Su Wei, whose courtesy name was Wu Wei, is from Wugong, Shaanxi. His father, Su Chuo, once served as the Minister of Revenue for the Northern Wei dynasty. Su Wei was kind-hearted from a young age. When his father passed away when he was five, he grieved like an adult. During the reign of Emperor Zhou of the Zhou dynasty, he inherited the title of Marquis of Meiyang County and served as a local official. The Grand Chancellor Yuwen Hu took notice of him and gave his daughter, Princess Xinxing, in marriage to him. Later, Su Wei saw Yuwen Hu's overreach and feared being implicated, so he fled to the mountains for refuge. However, he was forced to return by his uncle and ultimately could not evade his fate. While living in a temple in the mountains, Su Wei spent his time reading books. Not long after, the court appointed him as the General of Chariots and Cavalry and renamed him the Marquis of Huaidao County. After Emperor Zhou personally took over the government, he appointed Su Wei as a Junior Minister. Su Wei declined these official positions, claiming illness as his excuse. His cousin married a man from Henan named Yuan Xiong. Yuan Xiong had previously had a feud with the Turks, and when the Turks invaded, they demanded that the Zhou dynasty surrender Yuan Xiong and his wife for execution. The Zhou dynasty was ready to hand them over. Su Wei said, "Barbarians only care about money; we can use wealth to sway them." So he sold his land and property to redeem Yuan Xiong, and many praised his noble deed. After Emperor Xuan ascended the throne, Su Wei was appointed to a high-ranking position.
During the time when Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, was the prime minister, Gao Ke praised Su Wei for his talent several times. Yang Jian had also heard of Su Wei's reputation earlier, so he summoned Su Wei to his presence. After meeting, Yang Jian even took Su Wei into his private quarters and chatted with him for a long time, very pleased. After about a month, Su Wei heard that Yang Jian was planning to usurp the throne, so he secretly ran back to his hometown. Gao Ke suggested retrieving him, but Yang Jian said, "If this person does not want to be involved in my affairs, then let it be." After Yang Jian became emperor by usurping the throne, he summoned Su Wei to serve as the guardian of the crown prince. He also posthumously honored Su Wei's father as the Duke of Piguogong, with a fief of three thousand households, for Su Wei to inherit. Not long after, he was also appointed as a counselor and Minister of Civil Affairs. Su Wei submitted a memorial requesting to resign, but the emperor issued a decree saying, "A large ship can carry heavy cargo, and a good horse can run far. You are very talented, do not decline so many things." Su Wei then stopped declining.
Initially, Su Wei's father, during the time of Western Wei, established a tax collection method due to insufficient national finances, with heavy taxation. Later, he sighed and said, "The measures being taken now are akin to drawing a bowstring too tight, not the way of a peaceful and prosperous era. Who in the future will be able to loosen it?" Su Wei heard his father's words and always considered it his responsibility.
When Su Wei became an official, he submitted a memorial requesting to reduce taxes and corvee, striving to lighten the burden on the people, which the emperor agreed to. Gradually, Su Wei caught the emperor's attention and began to engage in court politics alongside Gao Ke. Su Wei saw the silver hooks used for the palace curtains and took the opportunity to advocate for the benefits of thrift to the emperor. The emperor reconsidered his stance and ordered the removal of those ornate old decorations.
Once, the emperor was furious and wanted to execute someone. Su Wei entered the palace to advise him, but the emperor did not listen. The emperor was livid and personally wanted to go out to kill that person. Su Wei blocked him and did not let the emperor pass. The emperor tried to avoid him and go out, but Su Wei stopped him again. The emperor angrily stormed past him and went into the palace. After a while, the emperor called for Su Wei to apologize and said, "If you can do this, then I have no worries." He rewarded Su Wei with two horses and more than a hundred thousand coins. Shortly after, Su Wei also took on the titles of Dali Qing, Jingzhao Yin, and Imperial Historian, while retaining his original positions.
The Imperial Censor Liang Pi accused Su Wei, saying that he held five positions and was too busy, but did not recommend talented individuals to replace himself, satisfied with his current positions. The emperor said, "Su Wei is diligent every day and has lofty ambitions. Perhaps he lacks in recommending talented individuals, but why rush to pressure him?" The emperor looked at Su Wei and said, "When I need you, you work; when I don't, you take a break. Only you and I can do this!" Then the emperor said to the courtiers, "If Su Wei hadn't crossed paths with me, he wouldn't be able to showcase his full potential; if I do not have Su Wei, how can I put my policies into action? Although Yang Su is both talented and articulate, when it comes to understanding and promoting education throughout history, he is not as good as Su Wei. If Su Wei lived in turbulent times, like the Four Sages of Mount Nan (legendary figures known for their wisdom), how could he easily succumb?" The emperor's esteem for Su Wei is clear.
