Fang Gongyi, styled Shenyuan, hailed from Luoyang, Henan. His father, Fang Mo, once served as the Minister of Personnel in the Northern Qi dynasty. Fang Gongyi was steady and insightful, well-suited for government service. He held various positions in Northern Qi, starting as a military advisor, then serving as the county magistrate of Ping'en and the prefect of Jiyin, where he achieved notable success. After the fall of Northern Qi, he found it difficult to secure suitable employment. Later on, when Wei Jiong rebelled, Fang Gongyi participated and was dismissed from his post after Wei Jiong's failure.
During the Kaihuang era of the Sui dynasty, the Minister of Personnel, Su Wei, recommended him. He was appointed as the magistrate of Xinfeng County, where he excelled in performance in the Guanzhong area. Upon hearing this, Emperor Wen of Sui was pleased and rewarded him with four hundred bolts of cloth, which Fang Gongyi generously distributed among the poor. Shortly after, he was rewarded with three hundred stones of rice, which he again used to aid the poor. Upon hearing this, Emperor Wen of Sui intervened to stop him from continuing this practice. On the first day of every month, county magistrates from Yongzhou had to pay homage to the emperor. Whenever Emperor Wen encountered Fang Gongyi, he would call him over and inquire about his strategies for governing the people.
Su Wei recommended him again, and he was promoted to Sima of Zezhou, with outstanding achievements. He was rewarded by the emperor with a hundred bolts of cloth and a good horse. Later, he was promoted to Sima of Dezhou. After over a year in office, Lu Kai reported that Fang Gongyi's achievements were the best in the realm. Emperor Wen of Sui held him in high regard, rewarding him with another hundred bolts of cloth, and told the envoys from various states: "A person like Fang Gongyi, who wholeheartedly serves the country and cares for the people, is the result of blessings from heaven and ancestral temples. What credit is there for me in this? I will immediately promote him to governor of the province. He is not just a model for his province, but a role model for the entire nation. You should all learn from him!" Emperor Wen of Sui also said: "Wherever Fang Gongyi goes, the people treat him like their parents. If I fail to reward him, I would incur the wrath of heaven and my ancestors. The court should understand my intentions." An edict was then issued, declaring: "Fang Gongyi, Sima of Dezhou, governs the area, assists the court, and has remarkable achievements that make him a worthy role model. He is diligent and responsible, deeply respected by the people, entrusted with heavy responsibilities, with a good reputation and achievements. He is appointed as the governor of Haizhou and commander of the military forces in Haizhou!" Not long after, the National Academy Scholar He Tuo memorialized that Fang Gongyi was an ally of Yu Ji and should not be promoted. He also accused Su Wei and Lu Kai of forming factions and recommending each other. Emperor Wen of Sui was furious, and Fang Gongyi was punished and banished to Lingnan. He was later summoned back to the capital, but sadly passed away en route to Hongzhou. People in later generations mourned his unjust fate. Gong Sun Jingmao, styled Yuanwei, was from Fucheng, Hebei. He was tall and strong, and from a young age, he showed a keen interest in study, immersing himself in various classics and historical texts.
During the Wei Dynasty, he was recommended as a candidate of filial piety and integrity, ranked first in the imperial examination, and subsequently became the Chief Historian for the Prince of Xiangcheng while also serving as a military officer. Later, he was promoted to the position of Doctor of Rites, where he made numerous revisions and supplements to the classics, earning him a reputation as a living library. He performed exceptionally well as the magistrate of Gaotang County and the Chief Justice of the Grand Court, gaining a good reputation in both positions.
After the Northern Qi was defeated by the Northern Zhou, Emperor Wu of Zhou heard of his reputation and summoned him to the palace. After a brief conversation, the emperor was favorably impressed and appointed him as the Governor of Jibei. However, upon his mother's passing, he resigned from his official duties to mourn at home.
