Chang Sun Ping, whose courtesy name was Chu Jun, was from Luoyang, Henan. His father, Chang Sun Jian, was a pillar general of the Northern Zhou dynasty, holding a high rank. Chang Sun Ping was handsome, capable, and educated. He initially served as a tutor to Prince Wei (Yuwen Zhi) in Northern Zhou. During that time, Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou was under the control of Yuwen Hu and wanted to eliminate him with Prince Wei's help. Chang Sun Ping was often dispatched to negotiate with the Emperor regarding this matter. After Yuwen Hu was killed, Chang Sun Ping was promoted and held positions such as Kaifu and Minister of Music.
When Emperor Xuan succeeded to the throne, he established several government offices in the east and appointed Chang Sun Ping as a junior magistrate, tasked with overseeing the affairs of the Six Ministries alongside another official named Zhao Fen. Before Yang Jian ascended the throne, he had a close relationship with Chang Sun Ping. After Yang Jian became the Prime Minister, he bestowed even greater favor upon Chang Sun Ping. Later, Wei Jiong, Wang Qian, and Sima Xiaonan rebelled, and Yang Jian grew increasingly concerned about the Huainan region. At that time, He Ruobi was stationed in Shouyang, and Yang Jian feared he might have ulterior motives, so he dispatched Chang Sun Ping to take his place. As expected, He Ruobi refused to comply, so Chang Sun Ping led troops to arrest him and return him to the capital.
In the third year of the Kaihuang reign, Changsun Ping was promoted to the position of Minister of Revenue, responsible for managing finances and grain supplies. He discovered that there were frequent floods and droughts across the country, leading to widespread hunger among the people. He suggested that people should set aside a portion of their grain each autumn, based on their individual circumstances, to be stored in the village for future emergencies. These grain storehouses were referred to as "charity granaries." He also wrote a memorial to the emperor, stating: "I have heard that the state regards the people as its foundation, and the people regard food as essential to their survival. I encourage the people to work diligently in their fields and store more grain, as this has been a priority for emperors throughout history. In ancient times, people could save enough grain for a year after three years of farming, and enough for three years after nine years of farming. Even during natural disasters, the people would not go hungry due to the emphasis on agricultural production and proactive preparation. Last year, many people in the Guanzhong region starved to death due to drought. Your Majesty transported grain from Shandong and established the Changping granary to provide relief to the disaster victims. Your kindness is truly remarkable! However, effective governance requires long-term planning, so I ask you to order all provincial governors and county magistrates to prioritize encouraging the people to farm and store grain." The emperor was pleased and accepted his suggestion. From then on, the country experienced abundant harvests, and the people expressed their gratitude towards him.
After a few years, he was promoted and became the Minister of Public Works, performing quite well. At this time, someone reported that Grand Commander Bing Shao had spoken ill of the court, saying that the emperor was incompetent, which angered the emperor, prompting him to want to execute Bing Shao. Li Gang quickly advised, "Rivers and lakes can accommodate mud, so they can become deep and wide; mountains can accommodate diseases, so they can become tall and majestic. I hope Your Majesty can be as tolerant as the mountains and seas, displaying great magnanimity. As the saying goes, 'One cannot be a great leader without being neither foolish nor deaf.' Though this saying is simple, it conveys a profound truth. Bing Shao's remarks should not have been reported at all, yet Your Majesty still wished to execute him. I worry that future generations might perceive a lack of wisdom in Your Majesty." After hearing this, the emperor pardoned Bing Shao and ordered that such slanderous memorials should not be submitted to him in the future.