He was soon promoted to the position of Minister of Justice, stepping down from his roles as Shao Bao and Imperial Historian. Later, the role of Jingzhao Yin was eliminated, and he was appointed as the Yuzhou Biejia. At that time, Gao Feng and Li Gang (Wei refers to Li Gang) collaborated to support the court, discussing and deciding on all major and minor matters, so after several years of reforms, people said the country was being run exceptionally well.
He was soon promoted to the position of Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and continued to speak frankly and give advice as before. Just as several counties in Shandong were suffering from famine, the emperor ordered Li Gang to provide relief to the affected people. Two years later, he was promoted to Minister of Personnel. Over a year later, he also took on the role of Grand Sacrificial Official. After the Sui Dynasty experienced war, the country's legal system was in disarray, so the emperor commanded the court officials to revise the old laws and compile a classic text that could be passed down to future generations. Much of the legal framework was established by Li Gang, and people in later generations considered him very capable. Nine years later, he was promoted to the position of Right Deputy Minister.
In the same year, his mother passed away, and he resigned from his official position, showing great sorrow. The emperor issued an edict saying, "Your character is noble, I hold you in great esteem, and I understand your filial piety towards your mother. However, you must restrain your grief and take care of your health for the sake of the country. To you, I am both a sovereign and a father; you should obey my orders and take good care of yourself." Not long after, the emperor appointed him to continue his duties, but Li Gang firmly declined, despite the emperor's repeated edicts. The following year, when the emperor traveled to Bianzhou for an inspection, he ordered Li Gang and Gao Feng to be responsible for staying in the capital. Shortly after, he was summoned to where the emperor was traveling to address the people's legal cases.
When Su Wei was young, he was well-known throughout the realm, and many people came to seek refuge with him. Later, because of a happy occasion, Su Wei and the Grand Scholar He Tuo disagreed. They both had the officials submit their opinions. Most of the court officials supported Su Wei, around eighty to ninety percent. He Tuo was very angry and said, "I've known you, old man, for forty years, and in the end, I was surpassed by a young person!" So he accused Su Wei, the Minister of Rites Lu Kai, the Minister of Personnel Xue Daoheng, the Deputy Minister of Personnel Wang Hong, the Assistant Minister of Personnel Li Tonghe, and others of colluding. People in the palace referred to Wang Hong as "the crown prince" and Li Tonghe as "uncle," saying these two were like Su Wei's own children. He Tuo also claimed that Su Wei used underhanded tactics to help his cousins Che and Su secure official positions. In addition, the National Academy sought to appoint Wang Xiaoyi from Dangyin as a scholar, so Su Wei had Lu Kai arrange for Wang Xiaoyi to serve as an officer in his household. The Emperor ordered Prince Shu Xiu, the Senior Minister Yu Qingze, and others to investigate the matter, and the findings were validated. The Emperor also asked Su Wei to read the records on factionalism in the "Biography of Xie Hui" from the "Book of Song."
Su Wei's face turned pale with fear, quickly removed his hat and knelt to confess. The Emperor said, "Thanks come too late." So Su Wei was stripped of his official position and title and allowed to retire to his home. Because of Su Wei's case, many prominent people were implicated, around a hundred. Not long after, the Emperor said, "Su Wei has a decent character; he had simply been misled by others." So he was reinstated to his official position. Over a year later, the Emperor made him the Duke of Pi and appointed him as a court official. Later, he went to Mount Tai to make a sacrifice but was dismissed for showing disrespect. He was reinstated to his original position shortly afterward. The Emperor told his ministers, "People say Su Wei is hypocritical and pretentious, with a house full of gold and silver, but that's not true. However, he has a ruthless character, struggles with interpersonal relationships, and is too obsessed with reputation. He's happy if you agree with him, but angry if you don't; this is his biggest flaw." Later, the Emperor sent Su Wei to inspect Jiangnan, where he was given free rein. Su Wei traveled to Kuaiji and returned only after crossing the Five Ridges. At that time, the Tujue Khan frequently troubled the border, so the Emperor sent Su Wei to meet the Khan to form an alliance and a marriage. The Khan sent many gifts through envoys in appreciation of Su Wei's diligence, and the Emperor promoted him to Grand General for his hard work. In the early years of Renshou, he was appointed as the Right Deputy Minister. When the Emperor visited Renshou Palace, he put Su Wei in charge of the capital's affairs. When the Emperor returned, the Imperial Censor accused Su Wei of negligence in his duties and requested the Emperor to punish him. The Emperor was furious and questioned Su Wei. Su Wei apologized to the Emperor, and the Emperor decided not to pursue the matter further. Later, when the Emperor visited Renshou Palace and felt unwell, the Crown Prince traveled from the capital to attend to him. The Emperor ordered Su Wei to remain in the capital.
