Yuan Xiaojun, a native of Luoyang. His grandfather Yuan Xiuyi and his father Yuan Jun both held the position of Shangshu Pushe in the Wei Kingdom, a significant official position! His family's heritage was remarkable. During the Western Wei period, Yuan Xiaojun inherited the title of Count of Shiping County, and later became the governor of Nanfengzhou. At that time, he realized Yuwen Tai was consolidating power, and the Yuan family's fortunes were waning. He was deeply troubled and often sighed, pondering how to restore the family's former glory. He secretly told his brothers, "In the past, during the Han Dynasty, there was the case of Empress Lü's usurpation of power, but in the end, Marquis Zhu Xu and Marquis Dong Mou preserved the Liu family's rule. Now, everyone can see through Yuwen Tai's intentions; he intends to usurp the throne! We are descendants of the royal family; can we simply stand by and do nothing? We must come up with a plan!" However, his brother intervened, and the matter was left unresolved.
Later, Yuwen Tai arranged for his nephew Yuwen Hu to marry Yuan Xiaojun's sister, and their relationship grew strong. When Emperor Min of Northern Zhou abdicated, Yuwen Hu took control of the government, and Yuan Xiaojun's status rose. Unfortunately, the good fortune was short-lived, as Yuwen Hu was killed, and Yuan Xiaojun was implicated and subsequently exiled to Shu. After a few years, he was summoned back to the capital, appointed as the Governor of Yizhou, and later promoted to the position of Grand Master of Records. Emperor Wen of Sui valued his family lineage and arranged for his daughter to marry Yuan Xiaojun's son, who would later become the Prince of Fangling.
When Emperor Wen of Sui became the chancellor, he promoted Yuan Xiaozhu to be the junior chancellor, made him a pillar of the nation, and also appointed him as the Duke of Xunyang County. At that time, Prince Fangling was stationed in Luoyang. After Emperor Wen of Sui ascended the throne, he named Prince Fangling as the crown prince and sent Yuan Xiaozhu to Luoyang to guard in his stead. Subsequently, Emperor Wen of Sui married his daughter to the crown prince, who was also Yuan Xiaozhu's granddaughter, demonstrating significant favor towards the Yuan family. Not long after, Yuan Xiaozhu was appointed as the governor of Shouzhou, and Emperor Wen of Sui wrote him a letter stating, "The raiders from Yangzhou and Yuezhou always come to harass the border, looting and collecting forced labor with no regard for propriety. You possess great foresight. Now I'm sending you to guard the border, using etiquette to appease them, which is exactly what I desire!" At that time, the generals of the Chen Dynasty and others often came to the north of the Yangtze River to rob, and Emperor Wen of Sui appointed Yuan Xiaozhu as the commander of the army to station troops by the river. After a few years, Yuan Xiaozhu felt that he was old and unable to handle military affairs due to declining health, so he submitted a request for retirement. Emperor Wen of Sui appointed him as the Inspector of Jingzhou and wrote him a letter saying, "I understand your modesty and desire to return home to rest. But you have made great contributions to the country, and I want you to guard the border. Why are you in such a hurry to retire? This is the conduct expected of a gentleman! Since border affairs are busy, go to Jingzhou, prioritize your health, and continue to serve as a good official." Yuan Xiaozhu passed away in Jingzhou after serving there for over a year, at the age of fifty-nine, and was posthumously honored with the title Jian. His son, Yuan Wujie, succeeded him in his title.
The son of Xiaojun's older brother, named Wenyu, I came across this name in "Cheng Jie Zhuan." Xiaojun's younger brother, the second eldest, named Ya, styled Xiaofang, was extremely capable in both civil and military affairs. During the reign of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, he rose through the ranks to become Left Leading General, and also served as Governor of Jizhou and Qinzhou. Finally, he was titled Duke of Shunyang County. His youngest brother, Bao, was renowned.
Yang Bao, since childhood, was very responsible, proficient in horseback riding and archery, displaying an extraordinary demeanor even at a young age. At the age of ten, he became an orphan and was raised by his older brothers. His brothers had a deep bond, and he was especially filial to them. Later, when his brothers decided to separate and live independently, Yang Bao cried and tried to dissuade them, but he was unsuccessful. His family was originally very wealthy, with mountains of gold and silver treasures, but he didn't want any of it. He simply moved out decisively, which became well-known in the area.
