Li Licheng, courtesy name Xiaoxie, was a native of Dida in Gansu and the sixth generation grandson of King Tufa of Liang. His grandfather Li Yanshi served as the Minister of Personnel in the Wei Kingdom, and his father Li Yu served as an Imperial Attendant. At the age of seven, Li Licheng followed his cousin Zheng Hao, who was the Administrator of Lanling, and entered the pass with the Wei Emperor Cao Cao. Zheng Hao's mother often said to relatives and friends, "This child has never been curious or distracted since childhood. He will definitely become a great talent in the future!" As Li Licheng grew up, he was steady and disciplined, not one to associate casually with others.
During the reign of the Wei Dynasty, Li Licheng became an Academician of the Imperial Library and later was promoted to Imperial Stableman and Cavalry Officer. After the Zhou Dynasty overthrew Wei, he was appointed as General of the East and Cavalry Officer. At that time, the sons of officials and nobles were all eager to learn horseback riding and archery, dressing mostly in military attire. Although Li Licheng was also skilled in archery, he always wore elegant clothes, never changing his style. Later, due to his military achievements, he was appointed as Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, granted the title Duke of Guanjun County, and later promoted to Provincial Governor. When the court needed to requisition supplies, Li Licheng believed that provoking the barbarians would only lead to rebellion, so he strongly advised against it. Emperor Wu of Zhou accepted his advice.
In the war against the Qi Kingdom, he followed Emperor Wu of Zhou in besieging Jinyang. Li Licheng led the troops to attack the southern gate, where the Qi general Xipi Luo led thousands of elite soldiers to resist. Li Licheng fought bravely and repelled them. Afterward, Li Licheng was appointed as an Imperial Consultant, granted the title Duke of Guanjun County, and appointed as a Senior Official in the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
Li Licheng's wife Dou Shi died young. He knew that the founding emperor Yang Jian had an emperor's demeanor, so he married his sister to him as a second wife, and the two had a very good relationship. After Yang Jian became prime minister, Li Licheng was promoted to Grand General, then appointed as Chief of Military Affairs, and Yang Jian held great trust in him. After Yang Jian became emperor, Li Licheng was appointed as the governor of Shan Prefecture and granted the title of Duke of Jiangjun County, receiving many rewards. Later, he was called back to court to serve as the Left Guard General, and then promoted to Right Guard Grand General. Over a year later, he was appointed as the governor of Xiangzhou, where he was reputed to have governed successfully. Several years later, he was again appointed as the Left Guard General. At that time, the Turks frequently invaded the border areas, which were primarily defended by high-ranking officials, so he was appointed as the governor of Ningzhou. A year later, due to illness, he was summoned back to the capital and died at home. His son, Li Shishi, rose to the position of Assistant Minister of Revenue.
Yuan Xiaozhu, from Luoyang, hailed from a prominent family. His grandfather Yuan Xiuyi and father both held the position of Minister of Works in the Wei Kingdom, which was a high-ranking position. During the Western Wei period, Yuan Xiaozhu inherited the title of Duke of Shiping County, and later became the governor of Nanfengzhou. At that time, he recognized Yuwen Tai's growing power and felt that the Yuan family's fortunes were at stake, so he was resolute in his desire to restore the family’s legacy. He secretly told his brothers, "Historically, Empress Lü Zhi's domination during the Han dynasty is well-known, but in the end, it was Marquis Zhu Xu and Marquis Dong Mou who safeguarded the Liu family's dynasty. Now, everyone knows about Yuwen Tai's ambitions. If we don't act fast, what are we waiting for? Are we going to watch him seize the throne?" However, his brother stopped him, and the matter went no further.
Later, Yuwen Tai arranged for his nephew Yuwen Hu to marry Yuan Xiaojv's sister, and their relationship became very good. When Emperor Xiaomin of Northern Zhou abdicated in favor of Yuwen Hu, he became powerful, and Yuan Xiaojv also rose in favor. Unfortunately, the good times did not last, resulting in Yuan Xiaojv's exile to Shu after Yuwen Hu was later killed. After a few years, he was summoned back to the capital and appointed Governor of Yizhou, later promoted to the position of Minister of Justice.
