Wei Xuan, courtesy name Wensheng, was from Luoyang, Henan. His grandfather, Wei Yue, was the Minister of Agriculture of the Wei Kingdom, and his father, Wei Piao, served as the Chamberlain and the General of the Left Guard. Wei Xuan showed great knowledge and talent from an early age. When Emperor Wu of Zhou was still a prince, he recruited Wei Xuan as a scribe. Later on, Wei Xuan was promoted to a senior official, inherited the title of Xingshi Gong, received a fief of four thousand households, and was appointed as an official in charge of the Ministry of Works. When Emperor Wu personally ruled, he appointed Wei Xuan as the Chief Secretary of Yizhou, rewarding him with a belt studded with thousands of gems. He gradually rose through the ranks to become a Governor, a Grand Master of the Palace, responsible for internal affairs, and also served as the Intendant of Jingzhao, with people praising his strong abilities. During the reign of Emperor Xuan, he was dismissed from his position for going against the emperor's wishes.
After Emperor Wen of Sui became Prime Minister, he sent Wei Xuan to handle affairs in Xiongzhou. Later, when the barbarians in Hezhou rebelled, Wei Xuan was appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the expedition and successfully quelled the rebellion. After Emperor Wen declared himself emperor, Wei Xuan was promoted to the Governor-General of Huaizhou and enfeoffed as the Duke of Tonggui County, but was later dismissed from office due to certain incidents. Not long after, he was appointed as the Inspector of Lanzhou. During the construction of the Great Wall, the court ordered Wei Xuan to supervise the project. Shortly after, he was appointed as the Governor-General of Shuozhou. Later, he became the Deputy Minister of the Guard. During the reign of Emperor Renzong, the mountainous Liao people rebelled, and Wei Xuan was sent to serve as the Inspector of Zizhou to pacify the rebellion. When Wei Xuan arrived, the Liao people were besieging the town of Dalao. He went to their camp with just one horse and said, "I am the inspector, sent by the emperor to pacify you. Do not be afraid!" The bandits didn't dare to make any rash moves. Wei Xuan talked sense to them and appealed to their feelings, convincing the leaders to withdraw their troops. More than ten thousand people surrendered to the government. Emperor Wen was very pleased and rewarded him with two thousand bolts of silk, appointing him as the Governor-General of Suizhou, responsible for pacifying the Jianan region.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended to the throne, he once again summoned Wei Xuan to serve as the Minister of the Imperial Guards. The tribes and nomads were reluctant to see him leave, with people seeing him off for hundreds of miles. Wei Xuan said to them, "The Emperor has summoned me back, so I cannot linger." He bid farewell to them, and the tribes and nomads wept as they bid him farewell. Over a year later, he was promoted to Minister of Works. Later, he was appointed Prefect of Wei County, while still serving as Minister. The Emperor told him, "Wei County is a famous city and an important strategic location, with many deceitful people among the populace, and that’s why I’m sending you there. Wei County is not far from the capital, so you should return frequently to report to the court." The Emperor rewarded him with five hundred rolls of silk before letting him take office. Not long after, he was appointed as the General of the Right Guard, overseeing the affairs of the Left Guard as well. In the eighth year of Daye, he was promoted to Minister of Justice. During the campaign in Liaodong, he was appointed as the General of the Right Imperial Guards, leading troops through underground tunnels. Many armies suffered defeats at the time, but only Wei Xuan's army managed to retreat unscathed. He was bestowed the title of Grand Master of Splendid Happiness. In the ninth year of Daye, the Emperor personally led an expedition to Liaodong, leaving Wei Xuan and Prince Dai You in charge of the capital. Wei Xuan was appointed as the Intendant of Jingzhao, still holding the position of Minister. The Emperor granted him the authority to take action as he deemed necessary and ordered Prince Dai to treat him with the respect befitting a military commander. When Yang Xuan rebelled and surrounded the Eastern Capital of Luoyang, Wei Wensheng led seventy thousand infantry and cavalry to the rescue. Upon reaching Huayin, he had Yang Su's tomb opened, burned his remains, and leveled his grave, to inspire the soldiers and demonstrate his resolve to fight to the death.
