Huangfu Ji, courtesy name Gongming, hailed from Chaoyang in Anyi. His grandfather, Huangfu Mu, was the Prefect of Longdong in the Wei Kingdom; his father, Huangfu Dao, held the positions of Inspector of Huzhou and Commander of Yongzhou during the Zhou Dynasty. Huangfu Ji lost his parents at the age of three and was raised by his maternal grandfather, Wei Xiaokuan, after that. Once, while playing chess with his nephews, Wei Xiaokuan saw him slacking off and scolded him severely. But considering Huangfu Ji's young age and difficult circumstances, he chose to forgive him. Huangfu Ji sighed, "Having grown up without my parents' guidance in my maternal family, I cannot discipline myself to study hard. How can I achieve anything in the future?" He felt overwhelming guilt and commanded his servant to administer thirty strokes to him. When Wei Xiaokuan heard about this, he was moved to tears and deeply touched.
From then on, Huangfu Ji studied diligently across various fields, including history and literature. When Emperor Wu of Zhou was still the Duke of Lu, he summoned Huangfu Ji to serve as a palace reader. During the Jiande period, Huangfu Ji was promoted to Palace Attendant. Once, when Emperor Wu of Zhou was vacationing at Yunyang Palace and Emperor Xuan was still the Crown Prince overseeing the government, Prince Waila rebelled, and the city gates were shut, and many officials had fled. Upon hearing this, Huangfu Ji immediately rushed to the scene and met the Crown Prince at Xuanwu Gate. The Crown Prince came down the stairs, held his hand, and was in tears yet smiling, extremely moved. Emperor Wu of Zhou greatly appreciated him and promoted him to a minor Palace Attendant.
During the Xuanzheng period, in recognition of his previous merits, the court conferred the title of Baron of Yiyang County upon him, appointed him as a Grandee in the Capital, and later promoted him to a Lower Grandee of the Palace. After Emperor Xuan's death, Emperor Gaozu Yang Jian took power, and Huangfu Ji made significant contributions, as noted in the "Zhengyi Zhuan." Huangfu Ji was subsequently granted the title of Upper General, promoted to Senior Grandee in the Interior, then elevated to County Duke with a fief that included one thousand households, and shortly after appointed as Grand General. In the first year of the Kaihuang reign, he was assigned as Inspector in Yuzhou, where his fief was increased to two thousand five hundred households. He was subsequently promoted to Minister of the Imperial Secretariat.
After a few years, he was transferred to the Jinzhou Inspector. Before taking office, he knelt down to express his gratitude, saying, "I’m really quite mediocre and haven’t contributed much to the country. I often think about risking my life to repay the court’s kindness. Now that the Chen Dynasty still exists, I believe there are three reasons we can use to defeat it." The emperor asked him for the reasons, and Huangfu Ji replied, "First, a big nation swallowing a smaller one; second, a just army fighting against an unjust one; and third, the Chen Dynasty sheltering the traitor Xiao Yan, which gives us a reason to attack them. If Your Majesty is willing to send elite troops, let me lead the charge, and I’m sure I’ll achieve great success!" The emperor was impressed by his ambition and encouraged him before appointing him. After the Chen Dynasty fell, he was appointed as the Suzhou Inspector.
