Guo Linzong, courtesy name Linzong, was from Taiyuan Jiexiu, born into a long line of poverty. He lost his father at a very young age, and his mother wanted him to work as a servant in the county office. Linzong said, "How can a man stoop to such lowly work?" and refused. He went to Chenggao to study under Qu Boyan, and after three years of study, he became well-versed in the classics and historical texts, excelled in debates, and had a melodious voice. Later, he traveled to Luoyang to study, where he met Li Ying, the Governor of Henan. Li Ying greatly admired him, and they became good friends, which helped spread Linzong's reputation throughout the capital. When he returned to his hometown, many scholars in Confucian robes escorted him to the river, with thousands of vehicles in the farewell procession. Linzong crossed the river with Li Ying on the same boat, while others looked on from the shore, viewing him as a celestial being.
Situ Huang Qiong and Tai Chang Zhao Dian recommended him for official positions, and many urged him to take up government roles, but he replied, "I watch the stars at night and people during the day. Heaven has abandoned this era, and it cannot be sustained." So he never accepted any official position. He was an upright man with a keen eye for character, and he enjoyed guiding and teaching scholars. He was eight feet tall, robust in appearance, dressed in loose robes, and traveled far and wide. Once, while traveling between Chenliu and Liangguo, it rained, and he used a corner of his headscarf to cushion his feet. People later intentionally folded the corner of their headscarves, calling it the "Linzong scarf." This demonstrates the deep admiration people felt for him. When asked about Guo Linzong, Fan Pang from Runan said, "He lives in seclusion while honoring his filial duties, he is upright without detaching from the secular world. The emperor cannot make him a subject, and the feudal lords cannot make him a friend. As for the rest, I do not know." After his mother passed away, he showed extreme filial piety. Although Linzong understood social dynamics, he never made sensational or alarming statements, so even during the eunuchs' power, he remained unharmed.
When the disaster of the Party's imprisonment erupted, many prestigious scholars were persecuted; only Lin Zong and Yuan Hong of Runan were spared. So he taught in seclusion, with over a thousand students. In the first year of Jianning, the Grand Tutor Chen Fan and the Grand General Dou Wu were killed by eunuchs, and Lin Zong wept inconsolably in the wild, mourning endlessly. Then he sighed, saying, "When people are lost, the nation suffers; I wonder where this disaster will lead us?"
In the following spring, Lin Zong died at home at the age of forty-two. Over a thousand scholars from all over came to attend his funeral. His colleagues carved a stone monument together, with Cai Yong penning the inscription. Later, Cai Yong told Lu Zhi of Zhuo commandery, "I have written many inscriptions that left me feeling ashamed, but the one for Guo Lin Zong was different; I wrote it with complete peace of mind."
Lin Zong, he had an extraordinary eye for talent! Later, some people, in order to praise him, wrote numerous articles filled with exaggeration, yet utterly unreliable, similar to those fortune-telling books. Here, I will only record those events that are genuinely based on facts, placing them at the end of the article.
Let me tell you a story about Zuo Yuan. He was from Chenliu and was a student in the county. He committed a crime and faced public criticism. Lin Zong met him on the road, invited him to drink and eat to comfort him, saying, "In the past, Yan Zhuoju was a notorious bandit of Liangfu Mountain, and Duanganmu was a notorious scoundrel of the Jin State. In the end, they both became loyal ministers of the Qi State and renowned men of virtue in the Wei State. Even great sages like Qu Yuan and Yan Hui can make mistakes, let alone others. Don't be angry or regretful; instead, focus on self-reflection!" Zuo Yuan listened to his words and left. Some people criticized Lin Zong, saying he shouldn't associate with bad people. Lin Zong said, "If someone is not righteous, criticize them harshly, so society can be stable." As a result, Zuo Yuan later developed a grudge and rallied a group of people to retaliate against those students. That day, Lin Zong was at the school. When Zuo Yuan recalled the promise he had made to Lin Zong, he left in shame. Later, the truth eventually came to light, and everyone admired Lin Zong's ability to judge people.
