Liu Jian, courtesy name Daoyue, was from Jie County in Hedong. His grandfather, Liu Yuanzhang, held the position of Grand Zheng in Sizhou during the Wei Dynasty and served as the Intendant of both Xiangzhou and Huazhou; his father, Liu Yu, was the magistrate of Wenxi County in the Zhou Dynasty. Liu Jian was known for his sense of responsibility and simple lifestyle, and he was highly respected in his hometown. Even his close friends and family dared not show him disrespect. He served as a Xuan Na Officer and a Jibo Grand Officer in the Zhou Dynasty. After the founding emperor ascended the throne, he promoted Liu Jian to be the Deputy Minister of Water and bestowed upon him the title of Count of Luadao. Not long after, he was appointed as the Prefect of Guanghan Commandery and achieved remarkable success in governance, gaining considerable fame. However, Guanghan Commandery was eventually dissolved.
At that time, the founding emperor had recently unified the country, dedicated to governance and meticulously selecting talented individuals, sending them to various regions as officials. Liu Jian was known for his integrity, benevolence, and political achievements, and was promoted to be the Intendant of Pengzhou. He handled cases swiftly, never writing lengthy documents, merely guiding his subordinates with a firm hand, and the prison had no inmates. The Prince of Shu, Yang Xiu, stationed in Yizhou at that time, reported Liu Jian's achievements to the court, resulting in Liu Jian's transfer to the Intendant of Qiongzhou. He served in Qiongzhou for over ten years, gaining the respect of both the local populace and the Yi tribes. However, when Prince Yang Xiu of Shu was implicated in a crime, Liu Jian was dismissed due to their prior association. Upon returning to his hometown, he traveled in a rundown carriage and rode a frail horse, struggling to make ends meet for his family, and everyone who saw him couldn't help but feel sympathy for him.
Emperor Yang of Sui summoned him after he ascended the throne. At that time, officials who held positions as governors and county magistrates based on their merits were all accompanied by military forces, except for Liu Jian, who started as a low-level clerk. Emperor Yang of Sui greatly admired his achievements, appointed him as a Court Gentleman, and appointed him as the Governor of Honghua County, rewarding him with one hundred bolts of cloth. Liu Jian's integrity and frugality were even more commendable. In the fifth year of Daye, he traveled to the capital to pay his respects, where officials from all over the country gathered. Emperor Yang of Sui asked the Minister of Rites, Su Wei, and the Minister of Personnel, Niu Hong, "Among these people, whose reputation is the highest in the land?" Su Wei replied that it was Liu Jian. Emperor Yang of Sui then asked who was second, and Su Wei answered that it was Guo Xuan, the magistrate of Zhuo County, and Jing Su, the magistrate of Yingchuan County. Emperor Yang of Sui rewarded Liu Jian with two hundred bolts of cloth, and Guo Xuan and Jing Su with one hundred bolts each, and ordered the envoys from across the country who had come to the capital to deliver the rewards to their respective counties, in order to commend their integrity. People praised Liu Jian. In the later years of Daye, banditry was rampant, and Liu Jian was attacked many times. However, he pacified the people and minority groups, preventing any rebellion and ultimately preserving the region. When the rebel army entered Chang'an and enthroned Emperor Gong, Liu Jian and the resident Li Can wore plain clothes in the county, facing south in mourning. Later, he returned to the capital, where the Prime Minister honored him with three hundred bolts of cloth and appointed him as the Grand General. Over a year later, he passed away peacefully at home at the age of eighty-nine.
