Zhang Qianwei, courtesy name Yuanjing, came from Dongwucheng, Qinghe Commandery. His father, Zhang Yanzhi, had served as the Governor of Xu Zhou during the Northern Qi period. Zhang Qianwei was bright and well-read from a young age. His grandfather, Zhang Songzhi, once remarked, "Qianwei is the outstanding talent in our family!" At the age of twelve, he was appointed as the Chief Clerk of the prefecture. At the age of eighteen, he became a Junior Military Officer in the Ministry of War and gradually climbed the ranks to become the Deputy Minister of Rites. After the fall of Northern Qi, he served as a registrar in Northern Zhou. When Emperor Yang Jian of Sui came to power, he was summoned to the palace and appointed as a secretary in the Ministry of State Affairs.
During the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, Prince Jin Yang Guang was dispatched to garrison Bingzhou and recruited advisors. Zhang Qianwei was selected as a Military Officer in the Ministry of Justice and later held several other positions. Prince Jin Yang Guang greatly admired his talents and, like Zhang Heng from Henan, was held in high esteem by the prince. In the prince's court, they were both known as the "Two Zhangs." When Prince Jin ascended to the throne, Zhang Qianwei was promoted to Gentleman of the Yellow Gate and an Attendant in the Crown Prince's Residence. After Emperor Yang of Sui took the throne, Zhang Qianwei was appointed as a Gentleman of the Palace Secretariat and a Senior Officer of the Imperial Secretariat. As a former subordinate of Prince Jin, he was also granted the title of Palace Attendant. Shortly after, he was appointed as the Grand Master of Ceremonies and accompanied Emperor Yang of Sui to Jiangdu, serving as the acting administrator in Jiangdu and handling governmental matters.
Zhang Qianwei once saw a lost package on the road and, fearing that the owner was anxiously searching for it, had his attendants carry the package and continue on the journey. A few days later, the owner found Zhang Qianwei, and he returned the package to the owner intact. Huainan Prefect Yang Chen once brought more than ten people to meet with Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty. Emperor Yang Guang asked Zhang Qianwei, "Who is standing at the front?" After carefully inspecting the crowd, Zhang Qianwei replied, "It is Huainan Prefect Yang Chen." Emperor Yang Guang said, "You are a court official; how can you not recognize the people who come to visit?" Zhang Qianwei replied, "I do recognize Yang Chen, but I am just afraid of mistaking him, so I dare not answer easily. Just like Shi Jian counting horse legs, caution is key!" Emperor Yang Guang greatly admired him. He was honest and cautious, always displaying this style. At that time, Emperor Yang Guang often toured, and the people were exhausted, so Zhang Qianwei submitted a memorial advising against this. Emperor Yang Guang was displeased and subsequently distanced himself from Zhang Qianwei. Not long after, Zhang Qianwei died. His son Zhang Shuang later became the magistrate of Lanling County.
Zhang Qianwei's younger brother Zhang Qianxiong also had talent. When Prince Xiao of Qin, Yang Jun, served as the general manager of Qinzhou, he recruited him as a legal officer. Once, Prince Xiao of Qin personally tried a prisoner, and Zhang Qianxiong, due to a momentary lapse in not bringing the case file, explained the case in detail to a crowd of about a hundred people, and his colleagues all greatly admired him. Later, he successively served as the magistrates of Shouchun and Yangcheng counties, achieving notable success in both.
Rong Pi, courtesy name Zichen, was from Wuzhong, Beijing. His father, Rong Quan, was the Minister of War of the Wei Kingdom. Rong Pi had a strong and courageous personality from a young age, with broad knowledge and experience. He served as a secretary to the Han Prince in the Zhou Dynasty, and later rose to the position of a junior palace officer. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui, he was promoted several times and became an imperial supervisor.
