I've taken a close look at the history of powerful families in the past, many of whom obtained high positions and wealth through the power of the empress. However, very few ended well; almost all faced a disastrous fate. Why is that? It's because they held high positions without virtue, didn't know when to quit, and forgot that what goes up must come down, not considering the danger of their own status, so fate dealt with them. Even those who have truly contributed to the country will face disaster if they can't be humble and cautious, especially those without ability or virtue who just brag and bully others with their wealth. Families like the Lvs, Huos, Shangguans, Yans, Liangs, Dous, and Dangs are prime examples, perishing one after another.
Consider how Empress Wen backed Emperor Wen before he even became emperor; when Emperor Yang of Sui wanted to rebel, Empress Dowager Xiao also secretly helped him with strategies. So both were generous to their relatives, and their favoritism never wavered. However, their relatives, both inside and outside the palace, stayed out of politics, and their brothers who served as officials did not receive any special treatment. Those powerful families living in lavish palaces, stuffed with gold and silver, who were renowned and influential, even with their high positions, all ended up safe and sound. Look at the past emperors; they managed to do this, so even in turbulent times, they preserved themselves. Can those who rely on favoritism and gain power through shady means really expect the same outcome? This is what they mean by "treat others with respect to avoid repeating mistakes." I've written all this down and put it together in a book called "Biographies of Powerful Families."
Gaozu's maternal family, the Lu family, was very poor in the past. After Gaozu subdued the Qi state, he was unable to locate them. It wasn't until the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty that Jinan County reported that there was a man named Lu Yongji who claimed to be Yang Zhong's nephew. After confirming this, Lu Yongji was recognized as Yang Zhong's nephew. His grandfather Shuangzhou was posthumously honored as the Grand Preceptor, Grand Commandant, Commander of the Eight Provinces, and Inspector of Qingzhou, and was granted the title Duke of Qijun, posthumously given the name Jing. His grandmother Yao was posthumously titled the Lady of Duke Qijing. The court ordered their remains to be reburied and a temple built for them in Qizhou, with ten households assigned to guard the tombs. Lu Yongji inherited the title and stayed in the capital. During the Daye period of Emperor Yang of Sui, he was appointed as the Prefect of Shangdang County, but he proved to be incompetent and failed to perform adequately. He later resigned, and what happened to him afterward remains unknown.
Yongji's son Daogui inherited his father's title, but he was notably mischievous and crude. When he was first summoned from the countryside to Chang'an and when he met the emperor, the emperor was moved to tears. However, Daogui showed no sadness and kept shouting Gaozu's name (Liu Bang), saying, "The world has not yet completely settled down, so we can't be lazy! It's like a bitter peach."
Later, he repeatedly committed offenses and often defied the emperor, but the emperor found his carefree demeanor endearing. The emperor instructed Gao Feng to look after him and prohibited him from interacting with the ministers in the court. Later, the emperor appointed him as the Chief of the Right Division of the Ceremonial, sent him to be the Prefect of Jinan, and explicitly instructed him not to return to the palace.
Dao Gui returned to Jinan for his new post, thinking he was a big deal and putting on airs wherever he went. He would often brag to others about being a royal uncle and would frequently parade around the villages with a ceremonial guard, indulging in food and drink with old friends, making life hard for the locals. Eventually, he was dismissed from his position and returned to his hometown, after which his descendants never achieved much fame.
Dugu Luo, styled as Luo Ren, was a man from Yunzhong. His father Dugu Xin initially held a government position in Northern Wei and rose to the rank of Governor of Jingzhou. Later, when the Northern Wei emperor moved west to Guanzhong, Dugu Xin left behind his parents and wife to seek refuge in Chang'an. As he rose through the ranks, Dugu Luo was imprisoned by Gao Huan.
Dugu Xin later became the Grand Marshal of Northern Zhou. After Dugu Xin was killed by Yuwen Hu, Dugu Luo was released and lived in Zhongshan, broke and without any income. Dugu Yongye, a general from Northern Qi and a relative of Dugu Luo, felt sorry for him and bought him land and houses, as well as providing him with some money.