Guo Xuan, from Yongji, Shanxi, originally came from a poor family. He started as a minor official in the Ministry of Personnel, later rose to the position of Yitong Sanji based on his military achievements, and served as Sima and Changshi in several states, performing excellently and earning a good reputation. When Emperor Yang of Sui had just ascended the throne, the Minister of Justice, Yuwen Bi, inspected Hebei and brought Guo Xuan along as his assistant. Emperor Yang of Sui was preparing to go to Liaodong for battle and recognized the strategic importance of Zhuozhou, so he searched for suitable talents. Hearing of Guo Xuan's strong abilities and reliability, he appointed him as the Prefect of Zhuozhou, which made the local officials and common people very happy. Several years later, Guo Xuan was promoted to the acting prefect of Zhuozhou. Later, when bandits emerged in Shandong, Guo Xuan led troops to pursue and apprehend many of the bandits. At that time, other states and counties were plagued by banditry, but Zhuozhou was unharmed. Subsequently, Guo Xuan led troops to fight against Dou Jiande in Hejian and died in battle. Both officials and common folk mourned him for months, and the sorrow lingered on for a long time.
Jing Su, courtesy name Hongjian, was from Puban, Yongji in Shanxi. He was known for his integrity and uprightness from a young age, and initially served as the chief clerk of the prefecture when he first entered officialdom. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui in the Kaihuang era, he became the magistrate of Anling County, where he achieved remarkable governance results and was promoted to the position of Sima in Qinzhou. He was later transferred to Binzhou as the Chief Clerk. In the Renshou era of Emperor Yang of Sui, he became the Sima of Weizhou, continuing to deliver exceptional results. After Emperor Yang ascended the throne, he was promoted to the position of magistrate of Yingchuan commandery. In the fifth year of Daye, he went to the eastern capital, Luoyang, to pay his respects to the emperor, who tasked Xue Daoheng, the Chief of the Imperial Secretariat, with assessing the officials across the realm. Xue Daoheng evaluated him saying, "His heart is as firm as steel, and he becomes more upright with age." At that time, the General of the Left Yuyi, Yu Wenshu, wielded significant power and hailed from Yingchuan. He often sent letters to Jing Su, but he always returned them unopened, instructing the messengers to take them back. Jing Su dealt with those among Yu Wenshu's guests who behaved wantonly according to the law, never showing leniency. Consequently, Yu Wenshu held a grudge against him. In the eighth year of Daye, Jing Su went to Zhuozhou to meet the emperor, who, recognizing his advanced age and exceptional governing abilities, considered promoting him to governor several times, but was thwarted each time by Yu Wenshu. In the waning years of Daye, Jing Su requested retirement, which the emperor granted. When he resigned, he had no savings at home. A year later, Jing Su passed away at the age of eighty.
As for Liu Kuang, his true identity remains unknown. He was cautious and honest, always treating others sincerely and kindly, while being lenient with himself. At the start of the Kaihuang era under Emperor Wen of Sui, he was appointed as the magistrate of Pingxiang County and rode on horseback to assume his post alone.
If someone gets into disputes, he always patiently explains the priorities of the situation, emphasizing the importance and urgency of the matter. He never imposes harsh punishments, and everyone feels a bit ashamed and admits their mistakes before parting. He dedicates his entire salary to helping the poor. The common people were deeply moved by him, encouraging each other and saying, "With such a good official, how can we do bad things!" He served as the county magistrate in Pingxiang County for seven years, and the local atmosphere became exceptionally good. There were no prisoners in the prison, and lawsuits disappeared. The prison was overgrown with weeds, and the yard could be used for playing tennis (slightly exaggerated, meaning the courtyard was spacious). When he left his post, officials of all ranks in the county cried and sent him off on the road for hundreds of miles without interruption.
Later, he was promoted to be the county magistrate of Linying County, still maintaining a reputation for integrity and good governance, ultimately becoming the most esteemed official in the country. Minister Gao Feng reported his achievements to the emperor, who called him in for an audience and praised him, saying, "There are so many county magistrates in the world, but you stand out. That's great!" He then told the officials around him, "If we don't reward him properly, how can we motivate others!" So the emperor issued a generous decree, promoting him to the position of Inspector of Juzhou.
