Dugu Luo, styled as Luo Ren, was a native of Yun. His father Dugu Xin initially served as an official in the Wei Kingdom and later attained the position of governor of Jingzhou. When Emperor Wu of Wei marched into Guanzhong, Dugu Xin left behind his parents, wife, and children, heading west to Chang'an. His official rank rose increasingly, which resulted in Dugu Luo's imprisonment by the Gao clan (Northern Qi).
Dugu Xin later became the Grand Marshal under the Zhou Dynasty. After Dugu Xin was killed by Yuwen Hu, Dugu Luo was finally released and settled in Zhongshan, where he lived in loneliness and destitution, unable to support himself. General Dugu Yongye of Northern Qi, a relative of Dugu Luo, felt sympathy for him and bought him land and houses, and also provided him with some financial assistance.
After Dugu Xin entered the pass, he married two more wives. Guo bore him six sons: Shan, Mu, Cang, Shun, Tuo, and Zheng; while Cui bore the future Empress of Emperor Wen of Sui. After the downfall of Northern Qi, Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, became the governor of Dingzhou. The Empress Dugu sought Dugu Luo and eventually found him. When they met, they were overcome with grief, even the attendants were moved to tears. Therefore, the Empress of Emperor Wen of Sui gave Dugu Luo many horses, carriages, and riches.
Shortly thereafter, Emperor Wu of Zhou recognized that Dugu Luo, being the son of a distinguished official, had suffered for many years in a foreign land, so he appointed him as the governor of Chu'an County. Dugu Luo resigned from his position due to illness and returned to the capital. His younger brothers, who had previously looked down on him due to his past poverty, did not regard him as an elder brother. Nonetheless, Dugu Luo was magnanimous and bore no grudges against his brothers. Eventually, his brothers began to respect him.
When Sui Wendi became Chancellor, he appointed Dugu Luo as Honorary Assistant and often had him serve by his side. After Sui Wendi ascended the throne, he issued an edict to posthumously honor Dugu Xin, the father of Dugu Luo. The edict stated: "Praising virtues, following traditions, honoring the past, and continuing the grand ceremonies of the previous kings. The pillar of the state, Xin, was of noble character, possessing outstanding talent and wisdom, benefiting the people significantly. His grand strategies and righteous actions were evident in his benevolence and deep commitment to aiding those in need. He was supposed to promote the virtues in the court and illuminate the steps, but due to the difficult times, his achievements were not rewarded. His words commanded respect, and his actions were sincere. Now that auspicious times have begun, the imperial court has been solemnly established, carrying forward the principles of the past. He is to be honored as the Grand Preceptor, Chief Pillar of the State, Governor of ten provinces including Jiding, and Duke of Zhao, with a fief of ten thousand households."
Dugu Luo's younger brothers argued that since their mother passed away during the Northern Qi dynasty without receiving any titles, Dugu Luo should not inherit the noble title. Sui Wendi consulted the Empress, who affirmed that Dugu Luo was indeed the legitimate firstborn son and should not be wronged. Therefore, Dugu Luo inherited the title of Duke of Zhao. His brothers Shan, Mu, Zang, Tuo, and Zheng were each granted the title of Marquis. Sui Wendi then promoted Dugu Luo to Left Leading General, and later to Left Guard General, lavishing him with countless rewards. Later, Dugu Luo was appointed governor of Liangzhou and promoted to Chief Minister. During the Renshou period, he was recalled to the capital and appointed Left Guard General. After Sui Yangdi ascended the throne, he conferred upon Dugu Luo the title of Duke of Shu. Not long after, Dugu Luo passed away and was posthumously honored with the title "Gong."
Zi Zuan rose to the position of Commandant of Heyang County. Zi Zuan's younger brother, Wu Du, also became the Commandant of Heyang County near the end of the Daye era. Their eldest brother was named Kaiyuan. When Yuwen Huaji rebelled and killed the emperor, Pei Qiantong led the rebel army into Chengxiang Palace, and the soldiers guarding the palace also rebelled. Kaiyuan was a member of the Thousand Ox Guard at the time, and he and Dugu Sheng fought desperately in the palace, but were eventually captured by the rebels. However, the rebels thought highly of him and released him. Later, he rose in rank to become a prominent official. After his death, his son Lan inherited his title and became the General of the Left Guard, but sadly passed away shortly after attaining that rank.
