Yang Yi, styled Wenshu, was from Huayin, Hongnong. His grandfather, Yang Jun, served as the Minister of Works (Sikong) in the Wei Kingdom, and his father, Yang Jian, served as the Attendant of the Palace. Yang Yi was handsome, composed, and possessed great leadership abilities. Since childhood, he excelled in his studies, capable of reciting over a thousand characters each day, impressing everyone around him. At the age of nine, his father passed away, which caused him such deep sorrow that he nearly lost his own life. After the mourning period, he declined all celebrations and condolences, choosing instead to seclude himself and focus on his studies. Over the years, he read a vast amount of books.
During the reign of Emperor Min of Zhou, he was appointed as the Prefect of Ningdu, gaining remarkable achievements and a stellar reputation. The court also granted him the title of Count of Changle County. Due to his numerous military accomplishments, he was later promoted to the rank of Marquis. When Gaozu became the Prime Minister, he sent Yang Yi to handle affairs in Jizhou. After Gaozu ascended the throne, Yang Yi was appointed as the Assistant Minister of the Imperial Clan, with the authority to open his own office. When Prince Xiu was stationed in Yizhou, the court meticulously selected officials to oversee government affairs, and given Yang Yi's integrity, he was appointed as the Chief Secretary of Yizhou, and was rewarded with two hundred thousand coins, three hundred bolts of silk, and fifty horses. Shortly after, he was promoted to the Minister of War of the Southwest Circuit. Years later, he returned to his position as Assistant Minister of the Imperial Clan. Not long after, he was further promoted to the Minister of Justice. Over a year later, he was appointed as the Prefect of Wuzhou, achieving exceptional success and a remarkable reputation. At that time, Prince Guang was stationed in Yangzhou, and the court directed Yang Yi to meet with him once a year to discuss and critique each other's shortcomings. Several years later, Yang Yi passed away at the age of sixty-two years. His son was named Yang Qianxun.
Su Xiaoci was from Fufeng. His father, Su Wuzhou, was the governor of Yanzhou during the Western Wei dynasty. Su Xiaoci was young, composed, and steady, very capable, and also very good-looking. In the early Western Wei period, he served as a senior court attendant. Later, he was appointed as a commander, sent to the Qi country, and due to his effective performance, he was promoted to Grand General. In the same year, he was sent to Qi country again, and upon his return, he was appointed as a senior official responsible for communications. Later, he followed Emperor Wu to campaign against the Qi country, and due to his military achievements, he was granted the title of Kaifu and was titled the Duke of Wenan County, with a fief comprising 1,500 households. Shortly after, he was subsequently titled the Duke of Linshui County, with his fief increased to 2,700 households, and later he was promoted several times, eventually rising to the position of Senior Official in the Ministry of Works.
After the abdication of Emperor Gaozu, he was titled the Duke of Anping Commandery and also served as the Minister of the Imperial Household. At that time, the country had just been established, with many tasks awaiting attention, and the Emperor gathered skilled craftsmen from all over the country, gathering various skilled techniques. Xiaoci was tasked with coordinating this effort, and everyone recognized his ability. Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to Grand Minister of Agriculture, and over a year later, he was promoted to Minister of War, with his status and benefits continually improving.
At that time, Crown Prince Yong was well-versed in court affairs, and the Emperor wanted to elevate the status of palace officials, resulting in many ministers being appointed to key positions within the palace. Therefore, Xiaoci was appointed as the Right Guardian of the Crown Prince while retaining his position as Minister of War. The following year, the Emperor established the Changping Granary in Shaanzhou, responsible for transporting grain to the capital. Due to numerous sandbars in the Wei River and fluctuating water levels, transportation proved to be quite challenging, so the Emperor decided to dig a canal from the Wei River to the Yellow River and tasked Xiaoci with overseeing this project. Upon completion of the project, the Emperor expressed great satisfaction. He was subsequently appointed as the Right Chamberlain to the Crown Prince, later promoted to Left Guardian, while concurrently serving as Minister of Works and Minister of Civil Affairs, managing numerous important affairs.
