words of comfort before saying, "The Sui Dynasty is nearing its end, and the world is in chaos. I lead an unstoppable righteous army. Luoyang is in imminent danger and will soon fall. I plan to rally forces from across the land to attack Jiangdu. What do you think?" Feng Ciming replied, "I have always prided myself on being an upright and honest man. Even if it costs me my life, so be it. I cannot bring myself to utter such unjust words."
Li Mi was feeling down and hoped that Feng Ciming would change his attitude in the future, so he treated him kindly. Feng Ciming quietly sent a memorial to Jiangdu and wrote a letter to the garrison in Dongdu, analyzing Li Mi's military situation. Li Mi found out about this, but out of a sense of duty, he let him go. When Feng Ciming walked to the camp gate, Li Mi's general Zhai Rang angrily said, "You were captured by us, and General Wei (referring to Li Mi) treated you so well. Aren't you even a little grateful? Don't you fear for your life?" Feng Ciming was furious and said, "The Emperor sent me to eliminate you rebels, not to be captured by you. If you're going to kill me, then do it—why waste your breath insulting me?" He then said to the rebel soldiers, "You didn't mean any harm at first; you only took up arms because of famine. The regular army is on its way; you better plan for yourselves!" Zhai Rang became even angrier and ordered his men to kill Feng Ciming with swords. At that time, he was sixty-eight years old. The Prefect of Liang County, Yang Wang, reported this matter, and Emperor Yang of Sui was very regretful. He posthumously honored Feng Ciming with the title of Senior Grandee of the Yellow Gate and appointed his two sons, Feng Dun and Feng Peng, as Officials of the Imperial Secretariat. Later, Wang Chong supported Prince Yang Dong as Emperor and posthumously honored Feng Ciming as a State Pillar, Minister of Revenue, and Duke of Changli County, with the posthumous title of Zhuangwu. The eldest son was Chen, who was previously in the Eastern Capital. When Wang Chong defeated Li Mi, Chen was also in the army, so he sent a servant to carry his father's coffin to the Eastern Capital, but he did not go himself. Not long after, he had a grand wedding. At that time, many people found this quite distasteful.
When you think about it, it's quite tough. My father passed away, and I am fighting outside. I guess there's no other way, so I can only deal with the funeral like this. In ancient times, transportation was inconvenient. It was quite a considerable expense and drain on energy to send the deceased off from afar. He may have weighed the options and chosen this method. However, having a wedding celebration right afterward does seem a bit inappropriate; it's no surprise people criticized him back then. After all, the funeral wasn't over yet, and having a wedding celebration in that era's customs was indeed not very suitable.
Zhang Xudo was from Wanxiang in Hongnong, with a fierce and brave character. When he was young, he followed Shi Wansui to campaign against the Xican, made achievements, was granted an official position and awarded three hundred bolts of cloth. After Sui Yangdi ascended the throne, Han Wang Liang rebelled in Bingzhou, and Zhang Xudo followed Yang Su to quell the rebellion, rising to the rank of Kaifu. During the Daye era, he served as the Prefect of Qijun. At that time, Sui Yangdi was campaigning in Liaodong, causing unemployment among the common people, coupled with natural disasters, leading to soaring food prices. Zhang Xudo planned to open the granaries to aid the disaster victims, but his subordinates said, "We must wait for the emperor's decree and cannot distribute aid without authorization." Zhang Xudo said, "The emperor is currently far away in Liaodong; sending messengers back and forth will definitely take a long time. The common people are in dire need right now; if we wait for the imperial decree, people will starve to death. If I get in trouble for this, I won't regret it!" So he first opened the granaries to aid the people and then reported to the emperor. When the emperor learned of this, he didn’t hold it against him.
In the second year, the bandit leader Wang Bo rallied tens of thousands of outlaws to burn, pillage, and kill in the area of Qi County. The government troops launched multiple attacks but were unable to defeat him. Zhang Xuduo relentlessly pursued them, finally catching up at the foot of Mount Tai. Overconfident from his string of victories, Wang Bo was caught unprepared. Zhang Xuduo selected elite troops and launched a surprise attack, inflicting a crushing defeat on Wang Bo's forces. Zhang Xuduo pursued them, slaughtering thousands in the process. Wang Bo regrouped his defeated soldiers, with over ten thousand men left; he planned to cross the Yellow River to escape. Zhang Xuduo chased them to Linyi, defeating them once more, killing over five thousand and capturing countless livestock. At that time, the world had enjoyed a long period of peace, leaving many unaccustomed to warfare. Only Zhang Xuduo stood out as brave and decisive, a true master of the battlefield. He was adept at rallying his troops, earning their deep admiration, and people praised him as a famous general.
