Liu Xuan, with the courtesy name Guangbo, is from Jingcheng, Hebei. He was renowned for his intelligence and quick wit from a young age. He and Liu Zhuo from Xindu studied in seclusion for ten years, emerging only after that time. Liu Xuan had bright and sharp eyes; he could gaze directly at the sun without being dazzled, and his memory was exceptional, unmatched by anyone. He could draw squares with his left hand while drawing circles with his right, all while reciting, counting, and listening, performing five tasks simultaneously without making a single mistake. After Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou pacified the Qi Dynasty, the Yizhou Governor Yu Wenkang recruited him as an official in the Household Department. Later, the Governor Li Hui appointed him as an official in the Rites Department because of his outstanding ability. Over a year later, he was tasked with compiling the national history alongside the official Wang Shao. Soon after, he was appointed to the Ministry of the Interior as a consultant. He also collaborated with some scholars to revise astronomical texts and calendars, and was in charge of reviewing various memorials in the Ministry of the Interior, where Li Delin, the Prefect of the Interior from Boling, held him in high esteem. Although Liu Xuan served in all three departments, he never held a formal official position, but was instead ordered by the county to perform labor. Liu Xuan then appealed to the Ministry of the Interior, who sent him to the Ministry of Personnel. Wei Shikang, the Minister of Personnel, inquired about his abilities. Liu Xuan submitted a self-written resume, saying, "I can expound on the annotations of thirteen scholars, including Confucius, Zheng, Wang, He, Fu, and Du, though the depth of interpretation varies. I have also deeply studied the mysteries of astronomy and calendars. As for writing public and private documents, I have never needed the help of others." The Ministry of Personnel did not conduct a thorough examination of his abilities, but over a dozen reputable figures in the court vouched for the authenticity of Liu Xuan's self-assessment, so he was appointed as a General within the palace.
At that time, Niu Hong requested to collect lost books from across the realm. Liu Xuan forged over a hundred volumes, titled "Lianshan Yi," "Lu Shiji," and so on, and then submitted them to the court, claimed his rewards, and left. Later, someone reported him; although he was granted a reprieve from the death penalty due to a general amnesty, he was still dismissed, returned to his hometown, and earned a living as a teacher. Prince Yong heard about it and summoned him to the capital, asking him to serve Prince Xiu of Shu, but he kept procrastinating and refused to go. Prince Xiu was furious, shackled him, and sent him to Yizhou. Later, he was assigned to serve in the tent, standing guard every day with a stick. Shortly afterwards, he was released and appointed as a copyist. Liu Xuan then drew inspiration from Qu Yuan's "Buju" and wrote a piece called "Shitu" to convey his sentiments.
After Prince Xiu was deposed, I collaborated with some Confucian scholars to revise the "Five Rites" and was appointed as a traveling cavalry officer. Niu Hong, the Minister of Personnel, suggested that, according to the ancient ritual system, the relatives of vassals should be demoted by one rank. The current high-ranking officials, although different from the ancient vassals, are similar to the grandees, all holding positions at the second rank, so their relatives should also be demoted by one level. Many agreed with his reasoning.
However, I disagreed. I said, "In ancient times, officials only valued one person, the monarch, and commoners had little chance of advancement. Therefore, ancient monarchs valued their legitimate sons and provided them with allowances. Even if the relationship between relatives and legitimate sons was distant, they were still required to observe a three-month mourning period because they all benefitted from the monarch's grace. Nowadays, officials are promoted based on their merit; this differs from ancient times, so why should their ranks be lowered? Many high-ranking officials today do not care about their relatives. If their ranks are lowered, the bonds among common people will grow increasingly tenuous, and this trend would begin now!" As a result, Niu Hong's suggestion was shelved.
In the twentieth year of the Kaihuang era, the court abolished the four divisions of the Imperial Academy and the schools in the states and counties, leaving only two doctors and seventy-two students in the Imperial Academy. I spoke sincerely to the emperor, saying that schools should not be abolished, but unfortunately, Emperor Gaozu did not adopt my suggestion. As the Kaihuang era was coming to an end, the country was very prosperous, and the attention of the court and the people was focused on Liaodong. I felt that Liaodong should not be invaded, so I wrote an article titled "On Pacifying the Barbarians" to advise against it. At that time, no one understood my meaning. It wasn't until the impending collapse of the Sui Dynasty, when the three campaigns against Liaodong during the Sui Dynasty all ended in failure, that my words were proven true.
