Yang Shanhui, courtesy name Jingren, was originally from Hua Yin in Hongnong. His father, Yang Chu, served as the Prefect of Piling. During the Daye era, Yang Shanhui became the magistrate of Shu County and was renowned for his integrity and uprightness. Soon after, Shandong was hit by a famine, and the common people rose in rebellion, looting across the land. Yang Shanhui led a few hundred men to capture these bandits, emerging victorious in every engagement.
Later, bandit chief Zhang Jincheng camped near Shu County with tens of thousands of troops, looting and pillaging indiscriminately, and nearby counties were unable to deal with him. Yang Shanhui inspired his soldiers to fight against Zhang Jincheng's army multiple times, diminishing the enemy's morale with each encounter. Emperor Yang of Sui sent General Duan Da to suppress Zhang Jincheng, and Yang Shanhui gave Duan Da an idea, but Duan Da did not adopt it, which led to a defeat. Duan Da later expressed his regrets and apologized to Yang Shanhui. Yang Shanhui once again fought against Zhang Jincheng, using strategies to command the battle and securing a decisive victory.
Zhang Jincheng then allied with bandits from Bohai, such as Sun Xuanya and Gao Shida, totaling hundreds of thousands of troops. They attacked Liyang and then withdrew, with a show of strength. Yang Shanhui led a thousand elite soldiers to intercept them, defeating them and being promoted to Court Gentleman and County Magistrate of Qinghe. Zhang Jincheng then camped in a different location and sent a small number of troops to raid Guanshi County. Yang Shanhui and the Prefect of Pingyuan, Yang Yuanhong, led tens of thousands of troops to execute a surprise assault on Zhang Jincheng's camp. The army of General Wang Bian also arrived, and Zhang Jincheng abandoned Guanshi County to provide assistance, but ended up losing to Wang Bian. Yang Shanhui selected five hundred elite soldiers to reinforce, achieving great success. This bolstered the morale of Wang Bian's army. The bandits retreated to their camp, and the other troops also pulled back.
At that time, Shandong was full of turmoil, with people flocking to join the bandit groups like shoppers at a market. Every state and county was weak, falling one after another to attacks. Only Yang Shanhui managed to hold off the bandits, fighting more than seven hundred battles without a single failure. However, he was always regretful that he had too few troops to completely eliminate the bandits. Later, Taipu Yang Yichen went to attack Zhang Jincheng, but suffered defeat and retreated to Linqing. Yang Yichen employed Yang Shanhui's strategies and engaged Zhang Jincheng in several battles, which finally made him flee. Yang Yichen pursued and captured Zhang Jincheng's main camp, taking all the soldiers captive. Zhang Jincheng fled with a few hundred followers, later running to Zhangnan and recruiting soldiers and horses. Yang Shanhui caught up with and killed Zhang Jincheng, sending his head to the court. The emperor rewarded him with the prestigious Shangfang sword and armor, and promoted him to Qinghe Prefect.
In the same year, Yang Shanhui followed Yang Yichen in killing the bandit leader Gao Shida in Zhangnan, sending his head to the Jiangdu Palace. The emperor also issued a decree to commend him. Gao Shida's subordinate Dou Jiande, who claimed to be the King of Changle, came to attack Xindu. The bandit leader Wang Anzu in Linqing conspired with Dou Jiande with several thousand troops. Yang Shanhui ambushed Wang Anzu and killed him. After Dou Jiande captured Xindu, he harassed Qinghe again. Yang Shanhui resisted, but was defeated and had to defend the city. The bandits besieged the city for forty days, and the city fell. Yang Shanhui was captured. Dou Jiande released him, treated him well, and appointed him as the prefect of Beizhou. Yang Shanhui cursed, "Old bandit, how dare you compare yourself to the pillars of the country! I regret not being able to catch you. I am not like you, the butchers who slaughter pigs and sheep; how dare you make me an official for you?" Confronted by the enemy's weapons, Yang Shanhui spoke boldly. Dou Jiande wanted to spare his life, but his subordinates insisted on killing him. Dou Jiande also felt that Yang Shanhui would not ultimately serve him, so he killed him. The people of Qinghe mourned deeply.