As he grew up, Yang Bao was kind-hearted, generous, and open-minded, and he read many books. Later, he became an official and rose through the ranks to hold titles such as Duke, Count of Beiping County, and Governor of Zhaozhou. When Emperor Wen of Sui was prime minister, Yang Bao fought alongside Wei Xiaokuan and achieved great success, earning the title of a pillar of the state, and then was promoted to Duke of Hejian County, with a fief that included two thousand households. In the second year of Kaihuang, he was appointed as the Governor of Anzhou, and a year later was transferred to Yuanzhou as the Governor.
Once, a merchant was robbed by bandits, and the bandits suspected that the people staying at the inn with him were accomplices, so they arrested them. Yang Bao glanced at the man and recognized his innocence, and his explanation was reasonable, so he let him go. The merchant went to the capital and accused Yang Bao of taking a bribe to let the bandits go, and the emperor sent someone to investigate. The messenger asked Yang Bao, "Why did you accept a bribe and let the bandits go?" Yang Bao immediately acknowledged his wrongdoing without offering a defense. The messenger brought Yang Bao to the capital, where he was subsequently dismissed from his position. Later, the bandits were apprehended elsewhere, and the emperor said: "Yang Bao is a respected court official with a high rank. It was indeed wrong for him to accept money and release the bandits, but why would he incriminate himself?" Yang Bao replied: "I was entrusted with a significant responsibility as a provincial official, yet I failed to stop the thieves; that is my first fault. Some individuals in the province were wronged, and instead of handing them over to the judicial authorities, I let them go; that is my second fault. I am overly principled, disregarding my personal reputation and not adhering to formal procedures, which led to suspicion; that is my third fault. I have three faults, what is there left to argue? I never claimed to have accepted a bribe. If the messenger continued his investigation, it would implicate more innocent people and worsen my situation, so I chose to admit it." The emperor was deeply moved and praised him as a wise elder.
In the fourteenth year of the Kaihuang reign, Yang Bao was appointed as the commander-in-chief and stationed on the border. During the Liaodong campaign, he followed the Prince of Han as the commander-in-chief to Liu City and returned. In the early years of the Renshou era, the indigenous tribes and Liao people in Jiazhou revolted, and Yang Bao led twenty thousand infantry and cavalry to quell the rebellion. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, Yang Bao was appointed as the Inspector of Qizhou, and soon after was appointed as the Prefect of Qijun, ensuring peace for the local populace. Later, the Liaodong War broke out, and the officials responsible for overseeing the war in the county were replaced one after another. One of the officials was supposed to go to the front line but feigned illness to avoid going. Yang Bao inquired about the reason, and when the official was unable to provide a valid explanation, Yang Bao struck him with a rod. The official shouted in response, "I will go to the capital to report you!" Yang Bao, enraged, struck him brutally over a hundred times, and a few days later, the official died. As a result, Yang Bao was dismissed from his position and eventually died at home at the age of seventy-three.
Guo Rong, whose courtesy name was Changrong, asserted he was from Taiyuan. His father, Guo Hui, held the position of Sima of Tongzhou during the Northern Wei Dynasty. At that time, Yang Jian (later Emperor Wen of Sui) was just a magistrate, so Guo Rong's father and Yang Jian's father (later Emperor Wen of Sui) had a mutual acquaintance. Later, Guo Hui became the Inspector of Xuanzhou and was conferred the title of Duke of Ancheng. After Yang Jian became emperor, he appointed Guo Hui as the Minister of Works, and a few years later, Guo Hui died. Guo Rong was tall and robust, outwardly rough yet inwardly meticulous, and was well-liked by those who knew him.
During the Zhou Dynasty, the Grand Chancellor Yuwen Hu saw Guo Rong as a cautious and reliable person, so he promoted him to be a military officer in the Water Department of the Central and Foreign Affairs Office. At that time, Northern Qi was constantly at war, so Yuwen Hu sent Guo Rong to gather intelligence on the enemy in Fenzhou. Fenzhou was quite distant from Yao Xiangzhen, and Guo Rong felt that these two places were isolated and were unable to support one another, so he suggested building a city between the two locations to provide mutual assistance. Yuwen Hu agreed. Soon after, the Northern Qi general Duan Xiaoxian broke through Yao Xiangzhen and Fenzhou, but only the city Guo Rong had newly constructed held out. Yuwen Hu constructed a floating bridge and led troops across the river to fight against Duan Xiaoxian. Duan Xiaoxian placed many large rafts upstream to collide with the floating bridge, but Yuwen Hu instructed Guo Rong to lead the naval forces to remove these rafts. Due to his accomplishments, Guo Rong was appointed as the Grand Commander.