Mao Rong, whose courtesy name was Jiwei, was also from Chenliu. In his forties, he was still toiling in the fields. Once, he and some people were sheltering from the rain under a tree. Everyone sat nonchalantly on the ground, but Mao Rong sat up straight, showing great respect. When Lin Zong passed by and noticed him, he thought Mao Rong was exceptional, so he chatted with him and invited him to stay at his house. The next day, Mao Rong slaughtered a chicken and cooked for Lin Zong, thinking it was meant for him, but Mao Rong offered it as a tribute to his mother and ate simple meals with Lin Zong. Lin Zong stood up and bowed to him, saying, "You are truly virtuous!" He then encouraged him to pursue his studies, and Mao Rong eventually achieved success.
Meng Min, styled Shuda, was from the Yang clan in Julu and was a guest in Taiyuan. He threw the steamer used for cooking rice into the field and walked away without looking back. Lin Zong saw this and asked him why. Meng Min said, "The steamer is broken; what use is it?" Lin Zong thought he was special and urged him to study. Ten years later, Meng Min became famous, and the three officials of the court came to summon him, but he declined the offers.
Yu Cheng, courtesy name Shiyou, was originally from Yanling in Yingchuan. When he was young, he worked as a gatekeeper at the county yamen. Lin Zong discovered him and persuaded him to study and become an official, so he became a student. Later, he excelled in debate, but because of his humble background, he always sat at the lowest seat. Students and scholars from the school came to consult him, so everyone in the school regarded the lower seat as honorable. The court summoned him many times, but he refused every time, which earned him the nickname "Refusing Lord."
Song Guo, courtesy name Zhongyi, was from Fufeng. He had a rash and irritable character and had a tendency to pick fights, which made him disliked by the local officials. Lin Zong taught him the principles of good conduct, fearing that his bad temper would bring trouble. Song Guo regretted his actions, apologized, and turned over a new leaf. Later, he became known for his integrity and uprightness and was summoned by the court to serve as an imperial censor and the governor of Bingzhou, where he governed well.
Jia Shu, courtesy name Zi Hou, was from Lin Zong's hometown. Although his family was prominent, he was treacherous and malicious, striking fear into the hearts of the villagers. When Lin Zong's mother passed away, Jia Shu came to offer condolences. Later, Sun Weizhi from Julu also came. Sun Weizhi was surprised that someone as outstanding as Lin Zong would accept condolences from a villain and left without entering. Lin Zong caught up with him and apologized, saying, "Jia Zihou's conduct was indeed bad, but he has now repented and wants to change for the better. Confucius said 'do not oppose evil people,' and that’s why I allowed him to come in." After hearing this, Jia Shu repented, improved himself, and eventually became a good person. When people in the village faced difficulties, Jia Shu always went out of his way to help, earning praise from the villagers.
Shi Shubin, from Chenliu, gained fame at a young age. Lin Zong saw him and told others, "His foundation is not solid; although he is powerful now, he would ultimately fail." Indeed, he later tarnished his reputation due to flattery and the distortion of facts in his speech.
Huang Yun, styled Zi'ai, from Jiyin, was famous for his outstanding talent. Upon meeting him, Lin Zong said, "You are very talented and will achieve great things in the future. But I am worried that you will not stick to your principles and will ultimately fail." Later, Situ Yuanwei wanted to find a good son-in-law for his daughter, and after seeing Huang Yun, he exclaimed, "Having found such a son-in-law is more than enough!" After hearing this, Huang Yun divorced his wife Xiahou Shi. Xiahou Shi told her mother-in-law, "I am about to be divorced from Huang Yun and bid farewell to the Huang family completely. I want to see relatives and friends and say goodbye to them." So she invited over three hundred guests, sat in the center, rolled up her sleeves, and recounted fifteen of Huang Yun's hidden misdeeds. After speaking, she left in a carriage. As a result of this incident, Huang Yun was despised by people at that time.
Xie Zhen, styled Ziwei, a native of Shaoling in Runan, was just as renowned as Bian Rang from Chenliu for his debating skills. They often visited Lin Zong together, staying for several days and nights. Lin Zong said to his students, "These two are talented, but lack cultivation; it's a pity!" Xie Zhen later ignored his behavior and faced criticism from society. Bian Rang was killed by Cao Cao for disrespecting him.
