Yuanhui, courtesy name Shu Ping, hailed from Luoyang, Henan. His grandfather, Yuan Chen, served as the governor of Hengzhou and Shuozhou during the Wei dynasty. His father, Yuan Yi, held a prestigious position as the Left Minister in the Imperial Secretariat. Yuanhui was strikingly handsome, graceful, and had a deep passion for learning, having read many books. By his youth, he had already made a name for himself in the capital, and Emperor Wu of Zhou valued him highly, often inviting him to play and study with his sons, developing a close bond.
Around the age of twenty, he was summoned to the court and appointed as a military officer, quickly rising to the position of Junior Official of Military Affairs. At that time, the Turks frequently engaged in warfare, and the court wanted to establish friendly relations with them, so Yuanhui was sent as an envoy to the Turks with a gift of one hundred thousand bolts of silk. Yuanhui explained the benefits of a friendly relationship to the Khan of the Turks and expressed the sincerity of the court, which pleased the Khan greatly, who then sent many gifts in return. Subsequently, Yuanhui was promoted to the position of Yitong Sansi and Junior Official of the Department of Guests.
During the reign of Emperor Ming of Northern Zhou, the influential minister Yuwen Hu recognized his talents and appointed him as his chief aide. When Qi sent envoys to negotiate an alliance, Yuanhui, renowned for his eloquence, was sent to Qi along with Cui Mu. Later, he was promoted to the position of Zhenwei Zhong Daifu. When Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou married a Turkic princess, Yuanhui was also in charge of the wedding ceremony. He was subsequently promoted to Kaifu and appointed as the Minister of Justice. After restoring order in the eastern territories, the court sent him to pacify the people in Hebei, granting him the title of Yiningzi and a fief of four hundred households.
After Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty came to power, Yuan Hui was promoted to the title of Kaifu and was also granted the title of Duke. During the Kaihuang period of the Sui Dynasty, he was appointed as the Minister of the Interior and also served as the Grand Master. He submitted a memorial to the court, suggesting the construction of water conservancy projects to irrigate the salt-alkali land in the Du Yang River basin, turning thousands of acres of land into fertile fields, benefiting the common people. The following year, he was promoted to the position of General of the Left Guard, while still retaining the position of Grand Master. Not long after, he was further promoted to the Minister of Military Affairs, responsible for overseeing the construction of the canal. Unfortunately, he was later dismissed due to various reasons.
After some time, he was appointed as the Governor of Weizhou, where he did many good deeds and was held in high regard by the people. He served in Weizhou for several years before resigning from his official position due to illness. Over a year later, he passed away in the capital city at the age of sixty. Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty was very saddened by his death and assigned officials from the Honglu Temple to handle his funeral, posthumously conferring upon him the posthumous title "Yuan." His son, Yuan Su, inherited his title and later rose to the position of Gentleman of the Imperial Court; his younger brother, Yuan Renqi, who was both intelligent and capable, became the Magistrate of Jinan County.
Wei Shi, styled as Gongying, was from Duling, Chang'an. His father, Wei Tian, was the Grand General of the Northern Zhou Dynasty. Wei Shi was composed and mature from a young age, with a kind heart. When he first started studying, he sighed while reading the Classic of Filial Piety, saying, "The highest realm of moral education is probably just like this!" When he was young, his parents passed away one after the other, and he demonstrated exceptional filial piety during his mourning, earning widespread praise throughout the province for his filial conduct. As he grew up, he studied various classics and historical texts, and was particularly skilled in horseback riding and archery.
During the Northern Zhou Dynasty, Wei Shi was recognized for his talent by the Grand Chancellor Yuwen Hu and was appointed as a clerk in the Ministry of Interior. He was later promoted to the position of a military officer. Wei Shi was very knowledgeable about the customs and geographical features of various ethnic groups. Whenever minority groups came to pay tribute, he personally received them, thoroughly understanding their situation as clearly as he knew his own palm. The minority peoples greatly admired him and were open with him. When Prince Qi Yang Xian was appointed as the Governor of Yongzhou, he invited Wei Shi to be his chief clerk while retaining his original position. After Emperor Wen of Sui personally took power, Wei Shi was promoted to the position of Grand Master of the Household. After pacifying the Gao clan, the court sent him to Shandong to restore order among the people, and he was later appointed as a Grand Master of the Ministry of Interior.
