Wang Yi, courtesy name Yijun, is from Luoyang, Henan. His father, Wang Xian, once served as the Governor of Fengzhou during the Zhou Dynasty. Wang Yi was ambitious and talented in horseback archery from a young age, and he was well-read with broad knowledge.
During the reign of Emperor Zhou Min, Wang Yi became a Senior Attendant of the Left Central Secretariat. At that time, the powerful Grand Chancellor Yuwen Hu wielded immense influence, even greater than the imperial family, and the Emperor was helpless against him. One day, a court official showed disrespect towards the Emperor, which infuriated Wang Yi, prompting him to confront the official. The official quickly apologized, prompting Wang Yi to relent. From then on, no court official dared to act out of line. Over a year later, Wang Yi was promoted to the position of Imperial Chancellor. After his father's death, Wang Yi was overwhelmed with grief and mourned longer than usual, living beside his father's grave and personally tending to it. After a year of mourning, the court appointed him as the Prefect of Yongzhou, but he declined, and the court refused to accept his resignation.
Later, Yang Jian became the emperor (Emperor Wu) and appointed Wang Yi as Yitong (仪同). He gradually rose through the ranks and eventually became the Grand Minister of the Interior, and was also granted the title of Duke of Yang. He followed the emperor to attack the Qi state, and when they reached the province of Bing, the emperor was defeated by the Qi army immediately upon entering the city, resulting in heavy casualties. Wang Yi led his elite troops to rescue the emperor, enabling him to escape unharmed. At that time, the emperor wished to retreat in light of the army's disastrous defeat, but Wang Yi strongly urged him not to, and the emperor followed his advice. Once Qi was subdued, Wang Yi was appointed as the Governor of Xiangzhou. Not long after, he was summoned back to the court and appointed as the Grand Interior Minister. When the Jihu people in Fenzhou rebelled, Wang Yi led troops to suppress the rebellion. The emperor's brothers, the Prince of Yue, Yang Sheng, and the Prince of Qiao, Yang Jian, both followed Wang Yi's command, demonstrating the emperor's deep trust in him. After quelling the rebellion, Wang Yi received a reward of five thousand bolts of cloth, and one of his sons was granted the title of Duke of Kaiguo. Before his death, the emperor told the crown prince, "Wang Yi is a loyal minister to the realm; he should be included in significant state matters and should not be dispatched to distant posts."
The Crown Prince ascended to the throne and became known as Emperor Xuan. Emperor Xuan was a bit wary of Wang Yi's integrity and strength, so he appointed him as governor of Xiangzhou. Later, when Yang Jian was appointed Prime Minister, he transferred Wang Yi to Zhengzhou as a governor. Sima Xiaonan rebelled and raised an army, so Yang Jian appointed Wang Yi as the commander-in-chief to lead four military governors against him. When the army arrived at the outskirts, Sima Xiaonan became frightened and fled to the state of Chen. At that time, covering over two thousand miles east to west, the barbarian tribes in the Ba and Shu regions also revolted, electing the governor of Lanluo Prefecture as their leader. Lanluo Prefecture proclaimed itself the King of Henan, sided with Sima Xiaonan, and conspired with Yu Jiong. Wang Yi led the military generals Li Wei, Feng Hui, Li Yuan, and others to suppress the rebellion, and in less than a month, the rebellion was quelled. As Wang Yi was a longtime minister of Yang Jian, Yang Jian respected him greatly, sent envoys to offer him condolences, and visitors continuously flocked to him. Yang Jian also married his fifth daughter to Wang Yi's son Wang Fengxiao, and soon appointed Wang Yi as Grand Minister of Works. Wang Yi, because of his previous relationship with Yang Jian, sincerely supported him.
After ascending to the throne, the Emperor held Yang Su in high regard, even paying a personal visit to his home, enjoying his company immensely. The Minister of Ceremonies, Su Wei, proposed that, given the growing population and insufficient farmland, the lands of meritorious officials should be reclaimed and redistributed among the common people. Yang Su submitted a memorial saying, "The officials have obtained their titles and land through the merits of their ancestors for several generations. Suddenly taking away their land seems inappropriate to me. In my view, rather than worrying about insufficient land, we should be concerned about officials not striving to make contributions!" The Emperor agreed with Yang Su's reasoning and shelved Su Wei's proposal.