Emperor Wen of Sui valued Yuan Xiaojv's family background and married his daughter to Yuan Xiaojv's son, who would become Prince Fangling. When Emperor Wen became Chancellor, he promoted Yuan Xiaojv to a high position, bestowing upon him the title of Duke of Xunyang. At that time, Prince Fangling was stationed in Luoyang, and after Emperor Wen ascended the throne, he named Prince Fangling as the Crown Prince and sent Yuan Xiaojv to Luoyang to oversee his son. Emperor Wen then married his daughter to the Crown Prince, Yuan Xiaojv's grandson, demonstrating significant favor to the Yuan family. Shortly after, Yuan Xiaojv was appointed as the Governor of Shouzhou, and Emperor Wen wrote him a letter stating, "The barbarians in Yangzhou and Yuezhou keep harassing the borders. They lack understanding of reason and are only concerned with territorial disputes. You have remarkable foresight, so I am sending you to defend the borders and pacify them through a gentle approach, which aligns perfectly with my intentions."
At that time, generals of the Chen Dynasty such as Ren Mannu often came to the north of the Yangtze River to plunder. Emperor Wen of Sui appointed Yuan Xiaojun as the commander of the army, stationed by the Yangtze River. Several years later, Yuan Xiaojun felt that he was getting old and his health was deteriorating. Unable to bear the rigors of military life, he wrote a letter requesting retirement. Emperor Wen of Sui approved his request, allowing him to become the governor of Jingzhou. He also wrote him a letter saying, "I know you are humble and cautious, wanting to retire and live a peaceful life at home. You have made great contributions to the country, and I want you to take more rest and let me share some of your burdens. Why are you in such a hurry to retire? Do you want to be like those self-proclaimed gentlemen? Since the border affairs are busy, I’ll send you to Jingzhou, where you can rest and enjoy your later years!" Yuan Xiaojun passed away in Jingzhou after more than a year, at the age of 59, posthumously named "Jian." His son Yuan Wujie inherited his title.
Yuan Xiaojun's brother's son was named Wenyu, which I found in the "Cheng Jie Zhuan." His younger brother, the second son, was named Ya, whose courtesy name was Xiaofang, a highly capable individual excelling in both civil and military affairs. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui, he successively served as Left General of the Guards, Governor of Jizhou, and Governor of Qinzhou, finally being titled Duke of Shunyang County, a high-ranking official for sure! His youngest brother, Bao, was well-known and even more impressive than the other two.
Yang Bao was someone who showed extraordinary grace since childhood, mastering both archery and horseback riding. Even at a young age, he exhibited an adult-like demeanor. At the age of ten, he became an orphan and was raised by his older brothers. He had a deep bond with his brothers and was very filial to them. Later, when his brothers decided to split up and live separately, Yang Bao cried and tried to dissuade them, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. His family was already quite wealthy, with a fortune of gold and silver, but he did not want any of it. He moved out on his own, which became a well-known story in the area.
As he matured, Yang Bao became known for his generosity, kindness, and open-mindedness, and he also read many books. He became an official, holding high positions such as Minister, Beiping County Lord, and Zhaozhou Governor. Later, when Yang Jian was appointed as Prime Minister, Yang Bao fought alongside Wei Xiaokuan and achieved significant military accomplishments. He was promoted to the rank of Zhuguo and was also appointed as the Duke of Hejian County, with a fief that included two thousand households. In the second year of Kaihuang, he was appointed as the governor of Anzhou and later transferred to Yuanzhou as governor.
Once, a merchant was robbed by bandits, and the bandits suspected that the other guests at the inn were his accomplices, so they arrested them. Yang Bao saw that these people were wronged and were honest in their words, so he released them. However, the merchant went to the capital and accused Yang Bao of taking bribes and letting the bandits go, which prompted the emperor to send investigators. The envoy questioned Yang Bao: "Why did you take money and let the bandits go?" Yang Bao immediately confessed, offering no further explanation. The envoy took Yang Bao to the capital, and as a result, Yang Bao was dismissed from his position.
