Liang Yanguang, courtesy name Xiuzhi, was from the Ushi clan in Anding. His grandfather Liang Mao served as the Prefect of Qinzhou in Weiguo and his father Liang Xian was the Prefect of Xingzhou in the Zhou Dynasty. Liang Yanguang had been exceptionally intelligent and kind-hearted since he was a child. His father often told relatives and friends, "This child is promising and will surely bring honor to our ancestors!" At the age of seven, his father fell seriously ill, and the doctor said that Wushi San could cure him, but they couldn't find any purple fluorite at that time. Liang Yanguang was both anxious and sad, not knowing what to do. Suddenly, he saw something unfamiliar in the garden and brought it home, which turned out to be the very purple fluorite! His relatives were astonished and believed it was a result of his filial piety.
As the Great Unity era of the Wei Dynasty was nearing its end, Liang Yanguang entered the Imperial Academy, where he studied various classics and historical texts. He was well-mannered and polite, and was promoted to Secretariat Clerk at the age of seventeen. After the Zhou Dynasty took over, he was promoted to Senior Attendant. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou, he received several promotions and was promoted to Junior Household Officer. After his mother's death, he resigned from his official position to observe mourning, extending beyond the customary period due to his overwhelming grief. Shortly after, the court decided to reinstate him. Emperor Wu, upon seeing his profound sorrow, expressed his sympathy and comforted him several times. Later, he was appointed as a Junior Imperial Secretary, and during the Jiande era, he was promoted to Senior Imperial Secretary. He accompanied Emperor Wu in pacifying the Qi Kingdom and was granted the title of Kaifu as well as the Marquis of Yangcheng, with a fief of one thousand households.
Emperor Xuan ascended to the throne, and was appointed as the Inspector of Huazhou, enfeoffed as the Duke of Huayang Commandery, with his fief increased to 1,500 households. He also inherited the title of Duke of Yangcheng County for one of his sons. Shortly after, he was promoted to Grand General, then further promoted to Grand Minister. Later, he was appointed as the State Pillar and Inspector of Qingzhou, but he did not assume the position due to Emperor Xuan's passing. After Emperor Gaozu Yang Jian received the throne, Liang Yanguang was appointed as the Inspector of Qizhou, concurrently serving as the Palace Supervisor of Qizhou, with his fief increased to an additional 500 households, totaling 2,000 households. He governed effectively in Qizhou, where auspicious signs such as abundant harvests and harmonious unions were seen.
In the second year of the Kaihuang era, Emperor Yang visited Qizhou for inspection and was very satisfied with Liang Yanguang's abilities. He issued a proclamation saying, "Rewards are meant to encourage good deeds and educate the people. Yanguang is upright and knowledgeable, administering with both kindness and authority in Qizhou, earning him a reputation for integrity that spread throughout the realm. Three years later, he is due for promotion, but I worry he might encounter financial difficulties, so his achievements should be recognized. He is granted 500 bushels of grain, 300 rolls of cloth, and an imperial umbrella, hoping he will remember my intentions and work even harder in his official duties. All officials in the realm should emulate his noble character and aspire to be upright and incorruptible." Not long after, he was further rewarded with 50,000 coins. Several years later, Liang Yanguang was transferred to be the Inspector of Xiangzhou. During his tenure in Qizhou, the local populace, known for their simplicity, was reformed under his gentle governance, resulting in consistently high tax revenues and establishing it as the leading region in the realm.
After he arrived in Xiangzhou, he continued to use the governing methods he had employed in Qizhou. However, Xiangzhou had a complicated social fabric, and the people were shrewd. Some composed songs to satirize him, saying that he could not govern Xiangzhou. The emperor was very angry when he heard about this and dismissed him from his position. Over a year later, he was appointed as the governor of Zhaozhou. Liang Yanguang said to the emperor, "When I was an official in Xiangzhou, the people called me 'the Hat-Wearing Fool' (meaning incompetent person). I believed my dismissal meant I had no hope of serving as an official again, but I did not expect the emperor to give me another chance. Please let me return to Xiangzhou, change the governing methods, and hope to change the local customs as a way of repaying the emperor's kindness." The emperor agreed and allowed him to serve as the governor of Xiangzhou again. When those local tyrants heard that Liang Yanguang had requested to return, they all scoffed at him. After taking office, Liang Yanguang immediately began to crack down on the wicked, as if he were a deity, causing those deceitful people to flee and shocking the people of the entire state.
After the fall of the Qi state, many people of status moved to the interior, leaving only skilled workers, merchants, and entertainers in the city of Xiangzhou. As a result, the local customs were in decline, rumors were rampant, and lawsuits were constant. Liang Yanguang wanted to change this situation, so he used his own salary to recruit scholars from Shandong, established schools in every village, and focused solely on teaching the classics of Confucianism. He would gather students for exams every quarter and personally participate in the exams. Those students who studied diligently and performed well would be invited to banquets in the hall; other students would sit in the corridor; and those who were good at lawsuits and lazy in their studies would be arranged to sit in the courtyard, only provided with simple food and drink. Upon their successful completion of studies, graduation ceremonies were held, and they were sent off in the outskirts, and were provided with material support. In this way, everyone worked hard to study, and the customs were greatly improved.
