Xue Zhou, courtesy name Shaoxuan, was born in Fenyin, located in the Hedong region of Shanxi. His father, Xue Duan, once served as an administrative official in Caizhou during the Zhou Dynasty. Xue Zhou was exceptionally intelligent from a young age, able to grasp the meaning of any book he read with remarkable speed. He often lamented that those who wrote commentaries often missed the deeper meanings of the sages, so he would explain it himself, which earned him praise from many scholars. He had a bold personality, grand ambitions, and was determined to make a name for himself.
During the reign of Emperor Ming of the Zhou Dynasty, Xue Zhou inherited the title of Marquis of Wencheng County. He was later promoted to the position of Shang Yitong (a high-ranking official), then appointed as the Minister of Finance, and later granted the title of Kaifu. After Emperor Yang Jian of the Sui Dynasty proclaimed himself emperor, he promoted Xue Zhou to be the governor of Luzhou, and before he could take office, he was temporarily appointed to handle the affairs of Luzhou. Shortly after, he was appointed as the governor of Yanzhou. Upon taking office, there were hundreds of prisoners in the prison, but Xue Zhou reviewed all the cases in just over ten days, effectively clearing the prison.
There was a man from Chen Prefecture named Xiang Daoli, who pretended to be the Prefect of Gaoping County, preparing to take up his post. Xue Zhou met him on the road and sensed something was off, wanting to hold him for questioning. However, his advisor, Sima Wang Junfu, strongly advised against it, and Xue Zhou agreed to let him go to the county. Later, Xue Zhou had second thoughts and immediately sent his registrar to arrest Xiang Daoli. A man named Xu Juluo had previously served as the Prefect of Hailing County and had been impersonated by Xiang Daoli. When Xu Juluo's term ended, neither the officials nor the people noticed anything amiss. Xu Juluo said to Wang Junfu, "Xiang Daoli impersonated me as the Prefect, how can you suspect me?" Wang Junfu relayed Xu Juluo's words to Xue Zhou and urged him once more. Xue Zhou scolded Wang Junfu, saying, "I've looked into it, and this guy is a fraud! You are sheltering crooks, and you will be punished together!" Wang Junfu then stopped talking. So Xue Zhou went to arrest Xiang Daoli, who, frightened, confessed to his crimes. The cases he cracked were all similar, and people back then said he was like a god.
Previously, the Yishui and Sishui Rivers east of Yanzhou City converged and flowed south, frequently flooding. Xue Zhou organized workers to pile stones and build dams along the river, diverting the river westward and turning the original marshland into fertile fields. He also built a water transport channel, making transportation easier in the Huaihai region, benefiting the people, and this canal became known as the "Xue Gong Fengyan Canal." Once peace was restored, Emperor Wen of Sui planned to hold the Fengshan Ceremony to showcase the achievements of the emperor, and even sent scholars to Taishan to explore historical sites and compile the "Fengshan Map" and related ceremonies. Emperor Gaozu humbly declined. Later, Xue Zhou was transferred to the post of Inspector of Yingzhou, with impressive accomplishments throughout. The court summoned him to serve as the Minister of Weiwei, and soon after, he was appointed Minister of Justice, where he balanced strictness with leniency in enforcing the law, earning a solid reputation. He was later promoted to the Minister of Justice.