Wang Bo returned to the north to wage war again, along with bandits Dou Zize, Sun Xuanya, Shi Xida, and Hao Xiaode, with over a hundred thousand bandits attacking Zhangqiu. Zhang Xuduo dispatched his naval forces to sever their supply lines and personally led twenty thousand infantry and cavalry to launch a surprise attack, defeating the enemy army. The bandits scattered in a panic. When they reached the river crossing, they were blocked by the naval forces. Surrounded by enemies, they were in a sorry state. Zhang Xuduo captured vast wealth and supplies and reported to the court. The emperor was greatly pleased and issued an edict praising his valor, and even sent a portrait of him as a token of honor. In the same year, bandits Pei Changcai, Shi Zihe, and others suddenly arrived with twenty thousand troops, plundering everywhere. With no time to assemble his troops, Zhang Xuduo took the lead with just five cavalrymen to fight. The bandits swarmed up, surrounding him from all sides. He fought valiantly despite being hit by numerous arrows. At that moment, reinforcements from the city arrived, forcing the bandits to momentarily pull back. Zhang Xuduo rallied his troops for another assault, and Pei Changcai was defeated and fled.
After several weeks, the bandit leaders Qin Junhong, Guo Fangyu, and their cohorts joined forces to surround Beihai with a formidable and aggressive army. Zhang Xuduo said to his subordinates, "The bandits think they are very strong and believe that we dare not come to their rescue. Let's hurry and go now; we will definitely be able to defeat them!" So he selected elite soldiers, traveled day and night, and indeed caught the bandits off guard. Zhang Xuduo defeated the enemy army, killing tens of thousands of people and capturing three thousand supply carriages. Pei Cao, the governor of Sili, reported to the imperial court, and the emperor sent envoys to commend him. Ten years later, the bandit Zuo Xiaoyou led a hundred thousand troops and stationed at Dun Gou Mountain. Zhang Xuduo deployed the Eight Wind Formation to encircle them and deployed troops to guard the key points. Zuo Xiaoyou had no escape and was forced to surrender. His accomplices Jie Xiang, Wang Liang, Zheng Dabiao, Li Han, and others, each led more than ten thousand soldiers and horses, were all defeated by Zhang Xuduo, and his reputation soared across the land. Because of his military achievements, he was promoted to the role of Qijun Tongshou and appointed as the chief envoy for the twelve counties of Henan.
Before long, bandit leader Lu Mingyue led more than 100,000 troops, preparing to attack Hebei and was stationed in Zhu'a. Zhang Xuduo took the initiative and launched an attack, killing several thousand enemies. The bandits Lv Mingxing, Shuai Rentai, Huo Xiaohan, and others each led more than 10,000 troops to harass Jibei. Zhang Xuduo led his troops to drive the bandits away. Later, he led his troops to resist the bandit Zhai Rang in Dongjun, fought over 30 battles, defeating them each time. Zhang Xuduo was reassigned as the magistrate of Xingyang. At this time, Li Mi persuaded Zhai Rang to attack Luokou Granary. Zhai Rang, fearing Zhang Xuduo, did not dare to act recklessly. Li Mi persuaded him, so Zhai Rang and Li Mi together led troops to attack Xingyang, where Zhang Xuduo resisted. Zhai Rang retreated in fear of Zhang Xuduo, who pursued them for over ten miles. At this time, Li Mi had previously set an ambush with several thousand troops in the woods and attacked Zhang Xuduo's army, defeating them. Li Mi and Zhai Rang surrounded Zhang Xuduo, who led his remaining soldiers to break through. The soldiers on the left and right wings failed to break through completely, and Zhang Xuduo rode in to rescue them. After several back-and-forth attempts, the soldiers dispersed, and Zhang Xuduo sighed, "After such a defeat, how can I face the emperor?" He dismounted and fought to the death at the age of 52. His subordinates cried and mourned all night and mourned for several days without stopping. King Dong sent Pei Renji, the Grand Master of Left Guanglu, to appease his subordinates and relocate them to Wulao. The emperor ordered his son Zhang Yuanbei to succeed him in command, but Zhang Yuanbei, then in Qijun, encountered bandits and ultimately failed to act.
Yang Shanhui, style name Jingren, was from Huayin, Hongnong. His father, Yang Chu, held the position of Piling Prefect. Yang Shanhui became the county magistrate of Shu County during the reign of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty and was known for his integrity and honesty. Shortly after, when there was a famine in Shandong, the people rose up and looted everywhere. Yang Shanhui led a few hundred men to capture them and won every battle.
Later, the bandit leader Zhang Jincheng led tens of thousands of troops to camp near Yuxian, burning, killing, and pillaging, leaving local officials and soldiers powerless against him. Yang Shanhui boosted morale, leading his men to engage in multiple battles with Zhang Jincheng's army, diminishing the enemy's morale each time. Emperor Yang Guang sent General Duan Da to suppress Zhang Jincheng, and Yang Shanhui even gave Duan Da a good idea, but unfortunately, Duan Da did not adopt it, leading to the army's defeat. Duan Da later specifically thanked Yang Shanhui. Yang Shanhui once again fought against Zhang Jincheng, planning each action in advance and achieving resounding success each time.