Later, those bandits were caught in another place. The emperor said, "Yang Bao is an old courtier of the imperial court, with a high status. It is indeed wrong to take bribes and let thieves go, but why would he frame himself?" Yang Bao replied, "I was entrusted with a heavy responsibility in a province: I failed to quell the bandits, leading to the wrongful accusations of the people in the province. This is my first crime; I did not ensure they were handed over to the judicial authorities, allowing them to go free. This is my second crime; I placed too much trust in others, ignored the consequences, and failed to rely on written regulations. This is my third crime. I have three crimes; what more is there to say? I did not originally admit to taking bribes. If the envoys continued to investigate, it would implicate good people and increase my guilt, so I admitted it myself." The emperor was very surprised and praised him as an elder. In the fourteenth year of Kaihuang, Yang Bao was appointed as the Grand Marshal and stationed on the border. In the Liaodong War, he followed the Prince of Han back to Liucheng as the Grand Marshal. In the early years of Renshou, the Yi and Liao tribes in Jiazhou rebelled, and Yang Bao led twenty thousand infantry and cavalry to quell the rebellion. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, Yang Bao was appointed as the governor of Qizhou, and soon after was appointed as the magistrate of Qijun. The people lived in peace and prosperity. Later, the Liaodong War broke out again, and one by one, the officials in the prefecture went to supervise the war. A clerk from the western court was supposed to go, but he feigned illness to avoid it. Yang Bao inquired about the reason, and the clerk had no valid excuse, so Yang Bao lashed out and struck the man over a hundred times. A few days later, the man died. As a result, Yang Bao was dismissed from his position, and he passed away peacefully at home at the age of seventy-three.
Guo Rong, courtesy name Changrong, identified himself as being from Taiyuan. His father, Guo Hui, served as a military commissioner in Tongzhou during the reign of the Northern Wei Dynasty. At that time, Yang Jian, who later became Emperor Wen of Sui, was just a governor, so Guo Rong's father and Yang Jian's father (Yang Zhong, Emperor Wen's father) knew each other. Later, Guo Hui was appointed as the Sima of Xunzhou and was granted the title of Duke of Ancheng. After Yang Jian became emperor, he appointed Guo Hui as the Minister of Public Works, and a few years later Guo Hui passed away. Guo Rong was tall and sturdy, with a rough exterior but a meticulous mind, and people who interacted with him generally liked him.
The Grand Chancellor of the Zhou Dynasty, Yuwen Hu, valued Guo Rong for his prudence and reliability, and promoted him to be a military officer in the Ministry of War. At that time, the Northern Qi army frequently invaded, so Yuwen Hu sent Guo Rong to observe the enemy situation in Fenzhou. Fenzhou was far from Yaoxiang Town, and Guo Rong felt that these two places were isolated and unable to support each other, so he suggested building another city between the two to support each other, which Yuwen Hu agreed to. Soon after, the Northern Qi general Duan Xiaoxian broke through Yaoxiang Town and Fenzhou, but the city built by Guo Rong managed to hold out. Yuwen Hu built a pontoon bridge and led his troops across the river to fight Duan Xiaoxian. Duan Xiaoxian released many large rafts upstream to collide with the pontoon bridge, but Yuwen Hu had Guo Rong command the troops responsible for water warfare to remove those rafts. For his achievements in this battle, Guo Rong was promoted to Grand Commander.
Yuwen Hu then sent Guo Rong to pacify the rebellious Jihu. Guo Rong built five cities in Shangjun and Yan'an, including Zhouchang, Hongxin, Guangan, Zhaoyuan, and Xianning, blocking the main roads of the Jihu, who no longer dared to attack. After Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, took control of the government, he appointed Guo Rong as a Xuan Na Officer. Later, Guo Rong followed Yang Jian in pacifying the Northern Qi, and in recognition of his military achievements, he was rewarded with twenty horses and six hundred pieces of silk, appointed as a noble of Pingyang County, and promoted to be the Chief of the Water Bureau.