After passing Tongguan, some were worried that there might be an ambush at Mount Xia and Hangu Pass, and suggested they go east along the Yellow River to launch a direct attack on the enemy from behind at Heyang. Wei Wensheng said, "In my view, this strategy is not one that a child could conceive." So, he ordered the army to continue advancing. After smoothly passing through Hangu Pass, as he expected, they did not encounter any ambush. He sent Wubenglao to command Zhang Jun's troops in a feint on the southern road, while he himself led the main force straight to the north of the city.
Yang Xuangang resisted head-on, and both sides clashed while gradually retreating, with Yang Xuangang's army finally stationed at Jingu. In the military camp, Wei Wensheng swept the floor and made offerings to the ancestors, saying, "Minister Wei Wensheng, Minister of Justice and Prefect of Jingzhao, dares to proclaim to the spirit of Emperor Wen of the Gaozu: Since the founding of the royal family, for more than thirty years, military achievements and virtues have gradually spread overseas. Yang Xuangang has betrayed the holy grace, like a snake or scorpion, leading a disorderly crowd to violate our laws. Generations of my family have received imperial favor, devoted themselves to the country, and led the soldiers with the determination to eliminate the rebels. If the spirits of the state protect us, may these traitors be wiped out; if the national fortune has run out, let me die first!" His words were passionate and moving, bringing tears to the eyes of all the soldiers.
At that time, Wei Wensheng's army was outnumbered, and in several battles with the enemy, they were at a disadvantage, with more than half of his troops killed or wounded. Yang Xuangang attacked with all his might, but Wei Wensheng resisted fiercely, causing the enemy to retreat slightly, and Wei Wensheng's army advanced to Beimang. At this time, reinforcements led by Yu Wenshu, Lai Huer, and others arrived, which made Yang Xuangang panic and flee westward. Wei Wensheng sent Hosi Wanshan and Pang Yu to lead the advance guard to pursue, and they joined forces with Yu Wenshu and others in Wanxiang, and together they defeated Yang Xuangang's army.
The emperor arrived in Gaoyang and summoned Wei Wensheng to the temporary palace. The emperor praised him, saying, "You are a pillar of the country! Thanks to you, I have no worries." He then issued a decree stating, "Recently, there has been a rise in rebellious forces, disturbing the Guanzhong and Hedong regions. Wei Wensheng led the soldiers bravely into battle, responded promptly to the call, coordinated both internally and externally, defeated the rebels, and should be promoted and generously rewarded. He is appointed as the Right Minister of Rites." He was also rewarded with fertile land, opulent residences, and a large amount of wealth.
When Wei Wensheng returned to the capital, the emperor said to him, "The defense of the Guanzhong region is entrusted to you. Your safety means the safety of the country; your peril means the country's peril. You must have guards for your comings and goings, be cautious in your actions, and always be vigilant. I am assigning you a thousand soldiers as your personal guards." He also gave him a jade unicorn talisman.
Eleven years later, the emperor decreed that Wei Wensheng should pacify the Guanzhong region. At that time, bandits were rampant, the people were starving, and Wei Wensheng was unable to provide relief. Furthermore, corruption was widespread in the government. Feeling old, Wei Wensheng submitted a formal request for retirement. The emperor sent an official to persuade him, saying, "The capital is the foundation of the country, the cornerstone of the monarchy. The ancestral temples and tombs are all there, and we need loyal ministers like you to stabilize the situation. For the greater good of the country, I cannot grant your request, so I have sent this official to explain my intentions to you." Wei Wensheng then withdrew his request.
Later, when the rebel army entered Guanzhong, Wei Wensheng knew he was unable to defend it. He was filled with worry and fear, feigned illness to avoid court, and became indifferent to political affairs. After the city fell, he returned home. He passed away during the Yining era at the age of seventy-seven.
