Diao Yong, courtesy name Shuhe, was a native of Rao'an in Hebei. His grandfather, Diao You, was the chief censor of the Jin Dynasty. His great-grandfather Diao Xie followed Sima Rui across the Yangtze River, settled in Jingkou, and rose to the position of Minister of State. His father, Diao Chang, was the Right Guard General of Sima Dezong. Initially, Diao Chang's brother Diao Kui was arrested for owing a society thirty thousand coins and not repaying them on time. Later, Liu Yu killed Huan Xuan, and because of Diao Kui's earlier issues, he first killed the members of the Diao family. Diao Yong, due to his father Diao Chang's connections, was hidden away by his father's subordinates and then fled to Yao Xing, seeking refuge with Yao Xing, the governor of Yuzhou, Yao Shao. He first went to Luoyang and later to Chang'an.
Diao Yong was well-versed in literature, and Yao Xing valued him highly, appointing him as the Grand Libationer of the Crown Prince. In the second year of Taichang, Yao Hong was defeated, and Diao Yong returned to Eastern Jin with Sima Xiuzhi and others. He submitted a memorial expressing his loyalty and eagerness to serve in the southern regions. Emperor Taizong of Jin agreed and appointed Diao Yong as General of Establishing Righteousness. Diao Yong recruited troops and supplies between the Yellow River and the Ji River, gathering more than five thousand people, heading south to intercept enemy forces, launching raids against Xuzhou and Yanzhou, raising military flags, and issuing proclamations to various border areas. Liu Yu sent Li Song and other generals to suppress Diao Yong, but Diao Yong managed to kill Li Song in the Meng Mountains.
At this time, Diao Yong's army had increased to twenty thousand and was stationed at Gushan. In the third month of the seventh year of his campaign, Diao Yong's brother Diao Mi also led troops into Jingkou, planning to join Diao Yong in an assault against Liu Yu. Liu Yu's troops defeated Diao Mi. In June, Diao Yong attacked Liu Yu's army in Qingzhou but suffered a defeat and was forced to retreat to Ma'er Mountain with his remaining troops. Later, he was compelled to fall back to Daxiang Mountain by Liu Yu's Qingzhou forces.
It is said that in the eighth year of his reign, Emperor Taizong of Tang went south to Ye City and summoned a man named Li Yong to the palace. The Emperor asked him, "I heard that your family once captured Liu Yu. What is your relationship with Liu Yu?" Li Yong replied, "He is my uncle." Emperor Taizong laughed and said, "Liu Yu and his son must be scared of you!" The Emperor continued, "I previously sent Shusun Jian and others to attack Qingzhou. The civilians have all gone into hiding, and the city still hasn't been captured. They were already afraid of your reputation, and the locals trust you. Now I want to send you to help Shusun Jian. You really need to step up!" So, the Emperor appointed Li Yong as the General of the East, Governor of Qingzhou, and Marquis of Dongguang, giving him fifty thousand cavalry and allowing him to form another army.
Shusun Jian first went to attack Dongyang. After Li Yong arrived, he recruited an army of five thousand. He sent people to appease the counties, and the local folks all pledged their loyalty, even offering food for the army voluntarily. At that time, the northern wall of Dongyang City had been breached by over thirty paces. Liu Yifu sent the Governor of Qingzhou, Zhu Kui, to dig a tunnel in the city, trying to dig a tunnel to the Mian Water Gully from the south for a getaway. Li Yong told Shusun Jian, "The city is about to fall; we need to attack quickly, or the enemy will get away!" Shusun Jian was worried about losses and wouldn’t listen. Li Yong said, "If you're worried about losses, I'll lead the charge right now!" Shusun Jian still wasn't on board.
