Yuwen Bi, with the courtesy name Gongfu, was from Luoyang, Henan. His ancestors were related to the royal family of the Zhou Dynasty. His grandfather, Yuwen Zhi, held the position of Grand Lu Prefect in the Wei Kingdom. His father, Yuwen Zhen, served as the Governor of Dangzhou during the Zhou Dynasty. Yuwen Bi was generous and principled, and well-educated. He achieved the rank of Senior Officer in the Ministry of Rites in the Zhou Dynasty. He was once sent as an envoy to the Dengzhi Kingdom, as well as to the Qiang tribal areas of Heishui and Longheng, where more than thirty tribes submitted to him. Upon his return, he was assigned to revise the "Five Rites." After completing the manuscript and submitting it, the Emperor rewarded him with twelve hectares of public land and one hundred measures of grain. He was later promoted to Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel and recommended eight individuals to become county magistrates. These individuals later made significant political contributions, and at the time, people held him in high regard for his judgment. He was later promoted to Senior Officer of the Interior Department.
Emperor Wu planned to deploy troops to Heyang to attack the Qi state. He conferred with his ministers on the battle plan. Yuwen Bi advised, "The Qi state has been established for many generations. Although their rule is not great, they still have vassals and allied forces. In deploying troops now, we must select the right battlefield. Heyang is a strategic location where Qi's elite soldiers are concentrated. A full-scale attack and siege would likely face significant challenges. I believe the bend in the Fen River and the surrounding low hills present a more vulnerable target. This is the most suitable location for military action; I hope Your Majesty will consider it carefully." Emperor Wu did not adopt his advice, and the army achieved no victories. In the fifth year of Jiande, a major offensive against the Qi state was initiated, ultimately employing Yuwen Bi's strategy. Yuwen Bi then recruited hundreds of valiant young warriors from the Guanzhong region to form a special forces team, following Emperor Wu to attack Jinzhou. Even after being struck by three arrows, he fought valiantly, earning Emperor Wu's high praise. Later, he accompanied Emperor Wu in pacifying the Qi state. Due to his military achievements, he was appointed as Shang Yitong, granted the title of Duke of Wuwei County, awarded a fief consisting of 1,500 households, rewarded with 1,500 pieces of silk, 150 servants, more than 1,000 cattle, sheep, and horses, and appointed as the governor of Sizhou.
After Emperor Xuan ascended the throne, Yuwen Bi was appointed as the Left Minister of the Imperial Ancestral Temple. At that time, the Turks launched an invasion of Ganzhou, and the Emperor ordered Hou Mochen Chang to lead the troops to attack, with Yuwen Bi appointed as the military supervisor. He said to Hou Mochen Chang, "The Turkic army is formidable and fast-moving. It is difficult to catch up with them if we pursue. We should select elite cavalry and head directly towards the west of Qilian Mountain. If the enemy retreats, they will definitely pass through north of Liaoquan, where the terrain is rugged and marshy. It is likely that their army and horses will take three days to pass through. We can pursue them slowly and will surely catch up. This way, we can exhaust the enemy and secure victory. Blocking this route would be the best strategy." However, Hou Mochen Chang ignored his advice and attacked Heli Mountain to the west. The army moved sluggishly, allowing the Turks to escape across the border. That year, Yuwen Bi led troops to capture Shouyang following Liang Shiyan, and was subsequently granted the title of Duke of Anle County, with an allocation of six hundred households, six hundred pieces of silk, along with slaves and horses. He was appointed Governor of Huizhou and soon thereafter promoted to Governor of Nansizhou. Later, when Sima Xiaonan fled to the Chen Kingdom, Yuwen Bi was unable to pursue him. He fought against Chen Kingdom's general Fan Yi at Zhangkou, fighting from morning until noon, achieving victory three times and capturing three thousand soldiers. He was appointed Governor of Huangzhou and soon promoted to Governor of Nandingzhou.