Later, the Turkic Khans, Da Tou Khan and Du Lan Khan, fought each other, and both sides sent envoys to request help from the court. The Emperor dispatched Li Gang with an imperial decree to mediate and rewarded them with three hundred bolts of silk and a fine horse. Li Gang went to the Turks and analyzed the interests of both sides, resulting in both sides agreeing to a ceasefire. The Khan also gave him two hundred horses as a gift. After returning to the court, Li Gang presented all the horses to the Emperor, who rewarded him with them. Shortly thereafter, he was demoted and appointed Minister of Works in Bianzhou. Over a year later, he was promoted to the Governor of Bianzhou. He subsequently served as the Governors of Xuzhou and Beizhou, performing excellently in each position. Ye City had a notoriously poor atmosphere that was difficult to govern, and previous governors had not done a good job. Because of Li Gang's outstanding performance in various regions, the court appointed him Governor of Xiangzhou, where he excelled. After a few years in Xiangzhou, during celebrations on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the people dressed in costumes resembling armor, which angered the Emperor, resulting in his dismissal. Not long after, the Emperor recalled his achievements during his service in Huainan and promoted him to Grand General, appointed him Minister of Ceremonies and acting Minister of Personnel. He passed away during the Renshou era, posthumously titled "Kang."
His son, Li Shi Xiao, was frivolous, cunning, greedy, and opportunistic, committing multiple crimes. The Emperor sent condolences upon Li Gang's death. Li Shi Xiao later became the Registrar of Bohai County during a time of court corruption, taking advantage of this and embezzling freely, inflicting great suffering on the county's populace. Ultimately, he was killed by Wang Shichong.
Yuanhui, courtesy name Shuping, was from Luoyang, Henan. His grandfather, Yuan Chen, was the Inspector of Hengzhou and Shuozhou during the Wei Kingdom. His father, Yuan Yi, had served as the Minister of the Left in the Imperial Secretariat. Yuanhui was a handsome and elegant young man who loved learning and had read widely. He gained a reputation in the capital at a young age, and Emperor Zhou Wudi held him in high regard, inviting him to play and study with his sons, forming a close relationship. Around the age of twenty, he was summoned to the court to serve as a military officer, and soon rose in rank to become a junior official of the Wubo.
At that time, the Turks frequently engaged in battles, and the court wanted to form an alliance with them, so Yuanhui was sent as an envoy with one hundred thousand bolts of silk to the Turks. Yuanhui outlined the advantages of an alliance with the Turks and expressed the sincerity of the court, which pleased the Khan greatly. The Khan even sent his prince to accompany Yuanhui back and presented many gifts. Later, Yuanhui was promoted to Right Scribe and Lower Officer of the Ministry of Rites. During the Baoding period, Grand Chancellor Yuwen Hu appointed him as his chief of staff, and he was dispatched as an envoy to Qi to negotiate an alliance with the court, along with the Marquis of Qiancheng, Cui Mu. He was later promoted to Major of the Zhenwei.
When Emperor Wudi took a Turkic princess as his wife, Yuanhui was subsequently sent to deliver gifts. He was then promoted to Kaifu and later became the Chief Justice. After pacifying the eastern regions, the court sent Yuanhui to reassure the people in Hebei, granting him the title of Yiningzi and a fief of four hundred households.
After Gaozu took control of the court, he promoted Yuan Hui and appointed him as Governor, also raising his title. During the Kaihuang era, Yuan Hui was appointed as the Minister of Personnel and also served as the Grand Minister. He petitioned the court to dig the Duyang River to irrigate the Sanchi Plain, turning thousands of acres of saline-alkali land into fertile fields, benefiting the common people. The following year, he was promoted to General of the Left, while retaining the position of Grand Minister. Not long after, he was promoted to Minister of Military Affairs, responsible for supervising the construction of canals. Shortly afterwards, he was dismissed from his position due to political reasons. After some time, he was appointed as the Governor of Weizhou, where he did many good deeds. After serving in Weizhou for several years, he resigned from his official position due to illness. Over a year later, he passed away in the capital city at the age of sixty. The emperor was very saddened and assigned officials from the Honglu Temple to handle his funeral, posthumously naming him "Yuan." His son, Yuan Su, inherited his title and later became the Gentleman of the Imperial Court. Yuan Su's younger brother, Yuan Renqi, was intelligent and capable, eventually becoming the County Magistrate of Jinan.