During the early years of the Kaihuang reign, the emperor summoned him to the capital to inquire about his strategies for governing the country. Subsequently, he was appointed as the Governor of Runan. After the abolition of Runan Commandery, he was reassigned as the Sima of Caozhou Commandery. He served in these positions for several years, but due to his old age and declining health, he requested retirement. The emperor offered him special consideration and declined his retirement request. Shortly after, he was appointed as the Inspector of Xizhou. He enforced the law fairly, achieved notable political accomplishments, and ensured that the people lived in peace and prosperity.
During the campaign to pacify the Chen Dynasty, many soldiers became ill during the campaign. Jingmao cut his own salary, used the saved money to buy rice and flour to make porridge, prepared medicinal broths, and distributed them to the sick soldiers, saving the lives of thousands. The emperor was thrilled to hear this and ordered a nationwide recognition and commendation in his honor.
When he was fifteen, the emperor visited Luoyang, where Jingmao went to meet him. At that time, Jingmao was already seventy-seven years old. The emperor asked him to sit down in the hall and inquired about his age. Jingmao answered truthfully. The emperor expressed sympathy for his age and sighed deeply. Jingmao expressed his gratitude again and said, "Lu Shang met King Wen at the age of eighty, but I met Your Majesty in my seventies." The emperor was very pleased and rewarded him with three hundred rolls of cloth. The emperor also decreed, "Jingmao is upright, highly respected, and has achieved remarkable results in governing the people as a local official. He always excels in the annual assessment and should be promoted to a higher official position, as well as appointed to manage a fiefdom. Let him serve as the Governor of Yizhou."
The following year, Jingmao was recalled by the court due to illness. Officials and townsfolk wept as they bid him farewell, unwilling to let him go. After he recovered, he requested to retire, but the emperor declined and instead transferred him to be the Governor of Daozhou. He used all his salary to buy calves, chickens, and pigs, which he shared with orphans, widows, and those in need. He enjoyed riding around to check on the people, visiting households one by one to inspect their property. If a family repaired their house, he would publicly praise and commend them; if someone made a mistake, he would educate and guide them in a timely manner, without publicly criticizing them.
As a result, the locals treated each other with humility, the gap between rich and poor narrowed, men helped each other with farming, and women helped each other with weaving. In large villages with several hundred households, they all lived together harmoniously like one big family. Later, he asked to retire from public service, and the emperor granted his wish.
During the reign of Renshou, the emperor sent Yang Ji on a diplomatic mission to Hebei. He saw Jing Mao looking energetic and not at all old, so he reported back to the emperor. As a result, the emperor appointed him as the governor of Zizhou and bestowed upon him horses and carriages to assist him in his new role. He held many official positions throughout his career, all of which were marked by outstanding political achievements, earning him the reputation of a good official. He passed away at the age of 87 during the Daye period and was posthumously named "Kang." On the day of his death, officials and people from several states came to pay their last respects. Some who could not attend the funeral wept at his grave and left only after paying their respects.
Xin Gongyi was a native of Didi in Gansu. His grandfather, Xin Hui, held the position of governor of Xuzhou in the Wei Kingdom, and his father, Xin Jiqing, served as the governor of Qingzhou. Xin Gongyi lost his father at a young age and was raised by his mother, who took it upon herself to teach him to read. During the Northern Zhou Tianhe period, he was selected as a student of the Imperial Academy and earned a reputation for his diligence and hard work. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui, he was invited to study at the Luomen Academy within the palace, learning Confucian ethics. Every month, he had to discuss his studies with the emperor and other scholars, frequently receiving praise from Emperor Wen and earning the respect of his peers.