At that time, there were many thieves in Huayin County, and the court had to carefully choose local officials. Yang Su recommended Rong Pi to serve as the Chief Historian of Huayin, and everyone said he was very capable. Many of Yang Su's fields and houses were in Huayin, and his subordinates often acted recklessly, but Rong Pi strictly enforced the law, without showing any favoritism. During a court meeting, Yang Su said to Rong Pi, "I recommended you, actually causing trouble for myself!" Rong Pi replied, "I am wholeheartedly enforcing the law and fear letting you down." Yang Su smiled and said, "I was just joking. Your strict enforcement of the law is exactly what I hope to see."
At that time, the Jin Prince was in Yangzhou, often sending people to secretly gather information about the capital. He sent Zhang Heng to build horse farms everywhere on the roads, claiming it was for raising horses, but it was actually for his own benefit. All the states and counties did not dare to disobey, only Rong Pi firmly stopped this matter. The Emperor was very pleased to hear about it, rewarding him with one hundred bolts of silk and promoting him to the position of Sima of Puzhou.
When Prince Han Liang rebelled, the heroes of Hedong rallied to his cause, opening the city gates to surrender. The governor Qiu He was afraid and fled back to Guanzhong. Chief Historian Gao Yiming said to Rong Pi, "Hedong is an important strategic location, the eastern gateway of the country. If it is lost, the consequences could be dire. Although the city is in turmoil, not everyone has turned against us. As long as we capture and kill the ten or so leaders of the rebels, we can stabilize the situation." Rong Pi agreed to his suggestion. Gao Yiming rode out to chase Qiu He to discuss countermeasures with him. Unfortunately, he was killed by the rebels at the west gate of the city, and Rong Pi was also arrested.
After Prince Han Liang quelled the rebellion, Rong Pi was appointed as an Imperial Secretary for Editing, and the Emperor said to him, "I am appointing you today because of your handling of the horse farm incident. Do not change your original intention." The Emperor also respected him greatly. Rong Pi always had a stern attitude and spoke frankly in the court, making all the officials fear him. Later, due to his mother's death, he resigned and returned home to observe a period of mourning. More than a year later, he was reappointed, but shortly after passed away, posthumously honored as a Junior Minister.
Pi Xiongjianxu was known for his honesty and straightforwardness, as well as his extensive knowledge. He served as an official in the Zhou Dynasty, reaching the high positions of Zai Shi Xia Daifu (Grand Minister of Instruction) and Yitong Sansi (Equivalent to Three Departments). At the beginning of the pacification of Qi, he was left to guard Ye City and wrote a book called "Qi Ji," which consisted of thirty volumes. Jianxu had previously known Gaozu (Yang Jian) and later became a prime minister, promoted in rank, appointed to a high-ranking official position, and designated as the governor of Xizhou.
When he was about to take office, Gaozu was secretly planning to usurp the throne, so he said to Jianxu, "Let's wait and strive for glory and wealth together!" Jianxu, feeling that he was a minister of the Zhou Dynasty, showed a very honest demeanor upon hearing this, saying, "I have never heard of what you just said!" Gaozu was displeased to hear this, and Jianxu left. During the Kaihuang era, Jianxu went to the capital to meet the emperor. The emperor asked him, "Do you regret it?" Jianxu bowed and said, "My status may not match Xu Guang's, but my integrity is akin to that of Yang Biao." The emperor smiled and said, "While I may not understand much, I can tell that your words are rather impolite!" Later, he went on to serve as governor of both Shizhou and Hongzhou, excelling in both roles and earning a strong reputation.
Lu Zhiming, style name Zhongtong, was from Fuchun in Wu County. His father, Lu Ao, had served as the Cavalier Attendant of the Chen Dynasty. Lu Zhiming had a passion for learning from a young age, was well-versed, and was known for his honesty and integrity. He initially served as a military officer under the King of Chen and later served as a Tai Xue Boshi and the chief warden of the southern prison. After the fall of the Chen Dynasty, he returned to his hometown. At that time, Gao Zhihui and others led a rebellion in Jiangzuo, and Prince Jin Yang Guang was stationed in Jiangdu. Recognizing Lu Zhiming's influence in the Sanwu region, he summoned him to persuade the rebels to surrender.