Yuwen Hu also faced challenges from the Jiehu people, so he sent Guo Rong to pacify them. Guo Rong built five cities in Shangjun and Yan'an, including Zhouchang, Hongxin, Guangan, Zhaoyuan, and Xianning, blocking the passage of the Jiehu people, who no longer dared to raid freely. Later, Yang Jian became the emperor (Emperor Wen of Sui) and appointed Guo Rong as a Xuan Na Zhongshi. Guo Rong then followed Yang Jian in defeating Northern Qi, and for his military achievements, he was rewarded with twenty horses, six hundred bolts of silk, granted the title of Baron of Pingyang County, and promoted to Grand Master of the Water Department.
When Guo Rong was young, he had a very close bond with Yang Jian. One night, they sat together under the moon and chatted. Yang Jian said to Guo Rong, "I observe the heavens and also see the affairs of the world. The fate of the Zhou Dynasty has come to an end, and it is time for me to take over." Guo Rong remembered Yang Jian's words at that time. After Yang Jian became emperor, he summoned Guo Rong and patted him on the back, laughing, and said, "I was right, wasn't I?" He then made him the official in charge of the Imperial Music Bureau. Not long after, he also appointed him as the Grand Master of the Frontier Affairs. After Yang Jian became emperor, he appointed Guo Rong as an official in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Due to their past relationship, he was granted the title of Duke of Pucheng and his official position was also promoted. Later, Guo Rong was promoted to the Inspector of Tongzhou.
During the Ren Shou period, the Yi and Lao tribes in the southwest rebelled. The court appointed Guo Rong as the general overseeing military affairs in the eight provinces to lead the troops to quell the rebellion. The rebellion was suppressed in just over a year, and the court rewarded him with more than three hundred slaves and maids.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, Guo Rong was appointed General of the Valiant Cavalry due to his reputation for being rigorous and upright. Several years later, the leader of Qian'an, Tian Luoju, instigated unrest in Qingjiang, and the people of Yiling and other counties, along with various minority groups, rallied to the rebellion. The emperor ordered Guo Rong to suppress the rebellion. After successfully quelling the rebellion, Guo Rong was promoted to Left Guard General. Later, he followed the emperor on a western expedition against the Tuyuhun and was appointed as a Grand Master of the Imperial Court. In the battle of Liaodong, in recognition of his outstanding military achievements, he was promoted to Left Grand Master.
In the second year, the emperor planned to campaign in Liaodong again. Guo Rong felt that the country was already worn out, and the emperor should not go on expeditions frequently. So he advised the emperor, saying, "Barbarians are disrespectful, and it is the ministers' duty to handle them. I've heard that powerful crossbows won't be fired at a mere mouse, let alone when Your Majesty personally risks danger to attack a small rebel?" The emperor did not listen to his advice. Guo Rong still followed the army to attack Liaodong City, personally charging into battle, risking arrows and stones, wearing armor day and night for over a hundred days. The emperor often secretly observed the conduct of the generals and saw how loyal and dedicated Guo Rong was. He was very pleased and often comforted and encouraged him.
Nine years later, the emperor arrived in the eastern capital Luoyang and said to Guo Rong, "You are getting old and are not suitable for long-term campaigning on the battlefield. I plan to appoint you as a county magistrate; you can choose one yourself." Guo Rong did not want to leave the emperor, so he kowtowed in gratitude, his refusal was heartfelt and sincere, moving the emperor. Therefore, the emperor appointed him as the Grand General of the Right Guard. A few days later, the emperor said in front of the officials, "People as loyal as Guo Rong are rare!" It was evident how much the emperor trusted him. Later, when Yang Xuan rebelled, the emperor ordered Guo Rong to guard Taiyuan. The following year, Guo Rong accompanied the emperor to Liucheng, fell ill on the way, and the emperor sent people to visit him, with messengers coming one after another. In the end, Guo Rong passed away in Huaiyuan Town at the age of sixty-eight. The emperor declared a day of mourning, posthumously promoted him to Minister of War, bestowed the title "Gong" upon him, and granted him a large amount of cloth and silk. He had a son named Guo Fushan, who later carried on his legacy.