The group of clever individuals stirred up trouble in Jiangnan. The local leader Gu Ziyuan took troops to quell the rebellion, and the two sides were at a stalemate for eighty days. Gu Ziyuan, grateful for Yang Su's kindness, sent someone to deliver beef and wine as a gesture of thanks on the day of the winter solstice. Yang Su replied, "The emperor is appointed by heaven and wields supreme power, having inherited the abdication of Yao and Shun, and emulating the military achievements of Tang and Wu. His power extends east to Panmu, farther than the adventures of Fang Shuo; west to the flowing sands, farther than Zhang Qian reached. Even the far-off Western Regions come to pay tribute and swear allegiance; beyond the Congling and Yumen Pass, they come to request official positions. Previously, the pseudo-Chen regime obstructed the court's teachings, leading to the suffering of the people in Jiangdong. Heaven aided the righteous court, allowing us to swiftly quell the rebellion. The people of Jinling were restored, and those in Wudi and Kuaiji also found new hope. Now everyone should be grateful, live in peace and happiness; how can they still act like rabid dogs? You are not my people; why do you want to send wine? I am a general of the Sui Dynasty; how could I accept your diplomatic overtures? Even if our forces are insufficient and food is scarce, I have never told you, let alone now that our forces are strong, and our city is well-fortified, waiting for the court's reinforcements; we are not lacking in strength at all. Why do you resort to such hypocritical gestures to mislead me, trying to shake my determination to be loyal to the court? I will never accept your gift. You better think about how to save yourself, persuade your people to turn back early and return to the right path." Gu Ziyuan received the letter and bowed in apology at the city gate. Later, Yang Su's reinforcements arrived and together they defeated the rebels. Yang Su was appointed as the governor of Xinzhou, in charge of military affairs in twelve provinces. Shortly after, due to ill health, he requested to retire. The court summoned him back to the capital, providing him with royal physicians for his care. Court envoys came in a steady stream, frequently inquiring about his health. Ultimately, Yang Su passed away at home at the age of fifty-two, posthumously honored with the title "An." His son, Yang Si, succeeded him and became the chief official of the Ministry of Rites during the Daye era.
Wei Yao, a native of Jingzhao, served as the Grand Historian during the Zhou Dynasty. Emperor Wen of Sui recognized Wei Yao's contributions in formulating strategies and promoted him multiple times, eventually elevating him to the position of Senior Pillar of State and granting him the title of Duke of Puan County. During the Kaihuang period, he passed away while serving as the Governor of Puzhou.
Lu Ben, whose courtesy name was Zizheng, was a native of Fanyang in Zhuozhou, Hebei. His father, Lu Guang, was the Grand Tutor and Duke of Yan during the Zhou Dynasty. Lu Ben was somewhat knowledgeable in calligraphy, music, and music theory. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Zhou, he inherited the title of Duke of Yan, with a fief of 1,900 households. He later served as the Prefect of Luyang, the Junior Palace Attendant to the Crown Prince, and the Equivalent of the Three Excellencies. For his achievements in pacifying the Qi state, his fief was increased by 400 households, and he was promoted to the position of Senior Master of the Army. At that time, Yang Jian (Emperor Gaozu) was the Grand Master of the Army, and Lu Ben felt that Yang Jian was extraordinary, so he proactively built a good relationship with him. After Yang Jian became emperor (Emperor Xuan), Lu Ben was further enfeoffed as the Grand Tutor.
When Yang Jian first came to power and the people's sentiments had not yet fully stabilized, he placed Lu Ben by his side. Yang Jian wanted to take Lu Ben to the Eastern Palace, and the officials were unaware of his intentions. Yang Jian secretly had Lu Ben lead troops to protect him, and then gathered the ministers and said, "If you want to get rich, follow me!" Everyone privately discussed and debated, with some wanting to leave and others wanting to stay. When Lu Ben arrived with the army, no one dared to act rashly. They passed through Chongyang Gate and arrived at the Eastern Palace, where the gatekeepers initially denied them entry. Lu Ben explained the situation to them, but they still refused. Lu Ben sharply scolded them, and only then did the gatekeepers relent. In this way, Yang Jian entered the palace. Lu Ben was in charge of Yang Jian's night watch, and later when Yang Jian asked him about certain matters, Lu Ben advised him, saying, "The rule of the Zhou Dynasty has come to an end, and both the common people and the heavens hope for you to become emperor. You should follow the will of heaven and satisfy the people's hearts! If you do not seize the opportunity given to you by heaven, you'll have to face the consequences!" Yang Jian greatly agreed with his words.