During the early years of the Kaihuang reign, the emperor planned to visit Qizhou. Yang Su advised, "Your Majesty, you have just ascended the throne, and the people's hearts have not fully settled. Why do you want to go play?" The emperor jokingly said, "I used to be at a similar rank as you. Now suddenly I lower myself to be your subject. Are you a little unhappy about it? This time I go, mainly to demonstrate my authority, so that you will be convinced!" Yang Su smiled and withdrew. Later, Yang Su was dispatched as an envoy to the Turks. The emperor was quite pleased with his performance and appointed him as the Duke of Yingguo.
Not long after, Yang Su's son Yang Fengxiao passed away. Over a year later, Yang Su submitted a report to the emperor, saying that the princess was still of tender age and requested to be exempted from mourning attire. The Imperial Censor Yang Su accused Yang Su, "I heard that there are five types of mourning attire, with different degrees of closeness in relationships and different periods of mourning. These are rules set by our ancestors and cannot be easily changed. Therefore, even a virtuous person cannot overstep, and an unworthy person cannot be negligent. The son of Duke Yitong, Yang Fengxiao, married Princess Lanling. Fengxiao passed away in May last year, and it has only been a little over a year. Yang Su requests to be exempted from mourning attire. Although it is said that the princess married beneath her station, it is still a marital relationship. The princess is a member of the imperial family, which concerns the dignity of the imperial family. Moreover, mourning for three years has been an established tradition since ancient times. It is only after the period that mourning attire is removed, with no clear rules in etiquette. However, marital relationships are the beginning of human ethics, and funeral rites are the most important in humanity. If they are disregarded, people will ridicule. Therefore, the ancients used the analogy of striking fire with wood to describe those who mourn for a short time; and singing in the morning and dancing in the evening to describe those who forget sorrow. Although Yang Su is not a great figure, his title is already high. Can he not abide by the rules of etiquette? By doing so, he disrespects customs and shows unfilial behavior towards his father; disregards etiquette, is hasty in mourning, and damages the reputation of the princess. If we allow this, it could undermine established customs, so I request that he be dealt with according to the law." The emperor decreed that there was no need to investigate, but the emperor's favor towards Yang Su was reduced. Yang Su was very dissatisfied.
Someone accused Yang Su of plotting a rebellion, so the emperor ordered an investigation into the matter. The person in charge of the investigation reported that Yang Su had made some disrespectful comments, but there was no evidence of rebellion. The emperor gave him wine and let him go. At that time, the senior minister Yuan Xie was also feeling quite disheartened, and Yang Su often interacted with him, speaking ill of others. A Hu monk accused them, and the court officials reported that Yang Su had committed a grave offense and should face execution. The emperor, feeling very sad, said to Yang Su, "We were once classmates, and I feel for you, but what can be done about the law of the country?" So he decreed, "Yang Su, during the Zhou Dynasty, you were involved in politics very early on, and we studied together at school, so we had a good relationship. But your character is malicious, and you often have sorcerers in your household, constantly talking nonsense, claiming to be in touch with gods and saints. When I first took the throne, I issued you a stern warning, and though you claimed you would change your ways, you remained unchanged. You claimed to be a god of the four heavens, appointed by heaven, and said there were prophecies about you, with your stars in the sky, and that in the years of Chen and Si, you would rise to power as an emperor. You secretly had people divine and spy on the disasters in the court. You even claimed to be a future enlightened king, believing in those heretical teachings, acting recklessly everywhere, claiming to assist the future emperor, and believing that you would become emperor in the future. If I were to pardon you, you would undoubtedly rebel in the future. To prevent further atrocities, eradicate evil, and uphold my responsibilities, you should face the law and punishment." The emperor then had the Minister of Justice, Zhao Chuo, tell Yang Su, "This is your fate; what will you choose to do?" So Yang Su was put to death at home, at the age of forty-six.
