Yuanshou, whose courtesy name was Changshou, was from Luoyang, Henan. His grandfather, Dun, served as a minister during the Wei Dynasty and was the Prince of Shaoling. His father, Bao, was the Governor of Liangzhou in the Zhou Dynasty. Yuanshou lost his father when he was young and was known for his filial piety. When his father passed away when he was nine years old, his grief made him so emaciated that it moved all his relatives and friends. He was especially filial to his mother, earning a reputation that spread far and wide. As he grew older, he remained upright and well-read in history.
When Emperor Wu of the Zhou Dynasty just ascended the throne, Yuanshou was appointed as the Marquis of Longcheng County with a fief of one thousand households. In the fourth year of the Baoding era, he was later appointed as the Marquis of Yilong County and was appointed to the official position of Yitong Sansi. In the early years of the Sui Dynasty, when they wanted to attack the Chen Dynasty, Yuanshou, known for his strategy, was dispatched to oversee shipbuilding at Huaipu. His talents were recognized, and he earned praise for his exceptional administrative skills. In the fourth year of Kaihuang, he participated in overseeing canal construction and was appointed as an Attendant Gentleman in the Ministry of Writing. In the eighth year of Kaihuang, he followed the Prince of Jin to attack the Chen Dynasty and was appointed as the Left Chief of the Council while also managing the affairs of the Marshal's Office. After the fall of the Chen Dynasty, he was appointed as the Left Chief of the Masters of Writing.
Once, Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty led civil and military officials out of the palace to the hunting grounds to shoot arrows. Xiao Moha, the Palace Guard, had a wife who was near death, so he submitted a memorial requesting permission to send his son to Jiangnan to retrieve the family estate. The censor officials saw the memorial but chose to ignore it and stayed silent. Yuanshou then submitted a memorial accusing Xiao Moha and stated:
I have heard that the way of heaven works in silence, and the seasons naturally revolve throughout the year. The emperor is wise, entrusting all government affairs to his officials. "The duty of the censor is to uphold justice," and if even the upright cannot uphold justice, to whom can we entrust the law?
On the fifth day of this month, the emperor visited the Shooting Garden. Xiao Moha, the Grand Minister, attended the ceremony. Taking advantage of the opportunity, he requested the emperor to allow his son, Xiao Shilue, to go to Jiangnan to reclaim some family property. His wife is on the brink of death. Even if his wife dies, Xiao Shilue should not go to Jiangnan at this time! I pondered that the relationship between husband and wife is the most important, and their love should be cherished, just like a crow feeding its young. Xiao Moha only cared about money and forgot about the bond between husband and wife, allowing his son to abandon his critically ill mother for the sake of money! Once he said this, he completely violated moral principles! And the palace officials, including Han Weizhi, witnessed all of this but failed to hold him accountable! If they knew it was wrong but did not report it, that would be condoning and enabling; if they did not think it was wrong, then their judgment is too poor!
I carefully examined the records of Liu Xingben, the Grand Minister, the Left Privy Secretary of the Crown Prince, and the Assistant Imperial Historian. He has been in and out of the court and has earned the emperor's trust for quite a while. He should have been able to rectify the official atmosphere and improve the integrity of the court. However, during his time in the Ministry of Justice, he broke the law and brought shame upon himself. What else is there to say? Even though I'm just a low-ranking official, I cannot ignore this issue, so I have specially written this memorial to bring it to light. As for Liu Xingben and Han Weizhi and others, I believe they should be referred to the Grand Court for investigation.
The emperor joyfully accepted my memorial and later promoted me to the position of Junior Minister of Rites. Several years later, I was appointed as the governor of Jizhou, where I was known for my integrity and fairness during my term. After that, I returned to the court and served as Junior Minister of Rites, eventually rising to the rank of High Chancellor. When Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, Prince Liang of Han rebelled, and Yang Su, the Minister of Works, was appointed as the commander-in-chief, with me serving as his chief aide. Whenever we encountered the enemy, I always led the soldiers from the front, thus achieving military merits and being granted the title of Grand General. Later, I was promoted to the position of Chief of the Right Guanglu. Four years later, I was appointed as the Prefect of the Palace Library and accompanied the emperor on a military campaign against the Tuyuhun. I led the army to camp at Jinshan, with camps extending three hundred miles to the east and west, besieging the king of Tuyuhun. After the war, I was appointed as the Chief of the Right Guanglu. Seven years later, I also served as the General of the Left Yiyewei, accompanying the emperor on a military campaign against Liaodong. When we reached Zhuo County, I died from illness at the age of sixty-three. The emperor was deeply grieved and wept bitterly for his loss, posthumously appointing me as the Right Supervisor of the Imperial Secretariat and the Guanglu Daifu, with the posthumous title of "Jing."
