Dugu Kai, styled Xiuzhe, originally bore the surname Li. His father, Li Tun, followed Emperor Qi Shenwu in fighting the Zhou Dynasty army at Shayuan. The Qi army suffered a major defeat, and Li Tun was captured by a key figure of the Zhou Dynasty, Dugu Xin. He became a soldier and served in Dugu Xin's household. Over time, his relationship with Dugu Xin improved, and Dugu Xin granted him the surname Dugu.
Dugu Kai was steady and honest when he was young, skilled in horseback riding and the use of a lance. He later served as a guard for Yuwen Hu and rose through the ranks to become a General of Cavalry. He participated in numerous battles and was appointed as the Duke of Guang'a County with a fief that included one thousand households, then promoted to the position of Right Assistant Minister. During the late Sui Dynasty, he helped Wei Xiaokuan pacify Huainan and was rewarded with the title of Duke of Xihexian for his achievements. When Sui Wen Emperor was the Prime Minister, he promoted Dugu Kai to the position of Kaifu (Minister), often putting him in charge of his trusted army. After Sui Wen Emperor became the Emperor, Dugu Kai was appointed as the General of the Right Guard and further ennobled as Duke of Ruyang County. Several years later, he was promoted to the position of General of the Right Guard.
During the Renshou era, he was sent to serve as the Governor of Yuanzhou. At that time, Prince Yang Xiu was stationed in Yizhou, and the court wanted to summon him back to the capital, but he was hesitant to leave. The court feared that Yang Xiu might rebel, so they sent Dugu Kai to Yizhou as the governor to quickly replace him. Yang Xiu did indeed have rebellious intentions, and Dugu Kai made several attempts to persuade him before Yang Xiu finally set out. Dugu Kai noticed that Yang Xiu still had regrets and took precautions by deploying troops. When Yang Xiu reached Xingle, which was more than forty miles away from Yizhou, he contemplated attacking Dugu Kai but soon realized he would be a formidable opponent, so he abandoned the idea. During his tenure in Yizhou, Dugu Kai implemented many policies to benefit the people, and the people of Shu continue to praise him to this day.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, Dugu Kai was appointed Governor of Bingzhou. Later, he fell ill and lost his sight, so he submitted a request to retire. Emperor Yang of Sui remarked, "You are a veteran minister from the previous dynasty, serving under two emperors, with high moral character and great reputation. I'll let you take it easy at home and not worry about political affairs anymore." He then sent his eldest son, Dugu Lingyun, to act as the acting Governor of Bingzhou. This shows just how much Emperor Yang of Sui valued him! Several years later, he was appointed Prefect of Changping, but passed away before taking office and was posthumously honored with the title Gong. His sons Dugu Lingyun, Dugu Pingyun, and Dugu Yanyun were all very famous. Dugu Kai's brother, Dugu Sheng, is recorded in the "Chengjie Zhuan."
Qifu Hui, styled Linghe, was a Xianbei from Mayi in Shanxi. His grandfather, Qifu Zhou, held the title of Silver Seal Gentleman during the Wei Dynasty, and his father, Qifu Zuan, was the Golden Purple Gentleman; both were prominent leaders in the Xianbei tribe. Qifu Hui was bold and responsible from a young age, skilled in archery and horseback riding, and enjoyed raising hunting falcons and hounds.
During Emperor Wenxuan's reign in Northern Qi, Qifu Hui became Deputy Left Minister of the Executive Yuan and was also named General Who Pacifies Rebels. He was later promoted to Right Guard General, Minister of Imperial Stables, and finally elevated from Duke of Yongning County to Prince of Yimin. His brother, Qifu Guihe, was also made a prince for his military achievements. They both held significant power!
When Emperor Wu of Zhou defeated Northern Qi, Qifu Hui was appointed as the Commissioner of State, General of the Cavalry, and Chancellor, later becoming the Right Division Officer of the Jifei, and then promoted to the position of Zhong Daifu of Xiong Qu. When Emperor Wen of Sui was the Prime Minister, Qifu Hui followed Wei Xiaokuan in battles against Wei Dun, winning every battle and being appointed as the Grand General, rewarded with eight hundred bolts of cloth. After quelling the rebellion of Wei Jiong, he was promoted to the position of Pillar of the State and granted the title of Duke of Xihe County, with a fief of three thousand households and rewarded with two thousand three hundred bolts of cloth. He voluntarily requested to relinquish his title in favor of his older brother, but the court did not agree, and many people at that time thought his actions were very righteous.