Zhang Jincheng then united with bandits from the Bohai region such as Sun Xuanya and Gao Shida, totaling several hundred thousand troops. After breaking through Liyang City, they withdrew their forces with great momentum. Yang Shanhui ambushed them with a thousand elite soldiers, defeating them and later being promoted to Court Official and Assistant Prefect of Qinghe County. Zhang Jincheng made minor adjustments to his troop deployment and sent lightly armed troops to plunder Guan County. Together with Yang Yuanhong, the Prefect of Pingyuan, Yang Shanhui led tens of thousands of troops to launch a surprise attack on Zhang Jincheng's main camp. General Wang Bian's troops also arrived, forcing Zhang Jincheng to abandon Guan County to provide assistance, resulting in losses in the battle against Wang Bian. Yang Shanhui selected five hundred elite soldiers as reinforcements, achieving resounding success, and Wang Bian's army also regained strength. The bandits retreated to their main camp, and the other armies also withdrew.
At that time, Shandong was in chaos, with people flocking to join the bandits like they were going to a market. The counties were all extremely weak and fell one after another. The only one capable of resisting the bandits was Yang Shanhui. He fought more than seven hundred battles, never lost a single battle. However, due to the vast difference in military strength, he was unable to completely eliminate the bandits, leaving him with a sense of regret. Later, Taifu Yang Yichen set out to confront Zhang Jincheng and was also defeated, retreating to Linqing. Yang Yichen implemented Yang Shanhui's tactics, facing Zhang Jincheng in several decisive battles, during which Zhang ultimately fled. Yang Yichen pursued him and breached Zhang Jincheng's main camp, capturing all the soldiers. Zhang Jincheng escaped with a few hundred followers, later gathering more troops and supplies in Zhangnan. Yang Shanhui caught up with him and killed Zhang Jincheng, delivering his head to the emperor. The emperor awarded him a treasured sword, armor, a spear, and promoted him to the position of Prefect of Qinghe.
In the same year, Yang Shanhui followed Yang Yichen in killing the rebel leader Gao Shida in Zhangnan and presented Gao Shida's head to the Jiangdu Palace. The emperor issued an edict to commend him. Gao Shida's subordinate, Dou Jiande, who called himself the King of Changle, attacked Xindu. The bandit chief Wang An from Linqing led several thousand troops to support Dou Jiande. Yang Shanhui launched a surprise attack on Wang An and killed him. After Dou Jiande captured Xindu, he continued to harass Qinghe. Yang Shanhui resisted but was defeated and had to defend the city. After a forty-day siege, the bandits breached the city walls and captured Yang Shanhui. Dou Jiande released him, treated him with respect, and appointed him as the governor of Beizhou. Yang Shanhui cursed, "You old bandit, how dare you compare yourself to the pillars of the nation! I curse my own weakness for not being able to capture you. I am not like you butchers who kill livestock; how dare you make me work for you?" Despite facing the enemy's blades, Yang Shanhui stood firm and unafraid. Dou Jiande wanted to spare his life, but his subordinates urged him to execute Yang Shanhui. Dou Jiande knew that Yang Shanhui would not ultimately serve him, so he had him killed. The people of Qinghe grieved for him.
Dugu Sheng, the younger brother of the Grand Minister Dugu Kai, had a strong personality and great courage. When Emperor Yang of Sui was still the commander of Yangzhou, Dugu Sheng served alongside him and gradually climbed the ranks, eventually becoming a chariot and cavalry general. When Emperor Yang ascended to the throne, due to their previous acquaintance at the fief, the emperor became increasingly close to him, promoting him several times until he became the general of the right guard.
During the rebellion led by Yuwen Huaji, Pei Qiantong led his troops to Chengxiang Palace. The soldiers responsible for guarding the palace threw down their weapons and fled. Dugu Sheng said to Pei Qiantong, "What kind of soldiers are these? This doesn't feel right!" Pei Qiantong replied, "The situation is already like this; it's not the general's problem anymore. General, please do not act recklessly." Dugu Sheng cursed angrily, "What nonsense are you talking, you old thief!" Without even wearing his armor, he and a dozen of his followers rushed up to fight back, but were killed by the rebels. Later, Prince Yang Tong became emperor and posthumously granted Dugu Sheng the titles of Guanglu Daifu and Jiguo Duke, along with the posthumous title of Wujie.
Yuan Wendu was the nephew of Yuan Xiaozhu, the Duke of Xunyang. His father, Yuan Xiaozhe, had served as a minor official in charge of tombs and supervisor of Jiangling during the Zhou Dynasty. Wendu was outspoken and very capable. He served as a Right Minister during the Zhou Dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui, he was appointed as an Attendant Imperial Secretary, later serving as a Supervisor of the Imperial Treasury and a Supervisor of the Examination Bureau, doing an excellent job in both roles. He was later promoted to Left Deputy of the Imperial Secretariat, then transferred to be the Junior Attendant of the Grand Court. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, he was promoted to Junior Minister of Agriculture and Grand Master of Works, but he was later let go for misconduct. Not long after, he was appointed as Minister of the Grand Court, and Emperor Yang of Sui gradually placed his trust in him, and many people thought he was quite impressive back then.