Lu Zhiming successfully persuaded the surrender of seventeen cities and captured more than three hundred rebel leaders, including Chen Zhengxu and Xiao Sixing. With this merit, he was appointed Equivalent to the rank of Sanqi, granted land and a residence by the court, and his brother Lu Ke was appointed as the magistrate of Jianyang. Lu Zhiming believed that his brother Lu Ke was not capable of governing a region of a hundred miles, so he submitted a request to the court to revoke the appointment, which was approved.
As the world was about to be unified, Lu Zhiming persuaded Emperor Yang Jian of the Sui Dynasty to move the capital to Luoyang and presented the "Taiping Song" to express his suggestion. The content of the article is quite lengthy, so I will not elaborate further here. Several years later, as Lu Zhiming had not received a new appointment, he personally went to court and submitted a request to be sent as an envoy to Goguryeo. In his memorial, he said: "I have heard that wise rulers will recruit talents widely; even common people, as long as they have abilities, can contribute to the country. I humbly request Your Majesty to set aside your affairs for a moment to consider my plea. In ancient times, the Yellow Emperor conquered Chi You but pardoned the Su Sha clan; Yu Shun pacified the rebellion of the You Miao clan but still treated them with benevolence. Now Your Majesty is in a prosperous era, with peace throughout the land, only the small kingdom of Goguryeo is still eyeing us. Your Majesty is kind and benevolent, always thinking of educating them, because Your Majesty abhors violence, loves peace, and wants to influence them with virtue. I request to go to Goguryeo, proclaiming your benevolence, and encourage them to submit willingly." After reading the memorial, the Emperor viewed him in a new light.
One year later, Lu Zhiming was appointed as the governor of Puning Town. As he was widely regarded as an upright person, he was later summoned to serve as an assistant censor for literary affairs in the Imperial Censorate. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, he appointed him as the assistant censor for literary affairs. Lu Zhiming was upright and respected by the officials, and Emperor Yang held him in high regard, but he was later dismissed from his position due to certain political matters. A year later, he was reinstated. At the time when Prince Qi Yang Jian was arrogant and befriended villains, Lu Zhiming impeached him in a memorial, resulting in Yang Jian's punishment, and the officials were all afraid as a result. During the Liaodong Campaign, Lu Zhiming served as the envoy for the surrender negotiations during the Eastern Campaign, and ultimately passed away in a distant land at the age of sixty-seven. He was posthumously appointed as the Grand Censor.
Fang Yanqian, styled Xiaochong, was originally from Qinghe. Seven generations ago, his ancestor Fang Chen held an official position in the Ministry of War during the Yan State, and later migrated to the Qi State with the Murong clan, where his descendants have since settled. Their family has been a prominent family for generations. His great-grandfather Fang Fashou served as the Governor of Qingzhou and Jizhou in Northern Wei, and was also granted the title of Marquis of Zhuangwu. His grandfather and great-uncle both served as Prefects of Qi County and Pingyuan County. His father Fang Xiong began his career as a county registrar, and later served as the Prefect of both Qinghe County and Guangchuan County.
Fang Yanqian lost his father at a young age and had never seen his father. He was raised by his mother and older brother. His older brother, Fang Yanxun, was exemplarily honest and upright. Seeing Fang Yanqian's intelligence, he took a particular interest in him and personally taught him how to read. At the age of seven, he was already able to recite thousands of characters, and people in the clan thought he was remarkable. At the age of fifteen, he served his stepmother and younger brother with greater filial piety than that of a biological son. His younger brother, Fang Zhen, was deeply moved and cherished him. When his stepmother passed away, he fasted for five days. He also served his uncle, the magistrate of Leling, Fang Bao, with dedication, always saving the finest fruits brought during festivals to enjoy last. Whenever there was a funeral in the family, he would always eat vegetarian food as an expression of filial piety, and people in the clan looked up to him as a role model.