Zhu Kui was getting ready to escape eastward when Liu Yifu dispatched his general Tan Daoji and others to aid Qingzhou. Li Yong replied to Sun Jian, "The enemy is afraid of our cavalry; they have locked their chariots together to form a defensive formation. South of Daxian Mountain, the terrain is narrow everywhere, making it impossible to deploy troops for battle. I want to take five thousand loyal soldiers to attack the strategic location and defeat them." Sun Jian still disagreed, saying, "The soldiers are not accustomed to the local environment; more than half of them have fallen ill. If we continue like this, the soldiers will end up dying anyway; what’s the point of continuing this fight? The best way now is to retreat safely without losing the main army." In the end, Sun Jian led the troops to retreat.
Mao, the Governor of Yongzhou, held his position firmly without wavering. Later, the court ordered him to move south to strike the rebels. The Governor of Yongzhou captured Xiangcheng. At this time, he received an imperial decree urging him to deliver results swiftly. So he recruited over five thousand families from Qiao, Liang, Pengcheng, and Pei counties, established twenty-seven camps, and moved his base to Jiyin. In the second year of Yanhe, the court established Xuzhou in Waihuang City, under which Qiao, Liang, Pengcheng, and Pei counties were governed, appointing the Governor of Yongzhou as the General of Pingnan, the Governor of Xuzhou, and granting him the title of Duke of Dong'an. He guarded Xuzhou for seven years, until the fourth year of Taiyan, when he was recalled to the capital by the court. The people petitioned the court annually to allow his return. The Emperor admired him, and in the second year of Zhenjun, he was appointed as the Imperial Commissioner and Privy Councillor, Commander of Yangzhou, Yuzhou, Yanzhou, and Xuzhou, General Conquering the South, and Governor of Xuzhou and Yuzhou.
Three years later, Liu Yilong sent Pei Fangming to capture Chouchi, and the court sent the Governor of Yongzhou and the Duke of Jianxing, Gu Bi, along with more than ten other generals to suppress the rebellion, successfully suppressing it. In the fifth year, he was appointed as the General-in-Chief and stationed at Bogulv. After arriving at Bogulv, he submitted a memorial in which he stated:
I have been honored by the emperor to serve as the governor of the western frontier, responsible for commanding various armies and managing a large population. I also need to lead the troops, prepare for unexpected situations, and oversee the farming in each military camp while stockpiling food. Day and night, I am deeply worried and have no time to rest. I only arrived here at the end of April this year, right before summer, and there was no opportunity for spring plowing. Considering those farmers, although scattered in the fields, the government’s irrigation channels are dry, making large-scale planting impossible. From the past until now, our achievements have fallen short, and both the army and the people bear heavy burdens, many of them struggling with hunger and cold. I took a quick look and immediately saw how tough farming is here.
That said, to improve people's lives and make the nation stronger, agriculture must be prioritized, and there must be enough fertile land. This area lacks water, so we need to figure out how to channel river water for irrigation. Just look at those old channels and dams; they're relics from ancient times, not modern constructions. Thirty miles southwest of Fuping County, there is a mountain called Aishan, spanning twenty-six miles north to south and forty-five miles east to west. In the past, someone dug channels here to divert water, which seem to be traces from the time of Dayu. Large irrigation channels were constructed along both banks of Aishan, over ten paces wide, with water from the south diverted into the channels. When it was initially built, the channels were about ten feet above the river. However, the river flows so swiftly, constantly washing away silt, but now these channels are two feet three inches above the river! Moreover, the river’s erosion frequently causes the channels to hang above the river, making it nearly impossible to draw water. Even though in some areas water is diverted using traditional methods, it's still tough to secure a reliable water supply.