Yuan Xie, a native of Luoyang, Henan, came from a prominent and affluent family. He was known for his generosity and righteousness, displaying great magnanimity. When he was young, he studied at the National University with Emperor Gaozu, and they shared a bond as close as brothers. Later, Yuan Xie rose through the ranks based on his military achievements and eventually became a grand general. After Emperor Gaozu assumed the role of prime minister, he brought Yuan Xie to work by his side. Yuan Xie said to Emperor Gaozu, "Prime Minister, you currently do not have a reliable assistant; it is quite perilous, like a wall in a stream! You must be very careful!"
Later, Wei Jiong staged a rebellion and sent troops to attack a small town. Gaozu dispatched Yuan Xie to quell the rebellion, and Yuan Xie quickly defeated the rebel army. After Gaozu ascended to the throne, he smiled and said to Yuan Xie, "How is that wall in the water?" He then hosted a grand feast to celebrate with Yuan Xie. Yuan Xie was promoted to Grand General, appointed as Duke of Le'an County, granted the title to a thousand households, and ordered to participate in the revision of laws and regulations. At that time, the Tuyuhun invaded Liangzhou, and the court appointed Yuan Xie as the Marshal, leading generals Helou Zigang, Guo Jun, Yuan Hao, and others to lead tens of thousands of troops to confront the invasion. The Emperor issued a special decree to instruct Yuan Xie, saying, "You have been entrusted by the court to lead the troops on a western expedition to stabilize the border and protect the people, not to covet unnecessary territory and harm the border people. The king's army should prioritize benevolence and righteousness. If the Tuyuhun bandits reach the border, you should reason with them, appeal to their emotions, and educate them; who would dare to resist?" At that time, the Tuyuhun bandit leader Dingcheng Wang Zhonglifang led three thousand cavalry across the Yellow River and joined forces with the Tanguts. Yuan Xie led the army from Shanzhou, headed straight for Qinghai to cut off their retreat. The Tuyuhun army came to intercept Yuan Xie, and the two forces clashed at Fengli Mountain. The Tuyuhun fielded twenty thousand elite cavalry, and they engaged in a fierce battle with Yuan Xie but were ultimately defeated and forced to flee.
After the Tuyuhun army retreated to Qinghai, Prince Kebo Han led fifty thousand elite soldiers to launch a surprise attack on the imperial army. Yuan Xie took the initiative to strike back, once again defeating the enemy, pursuing them for more than thirty li, killing tens of thousands of people, and capturing countless others, greatly shocking the Tuyuhun army. Therefore, Yuan Xie sent a letter urging surrender, and seventeen tribal chiefs and thirteen nobles of the Tuyuhun tribe led their troops to surrender. The emperor was very pleased and issued a decree stating, "Rewarding those skilled in warfare and outstanding in merit is an ancient practice. Yuan Xie is insightful, quick to react, skilled in both civil and military matters, and renowned far and wide. He has established authority and prestige, expanded territory, established merit on the battlefield, and shown deep foresight, loyalty, and integrity, winning my favor. In recognition of his achievements, he should be given a grand reward. He is appointed as a pillar of the nation, and his son is granted the title of county duke." Yuan Xie was appointed as the governor of Ningzhou, where he was highly respected and loved by the people. However, he had a strong personality, had a penchant for criticizing others, and did not know how to please those around him. He once remarked to the emperor, "I serve Your Majesty wholeheartedly, never flattering or fawning." The emperor replied, "You should always adhere to this." Later, due to official matters, Yuan Xie was dismissed from his position. It is said that in the past, Senior Pillar King Wang Yi made contributions to the country and had a good relationship with Yang Su, often visiting each other. Later, a Hu monk went to report that Wang Yi and Yang Su were plotting rebellion. The emperor investigated but found no evidence of treason, so he reassured Yang Su and released him. Not long after, Wang Yi was killed, and Yang Su gradually fell under the emperor's suspicion. However, because Yang Su was an old friend of the emperor from his youth, the emperor often called him in and treated him well.
Once, the emperor held a grand banquet for his officials. Yang Su took the opportunity to suggest, "Your Majesty, your reputation is widely known. I suggest making the Turkic Khan an acting official and appointing Chen Shubao as a minor official." The emperor replied, "I subdued the Chen Kingdom to punish the wicked and pacify the people, not to show off military might and intimidate the world. What you said is completely contrary to my intentions. The Turks do not understand our terrain; how can we let them be guards? Chen Shubao is dull and greedy for wine; how can we expect him to manage anything?" Yang Su listened and said nothing, silently retreating.