At that time, the Left Chancellor Gao Jiong was ostracized by some people. After Wang Shiji was killed, Gao Jiong was suspected of being involved, and the emperor wanted to punish him. Xue Zhou defended Gao Jiong and vindicated him. This infuriated the emperor, and Xue Zhou was imprisoned for a considerable time before his eventual release. Later, Xue Zhou became the magistrate of Xiangzhou and achieved significant accomplishments in governance. Prince Han Yang Liang rebelled in Bingzhou and sent the pretender general Qi Liang to attack from the east, approaching Cizhou. The governor of Cizhou, Shangguan Zheng, asked Xue Zhou for help. Xue Zhou feared Yang Liang's forces and hesitated to take action, so Qi Liang attacked Xue Zhou. Xue Zhou sought to devise a strategy to repel Qi Liang, so he sent his relative Lu Shifan to persuade Qi Liang, saying, "Major events in the world are hard to foresee. As a courtier, whether to stay or leave depends on the situation. Why must we fight?" Qi Liang then withdrew his troops and went to attack Liyang. Later, Qi Liang was defeated by Shi Xiang and surrendered to Xue Zhou in Xiangzhou. The court suspected Xue Zhou of disloyalty and subjected him to interrogation at the Dali Temple. The officials and people of Xiangzhou were grateful to Xue Zhou, and hundreds traveled to the capital to intercede on his behalf, but ultimately, Xue Zhou was dismissed and exiled to Lingnan, where he fell ill and died during the journey. His sons, Xue Jun and Xue Xian, also gained recognition.
Yuwen Bi, styled Gongfu, was a native of Luoyang, Henan. His ancestors were of the same lineage as the royal family of the Zhou Dynasty. His grandfather, Yuwen Zhi, served as the Governor of Julu in the Wei Kingdom; his father, Yuwen Zhen, was the Governor of Dangzhou in the Zhou Dynasty. Yuwen Bi was generous, principled, knowledgeable, and rose to the rank of a senior official in the Ministry of Rites during the Zhou Dynasty. He was once sent on a mission to the Dengzhi State, as well as the Qiang tribal areas of Heishui and Longheng, where over thirty tribes surrendered to him. Upon his return, he was ordered to revise the "Five Rites." After completing the manuscript and submitting it, the Emperor rewarded him with twelve fields of land and one hundred shi of grain. He later was promoted to the Ministry of Personnel, where he appointed eight individuals as county magistrates, all of whom later achieved remarkable success. He was known for his ability to judge people. He was later promoted to the rank of a senior official in the Ministry of the Interior.
Emperor Wu was preparing to attack the Qi State at Heyang and consulted with his ministers for strategies. Yuwen Bi suggested, "The Qi State has been established for many generations, and although their rule is weak, they still have talented individuals. When using military force, it is crucial to choose the right location. Heyang is a strategic location where the elite troops of the Qi State are gathered, and a full-scale attack may be difficult to succeed. In my opinion, the bend in the Fenshui River, with its small mountains and plains, would be easier to attack. There is no better place to engage in warfare than there. I hope Your Majesty will consider this carefully." Emperor Wu did not adopt his suggestion, and the military campaign was unsuccessful. In the fifth year of Jiande, a large-scale attack on the Qi State was launched, ultimately following Yuwen Bi's strategy. Yuwen Bi then recruited hundreds of brave youths from the Guanzhong region to form an elite task force and accompanied the Emperor in attacking Jinzhou. Despite being hit by three arrows, he continued to fight bravely, winning the Emperor's admiration and praise. He later helped the Emperor pacify the Qi State and was ennobled as the Duke of Wuwei, with a fief that included fifteen hundred households, rewards of fifteen hundred bolts of cloth, a hundred and fifty slaves, and over a thousand head of cattle, sheep, and horses. He subsequently served as the Governor-General of Sizhou.