In short, three generations of the Pei family held official positions, and they held relatively high ranks. Father Zi Zuan and uncle Wu Du both became Commandants of Heyang County. His son Kaiyuan was particularly distinguished. Although he was captured during the rebellion led by Yuwen Huaji, he was released due to his brave performance and eventually rose to the rank of a prominent official. Unfortunately, Kaiyuan's son Lan died after reaching the rank of General of the Left Guard. The career paths of these three generations in the Sui Dynasty can be considered quite illustrious.
Dugu Tuo, styled Li Xie, held an official position during the Zhou Dynasty and was exiled to Shu County for over ten years because of his father's misdeeds. It was only after Yuwen Huaji was killed that he returned to Chang'an. After Yang Jian, known as Emperor Wen of Sui, ascended to the throne, he appointed Dugu Tuo as Chief Minister and Right Commander of the Left and Right Generals. After some time, he was sent as an envoy to Yingzhou as the Governor, and later promoted to Grand General, then further promoted to Governor of Yanzhou. He had a penchant for unconventional practices. His wife and mother used to believe in spirit cats, and later the spirit cat actually appeared in their home. The emperor heard about this, but was rather skeptical.
Later, the Empress and Zheng Shi, the wife of Yang Su, both fell ill and called for a doctor. The doctors all said it was the work of a cat ghost. The Emperor suspected Dugu Tuo, the Empress's half-brother, and his wife, who was Yang Su's half-sister. He secretly sent his brother, Mu Shi, to persuade Dugu Tuo. The Emperor then questioned Dugu Tuo alone, who denied any involvement. Unhappy with his response, the Emperor demoted Dugu Tuo and assigned him to serve as a regional governor. Dugu Tuo grumbled, prompting the Emperor to assign Gao Feng, Su Wei, Huang Fu Xiaoxu, Yang Yuan, and others to investigate the matter.
One of Dugu Tuo's maids, Xu Ani, confessed that she originally belonged to Dugu Tuo's mother's family and had been serving the cat ghost. She performed nightly rituals for the cat ghost, offering mice. She claimed that after the cat ghost harmed someone, the victim's family's wealth would mysteriously shift to the family that worshipped the cat ghost. Once, Dugu Tuo wanted to grab some wine from the house, but his wife told him they had no money for it. Dugu Tuo then told Xu Ani, "Go ask the cat ghost to head over to Yang Su's house and score us some cash." Xu Ani chanted a spell, and a few days later, the cat ghost went to Yang Su's house.
Eleven years later, the emperor returned from Bingzhou after eleven years, and Dugu Tuo said to Xu Ani in the garden, "You go and request the cat demon to go to the empress and ask her to reward us with something." Xu Ani chanted a spell, and the cat demon entered the palace. Yang Yuan ordered Xu Ani to call the cat demon. That night, Xu Ani prepared a basin of fragrant porridge and called out while tapping it with a spoon, "Cat woman, come out, don't stay in the palace." After a while, Xu Ani's face turned pale, as if someone were pulling her, and she said the cat demon had arrived. The emperor entrusted this matter to his ministers, and Prime Minister Niu Hong said, "Evil spirits are all caused by people. Killing this person can solve the problem."
The emperor ordered Dugu Tuo and his wife to be taken back to their hometown in a prisoner's cart and prepared to execute them. Dugu Tuo's brother, Si Xun, ran to the palace to plead for mercy, so the emperor spared Dugu Tuo's death penalty, stripped him of his title, and made him a commoner, and sent his wife, Lady Yang, to become a nun. Previously, someone accused him of causing his mother's death by the cat demon; the emperor thought it was nonsense and angrily drove the accuser away. But now, the emperor ordered the execution of those families who had worshipped the cat demon. Dugu Tuo soon passed away.
After Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty ascended the throne, he remembered his uncle and permitted him to receive a proper burial according to the rituals, issuing a decree that said, "The Dugu family has suffered misfortune, Dugu Tuo has passed away early, and the relocation has been scheduled. Reflecting on the memories of Weiyang, reminiscing about the past, feeling extremely sad, he should be given proper burial and respect. Posthumously promoted to Zhengyi Grand Master." Yang Guang was still not satisfied and issued another decree saying, "The uncle's status is noble, and family relationships are so important, yet he passed away at a young age, one after another. In honor of the ancestors, his official rank should be elevated. Posthumously promoted to Yinqing Guanglu Grand Master." Dugu Tuo was survived by two sons: Dugu Yanfu and Dugu Yanshou.