Wang Jia, from Zhangwu, Hebei, was a minor official in Qizhou during the late Kaihuang period of Emperor Wen of Sui. Initially, he was just an Acting Military Officer with nothing special about him. Later, the province sent him to escort over seventy prisoners who had committed exile crimes, such as Li Can and others, to the capital. At that time, it was required that exiled prisoners wear chains during their escort. When Wang Jia reached Xingyang and saw how the prisoners were suffering, he felt a deep sense of unease. He called them over and said, "You have broken the law and undermined social order. It is your duty to suffer wearing chains. But now, you have to carry this heavy burden on your own and travel all the way. Can you bear this burden?" The prisoners all thanked him. Wang Jia said, "Even though you have broken the law, I understand that wearing chains is truly painful. I want to help you remove the chains. When we reach the capital, can you guarantee that you will arrive on time?" The prisoners all knelt down and thanked him, saying, "We will definitely not delay!" So Wang Jia removed their chains, did not send any soldiers to accompany them, and only agreed with them: "You must arrive in the capital by a specific date. If anyone is late, I will take responsibility for you!" After saying this, he left. The exiled prisoners were very moved and all arrived in the capital on time, without anyone escaping or turning against him. The Emperor was astonished upon hearing this and summoned Wang Jia, praising him profusely. Later, the Emperor summoned all those exiled prisoners, permitted them to bring their families into the palace, held a banquet in their honor, and ultimately pardoned them all.
The emperor issued a decree: "Everyone in the world, whether human or creature, has their own preferences and sense of right and wrong. As long as they are guided with sincerity and persuaded with reason, the social climate will improve, and people will become better individuals. In the past, due to chaos and a decline in moral values, officials lacked compassion, and the common people resorted to cunning tricks, resulting in endless lawsuits and a deterioration of social morals. I have been appointed by heaven to bring peace to the people, to follow the teachings of sages, and to influence people with morality. I strive for this every day. Wang Jia understands my intentions and sincerely reaches out to those prisoners. Li Can and others have repented and voluntarily surrendered to the authorities as a result. This demonstrates that the people are not hard to educate, but it is because officials have not fulfilled their guiding responsibilities, which has led to their mistakes and deprived them of opportunities for reform. If all officials could be like Wang Jia and all people like Li Can, then the need for a penal system would vanish. Isn't this a desirable outcome?" The emperor then promoted Wang Jia to be the magistrate of Yongzhou, where he performed excellently.
Wei Deshen, originally from Julu, his grandfather, Wei Chong, served as the Minister of Justice and the Governor of Jianzhou during the Zhou Dynasty, and later settled in Hongnong. His father, Wei Pi, was the magistrate of Yulin County. Wei Deshen started as a minor official under Emperor Wen, later serving as a scribe in Fengyi County and as the household manager in Wuyang County. Due to his outstanding abilities, he was promoted to the position of county magistrate. He governed with integrity, fairness, and a strong sense of efficiency, keeping order in the county while being fair but not harsh.
At that time, it coincided with the war in Liaodong. There were a multitude of tax levies, and officials were constantly urging the counties to pay taxes. The court's governance was lax and disorderly, with many officials engaged in corruption and extorting taxes from the populace everywhere. Only in the counties governed by Wei Deshen was the supply of goods abundant, taxes were paid properly, and the people lived in peace and contentment, which was regarded as exceptionally well-governed for that period. Banditry was rampant, and many towns around Wuyang were overrun, but only Wei Deshen's county remained unscathed.
County magistrate Yuan Baozang was ordered to chase the bandits, but each operation was unsuccessful, resulting in a depletion of weapons and equipment. He resorted to coercing the people into surrendering their belongings, often resorting to military discipline, which occurred repeatedly. Other towns concentrated people in government offices to build defense works, with officials pressuring one another day and night, yet still failing to complete the works. Wei Deshen, on the other hand, asked everyone what they wanted to do, then let them do as they pleased. The government office was quiet, as if nothing was amiss. He only restrained the county officials, ensuring that the defense structures were not superior to those in neighboring counties to avoid burdening the people. Nevertheless, the officials under him worked diligently, resulting in the county's defenses being the finest among all.