Now north of Aishan, there is a sandbank in the middle of the river, dividing the river into two branches. The western branch is narrower, measuring only one hundred and forty steps across. I plan to begin next January, eight li north of the western river's high canal, on flat land five li downstream, to dig a new channel that is fifteen steps wide and five feet deep, raising the banks to a height of one zhang. Then I will extend it north for forty li, connecting it to the original high canal, and continue north along the high canal for eighty li, for a total of one hundred and twenty li, which will irrigate a large number of fertile fields. An estimated four thousand workers will be needed, and the project will take forty days to complete. However, the entrance of the newly dug channel is five feet below the river level, so the river water cannot flow in. So I plan to dig a channel diagonally from the southeast bank of the small river to the northwest bank, two hundred and seventy steps long, ten steps wide, and two zhang high, cutting off the small river. This will take an additional twenty days, bringing the total to sixty days. This way, all the water from the small river can flow into the new channel, ensuring enough water to irrigate more than forty thousand mu of both state and private fields. It will take ten days for each irrigation, with a total of four cycles, resulting in a bountiful harvest. The state's taxes can also be ensured, enabling the people to enjoy prosperous lives. The emperor said: "You show concern for the country and its people by finding ways to channel river water for irrigation and enhance agricultural production. This is wonderful! Work should begin immediately to strive for an early completion, without being tied to a strict timeline. Any matters that can benefit the country and its people should be reported to me promptly."
Seven years ago, the Governor of Yongzhou reported: "Following the Emperor's decree, a total of five thousand carts were dispatched from Gaoping, Anding, Tongwan, and the four border towns I oversee to transport five hundred thousand doub of grain to Woyezhen as provisions for the army. My garrison is eight hundred miles from Woyezhen, and the road is primarily deep sand; even light carts find it very difficult to travel back and forth. If loaded with grain, each cart can carry at most twenty stones, and every time it passes through the sandy area, it is sure to get stuck. Moreover, the grain is in Hexi, and to transport it to Woyezhen, it must cross the Yellow River. With five thousand carts, it would take over a hundred days for a round trip to transport one hundred thousand doub of grain, severely affecting the farmers' ability to cultivate their land. Both the carts and the livestock are struggling, and it is hard to guarantee that everything will arrive; at most, we can only transport twice a year, meaning it would take three years to transport five hundred thousand doub of grain. I was previously instructed to report any matters that benefit the state and the people promptly. I have heard that the canals of Zhengguo and Baiguo bring chestnuts from the distant Huaihai region, flowing against the current for thousands of miles, and can only be transported once a year, yet they are praised for the state having grain reserves and the people living in peace. Now, I propose to build two hundred boats beside Qiantun Mountain and the river, with two boats combined to form one larger vessel, each capable of carrying two thousand doub of grain. Each large vessel requires ten people to operate, totaling one thousand people. Most of the soldiers I command are skilled in water navigation. They can transport two hundred thousand doub of grain at a time. The boats can travel downstream and reach their destination in five days; bringing back the grain from Woyezhen would take ten days, making a total round trip of sixty days. From March to September, we could make three round trips, transporting six hundred thousand doub of grain. Calculating the labor costs, this method saves more than ten times compared to using carts, does not rely on oxen, and does not delay farming."
The emperor issued a decree saying: "I know you want to build ships to transport grain, which can be completed in a single winter, greatly saving manpower without exhausting oxen or delaying farming—this is excellent. This isn’t just a one-off transportation solution; it can be established as a lasting system. Now I order Tongwan Town to send soldiers to assist in transporting grain; your station can send a hundred soldiers as crew. Can you really manage without a thousand men? Even if you send shipwrights, you'll still need to supervise them; you cannot completely let them do it on their own. Such matters that benefit the country and its people should be reported in the future."
