Gongsun Jingmao, courtesy name Yuanwei, was from Fucheng, Hebei. He was tall and robust, and loved studying from a young age, and had a broad knowledge of classical texts and history.
During the Wei Dynasty, he was recommended as a candidate known for his filial piety and integrity, scoring first in the imperial examination. He became the chief historian for the Prince of Xiangcheng, while also taking on the role of a military officer. Later, he was promoted to the position of Taichang Scholar, making numerous revisions and additions to classical texts, earning him the nickname of "the living library." He later served as the magistrate of Gaotang County and the chief of the Dali Temple, excelling in both positions and earning a good reputation.
After the Northern Qi dynasty fell, Emperor Wu of Zhou heard of his reputation and summoned him for a conversation, impressed by his abilities and appointed him as the governor of Jibei Commandery. However, he resigned from office and returned home to mourn after his mother's death.
At the beginning of the Kaihuang era, the emperor issued an edict summoning him to the capital city to discuss his strategies for governing the realm. He was then appointed as the governor of Runan. Later, the Runan commandery was disbanded, and he was transferred to serve as the Sima of Caozhou. After serving in these positions for several years, he requested to retire due to his old age and frailty, but the emperor did not grant his request. Shortly after, he was appointed as the governor of Xizhou. He enforced the law fairly, with transparent governance and a strong emphasis on moral education.
During the war to pacify the Chen Dynasty, the conscription was on the way, and many soldiers fell ill. Jingmao voluntarily reduced his own salary, using the extra funds to buy rice, prepare porridge, and brew medicinal soup, and distribute them to the ailing soldiers, saving the lives of thousands. The emperor was delighted to hear of this and issued an edict commending him throughout the realm.
In the fifteenth year of Emperor Kaihuang's reign, he went to Luoyang. Jingmao went to pay his respects. At that time, he was already seventy-seven years old. The Emperor ordered him to sit in the hall and asked him how old he was. Jingmao replied honestly. The Emperor felt sympathy for his age and sighed deeply. Jingmao bowed once more and said, "Lu Shang met King Wen when he was eighty years old, and I met Your Majesty in my seventies." The Emperor was very pleased and rewarded him with three hundred rolls of cloth. The Emperor also issued a decree stating, "Jingmao is upright, highly respected, and has achieved remarkable success in educating the people as a local official. In the annual assessment, he is the best and should be promoted to a higher official position, concurrently serving as the Governor of Yizhou. He can be promoted to the position of Yitong Sanqi."
The following year, he was summoned back to the capital due to illness. Officials and commoners wept along the way. When he recovered, he requested retirement, but the Emperor did not approve his request and instead appointed him as the Governor of Daozhou. He used all his salary to buy calves, chickens, and pigs, which he distributed to orphans, widows, and the needy. He enjoyed riding alone to visit the people, checking in on every household to understand their livelihoods. If someone did well, he praised them publicly; if someone fell short, he educated and guided them privately.
As a result, people were respectful to one another, and the wealth gap narrowed. Men helped each other in farming, and women helped each other in weaving. In large villages with hundreds of households, they lived together harmoniously like one big family. Later, he requested retirement once more to attend to his personal matters, and the Emperor granted his request with an imperial decree.
During the Renshou period, the emperor sent Yang Ji on a mission to Hebei. Seeing Jingmao in high spirits and looking remarkably youthful, he reported back to the emperor. As a result, the emperor appointed him as the governor of Zizhou and rewarded him with chariots and horses to facilitate his new position. He had an impressive track record in all the official positions he held, and people praised him as a good official. In the early years of Daye, he passed away at the age of 87 and was posthumously granted the title "Kang." On the day of his death, officials and commoners from several states gathered to pay their respects; some who couldn't attend the funeral wept at his grave, offering sacrifices before leaving.
Xin Gongyi was from the Didaoren ethnic group in Gansu. His grandfather Xin Hui held the position of governor of Xuzhou during the Wei dynasty, and his father Xin Jiqing served as the governor of Qingzhou. Xin Gongyi lost his father at a young age and was raised by his mother, who personally taught him how to read. During the Tianhe era of the Northern Zhou dynasty, he was selected to attend the Imperial Academy and was known for his diligence and hard work. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui, he was summoned to study Confucianism at the Lumen Academy in the palace. Every month, he would engage in debates before the emperor and learned scholars, earning the emperor's admiration and respect from his peers.