Years later, he was promoted to Grand General and then appointed as the Minister of Works, while keeping his other roles. Previously, due to insufficient funds allocated to officials, various departments of the court established "Xie Qian" (similar to public funds interest) to cover expenses through the interest. Xiaoci believed that this would hinder the country's development, so he submitted a petition to abolish this practice and suggested that officials be given different grades of official fields. The Emperor accepted his suggestion. In the eighteenth year of Kaihuang, the Emperor decided to remove the Crown Prince, so he sent him to Xizhou as a governor since the Crown Prince was still in the Eastern Palace. The Crown Prince was very unhappy because of Xiaoci's departure, which was evident. It can be seen how much the Emperor valued Xiaoci at that time!
During the Ren Shou period, he was transferred to Hongzhou as a governor, with also notable political achievements. Later, the Shanyue people in Guilin banded together to revolt. The Emperor appointed Xiaoci as the commander to quell the uprising. That year, he died in office. He had a son, Huichang.
Sha Luo, styled Zi Cui, was the son of the governor of Meizhou in the Zhou Dynasty. Sha Luo began his career as a commander in the Zhou Dynasty. Later, he followed Wei Xiaokuan and defeated Yu Jiong. He was promoted to the position of General of the Household and was also appointed Duke of Tongqin County. During the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty, Prince Yang Xiu was stationed in Yizhou, and Sha Luo followed him, being appointed governor of Zizhou. In the eighth year of Kaihuang, the Rang Mang Qiang people rose in rebellion, attacking Wenshan and Jinchuan. Sha Luo led his troops to defeat them, and was then promoted to governor of Qiongzhou. After a few years, he became deputy governor of Lizhou. Later, he followed Shi Wansui to fight against the Western Cuan, winning numerous battles, leading to his promotion to Grand General, and was rewarded with many things. Shortly after, he was appointed as the Chief Secretary of the governor of Yizhou.
During this period, the Yuechi leader Wang Feng rebelled, and Sha Luo and Du Wen Zhen worked together to suppress the rebellion. The court rewarded him with over a hundred slaves. Later, the Shu king Yang Xiu was deposed, and someone reported Sha Luo, claiming, "Wang Feng was killed by his own slaves, while Yang Xiu pretended it was his loyal followers who did it. He also mobilized the Shu tribes and allowed those slaves to escape, but Sha Luo covered up the truth." Because of this, Sha Luo was dismissed from his post and later died at home. He had a son named Kang.
Li Xiong, with the courtesy name Pi Lu, was from Gaoyi in Zhao Commandery. His grandfather was a Grand Master of Palace Attendants in the Wei Dynasty, and his father was the Inspector of Shan Prefecture in the Qi Dynasty. Later, when the Qi Dynasty was overthrown by the Zhou Dynasty, Li Xiong followed the army into Chang'an. Li Xiong was ambitious from a young age. His family had a long tradition of scholarship, but he was more interested in horseback riding and archery. His nephew urged him, "You shouldn't give up studying and practicing martial arts; that's not what a scholar-official does!" Li Xiong replied, "I believe that throughout history, loyal officials who want to succeed in their careers need to excel in both civil and martial skills. While my abilities are limited, I've read some history books, but I don’t strictly follow everything they say. With both studying and martial arts under my belt, what’s there to worry about, brother?" His brother was left speechless.
When Emperor Zhou was in power, this general started out as a low-ranking official but was later promoted to General of the Assistant. He followed General Daxi Wu to suppress the rebellion in Hanzhong, then quelled the uprising in Xingzhou, and later defeated the rebellious Hu tribes in Fenzhou. Due to these military achievements, he was promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry and was awarded the honorary title of Yitong Sanqi, equivalent to "Equal to Three Officials." Later, when Emperor Min ascended the throne, this general was further promoted and ennobled with the title of duke, and was reassigned to the Xiaobin Department. He then accompanied General Daxi Wu to Mang Mountain to fight against the people of the Qi Kingdom, and while other armies faced defeat, his troops returned unscathed.