Years later, someone accused Yang Su, along with his cousin Yang Pang, Marquis Tian Luan of Linze, and Qi Xu of plotting rebellion. The emperor ordered an investigation. Officials reported, "Yang Su planned for Qi Xu to lead troops to attack the Dangxiang, then quickly occupy Bashu. At that time, Prince Guangping Yang Xiong and Left Supervisor Gao Feng were very powerful. Yang Su wanted to frame them, saying, 'The Left Law Star has been in motion for four years; as soon as a report is made, Gao Feng will surely die.' He also said, 'The Tai Bai Star is in conjunction with the Moon, shining brightly; this is a sign of killing a minister; Yang Xiong will definitely be unlucky.' Yang Su and Yang Pang once went to the palace to see the emperor together. Yang Su privately told Yang Pang, 'I am the master; those people in the court are all villains.' Then he let Yang Pang look at the feng shui in the palace, and Yang Pang said, 'The fortunes of those people are as lowly as a dog and as fleeting as a deer; they are not as fortunate as we are.'" The emperor was furious upon hearing this, and Yang Su, Yang Pang, Tian Luan, and Qi Xu were all executed, and their assets were confiscated.
Wang Shiji, from Xinmi County, was originally from Chanxi. His father, Wang Ya, was a highly respected and formidable figure in the Zhou Dynasty, holding the title of Grand Minister. Wang Shiji was tall and powerful, with a waist so thick it could wrap around ten belts, radiating an extraordinary presence, unmistakably a heroic figure.
During the Zhou Dynasty, he achieved many military merits and was later appointed as Shang Yitong (上仪同) and granted the title of Duke of Changzi County. When Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, was the Prime Minister, Yu Jiong rebelled, and Wang Shiji followed Wei Xiaokuan to battle, charging into the fray in every engagement and inflicting a crushing defeat on the enemy, eventually being promoted to Grand General (上大将军). When Yang Jian became emperor, Wang Shiji was appointed as the Governor of Qizhou (蕲州). Gao Qiang greatly admired Wang Shiji's talents and treated him exceptionally well. Once, Wang Shiji privately said to Gao Qiang, "We are all subjects of the Zhou Dynasty. Now that the Zhou Dynasty has fallen, what are we to do now?" Upon hearing this, Gao Qiang immediately refused to discuss it with him. Not long after, Wang Shiji was appointed as the Governor of Qizhou.
During the Battle of Ping Chen (平陈), Wang Shiji led his troops from Qishui, sailed directly to Jiujiang, and fought against the Chen Dynasty's General Ji Tian at Qikou, inflicting a crushing defeat on him. At this time, Prince Yang Guang of Jin had already pacified Danyang. Wang Shiji wrote a letter to inform Yang Guang and sent his subordinate Qianjing Gong Quanshizhang to attack Xinchai. Seeing the unfavorable situation, Chen Dynasty's Sima of Jiangzhou, Huang Sai, directly abandoned the city and fled. Quanshizhang took advantage of this and occupied Jiangzhou. Wang Shiji arrived later, and the Prefects of Yuzhang, Xu Duan, Luling, Xiaolian, Xunyang, Lu Zhongrong, Bashan, Wang Song, Taiyuan, Ma Ding, Qichang, Huang Zhengshi, Ancheng, Ren Gao, as well as the defenders of Poyang and Linchuan, all surrendered to Wang Shiji in droves. For his great achievements, Wang Shiji was promoted to Zhuguo, Governor of Jingzhou, awarded five thousand bolts of silk, given a treasure belt, and granted a food estate of three thousand households.
After a few years, Li Guangshi from Guizhou rebelled, and Wang Shiji was appointed as the marching general to suppress the rebellion, quickly quelling the uprising. The emperor sent the official Xin Kaiqing from the Duting to comfort him. Upon his return, Wang Shiji was promoted to Shang Zhuguo, awarded two thousand bolts of silk. The emperor valued him highly.