When Guo Rong was young, he had a very good relationship with Yang Jian, and they shared a particularly close bond. Once, they sat under the moon chatting together at night, and Yang Jian said to Guo Rong: "I have closely observed the celestial phenomena and the affairs of the world. The fortunes of the Zhou Dynasty have run their course; it is time for me to take over." Guo Rong took Yang Jian's words to heart. After the death of Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian's son Yang Yong took over the court affairs. He summoned Guo Rong, patted him on the back, and said with a smile: "My previous words have come true, right?" Then he appointed Guo Rong as an official in the Imperial Music Bureau. Not long after, Guo Rong also took on the role of the Chief of the Department of Foreign Affairs. After Yang Jian became emperor, he promoted Guo Rong to an official position in the Imperial Secretariat, and because of their good relationship in the past, he was appointed as the Duke of Pucheng County, with his official rank elevated to Upper Yitong. Later, he was promoted to the Inspector of Tongzhou.
During the Reign of Renshou, the Yi and Liao tribes in the southwest frequently staged rebellions, so the court appointed Guo Rong as the general commander of the Eight Provinces to lead the troops to suppress the rebellion. In just over a year, the rebellion was quelled, and the court rewarded him with more than three hundred servants.
After Emperor Yang of Sui became emperor, Guo Rong was appointed as the General of Martial Might and Cavalry because he was known for his strictness and integrity. A few years later, the leader of Qian'an, Tian Luoju, caused unrest in Qingjiang, and many locals and ethnic minorities in Yiling and surrounding areas rallied to his cause. The emperor ordered Guo Rong to suppress the rebellion. After successfully quelling the rebellion, Guo Rong was promoted to the General of the Left Guard. Later, he followed the emperor on a campaign against the Tuyuhun and was appointed as the Grand Master of Ceremonies with the Silver Seal. In the Battle of Liaodong, he was promoted to the Left Grand Master of Ceremonies in recognition of his military achievements.
In the second year of his reign, the emperor planned to send troops to Liaodong again. Guo Rong believed that the country was already exhausted and that the emperor should avoid frequent military campaigns. He advised the emperor, "The lack of manners among the barbarians is a concern for their subjects. I have heard that even the most powerful crossbows are not fired for the sake of a mere mouse, let alone risking his life to lead a large army against a minor rebel." However, the emperor did not listen to him. Guo Rong still followed the army to attack Liaodong City, personally facing arrows and stones, wearing armor day and night for over a hundred days. The emperor frequently dispatched observers to assess the generals' performance, and upon realizing Guo Rong's unwavering loyalty and diligence, he was greatly pleased and often comforted and encouraged him.
Nine years later, the emperor arrived in the eastern capital of Luoyang and said to Guo Rong, "You are getting older and it's no longer suitable for you to lead troops in battle for extended periods. I plan to appoint you as a county magistrate; you can choose one yourself." Guo Rong did not want to leave the emperor's side; he kowtowed in gratitude, earnestly declined, and spoke sincerely, which touched the emperor. Therefore, the emperor appointed him as the Grand General of the Right Guard. A few days later, the emperor said to the officials in the court, "People as loyal as Guo Rong are truly rare!" This illustrates the depth of the emperor's trust in him. Later, when Yang Xuangan rebelled, the emperor ordered Guo Rong to guard Taiyuan. The following year, he accompanied the emperor to Liucheng, fell ill on the way, and the emperor sent regular visits from messengers, who came in a steady stream. Ultimately, Guo Rong passed away in Huaiyuan Town at the age of sixty-eight. The emperor suspended court for a day, posthumously promoted him to Minister of War, and conferred the posthumous title of "Gong," rewarding him with a large amount of cloth. He was survived by a son named Guo Fushan.
