Real Histories
It is said that to govern a country well, four elements are essential: benevolence, righteousness, proper rites, laws, and penalties. Benevolence, righteousness, and proper rites are the foundation of governing a country, while laws and penalties are auxiliary means. Without a foundation, one cannot stand, and without these auxiliary means, effective governance is impossible. However, educating the populace is a long-term strategy, while penalties provide immediate results. Penalties can assist in education, but they must not be misused. Just as Laozi said: "When governance is overly transparent, the people may become complacent." He also said: "When laws are too numerous, thieves are likely to increase." Therefore, overly complex and harsh laws, along with cruel officials, are signs of poor governance, and this principle has remained the same for centuries.
Looking back at history, sometimes severe punishment is indeed necessary. For example, during the Qin Dynasty, the streets were filled with people wearing red prisoner's clothing, and the jailers were in charge. The Han Dynasty improved this atmosphere, but went too far in the other direction, with laws having too many loopholes, resulting in the big fish slipping through the net. Those who were particularly heinous, violating morality and trampling on rites, were able to evade justice. Therefore, although tough officials can combat evil and prohibit villainy, temporarily solving some problems, their methods may not necessarily be worth emulating.
After Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang pacified the world, the regions in the south and throughout the country all submitted to the imperial court, adhering to education and following morality. The instances of local officials abusing their power, oppressing nobles, arbitrarily collecting taxes, and abusing officials were virtually nonexistent. In comparison to the past, the situation had seen significant improvement.
However, there are people like Shiwen who, despite their insignificant merits and mediocre talents, have gained undeserved positions by being in the right place at the right time. They display their narrow-mindedness, engaging in many improper deeds that harm both gentlemen and commoners, instilling fear wherever they appear. The populace views them with the same fear as one would view snakes or scorpions. Those under their jurisdiction steer clear of them as if they were foes. Their supposed kindness is insincere, and their punishments stem not from a hatred of evil. They often punish the innocent, acting worse than wolves. They have no intention of curbing wickedness or rooting out evildoers, only intent on preying on the weak and vulnerable. Gentlemen detest them, which led to their deeds being compiled in the "Biographies of Harsh Officials."
Shiwen of Sheji hails from Dai County. His grandfather was the Left Prime Minister of Northern Qi, and his father was a general and the governor of Sizhou. Shiwen was proud, upright, and solitary, even distancing himself from neighbors and close friends. He had a passion for reading since childhood. After the fall of Northern Qi, he inherited the title of Prince of Zhangwu and became a military general. When Emperor Wu of Zhou conquered Northern Qi, most Shandong officials and nobles rushed to greet the Zhou army, but Shiwen stayed behind closed doors, resolutely refusing to show himself. Emperor Wu of Zhou found him to be exceptional and appointed him as a Palace Attendant and Inspector of Suizhou.
After the founding emperor of the Sui Dynasty, Yang Jian, declared himself emperor, he also appointed Shi Wen as the Grand Chancellor, granting him the title of Count of Hubei County. Shortly after, he appointed him as the governor of Beizhou. Shi Wen was known for his honesty and frugality, never accepting any provisions from the government and having no extra money at home. His son once stole bread from the government kitchen, so Shi Wen locked him up in jail for several days, gave him 100 lashes, and then escorted him back to the capital. His servants and slaves dared not leave the house, having to purchase salt and vegetables from other places. Whenever someone entered or left the house, he would bar the doors, cutting off all contact with relatives and friends, even during festivals. His enforcement of the law was strict, terrifying officials to the extent that no one dared to pick up anything from the streets. Even for minor offenses, he would investigate thoroughly and punish severely.
Once, when he went to the capital to pay an audience to the emperor, he coincidentally arrived during a banquet for the ministers, where they were allowed to select rewards from the treasury. Everyone took a lot, but Shi Wen only held one piece of silk in his mouth and two in his hands. When asked by the emperor, he replied, "My mouth and hands are full; I do not require anything else." The emperor was surprised, rewarded him, and let him go. Upon returning to Beizhou, Shi Wen vigorously pursued corrupt officials, not sparing even those who embezzled a foot of cloth or a peck of rice. He investigated over a thousand people, and the court ordered that they all be exiled to Lingnan. Their relatives cried as they bid farewell, resonating throughout the city. In Lingnan, due to the unfamiliar environment and diseases, many of them died, causing their parents and wives to weep and blame Shi Wen. Upon hearing this, Shi Wen had them apprehended and harshly punished, resulting in even louder cries.
At that time, Wei Kun from Jingzhao was the Sima of Beizhou, and Zhao Da from Hedong was the magistrate of Qinghe County. These two individuals were very strict, while the Changshi was the only one who was relatively lenient and kind. People at that time came up with a rhyme to describe them: "The governor is a ruthless demon, the Sima a viper's glare, the Changshi smiles as he judges, while Qinghe breeds cannibals." Upon hearing this, the emperor sighed and said, "The cruelty of officials surpasses that of wild beasts!" Eventually, Wei Kun was dismissed. Not long after, he was appointed as the Changshi of Yongzhou. He told others, "I've always enforced the law strictly and won't play the sycophant for a promotion. I am sure I will die in this position." After taking office, he enforced the law even more strictly, fearless of the powerful, which made guests hesitant to visit. Many people complained about him.
Wei Kun's aunt was a concubine of the Qi State, known for her beauty. After the Qi State was destroyed, she was given to the Duke of Xueguo, Changsun Lan, as a concubine. Changsun Lan's wife, Lady Zheng, was jealous and spoke ill of her in front of the Empress Dowager, who ordered Changsun Lan to cast her aside. Wei Kun felt ashamed and never met her again. Later, Tang Junming, the Inspector of Yingzhou, married her after his mother's death, resulting in both Wei Kun and Tang Junming facing accusations from the Imperial Censor. Wei Kun, with a strong character, died of anger in prison a few days later. He left behind three sons, who could not afford to eat properly every day, with no family or friends to support them.
Tian Shi, styled Xianbiao, was from Fengyi (now Dali, Shaanxi). His grandfather, Tian Anxing, and his father, Tian Changle, both served as the Prefect of their county during the Wei Dynasty. Tian Shi had a strong and decisive character, excelled in martial arts, and was unmatched in boxing and martial skills.
During the reign of Emperor Ming of the Zhou Dynasty, Tian Shi became a military governor at the age of eighteen, in charge of the local troops. After a few years, he was promoted to the position of Governor of Weinan, where he ruled with an iron fist, instilling fear in both officials and commoners, who dared not break the law. Later, he was promoted to the position of Governor of his home county, keeping his relatives and friends at arm's length and turning down any requests or favors. Emperor Wu of the Zhou Dynasty heard about him and admired him, promoting him to the position of General of the Three Departments, granting him the title of Duke of Xindu County, and further appointing him as the Inspector of Yanzhou. He assisted the emperor in pacifying the Qi state, and for his contributions, he was granted the title of Kaifu, then transferred to the position of Inspector of Jianzhou, and further titled as Duke of Liangquan County.
During the reign of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, Wei Jiong rebelled in Ye City, and Tian Shi followed Wei Xiaokuan to suppress the rebellion. For his achievements, he was appointed as Grand General and his title was elevated to Duke of Wushan County. After Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty ascended the throne, he appointed Tian Shi as the General Manager of Xiangzhou, where he was solely focused on establishing his authority. Whenever he conducted business outside, he displayed a domineering attitude, making his subordinates too frightened to look him in the eye. Anyone who committed a crime, even if they were his close relatives or friends, he showed no mercy.
His son-in-law, Du Ning, a resident of Jingzhao, traveled from Chang'an to visit him, and Tian Shi warned Du Ning not to come and go as he pleased. Du Ning stayed for a long time and couldn't leave, so he secretly went up to the northern tower to express his homesickness. When Tian Shi found out, he gave Du Ning fifty lashes. One of his favorite servants once came to report something to him, and a bug flew onto his collar. He brushed it off with his sleeve. Tian Shi felt that the servant had disrespected him, so he beat him to death on the spot.