When Emperor Yangdi ascended the throne, Niu Hong recommended Pei Xuan to revise the laws. At that time, Emperor Gaozu felt that most of the officials and scribes were unscrupulous, and over time, they would do all sorts of evil things, a consequence of the system. He also felt that the social atmosphere was corrupt, and women were not adhering to their traditional roles. Therefore, rules were established: assistant officials in the states and counties were to be rotated every three years, and the wives of ninth-rank officials could not remarry. Pei Xuan penned an article criticizing these regulations, but Niu Hong still implemented them. The establishment of schools in various places and the provision of food and money to officials from distant regions were all ideas proposed by Pei Xuan.
Once, Niu Hong chatted with Pei Xuan and asked him, "If you refer to the 'Rites of Zhou,' there were numerous scholars but few officials, but now there are a hundred times more scribes than before, and fewer judges. What's the reason for this?" Pei Xuan replied, "In ancient times, people trusted their subordinates very much, and they only needed to assess their work performance at the end of the year. There was no need to repeatedly check documents or record everything in detail. The role of officials was primarily to manage essential information. But now, the paperwork has become overwhelming, and there is always a fear of making mistakes, so there are repeated checks. Even if you are meticulous, old cases from thousands of miles away must be investigated, which is why the saying goes, 'old officials die clutching their cases.' The past and present are vastly different, with so many things happening, and the government affairs are chaotic, all caused by this reason."
Niu Hong asked again, "During the Wei and Qi dynasties, clerical work was relatively easy, but now there's hardly a moment of leisure. Why is this?" Pei Xuan replied, "During the Qi dynasty, there were only a few dozen prefectures established, with three central government departments and the Xingtai (censorial agencies) overseeing each other, issuing only about a dozen documents. Now there are over three hundred prefectures, which is one reason for the increase in documents. In the past, prefectures had only a few officials in charge, and the counties had magistrates. Their subordinates were all selected by the senior officials themselves, and they took office upon receiving the imperial edict, with each prefecture having only a few dozen officials. Now it is different, with officials of all sizes being appointed by the Ministry of Personnel, and the details of all officials being assessed by the Department of Review. It’s better to reduce tasks than to reduce officials, and maintaining integrity is even more important. If official duties do not decrease and one expects to relax, how is that possible?" Niu Hong strongly agreed with him but could not implement his ideas.
Yang Da, the Grand Censor, recommended Pei Xuan as knowledgeable and talented, with excellent exam results, and he was appointed as a Doctor of the Imperial Academy. Over a year later, he was dismissed because of his low rank and returned to his hometown of Changping. He was summoned back to court. Some claimed he had poor character, so the emperor dismissed him and sent him back to his hometown of Hejian. At that time, banditry was rampant, food prices were soaring, scholarly research was interrupted, and teaching activities were also suspended. Pei Xuan was separated from his wife by a hundred miles, with no word from her. Frustrated and unable to achieve his goals, he wrote a self-commendation, the content of which is as follows:
Hello everyone, my name is Sima Xiangru, no, I’m not the famous Sima Xiangru; I am just an ordinary person. Characters like Sima Xiangru, Yang Xiong, Ma Rong, and Zheng Xuan, who are well-known figures, have all written down their glorious deeds to be passed down to future generations. I dare not compare myself to them, for fear of being ridiculed. As I grow older and near the end of my life, old friends are leaving one by one, and my students are going their separate ways. I feel like morning dew, soon to vanish, with no resting place after I’m gone, no loved ones to remember me, and no future generations to know me. While I am still alive, I will simply share my thoughts and leave it for the younger generation to see and understand me and my aspirations.
Since I can remember, to now with white hair, my parents have always loved me, never once scolded me; my teachers have always held me in high regard, never reprimanding me. As I grew up, I made an effort to get along well with my relatives and friends, always putting others before myself. Since I was young, I enjoyed being with elders and got along well with young people. I never grew tired of studying; when teaching others, I never felt burdened. Although my life was relatively frugal, my heart has always been calm.
Thinking back on my life, I consider myself fortunate for four things, though I also have one significant regret. I am not very talented, and my family is poor. Thanks to the help of my older brothers, I barely managed to become an official, allowing me to read a lot of classics, learn historical knowledge, do some small good deeds in the local area, and gain some reputation, which is my first piece of good fortune.
Although I have held some official positions, most of them are minor positions with little real power. My name has not appeared on the list of meritorious officials, nor have I left any remarkable military achievements. But being able to live and work peacefully in this life is already very good, which is my second piece of good fortune.
With my limited abilities, I have unexpectedly earned the court's recognition, been promoted several times, and been able to work alongside those high-ranking officials, leaving my name in the court, which I consider to be my third piece of good fortune.