Pang Huang, courtesy name Yuan Xian, is from Yulin. His father, Pang Qiu, was the Grand General of the Cavalry in the Zhou Dynasty. Pang Huang was a well-bred young man from a respectable family. Later, the Governor Du Da recognized his talent and appointed him as the provincial governor. After Zhou Taizu conquered Guanzhong, he appointed Pang Huang as the Grand Commander, allowing him to bring his personal troops to serve at his side. Therefore, Pang Huang moved to Guanzhong. Later, he was promoted to the Grand General of the Cavalry and inherited the title of Marquis of Biyang. When Prince Wei Wenzhao was stationed in Xiangzhou, Pang Huang followed him in his original position. Not long after, he and Grand Duke Yuan Ding attacked Jiangnan together, but they ended up isolated and were killed in battle.
Several years later, Prince Wei Wenzhao sent Pang Huang's younger brother, General of Chariots and Cavalry, Pang Yuanjun, with eight hundred pieces of silk to ransom Pang Huang's body back. It was only then that Pang Huang could return to court. The court appointed him as the Upper Equal of the ceremonial office and granted him two hundred bolts of colorful silk. He continued to serve Prince Wei.
It is said that before Emperor Gaozu served as the governor of Suizhou, when passing by Xiangyang, Prince Wei Li Huang specially went to pay his respects. Li Huang felt that Emperor Gaozu had an extraordinary presence, and they became friends. Later, when Emperor Gaozu resigned and returned to the capital, Li Huang specially welcomed him in Xiangyi. Emperor Gaozu was delighted, and Li Huang said to him, "You have an extraordinary presence; you will definitely become a high-ranking official in the future. I hope you'll remember me when you rise to power!" Emperor Gaozu smiled and said, "Don't talk nonsense!"
After a while, a magnificent wild rooster flew into the courtyard. Emperor Gaozu asked Li Huang to shoot it, saying, "If you hit it, there will be a prize. When I become successful in the future, I will take this as a sign." Li Huang shot it with one arrow, and Emperor Gaozu clapped his hands and laughed, "This must be destiny; if you can hit it, it means you will also prosper with me in the future!" Then Emperor Gaozu gifted two maidservants to Li Huang, and their bond grew even stronger.
Later, during the reign of Emperor Wu, Li Huang became the Governor of Changshan, while Gaozu became the Governor of Dingzhou, and the two often interacted with each other. Not long after, Gaozu was promoted to the Governor of Bozhou. He was in low spirits before his departure. Li Huang advised him, "The regions of Yan and Dai are known for their strong and elite troops. If we rashly go to war now, it will be difficult to control the world!" Gaozu held Li Huang's hand and said, "The time has not come yet." Later, Li Huang was also promoted and became the General of Chariots and Cavalry.
When Gaozu became the Governor of Yangzhou, he requested that Li Huang accompany him. Later, when Gaozu became the Prime Minister, he promoted Li Huang to be the Director of the Imperial Household, in charge of managing affairs on both sides, showing him great favor. After Gaozu ascended to the throne, he said to Li Huang, "The incident of shooting wild chickens has come true, hasn't it?" Li Huang quickly thanked him, saying, "Your Majesty, it is your ability to heed heaven's will and rule the world. You still remember the past events; I am truly delighted!" Gaozu smiled and said, "How could I forget!" He then further elevated Li Huang's rank, appointing him as the General of the Right Guard, granting him a dukedom and an estate of 1,500 households.
