Dugu Kai, the Grand Preceptor, had a younger brother named Dugu Sheng, who was a man of strong character and great courage. While Emperor Yang of Sui was still the Governor of Yangzhou, Dugu Sheng served by his side and rose through the ranks to become a General of Chariots and Cavalry. When Emperor Yang ascended to the throne, because they had known each other from his time at the fief, he became increasingly close to Dugu Sheng, promoting him several times until he eventually became the General of the Right Guard.
During the rebellion led by Pei Qiantong, soldiers guarding the Chengxiang Hall abandoned their weapons and fled. Dugu Sheng exclaimed to Pei Qiantong, "What kind of army is this? This situation is completely absurd!" Pei Qiantong replied, "The situation is already like this; it's no longer the General's concern. General, please do not act recklessly." Furious, Dugu Sheng shouted, "You old thief, what nonsense are you spouting!" Without even donning his armor, he and a dozen of his followers launched a counterattack but were eventually killed by the rebels. Later, Emperor Yang Tong posthumously honored him as a Grand Master of the Household and Duke of Ji, with the posthumous title of Martial Integrity.
Yuan Wendo, the nephew of the Duke of Xunyang Yuan Xiaozhu, was a man of integrity, sharp-tongued and highly capable. He served as a Right Attendant Officer during the Zhou Dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui, he was appointed as an Imperial Secretary, later serving as a Gentleman of the Imperial Library and a Gentleman of Merit, both positions he excelled in. He was then promoted to Deputy Director of the Left of the Imperial Secretariat and later transferred to the position of Assistant Minister of the Imperial Household. After Emperor Yang ascended the throne, he was further promoted to Assistant Minister of Agriculture and Grand Master of Works, but was later dismissed due to errors. Shortly after, he was appointed as Minister of the Imperial Household, gradually gaining the trust of Emperor Yang, as he had an excellent reputation at the time.
In the thirteenth year of the Daye reign, Emperor Yang of Sui arrived at the Jiangdu Palace and ordered Yuan Wendu to remain in the Eastern Capital with Duan Da, Huangfu Wuyi, Wei Jin, and others. After Emperor Yang of Sui died, Yuan Wendu, Duan Da, Wei Jin, and others supported Prince Yue Yang Dong as emperor. Yang Dong appointed Yuan Wendu as Minister of the Interior, Supervisor of the Left Guard, Grand Commandant, General of the Left Valiant Guard, Acting General of the Right Valiant Guard, and Duke of Lu, holding high official positions. Later, Yuwen Huaji supported Prince Qin Yang Hao as emperor and led troops to Pengcheng with great force, causing widespread panic. Yuan Wendu urged Yang Dong to send envoys to reach out to Li Mi, the leader of the Wagang Army. Li Mi then requested to surrender, and Yang Dong granted him a title and warmly welcomed his envoys. Wang Chong was displeased with this and developed a grudge against Yuan Wendu. Yuan Wendu realized Wang Chong was unhappy and secretly planned to kill him. Yang Dong subsequently appointed Yuan Wendu as Grand Minister of Justice, but Wang Chong strongly opposed the appointment, so it did not go through.