During the Jiande period, Xin Gongyi was appointed as a Xuan Na Officer. He accompanied the army in suppressing the Qi Kingdom and steadily rose through the ranks, eventually becoming the governor and general in charge of suppressing bandits. When Emperor Wen of Sui became the prime minister, he appointed Xin Gongyi as an official in the Ministry of the Interior to engage him in key government matters. In the first year of Kaihuang, he was appointed as the Master of Guests and also responsible for the duties of the Ministry of the Interior, being bestowed the title of Lord of Anyang County with a fief of two hundred households. Whenever foreign envoys visited, he was responsible for receiving and entertaining them. Later, he was reassigned as an attendant in the Ministry of Carriages, dispatched to Jiangling to maintain peace along the border. In the seventh year of Kaihuang, he was sent to inspect horse farms across the country and confiscated more than one hundred thousand horses. Emperor Wen happily remarked, "Only Xin Gongyi is capable of serving the country with such dedication!"
He followed the army to quell the Chen Kingdom. Due to his achievements, he was appointed as the governor of Minzhou. In Minzhou, there was a peculiar custom that if someone fell ill, their whole family would avoid them. Familial bonds were severed, with no care shown between parents and children or husbands and wives, completely disregarding the virtues of filial piety. As a result of this custom, many patients died. Xingongyi was very concerned about this situation and wanted to change this custom. Therefore, he sent officials to conduct inspections throughout the region. Whenever there were sick people, they were transported on stretchers to the government office and laid out in the main hall. During the summer when epidemics were prevalent, sometimes there were as many as hundreds of patients, and the hall and corridors were crowded with people. Xingongyi personally arranged a bed in the hall, sat alone among the patients, while attending to government affairs day and night. He used all his salary to buy medicine, invited doctors to treat the patients, and personally persuaded the patients to eat. When the patients recovered, he called the family members and said, "Life and death are predetermined, and it has nothing to do with infecting each other. In the past, you abandoned the patients, so they died. Now I have gathered the patients together, and I have been with them day and night. If it were contagious, then why am I still alive while the patients have recovered? Don't believe in such rumors anymore!" The family members of the patients left feeling ashamed. After that, whenever someone fell ill in the area, they hurried to the government office. If there was no one to take care of them at home, the government office took charge of their care. The government office became a place of compassion, and this custom changed as a result. The people of the entire region affectionately referred to him as "Mother of Mercy."
Later, Xin Gongyi was transferred to be the governor of Mouzhou. Upon taking office, he first went to the prison, slept outside the cells, and personally interrogated the prisoners. After more than ten days, he had resolved all the cases and returned to the government office. When handling new cases, he didn't even open any case files, instead assigning a duty officer to interrogate on his behalf. If a matter wasn't resolved and a prisoner needed to be detained, Xin Gongyi would sleep in the government office and never return to his own room. When someone suggested to him, "These matters have procedures, why do you need to work so hard?" Xin Gongyi replied, "If a magistrate cannot educate the people with virtue and instead locks them up in prison, how can he feel at ease?" The prisoners were very grateful upon hearing his words. Later, when someone wanted to file a lawsuit, their elders advised them, "These are all trivial matters, why bother the magistrate?" Many lawsuits were dropped as a result.
At that time, the Shandong region was hit by continuous heavy rains, causing severe flooding from Chenzhou and Ruzhou all the way to the coast. However, Mouzhou came through unscathed, and even produced gold and silver on the mountains. Xin Gongyi presented these tributes to the court. The court sent Lou Ze, a minister of the Ministry of Water, to Mouzhou to pray for Xin Gongyi. It was said that the sounds of gold, stone, silk, and bamboo filled the air. In the first year of Renshou, Xin Gongyi was appointed as the ambassador of the Yangzhou Dao. Prince Yuzhang, Yang Jian, was concerned that his subordinates might commit crimes and sent someone to warn Xin Gongyi before he arrived in Yangzhou. Xin Gongyi replied, "I won't act out of favoritism." After arriving in Yangzhou, he did not show favoritism to anyone, which made Yang Jian resent him. Later, when Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, the Chief of Yangzhou, Wang Hong, became a minister of the Huangmen and spoke ill of Xin Gongyi to the emperor, resulting in Xin Gongyi's removal from office. Many officials and commoners appealed and sought justice, leading to a flood of complaints. A few years later, Emperor Yang of Sui finally understood the truth and reappointed Xin Gongyi as the Minister of the Interior. After his mother's death, he was shortly thereafter appointed as the Grand Master of Records and also served as the Right Guard Wu Ben Lang General. He joined the army on a campaign and passed away in Liucheng County at the age of sixty-two. His son was named Xin Rong.
