Pei Su, also known by his courtesy name Shenfeng, was from Wenxi in Hedong. His father, Pei Xia, was a minister in charge of the Ministry of People during the Zhou Dynasty. Pei Su was known for his integrity and sense of responsibility from a young age and had a close friendship with Liang Pi from Anding. He served as an official in the Zhou Dynasty, starting as an official and later rising several ranks to become a lower-ranking official of the Imperial Clan. Later, he went to war in Huainan with Wei Xiaokuan. After Sui Wendi became Emperor, Pei Su lamented, saying, "Emperor Wu unified the country with great talent and strategy. The soil of his grave had barely settled before the dynasty changed. Is this the will of heaven?" Sui Wendi was displeased to hear this, so Pei Su returned home and retired to a life of seclusion.
In the fifth year of the Kaihuang era, he was appointed as a Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Food. Two years later, he was promoted to be the Governor of Shuozhou, and later transferred to Beizhou as the Governor, where he performed excellently in both places. During the Renshou era, Pei Su saw that Crown Prince Yang Yong, Prince of Shu Yang Xiu, and Left Supervisor Gao Feng were all deposed, so he wrote a letter to the Emperor, saying, "I have heard that serving the monarch means speaking the truth and not concealing anything. I dare not fail to report what is on my mind. I privately believe that Gao Feng is a naturally talented person and a founding hero. Your Majesty has already bestowed great favor upon him. However, even the most upright person will have faults that others may criticize. There are countless people who focus on others' shortcomings! I hope Your Majesty will remember his great achievements and forget his minor faults. I have also heard that ancient wise emperors educated people rather than killed them. Your Majesty's kindness has surpassed that of previous wise monarchs. The two princes (Yang Yong and Yang Xiu) have committed errors for some time. Do they not feel any remorse? I hope Your Majesty will show paternal compassion and consider their inherent humanity and righteousness, granting them each a small state to observe their behavior. If they can repent and improve gradually, it is not too late to demote them if they do not repent. The opportunity for repentance has been entirely cut off now, and they show no signs of remorse. Is it not a source of great sorrow that they show no signs of remorse?"
After the letter was presented, the Emperor said to Yang Su, "Pei Su is sincerely worrying about my family; this is truly heartfelt!" So Pei Su was summoned back to the court. When the Crown Prince Yang Yong heard about this, he asked the Left Scholar Zhang Heng, "How can I make a fresh start? What does he want me to do?" Zhang Heng replied, "According to Pei Su's intentions, he wants you to be like the Tai Bo of Wu and the King of Donghai of the Han Dynasty." The Crown Prince Yang Yong was very unhappy. Some time later, Pei Su arrived in the capital, and in the Han Zhang Hall, the Emperor said to Pei Su, "As the Emperor, I rule over the Four Seas, and there are only a few favored in the harem. From Yang Yong downwards, they are all full brothers, not deposed out of hatred or favoritism." Then the Emperor expressed the irreversible nature of Yang Yong's fate. Afterwards, he sent Pei Su away. Not long after, Emperor Wen passed away.
After Yang Guang ascended to the throne, Pei Su was not employed for a long time, so he simply shut himself away. Later, those in power felt that the Lingnan region was remote and desolate, so they falsely claimed to issue an imperial decree appointing Pei Su as the magistrate of Yongping County. He was well-loved by both the local populace and ethnic minorities. Over a year later, Pei Su passed away at the age of sixty-two. The local ethnic groups remembered him fondly and built a temple for him by the Zhang River. He had a son named Pei Shangxian.
Historical records say that when fierce beasts roam the mountains, the surrounding grass and trees will not be picked by people; upright ministers in the court will defeat treacherous villains. This is all because they are devoted to the public good, and justice is strong. It can be seen that the rise and fall of justice hinges on them, and the survival of the country is also closely related to them. Both the Jin and Shu princes are favored sons of the Emperor, relying on the Emperor's favor, they act recklessly and completely disregard the law, and it is nearly impossible to make them act with respect!
Yuan Yan and Wang Shao, when they served as prime ministers, were held in high esteem by all. No one dared to do evil things; their integrity and incorruptibility were commendable. Zhang Xingben of Fangling and Liang Pi of Yang Su both spoke frankly with an admirable sense of justice. When Zhao Chuo served as the Minister of Justice, there were no wrongful convictions in the prisons; when Liu Yu served as an official in the Imperial Censorate, corrupt individuals kept a low profile. Liang Pi was among those unafraid of power, a righteous official of the state, similar to Zhang Xingben and Liu Yu. Pei Su never participated in court meetings or banquets, loyal and generous, yet willing to offend the emperor. This is not mere empty rhetoric; it is much like a widow lamenting the fall of the Zhou dynasty or a young girl mourning the untimely death of the crown prince, all rooted in sincere concern. The aforementioned Yan Zuan also embodied this spirit.