Lu Chu said to Yuan Wendu, "Wang Chong is just a general of the fringe army, not someone who is meant to stay in the Eastern Capital. Why should he be involved in our affairs? Moreover, he bears the blame for the defeat at the Battle of Luokou and cannot escape it. Now he dares to act arrogantly and meddle in court matters. If we don't get rid of him, he'll become a threat to the nation!" Yuan Wendu agreed with Lu Chu's opinion and prepared to report to the emperor. Just as plans were set in motion, someone informed Wang Chong about it. At that moment, Wang Chong was in court, but when he heard the news, he hurried back to Hanjia City to hatch a rebellion. Even though Yuan Wendu sent messengers to summon him several times, Wang Chong pretended to be sick and did not go. That evening, Wang Chong staged his rebellion, stormed through the East Taiyang Gate, entered the palace, and paid his respects to Yang Tong at the Ziwei Pavilion. Yang Tong sent someone to ask him, "What’s going on?" Wang Chong said, "Yuan Wendu and Lu Chu conspired to kill me. Please take out Yuan Wendu and pin the blame on the Minister of Justice." Realizing he wouldn't escape death, Yang Tong told Yuan Wendu, "You should go see General Wang yourself." Yuan Wendu hesitated for a moment, cried, and Yang Tong had his general Huang Taoshu escort Yuan Wendu out. Yuan Wendu turned back to Yang Tong and said, "I'm going to die today, Your Majesty, and you won’t last much longer either!" Yang Tong wept sorrowfully as he saw
Lu Chu, from Fanyang in Zhuo County, was the grandson of Lu Jingzuo, who served as a subordinate official in the Wei Kingdom. Lu Chu was talented from a young age, but he was straightforward in character and had a slight stutter, which made it challenging for him to express himself. During the reign of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, he was appointed as the Right Minister of Rites, and he always stood upright in the court, which made many officials fear him. Later, when Emperor Yang moved to Jiangdu, most officials in the eastern capital did not follow the laws, but Lu Chu consistently insisted on correcting them without hesitation. After Prince Yang Tong declared himself emperor, he appointed Lu Chu as the Prefect of the Palace Interior, Left Guard General, Acting Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and Right Guanglu Daifu, and granted him the title of Duke of Zhuo County, enabling him to assist the young emperor along with Yuan Wendu and others. Later, when Wang Chong rebelled and the army attacked the Taiyang Gate, General Wuwei Huangfu Wuyi opened the city gate and fled, asking Lu Chu to escape with him. Lu Chu said to him, "Yuan Gong and I have agreed that if the country is in trouble, we will die together. It is not righteous to escape now!" When the rebels attacked the city, Lu Chu hid in the Tai Guan Bureau and was eventually captured by the rebels and taken to Wang Chong. Enraged, Wang Chong ordered him to be executed on the spot, and he was immediately chopped into pieces.
Liu Ziyi, from Congtingli in Pengcheng, was the son of Liu Bian, who was the Sima of Xuzhou in the Qi Kingdom. Liu Ziyi was studious from a young age and excelled at writing. He had a strong and upright character and had the ability to be an official. He served as the Palace General in the Qi Dynasty. In the early years of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, he was appointed as the County Magistrate of Nanhe, and later rose to the position of Military Judge in Qinzhou. In the eighteenth year of Kaihuang, he participated in the imperial examination, where the Right Deputy of the Ministry of Rites, Yang Su, quickly recognized his potential and recommended him to be an Imperial Historian. At that time, Li Gongxiao, the County Magistrate of Yongning, lost his mother at the age of four, was remarried at nine, and later his stepfather married another woman. When the stepfather passed away, Liu Xuan from Hejian believed that Li Gongxiao had not shown proper filial piety and suggested that he be dismissed. Liu Ziyi argued:
Ancient texts say, "A stepmother is just like a biological mother; there is no difference between them." Therefore, the status of a stepmother is the same as that of a biological mother, and the rituals, sacrifices, and other customs should be the same as those for a biological mother. The ancient texts also state, "Those who mourn for their father should also mourn for their father's parents." The mourning period is calculated based on the biological parents, not differing because of a stepmother. Although the father may be closer to the stepmother, the biological mother's role remains significant in the son's emotional life. Therefore, the ancient texts say, "Those mourning for their father should mourn for their father's parents together to express their grief. Even if the father has passed away and the mother has remarried, those mourning for the father should still express grief, even if they do not mourn for the stepmother. However, if the stepmother has remarried, mourning is no longer necessary." This rule applies only to a remarried mother. Therefore, as long as the stepmother is still in the father's house, her status is equivalent to that of a biological mother. If it's argued that one cannot be treated equally without having been raised by someone, then how can mourning be considered? If mourning is necessary, how can grief be any different? The intent of these three laws is quite clear. Now some people say that the laws allow for not mourning, which is utterly absurd! Furthermore, those mourning for their father should also mourn for their father's parents, and this remains unchanged regardless of the distinction between a biological mother and a stepmother. Since the statuses of biological mothers and stepmothers are equal, their grief should naturally be the same.
