Wei Zhao, styled Shi Ren and also known by the courtesy name Ming Da, was the half-brother of Gaozu. During the Zhou Dynasty, as a newborn, he was granted the title of Duke of Tong'an County in recognition of Gaozu's military achievements. At the age of six, his father, Gaozu, passed away, and he was raised by the Empress Dowager, which made Gaozu particularly fond of him among his many brothers. At the age of seventeen, he became a Senior Minister of Internal Affairs. After Gaozu took power, he appointed him as Grand General and Governor of Qinzhou. Before he could assume his new position, he was reassigned as the Governor of Puzhou and promoted to Marquis. After Gaozu ascended the throne, he was granted the title of King of Wei. Shortly after, he was reassigned as the Governor of Yongzhou, also serving as both Left and Right General. Not long after, he was promoted to Right Grand General, overseeing military and political affairs in Bingzhou. A little over a year later, he was promoted to Senior Marquis and reassigned as Governor of Liangzhou. Wei Zhao was handsome and talented, with great leadership abilities and high prestige in governing the region.
That year, the court appointed Wei Zhao as the Marshal of the Expedition, leading seventy thousand infantry and cavalry to guard against the Turks. Setting out from Pingliang, he returned without encountering any enemies. The following year, with a major expedition to the north, he was once again appointed as Marshal. Princes Hong of Hejian, Doulu Ji, Dou Rongding, Gao Feng, Yu Qingze, and others attacked from different routes, all following Wei Zhao's command. Wei Zhao personally led four generals, including Li Chongjie, from Shuozhou, encountering the Khan of the Rouran at the White Road. They engaged in battle, achieving a great victory, capturing over a thousand prisoners and seizing many horses, cattle, and sheep. The Khan of the Rouran was gravely injured and fled in a panic. Gaozu was very pleased and rewarded Wei Zhao with the land of a thousand households in Liang'an County. Six years later, Wei Zhao was appointed Marshal once again, leading fifteen thousand infantry and cavalry from Hechuan. The Turkic army was terrified and fled. The following year, he was summoned as a Counselor, and Gaozu held him in high regard.
Not long after, Prince Shuang fell ill. The emperor sent the shaman Xue Rongzong to see him, and Xue Rongzong said that there were many evil spirits causing mischief. Shuang ordered his attendants to drive away the evil spirits. A few days later, actual evil spirits attacked Xue Rongzong, and he fell down the stairs in fright, resulting in his death. That night, Shuang died at the age of twenty-five. The court posthumously elevated him to the titles of Grand Commandant and Governor of Jizhou. His son Ji inherited his title.
As for Ji, he was initially titled Prince Suian and later inherited the title of Prince Wei. During the reign of Emperor Yang of the Sui, the favor shown to the feudal lords diminished, and suspicions grew. Ji was anxious and fearful, not knowing what to do, so he sought out a fortune teller named Yu Puming and organized some kind of ritual for blessings. However, someone reported that Ji was cursing the emperor and colluding with officials in charge of criminal law to curry favor with the emperor. This was deliberately inflated, and it was reported that Ji had committed a grave crime and deserved death.
The emperor let the ministers discuss this matter. They said, "Ji Zi has been secretly dabbling in those underhanded practices, using sorcery to curse the emperor and his family. He even curses openly, showing no shame at all. He completely disregards human morality, violates the ancestral rules, and shows a grave disrespect to the sovereign and father, which is unforgivable and should be punished under the law!" At that time, Prince Teng and Ji Zi were on good terms. The emperor was hesitant to impose a harsh punishment on Ji Zi, so he issued an edict saying, "Teng and Ji are like flowers on the same branch; their relationship is as close as father and son. I granted them high positions and generous rewards, not due to their merits. They should stand by the country through thick and thin, yet they engage in witchcraft and evil deeds in secret, abandoning the fundamental principles of loyalty between ruler and subject. They have cast aside their love and respect for the monarch, demonstrating no loyalty during a national crisis. The ministers unanimously believe they should face severe punishment, and I feel troubled after reading the memorial. While everyone is equal under the law and favors must give way to justice, the law must also take the royal family into account, and etiquette must also honor family ties. I cannot bring myself to punish them completely." Therefore, ultimately, Ji Zi's title was stripped away, and he was exiled to a remote region. Later, when chaos engulfed the world, Ji Zi disappeared without a trace.