Now that I am older and have retired back to my hometown, I spend my days reading, watching birds and fish, and taking walks in the countryside, living a carefree life. This is my fourth piece of good fortune.
However, I have always had one regret in my heart: I live in an era of peace and prosperity, yet I see the decline of Confucianism, as so-called scholars produce empty and meaningless writings. I worked hard to study the classics, correct errors, and complete my writings, but my hopes ultimately came to nothing. The court did not adopt my suggestions, the academies were abolished, and my teachings did not pass down. This is truly the eternal pain in my heart!
Speaking of Mr. Liu Xuan from Hejian, at that time in the county town, the food supply was cut off, and many of his students turned to become thieves. Mr. Liu Xuan was poor and hungry, so he had no choice but to go to the county town to seek help. Unfortunately, Mr. Liu Xuan was captured by the bandits and taken near the fortress outside the city. Not long after, the bandits were defeated by the officials. Mr. Liu Xuan was hungry and cold, with nowhere to go, so he had to run back to the county town for help. However, the county magistrate suspected he was connected to the bandits and worried he might cause trouble later, so he closed the door and refused to take him in. On that cold, snowy night, Mr. Liu Xuan perished from hunger and exposure at the age of sixty-eight. Later, his students posthumously honored him with the title "Mr. Xuande."
Mr. Liu Xuan was impatient, competitive, liked to joke, was very self-confident, and looked down on the celebrities of the time, which led to him offending many people in power, and his career was fraught with difficulties. He wrote the following works:
- *Discussions on the Analects* (ten volumes)
- *Spring and Autumn Attack on Obscurity* (ten volumes)
- *Correct Names of the Five Classics* (twelve volumes)
- *Discussions on Filial Piety* (five volumes)
- *Discussions on the Spring and Autumn Annals* (forty volumes)
- *Discussions on the Book of Documents* (twenty volumes)
- *Discussions on the Book of Songs* (forty volumes)
- *Poetry Annotations* (one volume)
- *Arithmetic* (one volume)
These works have endured through the ages.
Chu Hui from Wu County, courtesy name Gaoming, gained fame in Jiangnan for his mastery of the "Three Rites." During the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, the court summoned learned individuals from all over the country to gather at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, taking turns to lecture and discuss. Chu Hui was exceptionally eloquent, and no one could refute him. As a result, he was promoted to the title of Doctor at the Imperial Academy and composed a hundred scrolls of "Ritual Commentary."
Gu Biao from Yuhang, courtesy name Zhongwen, was extremely knowledgeable in the "Book of Documents" and "Spring and Autumn Annals." During the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, he served as an Imperial Secretariat Scholar and composed twenty scrolls of "Commentary on the Ancient Texts of the Book of Documents."
Lu Shida from Yuhang served as an assistant teacher at the Imperial College during the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui and composed forty-two scrolls of "Commentary on the Poems of Mao," which have also been passed down through the ages.
Zhang Chong from Wu County, courtesy name Shuxuan, served as Left Middle General during the Chen Dynasty, but it was not his calling. He preferred studying the classics and wrote "Summary of the Spring and Autumn Annals," in which he diverged from Du Yu's views in over seventy instances. He also wrote three scrolls of "Funeral Rites Commentary," three scrolls of "Filial Piety Commentary," ten scrolls of "Analects Commentary," and twelve scrolls of "Qian Han Phonology Commentary." He later served as a reader for the Han Prince.
Wang Xiaoji from Pingyuan developed a passion for learning from a young age, was well-read, mastered the Five Classics, and possessed exceptional writing talent. He was good friends with Liu Xuan from Hejian. During the Kaihuang era, he was summoned to the Secretariat, where he assisted Wang Shao in compiling national history. However, Wang Shao held him in low regard, and despite spending many years in the Secretariat, he still found himself having to pay taxes. Wang Xiaoji felt very frustrated and thus wrote a letter to the Minister of Personnel, Niu Hong, voicing his grievances.
I was bitten by venomous insects, and I couldn't sleep all night, feeling hungry and cold, and living in misery throughout the year. Why? Because the pain I endure is unbearable, and poverty weighs heavily on me. Moreover, my heart feels like it's in turmoil, and my body is worn down by the harsh elements. How can I stay silent, endure this suffering, and not groan? I hope you, Lord Ming, can take pity on my plight and open your heart; your kindness is like a lifeline for a fish out of water, and your compassion can help lift the poor from despair. Your words are like fragrant orchids and warm blankets, capable of fulfilling my request and allowing you to hear my plea. Although the mountains are high and the waters are far, the spirits bear witness to my plight; everything I say is true; I speak with no falsehood. However, I am still worried that help will come too late, waiting for help as if I were being ferried across water or rescued with a ladder. By then, I might already be hanging by a thread, about to fall into the abyss.