Dugu Sheng is the younger brother of the Grand Preceptor Dugu Kai. He has a strong personality and a lot of courage. When Emperor Yang of Sui was still a prince, Dugu Sheng served as his guard by his side and rose through the ranks to become General of Chariots and Cavalry. When Emperor Yang ascended the throne, due to their previous acquaintance during his time at the fief, Dugu Sheng was increasingly favored and promoted to the position of General of the Right Garrison.
During the rebellion led by Yuwen Huaji, Pei Qiantong led troops to Chengxiang Hall, and the guards on duty abandoned their posts and fled. Dugu Sheng said to Pei Qiantong, "What kind of army is this? This is outrageous!" Pei Qiantong replied, "The situation is already like this; it has nothing to do with the general. General, please do not act rashly." Dugu Sheng shouted angrily, "What nonsense are you talking about, old thief!" Without time to don his armor, he led a dozen followers to counterattack and was ultimately killed by the rebel forces. Later, Prince Yang Tong proclaimed himself emperor and posthumously honored Dugu Sheng with the title of Grand Master of Splendor and Duke of Ji, with the posthumous title of Martial Integrity.
Yuan Wendu is the nephew of Duke Xiaoju of Xunyang. His father, Xiaoze, once served as a minor official in the Zhou Dynasty and the Prefect of Jiangling. Wendu was upright, articulate, and capable. He served as a Senior Attendant on the Right in the Zhou Dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui, he was appointed as an Assistant in the Imperial Secretariat and later served as a Gentleman of the Imperial Library and a Gentleman of the Examination Office, excelling in both roles. He was then promoted to Deputy Director of the Ministry of Personnel and later to Assistant Minister of the Imperial Household. After Emperor Yang ascended the throne, he was further promoted to Assistant Minister of Agriculture and Grand Master of Works, and then appointed as the Grand Master of the Imperial Secretariat. However, he was later dismissed from office due to misconduct. Shortly thereafter, he was reappointed as Minister of the Imperial Household and gradually gained Emperor Yang's trust, becoming quite well-known during that period.
In the thirteenth year of the Daye era, Emperor Yang of Sui departed from Jiangdu Palace and ordered Wen Du, Duan Da, Huangfu Wuyi, Wei Jin, and others to remain in Dongdu. After Emperor Yang of Sui died, Wen Du, Duan Da, Wei Jin, and others supported Prince Yue, Yang Dong, as the emperor. Yang Dong appointed Wen Du as Minister of the Interior, Grand Commandant, General of the Left Valiant Guard, Acting General of the Right Wing Guard, and Duke of Lu, holding several high-ranking official titles. Later, Yuwen Huaji supported Prince Qin Yang Hao as emperor, leading troops to Pengcheng with great force, spreading panic throughout the region. Wen Du advised Yang Dong to send envoys to reach out to Li Mi of the Wagang Army. Li Mi subsequently requested to surrender, and Yang Dong granted him a title and warmly received his envoys. Wang Chong was displeased by this, resulting in a conflict with Wen Du. Wen Du, aware of Wang Chong's dissatisfaction, secretly plotted to kill him. Yang Dong wished for Wen Du to serve as the Grand Master of the Imperial Secretariat, but Wang Chong strongly opposed this, so it did not come to pass.