In the early years of the Kaihuang reign, due to previous achievements, he was appointed Duke of Pingchang, with his fief expanded to include 1,200 households, and returned to the court as the Right Chancellor. At that time, the Western Qiang tribes surrendered, and the court sent Yuwen Bi to pacify them, establishing the Yanzhe and Puchang counties before returning. He was promoted to the Left Assistant Secretary, known for his integrity in the officialdom and respected by all officials. Three years later, the Tujue invaded Ganzhou, and he, as a military officer in charge of the march, followed Marshal Dou Rongding in defeating the Tujue army. Upon his return, he was appointed as the Junior Minister of Works and later promoted to the Deputy Minister of Personnel. In the campaign against the Chen Kingdom, Yang Su led the army from Xinzhou, while Yuwen Bi was appointed as the commander of the troops and the chief marching general. In the battle where Liu Ren'en defeated the Chen Kingdom general Lv Zhongsu, Yuwen Bi also offered many strategic suggestions. He was granted the title of Kaifu, promoted to Minister of Justice, and appointed as the Prince's Guard Commander. The Emperor personally took part in the sacrificial ceremony, and Yuwen Bi and the scholars discussed together. His words were clear and fluent, attracting attention. The Emperor was very pleased and said to his attendants, "Now I see the rituals established by the Duke of Zhou and hear Confucius's teachings on filial piety, which really comforts me." He then rewarded everyone, with varying levels of rewards. At that time, the court regarded Taiyuan as a key military stronghold, and the Governor of Bingzhou was required to be a member of the imperial family, with the Chief Clerk and the Marshal also being high-ranking officials. After the former Chief Clerk Wang Shao passed away, Yuwen Bi, renowned for his civil and military skills, was appointed as the Chief Clerk of Bingzhou. Soon after, he resigned due to his father's death, but was quickly recalled by the court. In the eighteenth year, during the campaign in Liaodong, he was appointed as the Marshal of the Han Prince's Household, still serving as the chief marching general. After the war ended, he successively served as the Governor of Shuozhou, Daizhou, and Wuzhou, achieving significant political accomplishments.
After Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty took the throne, Yuwen Bi was recalled to the capital to serve as the Minister of Justice, where he was tasked with inspecting the Hebei region. Upon returning, he was appointed Governor of Quanzhou. More than a year later, he returned to serve as Minister of Justice, and shortly thereafter was promoted to the Minister of Rites. Yuwen Bi, due to his outstanding abilities, held prominent positions and high prestige, causing much discussion and admiration among the people, which began to make the Emperor wary of him. At that time, the Emperor became increasingly engrossed in pleasure and military campaigns. Yuwen Bi remarked to Gao Feng, "In the past, the emperors of the Zhou Dynasty were obsessed with pleasure, which led to the downfall of the country. The current situation is quite similar; isn't it worth being cautious?" He also said, "The battle at the Great Wall, fortunately, is not an urgent task." These remarks were reported to the Emperor, who ultimately ordered Yuwen Bi's execution. At the time of his death, he was sixty-two, and people everywhere felt he had been wronged. He composed over two hundred thousand words of prose and poetry, and his works, 'Shangshu' and 'Annotations on the Classic of Filial Piety,' were widely circulated. He was survived by two sons, Yuwen Jian and Yuwen Yuan.