After Yang Jian became emperor, he appointed Lu Ben to be in charge of cleaning the imperial palace and continuing with the guard duties. Lu Ben suggested changing the flags of the Zhou Dynasty and replacing them with new designs. The Blue Dragon, Zouyu, Vermilion Bird, Xuanwu, Qianqiu, and Wansui flags were all designed by Lu Ben. Later, he was appointed as a Cavalier Attendant, also serving concurrently as the Crown Prince's Chief Libationer, Left General, and Right General.
At that time, Gao Feng and Su Wei held great power in court politics, which greatly dissatisfied Lu Ben. When the influential Liu Fang was being sidelined, Lu Ben secretly conspired with Liu Fang, as well as with the Senior Pillar of the State Yuan Xie, Li Xun, and the Governor of Huazhou Zhang Bin, to oust Gao Feng and Su Wei and jointly support the emperor. They also conspired to depose the Crown Prince, as the Emperor favored the Prince of Jin above all. Lu Ben even privately told the Crown Prince, "I often come to see you; I'm afraid it will anger the Emperor. I hope you can understand my predicament." As a result, their conspiracy was exposed, and the Emperor thoroughly investigated the matter. Liu Fang and others shifted the blame onto Zhang Bin and Lu Ben, and the court officials unanimously called for their execution. Recalling their past loyalty in helping him establish the empire, the Emperor, unable to execute them, stripped them of their official titles and allowed them to return home as commoners. Zhang Bin died shortly after.
More than a year later, Ben was promoted to Grand Minister of Ceremonies. Ben discovered that the ancient palace musical scales were organized in different ways, some using seven, some using eight, with various interpretations and ongoing debates among past scholars, without a unified standard. So he wrote to the emperor, saying: "Before the Shang Dynasty, the pentatonic scale was widely used. After King Wu of Zhou overthrew the Shang Dynasty, he adopted the heptatonic scale, influenced by the sounds of the quail, fire, and heavenly horses. After the establishment of the Han Dynasty, the addition of the resonating bells resulted in a set of bells and chimes comprising sixteen pieces. Zheng Xuan commented on the 'Rites of Zhou,' stating that a set of bells and chimes consists of sixteen pieces (2, 8, 16). This indicates that the heptatonic or eight-note scale has a long history. However, there have been changes throughout the ages, and the usage has also varied. During Emperor Wu of Zhou's reign, the heptatonic scale was reinstated, using Linzhong as the palace tone. Music is the foundation of governing a country, changing customs and habits, and nothing is more effective than music. Wu Qi judged the rise and fall of a country by observing its music. Therefore, music can move heaven and earth, influence ghosts and gods, and human emotions are expressed through sound, reflecting the prosperity or decline of a nation accordingly. Emperor Wu of Zhou, using Linzhong as the palace tone, was probably a sign of the country's impending demise. Furthermore, the tone of the Linzhong is actually the next note after the Huangzhong. The Huangzhong represents the monarch, and the Linzhong is born below the Huangzhong, clearly symbolizing royal authority. While the yin number represents the ministers, occupying the position of the monarch, further indicating the auspicious signs of the country's ascension to the throne. This is a coincidence of celestial order, not a result of human design. Your Majesty is wise and valiant, ruling the realm and surpassing the accomplishments of your predecessors. Now that you have achieved fame and success, creating music in accordance with past regulations and systems. I have heard that the music of the Five Emperors was different, and the ritual music systems of the Three Dynasties were also different, all changing according to the circumstances at the time, but without losing their solemn and upright characteristics." The Emperor ultimately adopted his suggestion, switching to the eight-note scale with the Huangzhong as the palace tone. The Emperor also commanded Ben and his colleague Yang Qing to compile the music of the Zhou Dynasty and the State of Qi.