As for Zimin, he was quite talented and eloquent, but a bit frivolous, fond of taking risks, and liked to play clever tricks. After his death, the emperor still remembered him and promoted him to the position of palace record keeper. However, he associated with gamblers and often leaked palace secrets. Later, Zimin became involved in the plotting during the rebellion and even pretended to be appointed as the Assistant Minister of the Palace Library, only to be killed by Shen Guang.
In short, Zimin had abilities but lacked good character, was too playful, and unreliable. The emperor had some impression of him, but he did not strive for progress, engaged in shady dealings, and ultimately met a violent end, which could be seen as his own doing. His clever tricks were no match for the ruthless power struggles.
Yang Yichen, a native of Daizhou, originally bearing the surname Yuchi. His father Yuchi Chong served as a General in Northern Zhou, stationing troops at Hengshan. At that time, our founding emperor was still the governor of Dingzhou. Yuchi Chong was impressed by the emperor's appearance and made an effort to befriend him, and the emperor also liked him. Later, after the emperor became prime minister, Yuchi Jiao staged a rebellion. Yuchi Chong, being a relative of Yuchi Jiao, locked himself away and sent someone to apologize to the emperor. The emperor sent him a comforting letter, immediately dispatched someone to bring him back to court, and often kept him close. During the Kaihuang era, the emperor appointed him Duke of Qinxing County. More than a year later, Yuchi Chong accompanied the military commander Daxi Changru to fight the Turks at Zhoupan, fought valiantly, and died in battle. The emperor posthumously promoted him to General and appointed him Governor of Yuzhou, granting Yang Yichen the right to inherit his father's title.
Back then, Yang Yichen was still a young boy, raised in the palace. Before he even turned twenty, he was appointed as the emperor's guard by decree. He had been serving for several years, and the emperor had rewarded him generously. Once, the emperor casually reminisced about his old friends, gazing at Yang Yichen for a while before he decreed, "When I first became emperor, there was chaos everywhere. Those wise individuals were exactly who I needed. Yuchi Chong and Yuchi Jiong were actually relatives. Yuchi Jiong rebelled in Ye City, while his father Yuchi Chong was managing troops in Changshan at the time. They were neighbors and relatives, and he understood loyalty and betrayal, grasping the will of the people and heaven. So, he willingly surrendered to the authorities, asking to return to the court. Later, when the Turks invaded the north, he charged into battle without fear of death, laying down his life for the country's interests on the battlefield. His spirit of self-sacrifice for righteousness is admirable, both in the court and among the people. Even though I’ve already granted him a high position and rewards that benefit his descendants, it still doesn't fully express his loyalty to the country or showcase his noble character. I hereby grant Yang Yichen the surname Yang, along with 30,000 taels of silver, 30 barrels of wine, and 100 bushels each of rice and wheat, and include him in the imperial family's genealogy." Shortly after, Yang Yichen was appointed governor of Shanzhou.
Yang Yichen was cautious and honest, skilled in horseback riding and archery, and had great military talent, so the emperor valued him highly. Later, the Turks invaded the border, and Yang Yichen, as the commander, led thirty thousand soldiers to launch a counterattack from the White Road, encountering the enemy and winning a great victory. The following year, the Turkic forces invaded again, inflicting heavy losses on the Yanmen and Mayi regions. Yang Yichen led the troops to drive out the Turkic invaders from the border, pursuing them to Dajin Mountain and encountering the enemy again. At this time, General Shi Wansui, known as Taiping, also arrived with his troops, and Yang Yichen and Shi Wansui joined forces to defeat the Turkic forces. Unfortunately, Shi Wansui was later framed by Yang Su and killed, and Yang Yichen's contributions were not recorded. During the Reign of Renshou, Yang Yichen was appointed as the commander of Shuozhou, and the emperor rewarded him with armor.