The "Questions and Answers on Mourning" states: "If the mother remarries, one should mourn for the stepmother." Isn't this because the biological mother's family ties have been severed, resulting in a distant relationship, while the stepmother, by marrying the father, has a closer relationship? Confucius said: "The wife of one's father is not one's mother. Since she is the wife of one's father, she is not one's mother." This shows that the hierarchy of mourning is determined by social status, and emotions stem from the father, so the sages emphasize filial piety and kindness, regulating them through status. This way, a son can mourn according to social status, just like he would for his biological mother; and repay the stepmother with righteousness, just as he would for his biological mother. If the stepmother came after the son was born, there may be variations in the level of mourning, but there is no mention of this in the classics. For example, if the biological mother passed away after the son was born and the stepmother arrived, can one really neglect filial duties due to lack of nurturing?
In the past, Wang Bi, a native of Changsha, went to the capital during the late Han Dynasty on official business. Later, relations between the state of Wu and the state of Wei were severed, and Wang Bi remarried in the capital and had a son named Wang Chang. After Wang Bi's death, Wang Chang became the Eastern Pingxiang and learned that the mother of the state of Wu had passed away, which caused him great sorrow and prevented him from assuming his post. At that time, people did not consider him to be at fault. Thus, there is no emotional distinction between a stepmother and a biological mother. If the hierarchy of mourning must be based on nurturing, what does that say about Wang Chang's actions? Also, in the Jin Dynasty, General Yang Hu, known as Zhen Nan, had no sons, so he adopted his disciple Yi as his son. When Yang Hu died, Yi did not mourn. Yang Hu's wife reported this to the court, and Yi said: "My uncle raised me during his lifetime, so I dare not go against his wishes. However, since there was no order from my father, I will return to my birth mother." The Secretary Peng Quan believed: "Adopted sons must have the consent of the father, and leaving without the father's command is considered unfilial." Therefore, the court approved Peng Quan's opinion. Therefore, the mourning system cannot be solely based on gratitude.
The old man said, "Etiquette is established based on human relationships, and education is guided by morality." He used this principle to explain the thoughts of those people. What is meant by "consideration" refers to treating others as one would treat their mother; what is meant by "upholding righteousness" refers to fulfilling the filial duty as a son. Once roles and positions are established, one can respect their father and fulfill their roles, uphold etiquette, and be respectful and filial. If it is said that only the nurturing grace of a mother can constitute the mother-son relationship, then grace comes from the mother, and filial piety comes from oneself, so how can one wait for a father's command to show filial piety?
He also said, "A stepmother and a biological mother are originally different people, but if she raises you, it is as if she were your own flesh and blood." If this is the case, the son might not listen to the father; even if there is nurturing grace, can it ever compare to that of a biological mother? Although the duration of filial piety towards a stepmother may not match that towards a biological mother, it is greater than that shown to siblings. Etiquette has its own standards, and filial piety should be based on human relationships. A stepmother is originally the mother in name, so how can there be distinctions based on the thickness of grace? As for the son of a brother, although he is also a son, the feelings of closeness and distance vary significantly, but the expectations of service in etiquette remain the same. They say "light as" and "heavy as," implying that the two are not equivalent. The meaning of "as" is equivalent; if the weights are unequal, how can the word "as" be used? In law, "prescribed as unjust" refers to judging based on the crime, while "judged as unjust" refers to being equivalent to true law. Law uses punishment as discipline, while etiquette uses education to regulate. "Prescribed" means comparison, and "as" means equivalence. The usage of "as" and "prescribed" has no difference; the principles of etiquette and law seek to address the same issues. Using this principle to explain another is enough to illustrate its meaning, just as cutting down trees serves as a metaphor; what is so distant about it?