After Emperor Xuan ascended to the throne, Yuwen Bi was appointed as the Left Minister of the Imperial Ancestral Temple. At that time, the Turkic forces invaded Ganzzhou, and the Emperor ordered Hou Mochen Chang to lead the troops in a campaign, with Yuwen Bi serving as the military inspector. He said to Hou Mochen Chang, "The Turkic army strikes as swiftly as an arrow released from a bow, and retreats as quickly as a snapped bowstring. It is difficult to catch up with them if we want to pursue. We should select elite cavalry and head directly west of Qilian Mountain. If the enemy retreats, they will definitely pass through the area north of Liaoquan, where the terrain is rugged and low-lying, and damp. They will take about three days to get through, so if we take our time pursuing them, we will surely catch up. This way, they will be exhausted while we are full of energy, and we will definitely defeat them. Setting an ambush on this route would be the best strategy." Hou Mochen Chang did not listen to him and launched an attack on Heli Mountain to the west. The army moved slowly, and the Turkic forces had already slipped past the border. That year, Yuwen Bi led troops to attack Shouyang with Liang Shiyi, and was later granted the title of Duke of Anle County, with an increase of six hundred households under his jurisdiction, six hundred pieces of cloth, as well as slaves and horses. He was appointed governor of Huizhou, and was soon transferred to governor of Nansizhou. Later, Sima Xiaonan defected to the Chen State, and Yuwen Bi could not catch up. He engaged in battle with the Chen State general Fan Yi at Zhangkou, winning three victories from morning until noon, capturing three thousand enemy soldiers. He was appointed governor of Huangzhou, and was soon transferred to governor of Nandingzhou.
In the early years of the Kaihuang reign, due to his past achievements, he was titled as the Duke of Pingchang, with an increase of 1,200 households under his jurisdiction, and entered the court as the Right Minister of Personnel. At that time, the Western Qiang surrendered, and the court ordered Yuwen Bi to pacify them, establishing the Yanzhe and Puchang counties before returning. He was promoted to the Left Minister of Personnel, known for his integrity in government circles and respected by all officials. Three years later, when the Turks invaded Ganzhou, he followed the Marshal Dou Rongding as the military commander to defeat them. Upon his return, he was appointed as the Junior Minister of the Imperial Stables and later transferred to the Ministry of Personnel. During the campaign against the Chen kingdom, Yang Su led troops to attack from Xinzhou, and the court ordered Yuwen Bi to lead the various armies and serve as the overall military commander. In the battle where Liu Ren'en defeated the Chen general Lv Zhongsu, Yuwen Bi also offered many strategic insights. He was granted the title of Kaifu and promoted to the Minister of Punishments, while also being appointed as the Chief of Staff to the Crown Prince.
The Emperor personally participated in the sacrificial ceremony, and Yuwen Bi and the scholars discussed together. His words were clear and profound, and onlookers were all focused on them. The Emperor was very pleased and told his attendants, "Now I see the rituals established by Duke Zhou, and hear the teachings on filial piety by Confucius, which truly delights me." He then rewarded everyone, with rewards of varying amounts. At that time, the court considered Jinyang as an important military stronghold, and the Governor of Bingzhou must be a royal relative, with the Chief Clerk and Marshal also being high-ranking officials. After the previous Chief Clerk Wang Shao passed away, Yuwen Bi, well-versed in both civil and military affairs, was appointed as the Chief Clerk of Bingzhou. Shortly after, he resigned due to his father's death, but was soon reinstated by an imperial decree. In the eighteenth year, during the campaign in Liaodong Province, he was appointed as the Marshal of the Prince of Han's Mansion, while still serving as the overall military commander. After the war ended, he successively served as the Governor of Shuozhou, Daizhou, and Wuzhou, achieving notable success in governance.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, he summoned him to take up the position of Minister of Justice and was tasked with inspecting Hebei. Upon his return, he was appointed Governor of Quanzhou. Over a year later, he once again served as the Minister of Justice and shortly thereafter transferred to Minister of Rites. Yuwen Bi, due to his exceptional talents, held prominent positions and earned high esteem. People spoke highly of him, while the Emperor grew increasingly wary. At that time, the Emperor was increasingly fond of indulging in extravagant pleasures and military campaigns. Yuwen Bi said to Gao Feng, "Isn't the current situation quite similar to that of the Zhou Dynasty, where the emperor's indulgence in pleasure and military expeditions led to the country's downfall?" He also said, "The battle at the Great Wall is fortunate not to be an urgent task." These remarks were reported to the Emperor, who ultimately had him executed at the age of sixty-two. People throughout the realm believed he had been wronged. He composed over two hundred thousand words of prose and poetry, and his commentaries on the "Book of Documents" and the "Classic of Filial Piety" were widely circulated at that time. He was survived by two sons, Yuwen Jian and Yuwen Yuan.