If any of his subordinates were found to be corrupt or involved in robbery or theft, regardless of the scale, he would lock them up in the dungeon, forcing them to sleep in filth and endure suffering. They would remain imprisoned indefinitely unless they died. Every time the court issued an amnesty decree, he would preemptively execute serious criminals b
Therefore, he was condemned by the court, dismissed from his official position, and reverted to commoner status. Tian Shi felt ashamed and angry, refused to eat, and would always get angry whenever his wife came to see him, with just two attendants waiting on him. He asked for pepper from home in a desire to end his life, but his family did not give it to him. He then secretly sent his attendants to buy poison, but his wife seized the poison from him and disposed of it. Tian Shi, consumed by rage, lay on the bed. His son, Tian Xin, who held the title of Yitong at that time, ran to him crying, saying, "Father, you are an old minister of the court, and you have not committed any major crimes. Many court officials have been dismissed and humiliated, only to be reinstated later. How can you endure this? How did it come to this state?" Tian Shi suddenly stood up, drew his sword in an attempt to strike Tian Xin, who quickly dodged, causing the sword to hit the doorstep.
After Emperor Wen of Sui learned of this incident, he believed that Tian Shi had shown genuine remorse and reinstated his official position and title. Shortly after, he was appointed as the Governor of Guangzhou and eventually died while in office.
Yan Rong, with the courtesy name Guigong, was from Huayin, and his father was a great general of the Zhou Dynasty. He had a particularly strict personality and was skilled in martial arts, serving as a senior attendant in the Zhou Dynasty. He followed Emperor Wu in the campaign against the Qi state, achieved merit, and was appointed Duke of Gaoyi County. After Emperor Gaozu ascended to the throne, Yan Rong was promoted to the rank of Grand General, appointed as the Duke of Luocong, and later served as the Inspector of Jinzhou. He later followed Prince Hong of Hejian in the campaign against the Turks, achieved merit, and was honored with the title of Grand Pillar of the State, and was transferred to Qingzhou as the Governor.
While serving as an official in Qingzhou, he chose particularly strong men as corporals. If any official or commoner made a mistake in front of him, he would immediately punish them severely, often to the point of exposing bones. The petty thieves were so terrified that they didn't dare to show their faces, and Qingzhou suddenly became quiet. People from other prefectures passing through his territory were as scared as if they were encountering bandits and dared not stop to rest. The emperor thought he was doing a great job. Later, Yan Rong went to the capital to meet the emperor, who praised him specifically. Yan Rong mentioned that his mother was old and requested to visit the capital only once a year, and the emperor agreed. Before leaving, the emperor hosted a banquet in the inner hall, inviting the nobles and ministers to compose poems in his honor.
During the campaign against the Chen Dynasty, Yan Rong was appointed as the commander-in-chief, leading the navy from Donglai along the coast into Lake Tai, attacking Wu County. After capturing Danyang, the people of Wu rallied behind Xiao Huan as their leader and put up a resistance in Jinling. They were ultimately defeated by Yuwen Shu and retreated to Baoshan. Yan Rong pursued them with five thousand elite troops, defeated and captured Xiao Huan in battle, and restored peace to Jinling and Kuaiji. Later, Yan Rong also served as the governor of Yangzhou, but was soon called back to the court as the Right Martial Marquis. When the Turks invaded the frontier, he was appointed as the commander-in-chief stationed at Youzhou. After his mother passed away, he resigned from his post. The next year, he was appointed governor of Youzhou again.
Yan Rong, a person with a stern personality and imposing demeanor, intimidates even his chief officials, leaving them pale with fear. The Lu family of Fanyang, a prestigious clan in the area, has their children deliberately assigned by Yan Rong to the lowest ranks of officials, in a deliberate act of humiliation. He frequently lashes out at his attendants, sometimes beating them thousands of times until blood stains the ground, while he himself feasted and drank as if nothing was amiss. Once, during an inspection, he saw some thorns by the road and had them cut down to use as whips for punishing people. When someone protested their innocence, Yan Rong said, "If you make a mistake in the future, I'll spare you." Later, when that person made a minor error, he reminded him of what he had said before, but Yan Rong replied, "Back then, even when you did nothing wrong, I acted the same. Now that you've erred, I'll punish you." He proceeded to beat the person severely. During his patrols, whenever he heard of an official or a civilian with an attractive wife or daughter, he would go to their homes and assault them. His greed and cruelty were boundless, becoming increasingly brazen.
At that time, Yuan Hongsi was appointed as the Chief of Youzhou. Fearing insult from Yan Rong, he resolutely declined. When the emperor learned of this, he ordered Yan Rong to say, "For any punishment of more than ten strokes, it must be reported to the court." Yan Rong angrily exclaimed, "This brat dares to mess with me!" So he sent Yuan Hongsi to supervise the grain in the warehouse, punishing him harshly for any grain found to be substandard. While each beating was fewer than ten strokes, it happened several times a day. This continued for several years, with resentment building until Yan Rong was imprisoned and his food supply was cut off. Hungry and cold, Yuan Hongsi tore the cotton from his clothes, mixed it with water, and swallowed it. His wife went to the palace to complain, prompting the emperor to send the official Liu Shilong to investigate, revealing Yan Rong's atrocities and numerous other misdeeds, which led to his recall to the capital and subsequent execution. Prior to this, Yan Rong's bedroom inexplicably filled with maggots that had emerged from the ground. Not long after, Yan Rong died in the very spot where the maggots had appeared. He had a son named Yan Xun.
Zhao Zhongqing was from Tianshui Longxi, and his father was a great general of the Zhou Dynasty. Zhao Zhongqing was known for his rough demeanor but immense strength, and the Prince of Qi treated him with unusual kindness. He followed the army to attack the Qi Kingdom, capturing five cities such as Linqin, Tongrong, Weiyuan, Fulong, and Zhangbi. Later, he battled the Qi general Duan Xiaoxian at Yaoyang City, fighting for many days until he finally defeated Duan Xiaoxian. In recognition of his achievements, he was appointed Grand Commander and later became the emperor's guard. After pacifying the Qi Kingdom, he received promotions, becoming the Chief of Yitong and concurrently the Prefect of Zhao Jun. He then returned to the capital, where he became a senior official.
Wang Qian staged a rebellion, and Zhao Zhongqing was in Lizhou at the time, leading troops alongside General Dou Luji in resistance. Wang Qian attacked them, and Zhao Zhongqing led the troops into battle, engaging in a total of seventeen battles. After Wang Qian was defeated, Zhao Zhongqing was promoted to Grand General and granted the title of Duke of Changyuan County, with a fief of one thousand households. Emperor Gaozu subsequently ascended to the throne and elevated Zhao Zhongqing's title to Duke of Hebei.
In the third year of the Kaihuang era, the Turks invaded the border, and Zhao Zhongqing followed Prince Hong of Hejian to fight at Helan Mountain. Zhao Zhongqing took a different route and returned without encountering the enemy. He then went back to guard Pingliang and was later appointed as the Inspector of Shizhou. He was notorious for his strict enforcement of laws, not tolerating any form of mistake and frequently resorting to whipping his subordinates, sometimes up to two hundred lashes. The officials below him feared him; no one dared to disobey his orders, and even thieves disappeared, with everyone acknowledging his toughness.
He was later promoted to the Inspector of Yanzhou, but before taking up the post, he was appointed as the General of Shuozhou. At the time, there was a strong development of farmland in the northern border, which Zhao Zhongqing was responsible for managing. If anyone mismanaged, Zhao Zhongqing would call them and severely beat their backs, sometimes even stripping them of their clothes and dragging them through thorn bushes. People at the time described him as fierce like a wild beast.
He was very efficient in his work, leading to bountiful harvests each year, and the border no longer needed supplies transported from the rear lines. Later, the Khan of the Turks, Qimin, sought marriage with the Sui Dynasty, which the Sui Dynasty accepted. Zhao Zhongqing seized this opportunity to sow discord among the Turks, leading to infighting among them.
In the seventeenth year, Khan Qimin, under immense pressure, fled to Hanzhen alongside the Sui envoy, Changsun Cheng. Zhao Zhongqing led over a thousand cavalry to support, but he dared not approach too closely. He secretly sent people to persuade Qimin's subordinates to surrender, resulting in the surrender of over twenty thousand households.
In the same year, Zhao Zhongqing followed General Gao Feng to attack Datou. Zhao Zhongqing led three thousand soldiers as the vanguard, arrived at Zuli Mountain, encountered the enemy, and fought for seven days, ultimately defeating them. They chased the enemy to Qifu Po, where they defeated them again, captured more than a thousand people, and seized a vast number of livestock. The Turks emerged in full force, and Zhao Zhongqing formed a square formation to defend against attacks from all sides. After five days of fighting, General Gao Feng's army arrived and attacked the enemy together, leading to the Turks' defeat and retreat. They pursued the enemy through the Badao, crossing over seven hundred li through the Qin Mountains.
