Fan Shulue, a native of Chenliu, was the son of Fan Huan, who held office in the Wei Kingdom and rose to the position of Governor of Nanyanzhou, as well as being granted the title of Marquis of Ayang. When the Gao clan gained power, Fan Huan tried to revive the Wei Kingdom but was killed by the Gao clan. Fan Shulue was still young at the time and was consequently castrated, serving as an attendant in the palace.
He was very tall, standing at nine feet, with extraordinary ambitions that made the Gao clan wary of him. Feeling uneasy, Fan Shulue fled to the western territories. The founder of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, Emperor Taizu, took a liking to him and kept him by his side. Shortly after, he was appointed as a general and inherited his father's marquis title.
Later, when Yuwen Hu came into power, he promoted Fan Shulue to the rank of Major. Fan Shulue was good at planning and knowledgeable about current affairs, which led to Yuwen Hu gradually coming to trust him and putting him in charge of both internal and external affairs. He was later promoted to Grand General of the Cavalry and appointed as the Governor of Kaifu, holding the title of General of the Household.
After Yuwen Hu's death, Prince Qi Yuwen Xian appointed him to manage the imperial gardens. Yuwen Xian had always wanted to annex the eastern region, and Fan Shulue often advised him on strategies, earning his trust. In the fifth year of Jiande, Emperor Wu of Zhou attacked the Qi Kingdom, and the troops led by Fan Shulue were elite forces that always fought at the forefront. For his great military achievements, he was promoted and granted the title of Duke of Qingxiang County with a fief of 1,400 households. He later served as the Governor of Bianzhou, known for his decisive and prudent leadership.
During the reign of Emperor Xuan, when the construction of the Eastern Capital in Luoyang was underway, Fan Shulue, known for his forward-thinking ideas, was put in charge of the project and the design of the palace system. Unfortunately, the emperor passed away before the completion of the project.
When Wei Jiao led a rebellion, the emperor ordered Fan Shulue to defend Daliang. Wei Jiao's general Yuwen Wei attacked, but Fan Shulue defeated him. For this military achievement, he was promoted to Grand General and continued to serve as the Governor of Bianzhou. After the emperor ascended to the throne, he further promoted Fan Shulue to the rank of Grand General and elevated him to the Duke of Anding County.
He served as the governor of Bianzhou for several years, achieving remarkable political success and earning a stellar reputation. The atmosphere in Yedou was notorious for its corruption, and everyone said it was difficult to govern, but the regions under Fan Shulue's governance were renowned, so the court transferred him to Xiangzhou as the governor, where his political achievements were unmatched at the time. The emperor even issued a special decree praising him, rewarding him with 300 bolts of cloth and 500 measures of grain, and announced this throughout the country. The people remarked, "Extremely clever, a just official; both above and below are righteous, Fan Anding."
Later, the court appointed him as the Minister of Agriculture, and the officials all wept, erecting a stele together to honor his political achievements. After becoming the Minister of Agriculture, he established many progressive policies for agricultural production. When the court faced challenging issues that the ministers could not solve, Fan Shulue was able to provide ideas. Although he had not read many books, he always found a solid rationale, relying on his experience and ideas to solve problems.
The emperor trusted him greatly, and Gao Feng and Yang Su also respected him. Although he was the Minister of Agriculture, he often participated in the affairs of the Nine Ministers. He led a rather opulent lifestyle, with meals laid out on a table measuring one zhang by one zhang, with abundant and varied dishes.
In the fourteenth year of the emperor's reign, he accompanied him to pay homage at Mount Tai. When they reached Luoyang, the emperor asked him to review prisoners. He had prepared a memorial to report, but tragically, as he set out one morning to go to the prison gate, he suddenly died while on horseback. He was fifty-nine years old that year. The emperor was deeply saddened by his passing, posthumously appointing him as the governor of Bozhou and bestowing upon him the posthumous title of Xiang.
