Yuan Xie, a native of Luoyang, Henan, hails from a distinguished family. He is generous and righteous, possessing a noble demeanor. When he was young, he studied at the National University with Gaozu, and they had a very good relationship. Later, he gradually rose through the ranks to become a great general due to his military prowess. After Gaozu became the Chancellor, he brought Yuan Xie to his side. Yuan Xie said to Gaozu, "You have no allies now; it’s like a wall in water—very precarious! You must work hard!" Later, Wei Jiong rebelled and sent troops to attack a small town. Gaozu dispatched Yuan Xie to quell the rebellion, and he swiftly triumphed over them. After Gaozu became emperor, he looked at Yuan Xie and said with a smile, "How about that wall in the water?" He then hosted a joyous banquet for Yuan Xie. Yuan Xie was promoted to the rank of Grand General, appointed as the Marquis of Le'an County, given a thousand households, and entrusted with the task of revising the laws.
At that time, the Tuyuhun tribe attacked Liangzhou, and the court appointed Yuan Xie as the Grand Marshal, commanding tens of thousands of troops to quell the uprising. The emperor specially ordered Yuan Xie, "You have accepted the heavy responsibility of the court, leading the army to the west to stabilize the border and protect the people, not to seek after worthless lands and endanger the people in distant regions. The purpose of a king's army lies in benevolence and righteousness. If the Tuyuhun bandits reach the border, you should reason with them and persuade them with kindness. Who would dare defy us?" At that time, the Tuyuhun general Dingcheng Wang Zhonglifang led three thousand cavalry to cross the Yellow River and collude with the Tangut people. Yuan Xie led the army from Shanzhou, heading straight to Qinghai to intercept their retreat. The Tuyuhun forces moved to intercept Yuan Xie, and the two armies clashed at Fengli Mountain. The Tuyuhun fielded twenty thousand cavalry, and they fought against Yuan Xie, who defeated them.
The Tuyuhun army stationed in Qinghai sent Prince Kebohan to lead fifty thousand elite soldiers to launch a surprise attack on the imperial army. Yuan Xie took the initiative to strike, defeated them, pursued them for over thirty miles, and killed and captured more than ten thousand enemies, which left the Tuyuhun people in shock. Yuan Xie then wrote a letter to persuade them to surrender, and seventeen prominent kings and thirteen nobles of Tuyuhun surrendered with their followers. The emperor was delighted and issued a decree stating, "Commend good deeds, record merits. Yuan Xie possesses keen insight, quick reflexes, and excels in both civil and military affairs, renowned in the court and among the people. He expanded the territory, achieved victory on the battlefield, with deep thoughts and loyalty, who deeply understands my intentions. In order to commend his merits, he should be given a grand reward. Promote him to the rank of State Pillar, and also grant his son the title of County Duke." Yuan Xie was appointed as the Inspector of Ningzhou; he was respected and generous. However, he was strong-willed, often critical of others, and struggled to win favor with those around him. He once told the emperor, "I serve Your Majesty wholeheartedly and never resort to flattery." The emperor said, "I hope you will always maintain this attitude." Later, he was dismissed from his post due to official reasons. Legend has it that in the past, the State Pillar King Yi had rendered great service to the country, maintained a good relationship with Yang Su, and frequently interacted with him. Later, a Hu monk accused Yang Su and King Yi of conspiracy; the emperor conducted an investigation, found no evidence of rebellion, reassured them, and set them free. Shortly thereafter, King Yi was executed, and Yang Su gradually fell out of favor with the emperor. However, due to Yang Su's prior good rapport with the emperor, he was still able to attend court meetings regularly, and the emperor did not neglect him.
Once, the emperor held a lavish banquet for his officials. Yang Su made a suggestion, saying, "Your Majesty, your fame spreads far and wide. I think we can appoint the Turkic Khan as an alternate official and Chen Shubao as a minor official." The emperor replied, "I pacified the Chen kingdom to punish criminals and comfort the people, not to show off military might and intimidate the world. What you said is completely not what I have in mind. The Turks are unfamiliar with our terrain; how can they be guards? Chen Shubao is perpetually drunk; how can he be instructed to do things?" Upon hearing this, Yang Su said nothing and quietly retreated.