The emperor felt that Yuan Shiji was too harsh and critical, and loyal officials often ended up being accused, so Yuan Shiji spent his days drinking to forget his troubles and no longer discussed national affairs with the ruling party. The emperor suspected he might have a drinking problem, so he kept him in the palace and had the court physician treat him. Yuan Shiji feigned recovery and was finally allowed to return home.
Later, during the campaign in Liaodong, Yuan Shiji served as a marshal with the Prince of Han. When they reached Liucheng and faced an epidemic, he returned to the capital. He was then appointed as the governor of Liangzhou, and the court sent seven hundred cavalry to escort him to his post. Not long after, his close confidant, the An Ding man Huangfu Xiaoxie, got into trouble with the authorities, and when they tried to arrest him, he fled to Yuan Shiji. Yuan Shiji refused to hand him over, which created some unease. Eventually, Huangfu Xiaoxie was sent to serve as a soldier in Guizhou under the command of General Linghu Xi. Linghu Xi did not like him and treated him harshly, so Huangfu Xiaoxie risked reporting to the emperor, saying, "Yuan Shiji once sought advice from a Taoist priest who predicted that he would become emperor and that his wife would become empress." He also said that when Yuan Shiji brought him to Liangzhou, his companions advised him, "The Hexi region is where the nation's elite troops gather; we could scheme for something big!" However, Yuan Shiji replied, "Liangzhou is vast and has a sparse population, not a suitable place for war."
Consequently, Yuan Shiji was summoned back to the court for investigation. The relevant authorities reported, "Left Guard General Yuan Min, Right Guard General Yuan Zhou, and Left Supervisor Gao Feng all had dealings with Yuan Shiji and received valuable horses from him." As a result, Yuan Shiji was executed, Yuan Min, Yuan Zhou, and others were dismissed from their positions, while Huangfu Xiaoxie was promoted to Grand General.
Yu Qingze, from Linyang, Shaanxi, with the ancestral surname Yu. His ancestors served under the Helian clan and later settled in Lingwu. They were northern heroes for several generations. His father, Yu Xiang, was the governor of Lingwu in the Zhou Dynasty. Yu Qingze grew up strong and imposing, with a bold and straightforward character. Standing eight feet tall, he was exceptionally brave and knowledgeable, and was even fluent in the Xianbei language. He wore heavy armor and carried two bows and arrows at his waist, and was skilled in archery. Local renowned warriors both respected and feared him. He initially made a living as a hunter, but later decided to focus on studying, admiring figures such as Fu Jiezi and Ban Zhongsheng. He served as an official in the Zhou Dynasty, beginning his career as a military officer in an outer prefecture, gradually rising to the position of military officer overseeing foreign troops, and eventually inherited the title of Count of Qinyuan County. In the first year of the Xuanzheng era, he was appointed as the General of the Righteous Army and served as the Chief Military Officer in Bingzhou. The following year, he was promoted to the rank of Kai Fu. At that time, the Jihu people frequently staged rebellions, and Prince Yue and the Interior Minister Gao Feng suppressed the uprising. Just before they were set to return to the capital, Gao Feng and Prince Yue decided they needed someone who was both martial and scholarly to guard the area. They recommended Yu Qingze, who was subsequently appointed as the General of Shizhou. He governed the region with honor and benevolence, bringing stability and gaining the loyalty of many Jihu people, amounting to over eight thousand households.
In the first year of the Kaihuang reign, Yu Qingze was promoted to Grand General and later served as the Minister of the Interior, the Minister of Personnel, and the Governor of Jingzhao. He was granted the title of Duke of Pengcheng and was also appointed as the supervisor for the construction of the new capital. In the winter of the second year, the Turks invaded, and Yu Qingze was appointed as the Marshal to attack them. During the battle, due to insufficient supplies, many soldiers suffered frostbite, with over a thousand losing fingers. General Daxi Zhangru led two thousand cavalry to intercept the enemy from another route but ended up surrounded. Despite the urgent situation, Yu Qingze refrained from sending reinforcements, resulting in the majority of the soldiers perishing. However, the Emperor did not blame him. Shortly after, he was promoted to the position of Right Minister.