In the early years of the Jiande era of Sui, Xin Gongyi was appointed as a Xuan Na Zhongshi. He followed the army in quelling the rebellion of the Prince of Qi and was promoted multiple times, eventually becoming the Governor of the Upper Rank and General of Suppression. When Emperor Wen became the Prime Minister, he appointed Xin Gongyi as the Internal Affairs Officer of the Upper Rank, involved in handling important affairs. In the first year of Kaihuang, he was appointed as the Master of Ceremonies, overseeing the duties of the Internal Affairs Gentleman, and was granted the title of Lord of Anyang County, with a fief of two hundred households. Whenever foreign envoys visited, he was responsible for hosting and entertaining them. Later, he was reassigned to the Ministry of Carriages as a Gentleman and was sent to Jiangling to pacify the border.
In the seventh year of the Kaihuang reign, he was ordered to inspect the number of horses in various places and discovered more than 100,000 horses. Emperor Wen of Sui was thrilled and remarked, "Only Xin Gongyi can serve the country wholeheartedly like this!" He later participated in the war to pacify the Chen dynasty and was appointed as the governor of Minzhou in recognition of his military achievements. There was a disturbing custom in Minzhou where, if someone fell ill, the whole family would avoid them, with family members neglecting one another, completely losing the virtues of filial piety. As a result, many patients died. Xin Gongyi was very worried about this and wanted to change this custom.
He sent people to patrol the prefecture, and whenever there were sick people, they were carried to the government office and placed in the hall. During the summer when epidemics were prevalent, the number of patients sometimes soared to hundreds, and the hall and corridors were crowded with people. Xin Gongyi personally set up a bed in the hall, sat among the patients, offering them comfort, and handled government affairs day and night. He used all his salary to buy medicine for the patients, encouraged them to eat, and gradually the patients began to recover. Then he summoned the patients' relatives and addressed them, "Life and death are predestined, not caused by mutual infection. In the past, you abandoned them, so they died. Now I have gathered the patients together and accompanied them day and night. If there were any risk of infection, why am I still alive? See? The patients are all recovering! Don't believe in such claims anymore." The patients' relatives left in shame.
After that, if anyone in the area fell ill, they would rush to the government office. If there was no one to take care of them, the government office took on the responsibility of caring for them. The government office was imbued with compassion, and this custom changed. The entire prefecture came to affectionately refer to Xin Gongyi as "the Kind Mother." Later, Xin Gongyi was transferred to be the governor of Mouzhou. Upon taking office, he first went to the prison, camped overnight beside the cells, and personally interrogated the prisoners. After more than ten days, all the cases were adjudicated, and then he returned to the government office.
When handling new cases, he does not file a case, but only assigns a duty officer to sit beside him and conduct interrogations. If the matter remains unresolved and a suspect needs to be detained, Xing Gongyi stays overnight at the office, never returning to his own quarters. When someone advises him that there are procedures for handling cases and that he doesn’t need to work so hard, Xing Gongyi replies, "If the governor lacks the virtue to guide the people, how can he justify locking them up in prison?" Upon hearing this, the prisoners felt sincere remorse. Subsequently, if someone wants to file a lawsuit, the village elders advise them, "These are all minor issues; why trouble the governor?" Therefore, many lawsuits are resolved privately.
At that time, the Shandong region experienced continuous heavy rain, from Chenzhou, Ruzhou to the coast, all suffering severe flooding. Only Xing Gongyi's jurisdiction remained unharmed, where gold and silver were found in the mountains, which he presented to the court. The court sent Lou Ze, a water department official, to pray at Xing Gongyi's place. Legend has it that, during that time, the sounds of golden stones and silk strings filled the air. In the first year of Renshou, Xing Gongyi was appointed as the envoy for the Yangzhou circuit. Prince Yuzhang, Yang Jian, worried about his subordinates committing crimes, instructed them before Xing Gongyi took office. Xing Gongyi replied, "I wouldn’t dare to act for personal gain." After arriving in Yangzhou, he strictly demanded from all officials, which caused Yang Jian to harbor resentment towards him.