After Dugu Xin moved to Guanzhong, he took two more wives. Guo Shi had six sons with him: Shan, Mu, Zang, Shun, Tuo, and Zheng, while Cui Shi gave birth to the future Empress of Sui, who would marry Emperor Wen. After the fall of Northern Qi, Yang Jian became the Governor of Dingzhou and sent people to search for Dugu Luo. When they finally found him, the reunion between Dugu Luo and the Empress was emotional, even moving their guards to tears. Yang Jian then gave Dugu Luo lots of horses, carriages, and money.
Not long after, Emperor Wu of Zhou felt that Dugu Luo, as the son of a meritorious official who had suffered in a foreign land for so long, should be called up to be the Governor of Chu'an County. However, due to illness, Dugu Luo quit his job and went back to the capital. His younger brothers, who had always looked down on him because he was poor before, did not treat him as an elder brother. Despite this, Dugu Luo was generous and did not hold grudges, earning everyone's respect in the end.
When Yang Jian became the prime minister, he appointed Dugu Luo as a Grand Officer and often had him serve by his side. After Yang Jian became emperor, he issued an edict posthumously elevating the official rank of Dugu Xin, the father of Dugu Luo. The edict read: "Recognizing abundant virtues and adhering to established norms, revering distant ancestors, and continuing the grand ceremonies of former kings. The pillar of the state, Xin, possessed lofty aspirations, nurtured the people, resided in wisdom, and offered clear sacrifices that illuminated the world. With grand strategies and profound wisdom, he followed the path of harmony and righteousness, delved deep into rescue and aid. At a time when the winds of virtue are beginning to blow, and the brilliance of the steps is shining, though the circumstances are difficult and the achievements high, his words of concern set an example, and the matters are felt deeply. Now, as the auspicious signs are emerging, the imperial court is being solemnly established, upholding the noble ideals of the past while honoring traditions of praise and remembrance. He may be posthumously honored as Grand Preceptor, Grand Pillar of the State, Inspector of ten provinces including Jiding, and Duke of Zhao, with a manor of ten thousand households." Several younger brothers of Dugu Luo argued that their mother died in Northern Qi without receiving the title of Lady during her lifetime, so Dugu Luo should not be entitled to inherit the title. Yang Jian consulted the empress regarding this matter, and she said, "Dugu Luo is indeed the legitimate eldest son, and we should not wrong him." Therefore, Dugu Luo was granted the title of Duke of Zhao. His younger brothers Shan was appointed as Duke of Henan, Mu as Duke of Jinquan County, Zang as Duke of Wuping County, Tuo as Duke of Wuxi County, and Zheng as Commander of the Thousand Strong. Yang Jian also promoted Dugu Luo to the position of Left General of the Left and Right, and later to Left Guard General, and received numerous rewards and honors. Later, Dugu Luo was sent to Liangzhou as the governor, and his official rank was elevated to Grand Pillar of the State. During the Renshou era, he was recalled to court and appointed Grand General of the Left Guard. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, he was reassigned the title of Duke of Shu. Shortly thereafter, Dugu Luo passed away and was posthumously honored with the title "Gong."
Zi Zuan became an official and served as the magistrate of Heyang County. Zi Zuan's younger brother, Wu Du, also attained the position of magistrate of Heyang County near the end of the Daye period. Their eldest son, Kaiyuan, was a Qian Niu official. When Yuwen Huaji rebelled during the rebellion and killed the emperor, Pei Qiantong led the rebel army into Chengxiang Palace, and the palace guards joined the rebellion. Kaiyuan and Dugu Sheng fought valiantly in the palace, but were ultimately captured by the rebels. However, the rebels let Kaiyuan go because of his commendable performance. He later rose to the rank of Zhuguo. After his death, his son Lan inherited his rank and became the Left Guard General, but died near the end of the Daye period.
This family has produced many officials, starting from Zi Zuan in the previous generation, who became the magistrate of Heyang County. His younger brother Wu Du also reached the same position, and the two brothers did quite well. Even more impressive is their son Kaiyuan, who successfully resisted the rebels with Dugu Sheng during the chaotic times of Yuwen Huaji's rebellion. Although he was captured, he was released due to his commendable performance, and he eventually rose to the rank of Zhuguo. Unfortunately, his son Lan, who also pursued a career in the officialdom and reached the rank of Left Guard General, died young, ending the tragic fate of a generation of heroes.