At that time, more than ten thousand Turkic households surrendered, and the emperor ordered Zhao Zhongqing to settle them in Heng'an. Because of his achievements, Zhao Zhongqing was promoted to the rank of Upper Pillar of State and was rewarded with three thousand bolts of cloth. The court was worried that Datou would attack Qimin Khan, so they ordered Zhao Zhongqing to station twenty thousand troops as a precaution. Han Hong, the Governor of Daizhou, Li Yaowang, the Duke of Yongkang, and Liu Long, the Governor of Weizhou, led ten thousand infantry and cavalry to guard Heng'an.
Datou launched an invasion with a hundred thousand cavalry, and Han Hong's army was defeated. Zhao Zhongqing set out from Lening Town to intercept, taking the heads of over a thousand enemies.
The following year, Zhao Zhongqing oversaw the construction of the cities of Jinhe and Dingxiang and settled Qimin Khan. At that time, someone accused Zhao Zhongqing of cruelty, so the emperor sent the imperial censor Wang Wei to investigate. The investigation revealed the truth, but because Zhao Zhongqing had great merit, he faced no punishment. The emperor reassured him, saying, "I know you are upright; you are simply unpopular with your subordinates." He also rewarded him with five hundred bolts of cloth.
Zhao Zhongqing grew increasingly arrogant and was eventually dismissed from his position. During the Renshou period, he served as the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce. When the Shu King Yang Xiu committed a crime, he was ordered to investigate in Yizhou. Everywhere Yang Xiu's guests passed, Zhao Zhongqing deliberately found faults, took legal action against them, and most of the local officials faced punishment. The emperor trusted in his exceptional administrative skills and rewarded him with fifty slaves, 200 taels of gold, five thousand stones of grain, and many treasures.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, Zhao Zhongqing served as the Minister of War and Minister of Works. He passed away in the same year, at the age of sixty-four, posthumously honored with the title Sù, and the court also posthumously awarded him with five hundred rolls of cloth. His son Zhao Hong inherited his title.
Cui Hongdu, styled Moheyen, hailed from Anping, Hebei. His grandfather Cui Kai was the Minister of Works of Northern Wei, and his father Cui Shuo served as the Governor of Fuzhou in the Zhou Dynasty. Cui Hongdu was naturally strong, tall and imposing, with particularly thick eyebrows and beard, and had a notably stern demeanor. At the age of seventeen, he caught the attention of the powerful minister Yuwen Hu of the Zhou Dynasty, who took him under his wing as a trusted confidant. Shortly after, he was promoted to a commanding officer, and later rose several ranks to become a grand commander. At that time, Yuwen Hu's son, the Duke of Zhongshan, Yuwen Xun, became the Governor of Puzhou and had Cui Hongdu follow him. Once, when they were climbing a tower together, reaching the highest level about four to five zhang high from the ground, looking down, Yuwen Xun said, "It's so scary!" Cui Hongdu replied, "What's so scary about this!" and jumped straight down, landing safely without any harm. Impressed by his agility, Yuwen Xun was amazed. Later, for his military achievements, Cui Hongdu received the title of Yitong. He followed Emperor Wu of Zhou in defeating Northern Qi and was granted the title of Upper Prefect and Duke of Yexian, and rewarded with three thousand rolls of cloth, three thousand stones of grain, one hundred slaves, and a multitude of livestock. Subsequently, he accompanied the Duke of Runan, Yuwen Shenju, to defeat Lu Changqi in Fanyang.
Emperor Xuan of Zhou, after ascending to the throne, fought alongside Duke Wei Xiaokuan of Yun in Huainan. Cui Hongdu, Yuwen Xin, and Helou Zigang reached Feikou, where General Pan Chen of the Chen Dynasty led several thousand soldiers to resist, forming a battle line across the river. Yuwen Xin sent Cui Hongdu to persuade him to surrender, and Pan Chen fled by night. They attacked Shouyang, where the defender Wu Wenli of the Chen Dynasty surrendered, with Cui Hongdu making the most significant contribution. As a result of these military achievements, he was promoted to Grand General and inherited the title of Duke of Anping County from his father. When Yu Jiao rebelled, Cui Hongdu was appointed commander-in-chief and accompanied Wei Xiaokuan to suppress him. Cui Hongdu recruited hundreds of brave warriors from Chang'an to form an elite force, achieving remarkable victories. Cui Hongdu's sister was married to Yu Jiao's son. When Ye City was breached, Yu Jiao had no escape and climbed to the top of a tall building, and Cui Hongdu chased him to the rooftop. Yu Jiao drew his bow to shoot Cui Hongdu, who took off his helmet and said, "Do you recognize me? Today, we are both serving our country, and we can't let personal feelings get in the way. For the sake of our kinship, I advise you to lay down your arms and prevent the soldiers from causing unnecessary bloodshed. Given the current situation, you should think about your own life now. What are you waiting for?" Yu Jiao threw his bow on the ground, cursed the Grand Chancellor, and then committed suicide. Cui Hongdu told his brother, Cui Hongsheng, "Go and fetch Yu Jiao's head." Cui Hongsheng then beheaded Yu Jiao. As a result, Cui Hongdu was promoted to Chief Pillar of State.
At that time, the marching general was usually granted the title of Duke, but Cui Hongdu was instead made the Duke of Wuxiang County because he failed to eliminate Wei Jiong promptly and even let him speak ill of others. In the early years of the Sui Dynasty, when the Turks invaded, Cui Hongdu, as the marching general, was stationed in Yuanzhou to resist the invasion. After the enemy retreated, Cui Hongdu stationed in Lingwu, returned to court a month later and was appointed Inspector of Huazhou. He married his sister off to Prince Xiao of Qin. Shortly after, he was transferred to be the general in charge of Xiangzhou. Cui Hongdu, who held a high position, was very strict with his subordinates, often punishing them, and the officials were very afraid of him, trembling at the mere sound of his voice. Wherever he went, his orders were obeyed, and thieves dared not show their faces. When Prince of Liang, Xiao Cong, came to visit Emperor Wen of Sui, Emperor Wen appointed Cui Hongdu as the general in charge of Jiangling, guarding Jingzhou. Before Cui Hongdu could take office, Xiao Cong's uncle Yan Yong led a local rebellion, which Cui Hongdu could not quell in time. The people of the Chen Dynasty feared Cui Hongdu greatly and dared not even spy on Jingzhou. As the marching general, Cui Hongdu followed Prince Xiao of Qin to march out of Xiangyang during the war to pacify the Chen Dynasty. After the fall of the Chen Dynasty, he was rewarded with five thousand bolts of cloth. Gao Zhihui and others rebelled, and he was appointed as the marching general again, marching out of Quanmen under Yang Su's command. Cui Hongdu and Yang Su held the same rank, but Cui Hongdu was older than Yang Su, and Yang Su always made him take a subordinate role. Cui Hongdu was quite dissatisfied with this and often disregarded many of Yang Su's orders. However, Yang Su remained relatively tolerant of him.
After the war ended, Cui Hongdu was appointed as the governor of Yuanzhou, still serving as the commander of the army, responsible for guarding against the Turks. He returned safely, and Emperor Wen of Sui highly appreciated him, arranging for his brother Cui Hongsheng's daughter to marry the Prince of Henan. During the reign of Renshou, Cui Hongdu served as the Minister of the Imperial Household. Because his family had two princesses, he took great pride in this and often admonished his subordinates, saying, "One must be honest and generous, and not deceive others." Everyone said, "Yes." Once, he ate soft-shelled turtle, with seven or eight attendants. Cui Hongdu asked each of them, "Is the turtle delicious?" The attendants were all very scared and said, "Delicious." Cui Hongdu shouted angrily, "How dare you lie to me? You haven't even eaten; how do you know it's delicious?" Then he punished each of them with eighty strokes. All the officials and craftsmen who witnessed this scene were terrified, and they no longer dared to deceive him. At that time, there was a general named Qutu Gai, who was also very strict. A saying spread in Chang'an City: "Would rather drink three liters of vinegar than see Cui Hongdu; would rather eat three liters of mugwort than encounter Qutu Gai." Cui Hongdu's discipline at home was also very strict; his descendants were left with white hair, and he often scolded and beat them, but his home was very neat and orderly, and the people at the time praised him. Soon after, the Queen of Qin was executed for making a mistake, and the Princess of Henan was also deposed. Cui Hongdu was saddened and angry about this, so he reported his illness to the court; his brothers also lived separately from him, and he grew increasingly despondent. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, the Prince of Henan became the crown prince. Emperor Yang of Sui wanted to reinstate the Cui clan as a princess and sent envoys to decree it. When the envoys arrived at Cui Hongsheng's house, Cui Hongdu was not aware. When the envoys returned, Emperor Yang of Sui asked, "What did Cui Hongdu say?" The envoys said, "Cui Hongdu said he was sick and couldn't get up." Emperor Yang of Sui remained silent, and the matter was left unresolved. Cui Hongdu fell ill from his sorrow and anger, and soon passed away.