In the ninth year, Yong (referring to the governor of Yongzhou) reported: "I have heard that stability without easy upheaval is the way of governance of ancient sages. Moreover, our location is at the border, adjacent to enemy nations; if defenses are not strict, we cannot resist the enemy. The Hexi region I defend is at the frontier fortress, always worried about unexpected events. It is difficult to store grain in the plains for a long time; soldiers live dispersedly, making it hard to rely on each other; in case of a rebellion, there will surely be chaos. Even if we want to strengthen defenses, we cannot ensure absolute safety. Therefore, I want to build a city, stockpile grain, and station troops to strengthen defenses. I'll handle the city's construction myself, so I won’t burden the court. Moreover, I will utilize the farming off-season for construction, without delaying agricultural production. Even if it cannot be completed in one or two years, it can definitely be finished in three. The year the city is completed will surely be near the vital water and land transport routes, and the city's size and height will be based on actual conditions." The emperor approved his request. By March of the tenth year, the city was finally completed. The emperor issued a decree saying: "You have planned thoughtfully, cared for the country and the people, and worked diligently. The city has been completed, and there are no more worries at the border; this will be a guarantee of stability for generations to come. I greatly commend you! This city will be called Diaogong City to honor your contributions!"
In the second year of Xingguang, the emperor issued an edict for Yong to return to the capital, granting him the title of Special Grand Secretary while keeping his position as general unchanged. In the sixth year of Heping, Yong reported: "I have heard that there is no nation or family that does not prioritize ritual and music. Thus, the 'Book of Music' states: 'Ritual is used to regulate external behavior, while music is used to cultivate internal virtue.' A harmonious atmosphere fills society, where people are respectful, humble, and cultured. Therefore, to stabilize society and govern the people, there is no better method than ritual and music; to change customs and transform societal norms, there is also no better method than ritual and music. Even for an ordinary citizen and a single custom, it is necessary to uphold and apply them; how much more important is it when it comes to governing the world and leading in all directions? Thus, Emperor Yao established the Five Rites to establish laws and rituals, and created the 'Xianchi' to ensure harmony among all things; he left behind remarkable achievements on Mount Yuntai and Mount Jieqiu, spreading profound teachings that could even touch wood and stone, making birds and beasts dance, encompassing all emotions between heaven and earth, reflecting the grace bestowed by heaven. There is nothing more effective than ritual and music that can move heaven and earth. Therefore, great music resonates in harmony with heaven and earth, and great rituals align with the rhythms of heaven and earth. Harmony brings prosperity and reproduction to all things; rhythm allows for offerings to heaven and earth. When rituals take place in the countryside, both the heavens and the earth can be in harmony and solemnity. Solemnity reflects ritual; harmony reflects music. When music reaches its peak, there will be no grievances; when rituals reach their peak, there will be no transgressions. Ruling the world with humility is what ritual and music are all about!"
It is said that only the sages understand the importance of the rites and music system, so they compose music in harmony with the will of heaven and establish rituals to conform to the laws of the earth's operation. Only in this way can they uphold the way of heaven and govern human relationships. Therefore, those who became emperors would establish systems and rituals, and after achieving their goals, they would compose music to celebrate. From Yao and Shun to the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, dynasties rose and fell in a cycle. By the end of the Zhou dynasty, the royal authority waned, and the rites and music system had almost completely collapsed. Confucius (Zhongni) saw the collapse of rites and music and the fall of cultural and martial traditions, which deeply saddened him. Thus, he traveled through various states in hopes of restoring the rites and music system, ultimately achieving some success in the state of Lu. However, during the reign of Qin Shi Huang, he abolished various schools of thought, burned books, buried Confucian scholars alive, and blinded the eyes of the people, leading to the complete disappearance of those beautiful cultural texts, and music like "Xiao Shao" could no longer be heard. Later, when the Han dynasty rose, Emperor Wu of Han rectified the calendar, changed the colors of clothing, unified music, and established rituals, with the aim of restoring the rites and music system of the Zhou dynasty, but the restoration was still far from perfect. By the time of Emperor Zhang of Han, he often lamented that the rites and music systems of the three dynasties (Xia, Shang, Zhou) each possessed their own strengths and weaknesses, and their developmental trajectories were different. He believed his virtue was insufficient to change the thoughts and behaviors of the people. At that time, there was a scholar named Cao Bao, who, seeing Emperor Zhang's intention to restore the rites and music system, submitted a proposal to establish various rituals as the rites and music system of the Han dynasty. But in the end, it ultimately went unresolved and was left aside. By the Wei and Jin periods, even though there were still those who sought to revise the rites and music system, it remained unperfected.