Tuo Di, who held the position of Youzhou Governor during the early years of the Daye era, died shortly after taking office. He was posthumously awarded the title of Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and made Marquis of Pingxiang. Xiao Kui, also known as Renyuan, was the grandson of Prince Xiao Tong from the Liang Dynasty. His father, Xiao Cha, was first made Prince of Yueyang and stationed in Xiangyang. During the Hou Jing rebellion, Xiao Cha's brother, Prince Xiao Yu of Hedong, fell out with their uncle, Prince Xiao Yi of Xiangdong, which led to Xiao Yu's death at Xiao Yi's hands. After Xiao Yi took the throne, Xiao Cha fled to Western Wei seeking help to launch an attack against him. Yuwen Tai, the founder of Western Wei, made Xiao Cha King of Liang and sent General Yu Jin with fifty thousand cavalry to defeat Xiao Yi. Xiao Cha then established his capital in Jiangling, gaining control of Jingzhou and western Pingzhou, with a territory about three hundred li wide. He declared himself emperor, dressing and conducting ceremonies like other emperors. He set up a Governor in Jiangling and stationed troops there. After Xiao Cha died, Xiao Kui took over and chose the reign title Tianbao.
Xiao Kui is a handsome, eloquent, and knowledgeable man who enjoys studying Buddhist scriptures. After Emperor Wu of Zhou conquered Northern Qi, Xiao Kui went to congratulate him. Emperor Wu of Zhou was particularly pleased and even played the pipa himself, inviting Xiao Kui to dance. Xiao Kui replied, "Your Majesty is playing personally; how could I dare to move around like those animals?" Later, Yang Jian, who became Emperor Wu of Zhou, showed even greater favor to Xiao Kui, giving him many treasures of gold, silver, and horses. When Xiao Kui attended court, Emperor Wu of Zhou showed him great respect, even ordering that Xiao Kui's seat be placed above those of the royal ministers. Xiao Kui dressed elegantly and carried himself with grace, attracting the emperor's attention and the envy of the officials. Emperor Wu of Zhou bestowed countless rewards upon Xiao Kui, amounting to over a hundred million in value. Xiao Kui stayed in Chang'an for over a month before returning to his fief, and Emperor Wu of Zhou personally saw him off at the Chan River. Later, Emperor Wu of Zhou grandly arranged for his daughter to marry Xiao Kui's daughter, making her the Princess of Jin, and also planned to have Xiao Kui's son, Xiao Ma, marry Princess Lanling. This indicates that Emperor Wu of Zhou was growing closer to Xiao Kui. The Empress advised, "The Prince of Liang is our relative and trusted confidant; why do we still need to be wary of him?" Upon hearing this, Emperor Wu of Zhou revoked the Governor of Jiangling's position, granting Xiao Kui full control over his own territory. A year later, Xiao Kui visited Emperor Wu of Zhou again, who rewarded him with a wealth of silk and treasures. As Xiao Kui was about to leave, Emperor Wu of Zhou took his hand and said, "Prince of Liang, you’ve been in Jingchu for so long without returning to your old capital; you must miss your hometown. I intend to lead a large army to the Yangtze River region to escort you home." After expressing his gratitude, Xiao Kui took his leave.
In May of the same year, Xiao Kui fell seriously ill. Before his death, he wrote a memorial to Emperor Wu of Zhou, saying: "I am dull and incapable, yet I have been fortunate to receive your grace and rewards greater than those given to other feudal lords. I have even arranged marriages for my children with your family. I have always longed to don armor, charge into battle, and vanquish the enemies of our nation as a way to repay your kindness. However, my health has deteriorated, and I am gravely ill, nearing death. I can only take my leave here. I feel an immense sorrow at leaving this world, and my son is still very young; I ask that you look after him well. I wish for your good health and the enduring stability of the realm. Even in death, I hold no regrets." He also offered the Emperor the golden sword he wore. Emperor Wu of Zhou was very saddened after reading the memorial. Xiao Kui reigned for 23 years, passing away at the age of 44. The officials of the Liang Dynasty posthumously conferred upon him the title of Emperor Xiaoming and the temple name Shizong. His son, Xiao Cong, succeeded him. Xiao Kui authored the "Classic of Filial Piety," "Commentary on the Book of Changes," and "The Profound and Subtle Teachings of the Mahayana and Hinayana" in fourteen volumes, which have been handed down through the ages.