Hong Sheng, styled Shangke, was a right ministerial officer in the Zhou Dynasty and was quite a formidable figure. Later, when Wei Jiong rebelled in Xiangzhou, he and his brother Hong Du led troops to fight, achieved great success, and were ennobled as Shang Yitong together. Not long after, he was promoted again, becoming the Governor, and was also ennobled as the Marquis of Huangtai, with a fief of eight hundred households!
After the founding emperor ascended the throne, Hong Sheng's title was elevated to Duke, and he was appointed as the General of Cavalry. He served as a guard in the imperial palace for more than ten years, and due to his status as a veteran, he was transferred to Cizhou as a governor. Several years later, he was promoted to governor of Zhengzhou. As his relationship with the imperial family grew closer, his status improved, and he was eventually promoted to the Governor of Xiangzhou, a lucrative position. Unfortunately, he was later dismissed from his post due to the Queen of Henan's misconduct.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, Hong Sheng was reinstated to his former position, successively serving as the governor of Jizhou, the Prefect of Xindu, and was promoted to Grand Minister of Golden Purple. Later, he was transferred to serve as the Prefect of Zhuo County. When Emperor Yang of Sui waged war in Liaodong, Hong Sheng was temporarily appointed as the Left Martial Guard General, tasked with the offensive against Pyongyang. However, they lost the battle, and he and others, including Yu Wenshu, retreated in disgrace. As a result of these events, Hong Sheng fell ill and soon passed away at the age of sixty.
Yuan Hongsi, a native of Luoyang, Henan, was the grandson of the Prince of Yuyang during the Wei Dynasty, and his father was the Duke of Yuyang County in the Zhou Dynasty. Hongsi inherited his title at a young age, and at eighteen years old, he became the Left Guard. In the ninth year of the Kaihuang era, he accompanied the Prince of Jin in pacifying the Chen Dynasty, and for his contributions, he was granted the title of Shang Yitong.
Fourteen years later, he was appointed as the Governor of Guanzhou. He was particularly strict in his role in Guanzhou, and his subordinates resented him deeply. Twenty years later, he was transferred to Youzhou as the Chief Steward. At that time, Yan Rong was the governor of Youzhou, and he often bullied Hongsi, frequently beating and scolding him. Hongsi felt wronged, and in response, Yan Rong imprisoned him with plans to kill him. After Yan Rong was executed, Hongsi took power and ruled with even greater severity. During interrogations, he often poured vinegar into prisoners' noses or inserted objects into their genitals, ensuring they revealed the truth. The corrupt were forced to confess under his rule.
As the Ren Shou era was coming to an end, he was appointed as the Chief Carpenter and tasked with building the Eastern Capital. In the early days of the Daye period, Emperor Yang of Sui secretly planned to attack Liaodong and sent Hongsi to oversee the construction of ships at Donglai Harbor. Laborers conscripted from various provinces faced brutal treatment, as officials forced them to stand in water day and night with hardly any rest. About one in seven of them died. He was later promoted to the Yellow Gate Attendant and then to the Deputy Director of the Palace. During the Liaodong campaign, he was awarded the title of Golden Purple Illuminated Official.
The following year, Emperor Yang of Sui launched another campaign against Liaodong, coinciding with the invasion of the Turks in Longyou. The Emperor ordered Hongsi to suppress them. When Xuan Gan rebelled and approached the Eastern Capital, Hongsi deployed his troops in Anding. He was accused of conspiring with Xuan Gan, and Prince Yang You sent people to arrest him and bring him to the Emperor's presence. Although no evidence of rebellion was found against Hongsi, and he should have been released, the Emperor remained suspicious and refused to believe him. Consequently, Hongsi was removed from his official position and exiled to Rinan, where he died en route at the age of forty-nine. He left behind a son named Renguan.
Wang Wentong, from Yingyang County near the capital city, was a clever and talented man who was good at distinguishing right from wrong. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui, he was granted the title of Yitong for his military achievements, and later appointed as the Sima of Guizhou. When Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, he was summoned to serve as a junior official in the Ministry of Rites, but due to offending the emperor's decree, he was demoted to serve as the county magistrate of Hengshan County.
In Hengshan County, there was a notoriously arrogant and overbearing man who often criticized and accused local officials. Previous magistrates had feared him and did not dare to provoke him. Upon his arrival, Wang Wentong heard about this man's reputation and severely reprimanded him. He then ordered his subordinates to carve a large wooden stake, bury it in the middle of the courtyard with only a foot exposed, and bury four small stakes at the corners. He had that man pinned to the ground, head facing the large stake, limbs tied to the four small stakes, and then ruthlessly beat his back with a stick, causing severe ulceration. The people of the county were horrified; officials looked at each other in fear, and none dared to speak.
Later, Emperor Yang of Sui campaigned in Liaodong and sent Wang Wentong to inspect the various counties in Hebei. When Wang Wentong saw the vegetarian monks chanting scriptures, he suspected them to be demons and monsters, and arrested them all, throwing them into prison. In Hejian County, he gathered the officials from various counties, and anyone who arrived even a bit late was beaten to death by him. He also rounded up hundreds of monks who had gathered to chant scriptures and conduct Buddhist ceremonies, as well as some elders, believing they were causing chaos, and had them all killed. He stripped all the monks and nuns bare for inspection and found thousands of instances of illicit relationships between men and women, all of whom were also killed. The county echoed with the cries of men, women, and children, and other counties were also terrified, reporting this to the court one after another.
Emperor Yang of Sui was very angry when he heard about it. He sent an envoy, Da Xi, to escort Wang Wentong with the intention of doing him a favor, and had him executed by beheading in Hejian County to quell the public outrage. Wang Wentong's enemies even opened his coffin, cut up his flesh, and quickly devoured it all.
Historians commented: Good governance doesn't depend on complicated strategies; good politics does not rely on harsh punishments. Therefore, although both leniency and severity are used, rewards and punishments are applied equally, the best governance is one that ensures the people's obedience without resorting to harsh punishments, which is valued by wise monarchs of the past. Individuals like Wang Wentong, who lived during the times of Emperor Wen and Emperor Yang of Sui, didn't face particularly malicious or cunning people during that era. He did not study ethics, but was filled with cruelty. He treated people as if they were wood or stone, showing utter disregard for human life, and valued it even less than a dog's. He committed countless wrongs without remorse, ultimately facing execution or dying in despair. All upright people see this as the cycle of divine justice! Alas! Later scholars and officials, even if they can't achieve the wealth and high positions of someone like Zigao, should they really have to worry about whether they'll come back alive when visiting their mothers' graves?
Wei Deshen hailed from Julu. His grandfather Wei Chong held the positions of Minister of Justice and Governor of Jianzhou during the Zhou Dynasty, and the entire family subsequently relocated to Hongnong. His father Wei Pi was the magistrate of Yulin County. Wei Deshen started as a minor official under Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty, later serving as a clerk in Fengyi County and a clerk in Wuyang County. Thanks to his exceptional capabilities, he was promoted to the county magistrate of Guixiang. He was known for his honesty and fairness in office; while not overly strict, he effectively managed his responsibilities.
At that time, there was a war with Liaodong, with a multitude of taxes and levies imposed everywhere, and officials were sent to collect them, putting pressure on the counties. The court was in chaos, corruption was rampant among officials, and there were excessive taxes and levies, inflicting severe hardship on the populace. Only in Guixiang County under Wei Deshen's jurisdiction was the situation strikingly different. There were ample supplies of goods, no excessive exploitation of the people, necessary supplies arrived on time, and the people enjoyed peace and prosperity. Everyone praised his governance. At that time, bandits were rampant, and many cities near Wuyang were breached, but Guixiang County remained unscathed.