Zhao Gui was from Luoyang, Henan, and his father, Zhao Su, served as the Chief Justice during the Wei Dynasty. From a young age, Zhao Gui had a passion for learning and was known for his integrity and strong moral principles. The King of Cai during the Zhou Dynasty appointed him as a secretary because of his reputation for honesty and frugality. He later advanced to the position of magistrate in Weizhou. After the founding emperor took the throne, he was reassigned as an assistant in Qizhou, where he made significant achievements and earned a stellar reputation. When mulberries from his neighbor's tree fell into his yard, Zhao Gui had them gathered and returned, teaching his children that his actions were not about seeking fame but about respecting others' property. He served as an assistant in Qizhou for four years, consistently ranking first in performance evaluations. The envoy Liang Zigong reported his accomplishments to the court, and the emperor greatly valued him, rewarding him with 300 rolls of cloth, 300 measures of rice, and summoning him to the capital. The people who accompanied him to the capital wept, saying, "During your time as assistant, you never clashed with us, so we dare not send you off with wine. You are as pure as water; please allow us to toast you with a cup of water." Zhao Gui accepted and drank the water.
After arriving in the capital, the emperor ordered him to revise the legal code together with Qizhang Gongniu Hong. At that time, Wei Wangshuang served as the governor of Yuanzhou. The emperor saw that Wei Wang was young, while Zhao Gui had a good reputation, so he appointed him as the governor of Yuanzhou. One night while traveling on the road, his horse ran into a field and trampled on someone else's crops. Zhao Gui stopped the horse and waited until daylight to find the owner of the crops to compensate for the damage before leaving. The officials and common people of Yuanzhou were deeply moved when they heard about this. Several years later, he was promoted to the position of governor of Xiazhou, where he managed the local ethnic minorities and was deeply loved by the people. Shortly after, he was transferred to be the chief historian of Shouzhou. In the Shaobei region, there used to be a Wumen Dam which had become overgrown with weeds. Zhao Gui encouraged both officials and the local populace to reopen thirty-six water gates, irrigating over 5,000 acres of farmland, benefiting the local people. After his term ended, he returned to his hometown and passed away at the age of sixty-two years. His sons, Zhao Hong'an and Zhao Hongzhi, also became well-known.
Fang Gongyi, styled Shenyan, was a native of Luoyang, Henan. His father, Fang Mo, once served as the Minister of Personnel of Northern Qi. Fang Gongyi was calm and dignified, well-suited for a career in government. During his time in Northern Qi, he started as a military officer, later becoming the magistrate of Ping'en County and the governor of Jiyin Commandery, with a record of outstanding achievements. After the fall of Northern Qi, he was unable to secure a suitable government position. Later, when Wei Jiong led a rebellion, Fang Gongyi participated in it, and after Wei Jiong's failure, Fang Gongyi retired to his home.
During the Kaihuang reign of the Sui Dynasty, Su Wei, the Minister of Personnel, recommended him. He was appointed as the magistrate of Xinfeng County, and his performance was the best in the Guanzhong area and the three fiefs. Emperor Wen of Sui was very pleased to hear this and rewarded him with four hundred rolls of cloth. Fang Gongyi distributed the rewards among the impoverished. Not long after, he was rewarded with three hundred shi of rice, which he also used to help the poor. When Emperor Wen of Sui heard about this, he forbade him from doing so. At that time, the magistrates of Yongzhou's counties were required to pay their respects to the emperor on the first day of each month. Every time Emperor Wen of Sui saw Fang Gongyi, he would summon him and inquire about his governance methods.
Su Wei recommended him again, and he was promoted to Sima of Zezhou. With outstanding performance, the emperor rewarded him with one hundred rolls of cloth and a good horse. Later, he was promoted to Sima of Dezhou. After serving for more than a year, Lu Kai reported that Fang Gongyi's performance was the best in the world. Emperor Wen of Sui was very surprised and once again rewarded him with one hundred rolls of cloth. He told the envoys of various states, "People like Fang Gongyi, who wholeheartedly serve the country and care for the people, are the result of blessings from heaven and ancestral temples. How can it be said to be my merit! I want to promote him to the position of governor. He is not merely a governor of a state; he is a role model for the world today, and you should all learn from him!" Emperor Wen of Sui also said, "Wherever Fang Gongyi goes, the people regard him as a parent. If I fail to reward him, both heaven and my ancestors will hold me accountable. Officials inside and outside the court should understand my intentions." So he issued a decree stating, "Fang Gongyi, Sima of Dezhou, has governed a substantial territory, supported two fiefdoms, and achieved remarkable political accomplishments. He has carried out his duties in an orderly manner, gained the support of the people, and is well-regarded with an exemplary record. He is appointed as the commander of military affairs in Haizhou and the governor of Haizhou!"