There was a man from Fuyang named Jiao Tong, who had a passion for drinking and was unfilial towards his parents. His younger brother reported him to the government. Instead of punishing him, Liang Yanguang took him to visit the Confucius Temple. Inside the temple, a portrait of Han Boyu was displayed, who had struck his frail and elderly mother with a cane. Han Boyu later regretted his actions and wept bitterly before his mother's portrait. Jiao Tong was deeply moved by this and felt both sadness and shame. Liang Yanguang counseled him and then allowed him to return. Jiao Tong turned his life around and ultimately became a better person. Liang Yanguang used moral education to guide people, and it was effective. Both officials and common folk were moved, and there were fewer lawsuits. Several years later, Liang Yanguang passed away at the age of sixty. The court posthumously honored him with the governorship of four provinces—Jizhou, Dingzhou, Qingzhou, and Yingzhou—and gave him the posthumous title of Xiang. His son Liang Wenqian inherited his title.
Wenqian inherited his father's excellent qualities and was known for his elegance and grace. As the legitimate son of the Grand General, he was traditionally appointed to the position of Yitong Sansi. In the fifteenth year of the Kaihuang era, he was appointed as the governor of Shangzhou. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, he was transferred to the position of governor of Raozhou. Over a year later, he was appointed as the Prefect of Poyang, and he was widely regarded as the best prefect in the land. Later, he was summoned by the court to serve as the Minister of Revenue.
During the Liaodong Campaign, he was appointed as a Wuben Military Officer, and shortly after, he also held the positions of Deputy Chief of the Tai Fu and Deputy Chief of Wei Wei, while still serving as Minister of Revenue. The following year, he was appointed as a Wuben Military Officer again, serving as the deputy general of the Lu Longdao Army. Just as the rebellion of Yang Xuangan broke out, Yang Xuangan's brother, who was also a Wuben Military Officer, escaped. Yang Xuangan's rebellion had not yet reached Wenqian, and he was unaware of the situation. Consequently, he was demoted and exiled to Guilin, where he soon passed away at the age of fifty-six.
His youngest son, Wen Rang, was initially appointed as the Lord of Yangcheng County and later became the Eagle-Yang General. He fought valiantly against the enemy alongside General Wei Xuan in the Eastern Capital against Yang Xuangan, always at the forefront of battles. He eventually died in battle, and the court posthumously conferred upon him the title of Grand Counselor.
Fan Shulue, a native of Chenliu, was the son of Fan Huan, who held official positions in the Wei Kingdom, rising to the rank of Governor of Nanyanzhou and Marquis of Ayang. When the Gao clan seized power and plotted the revival of the Wei Kingdom, Fan Huan was killed by the Gao clan. At that time, Fan Shulue was still young, around seven or eight years old, and was also subjected to corporal punishment and forced to serve in the palace.
He was very tall, standing nine feet tall, with high aspirations and considerable talents, which made the Gao clan wary of him. Feeling uneasy, Fan Shulue left for the Guanzhong region. The founding emperor of the Northern Zhou Dynasty immediately took notice of him and kept him by his side. Shortly after, he was appointed as a commander and inherited his father's marquis title.
Later, the influential Chancellor Yuwen Hu promoted Fan Shulue to Lieutenant. Fan Shulue excelled in calculations, had a good understanding of current affairs, and gradually gained Yuwen Hu's trust, who assigned him responsibilities for both domestic and foreign matters. He steadily climbed the ranks, eventually becoming the General of Cavalry and Chariots and the Governor of the Palace. After Yuwen Hu's assassination, Prince Qi Yuwen Xian appointed him as the Director of the Imperial Gardens. At that time, Yuwen Xian was determined to annex the eastern regions, and Fan Shulue often provided him with strategic advice, which Yuwen Xian greatly appreciated.
In the fifth year of Jiande, Emperor Wu of Zhou launched an attack on Northern Qi, with Fan Shulue at the helm of elite troops, always leading the charge in battle. Due to his outstanding military achievements, he was further elevated to the title of Marquis of Qingxiang County, with a fief of 1,400 households. He was later appointed as the Governor of Bianzhou, renowned for his decisive and sagacious leadership.
During the reign of Emperor Xuan, a decision was made to construct the capital city of Dongjing in Luoyang. Fan Shulue, who was quite innovative, was appointed as the supervisor of construction, overseeing the palace design. Unfortunately, before the construction was completed, the emperor passed away.
When Wei Jiao rebelled, Emperor Gaozu appointed Fan Shulue to defend Daliang. Wei Jiao's general Yuwen Wei attacked, but Fan Shulue defeated him. For these achievements, he was appointed as the Grand General and became the Governor of Bianzhou. After Emperor Gaozu ascended the throne, he further promoted Fan Shulue to the position of Grand General and granted him the title of Duke of Anding.