As a poor man, I've served as an official in the province for seven years. I've fulfilled my duties diligently, yet I've never received any rewards. I have young children to support and no brothers to turn to. What's worse, my elderly mother is still at home. As time passes and seasons change, the road ahead feels long. I bite my arm in desperation and make a wish, but the future remains bleak. My parents' expectations weigh heavily on me day and night. Like Sima Xiangru, who fell ill, no official position can grant me exemption; like Mei Fu going insane, even immortals cannot escape it. My sorrows are more terrifying than ghosts, and life is not as unyielding as stone. My soul is on the verge of scattering, fearing that no one will know of my plight after I’m gone. If I enter the underworld with regrets, my pleas will have been in vain. This is the message Wang Ji sought to convey, which Ying Hou wished to avoid. My experiences are tangled in my hair, right before my eyes. Zi Ye did not hear me, nor did Li Zhu see me. I am buried in history, overlooked and forever forgotten. For three generations, we’ve not entered officialdom. Although it’s peaceful, I’ve gone ten years without a promotion and truly lack a confidant.
Only a wise monarch can achieve an extraordinary feat, and only a wise minister can accomplish remarkable achievements. I, an insignificant person, have the fortune of serving under a wise monarch like you, and that is why I feel fortunate. You hold a high position of power, yet you can reject extravagance and not pursue fame and fortune, and that's why you may not value me. In the past, the beautiful jade of Jing Shan was not discovered, and Bian He had his feet cut off; Bai Li Xi was not valued, and Qin Xi had his head cut off. You hold a high position and have the power to help me and expand your own horizons, yet you do not take action. Do you know the reason? Sometimes official positions do not match talents, scholars cannot express their grievances, and private conversations can spread far and wide. My hard work has not been rewarded; how could I not have hope? If my illness is not yet fatal, and I can still restrain my arrogance, I will write down my sorrows, record my worries, let future generations know of my experiences, and hold those responsible accountable, leaving a clear conscience. Even if I die, I will be content, and my sins will be cleansed. I hope you can show me a little pity, pay me some attention, and not forget about me!
Hong, though everyone recognized his knowledge, ultimately did not obtain an official position. Later, he returned to his hometown, earned a living as a teacher, and eventually spent his later years in peace. He also annotated the "Book of Documents" and the "Book of Songs," but unfortunately, these works were lost in the turmoil of frequent wars.
In historical records, it is said: "The ancients had a saying: 'Having an unattractive appearance doesn't matter, having little strength isn't a worry, having an ordinary family background doesn't matter, and not having famous ancestors doesn't matter either, but ultimately achieving fame and benefiting future generations all come from learning!' This statement is absolutely correct! Take people like Huiyuan and Rongbo, who dedicated themselves and relied entirely on their own efforts, ultimately finding success through their studies, becoming renowned worldwide and earning respect from others. Some managed to attract thousands of students, some dressed in official robes and traveled in carriages, and were highly esteemed at the time, all because of their diligent study of ancient classics.
Jiangyang was calm and collected, with an extraordinary and refined demeanor, elegant in speech, and insightful, which made him quite famous back then; Yanzhi diligently studied the classics, had a strong sense of integrity, followed rules in his actions, had lofty aspirations, and behaved in a proper manner; Hetuo was quick-witted, agile, had excellent eloquence, and was skilled in writing, but his straightforward manner of speaking was a bit uncharacteristic of a Confucian scholar; Liuchao was highly esteemed among scholars at the time, proficient in astronomy and calendars, with profound knowledge and in-depth research on astronomical phenomena. His extensive and profound knowledge had a far-reaching influence, and for centuries, there had been no one like him; Liuxuan was also a scholar well-versed in the classics, talented in various fields, capable of handling all kinds of work, and had delved into various fields of knowledge, though not as deep in exploring complex knowledge as Liuchao, his writings on organizing and expounding principles were even better than Liuchao.
These individuals were all talented, but sadly, they were born at the wrong time; some could only become minor officials, and some even ended up impoverished, which is truly a shame! Zixia once said: 'Life and death are predestined, wealth and honor are in the hands of fate.' Even though they were blessed with intelligence and wisdom, they were not granted prestigious official positions; even sages don't always get their way, so how could Liuchao and Liuxuan expect any more?"