In the thirteenth year of the Daye era, Emperor Yang of Sui left Jiangdu Palace and ordered Wendu, Duan Da, Huangfu Wuyi, Wei Jin, and others to remain in Dongdu. After Emperor Yang of Sui died, Wendu, Duan Da, Wei Jin, and others proclaimed Prince Yue, Yang Dong, as emperor. Yang Dong appointed Wendu as the Minister of the Interior, the Grand Minister of the Household, the Counsellor of the Household, the General of the Left Imperial Guard, the Acting General of the Right Guard, and the Duke of Lu. Later, Yuwen Huaji supported Prince Qin, Yang Hao, as emperor and marched his troops to Pengcheng with great force. Wendu advised Yang Dong to send envoys to negotiate with Li Mi. Li Mi subsequently requested to surrender, and Yang Dong bestowed a title upon him and warmly welcomed his envoys. Wang Chong was very unhappy about this and had a falling out with Wendu. Wendu was aware of Wang Chong's objections to him and secretly plotted to assassinate Wang Chong. Yang Dong subsequently appointed Wendu as the Grand Master of the Palace, but Wang Chong vehemently opposed this, and as a result, it did not come to pass.
Lu Chu said to Wen Du, "Wang Chong is just a peripheral general, not a candidate for garrison duty. Why should he be involved in our affairs! Besides, he is also responsible for the Battle of Luokou. He deserves to be executed, but now he dares to be arrogant and meddling in court politics. If we don't get rid of him, he will become a national disaster." Wen Du agreed with Lu Chu's opinion, so he wrote a memorial and prepared to present it to the emperor. Just as the matter was about to be finalized, someone told Wang Chong about it. Wang Chong was in the court at that time. Upon hearing this, he was alarmed and rushed back to Hanjia City to plot his rebellion. Wen Du sent people to call him several times, but Wang Chong claimed to be unwell and refused to attend. In the evening, Wang Chong rebelled, stormed through the East Taiyang Gate and entered the palace, kneeling before Yang Dong in the Ziwei Pavilion. Yang Dong asked him, "What are you doing?" Wang Chong said, "Yuan Wen Du and Lu Chu conspired to kill me. Please eliminate Yuan Wen Du and pin the blame on the Minister of Justice." Noticing Wang Chong's rising power, Yang Dong knew he would ultimately meet his end and told Wen Du, "You should go see General Wang personally." Wen Du hesitated, tears streaming down his face. Yang Dong sent his general Huang Taoshu to take Wen Du away. Before leaving, Wen Du said to Yang Dong, "I will die today, and Your Majesty won't live much longer." Yang Dong tearfully sent Wen Du off, and every
Lu Chu, from Zhuojun Fanyang, was the grandson of Lu Jingzuo, the Minister of Works in the Wei Kingdom. Lu Chu was talented from a young age, but he was straightforward and had a slight stutter, which made his speech somewhat halting. During the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, he became the Right Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel and was always upright in court, leading many officials to fear him. When Emperor Yang went to Jiangdu, many officials in the eastern capital did not follow the laws, but Lu Chu consistently insisted on correcting them without flinching. Later, when Prince Yang Dong proclaimed himself emperor, he appointed Lu Chu as the Prefect of the Palace Interior, Left Guard General, Acting Deputy of the Ministry of Personnel, and Right Guanglu Daifu, bestowing upon him the title of Duke of Zhuojun. He, along with Yuan Wendou and others, worked diligently to support the young emperor. When Wang Chong rebelled and the army attacked the Taiyang Gate, General Wuwei Huangfu Wuyi opened the city gate and fled, pleading with Lu Chu to escape with him. Lu Chu replied, "Yuan Gong and I have sworn to live and die together if the country is in danger. It would be dishonorable to flee now!" When the rebels entered the city, Lu Chu hid in the Tai Guan Mansion and was eventually captured and sent to Wang Chong. Enraged, Wang Chong ordered Lu Chu to be executed, and so the sword fell, shattering Lu Chu's body.