Later, Fang Yanqian studied under the scholar Yin Lin, devoting himself to his studies and eventually mastering the Five Classics. He wrote well, had beautiful calligraphy, and was eloquent, radiating the demeanor of a gentleman. At the age of eighteen, when Prince Xiaoheng of Guangning became the governor of Qizhou, he recruited Fang Yanqian as the chief secretary of the state government. At that time, the laws were quite lax, and the officials in the state were lax in their conduct. However, after Fang Yanqian took office, he was upright and clean, strictly adhering to the laws. The atmosphere in the state significantly improved, and everyone respected him. Later, when the Zhou army attacked Ye City and the emperor of Qi fled east, Fang Yanqian was appointed as the magistrate of Qizhou. He was devastated by the downfall of the Qi state and wanted to gather loyal and righteous men to secretly devise a plan to restore the state, but ultimately, he was unsuccessful.
After the fall of the Qi state, Fang Yanqian returned to his hometown. Emperor Wu of the Zhou appointed Xin Zun as the governor of Qi Prefecture. Xin Zun was captured by the leader of the rebel army along with sword-wielding soldiers. Fang Yanqian wrote a letter urging the soldiers, who felt ashamed and fearful, to return Xin Zun to the state capital. Other rebels soon followed suit and surrendered. Later, after Emperor Yang Jian of the Sui came to power, Fang Yanqian lived a leisurely life in the countryside, vowing never to take up an official post again.
In the seventh year of the Kaihuang era, Governor Wei Yi highly recommended him, so he reluctantly agreed. When Lu Kai, the Minister of Personnel, first met him, he recognized his potential and promoted him to an attendant role. Shortly after, he was soon promoted to imperial censor. Later, he was sent to Chen Ping's place to bring stability to ten regions, including Quanzhou and Kuozhou. For successfully completing the task, the emperor was pleased and rewarded him with one hundred rolls of cloth, one hundred measures of rice, a set of clothes, and seven servants. He was later promoted to chief secretary of the Qinzhou General's Office.
Once during a court session, the Left Chancellor, Gao Ke, was evaluating the performance of officials. Yan Qian said to Gao Ke, "The texts state that officials' performance should be evaluated every three years, with clear distinctions between promotions, demotions, rewards, and punishments. Since the times of Tang Yao and Yu Shun, this system has been in place throughout the generations. With a fair evaluation and just rewards and punishments, only the talented will be promoted, and the incompetent will be demoted. If there are errors in the evaluation, then this system becomes meaningless. Recently, I have seen the evaluation results from various provinces; the standards are inconsistent, and the numbers of promotions and demotions vary greatly. Some people even engage in favoritism and corruption, resulting in unfair evaluations. Honest and upright individuals may not always gain a good reputation, while those who flatter and manipulate may receive promotions. This blurring of truth and falsehood, right and wrong, is concerning. The senior officials do not carefully review and make clear decisions; those who have grown accustomed to their influence often gain good reputations through flattery, while those who have not worked in the central government are considered incompetent and demoted. Furthermore, the distant provinces are hard to assess in detail, so decisions are made based on numerical proportions, with half deemed qualified and half unqualified. Only counting the number of officials, without considering the quality, it is impossible to achieve a fair evaluation result. You, sir, possess keen insight and a sense of fairness and justice. This evaluation will definitely not be biased. If the previous issues still exist, I would like to know how you plan to address them. I hope you can collect information widely, investigate carefully, reward minor acts of kindness, and punish minor acts of wrongdoing. This will not only clarify governance but also improve talent selection." Yan Qian spoke with a firm tone, capturing the attention of everyone present. Gao Ke was touched by his words and expressed great appreciation. He then inquired in detail about the performances of officials in Hexi and Longyou. Yan Qian answered quickly and accurately. Gao Ke told the governors and provincial governors of other provinces, "It would be better to speak with the Inspector of Qinzhou separately." A few days later, Gao Ke reported this matter to the emperor, but the emperor did not heed it.
