Yu Qingze, from Liyang, Shaanxi, has the surname Yu. His ancestors served in the Helian regime, later settling in Lingwu. Through generations, they were famous heroes in the north. His father Yu Xiang was the governor of Lingwu in the Zhou Dynasty. Yu Qingze was brave and bold from a young age, standing eight feet tall, with exceptional courage, and could speak Xianbei. He wore heavy armor, carried two bows and arrows at his waist, and was skilled in archery while riding a horse. He was greatly respected by local warriors. He initially made a living as a hunter but later decided to dedicate himself to his studies, looking up to figures like Fu Jiezhi and Ban Chao. He later became an official, beginning his career as a military officer in the Zhou Dynasty's outer territories, eventually being promoted to General of the Guards and inheriting the title of Count of Qinyuan County. In the first year of the Xuanzheng era, he was appointed as General of the Guards and Chief of Staff of Bingzhou. The following year, he was promoted to the rank of Marquis. During a rebellion by the Jihu tribe, Prince Yue Sheng and Chief Secretary Gao Feng led the troops to suppress the rebellion. When preparing to return to the capital, they needed someone skilled in both civil and military affairs to govern the area, recommending Yu Qingze, who was subsequently appointed as the Governor of Shizhou. He ruled with prestige and kindness, restoring order to the region and gaining the loyalty of over eight thousand households among the Jihu tribe.
In the first year of the Kaihuang era, Yu Qingze was promoted to Grand General and later served as the Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister of Personnel, and Prefect of Jingzhao. He was titled the Duke of Pengcheng County and also served as the director of the construction of the new capital. In the winter of the second year, the Turks invaded, and Yu Qingze was appointed as the Marshal to fight against them. During the battle, some problems arose, and many soldiers suffered frostbite, with over a thousand suffering from frostbite on their fingers. General Daxi Changru led two thousand cavalry to intercept the enemy by taking a shortcut but ended up being surrounded. The situation was dire, but Yu Qingze stayed put in the camp and did not come to their aid. As a result, General Daxi Changru fought alone, and most of his troops were killed. However, the emperor held him blameless. Shortly after, he was promoted to the Deputy Director of the Right of the Imperial Secretariat.
Later, the Turkic leader Shetu sought to submit to the Sui Dynasty and requested a high-ranking official to be sent. The emperor sent Yu Qingze to the Turks. Shetu, initially arrogant due to his power, was reprimanded by Yu Qingze for his previous actions, much to Shetu's displeasure. Yu Qingze's deputy, Zhang Suncheng, persuaded him, and eventually both Shetu and his brother Yehu accepted the Sui Dynasty's decree, pledging their loyalty, presenting tribute, and asking to remain vassals of the Sui Dynasty. Before Yu Qingze's mission, the founding emperor had commanded him, "I want to spare the Turks. When they send tribute horses, you should only accept one-third." Upon meeting Yu Qingze, Shetu presented him with one thousand horses and even married his daughter to him. Because of Yu Qingze's significant contributions, the emperor chose not to pursue these matters. The emperor granted him the title of Senior State Pillar, titled him Duke of Lu, granted him a fief of one thousand households in Rencheng County, and transferred the title of Duke of Pengcheng County to his second son, Yu Yi.
After Emperor Wen of Sui defeated the Chen Dynasty, he happily went to the residence of the Jin Prince and hosted a banquet for his officials. Gao Qiang and the others raised their glasses and toasted to his longevity, to which Emperor Wen of Sui said, "Gao Qiang pacified Jiangnan, and Yu Qing subdued the Turks; these are significant accomplishments!" Yang Su said, "These achievements are all due to Your Majesty's virtue!" Yu Qing also said, "Yang Su fought battles in Wulao and Xieshi; without Your Majesty's virtue, we could not have achieved victory." They began to extol each other's merits. The censor sought to impeach them, but Emperor Wen of Sui said, "Today is a banquet to celebrate achievements; let's refrain from impeachment today." Emperor Wen of Sui observed his ministers feasting and practicing archery, and Yu Qing spoke again, "Your Majesty has graciously provided us with food and drink, allowing us to enjoy ourselves, but the censor is here; I fear that if I drink too much, I may face impeachment." Emperor Wen of Sui then offered the censor some wine and dismissed him. Yu Qing raised his glass in a toast, enjoying the festivities. Emperor Wen of Sui said to everyone, "After we drink this cup of wine, I hope that I and all of your descendants will experience wealth and prosperity for generations." Nine years later, Yu Qing was elevated to General of the Right Imperial Guard, and shortly thereafter was appointed General of the Right Martial Guard.