Pang Huang, styled Yuan Xian, is from Yulin. His father, Pang Qiu, was the Grand General of the Cavalry of the Zhou Dynasty. Pang Huang was a well-bred child from a respectable family since he was young. Later, he was noticed by Governor Du Da and was directly promoted to the governor of the state. After Zhou Tai Zu conquered Guanzhong, he appointed Pang Huang as the Grand Commandant, leading his personal troops at his side every day. So Pang Huang moved to Guanzhong. Later, he was promoted to the General of the Cavalry and inherited his father's title—Marquis of Bi Yang.
When Prince Wei Wenzhao was assigned to guard Xiangzhou, Pang Huang followed him, still holding his original position. Not long after, he and Grand Duke Yuan Ding attacked Jiangnan together, resulting in a deep isolation and eventually being killed in battle. Several years later, Prince Wei Wenzhao sent Pang Huang's brother, the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Pang Yuanjun, to retrieve Pang Huang's body for eight hundred pieces of silk. Only then was Pang Huang's body transported back to the court. The court awarded him the title of Shang Yitong and also rewarded him with two hundred pieces of colored silk. After that, Pang Huang continued to serve Prince Wei.
At the beginning of Gao Zu's tenure as the Inspector of Zizhou, when passing by Xiangyang, Prince Wei Li Huang specially went to visit him. Li Huang felt that Gao Zu was not an ordinary person and became friends with him. Later, when Gao Zu retired to the capital, Li Huang welcomed him in Xiangyi. Gao Zu was thrilled, and Li Huang said to him, "You have an extraordinary appearance, destined for greatness in history! If you become emperor in the future, don't forget me!" Gao Zu laughed and said, "What are you talking about?"
Suddenly, a rooster flew into the courtyard and started crowing. Gao Zu asked Li Huang to shoot it, saying, "If you hit it, there’ll be a reward. In the future, when I become successful, I will take this as an omen." Li Huang shot it with one arrow, and Gao Zu clapped and laughed, "This must be fate! If you can hit it, it means you’re meant to thrive alongside me!" Then, Gao Zu gifted Li Huang two maids, and their bond grew very close.
When Emperor Wu was in power, Li Huang became the Administrator of Changshan, and Gaozu became the Administrator of Dingzhou. The two of them often interacted. Not long after, Gaozu was promoted to the Administrator of Bozhou, preparing to take office, feeling a bit uneasy. Li Huang advised him, "The Yan and Dai regions are both places with strong and elite soldiers. If the army is mobilized now, it will be difficult to control the world." Gaozu held Li Huang's hand and said, "The time isn't right yet." Later, Li Huang was also promoted to the General of the Chariots and Cavalry.
After Gaozu became the Administrator of Yangzhou, he requested Li Huang to come along. Later, after Gaozu became the Prime Minister, he promoted Li Huang as the Director of Court Affairs, valuing him greatly. After Gaozu ascended the throne, he said to Li Huang, "The incident of shooting that chicken back in the day, it has come true today, hasn't it?" Li Huang thanked him and said, "Your Majesty, following the will of heaven, cherishing the people, now ruling the world, still remembering the words you said back then, I am truly delighted!" Gaozu smiled and said, "How could I forget!" Then, Gaozu promoted Li Huang and appointed him as the General of the Right Wing, also granting him the title of Duke with a fief of fifteen hundred households.
When Prince of Hejian Li Hong led troops to fight the Turks, Li Huang followed as the General of the March. They also took another route around the Helan Mountains, defeated the enemy, and beheaded over a thousand. Li Huang was strong-willed, and at that time, Prince of Guangping Li Xiong had immense power and influence. Li Huang often didn't think much of him, even openly despising him. Once, when Li Huang was sleeping in the military camp, Li Xiong passed by and he did not get up, causing Li Xiong to hold a grudge against him. Li Huang also had conflicts with Gao Feng, and the two of them often spoke poorly of Li Huang to the emperor. Therefore, Li Huang served as a palace guard for over ten years without any promotion. Later, he was sent to be the Inspector of Huaizhou, and a few years later, he was promoted to the Administrator of Yuanzhou. He died during the Renshou period at the age of seventy-two. Gaozu suspended court for a day in his honor and awarded him three hundred bolts of cloth and three hundred measures of rice, and posthumously granted him the title "Respectful." His son Li Changshou was also very famous, rising to the rank of General of the Valiant Cavalry.