Wei Shi, styled Gongying, was from Duling, Chang'an. His father, Wei Zhen, was the Grand General of the Bei Zhou. Wei Shi was steady and experienced from a young age and had a kind heart. When he first started studying, he encountered the Classic of Filial Piety and exclaimed, "Perhaps the highest realm of moral education lies here!" When he was young, his parents passed away one after the other, and he mourned diligently, which earned him praise from the villagers for his devotion. As he grew older, he studied various classics and historical texts, excelling in horseback riding and archery.
During the Northern Zhou dynasty, the Grand Chancellor Yuchi Hu valued Wei Shi's talent and appointed him as a scribe in the central government office, later promoting him to the position of military aide. Wei Shi had a deep understanding of the customs and geography of various ethnic groups. Whenever minority groups came to pay tribute, he could converse with them, analyze their national customs, as clear as the palm of his hand. The members of these minority groups were amazed by him and held him in high regard, not daring to hide anything. Later, when Prince Qi Yang Xian became the governor of Yongzhou, he invited Wei Shi to be his registrar, while allowing him to keep his original position. When Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, ascended to the throne, Wei Shi was promoted to a high-ranking official. After pacifying the Gao clan rebellion, the court sent him to Shandong to pacify the people, and he was promoted to a high-ranking official.
After Emperor Yang Jian of the Sui dynasty proclaimed himself emperor, he appointed Wei Shi as the deputy minister of the Ministry of Justice, granting him the title of Marquis of Jingxing and a fief of five hundred households. Several years later, he was subsequently promoted to Minister of War for Hebei Province and appointed as the chief pacification envoy for the eighteen prefectures of Shandong and Henan. He carried out his duties in accordance with the emperor's intentions, and the emperor rewarded him with three million in gold, also appointing him as the military advisor to Prince Jin, Yang Guang. His cousin Wei Shikang, who was the Minister of Personnel at the time, had always been rivals with Wei Shi. At that time, Prince Jin Yang Guang was the governor of Yongzhou, and under him were some powerful figures such as the Minister of Works Yang Xiong and the Supervisor of the Left Gao Feng, who served as provincial governors, while Wei Shi was only a registrar. What infuriated Wei Shikang even more was that his younger brother Wei Shiyue was actually serving as a judicial officer under Wei Shi. Wei Shikang was so angry that he couldn't eat, feeling humiliated that his brother was working under Wei Shi, so he summoned him and berated him, saying, "Why did you become a judicial officer?" and then gave Wei Shiyue a severe beating.
Later, Emperor Wen of Sui went to Liquan Palace, summoned Wei Shi, Left Deputy Minister Gao Qing, and Han Qinhutong, among others, and hosted a banquet in the palace, encouraging them to share stories from the past for a lively and enjoyable evening. In the war to pacify the Chen Dynasty, Wei Shi served as a marshal clerk in his official capacity, managing everything in the Chen Dynasty's national treasury. He was honest and upright, with impeccable integrity, and everyone said he was clean and honest. Later, Emperor Wen of Sui married his daughter to Prince Yang Yan of Changning, and Wei Shi was appointed as the Prefect of Bianzhou. He had remarkable achievements and eventually passed away in office, posthumously honored with the title "Ding." His son Wei Dezhen later served as a court official in the Sui Dynasty.
Yang Yi, styled Wenshu, was from Huayin, Hongnong. His grandfather Yang Jun served as the Minister of Works in the Wei Kingdom, and his father Yang Jian served as a palace attendant. Yang Yi was handsome, calm, and possessed strong leadership qualities. He started studying from a young age, able to recite thousands of characters every day, which impressed everyone. When he was nine years old, his father passed away, leading to overwhelming grief that nearly cost him his life. After the mourning period ended, he turned down all celebrations and condolences, opting to study in solitude. Over the years, he immersed himself in numerous texts.