Zhang Heng, known as Jianping, was from Henei. His grandfather, Zhang Yi, was the prefect of Heyang during the Wei Kingdom, and his father, Zhang Guang, was the inspector of Wanzhou in the Zhou Dynasty. Zhang Heng had lofty ambitions from a young age and was known for his integrity and resolve. At the age of fifteen, he enrolled in the imperial academy, and his hard work earned him the respect of his classmates. When Emperor Wu of the Zhou Dynasty was saddened by the death of the empress and went hunting, Zhang Heng faced the biting cold and snow to stop the emperor’s horse and give counsel. The emperor was impressed and rewarded him with clothes and horses, appointing him as a reader for the Prince of Han. Zhang Heng later studied the "Three Rituals" under Shen Zhong and mastered the key principles. He was promoted several times and eventually rose to the rank of Grand Master. When Emperor Gaozu ascended the throne, Zhang Heng was appointed as the Minister of State. Later, when Prince Yang Guang took over as the governor of Hebei, Zhang Heng held positions in both the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Revenue. After the governorship was abolished, he was appointed as an aide to the Governor of Bingzhou. When Yang Guang was reassigned as the Governor of Yangzhou, Zhang Heng followed him as an aide. Yang Guang trusted him immensely, and many of his strategies for unifying the realm were proposed by Zhang Heng. Later, due to his mother's death, Zhang Heng resigned from his post to mourn at home. A year later, he was appointed as the military advisor to the Governor of Yangzhou, and the court also granted him three hundred bolts of cloth.
During the Kaihuang period, Li Yinglin of Xizhou rebelled and declared himself the officials. The court appointed Zhang Heng as the general in charge of the army, leading fifty thousand soldiers to suppress the rebellion. After successfully quelling the rebellion, Zhang Heng was granted the title of Chancellor, and the court rewarded him with one hundred and thirty servants, five hundred bolts of cloth, as well as a large amount of gold, silver, and livestock. Later, Yang Guang became the crown prince, and Zhang Heng was appointed as the Right Privy Councillor and concurrently served as the Minister of the Yellow Gate. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended to the throne, Zhang Heng continued to serve as the Minister of the Yellow Gate and was promoted to Senior Grand Minister, and soon after was promoted to Grand Justice, highly favored by the emperor. In the third year of Daye, Emperor Yang of Sui inspected Yulin Commandery and on his way back to Taiyuan, he said to Zhang Heng, "I want to visit your home and you will be the host." Zhang Heng immediately rushed back to his hometown in Henan with his family to prepare a feast to welcome the emperor. Emperor Yang of Sui crossed the Taihang Mountains and opened a direct road of ninety li to reach Zhang Heng's residence. The emperor greatly enjoyed the mountain spring at Zhang Heng's residence, stayed there for three days, and exclaimed, "When I followed the late emperor to Mount Tai for sacrifices, passing through Luoyang, I always wanted to come here but never had the opportunity. I didn't expect to fulfill this wish today." Zhang Heng kowtowed in gratitude and respectfully presented fine wine. Emperor Yang of Sui was very pleased and rewarded Zhang Heng with thirty hectares of land near his home, a good horse, a golden belt, six hundred bolts of silk, a piece of clothing, and a set of imperial tableware. Zhang Heng politely declined, but Emperor Yang of Sui said, "When the emperor travels, everywhere he visits is considered a reward, there is no need to decline." Zhang Heng then hosted a banquet for the emperor and ordered the banquet leftovers to be distributed among the court officials, even the guards received a share.