Yan Qian, after his term ended, was transferred to Changge County as the county magistrate. He did many good deeds for the people, and they all called him a benevolent father. During the Ren Shou period, the emperor ordered envoys to inspect various states and counties to assess the abilities of local officials. The result was that Yan Qian was considered the best of all, and he was promoted to be the Sima of Yuezhou. The people lamented, "With Prefect Fang leaving, what will become of us?" Later, they remembered him and erected a monument to honor his virtues. Yuezhou had not had a governor for a long time, and all the affairs of the state were handled by Yan Qian, who achieved many administrative accomplishments.
Xue Daoheng, a literary giant of his time, held a high official position and great reputation. His friends were all famous talents nationwide. He shared a deep respect and strong friendship with Yan Qian. Later, Xue Daoheng became the general manager of Xiangzhou, and the two often communicated and met. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, Xue Daoheng was transferred to Fanzhou as the governor. When passing through Yan Qian's area, he stayed for several days before reluctantly leaving, crying at their farewell.
Zhang Heng, a Yellow Gate chamberlain, also had a good relationship with Yan Qian. At that time, Emperor Yang of Sui was building the Eastern Capital, which was extravagant and luxurious, leaving the people across the country disillusioned. In addition, Prince Han rebelled, resulting in many people facing punishment. Yan Qian, seeing that Zhang Heng was in power but powerless to prevent these injustices, wrote a letter to him, saying:
I've heard that rewards are meant to encourage good deeds, and punishments are given to deter bad deeds. Therefore, when someone of low status does a good deed, they should definitely be rewarded; when a person of high status does a bad deed, they must be punished. I've never heard of anyone avoiding punishment just to avoid offending someone close, or neglecting to reward those of low status due to favoritism. Now, all provincial governors are appointed by the court to manage the people in their regions, and their good and bad deeds are reported to the court. They fear the court's rules and regulations and dare not be negligent. The country is blessed by heaven, and like parents, it loves and cares for the people. The fairness of rewards and punishments will reach heaven's ears, as heaven is always watching, so we should be cautious. Just as King Wen said, "I will be diligent day and night, and revere the majesty of heaven." In this way, although the sizes and statuses of provinces and counties vary, the principles of caring for the people and exercising caution in law enforcement remain the same.
As for the rebellion in Bingzhou, it needs to be thoroughly investigated. If Yang Liang was truly unable to receive the imperial decree and feared for the safety of the country, and so he recruited soldiers and bought horses, not to rebel but to safeguard the state, then his true intentions should be investigated, and his punishment decided accordingly, to align with the emperor's kindness
In the past, Uncle Xiang sentenced a prisoner to death, and the people of Jin praised him; Shizhi spared the offender from the death penalty, and Emperor Han praised him. Yang Shenning did not harbor ill feelings towards his younger brother, and the court officials did not intentionally defy the monarch's orders; they simply enforced the law impartially, without bias, and without considering kinship. Moreover, the sage's great treasures, the divine artifacts, cannot be easily attained without the will of Heaven. Therefore, although Chiyou and Xiang Yu are brave warriors, Yi Yin and Huo Guang hold immense power, Li Kui and Confucius are exceptionally gifted, Jiang Taigong and Sun Wu are proficient in military strategy, King Wu and King Chu have strategically advantageous terrain, and Empress Lu and Empress Dowager Dou possess power, none of them gained the throne by following the will of Heaven. Let alone Yang Liang, just a minor figure from a remote corner, gathering a ragtag group of followers, daring to invade the capital and covet the throne—it's nothing but a fool's dream! Since the beginning of time, historical records document the merits and faults of emperors throughout the dynasties, from which we can learn valuable lessons. Without accumulating virtue, performing good deeds, or achieving greatness, who can earn the people's support and Heaven's blessings? Thus, wise ancient emperors were diligent and cautious, treading carefully day and night, always vigilant against arrogance and complacency. However, in later generations, monarchs grew arrogant and indulgent, lacking any sense of restraint, indulging in reckless behavior and becoming addicted to pleasure; their countless evil deeds are too numerous to list.