During the campaign against the Turks by Prince Li Hong of Hejian, Li Huang served as the Chief Military Officer, and they arrived at Mayi. They also took a different route around Helan Mountain, defeated the enemy, and beheaded over a thousand enemies. Li Huang was known for his strong will, and at that time, Prince Li Xiong of Guangping held great power and influence in the court. Li Huang often opposed him. One time, Li Huang was sleeping in the military camp, and Li Xiong passed by but he did not get up, which angered Li Xiong. Li Huang also had conflicts with Gao Feng, and these two often spoke negatively about Li Huang in front of the Emperor. As a result, Li Huang served as a palace guard for over ten years without advancing in rank. Later, he was reassigned as the Inspector of Huaizhou, and a few years later, he was promoted to the Governor of Yuanzhou. He passed away at the age of seventy-two during the Renshou era. Gaozu mourned his passing, sending three hundred rolls of cloth and three hundred measures of rice, and posthumously bestowed upon him the title "Respectful." His son, Li Changshou, also became famous and rose to the rank of General of the Valiant Cavalry.
Li An, courtesy name Xuande, was a native of Didaoren in Gansu. His father, Li Wei, was the governor of three prefectures, Shuozhou, Yanzhou, and Hengzhou, during the Northern Zhou dynasty, and was also granted the title of Duke of Xiangwu. Li An was handsome and skilled in horseback riding and archery. During the Tianhe reign of the Northern Zhou dynasty, Li An renounced his commoner status and became a Right Senior Officer of the Department of Rites, inheriting his father's title as the Duke of Xiangwu. Shortly after, he was promoted to the position of Minister of Personnel. Later, Emperor Gaozu appointed Li An to work with him, promoting him to a high-ranking official. The Emperor also specifically promoted Li An's brother, Li Che, to the position of Yitong.
Li An's uncle, Li Zhang, who was serving as the governor of Liangzhou at the time, was in the capital city and conspired with the Zhao Prince to harm the Emperor. He also enlisted Li Che as an insider. Li Che told Li An, "If we stay silent, we are disloyal; if we speak out, we are unjust. Without loyalty and righteousness, how can we stand upright in the world?" Li An replied, "The Emperor is like a father to us; how can we betray him?" So, Li An secretly informed the Emperor about the plot. Later, the Zhao Prince and others were killed, and the Emperor wanted to reward Li An with promotions and gifts. Li An quickly bowed in thanks, saying, "My brother and I have done nothing to deserve such a reward. Our entire family is grateful beyond words; we don't know how to repay you. I never expected my uncle to act so foolishly, to be deceived by evil people, which nearly brought our family to ruin. Just the thought of it breaks my heart. Your sparing our entire family is already a tremendous kindness; how can I think about promotions and wealth because of my uncle's actions?" With that, Li An knelt on the ground and wept, overwhelmed by his sorrow.
Gaozu was touched by Li An and said, "For you, I specifically spared Li Zhang's son." He then ordered that only Li Zhang himself be punished. Gaozu also kept this matter secret for Li An and did not make it public. Soon after, Gaozu appointed Li An as a Grand Official and granted him the title of Duke of Zhao. Li Che was also promoted to Yi Tong and was conferred as the Huangtai County Male.
After the founding emperor of the Sui Dynasty ascended the throne, he arranged official positions for the An brothers. The eldest An brother was first appointed as Attendant to the Internal Historian, later promoted to Left Deputy of the Ministry of Personnel and Chamberlain for the Yellow Gates. During the war to pacify the Chen Dynasty, he was appointed as the deputy general under Yang Su and also served as the commander-in-chief, leading the army from Shu down the river. At that time, the Chen army was camped at Baisha. The eldest An brother told the generals, "Water warfare is not the strong point of northerners. Now that the Chen army is relying on the advantageous terrain to dock their ships, they will likely underestimate us and be caught off guard. If we launch a night attack, we can defeat them!" The generals all agreed to his plan. The eldest An brother led the vanguard and achieved a decisive victory over the Chen army.
Emperor Wen of Sui was very pleased and issued a special decree to commend him. The decree read, "The Chen bandits believed they were experts in naval combat, and in the dangerous terrain, they thought that the official army would not dare to attack easily. The troops led by the Grand Official launched a night attack, destroyed the enemy army, captured many enemies, boosted the morale of the official army, struck fear into the enemy, and you have done an excellent job completing the task I assigned you. I was very pleased to hear about it." Afterward, he was promoted to Grand General and also appointed as the Inspector of Yingzhou. A few days later, he was transferred to the Inspector of Dengzhou. The eldest An brother requested a return to court for an internal position, but Emperor Wen greatly valued him and denied his request, instead appointing him as the Left General overseeing both Left and Right forces. Soon after, he was promoted to Right Grand General of the Army and appointed as the Grand Official and General of the Bodyguard. The An brothers both commanded the Imperial Guards, and the emperor held them in very high regard.