Zhang Heng, due to his close ties with the royal family, was greatly favored and gradually became arrogant and conceited. The following year, Emperor Yang of Sui visited the Fenyang Palace and hosted a banquet for his ministers, bestowing upon Zhang Heng five hundred bolts of silk. At that point, Emperor Yang of Sui wanted to expand the Fenyang Palace and asked Zhang Heng and Ji Hong to come up with a plan to submit. Zhang Heng seized the opportunity to offer counsel, saying, "In recent years, there has been a lot of labor and the people are exhausted. I hope Your Majesty can show compassion for the people and reduce some of the projects." Emperor Yang of Sui was very angry. Later, before the courtiers, Emperor Yang of Sui remarked to Zhang Heng, "Zhang Heng believes that it was his strategies that enabled me to rule the realm." At that time, Prince Qi Yang Jian fell out of favor, and Emperor Yang of Sui secretly sent people to find evidence of his crimes. Some accused Yang Jian of violating the rules, and the palace official Fu Xu was also involved in this matter at the Fenyang Palace. Others said that when Emperor Yang of Sui went to Zhuo County and Mount Heng for sacrifices, the people who came to pay their respects were in disarray. Emperor Yang of Sui blamed Zhang Heng, who was responsible for maintaining order, for not correcting these issues and demoted him to the position of Yulin Prefect. The following year, Emperor Yang of Sui visited the Fenyang Palace again, and Zhang Heng urged the construction of Loufan City and went to visit the emperor. Emperor Yang of Sui saw that Zhang Heng was still fat and thought he had not shown any remorse, so he told him, "You are still so fat, go back to Yulin." Zhang Heng then returned to Yulin. Shortly after, he was ordered to oversee the construction of Jiangdu Palace. Some people went to Zhang Heng to report the crimes of the palace officials, but Zhang Heng did not handle it himself and instead handed the case over to the palace officials, leading to the harsh persecution of the accusers. The Minister of Rites, Yang Xuange, sent people to Jiangdu, and the accusers told Yang Xuange about their grievances. Yang Xuange concluded that Zhang Heng had indeed acted improperly.
Later, Yang Xuangan and Zhang Heng met. Before saying anything, Zhang Heng said, "Xue Daoheng was truly wronged." Yang Xuangan reported the incident, and the Prefect of Jiangdu, Wang Shichong, repeatedly reported that Zhang Heng had reduced construction materials. Emperor Yang of Sui was furious, ordered his execution, and had Zhang Heng escorted to Jiangdu. He was not released for a long time, stripped of his official rank, and allowed to return home to farm. Emperor Yang of Sui also frequently dispatched trusted agents to secretly monitor Zhang Heng's every move. Eight years later, Emperor Yang of Sui returned from Liaodong to the capital, and Zhang Heng's concubine accused him of harboring resentment towards the court and slandering the government. In the end, Zhang Heng was executed. Before he died, Zhang Heng exclaimed, "What bad things have I done in my life that I cannot live much longer!" The executioner plugged his ears and urged him to die quickly. During the Yining era, the court later deemed Zhang Heng's death unjust, posthumously conferred upon him the titles of Grand General and Duke of Nanyang County, and honored him with the posthumous title of "Loyal." He had a son named Zhang Xixuan.
Yang Wang, style name Yuandu, was originally from Hongnong Huayin. His great-grandfather Yang Shun moved to Hedong. His father, Yang Chen, rose to the rank of Yitong Sansi. When Yang Wang became successful, his father was posthumously titled as the Duke of Pingxiang County. Yang Wang was quite a handful in his youth; he liked to fight, and no one he fought could hold their own against him. As he grew up, he changed his ways, studied diligently, focused on studying the "Zuo Zhuan," and was also knowledgeable in the "Three Rituals." He first served as a reader under King Ji of Zhou, who held him in high regard and often remarked, "Yang's moral character and knowledge are profound; he is my good teacher and friend!" Later, he studied etiquette under Shen Zhong and the "Book of Han" under Liu Zhen. Both praised him, stating, "We can't compare to him!" As a result, Yang Wang's reputation soared, and he rose to the rank of senior official in the Xia government.
When Yang Guang, the Emperor of the Sui Dynasty, became Prime Minister, he summoned him to take part in military affairs and later promoted him to be the Grand Minister of the Court. After Yang Guang became emperor, he granted him the title of Earl of Pingxiang County, bestowing upon him a fief consisting of two hundred households. He later served as a deputy in both the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War, as well as the Chief Historian under the Governor of Qinzhou, and he was widely regarded as highly capable. He was later promoted to the deputy of the Ministry of Personnel but was dismissed due to a minor infraction. He then served as the Chief Historian of Jingzhou and Luozhou, and after handling public affairs, he would gather his students to deliver lectures, earning widespread praise from his contemporaries.