During the reign of Emperor Zhou Min, Yang Yi was appointed as the Prefect of Ningdu, with outstanding achievements and a good reputation. The court also granted him the title of Count of Changle County. Later, due to his numerous military achievements, he was enfeoffed as a count. When Gaozu became Prime Minister, he sent him to Jizhou to handle affairs. After Gaozu ascended the throne, Yang Yi was appointed as Minor Minister of the Imperial Clan and was also granted the power of Kaifu. "The Prince of Shu, Xiu Zhi, was stationed in Yizhou," the court meticulously selected officials to govern the Shu region, and because of Yang Yi's integrity, he was appointed as the Chief Steward of Yizhou, and the court rewarded him with 200,000 coins, 300 bolts of silk, and 50 horses. Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to Minister of War for the Southwest Circuit. Several years later, he returned to his position as Minor Minister of the Imperial Clan. Shortly after, he was promoted to the Minister of Justice. Over a year later, he was transferred to Wuzhou as the Prefect, where he continued to demonstrate excellent governance. At that time, Prince Jin Guang was stationed in Yangzhou, and the court ordered Yang Yi to meet with Prince Jin Guang once a year to discuss state affairs and remind each other of their shortcomings. Several years later, Yang Yi passed away at the age of sixty-two. His son, Yang Qianxun, survived him.
Su Xiaoci was from Fufeng. His father, Su Wuzhou, served as the Inspector of Yanzhou during the Zhou Dynasty. Su Xiaoci was steady and responsible from a young age, and also handsome. In the early Zhou Dynasty, he served as a Senior Attendant of the Central Court. Later, he was appointed as a Commander, sent on a mission to the Qi State, and, due to his outstanding performance, he was promoted to Grand Commander. In the same year, he was sent on another mission to the Qi State, and upon his return, he was appointed as a Senior Attendant of Xuan Na. Later, he followed Emperor Wu in the conquest of the Qi State, and due to his military achievements, he was granted the title of Kaifu, with the title of Duke of Wen'an County, and a fief of 1,500 households. Shortly after, he was reappointed as the Duke of Linshui County, with his fief increased to 2,700 households, and his official position continued to rise to the rank of Senior Minister of the Ministry of Works.
After the abdication of Emperor Gaozu, Yang Su was appointed as the Duke of Anping County and also became the Minister of the Granaries. At that time, the Great Sui Dynasty had just been established, and many matters had to be addressed from the ground up. The emperor ordered the recruitment of skilled craftsmen and artisans from across the country, and various sophisticated techniques were collected. Yang Su was responsible for coordinating these efforts, and everyone thought he was doing a great job. Before long, 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 also had a good understanding of court affairs. The emperor wanted to elevate the status of palace officials, so many ministers were appointed to key positions in the palace. Yang Su was appointed as the Right Guardian of the Crown Prince while retaining his position as Minister of War. The following year, the emperor ordered the construction of the Changping Granary in Shan Prefecture, and food needed to be transported to the capital. Because of the sandy riverbed and the inconsistent water levels of the Wei River, transportation was extremely difficult. The emperor then ordered the digging of a canal from the Wei River to the Yellow River, with Yang Su overseeing the project. Once the canal was completed, the emperor was very pleased. Yang Su was then appointed as the Right Chamberlain to the Crown Prince and later promoted to Left Commander, while also serving as Minister of Works and Minister of Civil Affairs, wielding significant power and responsibility.