Liu Jian, courtesy name Daoyue, was from Jie County in Hedong. His grandfather, Liu Yuanzhang, served as the Grand Inspector of Sizhou in the Wei state, as well as the Intendant of Xiangzhou and Huazhou. His father, Liu Yu, was the magistrate of Wenxi County during the Zhou dynasty. Liu Jian was known for his integrity and simplicity, highly respected in the local community; even his close friends and relatives dared not show him disrespect. He served as a Senior Officer of Rites and a Grand Officer of the Capital in the Zhou dynasty. After the founding emperor ascended the throne, he promoted Liu Jian as an Attendant Officer of the Water Department and granted him the title of Count of Luadao County. Shortly after, he was appointed as the Administrator of Guanghan, where he garnered a strong reputation for effective governance. Later, the Guanghan commandery was abolished.
During the early days of the founding emperor's reign, as he consolidated his rule and selected talented individuals for local official positions, Liu Jian, known for his integrity, benevolence, and outstanding performance, was promoted to be the Prefect of Pengzhou. He handled legal cases promptly, without unnecessary formalities, simply by managing his subordinates well, always calm and composed, which led to a prison without inmates. Prince Yang Xiu of Shu, stationed in Yizhou at the time, reported Liu Jian's achievements to the court, resulting in Liu Jian being promoted to be the Prefect of Qiongzhou. He served in Qiongzhou for over a decade, earning the respect of both local citizens and minority groups. However, when Prince Yang Xiu of Shu was implicated in a crime, Liu Jian was dismissed due to his association with Yang Xiu. Upon returning to his hometown, he traveled in a dilapidated carriage, rode a thin and weak horse, and his family struggled to make ends meet, drawing sympathetic sighs from those who saw him.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended to the throne, he summoned him back to the capital. At that time, the officials who had become governors and county magistrates due to their merits all carried weapons, but Liu Jian started as an ordinary official. Emperor Yang of Sui admired his political achievements and granted him the title of court gentleman, appointed him as the governor of Honghua, and also rewarded him with one hundred bolts of cloth. Liu Jian's integrity and frugality became even more pronounced. In the fifth year of the Daye era, he attended the court assembly, where officials from all over the country gathered in the capital. Emperor Yang of Sui asked the Minister of Rites Su Wei and the Minister of Personnel Niu Hong, "Among these people, whose reputation is the most esteemed in the realm?" Su Wei replied that it was Liu Jian. Emperor Yang of Sui then asked who was second, and Su Wei answered that it was Guo Xuan, the magistrate of Zhuo County, and Jing Su, the magistrate of Yingchuan County. Emperor Yang of Sui rewarded Liu Jian with two hundred bolts of cloth, Guo Xuan and Jing Su each with one hundred bolts of cloth, and ordered all the envoys from the national court assemblies to deliver the rewards to their respective counties as a commendation. At that time, people all praised him. In the later years of Daye, banditry was rampant, and Liu Jian was attacked many times, but he managed to pacify both the local populace and minority groups, ultimately preventing any rebellion and preserving the stability of the region. Later, the rebel army captured Chang'an and installed Emperor Gong, and Liu Jian and the resident Li Can wept facing south in plain clothes in the province. Later, he returned to the capital, where the Chancellor rewarded him with three hundred bolts of cloth and appointed him as the Grand General. Over a year later, he passed away peacefully at home at the age of eighty-nine.