Speaking of the states of Qi and Chen, these two countries both hold important positions, believing themselves to be in harmony with the moral order of heaven and earth, as luminous as the sun and moon. They ignore potential dangers and show little concern for laws and policies. The favored courtiers around the emperor only sing praises and offer flattery, concealing their faults; the court historians distort facts, only recording their achievements and covering up their mistakes. Therefore, the common people voice their grievances, but their cries are ultimately muffled, while the false praises of the ministers surround the emperor every day. Although the laws are strict, the number of people being punished is increasing, and the burden of forced labor is ever-increasing, leaving the common people, young and old, exhausted.
In the past, the state of Zheng had Zichan, Qi had Yan Ying, Chu had Shu Ao, and Jin had Shi Hui. Even these small states had such famous ministers, so why do Qi and Chen, with such large territories, not have good assistant ministers? It is only because the rulers are foolish and blinded, only concerned with personal gain, forgetting the country's dangers. They seem united on the surface, but in reality, they are jealous of each other. If there were upright and talented ministers, they would be marginalized and suppressed if they were not beneficial to themselves; if they come across sycophants and unscrupulous individuals, they would be promoted and valued as long as they were beneficial to them. How can genuine talent be identified through such means! True talents are not based on brute force or flowery language, but on upright character and steadfast position, like the pillars of a house, like the bones of a body; this is what is referred to as the talent of pillars. Qi and Chen disregard these virtuous talents, instead trusting flatterers and villains. Heaven observes their moral decay; therefore, their power will be reclaimed, and they will bow to our great Sui.
If these two countries can honor Heaven, be compassionate towards the lonely and the bereaved, appoint honest and capable individuals, abandon superficial embellishments, be humble in heart, and take it upon themselves to show compassion, then even if the Hebei region is strong and prosperous, and the Jianghu region is fraught with danger and isolation, they can each maintain their own businesses, and the people will not fall into chaos, standing as steadfast as Mount Tai. However, they are indulging in pleasure, akin to lounging on a pile of firewood, drinking poison in a misguided attempt to quench their thirst, ultimately leading to the destruction of the country, only to regret for a lifetime, sighing in regret! As the ancient poem says: "Before the downfall of the Shang Dynasty, they still worshipped the gods and received their blessings. We should learn from the lessons of the Shang Dynasty and not easily give up the mission given by Heaven." In handling national affairs, which issue does not require careful thought? "Before the Shang Dynasty lost its teachers, they were able to match the gods. We should learn from the Shang Dynasty; a great destiny is not easily obtained."
Your Majesty, your benevolence is renowned throughout the world, your merits are great, and the people are eagerly awaiting your grace. Your governance of the Huaihai region has been remarkable, and everyone supports you. Though your reign has been brief, your benevolent rule has already spread throughout the world, bringing great joy to the common people. The rebellion in Bingzhou happened suddenly, all because Yang Liang deceived and misled the people, not because they originally resented the court and voluntarily joined the rebels. However, the court officials and generals claimed that many people wanted to rebel, which not only wrongfully accuses the innocent but also risks tarnishing Your Majesty's reputation. You have always been highly esteemed by His Majesty and trusted in the palace. You could have become famous in history, leaving a lasting legacy, becoming a virtuous minister like Ji, Qi, Yi, and Lv. But now is the moment when the country needs you; you must have the courage to speak out and set an example for posterity. How can you compromise justice to curry favor with the emperor, punishing those who were forced to participate in the rebellion? I humbly express these heartfelt words; if I have offended, I ask for your forgiveness, for I am but a humble scholar, unaware of all the taboos.