Dugu Tuo, whose courtesy name was Li Xie, held office during the Zhou Dynasty and was exiled to Shu County for over ten years because of his father's misdeeds. He returned to Chang'an after Yuwen Huaji was killed. After Yang Jian ascended the throne as Emperor of the Sui Dynasty, he appointed Dugu Tuo as the Prefect and as the Right and Left General. After some time, he was sent to Yingzhou as the Inspector, and later promoted to Grand General before being transferred to Yanzhou as the Inspector. He liked to dabble in some unorthodox practices. His wife and mother used to hold spiritual beliefs in "cat ghosts," and later the cat ghost appeared in his home. The emperor heard about this, but was skeptical about it.
Later, the Empress and Zheng Shi, the wife of Yang Su, both fell ill and called for a doctor. The doctors all said it was the work of a cat ghost. The Emperor knew that Dugu Tuo was the Empress's half-brother, and his wife was the half-sister of Yang Su. He suspected Dugu Tuo of tricks and secretly sent his brother, Mu Shi, to hint at him. The Emperor avoided others and questioned Dugu Tuo alone, but Dugu Tuo denied any involvement. The Emperor, displeased, demoted him to another region as a governor. Dugu Tuo felt resentful and complained. The Emperor then had Left Deputy Gao Feng, Minister Su Wei, Judge Huang Fuxu, and Deputy Judge Yang Yuan jointly investigate the case.
One of Dugu Tuo's maids, Xu Ani, said she originally belonged to Dugu Tuo's mother's family and usually served the cat ghost, offering sacrifices to it with mice every night. She claimed that when the cat ghost harmed someone, the victim's belongings would secretly transfer to the family that worshiped the cat ghost. Dugu Tuo once wanted to drink some wine from home, but his wife said they had no money to buy it. Dugu Tuo then told Xu Ani, "Let the cat ghost go to Yang Su's house and bring back some money!" Xu Ani chanted a spell, and a few days later, the cat ghost went to Yang Su's house.
Eleven years later, when the Emperor returned from Bingzhou, Dugu Tuo told Xu Ani in the garden, "Let the cat ghost go to the Empress's place and bring back some valuables!" Xu Ani chanted the spell again, and the cat ghost entered the palace. Yang Yuan ordered Xu Ani to call the cat ghost. That night, Xu Ani set out a bowl of fragrant porridge and called out with a spoon, "Cat ghost, come out, don't stay in the palace!" After a while, Xu Ani's face turned blue, as if being pulled, and she said the cat ghost had arrived. The Emperor handed the matter over to his ministers, and Prime Minister Niu Hong said, "Monsters like this are made by people; killing this person will solve the problem."
The emperor ordered the Dugu couple to be escorted back home in a prisoner cart in preparation for their execution. Dugu's brother, Suxun, pleaded for mercy before the emperor in court, so the emperor spared Dugu from death, stripped him of his official title, and sent his wife, Yang, to the convent. Previously, someone accused his mother of being a victim of a demon cat, which the emperor deemed absurd and angrily expelled the accuser. However, the emperor now ordered the execution of those reported to have worshipped demon cats. Dugu died shortly after.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, he remembered his uncle and allowed him to be buried according to proper rites. He issued a decree saying, "The unfortunate fate of the Dugu family, the untimely death of Dugu, should be relocated at the appropriate time. Thinking of the affection in the old home of Wei Yang, recalling the past, grieving deeply, the funeral should be solemnly handled to ensure proper mourning. Posthumously promoted to the rank of Grand Master of Justice." The emperor was still not satisfied and issued another decree, saying, "The uncle's status is noble, and family relations are so important, yet he died at a young age, passing away one after another. In remembrance of the ancestors, his rank should be elevated. Posthumously promoted to the rank of Grand Master of the Silver and Blue."
Dugu had two sons named Dugu Yanfu and Dugu Yanshou.
Dugu's younger brother, who served as the Governor of Youzhou during the early years of the Daye era, died and was posthumously promoted to the rank of Grand Master of the Golden Purple Light and granted the title of Marquis Pingxiang.