After Emperor Wen of Sui became the Emperor, he appointed Qifu Hui as the Inspector of Caozhou. The customs in Caozhou were quite poor, with the common people concealing their population and wealth, and falsifying household registrations. After Qifu Hui took office, he conducted a thorough investigation and uncovered tens of thousands of unreported households. Later, he was transferred to Liangzhou as the General Manager. At that time, the Turks frequently conducted raids, so Qifu Hui strengthened border defenses, sent people to scout around, and the Turks were deterred from invading due to his reputation.
Over a year later, he was then appointed as the Inspector of Qizhou, and discovered thousands of unreported households. Afterwards, he was transferred to Shouzhou as the General Manager. That year, he was transferred to Qizhou as the Inspector, and after a few years, he was promoted to General Manager of Xuzhou. At that time, he was in his seventies, and he requested retirement in a memorial, but his request was denied by the court. Shortly after, he was transferred to Jingzhou as the General Manager, also overseeing Tanzhou and Guizhou, managing military affairs in a total of thirty-one states. The people of Jingzhou were more carefree and lazy, but Qifu Hui set an example with his diligence and simplicity, gradually changing the local customs. Once, he saw someone using a bamboo basket to catch fish, so he bought the fish with cloth and released them, demonstrating his kindness! The common people greatly admired him, calling his residence "Xi He Gong Gu."
Later, he was appointed as the governor of Qinzhou. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, he was appointed as the Prefect of Tianshui. In the fifth year of the Daye era, Emperor Yang of Sui launched an expedition against the Tuyuhun. Because Tianshui County was close to the border, the local populace faced significant hardships. Additionally, Emperor Yang of Sui's western tour coincided with this, and due to the poorly maintained roads, the supplies provided were inadequate. Emperor Yang of Sui was furious and ordered him to be beheaded. Seeing that his hair had turned white, he spared his life but demoted him to commoner status. In the end, Qifu Hui passed away at home.
Zhang Wei, his origins are unknown. His father, Zhang Chen, was the Prefect of Hongnong in the Wei Kingdom. Zhang Wei was handsome and ambitious from a young age, skilled in horseback riding and archery, and much stronger than the average person. During the Zhou Dynasty, he followed the army into battle multiple times, rising in rank to Governor and Intendant of Jingzhao, and was even granted the title of Count of Changshou County with a fief that included a thousand households.
Later, when Wang Qian rebelled, the Emperor appointed Zhang Wei as the commander of the expedition to subdue him. When the army arrived at Tonggu, Wang Qian's general Li Sanwang led elite soldiers to defend. Liang Rui had Zhang Wei lead the vanguard. Li Sanwang initially kept the camp gates closed, refusing to engage. Zhang Wei had his men shout insults at them to provoke a fight. Li Sanwang's troops indeed came out, and Zhang Wei urged his warriors to attack with courage. Li Sanwang's army was defeated, and the main force followed up, resulting in the capture and execution of over four thousand enemies.
The army advanced to Kaiyuan, and Wang Qian's general Zhao Yan led a hundred thousand troops, with a camp that spanned thirty miles. Zhang Wei carved a path through the mountains, attacking Zhao Yan from behind the Xiling Mountains, which led to Zhao Yan's defeat and retreat. Zhang Wei pursued him to Chengdu, where he engaged in a major battle with Wang Qian, serving as the commander of the central army. Once Wang Qian was subdued, Zhang Wei was promoted to the title of Shangzhuguo and appointed as the governor of Luzhou. After Emperor Gaozu ascended the throne, Zhang Wei successively served as the governor of Youzhou and Luozhou, and was granted the title of Duke of Jinxi County. He was then appointed as the Supervisor of the Hebei Circuit, and later oversaw the affairs of the Prince of Jin's residence. Several years later, he was appointed as the governor of Qingzhou, and the court rewarded him with eighty thousand coins, five hundred shi of rice, and three hundred bolts of various silk fabrics.
During his time in Qingzhou, Zhang Wei focused on developing his own industry, sending his household slaves to sell radishes to the common people, resulting in the oppression of the common people by his household slaves. The emperor was extremely angry about this and harshly reprimanded him, which resulted in Zhang Wei's dismissal and return home. Later, when the emperor went to Mount Tai for sacrifices, he mentioned to Zhang Wei in Luoyang, "Since I have obtained the world, I have entrusted you with important positions every time, showing my deep trust in you. Why do you not cultivate your reputation and morality, only pursuing profit? This not only betrays my trust but also tarnishes your reputation." Then the emperor asked Zhang Wei, "Where is the tablet you normally carry?" Zhang Wei kowtowed and apologized, saying, "I have committed an offense and violated the law, and do not have the face to carry it anymore. I have hidden it at home." The emperor said, "Bring it to me." The next day, Zhang Wei presented the tablet to the emperor, who said, "Although you did not follow the rules, your contributions are indeed great. I will not forget your contributions. Now I return the tablet to you." Thus, the emperor once again appointed Zhang Wei as the governor of Luozhou, and later granted him the title of Duke of Xuancheng County. Shortly after, he was transferred to serve as the governor of Xiangzhou and died in office. His son, Zhang Zhi, achieved the rank of Wuben Langjiang during the Daye period.