When Emperor Yangdi ascended the throne, Prince Han Yang Liang rebelled in Bingzhou. At that time, the commander of Taidongzhou, Li Jing, was besieged by the Han Prince's commander Qiao Zhongkui, so the emperor ordered this loyal official (referring to Li Jing) to go to the rescue. The loyal official led an army of twenty thousand infantry and cavalry, departing from Xixing at night and covering several dozen miles by dawn. Seeing that the loyal official had few troops, Qiao Zhongkui led all his forces to resist.
Qiao Zhongkui had a deputy named Wang Ba, who was exceptionally brave and skilled in using a weapon called "Maoxiao," making him nearly impossible to hit, often breaking into the enemy's formation with just a few men. The loyal official was troubled by this, so he publicly called for anyone capable of dealing with Wang Ba. General Charioteer Yang Sien volunteered. Seeing that Yang Sien was imposing and brave, the loyal official hailed him as a valiant warrior and rewarded him with a cup of wine. When Yang Sien saw Wang Ba standing at the back of the formation, he shattered the wine cup on the ground and rode towards him.
He charged twice but failed, and Yi Chen sent more than ten cavalry to follow him. Yang Si'en finally smashed through the enemy lines, took down many foes, and charged all the way to Wang Ba's flag. When the two armies clashed, the cavalry that had followed Yang Si'en fell back, and Yang Si'en was killed by Wang Ba. Wang Ba pressed his advantage, and Yi Chen's army retreated northward for over ten miles. Later, Yi Chen spent a lot of money to buy back Yang Si'en's body, wept inconsolably, and all the soldiers cried with him. The cavalry who retreated with Yang Si'en were all executed.
Due to his insufficient forces, Yi Chen gathered thousands of cattle and donkeys from the camp, sent hundreds of soldiers, each carrying a drum, secretly drove the cattle and donkeys into the valley, and then unleashed a surprise attack. In the afternoon, Yi Chen once again battled with Qiao Zhongkui's army. As soon as the two armies clashed, Yi Chen ordered the cattle and donkey drivers to advance quickly. For a moment, the drums thundered, dust flew, and Qiao Zhongkui's army were caught off guard, thinking it was an ambush, and were thrown into complete disarray. Yi Chen pursued the victory and decisively defeated them.
In recognition of this military achievement, Yi Chen was promoted to Grand General, awarded two thousand pieces of fabric, five hundred pieces of colorful silk, ten lovely women, and twenty good horses. Shortly after, he was appointed Inspector of Xiangzhou. Three years later, he was summoned back to the court as the Minister of Ceremonies. Not long after, he was elevated to the Minister of Works. Later, he followed the emperor to lead a campaign against the Tuyuhun and was tasked with camping at Pipa Gorge, with a camp stretching eighty miles, connected to Yuanshou in the south and Duan Wenzhen in the north, to lay siege to the Tuyuhun king at Fuyuanchuan.
Afterwards, he participated in the campaign against Liaodong, serving as the vanguard and leading the army along the Sushen Road. Upon reaching the Yalu River, he battled with Yizhi Wende, achieving seven victories every day. Later, the entire force was defeated, and Yichen was dismissed from his position. Not long after, he was reinstated to his original position. The following year, he was appointed as the Deputy Commander and, together with Yu Wenshu, attacked Pyongyang. Upon reaching the Yalu River, they encountered a rebellion led by Yang Xuangan, and the army had to retreat, with Yichen being appointed as the Prefect of Zhaojun.
Later, bandits and rebels gathered under Haigong to form a rebellion, wreaking havoc in the areas of Fufeng and Anding. Yichen was ordered to suppress the rebellion and quickly quelled it. Afterwards, he followed the emperor once again in the campaign against Liaodong, being promoted to Left Guanglu Daifu. At that time, Gao Shida of Bohai and Zhang Jincheng of Qinghe joined forces as bandits, with their numbers reaching tens of thousands and capturing many prefectures and counties. The emperor sent General Duanda to suppress the bandits, but without success. The emperor then ordered Yichen to lead tens of thousands of troops withdrawn from the campaign in Liaodong to attack them. Yichen defeated Shida in battle and killed Zhang Jincheng. He also surrendered many rebels and entered Douzi. There, he suppressed Ge Qian, captured him, and then reported to the court.