Xiao Cong is a man who is cultured and gracious, warm-hearted and generous, broad-minded, free-spirited, and well-educated. His equestrian skills are exceptional, as he who once had people lie on the ground holding targets while he rode past on horseback, hitting all ten arrows on target without instilling any fear in those holding the targets. He was first appointed as the King of Dongyang and later proclaimed as the Crown Prince of Liang. When he ascended to the throne, the Emperor issued a specific edict to him that stated: "You carry the heavy responsibility of governing the country. Even if it is hard work, you must rely on your own efforts. You need to effectively manage both internal and external relations, place great importance on talented individuals, and continue to uphold the great legacy of our ancestors. This is my expectation of you. Your borders share a boundary with the state of Chen, which is frequently plagued by floods. You need to bolster your defenses. Although Chen has recently paid tribute, the border areas are still unstable. You must be thoroughly prepared and never take the enemy lightly. Our nations have enjoyed friendly relations for generations, and our close family ties strengthen our bond. The Jiangling region supplies a wealth of tribute goods. For the good of the country and its people, you must practice frugality, regularly distribute porridge to help the people, and show respect to others." The Emperor also issued an edict to Liang's ministers, encouraging them to support Xiao Cong effectively. At that time, Xiao Cong's era name was Guangyun. Some people remarked, "'Yun' signifies the movement of troops. Is our sovereign planning to run away?" Sure enough, that year, Xiao Cong sent General Qi Xin and his navy to attack Gong'an in the state of Chen, but they returned empty-handed after their failure.
Later, the emperor summoned Xiao Cong’s uncle, Cen, to the palace and appointed him as the Grand General, granting him the title of Duke of Huaiyi, and retained him at court, preventing his return. A governor was appointed in Jiangling to oversee Xiao Cong. The Grand General appointed by Xiao Cong, Xu Shiwu, secretly conspired with the general of Chen State, Duke Yi Huang, Chen Ji, to stage a rebellion. After the conspiracy was uncovered, Xiao Cong executed Xu Shiwu. Two years later, the emperor ordered Xiao Cong to come to the capital, and Xiao Cong arrived at the capital with over two hundred followers to pay his respects to the emperor. The people of Jiangling wept and whispered to one another, "Our lord may not come back!" After meeting the emperor in the capital, Xiao Cong was assigned to Jiangling with troops commanded by Wu Xianggong Cui Hongdu. When the army reached Youshou, Xiao Cong's uncle Yan and his brother Yuan, fearing that Cui Hongdu would attack them, conspired with the Chen State army to attack Youshou, capture the civilians, and subsequently rebel, leading to the downfall of Liang State. The emperor sent Gao Feng, the Left Servant of the Ministry of Works, to suppress the rebellion, granted clemency for all death sentences in Jiangling, and exempted the people from taxes for ten years. Each of the two lords of Liang State was tasked with guarding ten households. The emperor appointed Xiao Cong as the Pillar of the Nation and bestowed upon him the title of Duke of Juguo.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended to the throne, he was very close to Xiao Cong due to his relationship with the Empress, appointing him as the Minister of Internal Affairs and later elevating him to the title of Duke of Liang. Xiao Cong's extended family, including his cousins and older relatives, were promoted and utilized based on their talents, with the Xiao brothers holding important positions in the court. Xiao Cong was indifferent to fame and fortune, never took his official position too seriously, and would drink after court sessions. Yang Yue, who worked alongside Xiao Cong as the Minister of Internal Affairs, was instructed by the Emperor to advise Xiao Cong, and Yang Yue also advised him privately. Xiao Cong replied, "If I were as cautious as you in everything, what would I be an official for?" Yang Yue left with a smile. Yang Yue's brother, Yang Su, who was the Minister of Works at the time, questioned Xiao Cong for marrying his sister to the Qian'er clan, saying, "You are a relative of the Emperor, from a noble family, why did you marry your sister to the Qian'er clan?" Xiao Cong replied, "I had already married my sister to the Houmochen clan before, what's so unusual about that?" Yang