Yuwen Shu, style name Botong, was a native of Wuchuan in Dai Commandery. Originally surnamed Poyetou, he was a member of the Xianbei Sito Gui tribe, but later changed his surname to Yuwen after his original master. His father, Yuwen Sheng, was a high-ranking official of the Northern Zhou dynasty. Yuwen Shu was particularly brave from a young age, skilled in horseback riding and archery. At the age of eleven, a fortune teller predicted that he would rise to a high position in the future.
When Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou came to power, Yuwen Shu also started his official career due to his father's military achievements, starting as a Prefect. Yuwen Shu was respectful, cautious, and meticulous in his work, earning the favor of the Grand Chancellor Yuwen Hu. He was appointed to serve as a trusted bodyguard to the emperor, a prestigious position. Later, when Emperor Wu personally took control of the government, Yuwen Shu was summoned to the palace as Left Palace Minister, gradually rising in rank to become a Chancellor. He was initially granted the title of Duke of Boling County, then later changed to Duke of Puyang County, with his official rank increasing.
During the rebellion led by Wei Jiong in Xiangzhou Province while Gaozu was Prime Minister, Yang Su was appointed as the Commander-in-Chief, leading three thousand troops to suppress the rebellion. When the army reached Heyang, Wei Jiong sent General Li Jun to attack Huaizhou, prompting Yang Su to take his troops and defeat Li Jun. He then joined other generals in the battle at Yongqiao against Wei Dun, leading the charge and capturing or slaying numerous enemies. For his contributions in suppressing the rebellion, Yang Su was promoted to a high-ranking official position unusually, elevated to the title of Duke of Baoguo, and rewarded with three thousand bolts of silk.
During the reign of Emperor Kaihuang, Yang Su was appointed as the Grand General of the Right Wing. In the campaign against the Chen Dynasty, he was appointed as the Commander-in-Chief, leading an army of thirty thousand across the river at Liuhe. At that time, the two armies of Han Qinh and He Ruobi were marching towards Danyang, so Yang Su occupied Shitoucheng to provide support. After Chen Shubao was captured, Xiao Huang and Xiao Yan took control of the Dongwu region and resisted with their forces. Yang Su then led Commander-in-Chief Yuan Qi, Zhang Moyan, and others in a combined land and naval assault. Naval commander Yan Rong also brought a fleet from the sea to follow Yang Su's command. The Emperor also issued a decree saying, "Your accomplishments are significant, and your reputation is esteemed; your loyalty to the country, I have long known. The rebellion in Jinling has been quelled, but the journey to Wuhui is long, and Xiao Yan and Xiao Huang are still causing trouble there. Lead your troops to pacify that area, enhance national prestige, and spread the court's teachings. With your intelligence and wit, pursue the enemy in your victory, and you will surely quell the rebellion swiftly. If you can ensure the people live peacefully without the use of force, that aligns with my wishes, and that will be all thanks to your efforts!"
Chen Zhaoyong, the Marquis Xinhou Chen Junfan, fled to Xiao Huang from Jinling and joined forces with him to resist the court. When they saw Yang Su's army approaching, Xiao Huang was terrified, so he erected fortifications to the east of Jinling City and cut off the waterway to impede Yang Su's advance. Xiao Huang personally entered Taihu Lake from Yixing, intending to launch a surprise attack on Yang Su from the rear. Yang Su's army broke through Xiao Huang's fortifications, then turned back to attack him, defeating Xiao Huang's army and killing his Sima, Cao Lecha. The vanguard subsequently captured Wuzhou, and Xiao Huang retreated with the remnants of his army to Baoshan, only to be defeated again by Yan Rong. Yang Su pressed on and reached Fenggongdai, where Xiao Yan and Chen Junfan chose to surrender to him. Yang Su graciously agreed to their request, and Xiao Yan and Chen Junfan were bound and led along the road, thus bringing peace to the Wuhui region. For his achievements in this campaign, one of Yang Su's sons was granted the title of Kaifu, and Yang Su received a reward of three thousand bolts of cloth and was appointed governor of Anzhou.
It is said that the Prince of Jin, who was the governor of Yangzhou, was known for his eloquence and sought a chance to get closer to the emperor. He petitioned the court to appoint him as governor of Shouzhou and general. At that time, the Prince of Jin was secretly plotting to usurp the throne, so he turned to Yang Yue, Yang Su's brother, for advice. Yang Su was a powerful figure with significant influence over the court, and Yang Yue had a great impact on his brother. Yang Su was the linchpin of the Prince of Jin's scheme.