After a few years, Yang Su was promoted to Grand General and transferred to Minister of Works, while retaining his other positions. Previously, due to insufficient funds for the various officials, each department had set up its own moneylenders to charge interest to cover expenses. Yang Su believed that this led to officials and commoners competing for profits, which hindered social progress. He submitted a petition to the emperor requesting the abolition of these moneylenders and proposed distributing different grades of official land to court officials. The emperor accepted his proposal. In the 18th year of the Kaihuang reign, the emperor decided to depose Crown Prince Yang Yong, fearing his growing influence in the Eastern Palace, and appointed him as governor of Xizhou. Crown Prince Yang Yong was clearly unhappy about Yang Su's departure. This illustrates the high regard the emperor had for Yang Su at that time!
During the Renshou period, Yang Su was transferred to Hongzhou as the governor-general, and he accomplished many notable deeds. Later, the Shan Yue people in Guilin rebelled, and the emperor appointed Yang Su as the commander to suppress the rebellion. That year, Yang Su passed away during his tenure. He had a son named Yang Huichang.
Sha Luo, style name Zicui, was the son of the governor of Meizhou in the Zhou Dynasty. Sha Luo served as an official in the Zhou Dynasty, starting as a commander. Later, he followed Wei Xiaokuan to defeat Yu Jiong and was appointed as a governor with the title of 'Kaifu Yitong Sansi', and also granted the title of Duke of Tongqin County. During the Kaihuang period of the Sui Dynasty, Prince Yang Xiu of Shu served as the governor of Yizhou, and Sha Luo followed him and was later appointed as the governor of Zizhou.
Eight years later, the Ranmang Qiang tribe rebelled, attacking Wenshan and Jinchuan. Sha Luo led his troops to defeat them and was then appointed as the governor of Qiongzhou. After a few years, he was appointed as deputy governor of Lizhou. Later, he followed Shi Wansui to fight against the Western Xian, won many battles, achieved significant victories, was promoted to Grand General, and received many rewards. After that, he served as the deputy governor of Yizhou.
At this time, the Yue Xi people led by Wang Feng rebelled, and Sha Luo, along with Duan Wenzhen, suppressed the rebellion. The court rewarded him with a hundred slaves. Coincidentally, Prince Yang Xiu of Shu was overthrown, and an accusation was made against Sha Luo, stating, "Wang Feng was killed by his slaves, but Yang Xiu pretended that it was his own people who killed him. He also mobilized the Liao tribes to let Wang Feng's slaves escape, but Sha Luo concealed and did not report it." Because of this incident, Sha Luo was relieved of his duties and ultimately passed away at home. He had a son named Kang.
Li Xiong, style name Pilu, was from Gaoyi in Zhaojun. His grandfather was the Grand Master of the Wei Dynasty, and his father was the governor of Shanzhou in the Qi Dynasty. Later, he was captured by the Zhou Dynasty, and Li Xiong followed the army into Chang'an. Li Xiong had a strong ambition and noble aspirations from a young age. His family had been scholars for generations, but he preferred riding horses and shooting arrows. His brother advised him, "Abandoning scholarly pursuits to practice martial arts is not fitting for a gentleman!"
Li Xiong replied, "In my personal opinion, throughout history, loyal ministers and capable generals who wish to achieve success in their careers need to be proficient in both literature and military skills. Though I might not be the sharpest, I have read some historical books, but I do not adhere strictly to those rules. Being both literate and skilled in martial arts, what is there for you to worry about, brother?" His brother was left speechless by his words.
During the time of Emperor Zhou, he (referring to the character in the text) became the Assistant General, putting aside his civilian clothes. He then followed Da Xiwu in pacifying Hanzhong, stabilizing Xingzhou, and then went to suppress the Hu people's rebellion in Fenzhou. Because of these military achievements, he was appointed as the General of Flying Cavalry and Yitong Sanji. Later, when Emperor Min ascended the throne, he was promoted and ennobled, becoming a duke and assigned to the Ministry of Personnel. Afterwards, he followed Da Xiwu to fight against Qi's army at Mangshan, where all other armies were defeated, but the army he led remained intact.