During the Sui dynasty, not long after, Doctor of the Imperial Academy He Tuo submitted a report claiming that Fang Gongyi was an accomplice of Wei Jiong and should not be promoted. He also accused Su Wei and Lu Kai of forming a faction for personal gain and recommending each other. The Emperor Wen of Sui was furious, and as a result, Fang Gongyi was found guilty and exiled to Lingnan. Soon after, he was recalled to the capital, but he fell ill and passed away while on his way to Hongzhou. Later generations felt he had been wronged.
Gongsun Jingmao, styled Yuanwei, was from Fucheng in the Hejian Prefecture of Hebei. He was tall and strong, and as a young man, he enjoyed studying and extensively explored the classics, history, and various texts.
During the Northern Wei period, he was recommended by the court as a filial and honest man and excelled in the examinations, achieving first place. He then served as the Chief Historian for Prince Xiangcheng and concurrently held the position of acting military advisor. He was later promoted to Doctor of the Grand Rituals, where he made many improvements and refinements in his work. People at the time said he was like a living library. Subsequently, he served successively as the magistrate of Gaotang County and the Chief of the Grand Court, excelling in both positions and earning a great reputation.
After the fall of the Northern Qi, Emperor Zhou Wudi, having heard of his reputation, summoned him to the palace for a meeting. Impressed by him, the emperor appointed him as the governor of Jibei. Later, due to his mother’s passing, he resigned from his position and returned home to observe mourning.
At the beginning of the Kaihuang era, the emperor issued a decree summoning him to the capital to inquire about his strategies for governing the state. Afterward, the emperor appointed him as the governor of Runan. When the Runan commandery was abolished, he was reassigned as the military advisor in Caozhou. He served in Caozhou for several years, but due to old age and frailty, he requested retirement. The emperor treated him well but did not approve his request. Soon after, he was transferred to Xizhou as the inspector, where he enforced the law justly and achieved remarkable results, benefiting the people greatly. Just as the war to pacify the Chen dynasty was underway, many soldiers fell ill on the way, and Jingmao used his salary to prepare porridge and medicinal soup for them, distributing food to aid their recovery. Thousands survived thanks to his help! The emperor was pleased to hear this and issued a decree to promote this story nationwide.
Fifteen years later, when the emperor visited Luoyang, Jing Mao went to see him. At that time, Jing Mao was seventy-seven. The emperor asked him to take a seat in the hall and inquired about his age. Jing Mao truthfully answered. The emperor expressed sympathy for his age and sighed deeply. Jing Mao thanked him and said, "Lv Shang met King Wen when he was eighty, and I met you in my seventies." The emperor was delighted and rewarded him with three hundred bolts of cloth. The emperor also issued a decree stating, "Jing Mao is upright, highly respected, loves the people, has remarkable achievements in governance, always excels in annual assessments, and should be promoted to a higher official position, concurrently serving as a regional official. Let him be the Yitong Sanqi (a high-ranking official title) and the governor of Yizhou!" The next year, Jing Mao fell ill and was called back to the capital. Along the way, officials and commoners wept as they bid him farewell. Once he recovered from his illness, he asked to retire, but the emperor refused. Instead, he was transferred to Daozhou as the governor. He spent his entire salary on calves, chickens, and pigs, distributing them to orphans, widows, and those in need.
He liked to ride alone to inspect the people, and every household came to see him to discuss their livelihoods. If a family renovated their home, he would praise them in court; if a family had shortcomings, he would provide timely guidance without publicly criticizing them. As a result, people treated each other with humility, the wealth gap narrowed, men helped each other in farming, and women helped each other in spinning and weaving. In large villages with hundreds of families, everyone lived harmoniously like one big family. Later, he requested to manage government affairs, and the emperor granted his request. During the Renshou period, the emperor sent Yang Ji to Hebei, where he saw Jing Mao still full of energy. Upon his return, he reported to the emperor. Consequently, the emperor appointed him as the governor of Zizhou and rewarded him with horses and carriages to facilitate his new position. He held many official positions throughout his life, all with achievements, and people praised him as a good official. During the Daye period, he passed away at the age of 87 and was given the posthumous title "Kang." On the day of his death, officials and people from several thousand counties came to mourn. Some who couldn't attend the funeral wept at his grave, paying their respects before departing.