Guo Xuan, a native of Yongji, Shanxi, came from a poor family. He started out as a minor official in the Shangshu Province, later rising to the position of Yitong Sanqi (仪同三司) through military achievements. He earned a stellar reputation for his outstanding performance while serving as the Sima and Changshi of several prefectures. When Emperor Yang of Sui had just ascended the throne, Yuwen Bi, the Minister of Justice, was conducting an inspection in Hebei and took Guo Xuan as his assistant. Emperor Yang was preparing to go to Liaodong for war and considered Zhuo County (modern-day Zhuozhou, Hebei) a strategic location, in search of suitable talent. Upon hearing of Guo Xuan's abilities, he appointed him as the magistrate of Zhuo County, which delighted local officials and residents. A few years later, Guo Xuan was promoted to the position of acting governor while continuing as magistrate. Later, a bandit uprising broke out in Shandong, and Guo Xuan led troops to pursue and capture many bandits. While chaos reigned in other counties, Zhuo County remained tranquil. Tragically, Guo Xuan later fought bravely against Dou Jiande in Hejian and died in battle. Officials and residents mourned him deeply, crying nonstop for several months.
Jing Su, courtesy name Hongjian, was from Puban, Yongji in Shanxi. He was known for his integrity and uprightness from a young age, and he initially served as the chief clerk in the county when he first entered government service. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui in the Kaihuang era, he was appointed as the magistrate of Anling County, where he made notable achievements. He was later promoted to the position of Sima of Qinzhou and subsequently became the Grand Historian of Binzhou. In the Renshou era of Emperor Yang of Sui, he served as the Sima of Weizhou, where he continued to perform commendably. Upon Emperor Yang's ascension, he was further promoted to the position of magistrate of Yingchuan commandery. In the fifth year of Daye, he traveled to the eastern capital Luoyang to pay his respects to the emperor, who assigned Xue Daoheng, the Chief of the Imperial Secretariat, to assess officials throughout the empire. Xue Daoheng remarked about Jing Su, "His resolve is as unyielding as iron and stone, growing more upright with age." At that time, the General of the Left Guard, Yu Wenshu, wielded considerable power and hailed from Yingchuan, frequently sending letters to Jing Su. However, Jing Su never opened these letters, instructing his messengers to return them unopened. When some of Yu Wenshu's guests behaved licentiously, Jing Su dealt with them according to the law without leniency, which made Yu Wenshu resentful. In the eighth year of Daye, Jing Su visited Zhuo commandery to meet the emperor, who acknowledged his age and capabilities in governance, considering promoting him to the position of governor several times, but Yu Wenshu obstructed these attempts, preventing his success. In the waning years of Daye, Jing Su requested retirement, which the emperor granted. When he retired, he had no savings to his name. More than a year later, Jing Su passed away at the age of eighty.
As for Liu Kuang, his background was a mystery. He was known for his cautious and honest nature, always treating matters with sincerity and tolerance. At the start of Emperor Wen of Sui's Kaihuang era, he was appointed as the magistrate of Pingxiang County and set off on horseback by himself to take up his position.
When disputes arose among the common people, he patiently and meticulously explained the right and wrong to them, never imposing harsh punishments. Everyone recognized their own faults and left amicably. He devoted his entire salary to helping the poor. The people were deeply touched by his kindness and moral teachings, encouraging one another and saying, "With such a good official, how could we ever do anything wrong!" He served as the county magistrate in Pingxiang County for seven years, during which the local atmosphere saw a significant improvement. The prison had no inmates, and lawsuits had vanished. The prison was overgrown with weeds, and the yard was even suitable for playing tennis. When he left his post, officials and people from the county, regardless of their status, tearfully saw him off on his journey, bidding farewell reluctantly after several hundred miles. Later, he was transferred to serve as the magistrate of Linying County, where he maintained his reputation for integrity and effective governance, earning the title of the best in the land. The Minister of Personnel, Gao Feng, reported his achievements to the emperor, who summoned him and commended him, saying, "There are so many county magistrates in the world, but you stand out. That is truly commendable!" The emperor then told his officials, "If we do not reward him adequately, how can we inspire others?" So the emperor issued a commendation decree and promoted him to the position of Governor of Juzhou.