Su said, "Qian'er are Qiang people, while Houmochen are Hu people, how can they be compared?" Yang Su thought Hu people were superior to Qiang people. Xiao Cong said, "I have never heard before that Qiang people are inferior to Hu people." Yang Su felt ashamed and remained silent. Despite holding an official position in the court, Xiao Cong never bowed to the powerful noble families of the North. He had a deep friendship with He Ruobi, and after He Ruobi was killed, a folk rhyme circulated that said, "Xiao Xiao will rise again." The Emperor grew wary of him, dismissed him from his official position, and sent him home, and shortly after, he passed away, posthumously honored with the title of Left Grand Master of Light. His son, Xiao Xuan, served as the governor of Xiangcheng. Later, the Emperor appointed Xiao Cong's grandson, Xiao Ju, as the Duke of Liang. Xiao Ju's nickname was Zang, and Emperor Yang of Sui favored him greatly, permitting him to accompany Yuwen Shao in and out of the palace, overseeing internal and external affairs. Whenever the Emperor went on outings, Xiao Ju would follow, getting involved in numerous scandalous activities in the palace. He was killed by Yuwen Huaji during the Jiangdu Rebellion.
Once upon a time, there was a man named Xiao Luan who was very intelligent and talented since childhood, and he was very good at writing. He became the governor of Jingzhou in the Liang Dynasty and had quite a good reputation. Later, when Cui Hongdu led troops to attack Yezhou, Xiao Luan was very frightened and fled to the Chen Dynasty with his uncle Xiao Yan. The emperor of the Chen Dynasty appointed him as a Court Attendant, General of the East, and governor of Wuzhou. He did a good job and was deeply loved by the local people. The elders in the Sanwu region praised him as a virtuous man, saying, "Xiao Luan, he is truly a good person!"
After the fall of the Chen Dynasty, the people of Wuzhou supported Xiao Luan as their leader. Xiao Luan saw that Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty, Emperor Jianwen, and the brothers Xiao Cha and Xiao Kui all became emperors as the third son, and he was also the third son of Xiao Kui. He became somewhat arrogant. At that time, there was a man named Xie Yi who was particularly good at predicting the situation. During the transition from the Liang Dynasty to the Chen Dynasty, everything he said was accurate, and the people of Jiangnan respected him greatly. After the emperor of the Chen Dynasty was captured, Xie Yi sought refuge with Xiao Luan, which further gained him the support of the people.
Yuwen Shu, the Duke of Baoguo of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, led troops to attack Xiao Luan. Xiao Luan sent Wang Ai to guard Wuzhou while he personally led troops to resist Yuwen Shu. Yuwen Shu sent troops to attack Wuzhou from another direction, and Wang Ai, feeling scared, dressed as a Taoist priest and abandoned the city and fled. When Xiao Luan's army heard this news, they lost their morale and were defeated by Yuwen Shu in battle. Xiao Luan escaped to Tai Lake with a few loyal followers, hiding among the common folk. He was eventually captured and taken to Yuwen Shu, and he was beheaded in Chang'an. He was just twenty-one years old at the time.
His brother Xiao Jing became a Court Official and Imperial Attendant. Another brother, Xiao Guang, held titles including Minister of the Guards, Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat, and Marquis of Taoqiu. There was also another brother, Xiao Yu, who served as the Minister of Internal Affairs and Prefect of Hechi.
The historical records comment: the wise emperors were all far-sighted; the rivalry for national power between uncles and nephews is quite rare, and it is also uncommon to hear of an empress's family being exterminated. However, during the Han and Jin dynasties, the frequent changes of dynasties were caused by their methods of ascending to power not adhering to proper rites and laws, leading to their swift downfall. If the Dugu family's power had been as great as that of Empress Lu and Huo Guang, they would likely have failed before the Ren Shou era; if the Xiao family's power had been as strong as that of the Liang family from the Liang dynasty and the Dou family from the Northern Wei dynasty, they might not have been able to survive even after the Daye era! Some families have managed to retain their ancestral foundations, while others are even more prosperous than their forebears. Isn't this a result of their adherence to the right path and their avoidance of power struggles?