Lu Chu said to Wen Du, "Wang Chong is just a peripheral general, not a candidate to remain in charge. Why should he participate in our affairs? Besides, he also bears responsibility for the Battle of Luokou. He deserves to die, yet he still has the audacity to act arrogantly and meddle in court affairs. If we don't get rid of him, he will become a threat to the nation!" Wen Du agreed with Lu Chu's opinion, so he prepared to report to the emperor. When things were about to happen, someone informed Wang Chong about it. Wang Chong was in court at that time, and upon hearing this, he hurried back to Hanjia City to prepare for rebellion. Wen Du sent people to call him multiple times, but Wang Chong insisted he was ill and refused to attend. In the evening, Wang Chong rebelled, broke through the East Sun Gate, entered the palace, and met with Yang Dong at the Zhiwei Pavilion. Yang Dong's men asked him, "What are you doing?" Wang Chong said, "Yuan Wen Du and Lu Chu conspired to kill me. Please eliminate Wen Du and pin the blame on the Minister of Justice." Realizing Wang Chong's increasing power, Yang Dong understood that he would ultimately meet his end, so he told Wen Du, "Go meet General Wang yourself." Wen Du hesitated and cried, while Yang Dong ordered his appointed general, Huang Taoshu, to escort Wen Du out. Wen Du turned back to Yang Dong and said, "I will die today, and Your Majesty won't live much longer either!" Yang Dong tearfully sent him away, and everyone around was sympathetic and sorrowful. When they reached Xingjiao Gate, Wang Chong ordered his men to kill Wen Du with reckless abandon, and his sons were also killed.
Lu Chu, a native of Fanyang in Zhuozhou, was the grandson of Lu Jingzuo, a subordinate official of the Minister of Works of the Wei Kingdom. Lu Chu displayed talent from an early age, but he was straightforward, stuttered, and spoke hesitantly. During the reign of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, he became the Right Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel, and he always stood upright in court, instilling fear in many officials and ministers. When the emperor moved to Jiangdu, most officials in the Eastern Capital disregarded the laws, but Lu Chu always insisted on correcting and exposing the wrongdoings without hesitation.
Later, King Yang Dong of Yue ascended to the throne, appointing Lu Chu as the Minister of Internal Affairs, General of the Left Guard, Acting Left Minister of Personnel, and Right Guanglu Grand Master. He was also granted the title of Duke of Zhuo County, and he, along with Yuan Wendu and others, wholeheartedly assisted the young emperor, the child sovereign. When Wang Chong rebelled and the army attacked the Taiyang Gate, General Wuwei Huangfu Wuyi opened the city gate and fled, pleading with Lu Chu to escape with him. Lu Chu replied, "Yuan Gong and I have agreed that if the country is in danger, we will die together. Escaping now would be dishonorable!" When the rebels entered the city, Lu Chu hid in the Grand Secretariat but was eventually captured and brought before Wang Chong. Wang Chong, furious, ordered him to be executed on the spot, and he was immediately hacked to pieces.
Liu Ziyi was from Congtingli, a town in Pengcheng. His father, Liu Bian, was the Sima of Xuzhou in the Qi Kingdom. Liu Ziyi showed a strong dedication to his studies from a young age, was skilled in writing, upright in character, and possessed talent for government affairs. He served as the Palace General in the Qi Dynasty. In the early years of Emperor Wen of Sui's reign, he became the County Magistrate of Nanhe and later rose through the ranks to become the Judicial Commissioner of Qinzhou. In the eighteenth year of Emperor Wen's reign, he participated in the imperial examinations, impressing the Right Deputy Director of Personnel, Yang Su, who recommended him to become an imperial censor. At that time, the County Magistrate of Yongning, Li Gongxiao, lost his mother at the age of four, was remarried at nine, and later his stepfather remarried. When the stepfather passed away, a man from Hejian, Liu Xuan, suggested that Li Gongxiao should not be removed from his official position, arguing that he had not benefitted from his stepfather's care. Liu Ziyi countered:
Ancient books say: "A stepmother is like a biological mother and should be treated as such." Therefore, the status of a stepmother is the same as that of a biological mother, and the mourning rituals are also the same as for a biological mother. The book also states: "When mourning for the deceased, one should also mourn for their parents." Those mourning refer to biological children, not stepchildren. Even if the father remarries and holds a prestigious position, the status of the biological mother is still significant for the children. Therefore, the book says: "When mourning for the deceased, one should mourn for their parents as well, expressing remembrance for them. If the father passes away and the mother remarries, those mourning the father should still express their remembrance for him, even if they do not mourn for the stepmother. However, if the stepmother remarries, there is no need to mourn for her." This specifically applies to a remarried stepmother. In short, as long as the stepmother is still in the father's household, mourning rituals are the same as for a biological mother. If one cannot treat them equally without the nurturing of upbringing, how can mourning even begin? If one must mourn, then how can remembrance for the stepmother be any different? The meaning of these three principles is quite clear. Now some people say that the laws allow not mourning for a stepmother, which is utterly ridiculous! Furthermore, when mourning for the deceased, one should mourn for their parents, and the mourning rituals have never altered simply because a biological mother has remarried. Since biological mothers and stepmothers share the same mourning rituals, there is no difference in how they are remembered. In "Fu Wen," it says: "When the mother remarries, one should mourn for the stepmother." Is this not because the mother's family ties are broken, so she is distant, while the stepmother is close because she married the father? Zisi said: "Mourning for the wife of the deceased is also mourning for the mother of Baishi. Mourning for the wife of the deceased is not necessarily Baishi's mother." This indicates that mourning rituals are based on status, while emotional ties stem from the father. Therefore, sages emphasize filial piety, valuing status. Consequently, children mourn for the stepmother based on status, just as they do for a biological mother, and they honor the stepmother out of duty, just as they would for their biological mother. If the stepmother entered the household after the children were born, there may be differences in mourning rituals, but even after reviewing scriptures and classics, no such distinctions can be found.
For example, if a person is born after their mother’s death, then the primary focus of their mourning is their late mother, and later on, a stepmother may come into the picture. Does this mean they can be exempt from filial piety just because they weren't raised by her?
Once, Wang Bi from Changsha traveled to the capital to conduct business during the late Han Dynasty. Later on, the ties between the Wu and Wei kingdoms were severed. After Wang Bi's death, Wang Chang became the Prime Minister of Dongping. He learned that his stepmother in Wu had died, and he was deeply saddened, unable to attend to his official duties. People at the time did not see anything wrong with his actions. Thus, it can be argued that there is no emotional distinction between a stepmother and a biological mother. If we are to use the standard of raising children to judge mourning customs, what can be said about Wang Chang's actions? During the Jin Dynasty, General Yang Hu, known as Zhen Nan, had no sons and adopted his disciple Yi. After Yang Hu's death, Yi did not observe mourning for Yang Hu's wife. Yang Hu's wife reported this to the court, and Yi explained, "Uncle raised me during his lifetime, so I dare not disobey. However, without my father's directive, I will return to my biological parents." Shangshu Peng Quan believed, "Children who are adopted must have the father's consent. Leaving without the father's consent is unfilial." Therefore, the court ordered to approve Peng Quan's opinion. Thus, it can be concluded that mourning customs cannot be based solely on the kindness of upbringing.
Now, let's discuss this etiquette. As the saying goes, "Etiquette is established based on human sentiments, and education is guided by righteousness." I will use this principle to clarify his statements. "Chengqing" means the kind of affection a mother has for her son; "Zhangyi" means the filial piety a son has for his parents. Once one's status is established, one can honor their father, adhere to social roles, uphold etiquette, and practice respect and filial piety.
If it is said that only the nurturing love of the mother can constitute the mother-son relationship, then the grace originates from the mother, and filial piety comes from the son. Does a kind mother really need to obey the father's orders? Some people also say, "Stepmothers and biological mothers are originally different people, but as long as she raises you, she becomes just like your own flesh and blood." If this is the case, the son might disregard the father's authority; even if the stepmother has nurturing love, can she be the same as a biological mother? Although the duration of filial piety towards a stepmother is shorter than that towards a biological mother, it is longer than that towards an ordinary person. Etiquette has its own rules, and filial piety should be based on reason. Filial piety towards a stepmother is based on status, not on the depth of affection.