Yang Yue, who was Yang Su's younger brother, was a key figure for Prince Jin when Yang Su was a powerful figure in the court. As a result, Prince Jin aimed to approach Yang Su by connecting with his brother, Yang Yue.
Prince Jin said to Yang Su: "Right now, the crown prince isn't in the emperor's favor, and his reputation isn't great. But you, Prince, are known for your kindness, filial piety, and exceptional talent. You've led troops into battle several times, achieved great victories, and are well-loved by both the emperor and the court. The whole nation is counting on you! However, the issue of deposing the crown prince and installing a new one is a significant national matter that affects family ties. It's not an easy task, that's for sure! But if anyone can sway the emperor, it’s Yang Su, and he tends to listen to his younger brother, Yang Yue." Yang Yue, Yang Su's younger brother, was a powerful figure at the time and a key player for Prince Jin. So Prince Jin wanted to get close to Yang Su through Yang Yue.
Yang Su, knowing that Yang Yue had a good relationship with the King of Jin, sent Yang Yue to make contact with the King of Jin. When the King of Jin heard this, he was overjoyed and gave Yang Su a lot of gold, silver, and jewels to go to Chang'an to meet Yang Yue and discuss deposing the crown prince. When Yang Su arrived in Chang'an, he visited Yang Yue on multiple occasions, bringing him many precious gifts and engaging in drinking and gambling together. Each time, he intentionally lost to him, losing all the gold, silver, and jewels he had brought. Yang Yue won so much money that he felt embarrassed and returned some to Yang Su. Yang Su replied, "This is a reward from the King of Jin for us to enjoy together." Yang Yue was taken aback and asked what was happening. Yang Su told him about the King of Jin's plan. Yang Yue thought it was a solid plan and went back to inform Yang Su. Yang Su agreed as well. From then on, Yang Su often planned things together with Yang Yue. The relationship between the King of Jin and Yang Su grew increasingly close, and he even arranged a marriage for Yang Su's son Yang Shi to the Princess of Nanyang, showering them with countless gifts. Later, when the King of Jin was named crown prince, he appointed Yang Su as the Commander of the Left Guard. According to tradition, the Commander of the Left Guard held the rank of a fourth-level official, but due to Yang Su's elevated status, he was promoted to a third-level official, demonstrating the King of Jin's high regard for him.
After Yang Guang became emperor, he appointed him as the General of the Left, and later changed his title to Duke of Xu State. In the third year of Daye, Yang Guang granted him additional titles, making him the Chancellor of the Three Excellencies, and during the winter court sessions, the emperor even assigned him a ceremonial escort. One time, when the emperor was in Yulin, he happened upon the Tiele tribe's failed attack on the Tuyuhun, which caused the Tuyuhun people to scatter and seek refuge. The emperor then sent Yuwen Huaji to station troops at Linqiang City in Xiping to reassure the surrendering people. The Tuyuhun people, seeing Yuwen Huaji with his large troop presence, were too afraid to surrender and fled west instead. Yuwen Huaji led Eagle Commanders Liang Yuanli, Zhang Jun, and Cui Shi to pursue them, reaching Mantou City, breaching the city walls, and killing over three thousand people. Following their victory, they captured Chishui City. The remaining Tuyuhun forces fled to Qiuni River, where Yuwen Huaji caught up to them, defeating them and capturing over two hundred of their nobles, officials, and generals, along with more than four thousand men, women, and children taken captive. The Tuyuhun king fled south to the Snowy Mountains, leaving their homeland deserted. The emperor was extremely pleased.
In the second year, the emperor embarked on a western tour, passing by Jinshan and then going to Yanzhishan. Yuwen Huaji acted as a scout on every occasion. At this time, the bandits of the Tuyuhun tribe came to attack Zhangye, but Yuwen Huaji led his troops to successfully fend them off. After returning to the Jiangdu Palace, the emperor tasked Yuwen Huaji and Su Wei with selecting officials and overseeing court affairs. At that time, Yuwen Huaji was very favored, and the emperor favored him even more than Su Wei, entrusting him and Su Wei with many tasks. The emperor showered Yuwen Huaji with various gifts and delicacies from across the realm, and the emperor's messengers frequently delivered gifts to his residence. Yuwen Huaji excelled at pleasing the emperor, always acting appropriately and elegantly, and the palace guards regarded him as a role model. He was also very talented, captivating everyone with his exquisite decorations and attire. He often presented unique clothes and treasures to the palace, which made the emperor like him even more.