After a few years, Yang Guang said to his advisor, Wang Da, "Help me find a suitable deputy of the Ministry of Personnel." Wang Da privately told Yang Wang, "I want to recommend you as the deputy of the Ministry of Personnel. If it succeeds, I will give you a good piece of land!" Yang Wang informed Yang Guang of Wang Da's proposal, and as a result, Wang Da faced punishment for this incident, while Yang Wang eventually became the deputy of the Ministry of Personnel. Yang Wang was well-versed in legal texts and made decisive rulings, and everyone at the time said he was competent. After Emperor Yang Guang ascended the throne, he appointed him as the Grand Minister of Justice. Two days after Yang Wang took office, the emperor wished to personally interrogate the prisoners. There were more than two hundred prisoners detained at the time, and Yang Wang reviewed all the cases overnight, reporting to the emperor the following morning and providing a clear and comprehensive account, with no omissions. The emperor was very pleased.
One year later, he was appointed as the Grand Scholar of the National Academy. The emperor ordered all officials to study at the National Academy, engaging in discussions with Yang Wang about learning. The nation's most renowned Confucian scholars gathered there. They engaged in heated debates, but none were able to challenge his arguments. The emperor ordered the imperial censor to record their questions and answers and report them to him. The emperor was delighted after reading them and rewarded him with a good horse. During the Daye era, he was promoted to the rank of Silver Green Grandee. Later, Yang Xuangan rebelled in Henan, and the court sent Pei Hongce to lead the troops to suppress the rebellion, but they were defeated. Pei Hongce withdrew his troops and met Yang Wang on the way, quietly having a conversation with him. Later, the acting governor Fan Zigai assassinated Pei Hongce and reported the matter to Yang Wang. The emperor suspected this incident and demoted Yang Wang to the Prefect of Liangjun.
At this time, Li Mi was approaching the Eastern Capital; his forces frequently launched attacks on Liangjun, and Yang Wang led the troops to resist, defeating their attacks many times. After the death of Emperor Yang of Sui, Wang Shichong supported Prince Yue Yang Dong as emperor, placing great trust in Yang Wang as Minister of Personnel. After Wang Shichong seized power, Yang Wang continued to work for him. After Wang Shichong was eliminated, Yang Wang was executed for being a supporter of Wang Shichong.
Historical records state that Lu Kai's advice was quite good, Ling Huxi governed well, Xue Zhou was fair in his enforcement of the law, Yu Wenbi had high prestige, Zhang Heng was known for his integrity, and Yang Wang was proud of his knowledge. However, all these people only started off well; very few managed to persist until the end, just like a mountain built up to nine ren high, only to collapse from a single basket of soil—what a pity! Loyalty is a good virtue; even loyalty aimed at the wrong person may not yield results, let alone when you're on the wrong path and with the wrong people. As the saying goes: "Don't be the leader of power, otherwise you will have to bear the consequences." Also: "Don't provoke trouble, don't cause chaos." As for Zhang Heng, since he stirred up trouble, he is essentially the one in power and is not heeding advice in his actions. Isn't it only natural for him to end up this way?
Having said that, Lu Kai, Ling Huxi, Xue Zhou, Yu Wenbi, Zhang Heng, and Yang Wang all initially did very well, but none of them managed to end well—it’s truly a shame! Just like the saying "the foundation of nine ren, all collapsed in one basket," a failure at the last hurdle! What does this tell us? Loyalty is a good thing, but it also depends on the object. If used in the wrong place, the impact is significantly diminished. And then there's Zhang Heng, who chose the wrong path and the wrong people—talk about asking for trouble! As the ancients wisely said: "Those who seek power will bear the blame." "Without starting trouble, there will be no chaos." This Zhang Heng, causing his own downfall, provoking trouble, and taking on the role of the power leader, not heeding advice and ending up in such a situation, is hardly surprising!