Wang Rou, styled Shuyou, and his younger brother Wang Ze, styled Jidao, both from Jinyang County, hailed from the same village as Lin Zong. The two brothers followed Lin Zong at a young age, seeking guidance on their future careers. Lin Zong said, "Shuyou, you should pursue an official career and will achieve great things in the future; Jidao, you are suited for studying classics and will also achieve success in the future. However, if you stray from your strengths and try to change paths, success will be very difficult." Later, events unfolded just as Lin Zong had predicted: Wang Rou became the Protector of the Xiongnu, and Wang Ze became the Prefect of Daijun.
Wang Rou met Zhang Xiaozhong during herding; he also met Fan Tezu at the post station. He gathered Gongzi (the Young Master), Xu Weikang, who were ordinary folks that sold wine at the slaughterhouse; Sima Ziwei, who was promoted from ordinary soldiers; along with fellow villagers Guo Changxin, Wang Changwen, Han Wenbu, Li Zizheng, Cao Ziyuan, Zhou Kangzi from Dingxiang, Wang Jiran from Xihe, Qiu Jizhi from Yunzhong, Hao Lizhen, and so on, a total of over sixty people, all of whom later became famous figures.
The article notes: Zhuangzi once said that human relationships are more treacherous than mountains and rivers, because human emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness can be seen, but the depths of human hearts are difficult to explore. Therefore, those who are very shrewd often have thoughts different from their outward appearance; those who can see through human hearts are probably only saints. Lin Zong handles people and situations with great tact. Could it be that he has an innate ability to read people's minds? However, Lin Zong is humble and prudent, always careful in his interactions, and in the end, he enjoys a peaceful old age. He inspires many people to seek fame; even figures like Mozi and Mengzi can't seem to alter this trend.
Fu Rong, courtesy name Weiming, was from Chenliu in Junyi. When he was young, he served as a minor official, but found the work unfulfilling and decided to resign. Later, he went to the Imperial College to study and became a student of Li Ying, the Minister of Works. Li Ying was a man of integrity, and every time he saw Fu Rong, he would send away other guests to focus solely on him. Fu Rong wore a cap, rolled up his sleeves, and chatted animatedly about a wide range of topics. Li Ying was consistently amazed and would sigh in admiration. When Guo Linzong first came to the capital and was still unknown, Li Ying admired him very much. He then introduced Fu Rong to Li Ying, and from that moment on, Fu Rong’s fame began to soar.
Han Zhong's Jin Wenjing and Liang Guo's Huang Ziai, both depending on their little wits, came to the capital to flaunt themselves, pretending to be ill and staying indoors, avoiding everyone. The officials in Luoyang, who loved to gossip, heard about their reputation and went to their door to visit, but they were hard to pin down. If someone recommended them to the three highest-ranking officials in the court, they would inquire about the situation of Jin Wenjing and Huang Ziai and decide whether to promote this person based on their evaluation. Cai Rong felt that these two had no real ability, so he went to the academy to find Li Ying and said, "These two have no real talent, but they think highly of themselves, making the high-ranking officials in the court visit them and the nobles wait at their door. I'm concerned that their shady ways will tarnish social morals, and their reputation is not backed by any real talent. You should investigate them thoroughly." Li Ying thought it made sense. From then on, the reputations of Jin Wenjing and Huang Ziai took a nosedive, and fewer and fewer people came to visit them, and they soon slinked away. Later, they both turned into good-for-nothings and were eventually deposed for committing crimes. Cai Rong gained even more notoriety from this incident. Countless states and counties sought him out for official positions, recommended him as a filial son, and the court also summoned him several times, but he turned them down. Magistrate Feng Dai was quite the big shot and wanted to meet Cai Rong after taking office. Cai Rong went once, recommended Fan Ran, Han Zhuo, and Kong You, three outstanding talents from the counties, and then cut himself off from the world, claiming to be ill. Later, he was also imprisoned during the Partisan Prohibition. Cai Rong's wife passed away, and the family was so broke that even organizing the funeral was a struggle. The villagers offered to pitch in for the coffin and funeral clothes, but Cai Rong turned them down. He said, "In ancient times, people were buried in the wild when they died. Only a wife can express her feelings, just dig a hole and bury her right there." Tian Sheng, from the same county as Cai Rong, with the courtesy name Zhongxiang, was a good friend of Guo Linzong and was also good at judging people. He lived a laid-back life, stayed out of politics, and passed away quietly.