He served in Bianzhou for several years, achieving remarkable success and earning a stellar reputation. The people of Yedu had a reputation for being difficult to govern due to their rough customs, but the court praised Fan Shulue for his effective governance. He was subsequently appointed as the Governor of Xiangzhou, where he distinguished himself with outstanding achievements. The emperor issued a special edict to commend him, rewarding him with 300 bolts of silk, 500 measures of grain, and spreading his deeds nationwide. The common folk lauded him as "endlessly wise, the noble of Qingxiang; praised by all, Fan Anding."
Later, the court appointed him as the Minister of Agriculture, and the officials were so moved that they wept and erected a monument to extol his virtues. During his tenure as Minister of Agriculture, he developed numerous innovative policies to enhance agricultural production. In times of difficult decisions and problems that ministers could not solve, Fan Shulue always offered sound advice. Although he lacked formal training, he consistently backed his ideas with sound reasoning, which were unique and logical. The emperor trusted him greatly, and Gao Feng and Yang Su also respected him. Even though he held the title of Minister of Agriculture, he frequently engaged in the affairs of the Nine Ministers.
He had a bold and extravagant personality, always laying out a table full of delicacies for every meal. When he was fourteen, he was ordered to go to Mount Tai to perform a sacrifice. When he reached Luoyang, the emperor asked him to handle a case involving prisoners. He organized the case and was ready to present it the next morning when he suddenly died at the prison gate, at the age of fifty-nine. The emperor was deeply saddened and posthumously granted him the title of governor of Bozhou, with the posthumous name of Xiang.
Zhao Gui hailed from Luoyang in Henan. His father, Zhao Su, was the Minister of Justice of the Wei Dynasty. Zhao Gui was passionate about studying from a young age and was known for his good behavior. The King of Cai from the Zhou Dynasty invited him to be a scribe because of his reputation for integrity and thriftiness. He later rose to the position of a magistrate in Weizhou. After the founding emperor ascended the throne, he was reassigned to Qizhou as a deputy, where he made significant political contributions.
When his neighbor's mulberries fell into his yard, Zhao Gui had them picked up and returned to his neighbor, telling his children, "I did not do this for fame. Even if it's not a valuable item, I do not want to take what belongs to others. You all should take this as a lesson!" He served as a deputy in Qizhou for four years, consistently receiving top marks. The Imperial Envoy Liang Zigong reported his achievements to the court, and the founding emperor held him in high regard, rewarding him with three hundred rolls of cloth and three hundred measures of rice, and summoning him to the capital. The townsfolk who accompanied him to the capital cried out, "During your tenure as a deputy, you never clashed with the people, so we didn’t feel right sending you off with wine. You are as pure as water; please allow us to toast you with a cup of water." Zhao Gui graciously accepted and drank the water.
After arriving in the capital, the emperor ordered him to collaborate with Qi Zhanggongniu on revising the format of the laws and regulations. At that time, Wei Wangshuang was the governor of Yuanzhou. The emperor saw that Wei Wang was young, and Zhao Gui had a good reputation, so he sent Zhao Gui to Yuanzhou to serve as the Sima. On the way, traveling at night, his horse wandered into a field and trampled someone else's crops. Zhao Gui stopped the horse and waited until dawn, compensated the owner of the crops for the damage, and then left. The officials and people of Yuanzhou were inspired to change their behavior upon hearing about this incident. Several years later, he was promoted to governor of Xiazhou, governing local minority ethnic groups and earning deep affection from the people. Soon after, he was transferred to the post of chief historian of Shouzhou. In the Shaobi area, there was once a Wumen Weir that had fallen into disrepair for many years and was overgrown with weeds. Zhao Gui encouraged and urged officials and the people to reopen thirty-six water gates, which greatly benefited the local community by irrigating more than 5,000 hectares of farmland. After his term expired, he returned to his hometown and passed away at sixty-two. His sons, Zhao Hong'an and Zhao Hongzhi, were also prominent figures.
Fang Gongyi, courtesy name Shenyuan, was from Luoyang, Henan. His father, Fang Mo, served as the Minister of Personnel of Northern Qi. Fang Gongyi was composed and profound, with an impressive demeanor, and was very suitable for politics. During his service in Northern Qi, he began as a military officer and later became the magistrate of Ping'en County and the governor of Jiyin County, in which he excelled. After the fall of Northern Qi, he was unable to find a new position. Later, when Wei Jiong led a rebellion, Fang Gongyi took part. After Wei Jiong's defeat, Fang Gongyi remained idle at home.