As for a nephew, although he is also a son, the closeness and distance are different, but the filial piety in etiquette is the same. He perceives '以' as light while '如' feels heavy, thinking that they are different. In fact, the idea that '如' carries weight implies treating it seriously. If there is a difference in weight, how can you say '如'? In legal terms, permissive leniency means only allowing for minor offenses, while equivalent to a true offense means treating it the same as a real offense. The law punishes crimes with penalties, while etiquette uses education to regulate behavior. "准" means comparison, and "以" means equivalence. The usage of "如" and "以" is actually the same; the articles of etiquette and law are preventing the same thing. By using this principle to explain that principle, you can understand its meaning, just like using the example of cutting a tree. What’s so hard to grasp about that?
Someone remarked again: "To appoint your son as the heir is to let him inherit the family line, serve you, and not allow him to return to his original family, permitting him to serve your father's concubine in the role of a son." But the problem is, the title of 'father's concubine' is derived from the father. If this is the case, can the father really disregard funeral matters? How can we directly refer to her as the father's concubine? Some people also say: "Etiquette states 'former ruler'; does his dignity still qualify him as a ruler? He has already left his position and is no longer just a minister, so 'former' is used to distinguish. There is also a distinction of respect, which goes beyond mere filial piety, so 'his' is used to indicate. The term 'his father' carries a different significance." This is not a universally accepted view. Why say that? Because 'his' and 'former' have different meanings and usages. For instance, the 'Book of Rites' states: "If his father carries firewood, his son cannot bear the burden." In the 'Zuo Zhuan' it says: "Although Wei is small, his ruler is there." If 'his father' carries special meaning, does 'his ruler' not as well? Of course not, of course not! You are now violating ritual laws and disrespecting the emperor, breaking the law, causing your son to lose feelings for his biological father, creating a nominal debt and corrupting customs. You are attempting to cover up the truth during the Ming Dynasty, resorting to sophistry. Even if you wish to showcase your talents, you should refrain from making such unreasonable statements.
The memorial was presented, and in the end, Ziyi's suggestions were adopted. During the Renshou period, he served as the magistrate of Xinfeng County and made significant political achievements. In the third year of Daye, he was appointed as the Zheng (Chief Minister) of Dali Temple and was quite well-known at the time. Later, he rose through the ranks to the position of Zhi Shu Shiyu Yushi (Superintendent of Imperial History). Whenever disputes arose in the court, Ziyi was always able to analyze them clearly, often exceeding people's expectations. He followed the emperor to Jiangdu. At a time when the world was in chaos, the emperor still did not understand the situation. Ziyi took the opportunity to advise the emperor several times, which angered the emperor, leading to his assignment to Danyang as a resident. Shortly afterwards, he was sent to oversee the transport of grain and supplies on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, where he was captured by the bandits led by Wu Qizi. Ziyi persuaded the bandit leader using both logic and empathy, and eventually subdued them. He was then sent to combat the bandits in Qingjiang. When he encountered the news of Yang Guang's assassination, the bandits informed him of it. Ziyi, disbelieving the news, executed the informant. The bandits wanted him to be their leader, but Ziyi refused. A group of bandits dragged Ziyi to the outskirts of Linchuan City and demanded he announce "the emperor is dead" to the townsfolk. Ziyi declared the opposite and was executed. He was seventy years old at the time.
Yao Jun was originally from Tangyin, Wei County. When Sui Yangdi was the Duke of Jin, Jun served by his side. After Yangdi became emperor, Jun rose through the ranks to become a commanding general. In the late Sui Dynasty, as banditry surged and people fled, only Jun's forces remained unscathed. Later, he followed the General of the Elite Cavalry, Qu Tutong, to combat the rebel forces in Hedong. Shortly after, Qu Tutong led his troops to flee south, and recognizing Jun's courage and insight, he appointed him as the acting commander of the Hedong region. The rebel forces sent generals such as Lv Shaozong and Wei Yijie to attack, but they were unable to capture the area.