At that time, Yuwen Huaji's power was overwhelming, and whatever he said, the emperor would listen. His influence surpassed that of other officials in the court. General Zhang Jin, who was Yuwen Huaji's colleague, had some disagreements with him in the past. When Yuwen Huaji glared at him in anger, Zhang Jin was scared and quickly ran away. No civil or military officials in the court dared to defy him. However, Yuwen Huaji was greedy and stingy, always trying to acquire treasures from wealthy merchants and the sons of the Hu people in the Longyou region. He was very cordial towards them, even referring to them as "sons." Everyone competed to give him gifts, and his wealth in gold and silver amassed to staggering heights. He had hundreds of elegantly dressed maids and thousands of servants, all riding good horses and wearing clothes made of gold, silver, and jewels. Yuwen Huaji's level of favor at that time was unmatched.
It is said that back in the day during the war against Goguryeo, Yang Shu was the general of Fuyu Dao. Before setting out, the emperor said to him, "According to the rules, a 70-year-old can bring his wife and kids to war, so you can bring your family too. The old saying that women shouldn’t go to battle means they shouldn’t be on the front lines when the fighting starts. Staying in the military camp will be safe. The story of Xiang Yu and Yu Ji is an example."
Yang Shu led nine armies to the Yalu River, but when their food and supplies ran out, the troops began discussing a retreat. The generals had differing opinions, and Yang Shu couldn’t figure out what the emperor was thinking. At that moment, the Goguryeo envoy Yi Zhi Wende showed up at their camp. Yang Shu and Yu Zhongwen followed the emperor's secret decree, planning to capture Wende. But they couldn’t catch him and ended up letting Wende go, as written in the "Biography of Yu Zhongwen." Feeling anxious, Yang Shu led the generals across the river to chase him down.
Noticing that Yang Shu's army was starving and weak, Wende aimed to wear them down, fleeing north in every battle. Yang Shu fought seven battles in one day, all victories. Riding high on this winning streak and facing pressure from his ministers, he kept pursuing. After crossing the Sa River and being just thirty miles from Pyongyang, they set up camp on the mountain. Wende sent someone to pretend to surrender, telling Yang Shu, "If you retreat, we will hand over Emperor Gao Yuan's palace." Seeing his soldiers exhausted and starving, unable to fight any longer, and considering the tough terrain of Pyongyang, Yang Shu fell for Wende's trick and decided to retreat.
Half of the army crossed the river, and the Goguryeo army attacked the rear, resulting in a complete defeat. The situation spiraled out of control, and all nine armies were completely wiped out, fleeing back to the Yalu River in just one day and night, having covered four hundred and fifty miles. When they first crossed the Yalu River, the nine armies numbered three hundred fifty thousand five hundred, but when they got back to Liaodong City, only two thousand seven hundred were left. The emperor was furious and demoted Yang Shu along with the officials involved. When he got to the eastern capital, Yang Shu was stripped of his title and became a commoner.
In the second year, the emperor planned to launch another campaign against Liaodong and restored Yang Shu to his former official position and title, treating him as he had been before. Yang Shu followed the emperor to Liaodong and, together with General Yang Yichen, once again led troops to the Yalu River. At this time, Yang Xuangan rebelled, and the emperor summoned Yang Shu back to quickly command the troops to Heyang, mobilizing troops from various counties to quell Yang Xuangan's rebellion. At that time, Yang Xuangan was closing in on the eastern capital, and fearing Yang Shu's approaching army, he fled westward, hoping to occupy Guanzhong. Yang Shu, along with Minister of Justice Wei Xuan, Left Imperial Guard General Lai Huer, and Martial Guard General Qu Tutong, pursued Yang Xuangan and caught up with him at Wanxiang Huangtian. Yang Shu and Lai Huer formed their battle lines at the front, while Qu Tutong led a surprise attack from the rear, defeating Yang Xuangan and sent his head to the emperor. The emperor rewarded him with thousands of bolts of fabric. Later, he took part in the eastern campaign and returned after reaching Huaiyuan.
It is said that the Turkic forces besieged Yanmen Pass, and the emperor was alarmed and considered breaking through with his troops. Fan Zigai firmly objected, stating it was not feasible, and the emperor gave up on the idea. When the siege was lifted, the emperor's entourage arrived in Taiyuan, and many ministers advised him to return to the capital quickly, which left the emperor in a difficult position.