Your Majesty, if you could govern with a hands-off approach, governing the country with humility and allowing talented individuals to assist you, just like the ancient emperors who ascended Mount Tai to sacrifice to Heaven and Mount Song to sacrifice to Earth, how wonderful would that be! However, the Tang Dynasty has lost its proper sacrificial rituals, and the sacrificial dances of the Zhou Dynasty have also disappeared. In ancient times, the rituals associated with Chai Wang were important events for emperors. Although there is time to hold the ceremonies now, there is virtue, but appropriate music to express it is lacking. There are no records in historical books, and the exquisite musical compositions have been lost, all of which is due to the decline of the ritual and music system, leading to a diminished royal authority. I have heard that music originates from rituals, used to display virtues; rituals originate from music, used to prevent chaos. Each of the Five Emperors had their own ways, and the Three Kings also differed, because systems should change with the times and names should correspond with achievements. My knowledge is limited, and my experience is shallow, but I believe that rituals should be revised and music organized to honor the reign of the wise king.
Later, the emperor ordered the court officials to discuss this matter as a group, but soon after, Emperor Gaozong passed away, leaving the matter unresolved. During the Huangxing period, Yuan He, the provincial governor of Yongzhou, and Gao Yun, the chief of the Imperial Secretariat, were both well-treated due to their old age. The emperor granted Yuan He a cane and permitted him to wear a sword and shoes to court, and rewarded him with fine delicacies each month. Yong was gentle and generous in character; he loved elegant literature and history, and was intelligent and wise. He wrote more than a hundred poems, essays, and other works. He generously bestowed favor upon scholars, led a quiet, simple life with few desires. He was deeply devoted to both Buddhism and Taoism and wrote over twenty admonitory articles to guide future generations. He passed away in the winter of the eighth year of Taihe, at the age of ninety-five. The court provided him with a set of mourning garments and five hundred pieces of silk for his funeral, posthumously appointed him to the titles of Sima, governor of Jizhou, and general, and bestowed upon him the posthumous title of "Jian."
Yong's son Zuan, courtesy name Fengzong, died young and served as a Minister of the Imperial Secretariat. Zuan's younger brother Zun, courtesy name Fengguo, inherited the title. Zun's younger brother Shao, courtesy name Fengshi, served as a Cavalry Officer and Marshal of the Liangzhou Expedition under Prince Tianci of Ruyin. Shao's younger brother Xian, courtesy name Fengzhang, served as a Gentleman of the Palace Secretariat. Xian's younger brother Rong, courtesy name Fengye, served as the Prefect of Ruyin. Rong's younger brother Su, courtesy name Fengcheng, served as a Doctor of the Imperial Academy. Zun was not very detail-oriented when he was young, but he changed as he grew older. During the Taihe era, his title was downgraded to Marquis. During the Jingming era, he was appointed as the Prefect of Weijun in Xiangzhou, and later served as a Consultant to the Grand Commandant. At the age of seventy, he remained vigorous. He once fell seriously ill and almost died, but later believed he had been saved by divine intervention, claiming to be a disciple of Buddhism and should live a long life. In the third year of Yanchang, he was promoted to the position of Deputy Minister of Agriculture. Shortly after, he was appointed as the General of Longxiang and the Inspector of Luozhou. Zun had a talent for attracting talent and successfully recruited the Prefect of Xinhua, Du Xing, as well as Du Longzhen, the magistrate of Xinhua, and Du Taiding, the magistrate of Pingyang, leading three thousand families to pledge allegiance to the court. He died in the seventh month of the first year of Xiping, at the age of seventy-six. The court posthumously appointed him as the General of the East and was posthumously honored with the title "Huihou." He left behind thirteen sons. Zun's eldest son Kai, courtesy name Jingbo, was recommended as a distinguished scholar in the province but died young. Zun's son Chong, courtesy name Wenzhu, is recorded in "Biographies of Confucian Scholars." Kai's younger brother Shang, courtesy name Jingsheng, served as an official in the county and also died young. Shang's younger brother Zheng, courtesy name Jingzhi, was dignified from a young age, well-versed in a wide range of literature, and served as a county official. In the fifteenth year of Taihe, he was appointed as a Court Attendant. After Emperor Gaozu moved the capital to Luoyang, he handpicked officials and appointed him as a Military Officer in the Ministry of Law.