First of all, someone said, "Making your son the heir is to let him inherit the family line and serve you directly, not to let the son return to the original household and serve your father's secondary wife as a son." However, the father's secondary wife is called so because of the father. If that's the case, does that mean the father shouldn't mourn for her? How can we only talk about the father's secondary wife? Others have argued, "Regarding etiquette, when we say 'former ruler,' does that honor still classify him as a ruler? He has left his position, no longer purely a minister, so the word 'former' is used to distinguish. There is also an element of respect, which goes beyond mere filial piety, hence the use of 'its.' The term 'its father' carries a different meaning." But this is not a universally applicable statement. Why say that? Because the explanations of "its" and "former" are different, and their usage is also different. "Former" is used to refer to new and old, while "its" is used based on the other person's identity. How can they be confused? Just like in the "Book of Rites," which says, "Its father divides the firewood, its son cannot bear the load." The "Zuo Zhuan" also says, "Although Wei is small, its ruler is there." If "its father" holds a special significance, does "its ruler" also hold a special significance? Of course not, of course not. Now you are violating etiquette, disregarding imperial edicts, making your descendants' sons have no feelings for their biological father; these nominal distinctions harm traditional customs. You are masking errors in society and distorting the classics with clever arguments. Even though you aim to showcase your abilities, you inadvertently utter words that contradict reason.
After submitting the memorial, Ziyi's suggestions were ultimately accepted. During the Renshou era, he served as the magistrate of Xinfeng County and made significant achievements in governance. In the third year of the Daye era, he was appointed as the Dali Zheng and was quite well-known at the time. He was later promoted to the position of Imperial Secretary, and whenever there were disputes in the court, Ziyi was able to analyze them, often exceeding everyone's expectations. He once followed the emperor to Jiangdu. At a time of great chaos in the world, the emperor remained unrepentant. Ziyi took the opportunity to advise him multiple times, which angered the emperor and led to him being sent to Danyang as a resident official. Shortly after, he was sent to oversee the transportation of military provisions in Shangjiang and was captured by the bandit known as Wu Qizi. Ziyi managed to persuade him, leading to the surrender of many bandit leaders. He was then sent to Qingjiang to pacify the rebellion. When he received news of the emperor's death from the bandits, Ziyi did not believe them and killed the messenger. The bandits then tried to make him their leader, but Ziyi refused. They brought him to the outskirts of Linchuan and asked him to tell the people inside that "the emperor is dead." Instead, Ziyi contradicted them and was subsequently executed at the age of seventy.
Yaojun hailed from Tangyin in Wei County. When Sui Yangdi served as the Prince of Jin, Yaojun was by his side. After Yangdi became emperor, Yaojun rose to the rank of commander. In the later years of the Sui Dynasty, as banditry surged and the populace fled, only Yaojun's forces remained unscathed. Later, he joined the valiant general Qutu Tong to resist the rebels in Hedong. Shortly after, Qutu Tong fled south with his troops, recognizing Yaojun's bravery, he appointed him as the acting governor of Hedong. The rebels dispatched generals like Lv Shaozong and Wei Yijie to launch attacks, but they were all unsuccessful.
When the army of Qu Tutong was defeated, he came to the city to seek an audience with Jun Su. Jun Su, upon seeing Qu Tutong, couldn't help but be filled with sorrow, tears streaming down his face, crying bitterly. Those around him also choked up, and even Qu Tutong cried until his clothes were wet with tears. Qu Tutong said to Jun Su, "My army has been defeated, and wherever the righteous army goes, there is no lack of response. Given the current situation, you should surrender early to gain wealth and honor." Jun Su replied, "You are the emperor's trusted advisor and a key minister. The emperor entrusted Guanzhong to you, and the king entrusted the state to you. The fate of the nation rests on your shoulders. Why do you not think of serving the country, but instead end up in this situation? Even if I cannot prevent the emperor from being disappointed, the horse you ride was a gift from the king. How can you still have the face to ride it?" Qu Tutong said, "Alas, Jun Su, I came here out of weakness." Jun Su said, "Your strength has not yet reached the point of utter despair. Why say more?" Qu Tutong left in shame.
At that time, the city was under tight siege, and supplies had been cut off. Jun Su crafted a wooden goose and tied a written memorial around its neck, detailing the current situation, and then let the wooden goose float down the Yellow River with the current. The defending general of Heyang received the memorial and promptly sent it to the Eastern Capital. Upon seeing the memorial, Prince Yang Tong was deeply moved and appointed Jun Su as a high-ranking official, secretly sending someone to comfort him. The gatekeeper Pang Yu and the military general Huangfu Wuyi both defected from the Eastern Capital to join the righteous army, coming to the city to persuade Jun Su, laying out the interests clearly. The Tang dynasty even sent him a golden voucher guaranteeing his immunity from execution. However, Jun Su had no intention of surrendering at all. His wife also came to the city to persuade him, saying, "The Sui dynasty has already perished; the Mandate of Heaven has passed to others. Why persist like this and bring calamity upon yourself?" Jun Su said, "The great matters of the world are beyond a woman's understanding." With that, he drew his bow and shot her dead.