At this time, Yang Su suggested, "Since many officials' families are in Luoyang, the eastern capital, why don't we go to Luoyang on our way back to the capital from Tongguan, which would be much more convenient?" The emperor found this suggestion reasonable and agreed. That year, the emperor arrived in Luoyang, the eastern capital, and Yang Su seized the moment to suggest a visit to Jiangdu for leisure. The emperor was thrilled and readily agreed.
Consequently, Yang Su fell ill in Jiangdu. When the emperor heard about it, he even intended to visit him personally! The ministers tried to stop him, but he ultimately decided against it. Later, the emperor sent a eunuch surnamed Wei from the palace to ask Yang Su, "If you have anything to say, just say it, don't keep it to yourself." Yang Su's two sons, Huaji and Zhiji, had both committed some offenses and were under house arrest. Yang Su seized the opportunity to say to the emperor, "Huaji is my eldest son, who used to serve by your side. I hope Your Majesty can show him some compassion." When the emperor heard this, his eyes welled with tears, and he said, "I will not forget him."
Later, Yang Su passed away. The emperor ordered a day of mourning, posthumously appointed him as the Minister of Personnel and the Prefect of the Grand Scribes, bestowed upon him the title of Governor of ten commanderies, provided him with forty sword-bearing guards, a carriage, and a musical band, and posthumously conferred upon him the title of "Gong." The emperor also instructed the Yellow Gate Attendant Pei Ju to offer sacrifices to him and assigned officials from the Honglu Temple to oversee his funeral affairs. Regarding his son Yang Huaji, additional records exist.
It is said that there was a man named Yun Dingxing who shared a close relationship with Xu Jingzong. What was the origin of this relationship? Well, Dingxing's daughter had once served as a maid to the Crown Prince Li Yong. After the Crown Prince Li Yong was deposed, she was dismissed from her position and married someone from the Ministry of Works. Previously, Dingxing had received a pearl-embroidered canopy from the Crown Prince's consort, which he discreetly gifted to Xu Jingzong, and from then on, the two of them often corresponded. During festivals and special occasions, Dingxing always sent gifts to Xu Jingzong and entertained him with music.
Xu Jingzong was particularly fond of wearing flamboyant clothing to show off. Dingxing designed a saddle for him, which had a three-inch square cutout in the back corner, exposing the white lining. At that time, those frivolous people all tried to imitate, calling it "Xu Gong's missing flair." On a particularly cold day, Dingxing said, "Being on night duty in the palace, your ears must be freezing, right?" Xu Jingzong replied, "Yes!" Dingxing then designed a hat that could cover the ears tightly. Everyone started wearing it, dubbing it "Xu Gong's ear warmer." Xu Jingzong was very happy and said, "Brother Yun, the things you create can change trends! I heard that you are reliable, and indeed you are not undeserving of your reputation!"
Later, the emperor wanted to attack the surrounding minority ethnic groups and ramp up weapon production. Xu Jingzong aimed to help Yun Dingxing climb the ranks, so he said to him, "The emperor is very satisfied with the weapons you make, but you still haven't been promoted, all because the Changning brothers are still in the picture!" Yun Dingxing replied, "What's the use of that? Why not advise the emperor to kill them?" Xu Jingzong then reported, "The several princes of Fangling are all adults. Now that we are going to war, if we let them go out on the expedition, no one will be left to manage the rear; if we let them stay in the capital, we fear they will cause trouble. It's better to take care of them sooner rather than later." The emperor, upon hearing his words, ordered Changning to be poisoned, and the remaining seven brothers were dispatched to Lingnan and eliminated along the way. Five years later, at a grand military parade, the emperor praised the weapons as excellent, and Xu Jingzong said, "This is all thanks to Yun Dingxing!" As a result, Yun Dingxing was promoted to Assistant Minister of the Imperial Works, soon after replaced He Chou as the Assistant Supervisor, then promoted to Left Imperial Guard General, while still overseeing the Ministry of Works. Eleven years later, he eventually rose to the position of Grand General of the Left Garrison.
Anyone recommended by Xu Jingzong is guaranteed a high official position. There was a man named Zhao Xingshu, a wealthy musician at the Tai Chang Temple, and he was extremely wealthy. Xu Jingzong called him his elder brother and received numerous bribes from him. Xu Jingzong praised his valor and appointed him as a junior general.
