Su Xiaoci hails from Fufeng; his father, Su Wuzhou, served as the Governor of Yanzhou. Su Xiaoci has always been steady, reliable, and responsible since childhood, and he is also quite handsome and charming. In the early days of the Zhou Dynasty, he became a senior attendant. Later, he was promoted to the rank of commander and was sent as an envoy to the State of Qi. His efficient work earned him the emperor's high regard, and he was further promoted to Grand Commander. In the same year, he was sent again as an envoy to the State of Qi, and upon his return, he was appointed Senior Announcer. Later, he accompanied Emperor Wu in the campaign against the State of Qi and was granted the title of Kaifu for his military accomplishments, with the title of Duke of Wenan County and a fief of 1,500 households. Shortly thereafter, he was re-enfeoffed as the Duke of Linshui, with his fief increasing to 2,700 households, and his official rank continued to rise, eventually reaching Senior Officer of the Ministry of Works.
After Emperor Gaozu ascended the throne, Su Xiaoci was promoted to Duke of Anping County and appointed as Minister of the Imperial Household. At that time, the country had just been founded, and many tasks lay ahead. The court recruited craftsmen from all over the country, bringing together various skilled artisans. Su Xiaoci was in charge of coordinating these efforts, and everyone praised his excellent performance. Not long after, he was promoted to Minister of Agriculture, and a year later, he was further promoted to Minister of War, with even more favorable conditions. At that time, Crown Prince Yong was well-acquainted with court affairs, and the emperor aimed to elevate the status of palace officials, resulting in many ministers being appointed to key positions within the palace. As a result, Su Xiaoci was appointed the Right Guard of the Crown Prince while retaining his role as Minister of War.
In the second year, the emperor established the Granary of Constant Peace in Shan Prefecture, tasked with grain transportation. Due to the Wei River's swift currents and significant fluctuations in water level, transportation was very difficult. Therefore, the emperor ordered the excavation of a canal to redirect the Wei River into the Yellow River, entrusting the project to Su Xiaoci. After the project was completed, the emperor was very satisfied. Su Xiaoci also served as the Prince's Right Associate, later promoted to Left Guard Commander, while also managing the duties of the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Civil Affairs, holding considerable power. Several years later, he was promoted to Grand General, then transferred to the Ministry of Works, while retaining his other positions. Previously, due to insufficient funding for officials, each department had established "office funds" to subsidize expenses. Su Xiaoci believed that the competition for profits between officials and the populace was not sustainable, so he requested the cancellation of "office funds" and proposed to allocate different levels of official fields to officials below the nobility. The emperor adopted his proposal.
In the eighteenth year of Kaihuang, the emperor wanted to abolish the Crown Prince, fearing his excessive influence in the Eastern Palace, so he sent him to Xizhou as the Intendant. The Crown Prince was visibly displeased by Su Xiaoci's departure, which clearly shows how much the emperor valued Su Xiaoci! In the early years of Renshou, Su Xiaoci was transferred to be the Governor of Hongzhou, achieving impressive results. Later, the Yue tribes in Guilin rose in rebellion, and the court appointed Su Xiaoci as the Commander of the Expeditionary Forces to quell the rebellion. In the same year, Su Xiaoci died in office, leaving behind a son named Su Huichang.
Shaluo, style name Zicui, his father was the Governor of Meizhou during the Zhou Dynasty. Shaluo served as an official in the Zhou Dynasty, starting out as a commander. Later, he followed Wei Xiaokuan and defeated Yu Jiong. Because of his achievements, he was appointed as the Minister of the Household, and also appointed as the Duke of Tongqin, steadily climbing the ranks and amassing wealth. At the start of the Kaihuang era, Prince Yang Xiu of Shu was stationed in Yizhou, and Shaluo followed him, appointed as the Governor of Zizhou. Eight years later, Ran Maoqiang led a rebellion, attacking Wenshan and Jinchuan. Shaluo led troops to defeat them and was promoted to the Governor of Qiongzhou. After a few years, he was appointed as the deputy of the Governor of Lizhou. Later, he followed Shi Wansui to combat the Xicuan, achieving numerous victories, which led to his promotion to Grand General, receiving many rewards, including a thousand bolts of cloth! He then served as the deputy of the Governor of Yizhou.
However, the Yuezhi, led by Wang Feng, rebelled, and Shaluo, along with Duan Wenzhen, helped suppress the rebellion, for which the court rewarded him with a hundred servants. Unfortunately, the good times were short-lived, as Prince Yang Xiu was deposed. Shaluo was accused of complicity in Wang Feng's murder, claiming that Yang Xiu falsely claimed it was carried out by his subordinates. They also alleged that Shaluo had secretly facilitated the escape of the slaves. Because of this, Shaluo was dismissed from his post and eventually died at home. He had a son named Kang.