During the Kaihuang period of the Sui Dynasty, Su Wei, the Minister of Personnel, recommended him, and he was appointed as the magistrate of Xinfeng County, achieving outstanding results in the Guanzhong region and the Sui border areas. Emperor Wen of Sui was very pleased when he heard about this and rewarded him with four hundred bolts of cloth, which he distributed to help the poor. Not long after, he was rewarded with three hundred stones of rice, which he again distributed to help the poor. When Emperor Wen of Sui heard about this, he forbade him from continuing this practice. At that time, every county magistrate in Yongzhou was required to pay their respects to the emperor on the first day of each month. Every time Emperor Wen of Sui saw Fang Gongyi, he called him to his side and asked him about his methods of governing the people.
Su Wei recommended him again, and due to his outstanding achievements, he was once again rewarded by the emperor with one hundred bolts of cloth and a good horse. Later, he was promoted to the position of Sima of Dezhou. After serving for over a year, Lu Kai reported that Fang Gongyi's achievements were unparalleled. Emperor Wen of Sui was astonished and rewarded him once more with one hundred bolts of cloth. He addressed the envoys from various states, saying, "A person like Fang Gongyi, who wholeheartedly serves the country and loves the people, is the result of blessings from heaven and my ancestors. How can someone as insignificant as me achieve this? I will promote him to governor. This is not merely a local official position; he should be a role model for the whole country, and you should all learn from him!" Emperor Wen of Sui also said, "Wherever Fang Gongyi goes, the people regard him as a parent. If I do not reward him, both heaven and my ancestors will hold me accountable. The court must understand my intentions." He then issued a decree stating, "Fang Gongyi, the Sima of Dezhou, has governed a hundred miles, assisted two prefectures, and achieved remarkable results. He has adhered to the principles of governance in the region, earning the trust of the people, and has a good reputation and achievements. He is appointed as the Commissioner of Military Affairs and the Governor of Haizhou!"
Not long after, the scholar He Tuo reported that Fang Gongyi was a follower of Yu Jiong and should not be promoted to a higher position. He accused Su Wei and Lu Kai of forming factions and mutually recommending one another. Emperor Wen of Sui was enraged, and Fang Gongyi was eventually punished and exiled to Lingnan. Not long after, he was summoned back to the capital, but he fell ill and died on his way to Hongzhou. Later generations believed he had been wronged.
Gongsun Jingmao, styled Yuanwei, was from Fucheng, Hebei. He was tall and strong, with a commanding presence, and he had a passion for learning from a young age and possessed extensive knowledge of the classics and history.
During the Wei Dynasty, he was recommended as a filial and incorrupt official, achieving the top rank in the imperial examination. He then became the Chief Secretary of Prince Xiangcheng and concurrently served as a military advisor. He later rose to the position of Taichang Scholar, making numerous revisions and contributions to the classics, being regarded as a living library. He subsequently served as the magistrate of Gaotang County and the Chief of the Dali Temple, achieving notable success and gaining a strong reputation in these positions.
After Northern Qi was conquered by Northern Zhou, Emperor Wu of Zhou heard of his reputation and summoned him for a conversation, recognizing his talent and appointing him as the Governor of Jibei. Following the death of his mother, he resigned from his official position and returned home to mourn.
At the beginning of the Kaihuang era, the emperor issued a decree summoning him to the capital to discuss his governance strategies. He was then appointed as the Governor of Runan. After the abolition of Runan Commandery, he was transferred to be the Sima of Caozhou. He served in these positions for several years, but because of old age and frail health, he requested retirement, which the emperor declined to approve. Not long after, he was reassigned as the Inspector of Xizhou. He enforced the law justly, maintained transparent governance, and had a profound impact on education. During the war to pacify the Chen Dynasty, when soldiers fell ill on the way to conscription, Jingmao reduced his own salary, prepared porridge and medicinal soup for them, and distributed them, saving the lives of thousands. The emperor was very pleased upon hearing this and issued a decree to publicly commend this act throughout the realm.
When he was fifteen, the emperor visited Luoyang, where Jingmao went to pay his respects. At that time, Jingmao was already seventy-seven years old. The emperor invited him to sit in the court and asked him his age. Jingmao answered truthfully. The emperor expressed sympathy for his age and sighed deeply. Jingmao thanked him again, saying, "When Lv Shang was eighty years old, he met King Wen. When I was in my seventies, I had the honor of meeting Your Majesty." The emperor was very pleased and bestowed upon him three hundred rolls of cloth. The emperor also issued a decree that read, "Jingmao has refined his character and demonstrated virtuous conduct, and has been an exemplary local official in educating the people. His achievements are outstanding. He consistently ranks among the top officials at year-end evaluations. He may be promoted to the position of Sanitary Inspector and concurrently serve as the governor of Yizhou."
The following year, he was summoned back to the court due to illness, prompting both officials and citizens to weep along the way. When he recovered from his illness, he requested to retire, but the emperor did not grant his request and instead transferred him to the post of governor of Daozhou. He used all his salary to buy calves, chickens, and pigs, which he generously distributed to orphans, widows, and the needy. He took pleasure in riding alone to visit the people, going from household to household to learn about their livelihoods. If someone did well, he would praise them publicly at the market; if someone erred, he would provide timely guidance but not publicly criticize them. As a result, the community fostered a spirit of humility, the wealth gap narrowed, men helped each other in farming, and women helped each other in weaving. In larger villages, often with hundreds of households, everyone worked hard and supported one another like a close-knit family. Later, he sought to manage governmental affairs, and the emperor graciously approved his request.