The emperor grew wary of his reputation, so he summoned him back to the court, resulting in the resurgence of the rebellion. Yichen was promoted to Guanglu Daifu for his military achievements, and shortly after, he was promoted to Minister of Rites. Not long after, he passed away peacefully.
Wei Xuan, courtesy name Wensheng, was a native of Luoyang, Henan. His grandfather Wei Yue was the Minister of Agriculture for the State of Wei, and his father Wei Piao served as the Chamberlain and General of the Left Guard. Wei Xuan was knowledgeable and talented from a young age. When Emperor Wu of Zhou was still a prince, he recruited Wei Xuan as a secretary. Later, he was promoted to the position of Senior Official, inherited the title of Duke of Xingshi, received a fief of four thousand households, and was appointed as the Chief Administrator of Yizhou. After Emperor Wu of Zhou personally took power, he appointed Wei Xuan as the Chief Steward of the Three Departments and concurrently served as the Intendant of Jingzhao. Contemporaries praised his talent and capability to manage affairs independently.
During the reign of Emperor Xuan of Sui, he incurred the emperor's displeasure and was subsequently dismissed from office. After Emperor Wen of Sui became Prime Minister, he assigned Wei Xuan to manage the affairs of Xiongzhou. Later, when the Hezhou tribes rebelled, Wei Xuan was appointed as the General of the Expeditionary Forces to quell the rebellion. After Emperor Wen of Sui ascended the throne, Wei Xuan was promoted to the position of Governor of Huaizhou and was granted the title of County Duke on the same track, but he was later dismissed due to unspecified circumstances. Not long after, he was appointed as the Inspector of Lanzhou. During the construction of the Great Wall, he was instructed by the court to oversee the construction. Shortly after, he was appointed as the Acting General of Shuozhou. He later served as the Assistant Minister of the Guard.
During the Ren Shou period, the mountain tribes of the Liao region rose in rebellion, and Wei Xuan was sent to serve as the Inspector of Zizhou to pacify the rebellion. Upon his arrival, the Liao people were besieging the town of Daliuzhen. Wei Xuan went to their camp accompanied only by a single horse and said to them, "I am the Inspector, sent by the Emperor to pacify you. Do not be afraid!" The bandits dared not act rashly. Wei Xuan appealed to their reason and emotions, and the leaders were touched by him, so they lifted the siege and left. Over a hundred thousand individuals surrendered. Emperor Wen of Sui was very pleased and granted him two thousand bolts of silk, and appointed him as the Governor of Suizhou to manage pacification efforts in the Jiannan region.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, he once again summoned Wei Xuan to serve as the Minister of the Imperial Guards. The barbarian and Liao tribes were reluctant to part with him and bid him farewell with tears as they escorted him for hundreds of miles. Wei Xuan said to them, "I cannot disobey the Emperor's orders; I cannot stay for long." So he bid farewell to them. More than a year later, Wei Xuan was promoted to Minister of Works. Later, he also served as the Governor of Wei County, while still retaining the position of Minister of Works. Emperor Yang of Sui said to Wei Xuan, "Wei County is a famous large city and a key transportation hub. There are many treacherous people among the local populace, which is why I am sending you there. Wei County is not far from the capital; you should come back often to report to the court." He then rewarded him with five hundred rolls of silk and let him go.
Not long after, Wei Xuan was appointed as the General of the Right Guard, also in charge of the affairs of the Left Guard. In the eighth year of Daye, he was promoted to Minister of Justice. During the campaign in Liaodong, he was appointed as the Acting General of the Right Guard, leading his troops to reinforce Liaodong. Many armies were defeated at that time, but only the army led by Wei Xuan returned intact. After that, he was granted the title of Grand Master of Glorious Favor. In the ninth year of Daye, the Emperor personally launched an expedition to Liaodong, leaving Wei Xuan and Prince Dai Yang You to oversee the capital, appointing him as the Interior Minister of Jingzhao Prefecture, while still retaining his position as a minister. The Emperor permitted him to act at his discretion and ordered Prince Dai to treat him with the etiquette of a teacher.