During the reign of Emperor Wu, he followed Prince Chen to meet the Queen Mother in Turkic, was further ennobled with the title of Xibo, and was appointed as the Inspector of Xiazhou. After a few years, he was recalled to court and appointed as a Senior Official in the Capital Prefecture. Shortly after, he was sent to Liangzhou as the Chief Administrator. Later, he followed Prince Teng to Qinghai and defeated the Tuyuhun and earned the honorary title of Yitong for his achievements. When Emperor Xuan ascended the throne, he joined Commander Wei Xiaokuan in suppressing the rebellion in Huainan. Remarkably, with just a few hundred light cavalry, he reached Heshe, persuaded more than a dozen cities to surrender all at once, and was subsequently appointed as the Inspector of Haozhou.
After the founding emperor took control of the government, he summoned him back to the court and appointed him as a minister. Due to his military achievements in Huainan, his official position was raised by one level, becoming a Shang Kaifu. After the founding emperor ascended the throne, he was appointed as the Minister of Rites and also granted the title of Duke of Gaodu County, with a fief of two thousand households. After a few years, Prince Jin Guang was dispatched to defend Bingzhou, and this general was appointed as the Minister of War of the Hebei Commandery. The founding emperor said to him, "My son is still young and inexperienced, while you are talented in both civil and military affairs. I entrust you with this important task, so I can rest easy about the north." The general quickly bowed deeply in gratitude, saying, "Your Majesty, you do not despise my lack of ability and have entrusted me with such an important task. I may be foolish, but I'm not heartless. I will surely repay your kindness with all my heart and effort!" As he spoke, he was moved to tears. The emperor comforted him before letting him leave. During his time in office, he was known for his integrity and incorruptibility, and Prince Jin held him in great respect, while the people praised him highly. Over a year later, he passed away, and his son Gong Ting inherited his title.
Zhang Juan, known by his courtesy name Shihong, was a native of Mao County in Hejian, Hebei. His father, Zhang Xian, had a great passion for learning when he was young, with a wide range of knowledge, and later became a high-ranking official in the Wei Kingdom. Following Emperor Wu of Wei in battle, he rose through the ranks and eventually became a high-ranking official. Later, Emperor Taizu of Northern Zhou took notice of him, appointing him as a Chamberlain, and granted him the surname of Chiluo. He later served as a minister, the governor of Yongzhou, and the Yitong Sansi, also being titled as Duke of Yuxiang County, a distinguished border official. He later returned to the court, serving as a minister in charge of compiling national history. At that time, most of the officials and ministers of the Zhou Dynasty were former military commanders, but Zhang Xian was highly valued for his profound knowledge. Pretty impressive, huh? In his old age, he retired and returned home to enjoy his retirement.
When the founder of the Sui Dynasty, Emperor Yang Jian, became the emperor, he highly respected the highly respected Zhang Xian and specially wrote a letter asking him to come out and help. In the letter, he wrote: "I have just unified the realm and am eager to govern it well. I have always missed you, such a revered elder! When you held the position of Yitong Sansi during the Zhou Dynasty, your virtues and achievements were well-known. Even though you are retired, you remain vigorous. You should return to court to assist me in fulfilling my ambitions." When Zhang Xian went to see Yang Jian, Yang Jian specifically instructed that he should not bow deeply, personally helped him up to the hall, and sat with him, chatting for a long time, and even presented him with a cane and a seat.
Later, when the Sui Dynasty was to move its capital to Longshou, Zhang Xian advised Yang Jian to practice frugality. Yang Jian specially wrote a decree in response to him, demonstrating his respect for Zhang Xian. Shortly thereafter, Zhang Xian passed away at the age of eighty-four. After his death, the court posthumously granted him the title of governor of Cangzhou and conferred upon him the posthumous title of "Ding." He also authored commentaries on the "Laozi" and "Zhuangzi," entitled "Daoyan," comprising fifty-two essays.