After a few years, someone reported Yang Su and his cousin Yang Pang, as well as Marquis Tian Luan of Linze and Qi Xu, for plotting a rebellion. The emperor ordered an investigation into the matter. The officials reported, "Yang Su planned for Qi Xu to mobilize the Tangut forces to launch an attack on Bashu. At that time, Prince Guangping Yang Xiong and Left Minister Gao Feng had immense power. Yang Su sought to frame them, saying, 'Gao Feng has been in power for four years; as long as we accuse him, he will surely die.' He also said, 'When the planet Jupiter aligns with the moon, its light will shine; this is an omen of ministerial death, Yang Xiong is definitely in trouble.' Yang Su and Yang Pang once entered the palace together to see the emperor. Yang Su secretly told Yang Pang, 'I am the master; those people in the court are all villains.' Then he asked Yang Pang to assess the Feng Shui of the palace, and Yang Pang said, 'The fortunes of those people resemble crouching dogs and running deer; they are inferior to ours.'" The emperor was enraged upon hearing this, and Yang Su, Yang Pang, Tian Luan, and Qi Xu were all executed, and their assets were seized.
Wang Shiji is originally from Luoyang, Henan. His father, Wang Ya, was a high-ranking official in the Zhou Dynasty, holding the titles of Chief Commandant and Supervisor of the Imperial Household. Wang Shiji is tall and strong, with a notably thick waist measuring ten spans around. He has an extraordinary demeanor and looks like a heroic figure. He achieved many military accomplishments during the Zhou Dynasty and was later appointed as the Upper General and then as the Duke of Changzi County.
When Sui Wendi became Emperor, Wei Jiong rebelled, and Wang Shiji fought alongside Wei Xiaokuan, always at the front lines, achieving great military feats and eventually being appointed as the Grand General of the Right. After Sui Wendi became Emperor, Wang Shiji's title was elevated to Duke of Yiyang. Gao Jiong admired Wang Shiji's talents and treated him well. Once, Wang Shiji privately expressed his worries to Gao Jiong about the fall of the Zhou Dynasty, but Gao Jiong refused to discuss the topic. Shortly after, Wang Shiji was appointed as the Governor of Qizhou.
The campaign to subdue the Chen Dynasty began, and Wang Shiji led the navy from Qishui to attack Jiujiang, where he achieved a great victory against the Chen Dynasty general Ji Tian at Qikou. Meanwhile, Prince Yang Guang had already pacified Danyang, so Wang Shiji wrote to inform Yang Guang and sent his subordinate Qianjing Gongquan Shizhang to attack Xinchai. Realizing the situation was hopeless, the Chen Dynasty's Sima Huang Sai of Jiangzhou fled, and Shizhang successfully occupied Jiangzhou. Wang Shiji arrived shortly after, and the officials of the Chen Dynasty surrendered to him one by one, including the Prefects of Yuzhang, Luling, Xunyang, Bashan, Taiyuan, Qichang, Ancheng, and others, as well as the garrisons of Poyang and Linchuan.
Because of this great victory, Wang Shiji was promoted to Grand Chancellor, the governor of Jingzhou, awarded five thousand bolts of silk, given a precious belt, and granted a fief of three thousand households. Several years later, a rebellion broke out in Guizhou led by Li Guangshi. Wang Shiji was appointed as the commander to suppress the rebellion and quickly quelled the uprising. The emperor sent the official Xinkaiqing to commend him. Upon his return, Wang Shiji was further promoted to Senior Grand Chancellor and rewarded with two thousand bolts of silk. The emperor valued him highly.
The emperor felt that Wang Shiji was too harsh, and most heroes were prone to offending, so Wang Shiji spent his days drinking away his sorrows and avoided discussing state affairs with the ruling class. The emperor suspected he might be addicted to alcohol, so he kept him in the palace and had the palace physician treat him. Wang Shiji feigned recovery and was allowed to return home.