That concludes the account; there is no further content or division possible.
Xiao Kui, styled Renyuan, was the grandson of Crown Prince Xiao Tong of the Liang Dynasty. His father, Xiao Cha, was initially granted the title of King of Yueyang, where he was stationed in Xiangyang. Later, during the rebellion of Hou Jing, Xiao Cha's brother, King of Hedong Xiao Yu, and his uncle, King of Xiangdong Xiao Yi, had a falling out, which ultimately led to Xiao Yu's death at the hands of Xiao Yi. After Xiao Yi succeeded to the throne, Xiao Cha fled to Western Wei to seek their support, requesting Western Wei to send troops to attack Xiao Yi. Emperor Yuwentai, the founder of Western Wei, then appointed Xiao Cha as King of Liang and dispatched General Yu Jin to lead fifty thousand cavalry to attack Xiao Yi, leading to Xiao Yi's downfall. Xiao Cha then established his capital in Jiangling, taking control of Jingzhou and the western region of Pingzhou, with a territory of nearly three hundred li. He then declared himself emperor, emulating the grandeur of other emperors. He also appointed a Governor-General of Jiangling and stationed troops. After Xiao Cha's death, Xiao Kui succeeded to the throne, with the reign title of Tianbao.
Xiao Kui was handsome, eloquent, knowledgeable, and had a passion for studying Buddhist scriptures. After Emperor Wu of Zhou conquered Northern Qi, Xiao Kui went to congratulate him. Emperor Wu of Zhou was particularly delighted and even took to playing the pipa himself, asking Xiao Kui to dance. Xiao Kui said, "Your Majesty is playing personally, how could I possibly dance wildly like some beast?" Later, when Yang Jian usurped the throne of Zhou and declared himself emperor, he showed even greater favor towards Xiao Kui, presenting him with five hundred taels of gold, one thousand taels of silver, ten thousand pieces of cloth, and five hundred horses. When Xiao Kui attended court, Yang Jian showed him great respect, ordering that Xiao Kui's seat be placed above that of the royal officials. Xiao Kui dressed meticulously and behaved elegantly, earning admiration from Yang Jian and envy from the court officials. The gifts bestowed upon him by Yang Jian were countless and overwhelming. Xiao Kui stayed in Chang'an for over a month before returning to his fief, as Yang Jian personally saw him off at the banks of the Chan River.
Later, Yang Jian also politely married Xiao Kui's daughter as the Jin Wangfei in the palace and also intended to marry Xiao Kui's son Xiao Yang to Princess Lanling. It can be seen that Yang Jian became closer and closer to Xiao Kui. The Empress Dowager said to Yang Jian, "Prince Liang is one of us; he is our trusted aide. Why do we still need to guard against him?" Yang Jian agreed, so he abolished the position of Governor of Jiangling and let Xiao Kui completely control his own country. Over a year later, Xiao Kui visited Yang Jian again, and Yang Jian rewarded him with ten thousand bolts of silk and numerous precious treasures. When Xiao Kui returned to his country, Yang Jian personally held his hand and said, "Prince Liang, you have stayed in Jingchu for so long and have not been able to return to the old capital. You must miss your hometown very much, right? I plan to lead the army to the Yangtze River area to send you back." Xiao Kui expressed his heartfelt gratitude as he departed. In May of that year, Xiao Kui fell ill. Before his death, he submitted a memorial to Yang Jian, saying, "I am foolish and incompetent, yet I have been blessed by your grace. Your rewards exceed those of other vassal kings; your kindness outweighs even Mount Tai, and even my children have been included in your royal family. I have always hoped to wear armor, charge into battle, eliminate enemies, and repay your favor. But I am in poor health, suddenly seriously ill, and dying soon; I can only take my leave here. I can no longer serve you, and I am deeply saddened. My son is still young, so I humbly request your mercy. I hope you are healthy and that the country remains stable; even if I die, I will have no regrets." He also presented his gold sword that he usually wore. Yang Jian was very sad when he saw the memorial. Xiao Kui reigned for twenty-three years before passing away at the age of forty-four. The officials of the Liang Dynasty posthumously honored him with the title Emperor Xiaoming, and his temple name was Shizong. His son Xiao Cong succeeded to the throne. Xiao Kui authored the "Xiao Jing," "Zhou Yi Yi Ji," and "Da Xiao Cheng You Wei," comprising fourteen volumes, which have been passed down through the ages.