Mr. Jiong, a lifelong learner from a young age, fully embodied his father's exemplary qualities. He served in the Wei Dynasty, starting as a court attendant and later being promoted to attendant officer. Emperor Zhou recognized his talent and appointed him as the commander of the foreign military department. Under the reigns of Emperor Ming and Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou, he successively held the positions of grand master of the shan department and recorder of the prime minister's office, and was granted the title of Xian of Beiping County, with a fief comprising four hundred households. During Emperor Xuan's reign, he was further appointed as Yitong, and his title was elevated to Earl.
After Gaozu became the Chancellor, Mr. Jiong took the initiative to forge a strong bond with him. Gaozu also thought highly of him and bestowed upon Mr. Jiong the title of Right Chancellor. Shortly after, he was promoted to the position of Junior Minister of the Imperial Household and also served as the Deputy Supervisor of New Capital Construction. Later, when his father passed away, he resigned from his position to observe mourning at home, expressing profound grief. After the mourning period, the court offered him a chance to return to his position, but he firmly declined. Eventually, the court bestowed upon him the title of Grand Household General, along with the inheritance of the title of County Duke of Yuxiang, with his fief increased to 1,500 households. Subsequently, he was promoted to the Minister of the Imperial Family and finally reached the high position of Minister of Civil Affairs.
Later, Prince Jin Guang was appointed as the Governor-General of Yangzhou, and Mr. Jiong was appointed as his Marshal, with the additional title of Grand Master with the Silver Seal. Mr. Jiong was renowned for his gentle and kind nature, insight, and foresight, and he had a good reputation at the time. He was later appointed as the Inspector of Jizhou, and Prince Jin Guang repeatedly petitioned the court to have him return. As a result, he once again served as the Chief Historian of Prince Jin, overseeing the affairs of Jiangzhou. When Prince Jin became the Crown Prince, Mr. Jiong was appointed as the Inspector of Jizhou once again, with his rank raised to Upper Prefect, deeply beloved by the people, who hailed him as an exceptional second-rank official. He passed away in the fourth year of the Renshou era at the age of seventy-four. His son, Huibao, eventually rose to the position of Magistrate of Jiang County.
During the Kaihuang era, there was a man named Liu Ren'en, his origins were unclear, but he was generous and talented in both civil and military affairs. He initially served as the Prefect of Maozhou, and his achievements were among the best in the country. He was later promoted to the position of Minister of Punishments. He also served as the military commander under Yang Su in the campaign against the Chen dynasty. In the Battle of Jingmen, he and Yang Su together defeated the Chen general Lv Zhongsu. Liu Ren'en's strategies were crucial, and he was subsequently appointed as the Grand General, gaining great fame at that time. Guo Jun of Fengyi and Feng Shiji of Shangdang, both intelligent and strategic, successively held the position of Minister of War. Dai Ren from She Di was generous and magnanimous, rising to the position of Minister of Civil Affairs. These four individuals were all quite renowned at the time, but their specific achievements are not well-documented in historical texts.
Historical records mention that the two Zhao scholars were quite familiar with historical allusions, and everyone praised their abilities. However, once they rose to high positions, they didn't accomplish anything remarkable. This illustrates that everyone's talents and capabilities have their limits, and one can only be effective when the scale is appropriate, without forcing it.
Changsun Ping suggested pardoning those accused of defamation, which was a commendable act! Emperor Gaozu was pleased by this suggestion and implemented it, yielding significant benefits. Yuan Hui was renowned for his quick wit and intelligence, Wei Shi was known for his integrity and honesty, Yang Shangxi and Yang Yi were both elite members of the royal family, with distinguished reputations and high status. Su Xiaoci, Li Xiong, and Zhang Jing were recognized for their integrity and efficiency, whether in the court or in the local government. They all held important positions in the early years of the Kaihuang era, representing the finest talents of that era!