County magistrate Yuan Baozang was tasked with pursuing the bandits but suffered defeat in every encounter, exhausting his weapons and equipment, and compelled the populace to surrender their belongings, frequently resorting to martial law, repeating this several times. Other counties built defense works, concentrating the populace in government buildings, with officials urging each other, noisy day and night, but still failed to complete the task. Wei Deshen, on the other hand, asked everyone for their input on how to proceed and then allowed them to construct as they saw fit. The government office remained quiet, as if nothing was amiss. He merely imposed restrictions on officials at all levels, mandating that the constructed defenses not surpass those in other counties, so as not to make the people suffer too much. Nevertheless, the officials under him worked diligently, and the defenses in Guixiang County consistently stood out as the best.
Later, Wei Deshen was transferred to Guantao County as the county magistrate. When the officials and people of Guixiang County heard about this, they all talked about his deeds, crying uncontrollably, at a loss for words. When Wei Deshen was about to leave, the entire population came out to bid him farewell, the wails echoing far and wide. Upon arriving in Guantao County, all the people treated him as if he were one of their own.
There was a villain named Zhao Junshi, an official from another county, who had a close relationship with the county magistrate Yuan Baozang. Previous county magistrates were often at their mercy. After Wei Deshen arrived in Guantao County, Zhao Junshi hid at home and dared not go out. Those who had fled also returned, as if they were flocking to a festival. The people of Guixiang County, undeterred by the long and perilous journey, went to the capital to request the court to keep Wei Deshen, and the emperor agreed.
The people of Guantao County went to the county office to lodge a complaint that the documents from Guixiang County were fake. The county office was unable to reach a verdict. Later, the court sent envoys Wei Ji, Du Zheng, and others. Both counties presented their grievances to the envoys, and the envoys ultimately ruled in favor of Guixiang County. The officials and people of Guixiang County celebrated joyfully together. However, the people of Guantao County wept openly in the streets, and hundreds of families chose to leave as a result.
Yuan Baozang harbored deep jealousy towards Wei Deshen's talents. Later, King Dong of Yue ordered Wei Deshen to take a thousand soldiers to the eastern capital. Shortly after, Yuan Baozang surrendered to Li Mi. The soldiers led by Wei Deshen were all from Wuyang, and they were Li Mi's fellow villagers. Thinking of his relatives and friends, Wei Deshen left the city gate, wept in the direction of his hometown, and then returned. Some bystanders advised him, "Li Mi's army is near Jinyong City, only more than twenty miles away from here. If you want to go back, no one can stop you. Why make it so difficult for yourself?" Those soldiers cried and said, "We came here with County Chief Wei and can't bear to abandon him. We don't care about the long journey!" This is how Wei Deshen won the hearts of the people. Later, Wei Deshen died in battle against bandits, and the people of Guixiang County and Guantao County have long cherished his memory.
At that time, the county magistrate of Liyang was Gao Shiheng from Bohai, the county magistrate of Xiaoxian was Liu Gao from Pengcheng, and the county magistrate of Chenggao was Liu Chi from Hongnong. These three officials were exceptionally virtuous and did many good deeds for the people.
By the end of the Sui Dynasty, many officials were corrupt, but Gao Shiheng, Liu Gao, and Liu Chi remained honest and incorruptible. They became even stricter with themselves, and the local atmosphere improved remarkably, with virtually no prisoners in the jails. The people praised them.
Historical records say: Ancient wisdom teaches that those adept at managing water will direct it to gentle slopes, and those who are good at educating the people will pacify them and make them settle down. When the water is level, it will not break the embankments, and when the people are peaceful, they will not violate the law. Therefore, to change customs and move with the times, to make people follow education and justice, strict enforcement alone is insufficient. We need more virtuous officials like them.
Gao Shiheng and his colleagues all uphold the right path in their hearts and minds, sincerely treating the people. Therefore, the places they governed flourished. After they left, the people missed them dearly. As for Jing Mao fighting against wrongdoing and promoting good, Gongyi caring for and looking after the sick, Liu Kuang bringing good customs to the places he governed, and Deshen deeply loved by the people, the virtues of these individuals are unmatched by those famous officials in history such as Xincheng, Du Shi, Zheng Hun, and Zhu Yi. The Book of Songs (Shijing) says, "A gentle and kind gentleman is like a father and mother to the people." This saying holds true! Unfortunately, those officials with high moral character, although recognized by the emperor on numerous occasions, were all eventually exiled for having made some minor mistakes in the past, which is truly regrettable! There is also Liu Jian, who faced difficulties in life after resigning from his position; and Zhao Gui, who was bid farewell by the people when he completed his term, a testament to his integrity!
Wang Jia hailed from Zhangwu in Hebei province. During the late Kaihuang period of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, he held a minor position in Qizhou as a military officer, and initially, he was quite unremarkable. Later, the governor of Qizhou sent him to escort more than seventy prisoners, including Li Can, who had been exiled for their offenses, to the capital. At that time, the regulations mandated that exiled prisoners be escorted in shackles. When Wang Jia reached Xingyang, he witnessed their suffering and felt a deep sympathy for them. He called them over and said, "You have broken the laws of the state and tarnished societal morals. It is right for you to suffer wearing shackles, but can you walk this long distance with such heavy shackles without feeling any shame?" Li Can and the others quickly expressed their heartfelt thanks. Wang Jia said, "Although you have broken the law, these shackles are indeed too harsh. I wish to assist you in removing them. Let's reconvene in the capital. Can you assure me that you won't escape and will arrive on time?" The prisoners all knelt down in gratitude, pledging, "We will not run away!" So Wang Jia helped them remove their shackles, released the soldiers escorting them, and struck a deal with them: "You must reach the capital by a specific date. If anyone is late or arrives early, I will be held accountable for you." Then he let them go.
Those exiled prisoners were very grateful and all arrived in the capital on time, without anyone escaping or violating the agreement. The Emperor was very surprised when he heard about this and summoned Wang Jia to discuss it, praising him for a long time. Then the Emperor summoned all those exiled prisoners, allowed them to bring their wives, children, and elderly into the palace, hosted a banquet for them, and granted them a pardon. The Emperor also issued a decree saying, "All people in the world, regardless of their background, have a sense of good and evil. If they are guided with sincerity and taught with clear reasoning, the social atmosphere will improve, and people will tend towards goodness. In the past, due to chaos in the world and moral decay, officials lacked compassion, and the common people had become cunning, resulting in endless lawsuits and a declining social order that was hard to manage. I have been entrusted by heaven to pacify the people, wanting to follow the teachings of sages and educate the people with morality. I strive for this every day. Wang Jia deeply understands my intentions and teaches those exiles with genuine sincerity. Li Can and others were moved and voluntarily surrendered to the authorities. This shows that people can be educated easily; it's just that officials have not fulfilled their responsibility of education, which leads them to commit crimes without the chance to reform. If all officials could be like Wang Jia, and all people could be like Li Can, then there would be no need for punishment. Isn't this goal achievable?" So the Emperor promoted Wang Jia to be the magistrate of Yong County, where he achieved remarkable success and earned a great reputation.
Wei Deshen, who hails from Julu, had a grandfather, Wei Chong, who held the positions of Minister of Justice and Governor of Jianzhou in the Zhou Dynasty, before the family later moved to Hongnong. His father, Wei Pi, served as the magistrate of Yulin County. Wei Deshen started as a minor official under Emperor Wen, later becoming the assistant official of Fengyi County and the household officer of Wuyang County. Thanks to his outstanding abilities, he was promoted to magistrate of Guixiang County. He was honest and fair in his official duties, not very strict, but effectively managed the county.
At that time, there was a war going on with Liaodong, with numerous taxes imposed and officials constantly shuttling back and forth, shifting blame to the counties. The court discipline was lax, corruption among officials was rampant, extorting the people everywhere and leaving the common people in dire straits. Only in the county governed by Wei Deshen did the people live peacefully, with all their needs met promptly and free from any disturbances. While thieves were rampant and many cities near Wuyang were breached, Wei Deshen's county remained unscathed. County magistrate Yuan Baozang was tasked with chasing the thieves, but he lost every battle and exhausted all his weapons and resources, resorting to forcing the people to hand over their belongings and frequently applying military law, repeating this several times. Other cities concentrated on building defenses within their administrations, with officials shifting blame and making noise day and night, yet achieving little progress. Wei Deshen, on the other hand, asked the people what they needed and then allowed them to prepare it themselves. The government was quiet, as if nothing was amiss. He merely kept the county officials in check, ensuring that the defensive works weren't better than those in other counties, so the people wouldn't suffer too much. However, the officials under him worked diligently, resulting in the county's defenses being the best.