Xiao Cong is known for being gentle and refined, kind-hearted and generous, knowledgeable and talented. He is not only eloquent but also an exceptional equestrian. Legend has it that someone once challenged him to shoot an arrow at a note on the ground, and while riding a horse, he hit all ten arrows on target. Yet the person holding the note was not afraid at all, demonstrating his remarkable precision in archery and martial prowess. He was initially appointed as the King of Dongyang, later proclaimed as the Crown Prince of Liang, and eventually succeeded to the throne.
The emperor also wrote him a letter, stating: "You bear the heavy responsibility of governing the country. Although you will encounter many worries and hardships, you must depend on your own diligence. You must effectively manage both internal and external relations, employ talented individuals, and inherit and carry forward the ancestral legacy, which is our expectation of you. Your border is close to the state of Chen, especially during the rainy season, so you must strengthen your defenses. Although Chen has recently paid tribute, the border areas have not completely stabilized; you must have the confidence that 'they dare not easily invade' and never underestimate the enemy without being prepared. My friendship with the state of Liang has been passed down through generations, and due to our kinship, our bond is even deeper. The court has placed high hopes on the Jiangling region; you must consider the country and the people, be diligent and frugal, and treat others with respect in order to safeguard yourself in the long run." The emperor also wrote a sincere letter of encouragement to the ministers of Liang.
At that time, Xiao Cong's reign title was Guangyun, and some people said: "'Yun' means the army is fleeing, is our sovereign planning to flee?" Sure enough, that year, Xiao Cong sent General Qi Xin to lead the navy to attack the city of Chen, but it was unsuccessful, and they returned in defeat. Later, Xiao Cong's uncle Cen was summoned to the court, appointed as Grand General, Marquis Huaiyi, and then detained by the court, with a supervisor in Jiangling assigned to keep an eye on him. The General appointed by Xiao Cong, Xu Shiwu, secretly conspired with Chen Ji, the general of Chen, to rebel. Once the conspiracy was uncovered, Xiao Cong executed Xu Shiwu.
Two years later, the emperor summoned Xiao Cong to the capital, and Xiao Cong brought more than two hundred officials to pay his respects. The people of Jiangling wept, saying, "Our sovereign may not come back!" After the emperor had Xiao Cong come to the capital to pay his respects, he dispatched General Cui Hongdu of Wuxiang to station troops in Jiangling. When the army arrived in Yuezhou, Xiao Cong's uncle Yan and younger brother Rong, fearing a sneak attack by Cui Hongdu, actually colluded with people from Chen to attack the city, even capturing rebellious civilians, which led to the downfall of the Liang Kingdom. The emperor dispatched Gao Feng, the Left Supervisor, to suppress the rebellion, granted clemency to those on death row in Jiangling, exempted the people from taxes for ten years, and allowed each of the two sovereigns of Liang to have ten households to guard their tombs. Xiao Cong was appointed a pillar of the state and granted the title of Duke of Juguo.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, he was very close to Xiao Cong because of his connection to the empress, appointing him as the Minister of the Interior and changing his title to Duke of Liang. Xiao Cong's entire family, from older brothers to younger ones, were all held in high regard, and the Xiao brothers held important positions in the court. Xiao Cong was indifferent to fame and fortune, never letting official titles weigh on him, and would drink after court sessions. Yang Yue, the Minister of the Interior, and Xiao Cong's colleague, was tasked by the emperor to advise Xiao Cong, and Yang Yue also offered him private counsel. Xiao Cong replied, "If I obey everything, then what's the difference between me and you?" Yang Yue laughed and left. Yang Yue's brother, Yang Su, was the Minister of Works back then. When he saw Xiao Cong marrying his sister to Qian'er, he said, "You are a relative of the emperor, with a noble lineage, how could you possibly marry your sister to Qian'er?" Xiao Cong said, "I previously married my sister to Houmochen, what's so strange about that?" Yang Su said, "Qian'er is from the Qiang tribe, and Houmochen is a barbarian, how can they be compared?" Yang Su believed that barbarians were better than the Qiang people. Xiao Cong said, "I've never heard that the Qiang people are considered inferior to barbarians." Yang Su felt ashamed and fell silent.