In the 17th year of the Kaihuang reign, Li Xian from Lingnan rebelled, and Emperor Wen of Sui planned to suppress him. Several generals volunteered for the campaign, but were all rejected. Emperor Wen of Sui looked at Yu Qingze and said, "You are the prime minister, with the title of duke; the country is facing a rebellion, yet you have no desire to go to war. What's going on?" Yu Qingze was alarmed and quickly offered his apologies, and Emperor Wen of Sui then sent him. Yu Qingze was appointed as the commander of the campaign in Guizhou and took his brother-in-law, Zhao Shizhu, along as his chief aide. Zhao Shizhu had a previous affair with Yu Qingze's concubine, and fearing exposure, spread rumors claiming Yu Qingze was reluctant to go to war. This news quickly reached Emperor Wen of Sui. Previously, when ministers set out for war, Emperor Wen of Sui would hold a banquet to send them off and reward them generously. However, when Yu Qingze said his farewells before heading south, Emperor Wen of Sui's expression was not good, which left Yu Qingze feeling discontented and uneasy. After suppressing Li Xian's rebellion and arriving at Lingen Town in Tanzhou, Yu Qingze observed the local terrain and said, "The terrain here is treacherous; as long as there are enough supplies and the defending general is strong, it cannot be conquered." He then sent Zhao Shizhu back to the capital at full gallop to report the situation and observe the emperor's expression. After Zhao Shizhu returned to the capital, he falsely accused Yu Qingze of plotting treason. After an investigation, Yu Qingze was killed. Emperor Wen of Sui appointed Zhao Shizhu as a state pillar. Qingze was a devoted and righteous young man, brave and chivalrous in his youth. Later, he became a trusted advisor to the Prince of Jin, holding the rank of Yitong Sanqi. Unfortunately, he was dismissed from his post due to issues related to his father.
When Yang Guang became emperor, since Qing Ze had previously served as an attendant to Prince Jin, he was assigned the position of Chief of the Imperial Guards and was also in charge of the Jingu Garden, overseeing the royal gardens. Qing Ze was quite resourceful, which Yang Guang admired. In the ninth year, during the campaign against the Liao Kingdom, he was appointed as Chief of Imperial Transport, overseeing logistics, where he made significant contributions. However, he was excessively extravagant, using camels to carry boxes filled with water to raise fish for his own consumption!
Ten years later, someone accused Qing Ze of treasonous intentions, and he was executed by Yang Guang. His younger brother, Chengdao, who was serving as a secretary in the Eastern Palace at the time, was also dismissed because of this incident. "Qing Ze was filial and kind, bold and reckless in his youth, rose to the rank of Yitong, and was trusted by Jin Wang. He was removed from office because of his father's case. Emperor Yang succeeded to the throne, and based on the old mansion, he was appointed as the Chief of the Guards, also in charge of Jingu monitoring, and overseeing the imperial garden. He was quite resourceful and had many clever ideas. In the ninth year, during the war against the Liao, he was appointed as the Chief of the Imperial Transport, with significant achievements. However, he was extravagant, using camels to carry boxes filled with water to raise fish for himself. In the eleventh year, he was accused of treason and subsequently executed. His brother Chengdao, a secretary in the Eastern Palace, was dismissed."
Oh, what a shame! Yuan Zhou, a native of Luoyang, Henan, was the sixth-generation grandson of Emperor Zhaocheng of Wei. His grandfather was the Prince of Puyang in the Wei Kingdom, while his father held the title of Prince of Wuling. From a young age, Yuan Zhou was brave and valiant, skilled in martial arts, and strikingly handsome—definitely not someone to be underestimated. When Prince Xian of Qi from the Zhou Dynasty encountered him, he was greatly impressed and kept him by his side, often taking him on military expeditions. He eventually rose to the rank of Grand General.
When Gaozu was first summoned to the palace for an important duty, he first summoned Yuanzhou, and then Tao Cheng, considering them as trusted aides and often allowing them to stay overnight in the palace. Whenever he entered the palace with troops, he always brought his younger brother Yuanwei to guard with him. When Zhao Wang of the Zhou learned that Gaozu intended to relocate the sacrificial tripod, he invited Gaozu to his mansion as a guest. Zhao Wang led Gaozu into his bedroom, excluding everyone else, with only Yang Hong and the brothers Yuanzhou remaining at the door. Zhao Wang instructed his two sons, Yuan and Guan, "You two bring the melon up later; I will seize the chance to kill him." As the drinking continued, Zhao Wang prepared to strike, taking a knife to stab the melon, eating while looking at Gaozu, ready to attack him. Yuanzhou quickly interjected, "There are still matters in the prime minister's mansion; we cannot stay long." Zhao Wang snapped, "I’m speaking with the prime minister, who do you think you are?" and pushed him away. Yuanzhou, with wide eyes, filled with anger, drew his sword to defend Gaozu. Zhao Wang asked him what his name was, and Yuanzhou replied truthfully. Zhao Wang said, "Aren't you the one who served under Prince Qi? You are truly a hero!" He then offered him wine, saying, "I have no ill intentions; why are you so vigilant?" Zhao Wang feigned nausea, attempting to enter the inner room. Yuanzhou, wary of his tricks, helped him sit at the head seat, repeating this several times. Zhao Wang said his throat was dry and asked Yuanzhou to fetch water from the kitchen, but Yuanzhou did not move. Just then, Prince You of Teng arrived, and Gaozu hurried down the steps to greet him. Yuanzhou whispered urgently to Gaozu, "Something's off; we need to leave now!" Gaozu hadn’t caught on yet, saying, "He has no troops or horses; what can he do?" Yuanzhou said, "His troops and horses are all from his family. If he makes the first move, it’ll be disastrous. I’m not afraid of dying; even if I do, it won’t matter!" Gaozu sat down again. Yuanzhou heard clanking armor from behind the house and quickly said, "There are many matters in the prime minister's mansion; how can you act like this?" He then helped Gaozu get off the bed and quickly left. Zhao Wang tried to pursue them, but Yuanzhou blocked Zhao Wang's way. When Gaozu reached the door, Yuanzhou came from behind. Zhao Wang regretted not taking action sooner, so furious that he bled from biting his fingers. Eventually, Zhao Wang was killed, and Yuanzhou was showered with rewards.