Yang Xuangan staged a rebellion and besieged the eastern capital of Luoyang. Yang Xuangan led seventy thousand infantry and cavalry to their aid. Upon reaching Huayin, they dug up Yang Su's tomb, burned his remains and leveled his grave to rally the soldiers to fight fiercely.
After passing Tongguan, some people were worried that there might be ambushes in Xiaoshan and Hangu Pass, and suggested going east along the Yellow River directly to Heyang to launch a surprise attack on Yang Xuangan from the rear. Wei Wensheng said, "I believe this strategy is not something just anyone could devise." So they continued to move forward. After passing Hangu Pass, the situation was indeed as he had anticipated. Then, Wei Wensheng sent Wu Benlang, along with Zhang Jun leading a decoy force on the southern road to confuse the enemy, while he himself led the main force straight to the north of the city.
Yang Xuangan resisted head-on, fighting while retreating, and finally stationed his troops in Jingu. In the military camp, Wei Wensheng performed a ritual for the ancestors, saying, "Minister Wei Wensheng, the Minister of Justice and the Prefect of Jingzhao, humbly addresses the spirit of Emperor Wen, the founder of the dynasty: Since the founding of the royal family, more than thirty years have passed, and military prowess and moral integrity have gradually spread overseas. Yang Xuangan has betrayed the imperial grace and, like a snake and a swine, led a mob to invade our country's great plan. I, Wei Wensheng, have received imperial grace for two generations, serving the court wholeheartedly, leading elite troops, and am determined to eliminate this traitor. If heaven blesses the country, these rebels should be shattered like ice, and if the situation is lost, please let me die first." Wei Wensheng's tone was passionate and inspiring, moving all the soldiers to tears.
At that time, their forces were insufficient, and they were at a disadvantage in multiple battles with the enemy, with over half of their troops killed or wounded. Yang Xuangan exerted all his strength to attack, while Wei Wensheng resisted fiercely. The enemy began to withdraw, and Wei Wensheng stationed himself at Beimang. At this time, r
The emperor arrived in Gaoyang and summoned Wei Wensheng to the temporary palace. The emperor praised him, saying, "You are a loyal minister of the state! Thanks to you, I have no worries." He then issued a decree stating, "Recently, there has been a rise in evil forces, causing disturbances in the Guanzhong and Hedong regions. Wei Wensheng led his soldiers bravely into battle, responded promptly, and crushed the rebellion with a combined attack from both within and without. He should be promoted to the title of Right Guanglu Daifu as a reward." The emperor rewarded him with fertile land, grand 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 now entirely in your hands. Your safety means the safety of the state; your peril means the peril of the state. You must have guards protecting you at all times, be cautious in your actions, and strengthen your defenses. This is the way. I am assigning you a thousand soldiers to serve as your personal guard." The emperor also gave him a jade unicorn token.
Eleven years later, the emperor issued a decree appointing Wei Wensheng as the pacifier of the Guanzhong region. At that time, banditry was rampant, the people were starving, and Wei Wensheng was unable to effectively help the people. Furthermore, corruption was widespread in the government, with bribery being common. Feeling old, Wei Wensheng submitted a request for retirement. The emperor sent an official to persuade him, saying, "The capital is the foundation of the country, the cornerstone of the royal business, the ancestral temples and tombs are all there, and we need esteemed old ministers like you to oversee it. For the sake of the country, I cannot agree to your request, so I have sent this official to explain my intentions to you." Wei Wensheng then relented.
As the rebel army entered Guanzhong, Wei Wensheng knew he was unable to defend it. Fearing the worst, he claimed to be ill and neglected his duties. After the city fell, Wei Wensheng returned home. He passed away in the Yining era at the age of seventy-seven.