After Yang Guang became emperor, he was appointed as Grand General. Later, during the battle at the Great Wall, he strongly urged the emperor against fighting, successfully averting the war. When Gao Feng and He Ruobi were killed, and because he had some connections with them, he was also dismissed from his position. More than a year later, he was appointed Governor of Lu County. Shortly after, he was summoned back to the court to handle state affairs. Not long after, he was promoted to Minister of Rites. That year, he also joined the campaign against the Tuyuhun, and his rank was elevated to Left Guanglu Doctor. The emperor considered him a veteran official, trusted him more and more, and entrusted him with significant responsibilities. Over a year later, he was appointed as a Privy Councilor. Together with the Left Guard General Yu Wenshu, the Yellow Gate Attendant Pei Ju, the Grand Master of the Palace Library Pei Yun, and the Interior Minister Attendant Yu Shiji, they controlled the court affairs and were known as the "Five Nobles" at the time. During the campaign in Liaodong, he maintained his original position while also serving as Left Guard General, with a promotion to Guanglu Doctor and was granted the title of Marquis of Ningling. That year, he was also granted the title of Duke of Fang. As he grew older, he requested retirement in a memorial, but the emperor refused and insisted that he continue his duties and participate in the selection of officials. The following year, he once again participated in the campaign in Liaodong and also held the title of Right Guard General. During the rebellion led by Yang Xuangan, the emperor summoned Wei Zheng into the tent, appearing fearful, and asked, "This young man, Yang Xuangan, seems quite clever; might he pose a threat to us in the future?" Wei Zheng replied, "Truly clever individuals are able to discern right from wrong and predict success or failure. Yang Xuangan is reckless and not truly clever, so he won't think too much. I'm just worried that he will gradually cause chaos." Seeing the continuous labor and unrest among the people, Wei Zheng seized this opportunity to subtly caution the emperor, but the emperor completely misunderstood.
After returning from the emperor's court, Wei Zheng arrived in Zhuo County. The emperor issued an edict appointing him to pacify the Guanzhong region and appointed his grandson Shang Nianzhi as his deputy. Wei Zheng's son, Honglu Shaoqing Kui, his son, had already been appointed as the ambassador to Guanzhong. The three of them were assigned to the Guanzhong region, where they were highly respected by the people. Over a year later, the emperor personally wrote an edict praising Wei Zheng for his virtues and appointing him to the position of 'Kaifu Yitong Sansi'. At that time, no other minister in the court received as much respect as Wei Zheng. During the emperor being besieged by the Turks at Yanmen, the court was in a state of panic. The emperor wanted to break out with light cavalry, but Wei Zheng advised him against it, saying, "We should defend the city and preserve our strength. Light cavalry is the Turks' specialty. You are the emperor; how can you take such risks lightly?" The emperor listened and abandoned the plan. Soon after, the Turks eventually withdrew.
After arriving in Taiyuan, Wei Zheng urged the emperor once more, saying, "Nowadays, thieves are rampant, and the soldiers are exhausted. Your Majesty should return to the capital to consolidate the foundation; this is in the best interest of the country!" The emperor agreed at the time, but later listened to the advice of Yuwen Shu and others, and still went to the eastern capital. At that time, the realm was in turmoil, and Wei Zheng knew that the emperor's decision was made, leaving him very anxious.
One time, the emperor asked the ministers about the thieves, and Yuwen Shu said, "There are not many thieves; there is no need to worry." Wei Zheng did not want to contradict him, so he discreetly stepped behind a palace pillar. When the emperor called him out to ask, Wei Zheng replied, "I am not in charge of this matter; I do not know the specifics, but I am worried that the thieves are getting closer." The emperor asked, "What do you mean?" Wei Zheng said, "In the future, the thieves will occupy Changbai Mountain, and they are already close to Xingyang and Sishui." The emperor, displeased, dismissed him.