Guo Yan, known by his courtesy name Yanwen, claimed to be from Taiyuan Jiexiu. His father, Guo Chong, served as an official under Cao Cao in the Guanzhong region and eventually rose to the position of palace attendant. Guo Yan was brave and skilled in combat from a young age, excelling in horseback riding and archery. The Northern Zhou Prince of Chen, Yu Wenjun, took notice of him and appointed him as an official, leading to his subsequent promotion to Grand Commander. When the state of Qi had not yet been conquered, Guo Yan was tasked with recruiting soldiers in Tianshui to defend the eastern border, recruiting over a thousand households who settled in Shancheng. He was later appointed as General, Charioteer General, and Supervisor of the Army. Whenever enemies invaded, he led his troops into battle and won several victories in a year, striking fear into the hearts of the Qi people. The Governor of Yizhou, Wang Yi, had great trust in him.
During the Jiande era, Emperor Wu of Zhou traveled to Yunyang, and Guo Yan traveled to Yunyang to pay his respects. At that time, there were ongoing discussions about launching an attack on the state of Qi, and Guo Yan volunteered to be the vanguard. After successfully capturing Heyin City, he was appointed as a Grand General. Emperor Wu of Zhou besieged Jinzhou and, fearing a rescue from the Qi army, ordered Guo Yan to guard a thousand-mile stretch of road alongside the Prince of Chen. He also fought alongside Emperor Wu of Zhou against the Emperor of Qi at Jinzhou, pursuing the Qi army to Gaobi, where he defeated them. He then participated in the pacification of Bingzhou and, due to his military achievements, he was promoted and granted the title of Marquis of Wuqiang County with a fief comprising 1,200 households, and was bestowed the surname Chiluo. In the inaugural year of Xuanzheng, he served as the Grand Master of the Right Central Army.
Wei Jiong rebelled, clashing with Wei Xiaokuan in Wuzhi, and then facing off again in Xiangzhou. Earlier, Wei Jiong had sent his disciple Qin to act as the governor of Qingzhou, bringing troops from Qingzhou and Qizhou to help him. Wei Jiong was defeated, and Qin, along with his sons Dun and You, wanted to escape to Qingzhou. Guo Yan caught up with them, leading a thousand elite soldiers, defeated them, and captured Wei Jiong's son You on the battlefield. Qin fled, and Dun managed to escape as well. Guo Yan arrived in Jizhou, seized the city, and defeated Wei Jiong's remaining forces in multiple battles, sending the captives to the capital.
The emperor promoted Guo Yan, appointing him as a pillar of the state, and bestowed upon him the title of Duke of Wushan, rewarding him with seven thousand rolls of cloth. Guo Yan secretly urged the emperor to eliminate the Zhou dynasty princes and abdicate swiftly. Because of this, the emperor grew especially fond of him. In the first year of Kaihuang, the emperor allowed him to restore his original surname Guo. When the Turks invaded the border, the emperor appointed Guo Yan as the commander of the army, stationed in Pingliang. For several years, the Turks did not dare to invade. Later, the emperor appointed him to oversee the excavation of the canal as the Grand Supervisor. He organized and led the water workers to dig the canal, diverting the Wei River's waters from north of Daxing City eastward to Tongguan, constructing a transportation canal over four hundred li long. The local people benefited greatly, dubbing it the "Canal for Enriching the People."
Five years later, the emperor appointed him governor of Yingzhou. That autumn, there was heavy rain and flooding; many of the subordinate counties were flooded, and the common people climbed trees and sought refuge in the homes of the wealthy. Guo Yan personally prepared boats and tools and brought food to rescue the people, saving many lives. He first opened the granary and distributed food to those in need, and then reported to the court. The emperor was greatly impressed and transferred him to be the governor of Shuozhou. Shuozhou governed Heng'an Town, which was located near the northern border and often had to transport military supplies. Guo Yan selected fertile land, cultivated fields, and produced over ten thousand stones of surplus grain each year, relieving the people of the burden of transportation. He also built Sanggan Town, which was praised by the emperor.
Ten years later, Guo Yan accompanied Prince Jin Yang Guang to defend Yangzhou. When rebellions broke out in the Jianghuai region, the emperor appointed Guo Yan as the commander, leading ten thousand elite soldiers to be stationed in Jingkou. He engaged in battle with the rebels south of Guizhou, defeated them, captured their leader, and seized a large number of boats, food, and military supplies to resupply his troops. He then pacified the rebellions in Dongyang, Yongjia, Xuancheng, Yi, and She, successfully quelling all of them. Finally, he was appointed as the governor of Jiangzhou.