Li An, style name Xuande, was from Didi, Gansu. His father, Li Wei, served as the governor of three prefectures: Shuozhou, Yanzhou, and Hengzhou, and was granted the title of Duke of Xiangwu. Li An was good-looking and adept at horseback riding and archery. During the reign of the Northern Zhou Emperor Tianhe, Li An renounced his commoner status to become a senior right attendant, inheriting his father's title as Duke of Xiangwu. Shortly after, he was promoted to Yitong and Right Master Senior Attendant. When Gaozu was Prime Minister, he called Li An to work alongside him and appointed him as a senior official in the Ministry of Personnel Affairs. Later, Li An's brother Li Che was promoted to Yitong. Li An's uncle, Li Zhang, was the governor of Liangzhou at the time, in the capital city, conspiring with the Prince of Zhao of Northern Zhou to harm Gaozu and persuading Li Che to act as an insider. Li Che said to Li An, "Keeping it a secret would be disloyal, but telling Gaozu would also be wrong. If we abandon loyalty and righteousness, how can we survive in this world?" Li An replied, "Gaozu is our benefactor; how can we betray him?" So, Li An tipped Gaozu off about the plot. After the Prince of Zhao and his allies were killed, Gaozu wanted to promote Li An and shower him with rewards. Li An quickly knelt down and said, "My brother and I haven't done anything to deserve your kindness. Our whole family is grateful for your support, and we don't know how to repay you. I never thought my uncle could be so foolish as to be tricked by bad people, almost leading to our family's ruin. We are deeply grateful that you saved our family. How can I ask for a promotion because of my uncle's actions?" As he spoke, Li An knelt on the ground and cried, overwhelmed with grief. Gaozu was moved by his actions and said, "For you, I spared your uncle's life." He then ordered that only Li Zhang be punished and kept the matter secret from Li An. Soon after, Gaozu appointed Li An as Grand Marshal and granted him the title of Duke of Zhaojun, while Li Che was promoted to Yitong and granted the title of Lord of Huangtai County.
After the founding emperor of the Sui Dynasty ascended the throne, he appointed him as the Assistant Minister of Internal Affairs, and later promoted him to be the Left Deputy Chancellor and the Attendant of the Yellow Gate. During the campaign against the Chen Dynasty, he was appointed as the deputy general under Yang Su, also serving as the commander of the army, leading the troops from Shu down the river towards the enemy. At that time, the Chen Dynasty army was stationed at Baisha. He convinced the generals, saying, "Naval warfare is not our strong suit as northerners. Now, the Chen army, taking advantage of the treacherous terrain, has anchored their ships, surely underestimating us and caught off guard. If we attack them at night, we will surely defeat them!" Everyone thought he made sense. He led the charge and defeated the Chen army.
Emperor Wen of Sui was very pleased and specially issued a commendation decree to him, saying, "The Chen bandits bragged about their prowess in naval warfare, and in the treacherous terrain, they believed that the imperial army would not dare to attack easily. You led the palace guards, acted at night, defeated the enemy, captured many prisoners, greatly boosted the morale of our army, and frightened the enemy. You have completely fulfilled the task entrusted to you, and I am very pleased to hear this news!" He was promoted to Grand General of the Army, and later appointed as the Governor of Yingzhou. In a few days, he was reassigned as the Governor of Dengzhou. He requested a return to court for an administrative position, but Emperor Wen of Sui valued him greatly and did not agree to his request, appointing him as the General of the Left and Right. Not long after, he was promoted to Grand General of the Right Flank, and later conferred the title of General of the Household, with the title of Three Excellencies and General of the Guard. He and his brother both managed the Imperial Guards, and the emperor held great trust and respect for the two brothers.