Later, Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, and Wang Hong, the Grand Secretary of Yangzhou, became a Yellow Gate Attendant. He spoke ill of Xing Gongyi to the emperor, resulting in Xing Gongyi's dismissal from office. Citizens and officials continually appealed and complained. Several years later, Emperor Yang of Sui understood the truth and reappointed Xing Gongyi as the Minister of the Interior. After the passing of Xing Gongyi's mother, during his mourning period, he was soon reappointed as a Commandant of Justice and simultaneously as a Right Imperial Guard. He accompanied the army on an expedition and died in Liucheng County at the age of sixty-two. He had a son named Xing Rong.
Liu Jian, courtesy name Daoyue, was from Jie County in Hedong. His grandfather Liu Yuanzhang held the position of Grand Central Secretary in Sizhou during the Wei State, and his father Liu Yu served as the County Magistrate of Wenxi in the Zhou Dynasty. Liu Jian was known for his sense of responsibility and lived a simple life, highly respected by his fellow villagers. Even his close relatives and friends dared not take him lightly. He served as a Senior Official of Xuan Na and a Minister of the Capital during the Zhou Dynasty. After the founding emperor took the throne, he promoted Liu Jian to be an Assistant Minister of Water and bestowed upon him the title of Count of Luodao. Not long after, he was sent as the Governor of Guanghan, where he made notable political achievements and earned a strong reputation. Later, the Guanghan Commandery was abolished.
At that time, the founding emperor had just unified the country and was selecting talents to serve as local officials. Liu Jian, known for his integrity and kindness, was promoted to be the Provincial Governor of Pengzhou. He resolved cases promptly and never wrote lengthy documents, merely instructing his subordinates. He remained calm and composed and never kept prisoners in jail. The Prince of Shu, Yang Xiu, who was stationed in Yizhou at the time, reported Liu Jian's achievements to the court, resulting in Liu Jian's promotion to Provincial Governor of Qiongzhou. He served in Qiongzhou for more than ten years, gaining the respect and admiration of local ethnic minorities. However, after Prince Yang Xiu of Shu committed an offense, Liu Jian was dismissed from his position because of his connections with Yang Xiu. Upon returning to his hometown, he traveled in a worn-out carriage, riding a thin horse, struggling to support his family. Those who saw him couldn't help but praise him.
Emperor Yang of Sui summoned him after he ascended the throne. At that time, those who held positions as provincial officials based on their merits were all accompanied by military forces, except for Liu Jian, who started as an ordinary officer. Emperor Yang of Sui greatly admired his achievements, bestowed upon him the title of Palace Attendant, breaking the norm, appointed him as the Prefect of Honghua County, and granted him one hundred bolts of cloth. Liu Jian continued to live a life of integrity and frugality. In the fifth year of Daye, he went to the capital to pay respects, where officials from across the realm gathered. Emperor Yang of Sui asked the Minister of Rites Su Wei and the Minister of Personnel Niu Hong, "Among these people, whose reputation is the best in the land?" Su Wei replied that it was Liu Jian. Emperor Yang of Sui then asked who was second, and Su Wei answered that it was Guo Xuan, the magistrate of Zhuo County, and Jing Su, the magistrate of Yingchuan County. Emperor Yang of Sui rewarded Liu Jian with two hundred bolts of cloth, and Guo Xuan and Jing Su each received one hundred bolts of cloth. He commanded officials nationwide to deliver the cloth to their counties as a commendation of their integrity. People praised his noble character. In the later years of Daye, banditry was rampant, and Liu Jian was attacked many times. However, he pacified the local people and minority groups, successfully preventing rebellion and maintaining stability in the region. Later, when the rebels entered Chang'an and enthroned Emperor Gong, Liu Jian and the local official Li Can dressed in plain clothes in the province, facing south, weeping. Afterwards, he returned to the capital, where the Prime Minister granted him three hundred bolts of cloth and appointed him as the Grand General. Over a year later, he passed away peacefully at home at the age of eighty-nine.