After the establishment of the Sui Dynasty, Wei Shi was appointed as the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Justice and was titled Marquis of Jingxing with a fief of five hundred households. A few years later, he was further promoted to the position of Minister of War in Hebei Province and was appointed Chief Ambassador for the eighteen provinces of Shandong and Henan by the court. He consistently pleased the Emperor with his work, so the Emperor rewarded him with over three million coins and also appointed him as the Marshal of Prince Jin Yang Guang. His relative Wei Shikang, who was the Minister of Personnel at the time, had always been in rivalry with Wei Shi. At that time, Prince Jin Yang Guang was the Governor of Yongzhou and had a strong influence, with officials such as Yang Xiong and Gao Feng serving as provincial governors under him, while Wei Shi was appointed as the chief clerk. Wei Shikang's younger brother, Wei Shiyue, was serving as a legal officer under Wei Shi. Wei Shikang was furious, couldn't eat, and felt ashamed that his own brother was working under Wei Shi, so he summoned Wei Shiyue and reprimanded him harshly, asking why he had taken that position. He then gave Wei Shiyue a severe beating.
Later, Emperor Wen of Sui went to Li Quan Palace and summoned Wei Shi, Gao Qiang, Left Minister, Han Qinhun, and others to his palace to host them and share stories from the past for enjoyment. During the war to pacify the Chen Dynasty, Wei Shi served as the Marshal of the Army with the responsibility of managing the treasury of the Chen Dynasty. He was known for his honesty and integrity, earning widespread praise from the people. Later, Emperor Wen of Sui married his daughter off to Prince Changning, Yang Yan, and appointed Wei Shi as the Prefect of Bianzhou. He made significant achievements during his tenure and passed away in office, being posthumously honored with the title "Ding." His son, Wei Dezhi, also served as an official in the Sui Dynasty, eventually rising to the position of court attendant.
Yang Yi, whose courtesy name was Wenshu, was from Huayin, Hongnong. His grandfather, Yang Jun, held the position of Minister of Works in the Wei Kingdom, and his father, Yang Jian, served as Palace Attendant. Yang Yi was handsome, steady, and had great leadership skills. He started studying at a young age, memorizing thousands of characters every day, impressing everyone. When he was nine years old, his father passed away, which plunged him into deep sorrow and nearly took his life. After completing the mourning period, he declined all celebrations and condolences, opting to remain at home and focus on his studies. Over the years, he immersed himself in countless books.
During the reign of Emperor Zhou Min, he was appointed as the Governor of Ningdu, with remarkable political achievements and a good reputation. The court also granted him the title of Marquis of Changle County. Later, due to his many military merits, he was further enfeoffed as a marquis. When Gaozu became Chancellor, he sent him to handle affairs in Jizhou. After Gaozu ascended the throne, Yang Yi was appointed as the Junior Minister of the Imperial Household and was also granted the title of Kaifu. When Prince Shu was stationed in Yizhou, the court carefully selected officials to supervise and manage the region. Due to Yang Yi's integrity, he was appointed as the Governor of Yizhou, and the court rewarded him with two hundred thousand cash, three hundred rolls of silk, and fifty horses. Not long after, he was promoted to the Minister of War for the Southwest. Several years later, he returned to his position as Junior Minister of the Imperial Household. Shortly after, he was promoted to the Minister of Justice. A year later, he was appointed as the Governor of Wuzhou, with outstanding political achievements and a good reputation. At that time, Prince Jin was stationed in Yangzhou, and the court ordered Yang Yi to meet with Prince Jin once a year to discuss current affairs and offer mutual advice and corrections. Several years later, Yang Yi passed away at the age of sixty-two. His son was named Yang Qianxun.
Su Xiaoci was from Fufeng. His father, Su Wuzhou, served as the Inspector of Yanzhou in Northern Zhou. Su Xiaoci was calm and cautious from a young age, talented, and also handsome. In the early days of Northern Zhou, he served as a Senior Palace Attendant. Later, he was appointed as a Commander and sent on a mission to the Qi Kingdom. Due to his capable handling of affairs, he was promoted to Grand Commander. In the same year, he was sent on another mission to the Qi Kingdom, and upon his return, he was appointed as a Senior Official responsible for public communications. Later, he followed Emperor Wu on a campaign against the Qi Kingdom, and due to his military achievements, he was granted the title of Kaifu and was enfeoffed as the Duke of Wen'an County, with a fief comprising fifteen hundred households. Shortly after, he was re-enfeoffed as the Duke of Linshui County, with his fief increased to twenty-seven hundred households. He was subsequently promoted several times, eventually becoming a Senior Official in the Ministry of Works.