During the Renshou period, the emperor dispatched Yang Ji on a diplomatic mission to Hebei. Seeing that Jing Mao was still energetic, he reported back to the emperor. As a result, the emperor appointed him as the governor of Zizhou, rewarding him with horses and carriages to facilitate his new role. He held many official positions throughout his career, all with achievements, earning him a reputation as a good official. During the Daye period, he died at the age of eighty-seven. He was posthumously bestowed the title "Kang." On the day of his death, officials and commoners from several states came to mourn, some who could not attend the funeral wept at his grave, only leaving after paying their respects.
Xin Gongyi, hailing from Didaoren in Gansu, was the grandson of Xin Hui, who served as the governor of Xuzhou in the Wei Kingdom; his father, Xin Jiqing, was the governor of Qingzhou. Xin Gongyi lost his father at a young age and was raised by his mother, who took it upon herself to teach him to read. During the Tianhe period of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, he was selected as a student of the Imperial Academy, renowned for his diligence and hard work. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui, he was summoned to study at the Lu Gate School in the palace, learning Confucian ethics. Every month, he was required to present his studies before the emperor and other scholars, receiving the emperor's praise on several occasions and earning the respect of his peers.
During the Jiande period, Xin Gongyi was appointed as the Xuan Na Zhongshi. He accompanied the army in quelling the Qi Kingdom, receiving multiple promotions and ultimately rising to the position of Chief Justice and General of Suppressing Bandits. After Sui Wendi became prime minister, he appointed Xin Gongyi as the Inner Justice Officer, tasking him with handling confidential matters. In the first year of the Kaihuang era, he was appointed Chief Guest Chamberlain, while also overseeing the affairs of the Inner Justice Aide, and was titled as the Lord of Anyang County with a fief of two hundred households. Whenever foreign envoys arrived, he was responsible for receiving and hosting them. Later, he was dispatched to Jiangling to secure the border.
In the seventh year of the Kaihuang reign, he was ordered to inspect horses in various places and found more than 100,000 horses. Emperor Wen was delighted and remarked, "Only through righteousness can one serve the country with such dedication!" He later participated in the campaign to subdue the Chen Kingdom and was appointed Governor of Minzhou due to his military achievements. There was a local custom in Minzhou that had a strong fear of contagious diseases. If someone fell ill, the whole family would stay far away, and even fathers, sons, husbands, and wives would not take care of each other, entirely neglecting their duties of filial piety and brotherly love, which resulted in many patients dying. Xingongyi was deeply concerned about this situation and sought to change this custom.
Therefore, he sent out inspectors to various locations. Whenever there were sick people, they were transported on stretchers to the local government office and placed in the hall. During the summer when epidemics were prevalent, there were sometimes hundreds of patients, and the hall and corridors were filled to capacity. Xingongyi personally set up a bed in the hall, sat in the middle of the patients, and handled government affairs day and night. He devoted his entire salary to purchasing medicine, invited doctors to treat the patients, and personally encouraged the patients to eat. When the patients recovered, he called their relatives and said to them, "Life and death are determined by fate and are not related to contagion. In the past, you all kept your distance from the sick, which led to their deaths. Now I have gathered the sick and am living among them. If it were contagious, then how come I’m still alive? Look, the patients are all better now! Don’t fall for those superstitions again." The patients' families walked away feeling ashamed.
Later, when the locals fell ill, they all rushed to the state office. If there was no one to take care of them, the state office would take on the responsibility of caring for them. From then on, people began to show mutual love, which led to a change in customs. The entire state referred to him as "the Compassionate Mother." Later, he was appointed as the governor of Mouzhou. Upon taking office, he first went to the prison, slept beside the prison cells, and personally interrogated the prisoners. In just over ten days, he settled all the cases before returning to the main hall. For new cases, he refrained from handling them personally, but instead appointed a duty officer to interrogate. If the matter was not resolved and prisoners needed to be detained, Xing Gongyi would sleep in the hall and never return to his own room. Some people advised him, "There are procedures for these matters, why do you need to work so hard, sir?" Xing Gongyi replied, "If a governor cannot educate the people with virtue and instead locks them up in prison, how can he be at ease?" Upon hearing this, the prisoners sincerely repented.