Later, the Turkish leader, Shetou, sought to submit and requested a high-ranking court official to welcome him. The Emperor sent Yu Qingze as an envoy to the Turks. Initially, Shetou tried to assert his authority, but Yu Qingze chastised him for his past transgressions. With the persuasion of Yu Qingze's deputy Changsun Cheng, Shetou and his brother Yehu accepted the imperial decree, submitted as vassals, and offered tribute, vowing eternal loyalty to the Great Sui. When Yu Qingze was dispatched as an envoy, the Emperor instructed him, "I want the Turks to continue to exist. When they send tribute horses, you shall only take one-third of the total." Shetou gifted Yu Qingze a thousand horses and even gave his daughter in marriage to him. Due to Yu Qingze's great achievements, the Emperor chose not to pursue these matters. He bestowed upon Yu Qingze the title of Senior State Pillar, appointed him Duke of Lu, allocated him a thousand households in Rencheng County, and transferred the title of Duke of Pengcheng to his son Yu Yi.
After Emperor Wen of Sui defeated the Chen Dynasty, he joyfully hosted a banquet for the ministers at the Jin Prince's residence. Gao Qiang and the others toasted and wished him long life. Emperor Wen of Sui said, "Gao Qiang pacified the Jiangnan region, and Yu Qing surrendered the Turks; these are truly remarkable achievements!" Yang Su said, "This is all thanks to Your Majesty's benevolence!" Yu Qing also said, "Yang Su fought in Wulao and Xiashi before; if it weren't for Your Majesty's favor, we wouldn't have achieved victory." Then they started to boast about each other's accomplishments. The censors considered impeaching them, but Emperor Wen of Sui said, "Today everyone is happily calculating achievements, so let's give them a pass today."
Emperor Wen of Sui watched the ministers enjoy their feast, drink, and shoot arrows. Yu Qing then spoke again, "Your Majesty has rewarded us with food and drink, allowing us to enjoy ourselves, but the censor is here; I'm worried I'll get impeached if I overindulge!" Emperor Wen of Sui then gave the censor some wine and sent him on his way. Yu Qing toasted and wished for good health, really enjoying himself. Emperor Wen of Sui said to the ministers, "After drinking this glass of wine, I hope that both I and all of your descendants enjoy wealth and prosperity for generations." Nine years later, Yu Qing was promoted to Right Guard General and soon after to Right Martial Marquis.
In the 17th year of the Kaihuang era, Li Xian from Lingnan rebelled and occupied the prefectures and counties. Emperor Wen of Sui planned to quell him. Several generals offered to lead the campaign, but all were turned down. Emperor Wen of Sui looked at Yu Qingze and said, "You hold the position of prime minister, with a noble title, and the country is facing bandits, yet you show no intention of going to battle. What's going on?" Yu Qingze quickly apologized, and Emperor Wen of Sui subsequently assigned him to the campaign. Yu Qingze was appointed as the general commander of the military in Guizhou, and brought his brother-in-law Zhao Shizhu as his chief aide. Zhao Shizhu had previously had an affair with Yu Qingze's concubine. Fearing exposure, he spread rumors that Yu Qingze was reluctant to fight. This news quickly reached Emperor Wen of Sui. Previously, when court officials went to battle, Emperor Wen of Sui would host a banquet to see them off and reward them generously. However, when Yu Qingze declined the farewell when heading south to campaign, Emperor Wen of Sui's demeanor soured, leaving Yu Qingze feeling frustrated and disheartened. After suppressing Li Xian's rebellion and arriving at Lingui Town in Tanzhou, Yu Qingze observed the terrain and said, "The terrain here is strategic. With enough provisions and a capable commander, it cannot be taken." He then sent Zhao Shizhu back to the capital on a fast horse to report the situation and observe the emperor's reaction. After Zhao Shizhu arrived in the capital, he falsely accused Yu Qingze of plotting treason. Emperor Wen of Sui investigated, and Yu Qingze was executed. Emperor Wen of Sui then appointed Zhao Shizhu as a pillar of the country. Qingze, this young man was filial and righteous, with a bold and gallant spirit in his youth. He later became a trusted confidant of the Prince of Jin as a high-ranking official, but sadly, he lost his official position due to his father's misdeeds.