Xu Shao, courtesy name Zijiang, was a native of Pingyu in Runan. He was known for his noble character and emphasis on human relationships from a young age. He was very good at judging people, and those like Fan Zizhao and Heyang Shi whom he valued became famous later on. Therefore, people everywhere said that if you want to select talents, you should ask for the opinions of Xu Shao and Guo Linzong.
When Xu Shao first became the district magistrate's secretary, the prefect Xu Qiao held him in high regard. When people in the prefecture learned that Zijiang was now an official, they quickly corrected their bad habits and behavior. Yuan Shao, from the same prefecture, was a descendant of a wealthy and noble family, known for his generosity. When he returned from his post as the magistrate of Puyang in a grand procession, he was about to enter the prefecture when he quickly sent away his attendants, saying, "How could I let Xu Zijiang see my procession?" So he returned home in a single carriage.
Xu Shao once went to Yingchuan and made friends with many elders, yet he never visited Chen Shi. When Chen Fan's wife passed away and needed to be reburied, the people in the village all went, but only Xu Shao did not. When asked why, Xu Shao said, "Taiqiu Chen Shi is broad-minded, but it's hard to be all-encompassing; Zhongju Chen Fan is known for his integrity, which makes compromise difficult. Therefore, I did not go." This is how he accurately evaluated people.
When Cao Cao was young, he always acted humbly and sent generous gifts, hoping to have Mi Heng as his counselor. Mi Heng looked down on Cao Cao and did not want to deal with him. Cao Cao secretly threatened Mi Heng, who reluctantly replied, "You're a scoundrel in times of peace and a hero in times of turmoil!" Cao Cao was very pleased and left.
Mi Heng's family had served in high positions for three generations: Mi Jing, Mi Xun, and Mi Xiang. Mi Xiang was able to climb the ranks and receive titles and honors because he knew how to flatter and please the eunuchs. He often urged Mi Heng to accept an official position, but Mi Heng detested his despicable behavior and never accepted.
Ni Heng's hometown Ru'nan had a man named Li Kui, who was a very upright and principled person. Ni Heng initially had a good relationship with him, but they eventually fell out for various reasons. Ni Heng also had a poor relationship with his cousin Ni Jing, and people at that time looked down on Ni Heng as a result. In fact, when Ni Heng and Ni Jing were young, they were both renowned for their discussions on local celebrities, and they would reevaluate their conduct every month, which led to a local custom in Ru'nan known as "Yuedan Ping."
Sikong Yang Biao once invited Ni Heng, praising him as honest and kind, and wanted to recruit him as an official, but Ni Heng declined. Others urged Ni Heng to take up an official position, but he replied, "Nowadays, villains are in power, the court is in chaos; I want to hide in the Huaihai area to ensure my family's safety." So he went south to Guangling. The Governor of Xuzhou, Tao Qian, treated him with great courtesy, but Ni Heng felt uneasy, telling his friends, "Although Tao Gongzu appears to value reputation, he is not sincere. Although he is good to me now, it certainly won't last, so it is better to leave him." So he sought refuge with Liu Yao, the Governor of Yangzhou, and went to Qu'e. Later, Tao Qian indeed arrested the literati residing in the city. Later, Sun Ce pacified Jiangdong, and Ni Heng and Liu Yao fled to Yuzhang together, where he died at the age of forty-six.
Ni Heng's brother Ni Qian was also well-known, and people in Ru'nan often remarked that there were two dragons in Yuanli of Pingyu County!
Praise: Lin Zong treasures wisdom, discerning deeply and examining the essence. He enlightens the world, speaking of timeless truths. He embodies truth and human ethics. He upholds integrity without hesitation.