Eight years later, when the Turks invaded the frontier, he was appointed as the commander of the army, following Yang Su into battle. He took a different route, departing from Changchuan, and happened to encounter the Turks crossing the river, leading to a decisive victory. In the first year of the Renshou reign, he was appointed as the Governor of Ningzhou, while his brother was appointed as the Governor of Weizhou. His son, Qiong, and his brother's son, Wei, grew up in the imperial palace from a young age, only being allowed to return home when they were eight or nine years old. This clearly shows how much the emperor valued the two brothers!
Emperor Gaozu once talked about his time as Prime Minister, expressing special sympathy for the sacrifice of Li An and his brother for the righteousness of the country at the expense of family affection. He issued an edict that said, "The teachings left by the previous kings dictate that righteousness should guide personal feelings; one must sever family ties in order to serve the monarch wholeheartedly, thus promoting great moral integrity and demonstrating selflessness. The fate of the Zhou Dynasty has come to an end, and the mandate of heaven is to be transferred to our Great Tang. I have just begun to rule; the royal enterprise has just begun, and it is a chaotic era filled with treacherous villains. The Grand General, Governor of Ningzhou, and Duke of Zhao County, Li An, and his uncle Li Zhang secretly colluded with the clan forces, misled Li An's son, harbored malicious intentions, and plotted to rebel. Li An and his brother, the Governor of Weizhou and Lord of Huangtai County, Li Zhe, profoundly understood righteousness and were steadfastly loyal, exposing Li Zhang's conspiracy, and the wrongdoers were ultimately punished. I have always admired their loyalty and have always wanted to reward them generously, but because this matter involves their relatives, I still feel some hesitation. I want to give them a chance to speak according to the rules of propriety, so I have been delaying until now. Now, I have carefully reviewed the classics of the sages and referred to past examples; the nature of father-son relationships shows that filial piety and loyalty to the monarch can sometimes conflict. Moreover, the bond between uncles and nephews is even weaker than that between fathers and sons, and there are distinctions in etiquette and law. Their ability to set aside personal feelings and serve the country wholeheartedly is what truly matters. Their contributions should be acknowledged, and they should be generously rewarded."
Therefore, the emperor appointed Li An and Li Jie, the two brothers, as Grand Generals of the State of the Pillar, rewarding them each with 5,000 pieces of silk, 100 horses, and 1,000 sheep. Li Jie was also promoted to General of the Reserve and enfeoffed as the Duke of Shunyang County. Li An told his relatives, "Although our whole family has survived, my uncle suffered misfortune because of this. Now that I have received the imperial edict, I am filled with both sorrow and joy, feeling very distressed." With that, he burst into tears, overcome with grief. He was already suffering from edema, and his condition worsened, leading to his death shortly after at the age of 53, posthumously honored with the title "Huai." His son, Li Qiong, inherited his title. Li An's younger son, Li Xiaogong, became the most famous. Li Jie was later dismissed and exiled for a crime, dying on the way.
Historical records say that people like Yuwen Qing were all close confidants of the emperor, with close relationships, and some were old friends with the emperor, having gained the emperor's complete trust long ago. They enjoyed the emperor's favor, relishing wealth and glory, rising and falling with the emperor's fortunes. They held high positions of power, enjoyed generous salaries, and left behind substantial family estates for their descendants, truly fortunate! Xiao grew up in the palace, lacking formal education. Emperor Yang of Sui favored him greatly and did not hold him to any rules. What future could he possibly have? Think about it, the brothers Li An and Li Jie showed no respect for the ruler-subject relationship with the founding emperor. In the end, the founding emperor killed his own flesh and blood. This is truly putting duty above family, completely different from the stories we have heard! Although this incident is tragic, what difference does it make to the truth of history?
In conclusion, historical records are generally viewed positively regarding Yuwen Qing and others, as they were seen to have benefited from the emperor's favor, enjoying wealth and glory. However, it also notes that Xiaobai, who grew up in the palace, lacked education, and the emperor's excessive favoritism actually hindered his development. Finally, the author contrasts this with the cases of the An and Zhe brothers, showing the fates of Yuwen Qing and the others, which, while regrettable, does not alter the objective record of history.
