It's the story of King Jing's mourning, whose courtesy name was Xianzhou, and he was the son of Tengmu King Zan. He was later adopted by his uncle Song. During the Zhou Dynasty, his uncle Song was granted the title of Duke of Xingcheng for his military achievements by the founding emperor, but sadly, he passed away young. After the founding emperor ascended the throne, he posthumously honored his uncle as the Mourning King, with the posthumous title of Xuanwang, and then the throne was inherited by Jing. When King Jing died without a son, his kingdom was lost as well.
Next is King Shuang of Wei, whose courtesy name was Shiren, and who was nicknamed Mingda; he was the half-brother of the founding emperor. During the Zhou Dynasty, he was still an infant in swaddling clothes, but because of the founding emperor's military achievements, he was granted the title of Duke of Tong'an County. When he turned six, the founding emperor passed away, and he was raised by Empress Xian, so the founding emperor was particularly fond of this brother, more than his other siblings. At seventeen, he became an official in the Ministry of the Interior. After the founding emperor took power, he promoted him to Grand General and appointed him as the Governor of Qingzhou. Before he could assume office, he was reassigned as the Inspector of Puzhou, and was promoted to the rank of Senior Pillar of the State. After the founding emperor ascended the throne, he appointed him as the King of Wei. Not long after, he was transferred to be the Governor of Yongzhou, and he was appointed as both Left and Right Generals. He was then promoted to Grand General of the Right while also overseeing military affairs in Bingzhou. A year later, he was promoted to Senior Pillar of the State and transferred to be the Governor of Liangzhou. Shuang was not only handsome and talented but also well-respected for his governance.
That year, Pai Shuang was appointed as the commander-in-chief, leading 70,000 soldiers to guard against the Turks. He advanced to Pingliang but returned without encountering the enemy. The following year, he was again appointed as commander-in-chief for a large-scale northern expedition. Generals Wang Hong, Dou Luji, Dou Rongding, Gao Feng, and Yu Qingze led their troops to battle under Shuang's command. Shuang personally led four generals, including Li Chongjie, from Shuozhou and encountered Shabolue Khan on the way, resulting in a decisive victory, capturing over a thousand enemies and seizing a large number of livestock. Shabolue Khan was severely injured and fled. Gaozu was very pleased and granted Shuang a fief of a thousand households in Liang'an County. Six years later, Shuang was once again commander-in-chief, leading 150,000 troops to Hechuan. The Turks fled in defeat. The following year, he was appointed as a court counselor. Gaozu held him in high regard.
Shortly thereafter, Shuang fell gravely ill. The emperor sent the sorcerer Xue Rongzong to examine him, alleging that numerous ghosts were afflicting him. Shuang ordered his subordinates to drive away the ghosts. A few days later, something supernatural attacked Xue Rongzong, causing him to tumble down the stairs to his death. That night, Shuang died at the young age of 25. He was posthumously elevated to the titles of Grand Commandant and Governor of Jizhou, and his son Ji inherited his titles.
His son Ji, initially titled Sui'an Wang, later inherited the title of Wei Wang. During the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, favor towards the feudal lords waned, and suspicion grew. Filled with anxiety and fear, Ji sought the diviner Yu Puming to perform rituals, hoping for peace.
As a result, someone reported that Ji Zi was cursing the emperor, and the department responsible for handling the case sought to curry favor with the emperor by intentionally blowing the matter out of proportion, accusing Ji Zi of committing a heinous crime and deserving to die. The emperor had his ministers discuss the matter, and Yang Su and others said, "Ji Zi secretly practices evil methods, even resorting to witchcraft to openly curse the emperor and his family without any shame! He completely disregards moral ethics; his actions violate the rules of the previous dynasty. He is a true criminal of the state who should not be pardoned but punished according to the law!"
At that time, Teng Wanglun shared a close bond with Ji Zi, and the emperor was somewhat reluctant to take harsh measures, so he issued a decree saying, "Lun and Ji, like flowers attached to the same branch, have a close relationship like father and son. I granted them high positions and wealth not due to their significant achievements. They should share the joys and sorrows of the country, but they secretly engage in wicked deeds, indulging in malevolence. They completely disregard filial piety and respect, and at critical moments, they do not consider each other's friendship at all. The ministers all say this, and it pains me to hear it. Although everyone is equal before the law, those who deserve to die must be executed, but they are after all members of the royal family, so we must also consider family ties in terms of etiquette. If I were to truly have them executed, it would weigh heavily on my conscience."
In the end, the emperor revoked Ji Zi's title, demoted him to a commoner, and banished him to a remote region. Later, as chaos erupted across the land, Ji Zi vanished without a trace.