Li Xiong, courtesy name Pilu, was from Gaoyi in Zhao Commandery. His grandfather was a Grand Minister of the Palace in the Wei Dynasty, and his father was the Governor of Shanzhou in the Qi Dynasty. After the Zhou Dynasty overthrew the Qi Dynasty, Li Xiong followed the army to Chang'an. Since childhood, Li Xiong was ambitious and had grand ambitions. While his family achieved success through education, he preferred horseback riding and archery. His nephew advised him, "Giving up studying to practice martial arts is not something a scholar should do!" Li Xiong replied, "I have read many history books on my own. Throughout history, loyal ministers and capable generals need to be well-rounded. Just studying or just martial arts is not enough. Only by excelling in both can one succeed. Although my abilities are limited, I have read many books. I just do not adhere to rigid rules and regulations. I can both study and practice martial arts. Nephew, what are you worried about?" His nephew was left speechless by his words.
During the reign of Emperor Taizu of the Zhou Dynasty, this man (referring to the character in the text) abandoned his civilian clothes and became the Assistant General of the State. He followed Daxi Wuping to pacify Hanzhong, stabilize Xingzhou, and defeat the rebellious Hu people in Fenzhou. For these military achievements, he was appointed as the Grand General of the Valiant Cavalry and became Equivalent to the Three Offices. He held a significant position. Later, when Emperor Min ascended the throne, he was promoted and ennobled as a Duke, and was assigned to a post in the Small Office. He later followed Daxi Wuping to fight against the people of Qi at Mangshan, and while other armies suffered defeats, his troops came through unscathed.
During the reign of Emperor Wu, he followed Chen Wangchun to meet the Queen Mother in the Turkic region, was promoted to the position of Xibo, and was appointed as the Governor of Xiazhou. After a few years, he was summoned back to the court and became the Chief Minister of the local government. Shortly after, he was sent on a mission and became the Chief of Historical Affairs in Liangzhou. Later, he followed Prince Teng in Qinghai and defeated the Tuyuhun, earning merit and being further promoted to the rank of Yitong. After Emperor Xuan succeeded to the throne, he followed the military commander Wei Xiaokuan in pacifying Huainan. Remarkably, with just a few hundred light cavalry, he arrived at Heshi and managed to persuade over ten cities to surrender, then was appointed as the Governor of Haozhou.
After Emperor Gaozu took control of the national power, he was summoned back to the court and became the Chief Minister of the Sihui. Due to his achievements in Huainan, he was promoted to Shang Kaifu. After Emperor Gaozu succeeded to the throne, he was appointed as the Minister of Rites and was also granted the title of Duke of Gaodu County, with a land grant supporting two thousand households, truly a splendid position! After a few years, Prince Jin Guang was sent to guard Bingzhou, and Emperor Gaozu appointed this esteemed colleague as the Minister of War of the Hebei Military Department. The Emperor personally said to him, "My son is still young and inexperienced; you are both civil and military. Now I entrust this important task to you, then I can rest assured!" Upon hearing this, the esteemed colleague quickly kowtowed in gratitude, saying, "Your Majesty, you do not look down on my abilities and give me such an important position. Although I am foolish, I am not heartless; I will do my utmost to repay your kindness!" As he spoke, he was moved to tears, and the Emperor comforted him before letting him leave.
He was recognized for his integrity and incorruptibility during his service; no one dared to be unruly in his presence, and even Prince Jin held him in high regard, while the people praised him. Unfortunately, he passed away just a year later, and his son Gongting succeeded him in his title.
Zhang Ji, styled Shihong, was a native of Maocounty, Hejian, Hebei. His father, Zhang Xian, was fond of learning at a young age and was well-versed in many subjects. He served as a general in the Wei Kingdom and rose through the ranks to become a high-ranking official.
Later, Emperor Taizu of the Zhou Dynasty recognized his talents and appointed him as a minister, bestowing upon him the surname Chiluo. He later held positions as a Minister of Works, a magistrate of Yongzhou, the governor of Yongzhou, and a Director of Tri-Simultaneous Affairs. He was granted the title of Count of Yuxiang, with his official positions increasing in rank. He later returned to the court as a Minister of Works, tasked with compiling the national history. During the Zhou Dynasty, most court officials were former military generals, but Zhang Xian stood out for his solid education and scholarly reputation. As he grew older, he retired and returned home.
When Emperor Gaozu Yang Jian ascended the throne, he held Zhang Xian's virtue and reputation in high regard and personally wrote to invite him back to serve. The letter stated, "I have recently unified the realm and am eager to govern wisely. I have always hoped to have a wise and respected talent like you to assist me. You served as a Director of Tri-Simultaneous Affairs in the Zhou Dynasty, and your virtues and accomplishments are widely recognized. Although you have retired, you still possess great energy. You should return to the court to assist me in achieving my goals." After meeting with Yang Jian, he ordered to exempt him from the customary bowing ceremony, personally assisted him to the court, sat with him for an extended conversation, and rewarded him with a cane.