Later, during the battle in Liaodong, Wang Shiji and the Han Prince served as marshals. When they reached Liucheng and encountered a plague, they had to retreat. He was then appointed as the governor of Liangzhou, and the court sent seven hundred cavalry to escort him, which was quite a spectacle! Not long after, his trusted aide, Huangfu Xiaoxie, got into trouble, and when the authorities tried to arrest him, he fled to Wang Shiji. Wang Shiji refused to hand him over, resulting in a bitter rivalry. Huangfu Xiaoxie was eventually sent to serve in the army in Guizhou under the jurisdiction of the general Linghuxi. Linghuxi mistreated him, so Huangfu Xiaoxie took a gamble and reported Wang Shiji to the emperor: "Wang Shiji once consulted a Taoist who predicted that he would become emperor in the future, and that his wife would become empress!" He also claimed that when Wang Shiji brought him to Liangzhou, his companions told him: "Hexi is where the finest troops are gathered; we can plan big things there!" But Wang Shiji said: "Liangzhou is vast and sparsely populated, not a place suited for warfare."
In this way, Yuan Shiji was called back to the court for investigation. The authorities reported: "Left Minister Yuan Min, Right Guard General Yuan Zhou, and Left Supervisor Gao Feng all had dealings with Yuan Shiji and even received the prized horses he had sent." As a result, Yuan Shiji was sentenced to death, Yuan Min and Yuan Zhou were dismissed from their positions, and the informant Huang Fu Xiaoxie was surprisingly promoted to Grand General. Truly, the ways of the world are unpredictable!
Yu Qingze, from Xi'an, Shaanxi, was descended from the Yu clan. His ancestors served under the Helian clan, later settling in Lingwu, Ningxia, where they became renowned local heroes for generations. His father, Yu Xiang, was the Prefect of Lingwu during the Zhou Dynasty. Yu Qingze was tall and strong from a young age, with a bold personality, standing over eight feet tall, courageous, and fluent in the Xianbei language. He often wore heavy armor, had two bows and arrows at his waist, and was exceptionally skilled in archery. Local heroes both respected and feared him. He initially made a living by hunting but later chose to study diligently, admiring figures such as Fu Jiezi and Ban Chao.
He later served in the Zhou Dynasty, starting as a military officer in a provincial office, gradually rising to the position of military officer in charge of external affairs, inheriting the title of Count of Qinyuan. In the first year of the Xuanzheng era, he was appointed as the General of the Guards and served as the Chief Military Officer of Bingzhou. The following year, he was promoted to Grand Minister. At that time, the Jihu people frequently staged rebellions, and Prince Yue Sheng and the Interior Minister Gao Feng led troops to suppress the rebellion. As they prepared to return to court, Gao Feng and Prince Yue Sheng discussed the need for someone skilled in both civil and military affairs to guard the area, so they recommended Yu Qingze, and the court appointed him as the General of Shizhou. Yu Qingze performed well in Shizhou, gaining the respect and trust of the people. Many Jihu people surrendered to him, amounting to over eight thousand households.
In the first year of the Kaihuang reign, Yu Qingze was promoted to Grand General and later served as the Minister of State, Minister of Personnel, and Prefect of Jingzhao. He was enfeoffed as the Duke of Pengcheng and was also responsible for the construction of the new capital city. In the second year, during winter, the Turkic tribes invaded, and Yu Qingze was appointed as the Marshal to counter them. Due to inadequate logistics, many soldiers suffered frostbite, with more than a thousand soldiers losing fingers. General Daxi Changru led two thousand cavalry to intercept the enemy from another route but ended up surrounded and in a dire situation. However, Yu Qingze chose to remain in camp and did not provide assistance. Consequently, General Daxi Changru fought valiantly, but most of his soldiers perished. Despite this, the Emperor did not hold Yu Qingze responsible. Shortly after, Yu Qingze was appointed as the Deputy Chief of the Right of the Secretariat.