Later, Wei Deshen was appointed as the county head of Guantao. When the county's officials and residents learned of this, they all reminisced about his kindness and wept inconsolably, unable to speak. When Wei Deshen was about to take office, the entire populace came to bid him farewell, crying loudly all the way to the city gates. In Guantao County, the people regarded him as if he were their own parent.
There was a morally dubious fellow named Zhao Junshi, who worked as an undersecretary in the court. He had a close relationship with the county magistrate Yuan Baozang, and the former county magistrates had to toe the line. When Wei Deshen arrived in Guantao, Zhao Junshi hid in his house and dared not go out. The fugitives returned one after another, creating a bustling scene like a market. The local elders bravely traveled to the capital to advocate for Wei Deshen to stay, which the emperor agreed to. However, the people of Guantao went to the county to complain that the hometown's documents were forged. The county was at a loss for how to rule.
At this time, the court's envoys, Wei Ji, Du Zheng, and others, arrived. Both counties made their complaints to the envoys, and in the end, the envoys ruled in favor of the local community. The officials and people of the hometown cried their eyes out and celebrated with each other. The people of Guantao wept bitterly, and hundreds of families packed up and left. Yuan Baozang was incredibly envious of Wei Deshen's abilities.
Later, King Dong of Yue called up troops from the county, and Yuan Baozang sent Wei Deshen with a thousand soldiers to the eastern capital. Shortly after, Yuan Baozang surrendered to Li Mi. The soldiers under Wei Deshen's command were all from Wuyang, Li Mi's hometown. Thinking of his relatives and friends, Wei Deshen left the city gate, crying his heart out as he faced east, and then returned. Some advised him, "Li Mi's army is near Jinyong City, just over twenty miles away. If you want to go back, who can stop you? Why torture yourself like this?" The soldiers cried and said, "We came here with Prefect Wei; how can we bear to leave him behind? We’re not worried about the distance!" Wei Deshen gained the people's loyalty this way. Later, Wei Deshen died in battle against the bandits, and the folks from both the hometown and Guantao still hold him dear.
It is said that at that time, the county magistrates Gao Shiheng from Bohai, Liu Gao from Pengcheng, and Liu Chi from Hongnong were all great officials who did a lot of good for the people.
During the waning years of the Sui Dynasty, many officials were corrupt; however, there were still a few, like Gao Shiheng, Liu Gao, and Liu Chi, who were honest and dedicated, setting a commendable example for others. The local atmosphere improved significantly thanks to their efforts, with hardly any prisoners in jail, and the common folk singing their praises.
Historical records state: "As the ancients said, 'Those skilled in managing water can guide it to flow smoothly; those adept at educating the people can calm their hearts.'" Thus, changing customs and habits requires more than just strict punishment; it also necessitates the wise guidance of virtuous officials. Gao Shiheng and his companions upheld righteousness, were sincere to people, and thus the people in their jurisdiction lived in peace and prosperity. Even after their departure, the people held them in fond remembrance.
For instance, Jing Mao curbed wrongdoing and championed good deeds; Gongyi sympathized with the suffering of the people; Liu Kuang brought good practices to his area of jurisdiction; De Shen was deeply loved by the people. The virtues of these individuals eclipsed even those of renowned ancient ministers like Xincheng, Dushi, Zheng Hun, and Zhu Yi. As the Book of Songs rightly states, "A kind and virtuous gentleman is like a father and mother to the people." This is absolutely true!
Regrettably, those high-minded officials were frequently misunderstood by the emperor. For instance, Gong Yi was exiled due to some mistakes and died on the way, a truly tragic outcome. Similarly, Liu Jian faced financial difficulties after resigning from his post, and Zhao Gui, upon reaching retirement age, was bid farewell by the common people, a testament to his integrity.