Liu Quan, courtesy name Shilue, was from Feng County in Pengcheng. His grandfather, Liu Gui, served as the Governor of Luo Prefecture under the state of Qi. When Liu Quan was young, he was very chivalrous, was known for keeping his word and his righteousness, sheltered fugitives, and even officials dared not approach his home. Later, he changed his demeanor, applied himself to his studies, and followed the rules. He started as the Chief Clerk in the Qi state and rose to the positions of Imperial Attendant and Court Official. After the fall of Qi, Emperor Wu of Zhou appointed him as the Acting Governor of Huai Prefecture. After Emperor Yang Jian of Sui declared himself emperor, he appointed Liu Quan as the General of Chariots and Cavalry, in charge of local troops. He later followed Prince Jin Yang Guang in pacifying the Chen dynasty, and was granted the title of Household Secretary and was rewarded with three thousand bolts of cloth for his achievements. Duke He Ruobi of Song held him in high regard. In the twelfth year of Kaihuang, he was appointed as the Governor of Suzhou and granted the title of Duke of Zongcheng County. At that time, Jiangnan had just been pacified, and the people's sentiments were still unsettled. Liu Quan used kindness and trustworthiness to win over the people, winning their hearts.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, he was appointed as the Minister of Defense, and later promoted to the Grand Master of Radiant Splendor. In the fifth year of Daye, he followed Emperor Yang in the campaign against the Tuyuhun. Liu Quan led his troops from Yiwu Road, encountered the Tuyuhun army, and defeated them. He pursued them all the way to Qinghai, captured over a thousand people, and captured the city of Fusi. Emperor Yang then ordered Liu Quan to pass through Mantou and Chishui, establish He Yuan County and Jishi Town, and extensively cultivate farmland, leaving him to guard the western border. He stayed on the frontier for five years; all tribes submitted to him and paid tribute annually, and the remnants of Tuyuhun fled far, and the roads remained clear. Afterwards, he was recalled to the court, appointed as the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, and later promoted to the Grand Master of Golden and Purple.
On his way to the South China Sea, he arrived at Poyang, where he encountered a local uprising of bandits and was unable to move forward. The court ordered him to gather troops to deal with the uprising. Liu Quan led his troops to meet the bandits, but instead of engaging in direct combat, he first went alone in a small boat to the bandit camp, talking sense into them and appealing to their feelings, explaining why surrendering was in their best interest. The bandits were touched by his words and started surrendering one after another. Emperor Yang of Sui was really impressed when he heard about this. After arriving in the South China Sea, Liu Quan put into place a lot of good policies. Several years later, when another group of bandits attacked the county city, many local strongmen were eager to make Liu Quan their leader, but he stood his ground and fought off the bandits. His son, Liu Shiche, sent him a secret letter, urging him to take action amidst the chaos and the rise of heroes. Liu Quan summoned his subordinates and had the messenger killed right then and there, without a second thought, and held out until the end. He was seventy years old at the time of his death. His son, Liu Xiaoze, served as an Attendant Officer and Assistant Officer in the Ministry of War, but he passed away at a young age.
Speaking of Shiche, he was known for his carefree and rebellious spirit, which was quite popular at the time. During the chaos of the Sui Dynasty, wherever Shiche showed up, people were wary of him, and he got arrested and locked up several times, eventually being killed by Xu Yuanlang, the bandit leader of Yanzhou.
Ah, what a shame. Now let’s talk about Quan Congfu, known as Zijiang, who was quite the looker and had impressive leadership skills, working his way up to the rank of Eagle-Raising Gentleman. His son, Dewei, was also quite a notable character.
What do the historical records say? The original text is: "Zigai is refined and capable, with a serious and perceptive disposition, courageous in upholding justice, decisive in critical moments, preserving the city, and truly diligent and outstanding!" It means that this young man indeed has abilities, is upright and astute, has a sense of justice, is decisive in critical moments, preserved the city, and is truly diligent and outstanding! Also, when Yang Liang revolted, Shi Xiang single-handedly achieved victory; various bandit groups created turmoil, and loyal officials secured three consecutive victories. These individuals were renowned at the time, and their reputation has been passed down to this day. When Yuan Shou presented his report, he also aimed to uphold social order. However, in terms of merits and rewards, he was far inferior to the loyal officials. Awarding him a high position and generous salary was already quite favorable! Wen Sheng successfully lifted the siege of the Eastern Capital, which is a notable achievement. However, when he served as a garrison commander in the Western Capital, he ascended to power through bribery, which was quite despicable and hardly worth mentioning! Finally, let's discuss Liu Quan, part of an established family from the Huai and Chu regions, who has been well-known for a long time. During the chaos in the world, he was in the place of Wei Tuo and successfully withstood temptation, did not entertain thoughts of rebellion, even though he did not actively rally to the king's side, he remained a loyal and principled minister!