Wang Jia was from Zhangwu in Hebei. During the late Kaihuang era of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, he held a minor official position in Qizhou as a military officer, and there was nothing remarkable about him at first. Later, the governor of Qizhou assigned him to escort over seventy prisoners, including Li Can, who had been exiled for their crimes to the capital. At that time, regulations mandated that exiled prisoners be transported in chains. When Wang Jia reached Xingyang and witnessed their suffering, he felt a pang of sympathy. He called them one by one and said, "You have broken the law and harmed societal order. It is only right for you to suffer wearing chains. But now you must endure this long journey. Can you bear it?" The prisoners bowed their heads in apology. Wang Jia said, "While you have broken the law, it’s undeniably harsh to be in chains. I want to help you remove your chains. When we reach the capital, can you promise not to escape and to arrive on time?" The prisoners all knelt in gratitude and said, "We would never dream of escaping!" So Wang Jia helped them remove their chains and dismissed the soldiers escorting them, making an agreement: "You must arrive in the capital by a certain date. If anyone fails to arrive, I will take the blame!" He then allowed them to go on their own. The exiled prisoners were extremely grateful and all arrived in the capital on time, with no one escaping or betraying him. The emperor was astonished when he heard of this, summoned Wang Jia for questioning, and praised him profusely. Afterward, the emperor summoned all the exiled prisoners, permitted them to bring their wives and children into the palace, hosted a feast for them, and ultimately pardoned them all.
The Emperor also issued a decree, saying, "All the people in the world, who are flesh and blood, have a sense of good and evil. If we treat them sincerely and teach them earnestly, then the social climate will improve, and people will become more benevolent. In the past, due to chaos and moral corruption, officials lacked compassion, and the common people were suspicious, resulting in endless lawsuits, a declining social climate, and difficult governance. I have been commanded by heaven to pacify the people, to adhere to the teachings of the sages, to inspire people through moral values, and I strive for this day and night. Wang Jia deeply understands my intentions and teaches the prisoners with sincerity. Li Can and his peers repent and surrender to the authorities. This shows that the people are not difficult to educate; it's just that officials have not guided them properly, resulting in their crimes without giving them a chance for redemption. If all officials were like Wang Jia, and all people like Li Can and his peers, then the use of the penal system would be unnecessary. Isn't this a distant goal?" So the Emperor promoted Wang Jia to be the magistrate of Yong County, where he achieved notable success and earned a stellar reputation.
Wei Deshen, from Julu, had a grandfather, Wei Chong, who held the positions of Minister of Justice and Governor of Jianzhou during the Zhou Dynasty, and later the family moved to Hongnong. His father, Wei Pi, served as the magistrate of Yulin County. Wei Deshen started as a minor official under Emperor Wen, then worked as a secretary in Fengyi County and Wuyang County. Due to his exceptional abilities, he was promoted to magistrate of Guixiang County. He ruled with integrity, fairness, and effectiveness, ensuring order without harshness.
At that time, we happened to be at war with Liaodong, with various tax categories and numerous collection methods, sending people back and forth everywhere to collect taxes, causing great pressure on local officials. Discipline in the court was lax, corruption among officials was rampant, and there were excessive levies and miscellaneous taxes everywhere, making the common people suffer. Only in Guixiang County, under the jurisdiction of Wei Deshen, was the supply of goods ample, and there were no shortages. He made every effort to meet the requirements of his superiors, and the people were not harassed, which was considered exceptionally well governed for that period. Bandits were rampant at that time, and many cities near Wuyang were breached; only Guixiang County remained unscathed.
Yuan Baocang, the county magistrate, was ordered to pursue the bandits, losing every battle, running out of weapons and equipment, and forcing the common people to supply them. He frequently resorted to military law, which occurred on multiple occasions. Other towns built defensive works, concentrating people in the yamen, where officials urged each other on day and night, but they still could not repair them. Wei Deshen simply asked everyone what they needed and then let them repair as they pleased. The government office was eerily quiet, as if nothing was amiss. He only instructed the county officials not to build better defensive structures than those in other counties, to avoid burdening the people too much. But everyone below worked hard, and the defensive structures in Guixiang County were consistently the best.