Xin Gongyi was from Dizhou, Gansu. His grandfather, Xin Hui, served as the 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 Tianhe era of the Northern Zhou, he was selected as a student of the Imperial College and became famous for his diligence and hard work. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui, he was summoned to study at the Luomen Study Palace in the palace, studying Confucian principles. Every month, he engaged in scholarly discussions with peers in the emperor's presence and often received the emperor's praise, earning the admiration of his peers.
During the Jiande period, he was appointed as Sergeant of Xuan Na. He participated in suppressing the rebellion in the Qi state and was promoted all the way to the position of Senior Officer of Governance, General of the Campaign Against Bandits. After Sui Wendi became prime minister, Xin Gongyi was appointed as Senior Officer of Internal Affairs, participating in handling confidential affairs. In the first year of the Kaihuang era, he was appointed as Master of Guests, also in charge of Neishi Sheren affairs, and was granted the title of Baron of Anyang County, with a land grant of two hundred households. Whenever foreign envoys came to court, he was always ordered to receive and entertain them. Later, he was promoted to the position of Gentleman of the Imperial Horse Department and was dispatched to Jiangling to pacify the border.
In the seventh year of Kaihuang, he was dispatched to inspect horse farms across the region and discovered over one hundred thousand horses. Sui Wendi exclaimed with delight, "Only Xin Gongyi can wholeheartedly serve the country like this!" He later participated in quelling the Chen state and was appointed as the governor of Minzhou in recognition of his military accomplishments. In Minzhou, there was a custom of being deeply fearful of infectious diseases. If someone fell ill, the whole family would stay far away, refusing to care for one another, entirely abandoning the duty of filial piety. Therefore, the patients often died. Xin Gongyi was deeply concerned about this and wanted to change this custom.
Thus, he dispatched officials to patrol the region. Whenever there were sick people, they were carried to the state office on stretchers and placed in the hall. During the summer when the epidemic was rampant, sometimes there were hundreds of patients, and the hall and corridors were packed. Xin Gongyi personally set up a bed in the hall, sitting alone among the patients, attending to government affairs day and night. He spent his entire salary on medicine, invited doctors to treat the patients, and personally persuaded the patients to eat. As a result, all the patients recovered. He then summoned the patients' relatives and addressed them, "Life and death are destined, and there is no risk of cross-infection. In the past, you abandoned them, so they died. Now that I have gathered the patients together and lived among them, if there was really a risk of infection, why am I still alive and the patients have recovered? Do not fall for those superstitions any longer!" The patients' descendants departed, filled with shame.
Later, when the locals fell ill, they all rushed to the local government office. If there was no one to take care of them, the local government took on the responsibility of caring for them. The local government became known for its compassion, and this custom changed. The people throughout the region affectionately called him "Mother of Mercy." Later, he was transferred to be the governor of Mouzhou. Upon taking office, he first visited the prison and slept beside the cells, personally interrogating the prisoners. After more than ten days of diligent work, he resolved all the cases and only then did he return to the main hall. When dealing with new cases, he refrained from opening case files but assigned a duty officer to interrogate on the side. If the case was still pending and required detention of the prisoner, Xingongyi would sleep in the hall and never return to his own room. Someone advised him, "These matters have procedures; why put in so much effort, sir?" Xingongyi replied, "If a governor cannot guide the people with virtue but instead confines them, how can he be at ease?" Upon hearing this, the prisoners voluntarily confessed.