When the army of Qu Tutong was defeated, they came to the city walls to seek help from Jun Su. Jun Su, upon seeing Qu Tutong, was overcome with grief and wept bitterly. The soldiers by his side were also choked with sobs, and Qu Tutong himself cried with tears streaming down his face. Qu Tutong said to Jun Su, "My army has been defeated, and wherever the rebel forces go, there is no lack of response. In this situation, you should surrender early to save your wealth and honor." Jun Su replied, "You are a trusted confidant of the emperor, a high minister of the state. The emperor entrusted Guanzhong to you, and the prince entrusted the state to you. The rise and fall of the country depend on you. Why do you not think about serving the country and end up in this situation? Even if you cannot repay the emperor, the horse you ride was given to you by the prince. How can you still have the face to ride it?" Qu Tutong said, "Alas! Jun Su, I came because my strength was insufficient." Jun Su said, "Your strength is not insufficient yet. Why say more?" Qu Tutong left in shame.
At that time, the city was tightly besieged, and the food and supply lines were severed. Jun Su crafted a wooden goose, secured the memorial he had written around its neck, detailed the situation at that time, and then put the wooden goose into the Yellow River to let it flow downstream. The commander of Heyang, upon receiving the memorial, immediately sent it to the eastern capital. Prince Yang Dong was deeply moved upon seeing the memorial, so he appointed Jun Su as a high official and secretly sent someone to comfort him. The officials Pang Yu and Huangfu Wuyi from the eastern capital defected to the rebel forces and came to the city walls, persuading Jun Su to surrender. The Tang dynasty also sent a pardon certificate for him. However, Jun Su had no intention of surrendering. His wife also came to the city walls and advised him, "The Sui dynasty has already perished, and fate has belonged to others. Why do you persist like this, inviting disaster upon yourself?" Jun Su said, "Matters of state are beyond a woman's comprehension." After saying that, he shot his wife with a bow.
Jun Su also knew that things were unlikely to succeed, but he was determined to stick to it until death. Whenever national affairs were discussed, he was always overcome with grief. He once said to his soldiers, "I was a former official in the imperial palace, appreciated and promoted by the emperor many times. At this point, I can only repay the country with my life. We still have a few years of food reserves. When the food runs out, the situation in the world will become clear. If the Sui Dynasty really falls, and the mandate of heaven belongs to others, I will come to you with my head!" At that time, the people had long suffered under Sui rule, and when the rebel army rose, everyone saw hope. However, Jun Su’s leadership kept the people in the city from rebelling. More than a year later, the city received a small supply of food from outside, and the people in the city also learned that Jiangdu (the capital of the Sui Dynasty) had been destroyed. However, food was still very scarce, and the people could not survive. There were even reports of cannibalism, and people were in a state of panic. A white rainbow appeared over the city gate, and the blades of weapons glinted in the night. A month later, Jun Su was killed by his own subordinates. Chen Xiaoyi was from Hedong, and he had lofty ambitions from a young age. He was known for his integrity when he was young. During the reign of the Sui Dynasty, he became a minor official in the judicial department of Lu County, known for his honesty and fairness. The county magistrate, Su Wei, once wanted to kill a prisoner, but Chen Xiaoyi strongly opposed it. After several attempts to persuade Su Wei, but he would not listen, Chen Xiaoyi stripped off his clothes and demanded to be executed first. Eventually, Su Wei reconsidered, apologized to Chen Xiaoyi, released him, and later came to respect him even more. Later, Su Wei became an advisor and recommended Chen Xiaoyi to become an imperial censor.