Later, if someone wanted to file a lawsuit, the elders in the village would advise them, "These are all minor matters, why bother the governor?" Therefore, many lawsuits were resolved without being filed. At that time, there were continuous heavy rains in the Shandong region, causing severe flooding from Chenzhou and Ruzhou to the coast. Only the area under Xing Gongyi's jurisdiction remained unscathed, and even produced gold and silver on the mountains, which he offered to the court. The court sent Lou Zeng, an official from the Ministry of Water, to pray to Xing Gongyi. It is said that at that time, the sounds of gold, stone, and silk instruments filled the air. In the first year of the Ren Shou era, he was appointed as the envoy responsible for the promotion and demotion of officials in Yangzhou. Prince Yuzhang, Yang Jian, worried that his officials might break the law, so he instructed Xing Gongyi before he even arrived in Yangzhou. Xing Gongyi replied, "I won't let favoritism influence my duties." After arriving in Yangzhou, he held all officials to strict standards, which displeased Yang Jian.
When Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, Wang Hong, the Chief of Yangzhou, was appointed as an Attendant of the Yellow Gate in the capital. He slandered Xin Gongyi to the Emperor, leading to Xin Gongyi's dismissal. Many officials and commoners went to the court to lodge complaints and appeal for justice, resulting in a steady stream of complaints. Several years later, Emperor Yang of Sui understood the truth and appointed Xin Gongyi as the Deputy Minister of the Interior. Later, when Xin Gongyi's mother passed away, he returned home to observe mourning. Shortly after, he was appointed as the Grand Master of the Imperial Slaves and concurrently as the Right Imperial Guard Commander. He served with the army in a campaign and died in Liucheng County at the age of sixty-two. His son was named Xin Rong.
Liu Jian, whose courtesy name was Daoyue, was from Jie County, Shanxi. His grandfather, Liu Yuanzhang, served as the Grand Central Inspector of Sizhou in the Wei Kingdom, as well as the Intendant of Xiangzhou and Huazhou; his father, Liu Yu, served as the magistrate of Wenxi County in the Zhou Dynasty. Liu Jian was known for his moderation and simple living, gaining local respect to the point that even his closest relatives and friends treated him with deference. He served as a Senior Officer of Rites and a Grandee of the Capital during the Zhou Dynasty. After the founding emperor ascended the throne, he promoted Liu Jian to the position of Attendant in the Ministry of Water and granted him the title of Count of Luoda. Shortly after, he was sent as the Administrator to Guanghan Commandery, where he distinguished himself with exceptional governance. Later, Guanghan Commandery was abolished.
At that time, the founding emperor had just unified the realm, focusing on diligent governance and the careful selection of talented individuals to be dispatched as officials across the land. Liu Jian was renowned for his integrity, benevolence, and diligence, leading to his promotion as the Intendant of Pengzhou. He handled cases swiftly, resolving them on the spot without lengthy documents, merely instructing his subordinates. Everything was done calmly and unhurriedly, with not a single prisoner in his jail. Prince Yang Xiu of Shu, stationed in Yizhou, reported Liu Jian's achievements to the court, resulting in Liu Jian's promotion to be the Intendant of Qiongzhou. He served in Qiongzhou for over a decade, earning the sincere admiration of the local minority groups. However, after Prince Yang Xiu fell from grace, Liu Jian was dismissed due to his association with him. Upon returning to his hometown, he rode in a rickety old carriage, riding a thin and weak horse, struggling to provide for his family, drawing sympathetic sighs from those who saw him.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended to the throne, he summoned him. At that time, those who held official positions and governed the provinces based on their merits all carried weapons and equipment, except for Liu Jian, who started as an ordinary official. Emperor Yang of Sui greatly appreciated his political achievements, granted him the title of "Junior Gentleman," appointed him as the Prefect of Honghua County, and rewarded him with one hundred bolts of cloth. Liu Jian continued to uphold a reputation for integrity and frugality. In the fifth year of Daye, he attended the court assembly, where officials from all over the country gathered in the capital. Emperor Yang of Sui asked the Minister of State Affairs Su Wei and the Minister of Personnel Niu Hong, "Among these people, who has the best reputation in the realm?" Su Wei answered that it was Liu Jian. Emperor Yang of Sui then asked who was in second place, 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 granted Liu Jian two hundred bolts of cloth, Guo Xuan and Jing Su one hundred bolts of cloth each, and ordered the national court envoys to deliver the rewards to their county offices to commend their outstanding virtues. People all praised Liu Jian.
In the later years of Daye, bandits were rampant, and Liu Jian faced numerous attacks. But he pacified the local people and minorities, and successfully averted rebellion, preserving the area. Later, the insurgents invaded Chang'an, enthroned Emperor Gong, and Liu Jian and the resident Li Can wept in the government office facing south in plain clothes. After that, he returned to the capital, where the Chancellor rewarded him with three hundred bolts of cloth and appointed him as the Grand General. Over a year later, Liu Jian passed away peacefully at home at the age of eighty-nine.