Later, when someone wished to file a lawsuit, their elders quickly advised them, "These are all trivial matters; why bother the governor?" Many lawsuits were resolved through mutual concessions. During that period, the Shandong region faced relentless heavy rainfall, from Chenzhou and Ruzhou to the coast, all suffering from floods, except Mouzhou remained unscathed. Gold and silver were even produced in the mountains, which Xingongyi presented to the court. Legend has it that at that moment, the sounds of gold, stone, silk, and bamboo filled the air. In the first year of Renshou, he was appointed as the Grand Envoy overseeing the Yangzhou region. Prince Yuzhang, Yang Jian, expressed concern over his subordinates potentially breaking the law, so he instructed Xingongyi before he even arrived in Yangzhou. Xingongyi replied, "I will act according to the decree and will not allow personal interests to influence me." Upon arriving in Yangzhou, he conducted his duties with fairness, showing no signs of favoritism or corruption, which left Yang Jian dissatisfied.
When Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, Wang Hong, the Chief of Yangzhou, went to the capital and spoke ill of Xing Gongyi to the emperor, which resulted in Xing Gongyi being dismissed. The people flocked to appeal for justice in large numbers. Several years later, Emperor Yang came to understand the truth and appointed Xing Gongyi as an official again. After Xing Gongyi's mother passed away, he was soon appointed as the Grand Master of Ceremonies and concurrently the Commander of the Right Imperial Guards. He accompanied the army on a campaign and died in Liucheng County at the age of sixty-two. His son was named Xing Rong.
Liu Jian, styled Daoyue, was from Jie County in Hedong. His grandfather, Liu Yuanzhang, served as the Grand Central Inspector of Sizhou in the Wei Kingdom, as well as the Intendant of Xiangzhou and Huazhou; his father, Liu Yu, was the Magistrate of Wenxi County in the Zhou Dynasty. Liu Jian was a man of great integrity and lived a simple life, earning respect from his fellow villagers. Even his close friends and relatives dared not be disrespectful towards him. He served as a Senior Officer of Propriety and a noble of the capital in the Zhou Dynasty. After the founding emperor ascended the throne, he promoted Liu Jian to be an Attendant in the Ministry of Works and granted him the title of Count of Luodao. Shortly after, he was sent as the Administrator to Guanghan Commandery, where he made significant achievements and gained a good reputation. Later, Guanghan Commandery was abolished.
At that time, the founding emperor had just unified the country and was selecting talents to govern various regions. Liu Jian, known for his honesty and kindness, was promoted to be the Intendant of Pengzhou. He handled cases promptly, never resorting to lengthy paperwork, but simply managed his subordinates well. He was unflappable, never detaining prisoners in jail. Prince Yang Xiu was stationed in Yizhou at the time and reported Liu Jian's achievements to the court, leading to Liu Jian being transferred to Qiongzhou as the Intendant. He served in Qiongzhou for over ten years, earning great respect from the local minority groups. However, when Prince Yang Xiu committed a crime, Liu Jian, due to his association with him, was dismissed from his position. Upon returning to his hometown, he traveled in a dilapidated carriage, riding a thin horse, struggling to provide for his family, drawing sympathetic sighs from those who witnessed his plight.
Sui Yangdi summoned him after ascending to the throne. At that time, those who held positions as provincial officials based on their merits were all accompanied by military forces, except for Liu Jian who started as an ordinary officer. Sui Yangdi greatly admired his achievements, granted him the title of Gentleman of the Court, appointed him as the Prefect of Honghua County, and rewarded him with one hundred bolts of cloth. Liu Jian held himself to even stricter standards, maintaining integrity and frugality. In the fifth year of Daye, he attended the court assembly in the capital where officials from all over the country gathered. Sui Yangdi asked the Minister of Rites, Su Wei, and the Minister of Personnel, Niu Hong, "Who has the best reputation in the realm?" Su Wei replied that it was Liu Jian. Sui Yangdi then asked who was in second place, and Su Wei answered that it was Guo Xuan, the Prefect of Zhuo County, and Jing Su, the Prefect of Yingchuan County. Sui Yangdi rewarded Liu Jian with two hundred bolts of cloth, and Guo Xuan and Jing Su with one hundred bolts each, ordering officials nationwide to deliver the cloth to their respective jurisdictions to commend them. People praised Liu Jian for his integrity.