During the reign of Emperor Wu, he accompanied Prince Chen to meet the Empress from the Turks, was further promoted, becoming a baron, and was appointed as the Inspector of Hanzhou. After a few years, he was called back to the capital, serving as Chief Officer of the Capital Bureau. Shortly after, he was sent to Liangzhou as the Chief Steward. Later, he followed Prince Tengyu to defeat the Tuyuhun in Qinghai, and due to his achievements, he was given the title of Yitong.
After Emperor Xuan ascended the throne, he, along with the Military Commander Wei Xiaokuan, pacified Huainan. With just a few hundred light cavalry, he reached Haishi, convinced over ten cities to surrender, and was appointed as the Inspector of Haozhou. When Emperor Gaozu took control of the court, he was called back and appointed Chief Officer of the Sihui. Due to his merits in Huainan, he was promoted to Senior Prefect. After Emperor Gaozu became emperor, he was appointed as the Minister of the Grand Court, made Duke of Gaodou County, and given a fief of two thousand households.
After several years, Prince Jin Guang was sent to garrison Bingzhou, and he was appointed as the Minister of War of the Hebei Provincial Military Commission. The Emperor said to him, "My son is still young and lacks experience. You excel in both civil and military matters. I am entrusting you with this important task so that I need not worry about the north." He immediately kowtowed in thanks and said, "Your Majesty, you do not look down on my lack of ability and entrust such an important task to me. Although I may be foolish, I assure you I am not heartless. I will do my best to repay your kindness." As he spoke, he began to cry, and the Emperor comforted him before sending him off. He was upright and incorruptible during his tenure, instilling fear in those who might offend him. Prince Jin held him in both great respect and fear, and the people praised him. Over a year later, he passed away in office, and his son Gongting succeeded him.
Zhang Ji, styled Shihong, was from Mao County, Hejian, Hebei. His father, Zhang Xian, had a deep passion for learning from a young age and was well-versed in many subjects. He became a general in the Kingdom of Wei. Following Emperor Wu of Wei into Guanzhong, he rose through the ranks to attain the esteemed position of Yinqing Guanglu Daifu.
Later, Emperor Taizu of Northern Zhou invited him to serve as an official at court and conferred upon him the surname Chiluo. He served as a Minister of Works, Zhongzhou Zhizhong, Governor of Yongzhou, and Yitong Sanqi. He was also enfeoffed as the Duke of Yuxiang County, achieving high office. Later, he returned to the court and served as a Senior Official in the Ministry of Works, responsible for compiling national history. At that time, most officials and ministers during the Zhou Dynasty were from military backgrounds, yet Zhang Xian earned great respect for his profound scholarship. As he aged, he chose to retire and return home.
When Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, ascended to the throne, he held Zhang Xian in high regard and specially wrote a letter inviting him to serve in the government. The letter said, "I have just unified the country and am eager to govern it well. As a respected elder of high moral standing, I have always missed you. During your tenure as Yitong Sansi in the Zhou Dynasty, your virtue and achievements were renowned. Even though you are retired, you remain energetic. You should return to the court to fulfill my wishes." After Zhang Xian went to visit Emperor Wen of Sui, the emperor instructed him not to kneel, personally assisted him to the hall, and even descended from the dragon throne to sit beside him, chatting for a long time and presented him with a cane.
Later, when the Sui Dynasty was planning to move its capital to Longshuo (modern-day Xi'an), Zhang Xian urged Emperor Wen of Sui to practice frugality. Emperor Wen of Sui even wrote a decree to express his gratitude toward Zhang Xian. Shortly thereafter, Zhang Xian passed away at the age of 84. He was posthumously appointed as the Inspector of Cangzhou and posthumously honored with the title "Ding." He also wrote commentaries on Laozi and Zhuangzi, titled "Daoyan," consisting of a total of fifty-two articles.