He Hong is from Runan. When he was young, he excelled in martial arts and had exceptional courage, much more formidable than most. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou, he followed the emperor into battles multiple times, gradually rising through the ranks based on his military achievements. Eventually, he became the General of Chariots and Cavalry and the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, reaching a high official position.
At that time, the tribal leaders in Longzhou, Ren Gongxin and Li Guoli, gathered their forces to rebel, and the local governor, Dugu Shan, was unable to quell them. After deliberation, the court acknowledged He Hong's military prowess and appointed him as the new governor of Longzhou in place of Dugu Shan. In less than a month, he captured Ren Gongxin and Li Guoli, executing both of them, and pacifying the other rebels.
Later, when accompanying the emperor to attack Heyin, He Hong led the charge and broke through the western gate of Heyin City with remarkable valor. The emperor held him in high regard and rewarded him with numerous gifts, including thousands of rolls of fabric. He then followed the emperor in pacifying the state of Qi, rising to the position of Upper Supervisor of the Imperial Secretariat, and was granted the title of Marquis of Beiping, receiving eight hundred households as his fiefdom, along with being appointed as the Deputy Chief of the Left Gentlemen of the Imperial Guard. When Zhuguo Wang Gui captured Wu Mingche, He Hong also made notable achievements, resulting in another promotion to the position of Household Grandee, and later to the position of Chief Commandant.
When Yu Jiong led a rebellion in Xiangzhou, the court appointed He Hong as the Commander of the Expeditionary Forces, tasking him to collaborate with Wei Xiaokuan in quelling the rebellion. When the army reached Heyang, Yu Jiong's forces surrounded Huaizhou, but He Hong, along with the Commander Yu Wenshu and others, successfully repelled Yu Jiong's forces. He also defeated Yu Dun at Wuzhi. After the pacification of Xiangzhou, due to his meritorious service in battles, he was appointed as the Pillar of the State, granted the title of Duke of Guangwu County, and rewarded with two thousand households as his fiefdom. In total, the emperor bestowed upon him ten thousand rolls of fabric, fifty slaves, one hundred pieces of gold and silverware, and one hundred horses and cattle, making him incredibly rich!
At that time, the Eastern Xia Dynasty had just been stabilized, and the social landscape was still not very stable. Emperor Gaozu valued Hong's prestige and put him in charge of the affairs of Jizhou, where he performed admirably and earned the strong support of the local populace. After a few years, he was recalled to the court and appointed as the Superintendent of Transport and Canals, and he was later promoted to Governor of Sizhou. Amidst the Turkic invasion along the borders, the court appointed Hong as the Commander of the Northern Army, and he led the army to repel the Turks, pushing all the way to the desert before making his return. He was later promoted to Governor of Xuzhou, and he passed away at the age of sixty-four.
Hou Mochen Ying, with the courtesy name Zundao, was from Daijun County. After the Wei Dynasty's southward migration, his family had served as military officers for generations. His father, Hou Mochen Chong, held many important official positions between the Wei and Zhou Dynasties, eventually becoming the Minister of Works. From a young age, Hou Mochen Ying exuded the presence of a great general and was handsome, admired by his peers. As the Wei Dynasty was nearing its end, in recognition of his father's military accomplishments, he was granted the title of Marquis of Guangping and later rose through several official positions to become the Chief of Palace Attendants.