Later, the Turkic leader Shetu expressed his intention to submit to the Sui Dynasty and requested a high official to welcome him. The Emperor sent Yu Qingze to meet with Shetu. Initially, Shetu attempted to assert his authority, but Yu Qingze reprimanded him for his previous actions, which Shetu resented. Yu Qingze's deputy, Zhangsun Cheng, persuaded Shetu, and eventually both Shetu and his brother Yehu accepted the Sui Dynasty's decree, pledging allegiance and offering tribute, seeking to become permanent vassals of the Sui Dynasty. Before Yu Qingze's mission, the Emperor instructed him, "I wish to maintain good relations with the Turks. For the tribute horses they send, you only need to take three-fifths." When Shetu met Yu Qingze, he presented him with a thousand horses and even married his daughter to him. In recognition of Yu Qingze's significant contributions, the Emperor did not investigate these matters. Yu Qingze was later appointed as a Senior Pillar of the State, enfeoffed as the Duke of Lu, with a fief of one thousand households in Rencheng County. The title of Duke of Pengcheng was conferred upon Yu Qingze's second son, Yu Yi.
After Emperor Wen of Sui defeated the Chen Dynasty, he happily went to the Prince of Jin's residence, where he hosted a banquet for the ministers. Gao Feng and the others raised their glasses and wished him long life, to which Emperor Wen of Sui said, "Gao Feng pacified the south, and Yu Qing surrendered the Turks; these are all remarkable achievements!" Yang Su replied, "All of this is thanks to Your Majesty's grace!" Yu Qing also said, "Yang Su led troops in battles at Wulao and Xiashi; without Your Majesty's grace, we wouldn't have achieved victory." They then started to compliment each other's accomplishments. The censor intended to impeach them, but Emperor Wen of Sui said, "Today is a celebration of achievements; no need for impeachment." Emperor Wen of Sui watched the ministers enjoying their feast, drinks, and archery. Yu Qing then said, "Your Majesty has rewarded us with food and drink, allowing us to enjoy ourselves, but the censor is here; I'm worried I'll get impeached if I get drunk." Emperor Wen of Sui then treated the censor to some drinks and sent him on his way. Yu Qing raised a toast and celebrated, having a wonderful time. Emperor Wen of Sui said to the ministers, "After we drink this cup of wine, I hope that both my family and all of yours will enjoy wealth and prosperity for generations." Nine years later, Yu Qing was promoted to Right Guard General, and shortly after, he was appointed Right Martial General.
In the 17th year of the Kaihuang era, Li Xian, a man from Lingnan, rebelled and seized control of the prefectures and counties. Emperor Wen of Sui intended to quell the rebellion. Several generals volunteered to lead the campaign, but all were turned down. Emperor Wen of Sui looked at Yu Qingze and said, "You serve as prime minister and hold the title of duke; the country is facing rebellion, yet you do not want to go and suppress it. What’s going on here?" Yu Qingze, startled, quickly offered his apologies, and only then did Emperor Wen of Sui send him to suppress the rebellion. Yu Qingze was appointed as the commander of the Guizhou military campaign and brought along his wife's brother, Zhao Shizhu, as the Chief of Staff. Zhao Shizhu had an affair with Yu Qingze’s concubine in the past, and fearing exposure, he spread rumors that Yu Qingze was unwilling to go to war. This rumor eventually reached Emperor Wen of Sui. Previously, when ministers went to war, Emperor Wen of Sui would host a banquet to see them off and reward them generously. However, when it was Yu Qingze's turn to head south to suppress the rebellion, Emperor Wen of Sui's expression was not good, leading Yu Qingze to feel frustrated and disheartened. After quelling Li Xian's rebellion and reaching Lingui Town in Tanzhou, Yu Qingze assessed the terrain and remarked, "The terrain here is dangerous; as long as there are sufficient supplies and a capable defending general, it can’t be breached." He then sent Zhao Shizhu back to the capital at full speed to report the situation and to gauge the Emperor's mood. Upon reaching the capital, Zhao Shizhu falsely accused Yu Qingze of plotting treason. After an investigation, Emperor Wen of Sui ordered Yu Qingze's execution. Emperor Wen of Sui named Zhao Shizhu as a pillar of state. Qingze, this young man was known for his filial piety, righteousness, and generosity. In his youth, he was ambitious and generous. He later rose to the rank of Equal of Three Excellencies and became a trusted confidant of the Prince of Jin. Unfortunately, he was dismissed from office due to his father's actions.