Mr. Jue, who had a passion for learning from a young age, inherited his father's excellent qualities. He served as a court official in the Wei Dynasty, later promoted to the position of a junior attendant. Emperor Zhou recognized his talents and transferred him to the position of an official responsible for military affairs. When Emperor Min ascended the throne, Mr. Jue was promoted to the position of general. During the reigns of Emperor Ming and Emperor Wu of the Sui Dynasty, he successively held the positions of Grand Master of the Imperial Kitchen and Chief of the Imperial Clan Affairs, and was granted the title of Duke of Beiping, with a fief of four hundred households. By the time Emperor Xuan reigned, he had been appointed as Yitong, and his title was elevated to Count.
When Gaozu became the Prime Minister, Mr. Jiong took the initiative to establish a good relationship with him. Gaozu also thought highly of him and appointed Mr. Jiong as Right Minister of Personnel, granting him the title of Marquis. Not long after, he was promoted to Deputy Minister of the Imperial Stables and also served as Deputy Supervisor of Yingxin. Later, after his father passed away, he resigned from his official position to observe mourning at home, demonstrating profound sorrow that touched everyone. After completing the mourning period, the court wanted him back, but he firmly declined. Eventually, he was appointed as Sima and inherited the title of Count of Yuxiang County, with his fief expanded to fifteen hundred households. He was then promoted to Minister of the Imperial Stables and ultimately rose to the position of Minister of Civil Affairs. When Prince Jin Yang Guang took over as the Governor of Yangzhou, he appointed Mr. Jiong as Sima and bestowed upon him the title of Silver Seal Grand Master. Mr. Jiong was honest and knowledgeable and was well-respected at the time. He was later appointed as the Inspector of Jizhou, and Prince Jin Yang Guang repeatedly petitioned the court for his return. As a result, he served as Prince Jin's Chief Historian and oversaw the affairs of Jiangzhou. When Prince Jin ascended to the position of Crown Prince, Mr. Jiong once again served as the Inspector of Jizhou, with his rank raised to Upper Prefect, deeply respected by the local people, who regarded him as an exemplary second-rank official. He passed away in the fourth year of the Renshou era at the age of seventy-four. His son, Huibao, later attained the position of County Chief of Jiangjun.
During the Kaihuang period, there was a man named Liu Ren'en. The exact place of his origin is not recorded in historical texts, but he was a person of outstanding talent, both civil and military, and highly capable. He initially served as the Governor of Maozhou, with his achievements ranking among the best in the country, and was later promoted to the position of Minister of Justice. He also served as the general in charge of military expeditions with Yang Su in campaigns against the Chen dynasty. In the Battle of Jingmen, he and Yang Su together defeated the Chen dynasty general Lv Zhongsu, and many of the strategies were devised by Liu Ren'en. As a result, he was appointed Grand General, gaining significant renown at that time. In addition to him, Guo Jun from Fengyi County and Feng Shiji from Shangdang were both intelligent and wise, with great strategic abilities, and successively served as Ministers of War. Dai Ren She Di rose to the position of Minister of Civil Affairs, known for his generosity and magnanimity. These four individuals were quite prominent during that time, but their specific deeds were recorded quite briefly, with no detailed records in historical texts.
Historical records say: The two gentlemen Zhao were well-versed in historical allusions and were recognized as capable individuals at that time. However, after assuming important positions, they failed to accomplish anything noteworthy. This illustrates that individuals' abilities and capacities have their limitations and cannot be forced. Changsun Ping advised the Emperor to pardon those falsely accused, which was a righteous act. The Emperor was pleased and followed his advice, yielding numerous benefits.
Yuan Hui was renowned for his intelligence and quick thinking, Wei Shi was known for his honesty and integrity, Yang Shangxi and Yang Yi were talented members of the royal family, with high prestige. Su Xiaoci, Li Xiong, and Zhang Jiong, whether in court or local positions, were considered upright and capable individuals. They were all highly valued and utilized in the early Kaihuang period, and are considered some of the most outstanding talents of that period.