During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Zhou Dynasty, he followed King Teng Xiao You to fight against the rebellious Hu tribes in Longquan and Wencheng. He and General Doulujie separately led troops to attack from different routes. General Houmo Chen Ying led his army deep into enemy territory for over five hundred li, capturing three enemy camps in one swift attack. Previously, these Hu tribes had rebelled, often looting the people on the border and enslaving them. At this time, the court ordered that if any Hu person dared to harbor innocent civilians, they would be executed, and their wives, children, and property confiscated. Someone reported that a particular Hu village was harboring innocent civilians, and General Doulujie wanted to execute everyone in that village. However, Houmo Chen Ying advised him, saying, "General, when commanding troops in the field, some orders can be flexibly handled according to the actual situation. Not all of these Hu tribesmen are genuinely rebellious; many are forced to rebel out of helplessness. Our army is pressing in, and the leaders of the rebellion will be afraid, and those forced to participate will also want to surrender. We should first appease them now so that we can achieve victory without bloodshed. If we kill them directly, it will only make them more frightened, and things will become more troublesome. It's better to summon their leaders and entrust the hidden innocent civilians to them, letting them surrender on their own, so that all th
Hou Mo Chen Ying was appointed as the Minister of Military Affairs and was further appointed as the Grand Master of Zhenwei. When Emperor Wen of Sui became the Chancellor, he appointed him as the Governor of Changzhou. Later, when Emperor Wen of Sui ascended to the throne, Hou Mo Chen Ying did not take up his post, but was further appointed as the Duke of Shengping, and soon after, he was appointed as the Governor of Yanzhou. A few years later, he was transferred to be the Governor of Chenzhou. During the campaign against the Chen Dynasty, he served as the commander of the army, serving under Prince Qin Yang Jun in launching an offensive from Lushan Road. After the surrender of Chen Dynasty generals Xun Fashang and Chen Ji, Hou Mo Chen Ying and the army commander Duan Wenzhen crossed the Yangtze River and calmed the recently surrendered Chen Dynasty populace. He was then appointed as the Governor of Raozhou, but before he could take office, he was reassigned to Yingzhou as Governor, where he performed many good deeds and earned the deep affection of the people. After serving for several years in Yingzhou, he was dismissed from office due to his close relationship with Prince Qin Yang Jun. The people bid him farewell, weeping openly, and together they erected a monument to praise his good character. Not long after, he was appointed as the acting official of Fenzhou, and soon after, he was appointed Governor of Xingzhou.
During the Renshou period, the Minister of Personnel, Niu Hong, was tasked with inspecting Shandong and ranked Hou Mo Chen Ying as the top candidate. Emperor Wen of Sui was very pleased and issued an imperial decree praising him. At that time, the court believed that many officials and county magistrates in Lingnan were corrupt and unscrupulous, and the people from the minority tribes were discontented, leading to widespread rebellions. Therefore, they carefully selected honest officials to restore order and calm tensions, and thus summoned Hou Mo Chen Ying back to the court. Hou Mo Chen Ying was summoned to the palace to meet Emperor Wen of Sui, and the Emperor reminisced with him about their shared experiences, and they laughed and talked merrily. A few days later, Hou Mo Chen Ying was promoted to Grand General and appointed as the General Manager of Guizhou, overseeing military affairs across seventeen states. The Emperor also bestowed numerous gifts upon him before sending him off to his new position. Upon arriving in Guizhou, he won the hearts of the people, and both the people and the minority ethnic groups greatly admired him, with many people from mountainous areas coming to pledge allegiance to him.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, Hou Mo Chen Ying's brother, Marquis of Liangguo, Hou Mo Chen Rui, was exiled to the border for committing a crime. The court worried that Hou Mo Chen Ying might be troubled by this, so he was summoned back to the capital. Several years later, he was appointed governor of Hengshan. That year, many areas in the Lingnan and Minyue regions resisted imperial authority. The emperor remembered that Hou Mo Chen Ying had done well in Guizhou before, earning the trust of the local people, so he appointed him governor of Nanhai. Four years later, he passed away during his term, at the age of ... posthumously named Ding. His son, Hou Mo Chen Qianhui, was also well-known.
Historical records say: Du Yandong fought in Xia and the southern border, made repeated military achievements, guarded the northern frontier, and the northern tribes dared not act rashly. When Gao Mei died, he remained resolute, despising treacherous villains, and left behind a good reputation. Erzhu Chang had extraordinary talents from a young age, but in the end, he was able to maintain his integrity. He rebuilt the collapsed foundation. Isn’t this a display of benevolence and wisdom? Zhou Yao was appreciated for being reliable, while Dugu Xin's reputation spread far and wide due to his compassion for the people. Qifu Huineng relinquished control of the country, and the areas governed by the Hou Mo Chen family were all well managed. Some of these individuals understood how to govern the people, while others practiced the path of benevolence and righteousness, all deserving of praise. Huineng was demoted for living in a simple tent, but he entered the court at a young age, served through three dynasties, eventually received a salary, and enjoyed a long life, likely due to his honesty and straightforwardness.
In summary, historical records praise these figures. Du Yandong made military contributions at the border, Gao Mei died a fitting death, Erzhu Chang had talent but could sustain himself, Zhou Yao, Dugu Xin, Qifu Huineng, and the Hou Mo Chen family all had their own virtues, governing with integrity and showing compassion for the people; they were all good officials. Finally, Huineng is mentioned; although he was demoted due to his simple life, he lived a life of integrity and passed away peacefully, demonstrating the importance of sincerity and honesty in life.