Cai Wang Zhiji is the son of He Zheng, the younger brother of Emperor Gaozu. His father, He Zheng, was granted the title of Chenliu County Duke by Emperor Ming of the Zhou Dynasty for his military achievements alongside Emperor Gaozu. He later became the Grand Marshal. He fought bravely alongside Emperor Wu to pacify the Qi state, all the way to Bingshou, where he died in battle. After Emperor Gaozu became the prime minister, he posthumously honored He Zheng as a Pillar of the State and Grand Minister of Education, and appointed him as the governors of eight provinces: Jizhou, Dingzhou, Yingzhou, Xiangzhou, Huaizhou, Weizhou, Zhaozhou, and Beizhou. After Emperor Gaozu ascended the throne, he posthumously granted He Zheng the title of King of Cai, with the posthumous title of King Jing. He then allowed Zhiji to inherit the title of King of Cai. He also granted Zhiji's brothers Zhiming the title of Duke of Gaoyang County, and Zhicai the title of Count of Kaifeng. Shortly after, Zhiji was appointed as the Grand Marshal and was sent to serve as the governor of Tongzhou. The ceremony for his appointment was quite elaborate. Due to Zhiji's cautious and prudent nature, Emperor Gaozu admired him greatly. While serving as the governor of Tongzhou, Zhiji was renowned for his seriousness and dedication to duty. After handling official matters, he would sit upright and read, never meeting with outsiders privately. He was accompanied by the Confucian scholar Gong Sun Shangyi from Shandong, as well as his literate assistants Yang Junying and Xiao Deyan. Zhiji often invited them to his side, serving only simple refreshments like cakes, fruits, and just three cups of wine. Although he had courtesans at home, they were only allowed to perform on special occasions with the approval of the empress dowager, reflecting his simple and frugal lifestyle. Back when Emperor Gaozu was still a commoner, King Jing (his father) had a poor relationship with him, as did King Jing's wife Lady Wei with the empress dowager (Emperor Gaozu's wife). As a result, Zhiji was always fearful and cautious, conducting himself with humility and modesty. Emperor Gaozu was aware of his situation and felt sympathy for him.
Some people advised Zhi Ji to acquire more property, but Zhi Ji said: "In the past, Pingyuan Jun's family was incredibly wealthy, but in the end, they ended up squandering their wealth. What a pity! Fortunately, I have no family property, so why bother to manage it again?" He had five sons and restricted them to studying the Analects and the Classic of Filial Piety, not allowing them to interact with outsiders. When someone asked him why, Zhi Ji replied: "You do not understand me." He meant that he feared his sons' talents would bring trouble. In the twentieth year of the Kaihuang, he was summoned back to the capital, and he did not take on any official roles, staying at home and rarely going out except to pay respects to the emperor.
After Sui Yangdi became emperor, Prince Teng, Prince Wei, and Duke Gao Yang Zhi Ming were all implicated by others and lost their titles. Zhi Ji was filled with fear. In the seventh year of Daye, he was appointed Prefect of Hongnong, handing over all government affairs to his subordinates and living a quiet life. Later, Yang Xuangan rebelled, leading his troops westward from the east to attack. Zhi Ji told his subordinates: "Yang Xuangan heard that the imperial army is approaching and wants to attack Guanzhong in the west. If he succeeds, his foundation will be secure. We should find a way to delay him and prevent him from advancing. In ten days, we will catch him." When Yang Xuangan's army arrived at the city, Zhi Ji climbed the city wall to shout insults at him. Yang Xuangan was furious and ordered a relentless assault. When the rebels set the city gate on fire, Zhi Ji ordered a bigger fire to stop them from entering. After a few days, reinforcements under Yu Wenshu arrived, and together, they defeated the rebels.
In the twelfth year of Daye, Zhi Ji followed the emperor to Jiangdu and fell seriously ill. At that time, Sui Yangdi was aloof with his relatives, which made Zhi Ji uneasy. Even when he got sick, he didn't call for a doctor. On his deathbed, he told his family: "Today, I finally understand that being able to keep my head and be buried after death is already a blessing." People at the time felt pity for him. He had a son called Zhi Daoxuan.
Historical records state that the Zhou Dynasty valued relatives of the royal family, whereas the Han Dynasty regarded the royal family as the cornerstone of the nation. They maintained internal harmony and unity among the imperial family, ensuring stability for the people, which solidifies the foundation and allows the royal family to prosper. When the country is stable, everyone shares in joy; when it faces difficulties, everyone must endure together. This is an age-old principle. After the Wei and Jin dynasties, many subsequent dynasties failed to uphold these principles, disregarding their ancestors' rules and acting out of self-interest. If they are suppressed, their power is no different from that of ordinary people; if they are allowed to act freely, their power can rival that of the emperor. Addressing these issues is not something that can be resolved overnight. The gains and losses of past generations are clearly recorded in historical texts, so I will not analyze them further. The bond between Sui Gaozu's brothers was weak from the start, and the conflicts within the imperial harem further strained their relationships. When Sui Yangdi ascended the throne, these problems became even more serious. Therefore, when Prince Teng died suddenly, there was much private discussion among the people; when Prince Cai lay dying, he even considered himself fortunate. Only Prince Wei, favored by the empress dowager, received special treatment, while the other princes were scattered in exile, uncertain of where they would meet their fate. It's truly a tragic situation! They were granted titles as feudal lords, considered the cornerstone of the nation, yet they lacked military protection and lived like commoners. They felt no sense of security, either internally or externally, living with constant danger. In times of crisis, how could anyone depend on them?