Cai Wang Zhiji, the son of Cai Zheng, who was the younger brother of Gaozu, the Duke of Chenliu. His father Cai Zheng, during the reign of Emperor Ming of Zhou, was granted the title of Duke of Chenliu for his military achievements alongside the founding emperor. He later held the titles of Grand Marshal and Chariots and Cavalry General. When fighting against the Qi state with Emperor Wu, he died bravely in Bingzhou. After Gaozu became Prime Minister, he posthumously honored Cai Zheng as the Minister of State and Grand Minister of Works, and put him in charge of the eight provinces of Jizhou, Dingzhou, Yingzhou, Xiangzhou, Huaizhou, Weizhou, Zhaozhou, and Beizhou. After Gaozu became emperor, he posthumously titled him as King Cai, with the posthumous name Jing. He then allowed Zhiji to inherit the title of King Cai. His brother Zhiming was appointed as Duke of Gaoyang County, and Zhicai as Duke of Kaifeng County. Not long after, Zhiji was appointed as the General of the Household and given the post of Provincial Governor, which was quite an impressive position. After some time, due to Zhiji's cautious nature, he became well-known and admired by Gaozu. While serving as the Provincial Governor, Zhiji never indulged in leisure activities like hunting and would sit upright reading after completing his official duties, never receiving private visitors at home. He had the Confucian scholar Gongsun Shangyi by his side, as well as the cultured officials Yang Junying and Xiao Deyan, whom he often invited to read together. The refreshments were simple, consisting only of cakes and fruits, with only three cups of wine being drunk. Although there were singing girls at home, they only performed during holidays after obtaining approval from the Empress Dowager, which reflected his simple lifestyle. When Gaozu was still powerless, King Jing had a bad relationship with him, and King Jing's mother Lady Wei did not get along with Gaozu's Empress Dowager Dugu, so Zhiji was always cautious. Gaozu understood his thoughts and sympathized with him.
Some people advised Zhi Ji to invest in property, but Zhi Ji said: "In the past, the Pingyuan family was incredibly wealthy, but in the end, it ended badly! Fortunately, I don't have much family property, so why bother to acquire more?" He had five sons and only allowed them to study the Analects and the Classic of Filial Piety, and he restricted their interactions with outsiders. When someone asked him why, Zhi Ji said: "You don't understand me." He meant that he feared his sons' talents might lead to trouble. In the twentieth year of the Kaihuang reign, Zhi Ji was called back to the capital, but he did not take on any official role; instead, he stayed home, rarely going out except to pay his respects to the emperor.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, Prince Teng and Prince Wei were framed by others and punished, and Duke Gaoyang Zhi Ming was also deprived of his title due to his poor relationships with others, which left Zhi Ji feeling very fearful. In the seventh year of Daye, Zhi Ji was appointed as the Prefect of Hongnong, delegating all political matters to his subordinates and leading a quiet life. Later, Yang Xuangan rebelled, leading his troops from the eastern capital to the west. Zhi Ji informed 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 solid. We should find a way to stop him from advancing. Within ten days, we can capture him." As Yang Xuangan's army approached the city gates, Zhi Ji climbed the city wall and berated him. Yang Xuangan was very angry and ordered the city to be attacked. As the rebels set fire to the city gates, Zhi Ji ordered the city walls to be set on fire to keep the rebels out. After a few days, reinforcements under Yu Wenshu arrived and launched an attack together, defeating the rebels.
In the twelfth year, Zhi Ji followed the emperor to Jiangdu and fell seriously ill. Emperor Yang of Sui was quite indifferent to his relatives then, leaving Zhi Ji feeling insecure. Even in his illness, he refused to call for a doctor. Before his death, he said to his relatives: "Today I finally understand that being able to keep my head and be buried underground after death is considered fortunate." People at the time mourned for him. He had a son named Zhi Daoxuan.
The history books say: the Zhou Dynasty valued royal family members, the Han Dynasty compared royal family members to the cornerstone of the nation, living harmoniously within and ensuring peace for the people outside; only then can the foundation remain stable and the imperial family thrive. When the country is stable, everyone shares in the joy; when the country is in peril, everyone faces the danger together—this is a timeless truth. After the Wei and Jin Dynasties, many dynasties failed to achieve this, disregarding their ancestors' rules, each pursuing their own interests. Suppress them, their power is the same as ordinary people; indulge them, their power is the same as the emperor—restoring balance isn’t something that can be achieved overnight. The bond between the brothers of the Sui Dynasty's founding emperor was quite shallow, and the palace conflicts were irreconcilable. When Sui Yangdi took the throne, things took a turn for the worse. So when Prince Teng died unexpectedly, everyone whispered about it; when Prince Cai was on his deathbed, some considered it a stroke of luck. Only Prince Wei, who was favored by the Empress, received special treatment, while the other princes were in exile, uncertain of where they would meet their end—how tragic! They were given some land and titles, touted as the foundation of the nation, but in reality, they lack military protection and live just like commoners. With no internal or external worries, unable to secure their present, facing so many hardships, what can they possibly hope for?