Guo Yan was extremely arrogant towards his subordinates and excessively fawning towards his superiors. Prince Jin favored him greatly, frequently inviting him to banquets and showering him with generous rewards. Eventually, Guo Yan was promoted to commander of Hongzhou.
At that time, Prince Jin was planning to seize the throne. He sent Yuwen Shu to secretly discuss his plan with Guo Yan through Guo Yan's confidant. Upon hearing this, Guo Yan was overjoyed and said, "If Prince Jin's plan succeeds, I can naturally become the crown prince; even if the plan fails, I can still maintain control over the Huaihai region and restore the territories of the former Liang and Chen dynasties. What could those friends who feast with the prince do to me?" Prince Jin then summoned Guo Yan and secretly planned with him. In order to avoid suspicion of their private communication, they concocted an excuse, saying that Guo Yan's wife had a goiter and Princess Xiao had a way to treat it. They then reported to Emperor Gaozu, requesting for Guo Yan to accompany his wife to Jiangdu for treatment. As a result, they frequently communicated without any restraint. Guo Yan also falsely claimed that the indigenous people of Guizhou had revolted, so Prince Jin reported to the court and sent Guo Yan to suppress the rebellion. In this way, Guo Yan began to construct a large arsenal and secretly train an army. When Prince Jin became the crown prince, Guo Yan was appointed as the commander of the Left Guard Corps, and later promoted to the commander of the Left Guard Corps. When Emperor Gaozu was critically ill in Renshou Palace, the crown prince and Yang Su fabricated an edict, allowing Guo Yan and Yuwen Shu to lead the army of the Eastern Palace to stay in the palace and be responsible for the defense of the palace gates. After Emperor Gaozu's death, the Prince of Han rebelled and the capital was empty, so Guo Yan quickly returned to the capital to command the defense forces.
In the first year of Daye, Guo Yan was appointed as the Grand General of the Left Guard. After the emperor arrived in Jiangdu, he allowed Guo Yan to lead the Left Army and also appointed him as the Grand Master of Ceremonies. He followed the emperor to attack the Tuyuhun, marching through the Jinshan Road and subduing more than 20,000 households in Jiangzhou. Guo Yan was very good at understanding the emperor's thoughts, always flattering and obeying the imperial will. The emperor often told others, "Only Guo Yan, his thoughts are the same as mine." He also frequently advised the emperor to enjoy himself, establishing a rule to attend court only once every five days, so as not to tire himself out like the founding emperor. The emperor followed his advice and appreciated his filial piety even more. Initially, after the New Laws were promulgated, Guo Yan was ennobled according to regulations. Six years later, he was granted the title of Marquis of Zhending due to the emperor's favor. Seven years later, he followed the emperor to Jiangdu, where he died. After his death, he was posthumously appointed as the Grand General of the Left Guard, and the court awarded him generous posthumous honors, with the posthumous title of Xiang. His eldest son, Guo Zhen, rose to the rank of Wuyalang General; his second son, Guo Siben, served as the magistrate of Xiaochang County.
Historians argue that integrity and steadfastness are the hallmarks of a true subject; living in harmony, but not blindly conforming, is the right way to serve the monarch. Yuwen Shu and Guo Yan are like water, flowing with the current, greasy like fat, soft like leather, always flattering and pleasing the monarch with a fawning face. If the emperor says it is okay, they say it is okay; if the emperor says it is not okay, they say it is not okay. They lack independent judgment on any matter, cannot distinguish between right and wrong, cannot discern priorities, silently endure and compromise, willing to endure the stigma of living off the state, and endure the criticisms of the world. This is certainly not the conduct expected of a nobleman, and it is also what Confucius detested.
This is about people like Yuwen Shu and Guo Yan, who are completely devoid of principles, only know how to ingratiate themselves, merely nodding and complying with the emperor's commands, and lack any independent opinions. In order to maintain their positions, they are willing to do anything, even betray their own conscience. Such behavior is not only looked down upon by honorable men, and even Confucius would disapprove. Therefore, it is crucial to uphold principles in both our actions and our dealings, and not to compromise one's principles for short-term gains. "To be cautious and restrained, and to serve without self-interest, reflects the high integrity of a minister; being harmonious yet distinct is the proper way to serve the ruler." This is the proper way to serve as a loyal subject.