Later, Wei Deshen was transferred to Guantao County as the county magistrate. When the officials and people of Guixiang County heard about this, they all recalled various deeds he had done when he was in office, crying uncontrollably and unable to speak. When Wei Deshen was about to leave, all the people of the city came to see him off, crying loudly, the sound of their cries carrying far down the road. Upon arriving in Guantao County, all the common folk treated him like family. There was a shady character named Zhao Junshi, who was a local official and was well-connected with the county magistrate Yuan Baozang. Previous county magistrates had never dared to defy them. Since Wei Deshen arrived, Zhao Junshi stayed holed up at home, too scared to go out. Those who had fled all returned, turning the place into a lively fair. The elders and folks of Guixiang, fearless in the face of danger, went to the capital to ask the court to keep Wei Deshen on, and the emperor agreed.
The common people of Guantao County ran to the county office again, complaining that the official documents from Guixiang County were fake. The county office was unable to make a decision. Just then, the envoys Wei Ji, Du Zheng, and others arrived, and both counties went to the envoys to complain. The envoys ultimately ruled in favor of Guixiang County. The officials and people of Guixiang County were so happy that they ran through the streets celebrating. The people of Guantao County were heartbroken, and hundreds of families moved away as a result. Yuan Baozang was intensely envious of Wei Deshen's abilities. Shortly after, Yuan Baozang defected with Wuyang to join Li Mi. The soldiers led by Wei Deshen were all from Wuyang and were preparing to rebel alongside their fellow townsfolk. Thinking of his relatives and friends, Wei Deshen walked to the city gate facing east and cried out in despair, then returned. Someone advised him, "Li Mi's army is near Jinyang City, just over twenty miles away. If you want to go back, no one can stop you. Why make it difficult for yourself?" Those soldiers cried and said, "We came with County Chief Wei and cannot abandon him, no matter how difficult the journey is!" This is how Wei Deshen garnered the people's loyalty. Later, Wei Deshen died in battle against the bandits, and the people of Guixiang and Guantao still remember him fondly to this day. It is said that at that time, the county magistrate of Liyang, Gao Shiheng from Bohai, the county magistrate of Xiaoxian, Liu Gao from Pengcheng, and the county magistrate of Chenggao, Liu Chi from Hongnong, were exceptionally benevolent and kind to the common people. As the Sui Dynasty was coming to an end, many officials had turned corrupt, but Gao Shiheng, Liu Gao, and Liu Chi remained honest and upright, even more than before. The local atmosphere was exceptionally positive, and the prison had hardly any inmates. They were widely praised by the people.
The history books say: The ancients said it well, "Those who are good at managing water will guide it to flow smoothly; those who are good at educating the people will help them find stability." When the water is calm, it will not break the embankments; when the people are peaceful, they will not violate the law. Therefore, to change customs, to reform and educate the people, and to uphold morality, it is not enough to rely solely on strict enforcement; it also requires upright and honest officials. People like Gao Shiheng all uphold the right path in their hearts and treat the people with the utmost sincerity, so the regions they govern flourish. Once they leave, the people deeply miss them. As for Jing Mao, who suppresses evil and promotes good, and Liu Kuang, who educates the people in his jurisdiction, their virtues surpass even those of renowned historical officials like Xincheng, Dushi, Zhenghun, and Zhuyi! The Book of Songs says, "A gentle and kind gentleman is like a parent to the people." This is absolutely true!
Unfortunately, Gong Yi, despite his noble character and the Emperor's favor, was eventually exiled on the road, which is truly a pity! Then there is Liu Jian, who, after finishing his term, said goodbye with nothing but plain water, truly embodying integrity!
Liu Kuang is a person of unknown origin. He is prudent and kind-hearted, always treating everything with sincerity and tolerance. In the early Kaihuang era of Emperor Wen of Sui, he was appointed as the magistrate of Pingxiang County, and he rode alone on horseback to assume his post.
Whenever disputes arose, he would patiently and carefully explain the situation to them, outlining the importance and urgency of the matter, and never imposed harsh punishments. The parties involved would reflect on their mistakes and leave amicably. He devoted his salary to helping the poor. The locals were inspired by his virtues and encouraged one another, saying, "With such a good official around, who would dare to do wrong?"
He served as the magistrate of Pingxiang County for seven years, and the local climate improved dramatically. The prison was empty, and lawsuits became a thing of the past. The prison was overgrown with weeds, and the yard was even used for playing games. When he left office, officials and common people in the county, irrespective of their status, wept as they saw him off on the road, continuously for hundreds of miles without interruption.
Later, he was transferred to be the magistrate of Linying County, still incorruptible and upright, with outstanding achievements, and was hailed as the finest in the realm. The Minister of Works, Gao Jiang, reported his deeds to the emperor. The emperor summoned him, and after seeing Liu Kuang, the emperor praised him, saying, "There are so many county magistrates in the world, but you are so outstanding; this is truly commendable!" Then, the emperor said to the officials around him, "If we don't reward him appropriately, how can we inspire others?" So, the emperor issued a notably generous decree, promoting Liu Kuang to the position of Governor of Juzhou.
Wang Jia, a native of Zhangwu in Hebei, was a minor official in Qizhou during the late Kaihuang period of Emperor Wen of Sui. Initially, there was nothing particularly remarkable about him. Later, the governor of Qizhou sent him to escort more than seventy prisoners, including Li Can, to the capital. At that time, it was customary for exiled prisoners to be escorted in chains. When Wang Jia reached Xingyang and saw how hard the prisoners were suffering, he felt sympathy for them. He called them over and said, "You have violated the laws of the country and corrupted social morals. It is right for you to bear the punishment of wearing chains. But now, you have to carry these heavy chains yourselves on a long journey. Don’t you feel any guilt?" The prisoners expressed their gratitude. Wang Jia said, "Although you have broken the law, wearing chains is certainly very difficult. I would like to help you remove the chains. When we reach the capital, can you promise to arrive on time?" The prisoners all knelt and thanked him, saying, "We will definitely not be late!" So Wang Jia unlocked their chains, dismissed the soldiers escorting them, and made an agreement: "You must arrive in the capital by a specific date. If anyone arrives early or late, I will take responsibility for it on your behalf." Then he let them go. The prisoners were all very pleased, arrived in the capital on time, and not a single one escaped or broke the agreement.
After hearing about this matter, the emperor was greatly astonished. He summoned Wang Jia to inquire about the details and praised him for a long time. Then the emperor summoned all the exiled prisoners, having them come to the palace along with their wives and children. He hosted a banquet for them in the palace, and their crimes were pardoned. The emperor then issued a decree that stated: "All people in the world, regardless of their background, have a sense of good and evil. If they are guided with sincerity and enlightened with reason, the moral climate will improve, and people will be inclined towards virtue. In the past, due to chaos in the world and moral decay, officials lacked compassion, and the common people harbored deceitful thoughts, resulting in a litany of lawsuits and making societal governance challenging. It is my divine mandate to bring peace to the people, to adhere to the teachings of sages, and to influence the people with morality. Wang Jia fully grasped my intentions and guided the prisoners with sincerity. Li Can and others were influenced and voluntarily surrendered. This demonstrates that the populace is not inherently difficult to educate; it is only because officials have not fulfilled their duty of guidance and education, resulting in their criminal behavior and denying them the opportunity for redemption. If all officials were like Wang Jia and all individuals like Li Can, then there would be no need for punishment. Isn't this far from reality?" The emperor then promoted Wang Jia to become the magistrate of Yongzhou, where he achieved remarkable political achievements and had a good reputation.
Wei Deshen, from Julu, had a grandfather, Wei Chong, who served as the Minister of Justice and the Governor of Jianzhou in the Zhou Dynasty, and later the family moved to Hongnong. His father, Wei Pi, served as the magistrate of Yulin County. Wei Deshen initially served as a minor official under Emperor Wen, then as the secretary of Fengyi County and the registrar of Wuyang County. Thanks to his exceptional abilities, he was promoted to the magistrate of Guixiang County. He was honest and fair in his official duties, eschewed harsh punishments, and maintained order in the county.