Liu Ziyi, from Congtingli in Pengcheng, was the son of Liu Bian, the Sima of Xuzhou during the Northern Qi dynasty. Liu Ziyi was studious from a young age and excelled in writing. He had a strong character and talent for officialdom. During the Northern Qi dynasty, he served as the Palace General. In the early years of Emperor Wen of Sui, he became the County Magistrate of Nanhe and gradually ascended to the position of Military Judge of Qinzhou. In the eighteenth year of Kaihuang, he participated in the official examination, and the Right Deputy of the Ministry of Personnel, Yang Su, quickly recognized his talent and recommended him for the position of Imperial Censor. At that time, the County Magistrate of Yongning, Li Gongxiao, lost his mother at the age of four, remarried at nine, and his stepfather remarried again after his death. When the stepfather passed away, a man from Hejian, Liu Xuan, argued that Li Gongxiao had failed to fulfill his filial duty to his stepfather and proposed that he be removed from his position. Liu Ziyi retorted:
In ancient books it is said: "A stepmother is like a biological mother, indistinguishable from one." A stepmother should be treated as the father's wife, with the same respect as one would show a mother, and all kinds of sacrificial rituals should be the same as for a biological mother. The book also says: "When mourning for a deceased person, one should mourn for their parents." The mourner should take their own biological parents as the standard, rather than making a distinction because of the stepmother. Although the father may be closer to the stepmother, in terms of the children's feelings, the biological mother should still be prioritized. Therefore, the ancient texts say: "When mourning for a deceased person, one should resign from their official duties alongside their parents to show their grief. If the father dies and the mother remarries, even if the mourner does not mourn the stepmother, they should still express their grief. But after the stepmother remarries, there's no need to resign from their duties." This only applies to a mother who has remarried. Therefore, as long as the stepmother is still in the father's house, she should be treated the same as a biological mother. If there is no upbringing to speak of, why would mourning even be necessary? Since mourning has already taken place, how can sorrow be different? The ancient legal texts are very clear in meaning. It's ridiculous to claim that the law permits not to mourn! Furthermore, it has never been heard of changing mourning because a biological mother has remarried. Since the biological mother and stepmother hold equal status, it follows that grief should be the same. In "Fuwenti" it says: "When the mother remarries, one should mourn for the stepmother." Isn't this because the mother's family ties have been cut, leading to estrangement, while the stepmother is the father's wife, hence closer to her? Confucius said: "The wife of Ji is the mother of Baisi. Because she is the wife of Ji, she is not the mother of Baisi." This indicates that mourning customs depend on status, while emotions are tied to the father, so the sages emphasize filial piety and promote righteousness. This allows children to mourn according to status, just like a biological mother, to reciprocate with respect, just like biological parents. If the stepmother arrives after the birth of the children, mourning practices may differ, but you won't find such a claim in ancient texts.
For example, if the person being mourned has just died and the mourner who arrives later is present, is it appropriate for the later mourner to forgo showing respect for the deceased just because they were not raised by the deceased?
Wang Bi, a man from Changsha, went to the capital to handle affairs during the late Han Dynasty. Later, Wu State and Wei severed relations, and Wang Bi married in the capital and had a son named Wang Chang. After Wang Bi died, Wang Chang became the East Ping Minister and learned that the mother of Wu State had passed away. He was deeply saddened and did not take up his post. People at that time did not think he did anything wrong. Thus, it can be argued that there is no emotional difference between a stepmother and a biological mother. If nurturing is to dictate mourning etiquette, how should we interpret Wang Chang's actions? Also, during the Jin Dynasty, General Yang Hu, the Commander of the Southern Forces, had no sons, so he adopted his disciple Yi as his son. Upon Yang Hu's death, Yi did not observe the customary deep mourning. Yang Hu's wife reported to the court, and Yi said, "My uncle raised me during his lifetime, so I dare not go against him. But without my father's command, I returned to my biological parents." The Shangshu Peng Quan believed, "An adopted son must have the father's command. Leaving without command is unfilial." The court subsequently issued a decree to endorse this. Therefore, mourning etiquette cannot be influenced by favors. In my view, etiquette is established through human relationships and is grounded in moral teachings. I use this principle to explain his thoughts. The term "consideration of feelings" refers to the affection a mother holds for her children; the term "upholding righteousness" refers to the morality children have towards their parents. Once the status is determined, one can respect their father's orders, uphold etiquette, and show filial piety. If the mother-son relationship is solely based on the mother's nurturing, then the favor comes from the mother, and filial piety comes from oneself. If the mother is just like a mother, how can one wait for a father's command to demonstrate filial piety?
He also said, "Stepmothers and birth mothers are people who are originally unrelated, but since she raised me, she is just like my own flesh and blood." If this is the case, the son will not listen to his father's words. Even if there is the debt of upbringing, can it ever compare to a birth mother? Although the time spent showing filial piety to a stepmother is typically shorter than that to a birth mother, it is greater than the respect shown to ordinary people. Etiquette has its rules, and filial piety should conform to human feelings. Stepmothers originally serve out of nominal relationships; how can they be treated differently based on the depth of their kindness? As for a brother's son, although he is also a son, the closeness is indeed different, but the expectations of respect are the same. He said "light" and "as" heavy, believing that the two should be treated differently. The term "as" implies equality, that is, the meaning of equal treatment. If the weight is different, how can the word "as" be used? The law states that "punishments are based on the severity of the crime"; "treating it in accordance with standard legal provisions" means treating it the same as normal legal provisions. The law uses punishment to address crimes, and etiquette uses education to regulate behavior. "Quasi" means comparison, "as" means the same. There is no difference in the use of the words "as" and "quasi." Both etiquette and legal provisions aim to address the same issues. Using this principle to clarify another, you can understand his meaning, just as one might use the example of cutting down trees to illustrate a point—what is difficult to understand?