After Emperor Gaozu abdicated, Yang Xiaoci was promoted, ennobled as the Duke of Anping, and also became the Minister of the Imperial Treasury. At that time, the Great Sui Dynasty had just been established, and everything was still in its infancy. The emperor was busy recruiting skilled craftsmen from all over the country, and various skilled crafts came together. Yang Xiaoci was responsible for coordinating these matters, and he was widely regarded as doing a good job.
Not long after, he was promoted to Grand Minister of Agriculture, and over a year later, he became the Minister of War, with even greater rewards. At that time, the Crown Prince Yang Yong was quite knowledgeable about court affairs. The emperor wanted to elevate the status of palace officials, so many ministers were appointed to key positions within the palace. Therefore, Yang Xiaoci was also appointed as the Right Commander of the Crown Prince’s Guard, while retaining his position as Minister of War. The following year, the emperor ordered the construction of the Changping Granary in Shanzhou, to transport grain from across the empire to the capital. Due to the Wei River’s sandy conditions and fluctuating water levels, transportation was very difficult. So the emperor ordered the digging of a canal from the Wei River to the Yellow River, and tasked Yang Xiaoci with overseeing the project. After the project was completed, the emperor was very satisfied. He was subsequently appointed as the Crown Prince's Right Chamberlain, later promoted to Left Guard, and concurrently held the positions of Minister of Works and Minister of Civil Affairs, holding significant power and overseeing many affairs.
After a few years, he was promoted to Grand General, and then transferred to Minister of Works, while maintaining his other positions. Previously, due to a lack of funds for various officials, each department established a "departmental fund," relying on interest collection to supplement funds. Yang Xiaoci believed that this would lead to officials and civilians competing for resources, which hindered development. So he petitioned the emperor to abolish the "departmental fund" and suggested distributing different grades of official fields to court officials. The emperor accepted his suggestion. In the eighteenth year of the Kaihuang era, the emperor sought to depose the Crown Prince, fearing his influence was too great in the Eastern Palace, so he sent him away as the Governor of Xizhou. The Crown Prince was very unhappy about Yang Xiaoci leaving the Eastern Palace, making his displeasure evident. This clearly illustrates the emperor's high regard for Yang Xiaoci at that time!
During the Renshou era, Yang Xiaoci was promoted to Governor of Hongzhou, where he did a lot of good things. Later, the Shan Yue people in Guilin rose in rebellion, and the court appointed Yang Xiaoci as the Army Commander to quell the rebellion. He successfully suppressed the rebellion, but he died in office that year. He had a son named Yang Huichang.
Sha Luo, whose courtesy name was Zicui, his father served as the Governor of Meizhou during the Zhou Dynasty. Sha Luo served as an official in the Zhou Dynasty, starting as a Commander. Later, he accompanied Wei Xiaokuan in defeating Yu Jiong, earned merit, and was appointed as a Palace Attendant of equal rank with three offices, also granted the title of Duke of Tongqin County. During the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty, Prince Yang Xiu guarded Yizhou, and Sha Luo followed him, being appointed as the Governor of Zizhou.
Eight years later, the Rang Mang Qiang tribe revolted, attacking Wenshan and Jinchuan. Sha Luo led his troops to defeat their forces and was subsequently appointed as the Governor of Qiongzhou. After a few years, he was appointed as the deputy of the Governor of Lizhou. Later, he accompanied Shi Wansui in battles against the Xicuan, winning many battles and gaining significant merit, being promoted to Grand General and receiving about a thousand bolts of cloth. He then served as the deputy of the Governor of Yizhou.
At this point, the Yue Xi people, led by Wang Feng, revolted, and Sha Luo, along with Duan Wenzhen, jointly suppressed the rebellion. The Emperor rewarded him with a hundred servants. As a result, Prince Yang Xiu was deposed, and someone accused Sha Luo of hiding the truth that Wang Feng was killed by his slaves, while Yang Xiu pretended it was his attendants who killed him. He also mobilized the Shuliao and took away all the servants, which Sha Luo failed to report. Because of this incident, Sha Luo was removed from his position and ultimately died at home. He had a son named Kang.