Later, Wei Deshen was transferred to be the county magistrate of Guantao County. When the officials and people of Guixiang County heard about it, they all sighed and cried without words. When Wei Deshen was about to leave, the entire population of the county came to see him off, crying so loudly it could be heard for miles, accompanying him for a long distance. When he arrived in Guantao County, everyone treated him like family. There was a rogue ruffian named Zhao Junshi, who had a particularly good relationship with County Magistrate Yuan Baocang, and none of the previous county magistrates dared to defy him. After Wei Deshen arrived in Guantao County, Zhao Junshi hid at home and dared not come out. Those who had fled all returned, creating a lively atmosphere, like a bustling market. The people of Guixiang County, undeterred by danger, traveled thousands of miles to the capital to plead with the court to keep Wei Deshen, and the emperor agreed.
The people of Guantao County once again went to the county office to complain, saying that the memorial from Guixiang County was fake. The county office was unable to reach a decision. Just then, the envoys Wei Ji and Du Zheng sent by the court arrived. Both counties went to the envoys to complain, and the final verdict favored Guixiang County. The officials and citizens of Guixiang County were overjoyed, running through the streets in celebration. In contrast, the people of Guantao County were heartbroken, with several hundred households relocating as a result. Yuan Baozang harbored deep jealousy towards Wei Deshen's abilities. Soon after, Yuan Baozang capitulated to Li Mi. The soldiers Wei Deshen led were all from Wuyang, Li Mi's hometown. Reminded of his relatives and friends, Wei Deshen exited the city gate, wept towards the east, and then returned. Some urged him, "Li Mi's army is stationed near Jinyong City, merely twenty miles away. If you want to go back, no one can stop you. Why torture yourself like this?" The soldiers cried out, "We came here alongside County Chief Wei and cannot abandon him, regardless of how arduous the journey may be!" This is how Wei Deshen earned the people's loyalty. Later, he fell in battle against bandits. The people of Guixiang and Guantao continue to remember him fondly to this day.
At that time, the county magistrate of Liyang, Gao Shiheng from Bohai, the county magistrate of Xiaoxian, Liu Gao from Pengcheng, and the county magistrate of Chenggao, Liu Chi from Hongnong, were all good officials who were kind to the people. As the Sui Dynasty approached its downfall, many officials were corrupt, but Gao Shiheng, Liu Gao, and Liu Chi upheld their integrity and honesty, even stricter on themselves than before. The local atmosphere significantly improved, with very few prisoners in the jails, and the people sang their praises.
The history books say: The ancients said it well, "Those who are good at managing water will guide it to flow smoothly; those who are good at educating the people will calm them down." If the water flows smoothly, it will not damage the embankments; if the people are calm, they will not violate the laws. Therefore, to change customs, to change societal norms, to make people follow education and justice, it is not enough to rely solely on strict enforcement; we must depend on those incorruptible and principled officials. People like Gao Shiheng, who hold righteousness in their hearts, treat the people with the utmost sincerity, so wherever they go, the situation improves, and when they leave, the people remember them. As for Jing Mao, who suppresses evil and promotes goodness, comforts the sick with justice, and Liu Kuang, who educates the areas under his jurisdiction, their merits are even greater than those of Xincheng, Dushi, Zhenghun, and Zhuyi, who were also renowned officials! The Book of Songs says, "The gentle and kind gentleman is like a parent to the people." This statement holds true!
It's a pity! Although Gongyi (referring to Empress Gongyi) performed well in every aspect, received the Emperor's appreciation many times, and even had her past mistakes forgiven, she still ended up in exile, which is indeed a great loss! In a similar vein, after Liu Jian resigned from office, he fell into such poverty that he could barely support his wife and children; when Zhao Gui's term in office ended, he left with just a cup of water—what integrity!