When Yang Guang became emperor, since Qing Ze had previously served in the mansion of the Prince of Jin, he was arranged to be the Chief of the Imperial Guards and also served as the supervisor of the Jingu Garden, responsible for managing the imperial gardens. Qing Ze was quite resourceful, and Yang Guang appreciated him. In the ninth year, during the Sui Dynasty's campaign against the Liao Kingdom, he was appointed as the Director of the Capital Waterways, in charge of overseeing transportation, and he earned significant merit. However, Qing Ze was quite extravagant, using camels to carry boxes filled with water for raising fish, eating what he raised himself, which was rather extravagant!
In the eleventh year, someone reported Qing Ze for treasonous plotting, and as a result, he was killed by Yang Guang. His younger brother, Cheng Dao, who was a secretary in the Eastern Palace at the time, was also dismissed because of this incident.
Yuan Zhou was from Luoyang, Henan, and was the sixth generation grandson of Emperor Wei Zhaocheng. His grandfather was the Prince of Puyang in Wei, and his father was the Prince of Wuling. Yuan Zhou was courageous and skilled from a young age, and handsome, with a look that commanded respect. King Xian of Zhou, after seeing him, greatly admired him and kept him by his side, often taking him along for military expeditions. He later rose to the rank of Grand General.
When Gaozu was summoned to the palace for an important assignment, he first called Yuan Zhou and then called Tao Cheng, treating them both as confidants and often inviting them to stay overnight in the inner palace. When Gaozu became the Prime Minister, he would always bring Yuan Zhou and his younger brother Yuan Wei along as guards whenever he entered the palace accompanied by troops.
King Zhao of Zhou knew that Gaozu wanted to move the Zhou Dynasty's ritual vessels, so he invited Gaozu to his mansion as a guest. Zhao Wang took Gaozu into his private chamber, not allowing anyone else to follow; only the brothers Yang Hong and Yuan Zhou sat at the door. Zhao Wang said to his two sons, Yuan and Guan, "You two will bring in the melon later, and I will take the opportunity to kill him." After three rounds of wine, Zhao Wang wanted to make a move, using a dagger to stab at the melon while keeping an eye on Gaozu, clearly plotting something sinister. Yuan Zhou quickly interjected, "There is still something to do at the Prime Minister's Mansion; we cannot stay here for long." Zhao Wang scolded him, "I am talking to the Prime Minister, who do you think you are?" He pushed him aside. Yuan Zhou's eyes widened as he angrily gripped the hilt of his knife, ready to rush into the guards. Zhao Wang asked him what his name was, and Yuan Zhou truthfully told him. Zhao Wang said, "Aren't you the one who used to work under Prince Qi? You are really a brave warrior!" So he gave him wine and said, "How could I have any bad intentions? Why are you so vigilant?" Zhao Wang pretended to vomit, wanting to go into the inner room. Yuan Zhou was afraid that he was playing tricks, so he helped him sit back down, repeating this several times. Zhao Wang said his throat was dry and asked Yuan Zhou to get some drinks from the kitchen, but Yuan Zhou did not move. At this time, Prince Teng Yu came, and Gaozu went down the steps to greet him. Yuan Zhou whispered to Gaozu, "The situation is not right; let's leave quickly!" Gaozu hesitated before replying, "He has no soldiers or horses; what can he do?" Yuan Zhou said, "All the soldiers and horses are from his family. If he makes the first move, it will all be over. Even if I die, it's useless!" Gaozu sat down again. Yuan Zhou heard the clinking of armor coming from behind the house and quickly said, "There are many things at the Prime Minister's Mansion; why are you still here?" Then he helped Gaozu get off the bed and quickly left. Zhao Wang wanted to chase after them, but Yuan Zhou blocked Zhao Wang's path with his body. Gaozu reached the door, and Yuan Zhou followed. Zhao Wang was furious, his fingers bleeding from where he snapped them. Later, Zhao Wang was executed, and Yuan Zhou was rewarded handsomely.
