Let's first take a look at this historical book, which records the deeds of many people! First is Volume 47, Biography 12, which is about Wei Shikang, his siblings Wei Guang, Wei Yi, Wei Chong, and his cousin Wei Shou. Next is Volume 48, Biography 13, about Yang Su, his brother Yang Yue, and his cousins Yang Wensi and Yang Wenji. Volume 49, Biography 14, is about Niu Hong. Volume 50, Biography 15, recounts the stories of Yu Wenqing, Li Licheng, Yuan Xiaozhu, along with his brother Yuan Bao, Guo Rong, Pang Huang, and Li An. Volume 51, Biography 16, is about Changsun Lan, his cousin Changsun Chi, and his brother Changsun Cheng. Volume 52, Biography 17, records the lives of Han Qinhu and his brothers Han Sengshou, Han Hong, and He Ruobi. Volume 53, Biography 18, contains the biographies of Daxi Changru, Helou Zigang, and Shi Wansui, Liu Fang, Feng Yu, Wang Jing, Li Chong, Yang Wutong, Chen Yonggui, and Fang Zhao. Next is Volume 54, Biography 19, which recounts the deeds of Wang Changshu, Li Yan, Yi Louqian, Tian Rengong, Yuan Heng, Du Zheng, Li Che, Cui Peng, and others. Volume 55, Biography 20, is about Du Yan, Gao Mei, Erzhu Chang, Zhou Yao, Dugu Kai, Qifu Hui, Zhang Wei, He Hong, and Hou Mochenying. Volume 56, Biography 21, records the lives of Lu Kai, Linghu Xi, Xue Zhou, Yu Wenbi, Zhang Heng, and Yang Wang. Volume 57, Biography 22, is about Lu Sidao, his cousin Lu Changheng, as well as Li Xiaozheng, Xue Daoheng, and his brother Xue Ru. Volume 58, Biography 23, is about Ming Kerang, Wei Dan, Lu Shuang, Hou Bai, Du Taiqing, Xin Deyuan, Liu [full name needed], Xu Shanxin, and Li Wenbo. Volume 59, Biography 24, is about the three sons of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty.
Volume sixty, biographies twenty-five, includes Cui Zhongfang, Yu Zhongwen (his brother Yu Kai and cousin Yu Xi were also included), and Duan Wenzhen.
Volume sixty-one, biographies twenty-six, covers Yuwen Shu, Yun Dingxing, and Guo Yan.
Volume sixty-two, biographies twenty-seven, lists Wang Shao, Yuan Yan, Liu Xingben, Liang Pi, Liu Yu, Zhao Chuo, and Pei Su.
Volume sixty-three, biographies twenty-eight, features Fan Zigai, Shi Xiang, Yuan Shou, Yang Yichen, Wei Xuan, and Liu Quan.
Volume sixty-four, biographies twenty-nine, includes Li Yuantong, Chen Mao, Zhang Dinghe, Zhang Huan, Mai Tiezhang, Shen Guang, Lai Huer, Yu Juluo, Chen Leng, Wang Bian, and Husi Wanshan.
Lastly, volume sixty-five, biographies thirty, covers Zhou Luohe, Zhou Fashang, Li Jing, Murong Sanzang, and Xue Shixiong. This historical text really tells the stories of so many individuals!
Wow, how many pages do we have to turn for this? Is this part of the "Old Book of Tang"? Let’s take it one sentence at a time, slowly.
First, in volume sixty-six, biographies thirty-one, it mentions Wang Rengong, Quan Wu, Tu Wanxu, Dong Chun, and Zhao Cai, all figures from the Tang Dynasty. These names sound like important historical figures.
Next is volume sixty-seven, biographies thirty-two, which details Yu Shiji, Pei Yun, and Pei Ju. I feel like I've seen these names somewhere, maybe mentioned in history textbooks?
Volume sixty-eight, biographies thirty-three, recorded Yuwen Kai, Yan Pi, He Chou, Liu Long, Huang Gen, and Huang Gun, along with Huang Gun's brother Huang Gun. The Huang brothers seem to have some interesting stories.
Volume sixty-nine, biographies thirty-four, only had Wang Shao and Yuan Chong. This volume seems shorter, so maybe the deeds of these two are less significant.
Volume seventy, biographies thirty-five, includes Yang Xuangan, Li Zixiong, Zhao Yuanshu, Husi Zheng, Liu Yuanjin, Li Mi, and Pei Renji. Yang Xuangan, this name has a rebellious ring to it.