When Yang Guang became the emperor, because Qingze had worked under the Prince of Jin before, he was arranged to be the Chief of the Palace Guards and also appointed as the Supervisor of the Imperial Gardens, in charge of the royal gardens. Qingze was quite resourceful, and the emperor liked him. In the ninth year of Daye, during the war against the Liao country, he was appointed as the Director of the Capital Waterways, responsible for transporting supplies, and he earned significant accolades. However, he lived quite extravagantly; he even had camels carry boxes filled with water to keep fish, which he found amusing!
In the eleventh year of Daye, he was accused of treason by someone, and he was killed as a result. His younger brother, Chengdao, who was serving as an official in the Eastern Palace, was dismissed from his position as a result of this incident.
Yuanzhou was from Luoyang in Henan, and he was a sixth-generation descendant of Emperor Zhaocheng of Wei. His grandfather was the Prince of Puyang in Wei, and his father was the Prince of Wuling. Yuanzhou was brave and skilled in martial arts from a young age; he was handsome, with sharp eyes that deterred others from offending him. The Prince Xian of the Zhou Dynasty greatly admired him and took him along into battle. Later, Yuanzhou became the Grand General.
When the founding emperor was summoned to the palace for important duties, he first called Yuanzhou and then called Tao Cheng, regarding them as trusted confidants and often letting them stay overnight in the inner palace. When the founding emperor became the prime minister, he would always have his younger brother Yuanwei accompany him as a guard whenever he led troops into the palace.
King Zhao of the Zhou Dynasty knew that Gaozu wanted to move the sacrificial tripod of the Zhou Dynasty, so he invited Gaozu to his mansion as a guest. King Zhao took Gaozu into the bedroom, not allowing anyone else to enter; only Yang Hong and Yuan Zhou, the two brothers, sat at the door. King Zhao said to his two sons, Yuan and Guan, "You will bring the melons later, and I will take the opportunity to assassinate him." After a few rounds of drinks, King Zhao wanted to make his move, using a dagger to slice the melons, eating while approaching Gaozu, preparing to attack. Yuan Zhou quickly said, "There are still matters at the Prime Minister's mansion; we cannot stay long." King Zhao rebuked him, saying, "I am talking to the Prime Minister, who do you think you are?" and pushed him away. Yuan Zhou's eyes widened in anger as he drew his sword to protect Gaozu. King Zhao asked for his name, and Yuan Zhou truthfully revealed it. King Zhao said, "Aren't you the one who used to work under Prince Qi? You are truly a hero!" He then gave him wine, saying, "Why would I have any ill intentions? Why are you so vigilant?" King Zhao pretended to vomit, wanting to go into the inner room, but Yuan Zhou, fearing a trick, helped him sit back down repeatedly. King Zhao said his throat was dry, asking Yuan Zhou to fetch wine from the kitchen, but Yuan Zhou did not move. At that moment, Prince Yong arrived, and Gaozu went down the steps to greet him. Yuan Zhou whispered to Gaozu, "The situation is not right; let's leave quickly!" Gaozu, not reacting in time, said, "He has no soldiers or horses; what can he do?" Yuan Zhou replied, "All the soldiers and horses belong to him; if he strikes first, it will be a disaster. I am not afraid to die; it would be useless even if I did!" Gaozu sat back down. Yuan Zhou heard the clanking of armor behind the house and quickly said, "There are many matters at the Prime Minister's mansion; how can you do this?" He then helped Gaozu off the bed and hurriedly left. King Zhao tried to chase after them, but Yuan Zhou blocked King Zhao's path with his body, preventing him from leaving. Gaozu reached the door, with Yuan Zhou right behind him. King Zhao was furious, his finger bleeding after snapping it. Later, King Zhao was executed, and Yuan Zhou received countless rewards.