Jun Su also knew that things were bound to fail, but he was determined to remain steadfast and die. Whenever he talked about national affairs, he was overcome with grief and tears. He once said to his soldiers, "I was originally an old courtier of the palace, having been promoted and trusted by the emperor many times. Now that it is time to act righteously, I must face death. We still have a few years of food left. Once we finish this food, the future of our world will become evident. If the Sui Dynasty really falls, and the mandate of heaven belongs to someone else, I will present my head to you all!" At that time, the people had endured years of suffering under Sui rule, and when the rebel army rose, it offered everyone a glimmer of hope. However, thanks to Jun Su's strong leadership, none of his subordinates betrayed him. Over a year later, some refugees entered the city, and the people in the city vaguely heard that Jiangdu (the capital of the Sui Dynasty) had already fallen. However, the food supply had completely run out, and the people could not survive. There were even cases of cannibalism, and people were in a state of panic. A white rainbow appeared over the city gate, and the blades of weapons glinted in the night. A month later, Jun Su was killed by his own subordinates.
Chen Xiaoyi, from Hedong, had lofty ambitions from a young age and was renowned for his integrity and honesty. During the reign of the Sui Dynasty, he became a minor judicial official in Lu County, known
Not long after, he was appointed County Magistrate of Yanmen. He lived a simple life in Yanmen, following a vegetarian diet and residing in a modest house, mourning his father every day with deep sorrow. Each time he cried in mourning, he fainted in pain, his hair became singed, he became gaunt, and everyone who saw him felt sorrow for him. At that time, there was political chaos, and the legal system was in disarray. Many local officials were corrupt, but Chen Xiaoyi was even more honest and upright, exposing wrongdoers and arresting criminals as if he were a god. The people hailed him. When Emperor Yang of Sui went to Jiangdu, Liu Wuzhou of Mayi killed the governor Wang Rengong and rebelled. Chen Xiaoyi led his army and the warrior Wang Zhibian to launch an attack on Liu Wuzhou. They fought at Xiaguan City and were defeated. Liu Wuzhou then attacked the nearby counties, and the people were in panic, on the verge of rebellion. The former County Magistrate Yang Changren, as well as Yanmen County magistrate Wang Que and others, were all cunning and treacherous, and the wrongdoers all allied with them, plotting to support Liu Wuzhou. Chen Xiaoyi secretly learned of their conspiracy and wiped out their entire families, leaving the people in the county too frightened to entertain any dissent. Soon, Liu Wuzhou launched an attack on Yanmen with his troops, and Chen Xiaoyi resolutely resisted, repeatedly achieving victories. However, Yanmen was a besieged city, isolated with no reinforcements. Chen Xiaoyi was determined to defend the city to the death. He dispatched messengers to Jiangdu multiple times seeking assistance, but the routes were obstructed, 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 front of the emperor's decrees, crying in sorrow, which moved the people around him. After being besieged for more than a hundred days, the food ran out, and he was ultimately killed
Zhang Jixun, a man from Jingzhao, was the son of Zhang Xiang. He was highly regarded by Emperor Gaozu in his youth and later promoted to the position of military officer. During the reign of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, Zhang Xiang rose through the ranks to become the Sima of Bingzhou. During the reign of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, Prince Han Yang Liang rebelled and sent General Liu Jian to attack the Yan and Zhao regions. When Liu Jian reached Jingxing, Zhang Xiang took command of his troops to defend the city, but Liu Jian launched a fierce assault, setting fire to the city walls. Seeing the people terrified, there was a temple dedicated to the Queen Mother of the West near the city wall. Zhang Xiang climbed the city wall, bowed to the temple, and cried out, "What wrong have the people done to deserve such suffering? Immortals, if you are truly powerful, please send down rain to save us!" No sooner had he finished speaking than dark clouds gathered over the temple, and soon it began to pour, extinguishing the fire immediately. The soldiers were deeply moved by his sincerity and obeyed his commands. The city endured a siege for over a month until reinforcements led by Li Xiong arrived, and the rebels finally retreated. Zhang Xiang was awarded the official title of Kaifu for his accomplishments and later served as the Governor of Ruzhou and the Prefect of Lingwu, ultimately serving as the Supervisor of Waterways in the capital, where he passed away while in office.