At that time, this coincided with the war in Liaodong. There were various types of taxes, and officials were sent everywhere to collect them, shifting the responsibility to the various counties. The court's discipline was lax, and officials were corrupt, extorting the populace at every turn. Only in the county governed by Wei Deshen was the situation a stark contrast. There were ample supplies, no oppression of the people, taxes were paid on time, and the people lived in peace and contentment. This county was considered a model at that time. Banditry was rampant, and many cities in the Wuyang area fell to bandits, but the county under Wei Deshen remained unscathed.
County magistrate Yuan Baozang was ordered to chase the bandits. Every battle was lost, weapons and equipment were depleted, so he drafted labor from the locals, often enforcing military discipline, repeating this several times. Other counties concentrated people in government offices to build defensive works, while officials blamed each other, creating a ruckus day and night, yet the defenses were still not completed. Wei Deshen, on the other hand, asked everyone what they needed, then let them do it themselves. The government office was quiet, as if nothing was amiss. He only restrained the county officials, making sure the defensive works weren't better than those in neighboring counties, to prevent overburdening the people. Despite this, everyone worked hard, and the county's defenses consistently turned out the best.
Later, Wei Deshen was transferred to Guantao County to serve as the county magistrate. When the officials and people of the county heard about it, they all sighed with regret, weeping uncontrollably. When Wei Deshen was about to leave, the entire town's residents came to see him off, crying loudly as he left. Upon arriving in Guantao County, all the local people treated him like their own father. There was a local troublemaker named Zhao Junshi, who had a close relationship with the county magistrate Yuan Baozang, and none of the previous magistrates could stand up to him. After Wei Deshen took office, Zhao Junshi hid at home and didn't dare to go out. Those who had fled returned in droves, creating a bustling scene like a market day. The elders and villagers of the county, overcoming the hardships and dangers, traveled to the capital to plead with the court to keep Wei Deshen, and the emperor agreed.
The people of Guantao County went to the county government to complain again, saying that the memorial from Guixiang County was fake. The county government couldn't make a decision. Just then, the envoys Wei Ji and Du Zheng arrived. Both counties went to the envoys to complain, and the envoys ultimately ruled in favor of Guixiang County. The officials and people of Guixiang County celebrated with singing and dancing, while the people of Guantao cried inconsolably. As a result, several hundred households relocated. Yuan Baozang was deeply envious of Wei Deshen's abilities. Later, King Dong of Yue conscripted soldiers from the county, and Yuan Baozang sent Wei Deshen with a thousand men to the eastern capital. Shortly after, Yuan Baozang surrendered to Li Mi. The soldiers under Wei Deshen's command were all from Wuyang; their hometown was occupied by Li Mi. Wei Deshen thought of his relatives and friends, walked out of the city gate, wept for his hometown, and then returned. Someone advised him, "Li Mi's army is near Jinyong City, only about twenty miles away. If you want to go back, no one would stop you. Why make it so difficult for yourself?" The soldiers all cried and said, "We came here with County Magistrate Wei and can't bear to leave him behind. Why would we care about the distance?" Wei Deshen gained the love of the people in this way. Later, Wei Deshen died in battle against the enemy, and the people of Guixiang County and Guantao still honor his memory to this day. At that time, there was a magistrate in Liyang County, Gao Shiheng from Bohai; the magistrate of Xiaoxian was Liu Gao from Pengcheng; and the magistrate of Chenggao County was Liu Chi from Hongnong. These three officials were known for their virtue. As the Sui Dynasty was nearing its end, many officials were corrupt, but Gao Shiheng, Liu Gao, and Liu Chi remained even more honest and upright than ever! They managed their areas well, with not a single prisoner in the jails, and the people sang their praises.
In history books, it is said: the ancients believed that those who were good at managing water could guide its flow smoothly; those who were good at educating the people could soothe them and ensure their stability. When water flows smoothly, it won't breach the banks; when the people live in peace and contentment, they will not violate the law. Therefore, to change customs and habits, relying solely on harsh punishments is not enough; it also requires officials who are upright and honest! People like Gao Shiheng, who embody righteousness and genuinely care for the people, have governed their regions effectively. After they leave, the people miss them greatly. As for Jing Mao, who curbed evil and promoted virtue; Guan Yi, who empathized with the people's suffering; Liu Kuang, who educated the region under his jurisdiction; and De Shen, who was deeply loved by the people, their merits surpass those of even renowned officials like Xincheng, Du Shi, Zheng Hun, and Zhu Yi in history! The Book of Songs says: "A benevolent and virtuous gentleman is like a father and mother to his people." This is absolutely true!
Unfortunately, Gong Yi (referring to Empress Gongyi), despite her exemplary behavior and multiple instances of the emperor's favor, and even though the emperor forgave her past mistakes, she still ended up in exile, which is indeed a pity! Also, after Liu Jian resigned from his post, his family fell into such poverty that they could barely support his wife and children; when Zhao Gui's term ended, he bid farewell with a simple toast of clear water, demonstrating remarkable integrity!
Guo Xuan, from Anyi in Hedong, originally came from a poor family. He started as a clerk of the Minister of Personnel and was later granted the title of Yitong due to his military achievements. He served as a military advisor and chief secretary in several states, performing excellently and gaining a good reputation. When Emperor Yang of Sui had just ascended the throne, the Minister of Justice, Yuwen Bi, inspected Hebei and brought Guo Xuan along as his assistant. Emperor Yang of Sui was preparing to go to Liaodong for war and considered Zhuo County an important strategic location, so he searched for suitable talents to manage it. Hearing that Guo Xuan was very capable, he appointed him as the magistrate of Zhuo County, much to the delight of the local officials and the populace. Several years later, Guo Xuan was promoted to the governor of Zhuo County and also served as the acting commandant. Later, a bandit uprising broke out in Shandong, and Guo Xuan led his troops in pursuit of and captured many bandits. By that time, most other counties had been devastated, but Zhuo County was left unscathed. Later, Guo Xuan led his troops to fight against Dou Jiande in Hejian and died in battle. Officials and people mourned his loss for months on end, and they were heartbroken.
Jing Su, courtesy name (zi) Hongjian, was a man from Puban in Hedong. He was known for his integrity and uprightness from an early age, and he initially served as a county clerk. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui in the Kaihuang era, he became the magistrate of Anling County, where he demonstrated outstanding governance. He was promoted to the position of Sima in Qinzhou and later transferred to be the Chief Clerk of Binzhou. During the Reign of Renshou, he served as Sima in Weizhou, where he also achieved remarkable success. Upon the ascension of Emperor Yang of Sui, he was appointed as the magistrate of Yingchuan Prefecture. In the fifth year of the Daye era, he went to the Eastern Capital to meet the Emperor, who asked Xue Daoheng, the Chief of the Imperial Secretariat, to evaluate the officials throughout the empire. Xue Daoheng's assessment of Jing Su was: "His heart is as unyielding as iron and stone, becoming more upright as he ages." At that time, the General of the Left Yüwen Shù wielded great power, and since his hometown was in Yingchuan, he frequently wrote letters to Jing Su. However, Jing Su never opened these letters and instead had the messengers return them directly. Among Yüwen Shù's guests were those who behaved recklessly, and Jing Su punished them according to the law without leniency. As a result, Yüwen Shù held a strong dislike for him. In the eighth year of Daye, Jing Su went to Zhuojun to meet the Emperor. The Emperor, recognizing Jing Su’s age and his exceptional governance abilities, considered promoting him to the position of governor on multiple occasions, but Yüwen Shù thwarted these attempts, preventing any promotion. In the final years of Daye, Jing Su requested retirement, which the Emperor granted. On the day he retired, he had no savings whatsoever. A year later, Jing Su passed away at the age of eighty years.
Who Liu Kuang really is remains a mystery. He is cautious and kind, always handling things with sincerity and tolerance. During the early years of Emperor Wen of Sui's reign, he was appointed the magistrate of Pingxiang County and rode there alone on horseback. When disputes arose, he patiently reasoned with the parties involved, explaining the stakes involved and never harshly punishing them. Those people, feeling embarrassed, would leave on their own. He donated his salary to help the poor. The common people were moved by him and encouraged each other, saying, "With such a good official, how can we dare to do bad things!" After seven years as the magistrate of Pingxiang County, the local atmosphere transformed dramatically, with no prisoners in jail and no lawsuits filed. The prison was overgrown with grass, and the courtyard was so spacious it could even accommodate a game of tennis. When he left his post, officials of all ranks wept as they saw him off, accompanying him for hundreds of miles without interruption.