Later, when the capital was to be moved to Longshou (modern-day Xi'an), Zhang Xian submitted a memorial urging Yang Jian to practice diligence and frugality, for which Yang Jian specially issued a decree to express his gratitude. Not long after, Zhang Xian passed away at the age of eighty-four years. The court posthumously conferred upon him the governorship of Cangzhou and bestowed upon him the posthumous title of "Ding." He authored commentaries on the Laozi and Zhuangzi, entitled "Daoyan," comprising fifty-two chapters.
Mr. Jiong, who loved studying since childhood, fully inherited his father's excellent qualities. He served as an official in the Wei Dynasty, starting as a court official and later promoted to Minister of the Interior. Emperor Zhou valued his talents and transferred him to the position of the Military Affairs Office. Later, during the reign of Emperor Min, Mr. Jiong was appointed as a General of the Front. During the reigns of Emperor Ming and Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, he successively held positions as the Grand Minister of the Imperial Kitchen and the Chief Minister of the Grand Mausoleum, and was granted the title of Earl of Beiping County with a fief of four hundred households. During the reign of Emperor Xuan, he was further appointed as a Commander of the Imperial Guard, and his title was elevated to Count.
After Emperor Gaozu became Prime Minister, Mr. Jiong proactively built a strong rapport with him. Emperor Gaozu also recognized his abilities and held him in high regard. After Emperor Gaozu ascended the throne, Mr. Jiong was appointed as the Right Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and elevated to the rank of Marquis. Shortly after, he was promoted to the position of Junior Minister of the Imperial Household Department, concurrently serving as the Supervisor of the New Capital Garrison. When his father passed away, he resigned from his post to observe mourning at home, showing profound grief. After completing the mourning period, the court requested him to return to office, but he firmly declined. Eventually, he was appointed as the Minister of the Three Departments, inheriting the title of Duke of Yuxiang County with a fief expanded to one thousand five hundred households. He was later promoted to Minister of the Imperial Household Department and eventually became the Minister of Civil Affairs. When Prince Jin, Yang Guang, became the Governor of Yangzhou, he appointed Mr. Jiong as his Chief of Staff and granted him the title of Grand Master of Ceremonies. Mr. Jiong was known for his gentle and honest character, along with his wisdom and foresight, which earned him a stellar reputation at the time. He was appointed as the Inspector of Jizhou, and Prince Jin, Yang Guang, repeatedly requested his services, appointing him as the Chief Secretary of Prince Jin and putting him in charge of affairs in Jiangzhou. When Prince Jin ascended to the position of Crown Prince, Mr. Jiong was once again appointed as the Inspector of Jizhou, with his rank elevated to Senior Cabinet Member. He was deeply loved by the people, who hailed him as an exemplary second-rank official. He passed away in the fourth year of the Renshou era, at the age of seventy-four. His son, Huibao, later served as the Magistrate of Jiang County.
During the reign of Emperor Kaihuang, there was a man named Liu Ren'en. Historical records do not specify where he was from, but he was generous, talented in both civil and military affairs, and very capable. He initially served as the Prefect of Maozhou, where his accomplishments were among the best in the nation. He was later promoted to the position of Minister of Justice. He also served as the commander of the army following Yang Su to campaign against the Chen dynasty. In the Battle of Jingmen, he and Yang Su defeated the Chen dynasty general Lv Zhongsu together, and Liu Ren'en's strategies were pivotal. As a result, he was appointed as the Generalissimo, and he gained great fame at that time. Guo Jun from Fengyi, Feng Shiji from Shangdang, and Di Yun from the Dai people were all intelligent and strategic, and they successively served as Ministers of War. Di Yun was kind and insightful, and he rose to the position of Minister of Civil Affairs. These four individuals were well-known figures of their time, but there are few detailed records of their specific achievements. Historical records indicate that the two Zhao brothers were well-versed in historical allusions, and everyone praised them at the time. However, once they attained high office, their achievements were not particularly remarkable. This illustrates that everyone has their own limits in talent and ability, and they each have their own strengths that cannot be forced. Changsun Ping suggested that the emperor pardon those accused of slander, which was indeed a commendable act! Emperor Gaozu was very pleased and followed his advice, which yielded significant benefits. Yuan Hui rose to prominence and wealth through his intelligence and capability, while Wei Shi was renowned for his honesty and integrity. Yang Shangxi and Yang Yi were elite members of the royal family with high prestige. Su Xiaoci, Li Xiong, and Zhang Jie were all praised for their honesty and capability, both in court and in public life. These individuals were highly regarded in the early years of Emperor Kaihuang's reign and were regarded as the most outstanding talents of their time!