After the founding emperor ascended the throne, Yuan Zhou was promoted to the position of Shang Zhu Guo, granted the title Duke of Wuling, with a fief of 3,000 households. Later, he became the Left Guard General, and shortly after, he was promoted to the Right Guard Grand General. The founding emperor lightly remarked, "Protecting my safety and achieving this foundation, it's all thanks to your efforts, Yuan Zhou!" After a few years, Yuan Zhou was dispatched to Yuzhou as the Inspector, and later served as Inspector of Bozhou and Xizhou. At that time, the Turks often raided the border, and because of Yuan Zhou's reputation, the court appointed him as the Governor of Lingzhou, causing the northern nomadic tribes to fear him. Later, he was recalled to the court and appointed as the Right Guard Grand General, with the emperor trusting and valuing him even more. I recall one occasion on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the emperor and his courtiers climbed a hill to enjoy the moonlight, and Yuan Zhou remained on duty. The emperor urgently summoned him and said, "It's better for you to accompany us rather than stay on duty." They then feasted, and everyone had a wonderful time, with Prince Jin Yang Guang joining in for a toast. When Prince Fangling was deposed, Yuan Zhou played a role in the planning. Later, while the emperor was busy dealing with matters in the Eastern Palace, Left Guard Grand General Yuan Min cautiously advised, but Yang Su secretly slandered him. The emperor was furious and immediately arrested Yuan Min. Yuan Zhou, who remained on duty, reported, "The reason I didn't leave my post was to guard against Yuan Min." This only further enraged the emperor, who ultimately killed Yuan Min and rewarded Yuan Zhou with 1,000 bolts of silk. Later, when Prince Shu Yang Xiu committed an error, Yuan Zhou, who had connections with him, was dismissed from his position.
After Yang Guang became the emperor, Yuan Zhi was never employed. At that time, the Inspector of Cizhou, Shangguan Zheng, was exiled to Lingnan for committing a crime, and General Qiu He was also dismissed for his offenses. Yuan Zhi and Qiu He knew each other before and often went out together. One time, after drinking too much, Yuan Zhi said to Qiu He, "Shangguan Zheng is quite a formidable character; now that he's been exiled to Lingnan, do you think he might cause some trouble?" Then he patted his stomach and said, "Someone like you wouldn't just let things go, would you?" The next day, Qiu He reported this to the emperor, and as a result, Yuan Zhi was executed. Later, Shangguan Zheng was summoned as the General of the Valiant Guard, and Qiu He was appointed as the Inspector of Daizhou.
According to historical records, if Han Xin hadn't missed his chance at Gaixia, Xiang Yu wouldn't have met his downfall; if Ying Bu hadn't rebelled in Huainan, the rule of the Han Dynasty wouldn't have been so stable. Great figures like Han Xin and Ying Bu were ultimately executed because of the emperor's suspicions, let alone those who had no special merits and harbored rebellious intentions!
Liang Shiyi and Yuwen Xin were famous warriors at that time; they became known during the chaotic times for their bravery and strategies. However, they claimed all the credit for the nation's achievements, were insatiably greedy, and kept demanding more, ultimately failing due to their own greed, and that was their own doing. Wang Yi, Yuan Xie, Wang Shiji, Yu Qingze, and Yuan Zhi—some had experienced hardships together with Liu Bang, while others were long-time friends with him. But as time passed, Liu Bang became more and more indifferent to them; they were dissatisfied and constantly boasted about their achievements. While Liu Bang could be harsh, they also dug their own graves with their careless words!
During Liu Bang's founding period, those who had contributed rarely met a good end, and even fewer were honored in the ancestral temple. Many faded into obscurity. This is probably because, in the early stages of establishing a dynasty, the handling of affairs was often pragmatic, and there was a lack of unity among them, leading to a gradual weakening of their bonds. For example, the issue of forcibly seizing farmland, though they were guilty, Liu Bang's methods were equally unjust. Is it any wonder that people resented it? Liu Bang resorted to various baseless charges to punish them and sent them to their executions. Liu Bang's paranoia was truly excessive! It seems unlikely their descendants could continue to enjoy any blessings!