Guo Xuan, from Yongji, Shanxi, originally came from a poor family. He started as a minor official in the Shangshu Province, but later, due to his military achievements, he was appointed as the Yitong Sanqi and served as the Sima and Changshi of several states, performing excellently, earning a strong reputation. When Emperor Yang of Sui had just ascended the throne, the Minister of Justice, Yuwen Bi, was on an inspection tour of Hebei and brought Guo Xuan along as his assistant. Emperor Yang of Sui was preparing to go to Liaodong for battle and viewed Zhuo County (modern-day Zhuozhou in Hebei) as a strategic location, so he searched for suitable talents to manage it. Hearing of Guo Xuan's strong abilities and reliability, he appointed him as the magistrate of Zhuo County, which delighted the local officials and citizens. Several years later, Guo Xuan was promoted to the commander of Zhuo County and also served as the acting governor. Later, when banditry erupted in Shandong, Guo Xuan led troops to pursue and apprehend many of them. While other counties were in chaos due to bandit attacks, Zhuo County remained safe. Subsequently, Guo Xuan led troops to fight against Dou Jiande in Hejian and met a heroic end. The local officials and people mourned him for several months, deeply mourning his passing.
Jingsu, with the courtesy name Hongjian, was a native of Puban in Yongji, Shanxi. He was known for his integrity and honesty from a young age, and he initially served as the chief clerk of the local government. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui in the Kaihuang era, he was appointed as the magistrate of Anling County, where he distinguished himself with outstanding achievements and was promoted to military advisor of Qinzhou, and later transferred to the position of Changshi in Binzhou. In the Renshou era of Emperor Yang of Sui, he served as the military advisor of Weizhou, also achieving notable success. After Emperor Yang ascended to the throne, he was promoted to the position of magistrate of Yingchuan commandery. In the fifth year of Daye, he traveled to the eastern capital Luoyang to meet the emperor, who assigned Xue Daoheng, the Chief of the Imperial Secretariat, to evaluate officials throughout the empire. Xue Daoheng's evaluation of him was: "His resolve is as unyielding as iron, and his integrity grows with age." At that time, the General of the Left Guard, Yu Wenshu, held great influence, and being from Yingchuan, frequently corresponded with him to seek his assistance. However, Jingsu never opened Yu Wenshu's letters, instead instructing the messengers to return them directly. Whenever Yu Wenshu's guests behaved improperly, Jingsu handled them according to the law, without showing favoritism. Consequently, Yu Wenshu held a grudge against him. In the eighth year of Daye, Jingsu traveled to Zhuo commandery to meet the emperor, who, recognizing his advanced age and administrative abilities, considered promoting him to governor several times, but was thwarted by Yu Wenshu each time. In the later years of the Daye era, Jingsu requested retirement, which the emperor approved. On his last day in office, he left with no savings. A year later, Jingsu passed away at the age of eighty.
As for Liu Kuang, his origins were unknown. He was cautious and honest, always handling matters with sincerity and tolerance. At the start of the Kaihuang era under Emperor Wen of Sui, he was appointed as the magistrate of Pingxiang County and rode on horseback to take up his post.
If someone gets into disputes and takes them to court, he patiently and meticulously explains the situation to them, explaining the priorities and urgency of the situation. He never harshly punishes them, which makes everyone feel a bit ashamed. They all end up admitting their faults and leaving. He devotes his entire salary to helping the needy. The common folk are touched by his virtuous character, encouraging one another and saying, "With such a good official, how can we do bad things!" He served as the county magistrate in Pingxiang for seven years, where the local atmosphere improved remarkably. There were no prisoners in the jail, and litigation had vanished. The prison cells were overgrown with grass, and the courtyard was even used for swinging on swings. When he left his post, officials and commoners in the county, regardless of their rank, wept and accompanied him for hundreds of miles down the road. Later, he was promoted to be the magistrate of Linying County, still celebrated for his integrity and effective governance, considered the best magistrate in the country. The Minister of Works, Gao Jiang, reported his deeds to the emperor. The emperor summoned him, warmly praised him, and said, "There are so many magistrates in the country, but you stand out. That's truly impressive!" Then, he said to the officials around him, "If we don't reward him well, how can we encourage others!" So, the emperor issued a particularly generous decree, promoting him to the position of Inspector of Juzhou.