Liu Quan, courtesy name Shilue, was from Feng County in Pengcheng. His grandfather Liu Gui once served as the Governor of Luo Prefecture during the Qi State. When Liu Quan was young, he had a strong sense of justice and chivalry, kept his promises, was known for his sense of justice, and even sheltered fugitives, which made local officials wary of approaching his home. Later, he changed his ways, studied hard, and acted in accordance with rules. He started as the Chief Clerk of the prefecture, served under the Qi dynasty, and rose to the position of Attendant to the Imperial Court and Minister of Palace Affairs. After the fall of the Qi dynasty, Emperor Wu of the Zhou dynasty appointed him as the Acting Governor of Huai Prefecture. After Yang Jian, Emperor Wen of the Sui dynasty, ascended to the throne, he appointed Liu Quan as the General of Chariots and Cavalry Command, in charge of commanding local troops. He later followed Prince Jin, Yang Guang, in pacifying the Chen dynasty. For his achievements, he was granted the title of Palace Attendant of the Household of Equal Rank and rewarded with three thousand bolts of cloth. Duke He Ruobi of Song respected him greatly. In the twelfth year of the Kaiping era, he was appointed as the Governor of Suzhou and titled the Duke of Zongcheng County. At that time, Jiangnan had just been pacified, and the hearts of the people were not yet settled. Liu Quan used his kindness and credibility to comfort the people, winning their hearts.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, Liu Quan was appointed as the Minister of Guard. He was later promoted to the rank of Grand Master of Splendid Happiness. In the fifth year of Daye, he accompanied Emperor Yang in a campaign against the Tuyuhun. Liu Quan led his troops via Yiwu Road and encountered the Tuyuhun army, defeating them. Pursuing the enemy to Qinghai, he captured over a thousand people and triumphantly reached Fusicheng. Emperor Yang then ordered Liu Quan to travel to Mantou and Chishui, establish Heyuan County and Jishi Town, promote agricultural development, and remain stationed at the western frontier. He stationed there for five years, and all tribes pledged allegiance to the court, and paid annual tribute. The remnants of the Tuyuhun fled far away, and the roads were clear. Afterwards, he was recalled to the court to serve as Minister of Agriculture and was further honored as a Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, adorned with the Golden Purple rank. Shortly after, he was appointed as the Prefect of Nanhai.
On his way to the South China Sea, as he was passing through Poyang, he happened to encounter local bandits causing an uprising, preventing him from proceeding. The court ordered him to raise an army to suppress them. Liu Quan led the troops to meet the bandits, but rather than engaging them in direct battle, he went alone on a small boat to the bandit camp, explaining his reasoning and appealing to their emotions, outlining the advantages of surrender. The bandits were touched by his words and surrendered one after another. Emperor Yang of Sui was very impressed when he heard about this. Once he reached the South China Sea, Liu Quan made significant political achievements. Several years later, when bandits rose again and repeatedly attacked the county seat, many local leaders were eager to support Liu Quan as their leader, but he remained steadfast in defending against external threats. His son, Liu Shiche, discreetly sent him a message, saying that the world was in turmoil, and heroes were rising, implying that he should take action. Liu Quan gathered his officers and promptly executed the messenger, with no other intentions, remaining loyal to his duty until his dying breath. He passed away at the age of seventy. His son, Liu Xiao, served as a court official and military officer but died at a young age.
Lao Shiche was known for his carefree and unrestrained personality, earning the admiration of many. Towards the end of the Sui Dynasty, when the world was in chaos and warlords were fighting for supremacy, wherever he went, people regarded him with fear and frequently imprisoned him. Ultimately, he was killed by the bandit leader Xu Yuanlang in Yanzhou.
Quan Congfu, also known as Zijiang, was quite handsome and exceptionally capable, rising to the rank of a military general. His son, Dewei, was also quite renowned.
The historical records say: This young man (referring to Quan Congfu) is indeed capable. He is diligent and quick-witted, loyal and courageous, and can make crucial decisions, which saved the entire city. He is truly hardworking and has made remarkable contributions! During Yang Liang's rebellion, Shi Xiang single-handedly achieved victory; when bandits caused trouble in various places, Quan Congfu won three battles, all of which were well-known figures of that time and passed down to future generations. When Yuan Shou submitted a memorial, he wanted to uphold moral principles, but in terms of achievements, he still couldn't compare to Quan Congfu. The posthumous title given to him was also quite high! Wen Sheng broke the siege in the eastern capital, which can certainly be considered a significant achievement. However, using bribery to secure an official position in the western capital is truly despicable and hardly worth mentioning! Liu Quan is from an old prestigious family in the Huai-Chu region, with a long-standing reputation. During turbulent times, he stayed in a remote area, resisting temptation and refraining from treachery. Although he did not actively come to the aid of the rightful ruler, he remains a gentleman of integrity!