Later, on the fifth day of May, all the officials presented gifts, most of which were valuable treasures. However, Wei Zheng presented a copy of the "Book of Documents," subtly critiquing the emperor, which only incensed the emperor further. Afterwards, the emperor asked about the expedition to Liaodong, and Wei Zheng suggested pardoning some thieves first before sending troops to attack Goguryeo, which made the emperor even angrier. The Grand Secretary Pei Yun flattered the emperor and had a man named Zhang Xingben accuse Wei Zheng of abusing his power and favoring his relatives when he was an official in Gaoyang, fearing the Turks, and suggested sending him back to the capital. The emperor ordered an investigation.
After the investigation results came out, the emperor issued a decree: "Wei Zheng formed cliques, sought novelty, played clever tricks, pursued fame and fortune, slandered the law, and defamed the court. When discussing military expeditions in the past, everyone expressed their opinions, but he failed to grasp the situation and offered no constructive suggestions. Between sovereign and subject, there should be mutual trust, but he could not do it! He really disappointed our trust!" As a result, Wei Zheng was stripped of his official title and reduced to commoner status.
One month later, someone accused Wei Zheng of colluding privately with the Turks, and the Dali Temple took him into custody. Wei Zheng claimed that he had served faithfully for over thirty years across two dynasties, yet had not received recognition, made many mistakes, and deserved death. The Emperor, taking into account his years of loyalty, decided to release him.
That year, the Emperor went to the Jiangdu Palace and wanted to reappoint Wei Zheng. However, Pei Yun and Yu Shiji advised that Wei Zheng was too old and frail, leading the Emperor to reconsider.
During the rebellion led by Yuwen Huaji, he promoted Yang Wei to Guanglu Dafu and Kaifu Yitong Sansi. After Yuwen Huaji's failure, Yang Wei sought refuge with Li Mi. Shortly after, Li Mi also failed, and Yang Wei ran to Luoyang in the Eastern Capital, where he was appointed as Shangzhuguo and Duke of Pi by King Yang Dong. Later, Wang Shichong usurped the throne and appointed Yang Wei as Grand Tutor. Yang Wei, viewing himself as a veteran official of the Sui Dynasty, cultivated good relations with local officials wherever he went during these chaotic times to ensure his safety. When Prince Qin of the Tang Dynasty, Li Shimin, defeated Wang Shichong, Yang Wei requested an audience within the Chang'an gates, claiming he was too old and frail to perform the required formalities. Li Shimin sent a reply: "You were the prime minister of the Sui Dynasty. During the country's turmoil, you failed to correct the evil, causing the people to be displaced. You followed Yuwen Huaji and Wang Shichong, bowing and dancing before them. Now that you are old and in poor health, there is no need for you to come see me." Later, Yang Wei returned to Chang'an, attempted to request an audience at the court, but was denied. Ultimately, he passed away at home at the age of 82.
Yang Wei lived a frugal life and was known for his integrity and caution. Every time there was a court discussion, he dared to speak his mind and oppose those who disagreed with him, even on small matters. He insisted on arguing his point. People at the time thought he was not smooth enough and did not appear to be ministerial. The various regulations he established were implemented at the time, but these regulations were too cumbersome and strict. People criticized them as not being simple and reasonable. Towards the end of the Deyuan period of the Sui Dynasty, there was a particularly high conscription rate, and when it came to rewarding achievements, Yang Wei always tried to guess the emperor's intentions and overlooked those who deserved rewards. At that time, banditry was rampant, and when counties reported to the court, he would criticize them for failing to reduce the number of bandits. Therefore, most military campaigns initiated by the court were unsuccessful. As a result, Yang Wei faced a lot of criticism. His son was named Yang Kui.
Su Kui, style name Boni, was intelligent and eloquent from a young age. At the age of eight, he could recite poems and books and was skilled in horseback riding and archery. At the age of thirteen, he went to the Ministry of Personnel with his father and competed in archery with Prince Ande, winning a good horse. At the age of fourteen, he went to school and discussed issues with other scholars. His writing was particularly good, and everyone praised him. As he grew older, he was well-read and especially skilled in music theory. He was originally not named Su Kui; his father later changed it, a decision that many learned individuals found unappealing. He initially served as a secretary at the Prince's residence. Yang Su admired him and often joked, "I have no son, and Su Kui has no father." Later, he engaged in musical discussions with Duke Zheng Yi of Pei and He Tuo of the Imperial Academy, which offended some people, and their opinions were not accepted. He wrote fifteen essays on music to express his thoughts. Years later, he was promoted to prince's secretary and subsequently became a cavalry captain.