Guo Xuan, from Hedong Anyi, originally came from a poor family. He started as a clerk of the Minister of Personnel, later appointed as Yitong due to his military achievements, and served as Sima and Changshi in several provinces, where he excelled and earned a strong reputation. When Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, the Minister of Justice, Yuwen Bi, conducted an inspection in Hebei and brought Guo Xuan as his assistant. Emperor Yang of Sui was preparing to fight in Liaodong and considered Zhuojun a crucial strategic location, so he searched for suitable candidates. Hearing of Guo Xuan's strong administrative abilities, he appointed him as the magistrate of Zhuojun, which delighted the local officials and common folk. Several years later, Guo Xuan was promoted to the governor of Zhuojun and also served as the acting governor. Later, a bandit uprising broke out in Shandong, and Guo Xuan led troops to pursue and apprehend many bandits. While other counties descended into chaos, Zhuojun remained unscathed. Subsequently, Guo Xuan fought valiantly against Dou Jiande in Hejian, where he met his end in battle. Officials and locals mourned him for months, and the sorrow lingered on for a long time.
Jing Su, whose courtesy and integrity were well-known, also known as Hongjian, was from Puban in Hedong. He was recognized for his integrity and uprightness from a young age and started his official career as a county scribe. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui in the Kaihuang era, he became the magistrate of Anling County, where he made remarkable contributions and was promoted to the Sima of Qinzhou, and later appointed as the Chief Historian of Binzhou. During the Ren Shou era of Emperor Yang of Sui, he served as the Sima of Weizhou, also making notable achievements. After Emperor Yang ascended the throne, Jing Su was transferred to be the magistrate of Yingchuan. In the fifth year of Daye, Jing Su went to the Eastern Capital to meet the Emperor, who tasked Xue Daoheng, the Minister of Justice, to inspect the officials across the country. Xue Daoheng's evaluation of Jing Su was: "His heart is as firm as iron and stone, becoming even more upright as he ages." At that time, General Yü Wenshu, a powerful figure, wielded significant influence, and since his hometown was in Yingchuan, he frequently sent letters to Jing Su seeking favors. Jing Su never opened Yü Wenshu's letters but instead had the messengers take them back directly. Jing Su punished Yü Wenshu's guests for their reckless behavior, never showing any leniency. As a result, Yü Wenshu harbored resentment towards him. In the eighth year of Daye, Jing Su went to Zhuo County to meet the Emperor. The Emperor, recognizing his advanced age and administrative abilities, wanted to promote him to be a governor several times, but Yü Wenshu thwarted every attempt. In the later years of Daye, Jing Su requested retirement, which the Emperor granted. On the day of his retirement, he left home with no savings. A year later, Jing Su passed away at the age of eighty years.
We don't really know who Liu Kuang is. He is cautious and honest, always sincere and forgiving. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui, he was appointed as the magistrate of Pingxiang County. He rode alone on horseback to take up his post. When there were disputes, he patiently and meticulously explained the situation to them, never resorting to harsh punishments. The people were so touched by him that they began encouraging one another, saying, "With such a good magistrate, how could we possibly do anything wrong?" After seven years as the magistrate of Pingxiang County, the local atmosphere improved significantly, with no one in prison and no disputes. When he left office, officials and people of all sizes wept and accompanied him for hundreds of miles, the procession never breaking.
Later, he was promoted to magistrate of Linying County, still upright and incorruptible, with remarkable political achievements, renowned as the best in the land. The Minister of the Left, Gao Feng, reported his deeds to the emperor. The emperor summoned him and commended him, saying, "There are countless magistrates out there, but you stand out as exceptional!" Then he said to the officials around him, "If we don't reward him well, how can we motivate others?" Thus, the emperor issued an especially generous decree, promoting him to the post of governor of Juzhou.
Wang Jia, from Zhangwu, Hebei, held a minor official position in Qizhou during the later years of Emperor Wen of Sui's reign. Initially, he did not distinguish himself in his role as a military officer. However, when he was tasked with escorting over seventy prisoners to the capital, led by a man named Li Can, he felt a deep sorrow for the prisoners, who were suffering while wearing shackles, and decided to help them remove their restraints. He made a promise that they would all arrive in the capital together on time. The prisoners, overwhelmed with gratitude for his kindness, kept their promise and arrived in the capital as agreed. When the Emperor heard about this extraordinary act, he was astonished and praised Wang Jia, inviting the prisoners to the palace, where they were honored with a feast and granted pardons, along with their families.
The emperor issued a decree, saying, "All people in the world have a sense of good and evil. As long as they are guided with sincerity, they can be led to goodness. In the past, the world was in chaos, morals were corrupt, officials lacked compassion, and the common people were cunning. This led to endless lawsuits and a decline in societal morals. I, appointed by the heavens, must pacify the people. I strive to follow the teachings of sages, to influence the people with morality, and I work towards this every day. Wang Jia understands my intentions and uses his sincere heart to reform those who have erred. Li Can and others have repented and voluntarily surrendered to the authorities. This shows that the common people are not hard to guide; it is just that officials have not guided them properly, leading them to crime and depriving them of the opportunity to reform. If all officials could be like Wang Jia and all people like Li Can, then there would be no need for the penal system. Isn't that a hopeful vision?" The emperor then promoted Wang Jia to be the magistrate of Yongzhou, where he performed excellently and gained a good reputation.