Wang Jia, from Zhangwu, Hebei, was a low-ranking official in Qizhou during the late Kaihuang era of Emperor Wen of the Sui dynasty. Initially, he didn't stand out much as a low-ranking official. Later, the governor of Qizhou sent him to escort over seventy prisoners, led by a man named Li Can, to the capital to serve their sentences. According to the regulations at that time, the exiled prisoners had to be escorted in chains. When Wang Jia reached Xingyang and saw the suffering of the prisoners, he felt a deep sympathy for their plight. He called them over and said, "You have violated the laws of the country and harmed the social order. It is your responsibility to bear the punishment of being in chains. But now, you have to carry these heavy chains yourselves on this long journey. Can you bear this in your hearts?" Li Can and the others quickly thanked him. Wang Jia said, "Although you have broken the law, wearing these chains is indeed too harsh. I want to help you by removing the chains. Let's meet in the capital as we agreed. Can you promise to arrive on time?" The prisoners all bowed in thanks and said, "We will definitely not be late!" So Wang Jia helped them remove the chains, relieved them of carrying their burdens, and made a pact with them: "On a certain day, we must reach the capital. If anyone is late, I’ll take the blame for you!" Then he set them free.
These exiles are very grateful to Wang Jia. They all arrived in the capital on time, and not a single person escaped or stayed behind. The Emperor was very surprised when he heard about this and summoned Wang Jia to ask him questions, praising him profusely. Then the Emperor summoned all those exiled prisoners, allowing them to bring their families, including wives, children, and elderly relatives, into the palace, hosted a banquet for them, and finally pardoned them all. The Emperor also issued a decree that stated: "All people in the world, all living beings, can distinguish between good and evil, can understand right from wrong. As long as they are guided with sincerity and advised with clear reasoning, the social climate will improve, and people will be inclined towards goodness. In the past, due to widespread chaos and moral decay, officials lacked compassion, and the common people harbored ill intentions, resulting in endless lawsuits and a deteriorating social climate that was difficult to remedy. I have been tasked by heaven to bring peace to the people, to adhere to the teachings of sages, and to guide the people with moral teachings. I strive for this every day. Wang Jia truly understands my intentions and genuinely influences others. Li Can and others have repented and turned themselves in to the authorities because of this. This shows that people are not inherently difficult to educate; it is the officials who fail to educate them that lead to their crimes, denying them the opportunity for redemption. If all officials acted like Wang Jia and all people were like Li Can, we wouldn't need a penal system. Isn't this a desirable outcome?" Therefore, the Emperor promoted Wang Jia to be the magistrate of Yongzhou, where he also made significant achievements.
Wei Deshen, originally from Julu, his grandfather Wei Chong was the Minister of Justice and the Governor of Jianzhou during the Zhou Dynasty, and later, the family moved to Hongnong. His father, Wei Pi, was the magistrate of Yulin County. Wei Deshen started as a minor official under Emperor Wen, eventually becoming the scribe of Fengyi County and the household registrar of Wuyang County. Because of his outstanding abilities, he was promoted to magistrate of Guixiang County. He was upright and just in his official duties, efficiently managing the county without being harsh.
At that time, the region was in the middle of fighting with Liaodong, facing a multitude of taxes and numerous demands for payment everywhere, shifting the burden onto the counties. Discipline within the court was lax, officials were corrupt, extorting the populace everywhere, and the common people were suffering. Only the county governed by Wei Deshen had a completely different situation, with ample material supplies, the people lived in peace and prosperity, and it was praised as the best-governed county. At that time, bandits were rampant, and many cities around Wuyang were breached, but only the county governed by Wei Deshen was safe. County magistrate Yuan Baozang was tasked with pursuing the bandits but lost every battle, forcibly conscripting labor when his weapons and equipment were depleted, and repeatedly using military law. Other cities were building defense works, but the emphasis was on the officials, who were passing the blame onto each other, noisy day and night, with slow progress. Wei Deshen, on the other hand, understood everyone's thoughts, letting them do their own jobs, arranging construction as they pleased, and the government remained calm, as if nothing had occurred. He only restrained the county officials, requiring that the defense works not exceed those of other counties, to prevent burdening the populace. However, his subordinates worked diligently, ensuring that the county's defenses were always the strongest.