First of all, someone said, "To appoint your eldest son as the heir is to ensure that he carries on the family line and serves you. The eldest son should not return to his original family, but instead serve your father's concubine as his own son." However, the term 'father's concubine' exists only because of the father. Shouldn't the father also feel sorrow? How can we only refer to her as the father's concubine? Others say, "In terms of etiquette, we refer to the former ruler as 'old lord'. Does he still hold the dignity of a ruler? He has lost his status and is no longer a pure minister, which is why 'old' is used to differentiate. He is now regarded differently, not merely as a filial figure, hence the use of 'its' to indicate. Referring to him as 'its father' signifies a distinction." However, this is not a universally applicable statement. Why is this said? Because the meanings and usage of 'its' and 'old' are different. 'Old' is used to refer to outdated things, while 'its' is used based on the context at that time. How can they be confused? Just like in the 'Book of Rites' where it says, "Its father gathers firewood, its son cannot bear the burden." In the 'Zuo Zhuan', it also says, "Although Wei is small, its lord is there." If 'its father' can be interpreted differently, can 'its lord' also be interpreted in various ways? Of course not! Of course not! Now you are violating etiquette and ignoring the imperial decree, letting your illegitimate son inherit the family business, neglecting your legitimate son, resulting in losses both in name and custom. You boast about your actions publicly, forcibly interpreting the classics, even though you aim to showcase your talents, you did not realize that your words go against reason.
After the memorial was submitted, his suggestions were ultimately adopted. During the Renshou period, he served as the magistrate of Xinfeng County and made significant contributions. In the third year of Daye, he was appointed as the Chief Justice of Dali and was quite well-known at the time. He was later promoted to the position of Imperial Censor, and whenever there were contentious issues in court, Ziyi was able to debate and analyze them, with many of his viewpoints exceeding everyone's expectations. He once accompanied the emperor to Jiangdu. At that time, the world was in turmoil, and the emperor still did not understand the situation. Ziyi took the opportunity to advise the emperor, which angered the emperor, resulting in Ziyi being sent to Danyang as a caretaker. Shortly after, he was sent to supervise the transportation of military provisions in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River but was captured by Wu Qizi's bandits. Ziyi persuaded them to surrender and took in their leader. He was then sent to pacify the bandits in Qingjiang. Upon hearing that Emperor Yang of Sui had been killed, the bandits told him about it. Ziyi did not believe it and killed the informant. The bandits then tried to make him their leader, but Ziyi turned them down. A group of bandits brought Ziyi to the outskirts of Linchuan City and asked him to tell the people inside the city that "the emperor is dead." However, Ziyi delivered the opposite message and was subsequently executed. He was seventy years old at the time.
Yaojun Su was from Tangyin in Wei County. When Emperor Yang of Sui was still known as the Prince of Jin, Su served as his attendant. After Emperor Yang ascended the throne, Su was promoted all the way to the rank of Eagle Strike General. By the end of the Sui Dynasty, banditry was rampant, causing the common people to flee, but Su's troops remained intact. Later, he joined General Qu Tutong in resisting the rebel forces in Hedong. Before long, Qu Tutong's forces retreated south, but recognizing Su's bravery, he appointed him as the acting Prefect of Hedong. Generals of the rebel army, such as Lv Shaozong and Wei Yijie, were dispatched to attack but were unsuccessful. When Qu Tutong's army was defeated and he arrived at the city gates calling for Su to surrender, Su wept uncontrollably, filled with overwhelming grief. Those around him were also in tears, and even Qu Tutong was in tears, his face streaked with them. He said to Su, "My army has been defeated. Wherever the rebel army goes, there is no resistance. In light of the current situation, you should surrender quickly to preserve your wealth and position."
Jun Su replied, "You are the emperor's trusted confidant, a high-ranking minister of the country. The emperor entrusted the Guan Zhong region to you, and King Dai entrusted the state to you. The fate of the country rests on your shoulders. Why aren't you thinking about serving the country instead of ending up like this? Even if you can't repay the emperor, the horse you ride was a gift from King Dai himself. How can you still have the face to ride it?" Qu Tutong said, "Ah, Jun Su, I came here because of my lack of strength." Jun Su said, "You haven't reached rock bottom yet, so why say more?" Qu Tutong left in shame. At that time, the city was tightly besieged, and the food supply was cut off. Jun Su made a wooden goose, tied the memorial on its neck, detailed the situation at the time, and sent it floating down the Yellow River. The defending general in Heyang received the memorial and forwarded it to the Eastern Capital. King Yang Tong let out a deep sigh upon reading it, and then ordered Jun Su to be appointed as a high-ranking official, secretly sending someone to comfort him. Pang Yu, the gatekeeper, and Huangfu Wuyi, the military commander, both defected to the Yi army coming from the Eastern Capital and came to the city. They urged Jun Su to surrender. The Tang Dynasty even sent a golden pardon, promising not to kill him. However, Jun Su had no intention of surrendering. His wife also came to the city and advised him, "The Sui Dynasty has already perished, the Mandate of Heaven now rests with someone else. Why are you holding on like this and inviting disaster?" Jun Su said, "The matters of the world are beyond a woman's understanding." Then, in a tragic turn, he drew his bow and shot his wife.