In the later years of Daye, banditry was rampant, and Liu Jian was attacked many times. However, he pacified the people and minority groups, preventing rebellion and successfully maintaining local stability. Later, when the rebels entered Chang'an and enthroned Emperor Gong, Liu Jian and the local official Li Can wore plain clothes in the county, facing south, weeping. Upon returning to the capital, the Chancellor rewarded him with three hundred bolts of cloth and appointed him as the Grand General. More than a year later, Liu Jian passed away peacefully at home at the age of eighty-nine.
Guo Xuan, from Yongji, Shanxi, originally came from a poor family. He started as a low-ranking official in the Shangshu Province, but later, due to his military achievements, he was appointed as the Yitong Sanxi. He also served as the Sima and Chancellor of several provinces, excelling in his duties and earning a strong reputation. When Emperor Yang of Sui had just ascended the throne, the Minister of Justice, Yuwen Bi, went on an inspection tour of Hebei and brought Guo Xuan along as his assistant. Emperor Yang of Sui planned to send troops to Liaodong and considered Zhuojun (modern-day Zhuozhou in Hebei) as a strategic location, so he looked for capable individuals to oversee it. Hearing of Guo Xuan's strong abilities, he appointed him as the magistrate of Zhuojun, and the local officials and citizens were very pleased to have him as their magistrate. Several years later, Guo Xuan was promoted to the position of Prefect of Zhuojun, also serving as the acting governor. Later, when bandits arose in Shandong, Guo Xuan led troops to pursue and apprehend many of the bandits. At that time, other counties were almost completely destroyed, but Zhuojun remained unscathed. Subsequently, Guo Xuan engaged in battle against Dou Jiande in Hejian, Hebei, where he was killed. The local officials and people mourned him for several months, unable to contain their grief.
Jing Su, whose courtesy and frugality earned him respect, was from Puzhang, Yongji in Shanxi. He was known for his uprightness and integrity from a young age and served as the chief clerk of the province when he first started his official career. During the reign of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, he became the magistrate of Anling County and distinguished himself. He was later promoted to the Sima of Qinzhou and then transferred to the Changshi of Binzhou. During the reign of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, he became the Sima of Weizhou, achieving notable accomplishments. After Emperor Yang ascended to the throne, Jing Su was promoted to the magistrate of Yingchuan County. In the fifth year of Daye, Jing Su went to Luoyang, the eastern capital, to meet the emperor. Emperor Yang tasked Xue Daoheng, the Minister of Justice, to inspect the officials across the country. Xue Daoheng assessed Jing Su in his report, saying, "His resolve is as solid as iron and stone, and he becomes more upright as he grows older." At that time, the General of the Left Guard, Yu Wenshu, held great power, and his hometown was in Yingchuan. He often wrote letters to Jing Su to handle affairs. Jing Su never opened the letters; he simply sent the messengers back with them. Jing Su always punished Yu Wenshu's reckless guests according to the law, never showing any leniency. Therefore, Yu Wenshu held a grudge against him. In the eighth year of Daye, Jing Su went to Zhuojun to meet the emperor. The emperor recognized his age and considerable governance skills and wanted to promote him to be a magistrate several times, but Yu Wenshu thwarted his promotion each time. In the later years of the Daye era, Jing Su requested retirement, which the emperor approved. When he retired, he had no savings to his name. A year later, Jing Su passed away at the age of eighty years.
As for Liu Kuang, his origins are unknown. He was prudent and honorable, always handling things with sincerity and tolerance. At the beginning of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, he was appointed as the magistrate of Pingxiang County and took office on horseback by himself.
If someone had a lawsuit, he would patiently and meticulously explain the situation to them, never imposing harsh punishments. Everyone felt embarrassed and willingly admitted their mistakes before leaving. He devoted his salary to helping the poor. The common folk were touched by his kindness and encouraged one another, saying, "With such a good official, how can we do bad things?"
He served as the county magistrate in Pingxiang County for seven years. During his tenure, the local atmosphere transformed dramatically, with not a single prisoner in jail and no lawsuits filed, and the prison cells overgrown with weeds, and the yard was even suitable for playing ball. When he left office, officials and common folks alike in the county, regardless of their rank, wept as they bid him farewell on the road, following him for hundreds of miles without stopping.