Zhang Heng, styled Jianping, was from Henei. His grandfather, Zhang Yi, served as the governor of Heyang during the Wei Kingdom; his father, Zhang Guang, served as the Inspector of Wanzhou during the Zhou Dynasty. Zhang Heng was ambitious from a young age, and he was known for his honesty and resoluteness. At the age of fifteen, he went to the Imperial Academy to study, where he studied hard and earned the respect of his classmates. When Emperor Wu of the Zhou Dynasty was mourning the death of the Empress Dowager and went hunting with his entourage, Zhang Heng, wearing mourning clothes in the blazing sun, blocked the emperor's horse and earnestly offered his advice. The emperor appreciated his boldness and rewarded him with a set of clothes and a horse, appointing him as the reader for the Prince of Han. Later, Zhang Heng studied the "Three Rites" under Shen Zhong and grasped its core principles. He climbed the ranks to become a high-ranking official. When Emperor Gaozu ascended to the throne, Zhang Heng was appointed as the Minister of Gates. When Prince Yang Guang was appointed Governor of Hebei, Zhang Heng held positions in both the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Revenue. After the Governor's office was disbanded, he was appointed as an aide in the Bingzhou General Administration. Later, when Yang Guang was reassigned as the Governor of Yangzhou, Zhang Heng followed him as an aide. Yang Guang trusted him immensely, and many of the major strategies for conquering the world came from Zhang Heng. After his mother's death, Zhang Heng stepped down from his position to mourn at home. More than a year later, he was appointed as the Marshal for the Governor of Yangzhou, and the court also granted him three hundred bolts of cloth.
During the Kaihuang period, Li Yinglin of Xizhou rebelled and declared himself the emperor. The court appointed Zhang Heng as the commander-in-chief, leading fifty thousand soldiers to suppress the rebellion. The uprising was quickly quelled. Afterward, Zhang Heng was granted the title of Kaifu, and the court rewarded him with one hundred thirty slaves, five hundred rolls of cloth, as well as a large amount of gold, silver, and livestock. When Yang Guang became the Crown Prince, Zhang Heng was appointed as the Right Chancellor and concurrently served as the Minister of the Imperial Household. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, Zhang Heng continued to serve as the Minister of the Imperial Household and was promoted to the rank of Silver and Blue Grand Minister. Shortly after, he was appointed as the Grand Minister, highly esteemed by the emperor. In the third year of Daye, Emperor Yang of Sui visited Yulin Commandery and passed through Taiyuan on his way back. He told Zhang Heng, "I would like to visit your home as a guest. Prepare yourself to be my host." Zhang Heng hurried back to his hometown in Henan with his family to prepare oxen and wine for the reception. Emperor Yang of Sui crossed the Taihang Mountains and opened a ninety-li direct road to reach Zhang Heng's home. The emperor greatly enjoyed the mountain spring near his house and stayed there for three days. He remarked, "When I followed the late emperor to Mount Tai for sacrifices and passed through Luoyang, I always wanted to come here, but unfortunately, I never had the chance. Today, my wish finally came true." Zhang Heng immediately expressed his gratitude and offered fine wine to toast the emperor's long life. Delighted, the emperor rewarded him with thirty acres of land next to his home, a fine horse, a gold belt, six hundred bolts of silk, a set of clothes, and a set of imperial tableware. Zhang Heng firmly declined, but the emperor insisted, saying, "Wherever the emperor goes, it is considered a blessing. There’s no need to turn it down." Zhang Heng then offered the food he had prepared to the emperor, who ordered it to be distributed to court officials, from high-ranking ministers to palace guards, so that everyone could share in the feast.