Later, Wei Deshen was transferred to Guantao County to serve as the county magistrate. When the officials and townspeople of Guixiang County heard about this, they all talked about his past deeds, weeping uncontrollably. When Wei Deshen was about to take office, all the townspeople came to see him off, their cries echoing through the streets and beyond. Upon arriving in Guantao County, all the people in the county respected him like a father. There was a scoundrel named Zhao Junshi, an official from another county who was well-connected with the magistrate Yuan Baozang. Previous magistrates had all been at his mercy. Since Wei Deshen arrived, Zhao Junshi stayed holed up at home, too scared to show his face. Those who had fled also returned, bringing the town to life like a bustling market. The fearless people of Guixiang County went to the capital to request that the court keep Wei Deshen, and the emperor agreed. The people of Guantao County also went to the county office to lodge a complaint about the forged documents from Guixiang County. The county office was at a standstill. Later, the court sent envoys Wei Ji, Du Zheng, and others. Both counties went to the envoys to complain, and the final ruling favored Guixiang County. The officials and townspeople of Guixiang County celebrated with singing and dancing. However, the townspeople of Guantao County were heartbroken, and hundreds of families packed up and left.
Yuan Baozang envied Wei Deshen's talent. Later, King Dong of Yue recruited soldiers from the county, so Yuan Baozang asked Wei Deshen to take a thousand soldiers to the Eastern Capital. Not long after, Yuan Baozang surrendered to Li Mi. The soldiers led by Wei Deshen were all from Wuyang, Li Mi's hometown. Thinking of his family and friends, Wei Deshen left the city to the east in tears, and then returned. Some of his companions advised him, "Li Mi's army is near Jinyong City, only about twenty miles away. If you want to go back, who's going to stop you? Why make it difficult for yourself?" The soldiers cried and said, "We came here with County Magistrate Wei and can't bear to abandon him. We don't care about the hardships of the journey!" Wei Deshen was well-loved. Later, Wei Deshen died in battle against the bandits, and the people of Guixiang and Guantao counties still remember him to this day.
It is said that at that time, the County Magistrate of Liyang, Gao Shiheng, from Bohai, the County Magistrate of Xiaoxian, Liu Gao, from Pengcheng, and the County Magistrate of Chenggao, Liu Chi, from Hongnong, were all good officials, and the common people benefited from them. As the Sui Dynasty approached its end, many local officials were corrupt, but Gao Shiheng, Liu Gao, and Liu Chi remained honest and upright, even stricter than before. The local environment improved greatly, with hardly any prisoners in jail, and everyone sang their praises.
The historical texts say: The ancients said it well, "Those skilled in managing water will make it flow gently; those who are good at educating the people will make them peaceful." When the water flows gently, it won't breach the levees; when the people are peaceful, they will not violate the law. Therefore, to change customs and practices, one must depend on these virtuous and benevolent officials. People like Gao Shiheng all have the right principles in their hearts and treat the people sincerely, so the regions they govern are well-managed. After they leave, the people greatly miss them. As for Jing Mao, who restrained evil and promoted goodness; Liu Kuang, who educated his subordinates; and those deeply loved by the people, their virtues surpass even those of trusted ministers like Du Shi, Zheng Hun, and Zhu Yi! The Book of Songs states, "The gentle and kind gentleman is the father and mother of the people." This statement holds true!
Regrettably, Gong Yi, although of noble character, was frequently recognized by the emperor, but because of a past mistake, he ultimately fell into poverty, which is truly a pity! After Liu Jian resigned from his official position, he struggled to make ends meet for his wife and children; when Zhao Gui's term concluded, he bid farewell with just a cup of water, exemplifying his integrity!