Not long after, Ben was appointed governor of Yingzhou, and was soon transferred to Guozhou as governor. Later, he was promoted to Huaizhou governor. He dug a canal to divert the Qin River eastward, which he named "Limin Canal," and used it to irrigate Wen County, naming it "Warm and Moist Canal." This was used to irrigate saline-alkali land, greatly benefiting the people. Several years later, he was transferred to be governor of Qizhou. At that time, the people were hungry, and food prices soared. He banned the sale of food by the people and took it upon himself to organize food distribution. As a result, he was dismissed from office and became a commoner.
Later, when I followed the emperor to Luoyang, the emperor remarked casually to me, "When I first became the Grand Marshal, you were completely devoted to me. Later, when I was in charge of the officials, you were often by my side. We had a really close relationship. If you hadn't colluded with those bad folks, your position could have been as high as Gao Feng's. Because of this, you were dismissed from your position. Think about what we used to mean to each other. I originally wanted to let you be a local official again; why don't you think about repaying me? How did it come to this! I can't bring myself to kill you; that would be favoritism and injustice!" Ben quickly knelt down to apologize, and the emperor ordered him to be reinstated to his former position.
After a few days, Ben Jing unexpectedly made yet another mistake while accepting the emperor's decree, bragging and whining incessantly. The emperor was livid and turned to the ministers, saying, "I intend to make him a provincial governor to see if he can handle it!" At that moment, the crown prince stood up and said, "These people made great contributions in the past; although they may have fickle and reckless natures, we cannot completely abandon them!" The emperor replied, "I've already shown mercy by sparing his life. If it weren't for Liu Fang, Zheng Yi, Ben Jing, Liu Qiu, and Huang Fu Ji, how could I have come this far today! But these people are fickle. Back in the days of Emperor Zhou Xuan, they won the emperor's favor through sycophancy. When the emperor fell ill, they wanted the royal prince to assist in governing, but they played tricks and handed power over to me. I aimed to govern the country effectively, but they sought to undermine the stability. That's why Liu Fang plotted rebellion before, and Zheng Yi later practiced witchcraft. People like Ben Jing are all discontented. Promote them, and they grow arrogant; dismiss them, and they whine endlessly. It's really hard to trust them; it's not that I don't value them. Seeing this situation, you may discuss privately and say that I don't appreciate my loyal subjects enough, but it's not the case!" Su Wei then spoke up, "Your Majesty, with your kindness and generosity, could also adopt this approach to soothe them." The emperor agreed and allowed Ben Jing to rest at home. That year, Ben Jing passed away at fifty-four.
In historical records, it is said that the founder of the Great Han Dynasty, Liu Bang, along with Fang and Yi, were the key figures in the initial planning and were highly regarded and influential, with no opposition at the time. However, they could not forget personal safety, were eager for success, and in the name of so-called loyalty, they cut off their ties of gratitude, only caring about their own wealth and glory, neglecting the greater good. When the emperor moved the capital and a new dynasty was established, they were even worse off; their so-called "loyalty" failed to endure, and their initial promises all fell through. They regretted their earlier ambitions, feeling unworthy to be among the renowned ministers and ashamed to associate with the founding heroes. They were unable to serve the emperor with full devotion, let alone honor their parents, and this did not go unnoticed; others criticized them for it. During the Zhou Dynasty, they did not show loyalty; during the Sui Dynasty, they did not serve wholeheartedly. Consequently, their past achievements were overshadowed by their wrongful deeds, and they sowed the seeds of their own downfall. Avoiding punishment while trying to hold onto their lives and wealth proved nearly impossible! Liu Qiu, Huangfu Ji, Lu Ben, and others all relied on others to succeed; they never stuck to their own principles, and when the Tang Dynasty's golden age came, they were not able to participate in the core of politics. This is actually a common principle: if you want people to like you, you sometimes have to take criticism. Yan Ying once said: "One heart can serve a hundred monarchs, but a hundred hearts cannot serve one monarch." This saying perfectly illustrates the actions of Fang and Yi.