Wei Deshen, originally from Julu, came from a family with a history of public service. His grandfather, Wei Chong, held high positions in the Zhou Dynasty and later moved the family to Hongnong. His father, Wei Pi, served as Yulin County's magistrate. Wei Deshen started as a minor official under Emperor Wen, later becoming the secretary of Fengyi County and Wuyang County due to his outstanding abilities, eventually rising to the position of county magistrate. He governed with integrity, fairness, and a strong sense of order.
During the war with Liaodong, there were numerous taxes and officials rushing to collect them, placing a heavy burden on the people due to rampant corruption and excessive taxes. However, in Guixiang County under Wei Deshen's leadership, the situation was markedly different. He coordinated efforts to meet the imperial demands, ensuring peace and stability in the county. Despite rampant banditry and attacks on nearby cities, Guixiang County remained safe and sound.
County magistrate Yuan Baozang was tasked with capturing thieves, but he lost every engagement and exhausted all his weapons and supplies. He resorted to extorting the common people for their belongings, frequently resorting to military law to punish them, repeating this several times. In other cities, defense constructions were concentrated in the government offices, where officials passed the buck and created a ruckus day and night, achieving little. Wei Deshen, however, was different. He first asked everyone what they needed, then let them do it themselves. The government office was calm, as if nothing was amiss. He only restrained the officials in the county, making sure that the defense constructions weren't better than those in other counties, so as not to overburden the people. However, his subordinates worked diligently, making the defense constructions in his county the best in all counties.
Later, Wei Deshen was transferred to Guantao County as the county magistrate. When the officials and people of the county heard about this, they all talked about his deeds, crying uncontrollably. When he was about to take office in Guantao, the entire town turned out to see him off, the cries echoing for miles. In Guantao, the people regarded him as a father figure.
There was a scoundrel named Zhao Junshi, an official from another county who had a close relationship with County Magistrate Yuan Baozang. No previous magistrate had the guts to stand up to him. Ever since Wei Deshen showed up, Zhao Junshi has been hiding at home, too scared to step out. Those who had fled started coming back, and it felt like a festival. The villagers from his county took great risks to travel to the capital, pleading for Wei Deshen to remain, and the emperor agreed.
The people of Guantao went to the county to report that the documents from the village were fake. The county was at a standstill, unable to make a decision. Later, envoys Wei Ji and Du Zheng sent by the court arrived, and both counties appealed to them. The final ruling favored the village county. The officials and villagers erupted in joy and celebration. The people of Guantao were left in tears, and as a result, hundreds of families packed up and left.
Yuan Baozang envied Wei Deshen's talent. Later, King Dong of Yue ordered Wei Deshen to take a thousand soldiers to the eastern capital. Shortly thereafter, Yuan Baozang went to join Li Mi with Wuyang. The soldiers led by Wei Deshen were all from Wuyang. When their hometown had defected, Wei Deshen thought of his relatives and friends, so he left the city gate, wept sorrowfully to the east, and then returned to the city. Some people advised him, "Li Mi's army is near Jinyong City, just over twenty miles from here. If you want to go back, no one can stop you. Why subject yourself to such torment?" Those soldiers said, "We came here with County Chief Wei. We can't bear to leave him behind, no matter how difficult the journey is!" This was how Wei Deshen earned the people's love. Later, Wei Deshen died in battle against the enemy, and the people of Guixiang and Guantao still remember him to this day.
At that time, the three officials—Gao Shiheng from Bohai, Liu Gao from Pengcheng, and Liu Chi from Hongnong—were known for their virtue. As the Sui Dynasty was nearing its end, many officials had become corrupt, but Gao Shiheng, Liu Gao, and Liu Chi remained honest and strict, even more so than before. The local atmosphere greatly improved, with few prisoners in the jails, and the local populace praised them.
The historical records say: The ancients said it well, "Those who are good at managing water will guide it to calm; those who are good at educating the people will bring them stability." When the water is calm, it will not damage the embankment; when the people are stable, they will not violate the law. Therefore, changing customs and educating the people to abide by ethics does not require strict enforcement but relies on officials of high moral character. People like Gao Shiheng, who follow the right path and genuinely care for the people, make the places they govern flourish. The people miss them dearly after they leave. As for Jing Mao, who suppresses evil and promotes kindness; Gong Yi, who shows compassion for the people's suffering; Liu Kuang, who educates the area he governs; and De Shen, who is deeply loved by the people, the achievements of these individuals surpass even those of renowned historical officials like Xincheng, Du Shi, Zheng Hun, and Zhu Yi. The Book of Songs says, "The gentle and kind gentleman is like a parent to the people." This statement is absolutely correct! It is a pity! Those officials of high moral character, although highly appreciated by the emperor, were all exiled to the roads because of minor mistakes in the past, which is really a shame! There is also Liu Jian, who, after resigning from office, fell into poverty, and his wife and children lived in hardship; when Zhao Gui finished his term and resigned, he simply said goodbye with a cup of plain water, truly incorruptible!