After Emperor Gaozu ascended the throne, Yuan Zhou was promoted to the position of Shang Zhu Guo, granted the title of Duke of Wuling Commandery, with a fief of 3,000 households. Later, he was further promoted to the Left Guard General position, and shortly after, he was promoted to the Right Guard Grand General position. Emperor Gaozu remarked casually, "Protecting my safety and achieving this foundation, it is all thanks to Yuan Zhou's efforts!" After a few years, Yuan Zhou was appointed as the Inspector of Yuzhou, and later served as the Inspectors of Bozhou and Xizhou. At that time, the Turks frequently harassed the border, and because of Yuan Zhou's reputation, the court appointed him as the Commander of Lingzhou, instilling fear among the northern Turks. Later, he was recalled to the court and appointed as the Right Guard Grand General, with the Emperor showing even more trust and reliance on him.
I recall one time during the Lantern Festival, the Emperor and his courtiers climbed up high to take in the view, and Yuan Zhou happened to be on duty. The Emperor called for him urgently. When Yuan Zhou arrived, the Emperor said, "You’d be happier here with me than climbing with the others!" He then threw a banquet, and everyone had a blast. Prince Jin, Yang Guang, also often paid his respects to Yuan Zhou. When Prince Fangling was ousted, Yuan Zhou was part of the plot. Later, when the Emperor was busy dealing with matters in the Eastern Palace, Left Guard Grand General Yuan Min earnestly counseled against it, but Yang Su was badmouthing him behind his back. The Emperor was furious and promptly had Yuan Min arrested. Yuan Zhou was on duty at the time and did not leave his post. Instead, he reported, "I stayed on duty to keep an eye on Yuan Min!" This remark infuriated the Emperor, who ultimately executed Yuan Min and rewarded Yuan Zhou with a thousand bolts of silk.
Later, King Yang Xiu of Shu committed a crime, and Yuan Zhou was dismissed from his position due to his private dealings with him. After Yang Guang ascended the throne, Yuan Zhou was never reinstated. At that time, the governor of Cizhou, Shangguan Zheng, was exiled to Lingnan for his crimes, and General Qiu He was dismissed for an error. Yuan Zhou and Qiu He were already acquainted and often went out together. One time, after having too much to drink, Yuan Zhou said to Qiu He, "Shangguan Zheng is quite a formidable character; do you think he’ll make a big move now that he’s exiled to Lingnan?" Then he patted his belly and exclaimed, "If you were like him, you wouldn't give up so easily!" Qiu He reported this to the emperor the very next day, which ultimately led to Yuan Zhou’s execution. Later, Shangguan Zheng was summoned as the General of the Valiant Guards, and Qiu He was appointed as the governor of Daizhou.
Historical records suggest that if Han Xin hadn't missed his chance at Gaixia, Xiang Yu might not have perished; if Ying Bu had not caused trouble in Huainan, the stability of the Han Dynasty might not have been as strong. People like Han Xin and Ying Bu, who had made significant contributions, were ultimately executed due to the emperor's mistrust, not to mention those without accomplishments who nursed grievances!
Liang Shiyu and Yuwen Xin were renowned warriors of their time, gaining renown during chaotic times for their bravery and cunning. However, they took all the credit for their achievements, were never satisfied, and constantly sought to rise higher. As a result, they all ended up in disgrace, and it was all of their own doing! Wang Yi, Yuan Xie, Wang Shiji, Yu Qingze, and Yuan Zhou, some had shared hardships with the founding emperor, while others were old friends with him. However, as time passed, they were gradually forgotten by the founding emperor, feeling quite resentful and constantly bragging about their accomplishments. While the founding emperor was indeed harsh, they were not careful enough in their words and deeds, which ultimately set the stage for their own downfalls.
In the beginning, those who helped Gaozu establish the dynasty rarely had a good ending, much less be honored in the ancestral temple or remembered in history. This is mainly because in the early stages of establishing a dynasty, everything was done out of expedience, as everyone had different goals. Over time, feelings naturally grew distant. Those who tilled the fields for the emperor, even if they had done wrong, Gaozu's methods of seizing their land were unjust. Could they not feel resentment? Gaozu punished them under various pretentious justifications, and his suspicion was truly excessive! It seems quite hard to secure wealth and prosperity for future generations!