Later, he was transferred to serve as the magistrate of Linying County, remaining well-known across the country for his integrity and effective governance, becoming the finest county magistrate in the country. The Minister of Works, Gao Feng, reported his achievements to the emperor, who called him in and said warmly, "There are so many county magistrates in the world, but you truly stand out. That's truly remarkable!" He then told the officials around him, "If we don't reward him properly, how can we inspire others?" The emperor thus issued a special decree promoting him to the position of Governor of Juzhou.
Wang Jia, from Zhangwu, Hebei, was a low-ranking official in Qizhou during the late Kaihuang era during the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui. At first, he had no notable achievements as a junior officer. Later, the governor of Qizhou sent him to escort over seventy prisoners, including Li Can, to the capital. At that time, prisoners were required to be escorted in chains. When Wang Jia reached Xingyang, he saw how hard the journey was for the prisoners and spoke to them, saying, "You have broken the law and disrupted social order. It is right for you to suffer wearing chains, but don’t you feel guilty about carrying these heavy chains for such a long distance?" The prisoners thanked him, and Wang Jia said, "Even though you've broken the law, wearing chains is tough too! I want to help you take off the chains. When we get to the capital, can you promise not to run away?" The prisoners all bowed deeply and said, "We promise we won't escape!" So Wang Jia took off their chains, sent the soldiers away, and struck a deal with them: "We must reach the capital one day. If anyone is late, I'll take the blame for you." Then he let them go free. The prisoners were thrilled, arrived in the capital on time, and not one of them escaped.
The emperor was very surprised to hear about this incident, summoned Wang Jia to ask him questions, and praised him repeatedly. Then the emperor summoned all those prisoners, allowed them to bring their wives and children into the palace, hosted a banquet for them in the palace, and pardoned their crimes. The emperor also issued a decree stating, "All people in the world, whether animals or humans, have a sense of good and evil. If they are guided with sincerity, the social atmosphere will improve, and people will become better. In the past, due to the turmoil in the country and moral decay, officials lacked compassion, and the common people were deceitful, leading to endless lawsuits and a corrupt social atmosphere. I have accepted the mission from heaven to pacify the people, to follow the laws and to influence people with morality. I strive every day; my heart is in this. Wang Jia deeply understands my intentions and guides the prisoners with sincerity. Li Can and others were moved and voluntarily surrendered to the authorities. This shows that the people are not hard to teach; it's just that officials have not guided them properly, leading them to commit crimes without the opportunity to reform. If all officials were like Wang Jia, and everyone else like Li Can and his peers, then there would be no need for a penal system. Isn't this far from reality?" So the emperor promoted Wang Jia to the position of Yong County magistrate, where he achieved remarkable success and earned a great reputation. Wei Deshen, whose hometown is Julu, had a grandfather, Wei Chong, who served as the Minister of Justice and the Jianzhou governor in the Zhou Dynasty, and later settled in Hongnong. His father, Wei Pi, was the magistrate of Yulin County. Wei Deshen started as a low-ranking official under Emperor Wen, then worked as a scribe in Fengyi County and as a financial clerk in Wuyang County. Due to his outstanding abilities, he was promoted to the position of magistrate of Guixiang County. He was honest and fair in his official duties, managing the county effectively and fairly.
At that time, this coincided with the war in Liaodong. There were various types of taxes, with officials dispatched everywhere to collect them, passing the burden onto the counties. The discipline of the court was lax, with severe corruption among officials, who extorted the common people everywhere, causing great suffering for them. Only in the county governed by Wei Deshen was the situation markedly different. He allocated resources reasonably, responded to the people's needs promptly, and ensured that the people lived in peace and contentment, which was regarded as a model of governance at the time. There were rampant bandits, and many towns near Wuyang were attacked, but Wei Deshen's county stood resilient and untouched.
The county magistrate Yuan Baozang was ordered to capture the bandits, but each operation failed, depleting their supplies and equipment. He resorted to conscripting labor, often using military law, repeatedly. While other towns focused on building defenses within the government, officials there shifted blame, leading to chaos day and night, yet yielding minimal results. Wei Deshen, on the other hand, understood each person's strengths and desires, assigning tasks accordingly. The government remained quiet, as if nothing was amiss. He only restrained his officials from overworking the people, ensuring that their defenses did not outstrip those of neighboring counties. Despite this, his subordinates worked diligently, resulting in the county's defenses being the strongest.