Jun Su also knew that things were bound to fail, but he insisted on maintaining his integrity and die with dignity. Whenever he talked about national affairs, he wept incessantly. He once said to his soldiers, "I am an old official of the imperial palace, having been promoted and trusted by the emperor many times. Now, at this critical moment, I have no choice but to sacrifice myself for the country. The food in the city can support us for a few more years, but once it runs out, the true state of affairs will become evident. If the Sui Dynasty really falls, and the mandate of heaven belongs to someone else, I will come to you with my head." At that time, the people had suffered greatly under Sui rule for a long time, and when the rebels rose up, everyone saw hope. However, Jun Su was skilled at leading the army, and none of his subordinates betrayed him. Over a year later, some food was occasionally brought into the city from outside, and the people in the city learned that Jiangdu (the capital of the Sui Dynasty) had already fallen. But food was still very scarce, the people were struggling to survive, and instances of cannibalism began to emerge, causing widespread panic. A white arc appeared over the government gate, and the tips of weapons gleamed in the night. A month later, Jun Su was killed by his own subordinates.
Chen Xiaoyi, hailing from Hedong, harbored lofty aspirations from a young age and was known for his integrity and honesty. During the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, he held a minor official position in Lu County, responsible for judicial affairs, and the people in the county praised him for his fairness and integrity. The Prefect of Lu County, Su Wei, once wanted to kill a prisoner, but Chen Xiaoyi strongly advised against it multiple times. Su Wei refused to listen, so Chen Xiaoyi, unable to dissuade him, stripped off his clothes and requested to be executed first to prevent the incident. After a long time, Su Wei was moved by his determination and gave up on the idea of killing, apologizing to Chen Xiaoyi and releasing him, and began to respect him more. Later, when Su Wei became a central official, he recommended Chen Xiaoyi to become an imperial censor.
Later, Chen Xiaoyi's father passed away. During the mourning period, he practiced filial piety for a longer time than required. There even appeared the strange sight of white deer peacefully wandering near his home, which people believed was a sign of his filial piety. Not long after, Chen Xiaoyi was appointed as the magistrate of Yanmen County. During his tenure, he lived a simple life, ate vegetarian food, resided in a humble house, and cried and made offerings at his father's grave every morning and evening. Each time he made offerings, he would weep bitterly, sometimes fainting, his hair turning white and his body growing emaciated, making onlookers feel pity for him. During that time, the imperial decrees became increasingly chaotic, with many local officials engaging in corruption. However, Chen Xiaoyi remained steadfast in his integrity, exposing the evildoers and punishing the corrupt, earning the admiration of both the people and officials as if he were a god.
When Sui Emperor Yang traveled to Jiangdu, Liu Wuzhou of Mayi killed the prefect Wang Rengong and subsequently led a rebellion. Chen Xiaoyi led troops and, along with the military officer Wang Zhibian, marched to suppress Liu Wuzhou. They fought a battle at Xiaguan City but were defeated by Liu Wuzhou. Liu Wuzhou then attacked the nearby counties, causing the common people to feel fearful and on the verge of rebellion. The former magistrate of Yanmen County, Yang Changren, and the county magistrate Wang Que, were cunning individuals who many thugs had joined forces with and were secretly plotting to support Liu Wuzhou. Chen Xiaoyi learned of their conspiracy and eliminated their entire families, making the people in the county too afraid to entertain any rebellious thoughts.
Not long after, Liu Wuzhou led his troops to attack Yanmen Commandery. Chen Xiaoyi resolutely resisted and won every battle. However, Yanmen Commandery was an isolated city with no reinforcements outside. Chen Xiaoyi made up his mind to defend the city to the death. He sent people to Jiangdu several times to ask for help, but the route was blocked by Liu Wuzhou, and he never received a response from the court. Chen Xiaoyi also knew that the court would not send troops to rescue them. Every morning and evening, he knelt in the direction of the court, weeping, and his sad appearance moved those around him. After being besieged for over a hundred days and running out of food and supplies, he was ultimately killed by his subordinate, Zhang Lun, and Yanmen City fell into the hands of Liu Wuzhou.