After his father passed away, Chen Xiaoyi resigned from his official position and returned home to observe the mourning rituals. The mourning rituals he observed were very grand, with white deer peacefully wandering near his home, leading people at the time to believe it was a display of filial piety. Not long after, he was appointed as the magistrate of Yanmen County. He lived a simple and frugal life in Yanmen County, mourning his father sorrowfully every day. Each time he cried, it felt as if he were in unbearable pain, resulting in his body growing thin and emaciated, causing sadness in those who saw him.
During that time, there was political chaos, as many local officials were corrupt. However, Chen Xiaoyi remained steadfast in his integrity, exposing corruption, punishing criminals, and handling matters swiftly and decisively. He seemed to have divine assistance, and both the people and officials praised him. When Emperor Yang of Sui was visiting Jiangdu, Liu Wuzhou of Mayi killed the prefect Wang Rengong and rebelled. Chen Xiaoyi led his army and the military commander Wang Zhibian to suppress Liu Wuzhou, fighting at Xiaguan City, but ultimately losing the battle.
Liu Wuzhou then attacked the surrounding counties, causing panic among the people, who were on the brink of rebellion. The former magistrate Yang Changren and the county magistrate Wang Que were cunning and deceitful individuals, with many thugs associating with them and plotting to support Liu Wuzhou. Chen Xiaoyi secretly learned of their conspiracy and wiped out their entire families, instilling fear in the people of the county, preventing any rebellious thoughts.
Not long after, Liu Wuzhou led his troops to attack Yanmen County. Chen Xiaoyi resolutely resisted and was able to achieve victory each time. However, Yanmen County was an isolated city with no reinforcements outside. Chen Xiaoyi resolved to defend the city to the death. He sent messengers to Jiangdu multiple times to request reinforcements, but the roads were cut off, leaving him without a response. Chen Xiaoyi knew that the emperor would not send troops to rescue them. Every morning and evening, he would weep before the emperor's decree in court, his sorrowful appearance moving those around him.
The city was besieged for over a hundred days, the food ran out, and was ultimately killed by Colonel Zhang Lun, and Yanmen County fell into the hands of Liu Wuzhou. Zhang Jixun, a native of Jingzhao, whose father, Zhang Xiang, was highly regarded by Emperor Gaozu when he was young, was later promoted to serve as a military officer under the Prime Minister. During the Kaihuang era, Zhang Xiang was promoted several times and eventually rose to the rank of Sima in Bingzhou. As the Renshou period was coming to a close, Prince Han Liang rebelled and sent his general Liu Jian to attack the Yan and Zhao regions. When Liu Jian arrived at Jingxing, Zhang Xiang led the troops to resist, but Liu Jian launched a fierce assault, even setting fire to the city walls. Seeing the people terrified, Zhang Xiang ascended the city wall, bowed twice before the Temple of the Queen Mother of the West, and cried out, "What crime have the people committed to deserve such a fate? If the gods truly exist, please bring down the rain to save them!" No sooner had he finished speaking than dark clouds gathered over the temple, and soon a heavy rain fell, extinguishing the fire. The soldiers were deeply moved by his sincerity and rallied to his command. After being besieged for more than a month, Li Xiong's reinforcements arrived, and the rebel army retreated. Zhang Xiang was rewarded for his achievements and appointed as Kaifu, later serving as the governor of Ruzhou and Lingwu, and finally as the Director of Water Control in the capital, where he passed away while in office.