Volume 71, Biography 36, records Liu Hong, Huangfu Dan (as well as Tao Mo and Jing Zhao), You Yuan, Feng Ciming, Zhang Xuduo, Yang Shanhui, Dugu Sheng, Yuan Wendu, Lu Chu, Liu Ziyi, Yao Junsu, Chen Xiaoyi, Zhang Jixun, Song Yun, and many others. There are so many characters in this volume; it seems that the stories in this volume are quite captivating.
Volume 72, Biography 37, this volume is about individuals of filial piety and righteousness, including Lu Yanshi, Tian Demao, Xue Jun, Wang Ban, Yang Qing, Guo Jun, Tian Yi, Niu Hui, Liu Shijun, Lang Fanggui, Zhai Pulin, Li Derao, Hua Qiu, and Xu Xiaosu. They are all good people who do good deeds.
Volume 73, Biography 38, records the upright officials, including Liang Yanguang, Fan Shulue, Zhao Gui, Fang Gongyi, Gongsun Jingmao, Xin Gongyi, Liu Jian, Guo Xuan, Liu Kuang, Wang Jia, and Wei Deshen. These are the upright officials who work for the people!
Volume 74, Biography 39, this volume is about corrupt officials, recording She Di Shiwen, Tian Shi, Yan Rong, Zhao Zhongqing, Cui Hongduo (as well as his brother Cui Hongshi), Yuan Hongsi, and Wang Wentong. These are all tough characters in governance!
Volume 75, Biography 40, this volume is about scholars, including Yuan Shan, Xin Yanzhi, He Tuo (along with Xiao Gai and Bao Kai), Fang Huiyuan, Ma Guang, Liu Zhuo, Liu Xuan, Chu Hui, Gu Biao, Lu Shida, Zhang Chong, and Wang Xiaoji. They are all scholars well-versed in poetry and literature.
Volume 76, Biography 41, this volume is about literary figures, including Liu Zhen, Wang Kui, Cui Nuo, Zhuge Ying, Sun Wanshou, Wang Zhen, Yu Chuo, along with Xin Dade, Wang Zhou, Yu Zizhi, Pan Hui, Du Zhengxuan (as well as his brother Du Zhengcang), Chang Dezhi, Yin Shi, Liu Shanjing, Zu Junyan, Kong Deshao, and Liu Bin. These are all exceptionally talented literary figures!
Volume 77, Biographies 42, the final volume features reclusive figures like Li Shiqian, Cui Kuo (and his son Cui Ze), Xu Ze, and Zhang Wenxu. All of these figures sought a secluded life. It appears that the "Old Book of Tang" has quite a few notable figures! Let's continue reading; this is Biography 43, which discusses some figures in the arts, including Yu Jicai, style name Zizhi; Lu Taiyi, Geng Xun, Wei Ding, Lai He, Xiao Ji, Yang Bochou, Lin Xiaogong, Liu You, Zhang Zhouxuan, Xu Zhicang, and Wan Baochang (also known as Wang Lingyan).
Next is Biography 44, which focuses on the imperial relatives. Firstly, there is Gaozu's maternal family Lu, followed by Dugu Luo and his brother Dugu Tuo, as well as Xiao Kui and his son Xiao Cong, and Xiao Cong's brother Xiao Rong.
Biography 45 is "Biographies of Women," chronicling virtuous women like Princess Lanling, Princess Nanyang, Princess Xiangcheng's consort Ke, Princess Huayang's consort Kai, Lady Qiao from Qiao, Zheng Shanguo's mother, Filial Daughter Wang Shun, Han Ji's wife, Lu Rang's mother, Liu Chang's daughter, Zhong Shixiong's mother, Filial Woman Tan, Yuan Wuguang's mother, Pei Lun's wife, and Zhao Yuankai's wife.
Biography 46 covers the Eastern Barbarian regions, including Baekje, Silla, Mohe, Buyeo, and Wa.
Biography 47 is about the Southern Barbarian regions, including Linyi, Chitu, Zhenla, and Poli.
Biography 48 focuses on the Western Regions, which include Tuyuhun, Dangxiang, Gaochang, Kangguo, and Anguo. It also mentions Shiguo, Nvguo, Yanqi, Kucha, Shule, Yutian, Yehan, Turfan, Yida, Miguo, Shiguo, Caoguo, Heguo, Wunaho, Mugu, Persia, Caoguo, and Fuguo.
The forty-ninth chapter discusses the Northern Di, which includes the Western Turkic, Tiele, Xianbei, Khitan, and Shiwei, while the fiftieth chapter mentions Yuwen Huaji (his brother is Yuwen Huachi), Sima Dekan, Pei Qiantong, Wang Chong, and Duan Da.