After Emperor Gaozu ascended to the throne, Yuan Zhou was promoted to the position of Senior Minister, granted the title of Duke of Wuling, and given a fief of three thousand households. Later, he was further promoted to Left Guard General, and shortly after, he was promoted to Right Guard General. Emperor Gaozu lightly remarked, "Your protection of my safety and contribution to today's achievements are all thanks to you, Yuan Zhou!" After a few years, Yuan Zhou was appointed as the Inspector of Yuzhou, and later successively served as the Inspectors of Bozhou and Xizhou. At that time, the Turkic tribes frequently raided the borders, and because of Yuan Zhou's reputation, the court appointed him as the Governor-General of Lingzhou, which made the northern nomadic tribes fearful of him. Later, he was recalled to the court and appointed as Right Guard General, with the emperor showing more trust and importance towards him. Once on the fifteenth day of the first month, the emperor and his courtiers went to a high place to take in the view, and Yuan Zhou was on duty. The emperor ordered him to be summoned. Upon meeting the emperor, the emperor said, "Climbing high with others cannot compare to being with me!" and then hosted a banquet, where everyone enjoyed themselves. Prince Jin, Yang Guang, also often showed him respect. When Prince Fangling was deposed, Yuan Zhou was part of the plot. Later, when the emperor was preoccupied with affairs in the Eastern Palace, General of the Left Guard, Yuan Min, earnestly counseled against it, but Yang Su slandered Yuan Min behind his back. The emperor was furious and immediately arrested Yuan Min. Yuan Zhou, who was on duty at the time, stayed at his post and reported instead, "The reason I did not leave my post was to guard against Yuan Min!" This infuriated the emperor, who ultimately had Yuan Min executed and rewarded Yuan Zhou with a thousand bolts of silk. Later, Prince Shu, Yang Xiu, committed a crime, and Yuan Zhou, due to his association with Yang Xiu, was stripped of his official position.
After Yang Guang ascended the throne as emperor, Yuan Xie was never given important tasks. At that time, the governor of Cizhou, Shangguan Zheng, was exiled to Lingnan for committing a crime, and General Qiu He was dismissed from his position due to his wrongdoing. Yuan Xie and Qiu He knew each other before and often went out together. One time, after drinking too much, Yuan Xie said to Qiu He, "Shangguan Zheng is a tough character. Now that he has been exiled to Lingnan, will he cause any major trouble?" Then he slapped his belly and said, "If you were like him, you wouldn't go down without a fight!" The next day, Qiu He reported this to the emperor, and as a result, Yuan Xie was executed. Later, Shangguan Zheng was summoned as the General of the Valiant Guards, and Qiu He was appointed as the governor of Daizhou.
History tells us that if Han Xin hadn't missed his chance at the Battle of Gaixia, Xiang Yu might not have perished; if Ying Bu had not rebelled in Huainan, the power of the Han Dynasty might not have been so strong. Those who had accomplished great things were ultimately killed due to the emperor's suspicion, especially those who hadn't accomplished anything significant like the ancients and still harbored rebellious thoughts!
Liang Shiyi and Yuwen Xin were famous warriors at the time, taking advantage of the chaos around them to make a name for themselves with their bravery and strategy. But they got cocky, taking all the credit for themselves. Constantly seeking rewards and recognition, they were never satisfied with what the emperor granted them, and they were eager to climb higher to satisfy their desires. In the end, both of them ended up in disgrace, completely self-inflicted!
Wang Yi, Yuan Xie, Wang Shiji, Yu Qingze, and Yuan Xie, some of them had experienced hardships together with the emperor, some were old pals of the emperor. But as time passed, they were gradually forgotten by the emperor, growing increasingly discontent, and constantly bragging about their accomplishments. Even though the emperor was a tough guy, they themselves were not cautious in their words and actions, and ended up bringing trouble on themselves.
You see, the original supporters of Emperor Gaozu who helped him establish his reign had very few good endings, and even fewer were honored in the ancestral temple or remembered in history. This is likely because, in the early days of the new regime, many decisions were made out of expediency; everyone was not truly on the same page, and over time, emotions grew cold. Take, for example, those incidents of "seizing others' fields." Although they did make mistakes, the Emperor's underhanded seizure of their land—who could blame them for feeling resentful? The Emperor often used lofty justifications to punish and execute them; Emperor Gaozu's suspicious and jealous nature is truly frightening! It seems unlikely that their descendants will ever enjoy wealth and status!