Zhang Jixun, a native of Jingzhao, was the son of Zhang Xiang, who was highly regarded by Emperor Gaozu when he was young. He was later promoted to be a military counselor to the chancellor. During the Kaihuang reign, Zhang Xiang was promoted all the way to Sima of Bingzhou. Towards the end of the Renshou period, Prince Han Liang rebelled and sent General Liu Jian to attack the Yan and Zhao regions. When Liu Jian reached Jingxing, Zhang Xiang led his troops to resist. Liu Jian launched a fierce attack and even set fire to the city walls. Seeing the common people terrified, Zhang Xiang climbed the city wall, bowed twice towards the temple of the Queen Mother of the West, and cried out, "What sins have the common people committed to suffer such a fire! If the immortals truly have spirits, please bring down rain to save them!" No sooner had he finished speaking than dark clouds gathered over the temple, and soon a heavy rain fell, extinguishing the fire. The soldiers were all moved by his sincerity and obeyed his orders. After being besieged for over a month, Li Xiong's reinforcements arrived, and the rebels retreated. Zhang Xiang was rewarded for his contributions and appointed as Kaifu. Later, he became the Governor of Ruzhou, the Prefect of Lingwu, and finally served as the Director of the Capital Water Authority in the capital, where he died in office.
Zhang Jixun has been generous and passionate since childhood, with ambition and integrity. At the end of the Daye era, he became the Eagle Strike General, occupying Jishan as a defensive stronghold, linking up with Luokou. Later, Li Mi and Zhai Rang broke through the city and sent a messenger to demand Zhang Jixun's surrender. Zhang Jixun cursed Li Mi, who, enraged, sent troops to attack him but failed to capture him for several years. At that time, Li Mi had tens of thousands of troops surrounding his city; Zhang Jixun was besieged, commanding only a few hundred men, but he remained steadfast, vowing never to surrender. After three years, they ran out of military supplies, couldn't even find firewood and had to tear down houses to cook, and the people lived in caves. Zhang Jixun continued to patrol, and no one betrayed him. When food ran out completely, the soldiers were exhausted and ill, unable to continue fighting, and the city was finally breached. Zhang Jixun sat calmly in his office, and Li Mi sent soldiers to arrest him.
A group of brigands dragged Zhang Jixun before Li Mi to force him to kneel, but Zhang Jixun said, "Although I am a defeated general, I am still a subject of the emperor; how can I kneel to you brigands!" Li Mi was stunned by his spirit and let him go. Zhai Rang accompanied Li Mi to demand money, but when he failed to obtain it, he killed Zhang Jixun, who was just twenty-eight at the time.
His younger brother, Zhang Zhongyan, became the magistrate of Luo at th
It is said that Song Yun, a man from Beihai, was known for his fiery temperament and strong principles, and he held honor in high regard. He served as the captain of Shimen Prefecture. Towards the end of Emperor Yang of Sui's Daye reign, a bandit named Yang Hou rallied a group to rebel and attacked Beihai County. Song Yun joined the county soldiers to put down the rebellion. Song Yun went to scout the enemy on a light horse and was captured by Yang Hou. Yang Hou wanted to use Song Yun to deceive the city garrison into surrendering by pretending that the county soldiers had been defeated. Song Yun pretended to agree.
When they arrived at the city gates, he suddenly cried out, "I am Song Yun, sent to scout the enemy! I was captured by accident, not because I was unable to defeat them! The main army of the imperial troops will arrive soon; the bandits are weak and will soon be eliminated, so there is no need to worry!" Yang Hou, enraged, slashed Song Yun's mouth with a knife, dragged him away while beating him. Song Yun cursed, "You old bandit, dare to humiliate loyalists; you will pay for this!" Before he could finish speaking, Yang Hou cut off his waist. The people in the city, witnessing this, wept and wailed, but their spirits soared, and Beihai City was ultimately saved.
Emperor Yang of Sui dispatched Guo Zijian, a clerk, to quell Yang Hou, and achieved a resounding victory. Upon learning of Song Yun's sacrifice for his country, Emperor Yang of Sui was deeply grieved and reported it to the court. The emperor ordered that he be honored posthumously and appointed as a grand official and the magistrate of his county.
Historical texts state: The ancients believed that the world was the greatest and that individuals were insignificant. While life is important, it seems as light as a feather compared to righteousness. Some deaths weigh heavier than Mount Tai because they are for justice; some lives are lighter than a feather because they are lived in dishonor. However, death is irreversible, and life is lived only once; therefore, maintaining integrity at critical moments is the most valuable of all.
The rebellion led by Yang Liang, Xuan Gan, and Li Mi has reached a significant scale and has gained considerable momentum. Huangfu Dan, You Yuan, Feng Ciming, and others are fearless in the face of danger, confronting death with unwavering courage, bravely sacrificing themselves for the cause of justice. Do they not realize that the situation is already lost and that human effort cannot alter destiny? They would rather be killed than betray their loyalty and integrity. Although their contributions may not endure through the ages, and their efforts may not have saved the situation, compared to those who choose to survive at any cost, their integrity will be remembered for generations. Xuduo and Shan Hui have carried on the legacy of Wen Xu, while Ziyi and Song Yun have upheld the heroism of Jie Yang. Even in times of chaos, there are still loyal subjects—truly remarkable!