Li Xiong, courtesy name Pilu, was from Gaoyi in Zhao commandery. His grandfather was a Grand Master of the Palace in the Wei dynasty, and his father was the Governor of Shanzhou in the Qi dynasty. After the Zhou dynasty conquered the Qi dynasty, Li Xiong followed the army to Chang'an. Li Xiong had been ambitious since childhood, with aspirations for greatness. While his family had a long tradition of becoming officials through scholarship, he preferred horseback riding and archery. His nephew advised him to give up studying and martial arts, as it was not something a scholar-official should do. Li Xiong replied, "I have studied many books on my own. In ancient times, loyal ministers and capable generals needed to excel in both scholarship and martial arts. Very few are proficient in both. Although I am not very bright, I have read some historical books, but I do not adhere strictly to rules and regulations. I can both study and practice martial arts. What is there for you to worry about, brother?" His brother was speechless.
During the reign of Emperor Taizu of the Zhou dynasty, Li Xiong was appointed as General of the State. He followed Daxi Wuping in pacifying Hanzhong, stabilizing Xingzhou, and defeating the rebellious Hu people in Fenzhou. For his achievements, he was appointed as the Grand General of the Cavalry and promoted to the rank of Yitong Sanqi, achieving a high official rank. Later, during the reign of Emperor Min, he was further promoted to Duke and transferred to work in the Xiaobin Department. He later battled the Qi forces at Mangshan with Daxi Wuping, and his troops were the only ones that remained unscathed after the other armies were defeated.
During the reign of Emperor Wu, he accompanied Prince Chen to welcome the Empress back from the Turks, and was further promoted to the title of Xibo, and appointed as the Inspector of Xiazhou. After a few years, he was recalled to the court and appointed as the Grand Master of the Capital. Shortly after, he was sent to Liangzhou as the Chief of Military Affairs. He later fought against the Tuyuhun with Prince Teng in Qinghai, and because of his accomplishments, he was elevated to the rank of Yitong.
After Emperor Xuan ascended to the throne, he teamed up with military commander Wei Xiaokuan to pacify Huainan. With only a few hundred light cavalry, he reached Xieshi and impressively persuaded over ten cities to surrender! He was appointed Inspector of Haozhou. Gaozu, now Prime Minister, summoned him back to court and appointed him Grand Master of the Palace Attendants. Due to his achievements in Huainan, he was promoted again, becoming a Marquis of Upper Court. After Gaozu became emperor, he appointed him Minister of War and titled him Duke of Gaodu County, truly a man of wealth!
After a few years, Prince Jin Guang was sent to Bingzhou as the Inspector, so Gaozu assigned this old general to Bingzhou as Minister of War to assist Prince Jin in governing the north. Gaozu said to him, "My son is still young and inexperienced; you are well-versed in both civil and military affairs. I entrust you to him so that I don't have to worry about the north." When the old general heard this, he immediately knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, you don't despise my lack of ability and entrust me with such an important task. Although I may be foolish, I am not heartless; I will do my best to repay your kindness!" With tears in his eyes, the emperor offered him comfort before sending him off.
He was upright and uncompromising in his position, and Prince Jin respected and feared him greatly, and the people praised him. Unfortunately, he sadly passed away a year later, and his son Gongting succeeded him in his title. Zhang Ji, courtesy name Shihong, hailed from Mao County in Hejian, Hebei. His father Zhang Xian had a deep love for learning from a young age, was well-versed in various fields, and served as the General of Cleansing Troubles in the Wei Kingdom. After following Emperor Wu of Wei into the capital, he rose through the ranks to eventually attain the prestigious position of Grand Master of Splendid Happiness.
Later, Emperor Taizu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty summoned him to serve as an official and granted him the surname Chiluo. He later served as a minister, an official of Yongzhou, Governor of Yongzhou, and Yitong Sanqi, and was also titled Duke of Yuxiang County, achieving a high rank. Subsequently, he returned to the court as a minister tasked with compiling the national history. At that time, most of the government officials of the Zhou Dynasty were former military generals, but Zhang Xian was highly respected for his extensive knowledge. As he aged, he retired and returned home.
When Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, Yang Jian, became emperor, he highly respected Zhang Xian's virtue and reputation and wrote a letter specifically inviting him to take an official position. In the letter, he wrote: "I have just unified the realm and am committed to governing it well. I have always admired esteemed elders like you, known for your virtue and reputation, hoping that you can come out to help. You previously served as Yitong Sanqi in the Zhou Dynasty, with a reputation for virtue and achievements. Although you have retired, you still have great energy. You should return to the court to serve me and fulfill my wishes." When Zhang Xian went to meet Yang Jian, Yang Jian ordered him not to kneel in respect, personally assisted him in entering the hall, descended from the throne, held his hand, sat with him for a long time, and even presented him with a cane and a seat.