Zhang Heng, because he had known Yang Guang since their time at the mansion, received more favor than others, which made him somewhat proud and complacent. The next year, Emperor Yang of Sui visited the Fenyang Palace to host a banquet for officials and specifically rewarded Zhang Heng with five hundred bolts of silk. At that time, Emperor Yang of Sui wanted to expand the Fenyang Palace and had Zhang Heng work with Ji Hong to draft a plan. Zhang Heng seized the opportunity to advise, "In recent years, the labor has been too much, and the people are exhausted. I hope Your Majesty can understand the people's plight and reduce some of the projects." Emperor Yang of Sui was quite displeased. Later, Emperor Yang of Sui said to Zhang Heng in front of his attendants, "Zhang Heng thinks that it was his idea that allowed me to have the world." At this time, Prince Qi Yang Jian fell out of favor with the Emperor, who discreetly sent people to gather evidence against him. Someone falsely accused Yang Jian of breaking the rules, which led to the summoning of the official Yi Que to the Fenyang Palace. It was also revealed that when Emperor Yang of Sui went to Zhuo County and Mount Heng for sacrifices, the people who came to greet him were dressed inappropriately. The Emperor blamed Zhang Heng, saying that as a Ministry of Justice official, he failed to address these issues, so he demoted him to the position of Yulin Prefect. The next year, Emperor Yang of Sui returned to the Fenyang Palace, where Zhang Heng oversaw the construction of Loufan City and took the opportunity to visit the Emperor. The Emperor, seeing that Zhang Heng was still fat, thought he had not shown any remorse, and said to him, "You ought to go back to Yulin!" Zhang Heng then returned to Yulin. Shortly after, he was appointed to oversee the construction of Jiangdu Palace. Someone went to Zhang Heng to report the misdeeds of the palace guards, but Zhang Heng chose not to act on it and instead handed the complaint to the palace guards, who subsequently subjected the whistleblower to severe torture. The Minister of Rites, Yang Xuangang, sent someone to Jiangdu, where the whistleblower told Yang Xuangang about the injustice. Yang Xuangang felt that Zhang Heng’s actions were clearly wrong. When Yang Xuangang met with Zhang Heng, before he could say anything, Zhang Heng said to him, "Xue Daoxing was truly wronged." Yang Xuangang reported this to the court, and the Magistrate of Jiangdu, Wang Shichong, reported multiple instances where Zhang Heng had reduced the resources needed for projects. Emperor Yang of Sui was enraged and ordered Zhang Heng to be escorted to Jiangdu, with the intention of executing him. Eventually, after a long time, he was released, stripped of his office, and sent back to his home to farm. Emperor Yang of Sui also often dispatched trusted agents to keep a close watch on Zhang Heng. In the eighth year of Daye, Emperor Yang of Sui returned from Liaodong to the capital, and Zhang Heng's concubine accused him of harboring grievances against the court and defaming the government. Ultimately, Zhang Heng was sentenced to death in his own home. Before his death, he loudly exclaimed, "What wrongs have I committed in my life that I deserve to die so soon!" The executioners’ aides plugged his ears and urged the executioner to carry out the sentence. In the Yining era, the court later deemed Zhang Heng's death unjust, posthumously granting him the titles of Grand General and Duke of Nanyang County, with the posthumous title of "Loyal," and his son was given the name Zhang Xixuan.
Yang Wang, style name Yuandu, hails from Hongnong Huayin. His great-grandfather Yang Shun moved to Hedong. His father Yang Chen held the position of Yitong Sansi. When Yang Wang became successful, his father was posthumously honored with the title of Duke of Pingxiang County. Yang Wang was quite a handful as a kid; he liked to fight, and anyone he fought couldn't hold their ground. As he grew up, he changed his bad habits, studied diligently, specialized in the "Zuo Zhuan," and also understood the "Three Rites." He initially served as the attendant of Zhou Ji Wang, who held him in high regard and often said, "Attendant Yang's virtue and knowledge are profound; he is my good teacher and friend!" Later, he studied etiquette under Shen Zhong and the "Book of Han" under Liu Zhen, both of whom praised him: "We can't compare to him!" In this way, Yang Wang became famous, and his official position gradually rose; he rose to a senior position in the Xia government.