Eight years later, the Turks invaded the frontier, and An's elder brother was appointed as the commander to accompany Yang Su on the campaign. An's elder brother chose a different route, departing from Changchuan, where he encountered the Turkish army crossing the river, engaged them in battle, and secured a victory. "**Ten years of peace, followed by ten years of war, and then another ten years of peace, then war again.**" In the first year of the Renshou era, An's elder brother was appointed as the prefect of Ningzhou, and An's younger brother was appointed as the prefect of Weizhou. An's elder brother's son Qiong and An's younger brother's son Wei were raised in the palace from a young age, and it was only at this age, around eight or nine, that they were permitted to return home. It can be seen how attentive the emperor was in caring for the two An brothers.
The Emperor Gaozu once spoke of the sacrifices made by the Li An brothers for the greater good of the nation and issued an edict saying: "The rules established by the former kings are to use righteousness to weigh personal feelings, to sever personal connections, in order to serve the monarch wholeheartedly, thus promoting noble integrity and demonstrating the highest level of justice. In the past, the Zhou Dynasty had reached its end, and the mandate of heaven was about to transfer to our Great Tang. I had just begun my rule, and the foundations of the imperial rule had only just begun, amidst this chaotic era, with a multitude of treacherous villains. Li An, the Grand General, the Governor of Ningzhou, and the Duke of Zhao County, conspired with his uncle Li Zhang to secretly collude with relatives of the royal family, inciting Li An's sons, harboring malicious intentions and plotting treachery, which was on the brink of disaster. Li An and his brother, the Governor of the Yellow Terrace, Li Zhe, both deeply understood what it meant to be loyal to the court and what it meant to be rebellious, and they demonstrated their unwavering loyalty. Li Zhang's conspiracy was exposed, and the criminals were caught. Every time I think of their loyalty and integrity, I am deeply moved and have longed to reward them generously without hesitation. However, this matter involves their relatives, and I still feel some hesitation. I want Li An and the others to follow the rules of propriety and arrive at a fair resolution. I have been considering it repeatedly, which has delayed it for several years. Now that I have carefully reviewed the classics of the sages again and referred to previous cases, the bonds of father and son, filial piety, and loyalty to the emperor cannot coexist harmoniously. Moreover, the emotions between uncles and nephews are lighter than those between father and son, and there is already a hierarchy in etiquette. They were able to forget personal feelings and wholeheartedly serve the country, which aligns with the principles of righteousness. Their merits should be commended, and I hereby issue a decree to reward them generously once more."
Therefore, Li An and Li Jie were appointed as pillars of the state, each rewarded with 5,000 pieces of silk, 100 horses, and 1,000 sheep. Li Jie was also promoted to the rank of General of the Guards and granted the title of Duke of Shunyang. Li An said to his relatives, "Although our family has been preserved, my uncle has suffered misfortune because of this. Now that I have received the imperial decree, I feel both joy and deep guilt." He spoke with tears streaming down his face, unable to hold back his sorrow. He had suffered from swelling before, and now his condition worsened. He passed away shortly after at the age of 53. He was posthumously granted the title Duke Huai, and his son Li Qiong inherited his title. Li An's youngest son, Li Xiaogong, was the most distinguished. Li Jie was later implicated in a scandal and was dismissed from office, exiled to Lingnan, where he died of illness on the way.
Historical records state that Yuwen Qing and his associates were trusted confidants of the emperor, with intimate relationships and deep trust. They enjoyed the emperor's favor, experiencing wealth and prestige, rising and falling with the emperor's fortunes. In the end, they all received high positions and generous rewards, benefiting their descendants. It was truly fortunate! However, Yuwen Xiao grew up in the palace without receiving a proper education. Emperor Yang specially favored him, ignoring all rules and regulations. What kind of future could he possibly expect? Think about it, the founding emperor treated brothers An and Jie the same, but in the end, he had both of his own brothers killed. This is truly a case of sacrificing family for the sake of righteousness, completely different from the stories we usually hear! Although we sympathize with them, what difference does it make to the true historical record?