Later, he was promoted to magistrate of Linying County, still maintaining his reputation for honesty and good governance, and considered the best magistrate in the country. The Left Minister of Works, Gao Ke, reported his deeds to the emperor, who summoned him and warmly commended him, saying, "There are so many magistrates in the country, but you stand out so well; it's really great!" He then told the officials around him, "If we don't give him a special reward, how can we inspire others?" Therefore, the emperor issued a generous edict promoting him to the governor of Juzhou.
Wang Jia, from Zhangwu, Hebei, was a minor official in Qizhou during the later years of Emperor Wen of Sui's reign, holding the title of military officer. Initially, there was nothing particularly remarkable about him. Later, the governor of Qizhou assigned him to escort over seventy prisoners, led by a man named Li Can, to the capital for punishment. At that time, regulations mandated that exiled prisoners be escorted in chains.
When Wang Jia escorted the prisoners to Xingyang, seeing how hard they were struggling, he felt a pang of sympathy. He called them over and said, "Everyone, you have broken the law and violated moral principles, and are being punished wearing chains; this is the punishment you must bear. But now, having to endure such hardship on the journey, can you truly feel at ease?" Li Can and the others quickly thanked Wang Jia. Wang Jia said, "Although you have broken the law, wearing chains is indeed very hard. I want to help you take off the chains. When we reach the capital, we will meet up again. Can you guarantee that you will arrive on time?" The prisoners knelt in gratitude and said, "We will definitely not delay." So Wang Jia unlocked the chains for the prisoners and stopped the soldiers escorting them. He made an agreement with them, saying, "You must arrive in the capital by a specific date. If anyone is late, I will take responsibility for anyone who is late." Then he let them go.
The exiled prisoners were all overjoyed and arrived in the capital on time, with no one escaping or betraying them. The emperor was astonished when he heard about this, summoned Wang Jia to ask for details, and praised him for a long time. Then the emperor summoned all the prisoners, allowed them to bring their wives and children into the palace, threw a banquet in their honor, and finally granted them all a pardon.
The emperor also issued a decree, saying, "All the people in the world, with flesh and blood, have a conscience of good and evil. As long as you treat them with sincerity and guide them with reason, the social climate will improve, and people will be more inclined to do good. In the past, because of the chaos in the world, morals broke down; officials lacked compassion, and the common people harbored deceitful hearts, resulting in endless lawsuits and a decline in social morals. I have been appointed by heaven to bring peace to the people, with the intent of following the teachings of the sages, using morality to guide the people, working hard at this day and night. Wang Jia understands my intentions and sincerely guides the offenders. Li Can and others have repented and turned themselves in to the authorities. This shows that the people of the world are not difficult to educate, but officials have not guided them properly, leading them to commit crimes without a chance to reform. If all officials were like Wang Jia and all people were like Li Can, then we wouldn't need the penal system anymore—doesn't that seem achievable?"
So the emperor promoted Wang Jia to become the magistrate of Yongzhou, where he also performed excellently and achieved great political success.
Wei Deshen, hailing from Julu, whose grandfather Wei Chong served as the Minister of Justice and Governor of Jianzhou in the Zhou Dynasty, later made his home in Hongnong. His father, Wei Pi, was the magistrate of Yulin County. Wei Deshen started as a minor official under Emperor Wen, later serving as a scribe in Fengyi County and Wuyang County, and thanks to his outstanding abilities, he was promoted to the magistrate of Guixiang County. He governed with integrity and fairness, running the county efficiently without being harsh.
At that time, it was coinciding with the war in Liaodong. There were many types of taxes, and officials came and went to collect them, pushing the responsibility onto various counties. The discipline of the court was lax, and corruption among officials was rampant. Taxes were levied everywhere, and the common people were suffering greatly. Only in Guixiang County governed by Wei Deshen was the situation completely different. He coordinated supply and demand, tried his best to meet the needs of the court, and the people were not disturbed at all. Everyone said that he governed very well. At that time, thieves were rampant, and many cities near Wuyang were breached; only Guixiang County remained unscathed.
County magistrate Yuan Baozang was ordered to pursue the thieves, but he lost every battle and ran out of weapons and supplies, constantly requisitioning from the common people and often resorting to military law against them. This cycle repeated itself. Other cities built defensive fortifications, concentrating people in the government office, while officials urged each other, making noise day and night, but they still couldn't get it under control. Wei Deshen, on the other hand, took a different approach. He first asked everyone how they wanted to proceed and then let them handle it themselves. The government office was quiet, as if nothing was amiss. He only restrained the officials in the county, requiring that their fortifications not be better than those of other counties, so as not to make the people too miserable. Yet everyone below put in a lot of effort, and the fortifications in Guixiang County were always the best among all the counties.
Later, Wei Deshen was transferred to Guantao County to serve as the county magistrate. When everyone in the city heard about it, they all talked about his deeds, crying uncontrollably and unable to speak. When he was about to take up his post in Guantao, the entire city came to see him off, crying so loudly it could be heard for miles, their cries echoing far into the distance. Upon arriving in Guantao County, all the local people treated him like family. There was a shady character named Zhao Junshi, a magistrate from another county, who was well-connected with the former county magistrate, Yuan Baozang. None of the past magistrates had managed to stand up to him. However, since Wei Deshen arrived, Zhao Junshi hid at home and dared not go out. Those who had fled returned one after another, like a crowd at a market. The elders and fellow villagers of the county braved the dangers and went to the capital to ask the emperor to keep Wei Deshen, and the emperor granted their request.
The elders and villagers of Guantao went to the county to complain again, saying that the official documents from Guantao were fake. The county was unable to make a ruling. Just then, the envoys Wei Ji, Du Zheng, and others arrived. Both counties went to the envoys to complain, and the envoys ruled in favor of Guantao. The people of Guantao celebrated with singing and dancing, while the people of Guantao wept bitterly, and several hundred households moved away. Yuan Baozang was jealous of Wei Deshen's talent. Later, King Dong of Yue conscripted soldiers from the county, and Yuan Baozang sent Wei Deshen with a thousand soldiers to the eastern capital. Shortly after, Yuan Baozang surrendered to Li Mi. The soldiers led by Wei Deshen were all from Wuyang, Li Mi's hometown. Thinking of their relatives and friends, they left the city gate, wept as they faced east, and then returned. Someone advised him, "Li Mi's troops are near Jinyong City, less than twenty miles away. If you want to go back, no one can stop you. Why put yourself through this?" The soldiers all cried and said, "We came here with County Magistrate Wei and can't bear to leave him behind. Why would we care about the long journey?" This is how Wei Deshen won the people's hearts. Later, Wei Deshen died in battle against the bandits, and the people of Guantao still remember him to this day. It is said that at that time, the county magistrate of Liyang, Gao Shiheng from Bohai, the county magistrate of Xiao, Liu Gao from Pengcheng, and the county magistrate of Chenggao, Liu Chi from Hongnong, were all good officials, deeply loved by the people. By the time of the Sui Dynasty, when corruption was rampant among officials, only Gao Shiheng, Liu Gao, and Liu Chi stood out as honest and upright, holding themselves to even higher standards. Their good reputation had a great influence, and there were no prisoners in the county's prison, earning the praise of the common people.
The history books say: The ancients said it well, "Those who are good at managing water will guide it to flow smoothly; those who are good at educating the people will pacify them to bring stability." When the water is calm, it will not harm the embankments; when the people are stable, they will not violate the laws. Therefore, to change customs and habits, to make the people follow rules and laws, it is not through harsh punishments, but through the guidance of wise officials. People like Gao Shiheng, who hold the right path in their hearts and sincerely treat the people, bring improvement wherever they go, and the people fondly remember them after they leave.
As for Jing Mao, who suppresses evil and promotes goodness; who is just and compassionate towards the people's suffering; Liu Kuang, who brings good practices to the areas under his jurisdiction; and De Shen, deeply loved by the people, the virtues of these individuals surpass even those of renowned officials in history like Xincheng, Dushi, Zheng Hun, and Zhu Yi! As the Book of Songs says, "The gentle and kind gentleman serves as the father and mother of the people," and this is absolutely true!
Unfortunately, Gong Yi, despite his high moral character and the Emperor's appreciation, was exiled and tragically died during his journey due to a past mistake, which is truly regrettable! After Liu Jian resigned from his post, his family lived in poverty, struggling to make ends meet; when Zhao Gui was sent off with nothing but clear water, it showed his integrity! These stories remind us of the enduring value of integrity and compassion in leadership.
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