Later, Wei Deshen was transferred to be the magistrate of Guantao County. When the officials and citizens of his county learned of this, they all remembered his goodness, weeping openly. When he left for Guantao, the entire populace turned out to bid him farewell, their cries echoing until he was out of sight. In Guantao, the people regarded him as a parent.
There was a bully named Zhao Junshi, who was an official from a neighboring county. He had a close relationship with the county magistrate Yuan Baozang, and the previous county magistrates had to follow his lead. Since Wei Deshen arrived, Zhao Junshi stayed holed up at home. Those who had fled all returned; it was as lively as a market. The elders and folks from your village were not afraid of dangers and made the long trek to Beijing to request the court to keep Wei Deshen. The emperor approved it.
The people of Guantao went to the county office again, claiming that the petition from your village was fake. The county office couldn't make a decision. Just then, the court sent envoys Wei Ji, Du Zheng, and others to investigate. Both counties explained the situation to the envoys, and in the end, the envoys confirmed the authenticity of your village's petition. The officials and folks from your village celebrated with singing and dancing. However, the people of Guantao wept uncontrollably, and many families moved away because of this.
Yuan Baozang was incredibly envious of Wei Deshen’s abilities. Later, Prince Dong asked the county to recruit soldiers, and Yuan Baozang sent Wei Deshen with a thousand soldiers to the eastern capital. Not long after that, Yuan Baozang allied with Li Mi. The soldiers under Wei Deshen’s command were from Wuyang, and their hometown was occupied by Li Mi. Wei Deshen thought of his relatives and friends, went outside the city gate, cried towards his hometown, and then returned. Some of them advised him, "Li Mi's army is near Jinyong City, only about twenty miles away. If you want to go back, no one can stop you. Why make it so difficult for yourself?" The soldiers cried and said, "We came out with Prefect Wei; we can't just leave him behind. Why would we care about the long journey?" Wei Deshen gained the love and respect of the people in this way. Later, Wei Deshen died in battle against the enemy, and the folks from your village and Guantao still remember him fondly to this day.
Back then, Liyang's county magistrate, Gao Shiheng from Bohai, Liu Gao, the magistrate of Xiaoxian from Pengcheng, and Liu Chi, the magistrate of Chenggao from Hongnong, were all highly regarded officials. During the decline of the Sui Dynasty, many local officials were corrupt and unjust, but only Gao Shiheng, Liu Gao, and Liu Chi were upright, honest, and had remarkable achievements. The common people praised them. In the areas they governed, there were hardly any prisoners in the prisons, which made other officials envious!
As history tells us: "As the ancients said, 'Those skilled in managing water will guide it to make it flow smoothly; those who are good at educating the people will pacify them and make them stable.' If the water flows smoothly, it will not damage the embankments; if the people are peaceful, they will not violate the laws. Therefore, to change customs, transform traditions, educate the people, and make them follow the laws, it takes more than just strict enforcement; it also relies on these honest and upright officials! People like Gao Shiheng have the right path in their hearts and treat the people sincerely, so wherever they go, the people hold them in high regard and cherish them. Even after they leave, the people still remember them. In this context, like Jing Mao restraining evil and promoting goodness; like Gongyi sympathizing with the suffering of the people; like Liu Kuang educating the areas he governed; like De, deeply loved by the people, the contributions of these individuals surpass even those of loyal ministers such as Xinchun, Dushi, Zheng Hun, and Zhu Yi! The Book of Songs says, 'A kind and virtuous gentleman is like a father and mother to the people.' This couldn’t be more true!
Unfortunately, although Gongyi (referring to Duke Gongyi) had noble virtues and received the emperor's appreciation many times, he ended up homeless because of a past mistake, which is truly regrettable! There is also Liu Jian, who, after resigning from his official position, fell into poverty, unable to support his wife and children; and Zhao Gui, who, after finishing his term, bid farewell with nothing but plain water, showing true integrity!