Later, when Sui Wendi became prime minister, he promoted Yang Wang to oversee military affairs and appointed him as the chief officer of the Imperial Secretariat. After Sui Wendi became emperor, he granted Yang Wang the title of Earl of Pingxiang County and a fief comprising two hundred households. He later served as the Shangshu Si Xun, the attendant of the Ministry of War, and the chief historian of Qinzhou, and everyone recognized his capabilities. He was later promoted to the Shangshu Left Minister but was later dismissed due to an error. He then served as the chief historian of Jingzhou and Luozhou, and after completing his official duties, he would gather students for lectures, and people at that time all praised him. After a few years, Sui Wendi said to the counselor Wang Da, "Help me find a suitable Shangshu Left Minister." Wang Da privately told Yang Wang, "I want to recommend you for the position of Left Minister; if successful, I will give you a good field as a thank you gift." Yang Wang reported Wang Da's words to the emperor, leading to Wang Da's downfall, and Yang Wang was eventually appointed as the Shangshu Left Minister. Yang Wang was well-versed in legal texts and known for his decisive judgment, and everyone at the time regarded him as highly competent.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, Yang Wang was appointed as the Grand Chancellor. On his second day in office, the Emperor decided to personally inspect the prison. At that time, there were over two hundred prisoners detained, and Yang Wang worked overnight to review the cases. The next morning, he reported to the Emperor, providing a comprehensive report on all the cases without any omissions, which greatly pleased the Emperor. A year later, he was appointed as the Chief Scholar of the Imperial Academy. The Emperor ordered all officials to study at the Imperial Academy and engage in scholarly discussions with Yang Wang. Renowned scholars from all over the country gathered there, engaging in intense debates, yet none could counter his arguments. The Emperor had their discussions recorded by the censors and presented to him, which delighted him, and he rewarded Yang Wang with a fine horse. During the Daye era, he was appointed as a Senior Grandee of the Silver Seal. Later, when Yang Xuangan rebelled in Henan, Yang Wang took part in the military campaign led by Pei Hongce to quell the rebellion. After suffering defeat, Pei Hongce returned and whispered something to him. Subsequently, the acting governor, Fan Zigai, assassinated Pei Hongce and reported the matter to Yang Wang. The Emperor grew suspicious of the situation and appointed Yang Wang as the governor of Liangjun.
Later, when Li Mi's army approached the Eastern Capital, his troops repeatedly attacked Liangjun. Yang Wang led the defense and thwarted the enemy's advances on several occasions. After the death of Emperor Yang of Sui, Wang Shichong proclaimed Prince Yue Yang Dong as Emperor and summoned Yang Wang to serve as the Minister of Personnel, placing great trust in him. However, after Wang Shichong was overthrown, Yang Wang was executed for being his associate. Historical accounts note that Lu Kai provided sound advice, Luhou Xi governed the region well during his tenure, Xue Zhou upheld the law fairly, Yu Wenbi had a high reputation, Zhang Heng was known for his integrity, and Yang Wang was proud of his knowledge. However, these individuals could only excel at the outset, and few could persist until the end. Like a mountain built to nine ren, they all collapsed in the end due to a small gap, which is truly a pity!
Loyalty is a commendable virtue. Even loyalty directed at the wrong person may prove ineffective. How can one expect to find the right person while treading a crooked path? As the saying goes: "Don't seek power, or you'll have to face the consequences." Another adage advises: "Avoid trouble and steer clear of chaos." Since Zhang Heng has stirred up the source of trouble, he is essentially the one in power, acting inappropriately. Can he really escape this fate?