Xiao Cong, although stationed at the border, never bowed to the northern nobles even in their presence. He had a good relationship with He Ruobi, and after He Ruobi was killed, there was a popular children's rhyme saying, "Xiao Xiao will rise up too." The emperor therefore feared him, placed him under house arrest, and he soon passed away. He was posthumously appointed as Left Minister of Guanglu. His son Xiao Xuan served as the Regional Commander in Xiangcheng. Later, Xiao Cong's grandson Xiao Ju was granted the title of Duke of Liang. Xiao Ju was affectionately known as Zang, and Emperor Yang of Sui liked him very much, appointing him as a Chief Steward to enter and leave the palace with Yuwen Huaji to oversee palace affairs. Every time the emperor played, Xiao Ju followed along and engaged in many scandalous activities in the palace. During the Jiangdu Rebellion, he met his demise at the hands of Yuwen Huaji.
Shen Qinwen was very intelligent and good at writing from a young age. He earned a solid reputation as the Governor of Jingzhou in the Liang Dynasty. Later, when Cui Hongdu led troops to Yuezhou, Shen Qinwen was afraid and fled to the Chen Dynasty with his uncle Shen Yan. The Chen Dynasty emperor appointed him as Chief Minister, General of Peace in the East, and Governor of Wuzhou. He was adept at managing political affairs and was deeply loved by the local people, with the fathers and elders in the Sanwu region praising him as a good official for our community.
After the fall of the Chen Dynasty, the people of Wuzhou rallied behind Shen Qinwen as their leader. Shen Qinwen, seeing that the Emperors Wu of Liang and Jianwen of Liang, as well as the brothers Xiao Cha and Xiao Kui, all ascended to the throne as the third generation of succession, while he himself was the third son of Xiao Kui, grew increasingly arrogant and self-confident. At that time, there was a man named Xie Yi who was highly skilled at reading the political landscape. During the transition period between the Liang and Chen Dynasties, every word he said was accurate, and the people of Jiangnan respected him greatly. After the Chen Dynasty emperor was captured, Xie Yi also escaped to Shen Qinwen's place, which helped him gain even more support from the people.
Later, Duke of Baoguo, Yu Wen Shu, led troops to attack him. Shen Qinwen sent Wang Ai to defend Wuzhou, while he personally led troops to resist Yu Wen Shu. Yu Wen Shu sent troops to sneak attack Wuzhou from another route. Wang Ai, fearing for his life, dressed as a Taoist priest and abandoned the city and fled. Shen Qinwen's soldiers, upon hearing this, lost heart and were defeated by Yu Wen Shu after one battle. Shen Qinwen fled to Taihu with a handful of loyal followers, hiding in the houses of commoners. He was eventually captured and sent to Yu Wen Shu, where he was beheaded in Chang'an. He was only twenty-one years old at the time.
His younger brother, Shen Jing, served as an official and an imperial bodyguard. His brother, Shen Yang, held the position of Commandant of the Guards, Director of the Imperial Secretariat, and Marquis of Taoqiu. His brother, Shen Yu, served as Deputy Minister of the Interior and Prefect of Hechi.
Historical records state: Wise emperors always think ahead, and countries ruled by relatives and in-laws rarely remain stable for long. The maternal families of empresses rarely enjoy lasting prosperity. From the Han Dynasty to the Jin Dynasty, there were frequent dynastic changes and turmoil, all because those in power did not abide by the rules, which led to their swift downfall. If the Dugu family's influence were as strong as that of Empress Lü and Huo Guang, they would have failed before the Ren Shou period. If the Xiao family's power were as strong as the Liang and Dou families of the Liang Dynasty, they would not have been able to retain their power after the Daye period! Some families are able to maintain their ancestral legacy, while others become even more prosperous. Is this not because they act rationally and avoid power struggles and greed?