As the Renshou era was coming to a close, the court issued a nationwide edict to select talents skilled in ceremonial music. At that time, Prince Yang Guang was the governor of Yongzhou, and he recommended Su Kui. Along with over fifty other recommendations from various provinces, Su Kui entered the palace to meet the emperor. Emperor Yang Jian immediately recognized Su Kui's potential and said to the officials around him, "Only this person is worthy of being selected by me." Therefore, Su Kui was appointed as the teacher of Prince Yang Guang. After Emperor Yang Guang ascended the throne, Su Kui was promoted to the position of the Prince's horsekeeper and later transferred to the position of court ceremonialist. Later, due to matters concerning his father, Su Kui was dismissed from his position. He later held the position of a Ministry of Personnel official and the Sima of the Prince of Yan. During the Liaodong campaign, Su Kui was responsible for guarding the camp and was promoted to an official position for his achievements.
At that time, Emperor Yang Jian was busy with military campaigns, and many foreign states came to pay tribute in succession. Emperor Yang Jian once chatted with Yu Wen Shu, Yu Shiji, and others, saying, "The barbarians have all submitted and come to observe our rituals. We need to find a prestigious person to take on the role of the Honglu Temple's official. Do you know of anyone who is talented, presentable, and capable of receiving foreign guests?" Everyone recommended Su Kui. Emperor Yang Jian agreed and immediately appointed Su Kui as the Assistant Minister of Honglu. That year, King Qu Boya of Gaochang came to pay tribute, and the court wanted to marry his daughter to the king. Due to Su Kui's esteemed reputation, he was chosen to oversee the marriage. Later, banditry surged in several counties, including Honghua and Yan'an. Su Kui was ordered to conduct an inspection of the area. When the Turks besieged Yanmen Pass, Su Kui was in charge of the eastern defense. He quickly constructed siege engines, chariots, and animal enclosures, completing them in just one night. Emperor Yang Jian was highly impressed by his efforts, and Su Kui was promoted to the position of a Grand Master of Records. Later, due to matters concerning his father, Su Kui was reduced to the status of a commoner. He later suffered the loss of his mother and succumbed to overwhelming grief at the age of forty-nine.
The historian said: Duke Qi (referring to the Duke of Qi) had just begun his hegemony, and he was already involved in the planning of national affairs. He and the Emperor had a tacit understanding, like fish in water, responding seamlessly to changes, like the wind and clouds. He was upright, assisting the Emperor, being in tune with the Emperor's intentions, attentively following the Emperor's orders without error. The Eastern Xia Kingdom was pacified, and the southern kingdoms were also stabilized. He was involved in military and national affairs, strategizing and securing victories from a distance. The Emperor restored the achievements of Emperor Yu and wanted to implement the benevolent rule of Yao and Shun. Duke Qi was like the oar of a boat, indispensable like salt and plum, ensuring the people lived in peace and prosperity, and the officials were united. He assisted the Emperor for nearly twenty years; he had no detractors.
Unfortunately, Emperor Gaozu wanted to depose the Crown Prince, and Duke Qi fell out of favor with the Emperor due to his loyalty and uprightness. Later, during the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, Duke Qi was killed for opposing the emperor's lavish lifestyle. If he could have avoided these conflicts and completed his achievements in the end, although he may not be compared to Yi Yin, Ji, or Qi (the legendary figure), he would still rank alongside Xiao He and Cao Can. Such talents are rare, and it's truly a pity! Duke Pi (referring to the Duke of Pi) was in the twilight years of the Sui Dynasty, a period of peace and integrity. When the Sui Dynasty was established, he was the first to respond to the call. He was deeply trusted and valued by the Emperor, enjoying wealth and honor. He held important positions in the court for a long time, accomplishing many meaningful tasks with all his heart and effort; there was nothing he dared not do.
But his aspirations were upright and frugal, his character was somewhat narrow-minded, he liked similar people and disliked different people, which is at odds with the path of integrity. He did not promote straightforwardness or accessibility, nor was he an approachable individual. He served two emperors for over thirty years; although he was eventually dismissed, people still referred to him as "the old man." He was an upright person, but he could not speak candidly to offer advice; when the country fell, his heart remained with the common people. I have failed to assist you; I have only heard of your deeds; like a strong wind bending the grass, but I have not seen you in person. Perhaps the reason why the music and ritual system of the Xing Wang was likely not established for this reason. Kui's aspirations and insights are quite sharp, and his moral character is also praiseworthy; if heaven allows him a few more years, he could realize his ambitions.