Zhang Jixun was brave and principled when he was young. Near the end of the Daye period, he became the Eagle Strike General, establishing Jishan as a defensive stronghold linked to Luokou. Later, Li Mi and Zhai Rang captured the granary city and sent people to ask him to surrender. Zhang Jixun shouted insults at Li Mi, who became angry and sent troops to attack him, but despite several years of attempts, he could not capture him. At that time, Li Mi had tens of thousands of soldiers surrounding his city, while Zhang Jixun only had a few hundred men, but he remained resolute, even against overwhelming odds, and refused to surrender. After three years, supplies ran out, and they had to burn down houses for fuel and live in makeshift caves. Despite the lack of food and exhausted soldiers, the city was eventually breached. Zhang Jixun sat calmly in his office as Li Mi's soldiers arrested him. The rebels seized Zhang Jixun and demanded he kneel before Li Mi, but he refused, stating that he was a loyal subject of the emperor. Li Mi, impressed by his spirit, decided to release him. However, frustrated by his failure to extract money from Li Mi, Zhai Rang killed Zhang Jixun when he was only twenty-eight years old. His brother, Zhang Zhongyan, became the Luoling at the end of the Daye period. When the rebels rose, his own subordinates killed him, and he was subsequently forced to join the rebels. Another brother of Zhang Jixun, Zhang Cong, was killed during Yuwen Huaji's rebellion. The Zhang family was known for their unwavering loyalty and righteousness, with brothers sacrificing their lives for the country, earning widespread praise from the people.
It is said that Song Yun, a hot-tempered man from Beihai who valued honor, was a captain in Shimeng Prefecture. Towards the end of the Daye era under Emperor Yang of Sui, a bandit named Yang Hou led a rebellion and attacked Beihai County. Song Yun followed the troops from the county to suppress him. Song Yun went out on horseback to scout the enemy's movements but was captured by Yang Hou's men. Yang Hou wanted to use Song Yun to urge the townspeople to surrender, so he let him shout to the city, claiming that the county troops had been defeated and urging them to surrender quickly. Song Yun pretended to agree to Yang Hou's demands.
When he reached the city walls, Song Yun suddenly shouted, "I am Song Yun, sent to scout the enemy situation by orders, not because I can't beat them! Now the main force of the imperial army has arrived, the rebel forces are outnumbered and weak; they will soon be eliminated, so don't worry!" Yang Hou, furious, slashed at Song Yun's mouth with a knife, dragged him off, beating him all the way. While being beaten, Song Yun shouted curses at Yang Hou, "You old thief, dare to insult loyal and righteous people; you're digging your own grave!" Before he could finish his words, Yang Hou cut off Song Yun's lower body. When the people in the city saw this scene, not a single one could hold back their tears or refrain from beating their chests; their morale soared even higher, and in the end, Beihai City was saved.
Emperor Yang of Sui sent the official Guo Zijian to lead the campaign against Yang Hou, and as a result, Yang Hou was defeated. Emperor Yang of Sui was very sorry to hear that Song Yun died for the country, and he reported Song Yun's deeds, issued a decree to commend him, and posthumously honored him with the title of court gentleman and appointed him magistrate of the county. Historical texts state: The ancients believed that the world held the utmost importance, and individuals seemed insignificant. It is important to be alive, but compared to righteousness, life is insignificant. Therefore, dying for righteousness carries more weight than Mount Tai; living for justice imbues life with meaning; living for survival is lighter than a feather, while dying for righteousness gives life meaning. However, death is irreversible, and life offers no second chances; therefore, upholding one's integrity in any situation is incredibly challenging.
The rebellion led by Yang Liang, Xuan Gan, and Li Mi has already taken shape, with a fierce momentum building. Huangfu Dan, You Yuan, and Feng Ciming are fearless in the face of danger, facing death with unwavering resolve, bravely dying for righteousness. Dugu Sheng, Yuan Wendo, Lu Chu, and Yao Junsu, are they unaware that fate has already been sealed, and human efforts cannot reverse it? They willingly accept their fate of being slaughtered to uphold their loyalty and moral integrity. Although their efforts did not save the country and their strength could not rescue it from danger, their spirit will shine through the ages, especially when compared to those who live in cowardice. Xuduo and Shanhui carry on the virtues of Wen Xu, and Ziyi and Songyun embody the heroism of Jieyang. Even in times of national chaos, loyal ministers still exist!