Zhang Jixun has been generous and courageous since he was young, with a strong sense of integrity. During the reign of the Sui Dynasty, he became the Eagle Strike General and set up his base at Jishan, a strategic location connected to Luokou. Later, Li Mi and Zhai Rang breached the city, sending people to persuade Zhang Jixun to surrender. Zhang Jixun railed against Li Mi, who then sent troops to attack him, but they couldn’t bring him down for several years. At that time, Li Mi had tens of thousands of troops surrounding Zhang Jixun's city, while he only had a few hundred men, but he remained steadfast and refused to surrender. After three years, with supplies running out and his soldiers worn out and sick, unable to keep fighting, the city finally fell. Zhang Jixun sat there calmly in his office as Li Mi's soldiers arrested him.
A group of soldiers hauled Zhang Jixun in, demanding he kneel before Li Mi. Zhang Jixun said, "Although I am a defeated general, I am still a subject of the emperor. How can I kneel before you bandits!" Li Mi was impressed by his courage and released him. Zhai Rang demanded a ransom, but when it was not paid, he killed Zhang Jixun, who was just twenty-eight then.
His brother, Zhang Zhongyan, was appointed magistrate of Luoyang during the Sui Dynasty. When the rebel army rose up, he led officials and civilians to defend the city, but was later killed by his own men after they surrendered to the rebels. Another brother of Zhang Jixun, Zhang Cong, who was the commander of the Imperial Guards in the Sui Dynasty, was killed during the rebellion led by Yuwen Huaji. The Zhang family has always been known for their loyalty and courage, with several brothers laying down their lives for their country, winning the respect of the people.
Let me tell you about Song Yun, a man from Beihai. He was a strong-willed man who valued honor and served as a captain in Shimen Prefecture. As the Daye era of Emperor Yang of Sui was coming to a close, a bandit named Yang Hou incited a rebellion and attacked Beihai County. Song Yun joined the county troops to quell the rebellion. He rode out to scout the enemy and was captured by Yang Hou. Yang Hou wanted to use him and ordered Song Yun to enter the city and tell everyone that the county's troops had been defeated and to surrender quickly. Song Yun agreed on the surface.
When he arrived at the city gates, he suddenly shouted, "I am Song Yun, sent to scout the enemy, and I was accidentally captured, not because I was unable to defeat them! Now the main force of the official army has arrived; the rebel troops are few and weak, and they will soon be eliminated. There is no need to worry!" Yang Hou, furious, slashed his mouth with a knife, dragged him away, and beat him along the way. While being beaten, Song Yun cursed Yang Hou, "You old thief, how dare you insult loyal and righteous people? You are digging your own grave!" Before he could finish speaking, Yang Hou cut him in half at the waist. When the people in the city saw the scene, they all shed tears and beat their chests in grief, but their morale rose even higher, and Beihai County was ultimately defended.
Emperor Yang of Sui sent Guo Zijian, a junior official of the household department, to suppress Yang Hou, and he defeated h
The rebellion led by Yang Liang, Xuan Gan, and Li Mi has already taken on significant scale, with a fierce intensity. Huangfu Dan, You Yuan, and Feng Ciming are fearless in the face of danger, facing death fearlessly and bravely sacrificing themselves for righteousness. Dugu Sheng, Yuan Wendo, Lu Chu, and Yao Junsu, do they not realize that the mandate of heaven has been lost and that human efforts cannot change the outcome? They willingly embrace the fate of being slaughtered to uphold their loyalty and integrity. Although their achievements did not save the country, and their strength could not reverse the crisis, their spirits will shine for generations, contrasting sharply with those who choose to live in cowardice. Xutuo and Shan Hui embody the virtues of moderation, while Ziyi and Song Yun exemplify the courage to sacrifice themselves for righteousness. It is truly moving to have such loyal subjects during a time of national chaos!