After receiving the letter, Heng let out a deep sigh but did not dare to report to the court. Mr. Yanqian saw that the court was becoming increasingly corrupt, so he resigned and planned to retire at the foot of Mengshan Mountain to pursue his ambitions. Later, the court established the position of Sili Inspector and selected scholars from all over the country. The court believed that Mr. Yanqian's reputation for integrity was very high, and the people held him in high regard, so he was summoned to serve as the Sili Inspector. Mr. Yanqian was ambitious and wanted to improve the moral climate of the country. The people he recommended were all models of high moral character. Those he criticized held no grudges against him. The Deputy Sili Inspector, Liu Yu, was arrogant and domineering, considering himself righteous. Even the Sili Inspectors were intimidated by him and treated him with great respect. Only Mr. Yanqian adhered to his principles and treated him coldly, earning praise from many discerning individuals. Liu Yu did not dare to hold a grudge against him. In the ninth year of the Daye reign of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, Mr. Yanqian followed the emperor to cross the Liao River and supervised military affairs in Fuyu Road. Later, the political situation of the Sui Dynasty became increasingly chaotic, with the court corrupt and many people defecting. Mr. Yanqian, however, stayed true to his principles, standing firm and unyielding. As a result, he drew the envy of those in power and was demoted to the position of magistrate of Jingyang County. He passed away shortly after his appointment, at the age of sixty-nine. When Li Yanqian was at home, whenever his children and relatives came to visit, he always shared his wisdom with them, encouraging them to work hard and improve themselves, tirelessly and enthusiastically, never growing weary. His ancestors left him some property, and his family was quite well-off. Moreover, he had served as an official before, and all his salary was used to help relatives and friends, leaving them with no money at home, even striving for simplicity in vehicles, clothing, and household items. From youth to old age, his words and actions were never driven by personal interests. Even though this often left him financially constrained, he was content. One day, he smiled contentedly and said to his son, Li Xuanling, "Others get rich from their official positions, but I became poor because of mine. All I can leave my descendants is a good name."
The articles he wrote exhibit a broad and carefree style, elegant and leisurely, rich in the profound meanings of ancient literati. He is also skilled in cursive and clerical script. If others receive letters written by him, they cherish them like precious gems. Wang Shao from Taiyuan, Gao Gou from Beihai, Li Gang from Xiaoxian, Liu Yu and Xue Ru from Hedong—these were all renowned literati of the time, celebrated for their integrity and detachment. Li Yanqian was friends with them. Although officials and nobles often came to visit, his home was quite serene, free from idle company. He was elegant, well-versed in government affairs, and astute observers believed he was destined for greatness.
At the beginning, during the Kaihuang period, after pacifying the Chen dynasty and unifying the world, everyone generally believed that they would usher in a peaceful and prosperous era. Li Yanqian privately told his relative Li Shaotong from Zhao County, "The Emperor is suspicious and paranoid, refusing to heed advice or criticism from others. The Crown Prince is weak and incompetent, the princes are overbearing and tyrannical, and the court only implements harsh and cruel policies, without enacting any lenient or compassionate policies. Although the world is stable, I am worried that turmoil will happen soon." Li Shaotong initially did not believe it, but by the time of the Renshou and Daye eras, Li Yanqian's words had all come true. After the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, he was posthumously appointed as the Governor of Xuzhou and Duke of Linzi County, receiving the posthumous title "Ding."
Historical records say: a tall building cannot be built with just one piece of wood; an emperor's achievements cannot be realized through the strategy of a single individual. Each has its own purpose, and nothing is without value. People like Li E, some write eloquently and uphold justice, while others possess exceptional talents that serve the nation. Their talents and achievements were evident at that time, and their achievements were chronicled in history. Looking at the many talents of the Sui Dynasty, they were all able to create careers, achieve great accomplishments, and were the pillars of the state, akin to the many stars surrounding the North Star.