Later, when the Sui Dynasty intended to relocate the capital to Longshou (modern-day Xi'an, Shaanxi), Zhang Xian wrote a memorial advising Yang Jian on diligence and frugality, for which Yang Jian specifically wrote a decree to express his gratitude. Shortly thereafter, Zhang Xian passed away at the age of eighty-four years. The court posthumously granted him the title of Governor of Cangzhou and bestowed upon him the posthumous title of "Ding." He also wrote commentaries on the "Laozi" and "Zhuangzi," collectively titled "Daoyan," which consists of fifty-two chapters in total.
Li Jun loved studying since he was young, completely inheriting his father's excellent qualities. He served as an official in the Wei Dynasty, starting from the lowest rank of court official and later was promoted to the position of junior attendant. Emperor Zhou of the Wei Dynasty valued his talents and appointed him to the military department. Later, Emperor Min succeeded to the throne and gave him the title of General. During the reign of Emperor Ming and Emperor Wu of the Sui Dynasty, he held the positions of Chief of the Palace Kitchen, Director of the Imperial Kitchen, and was also granted the title of Viscount of Beiping County with a fief of four hundred households. During the reign of Emperor Xuan, he was further enfeoffed as a Yitong official and his title was raised to Count. When Emperor Yang Jian of the Sui Dynasty was prime minister, Li Jun actively fostered a good relationship with him, and Yang Jian held him in high regard and valued him greatly. After Emperor Yang Jian ascended the throne, he appointed Li Jun as the Right Minister of the Imperial Secretariat and promoted him to the rank of Marquis. Not long after, he was promoted to Junior Minister of the Imperial Household Department and concurrently served as the supervisor of the newly established capital. Later, when his father passed away, he resigned from his official position to observe the mourning period at home, demonstrating profound grief. After the mourning period ended, the court requested him to resume his duties, but he respectfully declined. Finally, the court appointed him as a Yitong Sanqi and allowed him to inherit the title of the Duke of Yuxiang County, with his fief increased to one thousand five hundred households. Shortly after, he was promoted to Minister of the Imperial Household Department and ultimately became the Minister of Civil Affairs. Later, when Prince Jin Yang Guang was the Governor-General of Yangzhou, he appointed Li Jun as the Marshal and granted him the title of Grand Master of Splendid Happiness. Li Jun was known for his gentle and kind personality, great insight and discernment, and had a good reputation at the time. He was subsequently appointed as the Inspector of Jizhou, and Prince Jin Yang Guang repeatedly asked him to return as Chief Historian and oversee the affairs of Jiangzhou. When Prince Jin ascended to the position of Crown Prince, Li Jun was once again appointed as the Inspector of Jizhou, with his rank elevated to Upper Prefect, and the people held him in high esteem, praising him as an outstanding second-rank official. In the fourth year of the Renshou reign, Li Jun passed away at the age of seventy-four years. His son, Li Huibao, held the position of Magistrate of Jiangjun County.
During the Kaihuang era, there was a man named Liu Ren'en, his origins are unclear, but he was a talented and capable individual in both civil and military matters. He initially served as the governor of Maozhou, and his performance was among the best in the nation. He was later promoted to the position of Minister of Criminal Justice. He also served as a general under Yang Su in the campaign against the Chen dynasty, and in the Battle of Jingmen, he and Yang Su together defeated the Chen dynasty general Lv Zhongsu, with Liu Ren'en's strategies being crucial. He was then appointed as the Grand General, and he was held in high regard at that time. Guo Jun from Fengyi and Feng Shiji from Shangdang were both intelligent and strategic, and both went on to serve as Ministers of War. Di Qing from Dai, known for his generosity and wisdom, rose to the position of Minister of Personnel. These four men were quite prominent during that era, but there are few detailed records of their specific achievements in historical texts.
Historical records mention that two officials named Zhao Da were very knowledgeable in various allusions and were acknowledged as talented individuals at the time. However, once they held high positions, they did not have any outstanding achievements. This illustrates that everyone's talents are limited, each with their own uses, and cannot be forced.
Changsun Ping proposed pardoning those accused of slander, which was indeed a noble suggestion! The Emperor Gaozu was pleased and followed his advice, which brought great benefits! Yuan Hui was promoted due to his intelligence and competence, Wei Shi was renowned for his integrity, Yang Shangxi and Yang Yi were outstanding members of the imperial family, with high status and reputation. Su Xiaoxiao, Li Xiong, Zhang Jing, whether at court or in local regions, they demonstrated integrity and competence. They were all highly valued in the early years of the Kaihuang era and can be regarded as the most exceptional talents of that era.