When Emperor Gaozu went on a southern campaign, he sent Prince Guangyang Jia to guard Jingzhou. I was appointed as a military aide under Prince Guangyang. Not long after, I was transferred to serve as a military aide under Prince Xie, the Grand Commandant of Xianyang. During the Jingming period, I was promoted to the position of Counselor of the Imperial Attendants, concurrently serving as the Chief Justice of the province. I was then further promoted to the position of Left Central Army Supervisor in the Ministry of Personnel.
During the Zhengshi period, Wang Maoxian, the Governor of Jiangzhou, led troops to invade our southern border. General Yang Dayan was sent to attack him, and the Emperor ordered me to serve as the military commander for Yang Dayan, leading the battle with a command staff. As a result, we defeated Wang Maoxian and even killed Wang Hua, the Deputy General of Xiao Yan’s State.
At the beginning of the Yongping period, due to my military achievements, I was appointed as a Cavalier Attendant and continued to serve as an aide. In the autumn of the third year of the Yanchang period, Emperor Shizong personally selected officials in the court and appointed me as General of the Right Army, still continuing as an aide. Shortly after, I was promoted to General of the Valiant Horse. Soon after, my father passed away, and I had to return home to observe the mourning rites.
King Xi of Xiangzhou, the Marquis of Zhongshan, raised troops in Ye City to kill Yuancha and his associates. The uprising failed, and his severed head was sent to the capital. None of King Xi's friends dared to visit him. King Xi's sister-in-law, who was also his sister, secretly retrieved and concealed King Xi's body, later returning it to King Xi's relatives. When Yuancha heard about this, he was deeply displeased and seized the opportunity to take King Xi's brother Yuanlue south to Xiao Yan, falsely accusing Zheng Shi, King Xi's sister-in-law, of plotting a rebellion. Zheng Shi, along with her brother Yuan Xuan and her son Yuan Gong, were arrested and imprisoned. They were eventually released thanks to the efforts of Wang Ji, the Imperial Censor, and Wei Zijian, the former military prosecutor. Later, Zheng Shi was appointed as the General of Pacifying Barbarians and promoted to the Prefect of Fanyang. During that chaotic time of war, Zheng Shi protected the entire county. After leaving Fanyang County, she was soon framed and nearly lost her life. After Empress Dowager Ling took power again, she appointed Zheng Shi as the General of Peaceful South and the Grand Master of Light. Yuanlue once cried in front of Zheng Shi, telling Wang Song, the Yellow Gate Minister, and Yuan Fan, the Minister of Works, "Diao Gong (referring to Zheng Shi) collected the bodies of my family, you should all know." Because Zheng Shi's mother was old, and there was continuous unrest in Hebei, and her cousin Yuan Shuang was the Marquis of Xiyuanzhou at the time, she took her family to seek refuge with her cousin. In the early years of the Yong'an period, she was appointed as the Golden Purple Grand Master of Light. Two years later, she also served as the Yellow Gate Minister. When Yuan Xian entered Luoyang, she was appointed as the Prefect of Cangzhou. After Emperor Zhuang returned to the court, she was dismissed as a result of this incident. Later, she returned to her hometown. After Emperor Zhuang executed Erzhu Rong, she was appointed as the General of Zhen Dong, responsible for military affairs in Cangzhou. In the early years of the Putai period, she was appointed as the General of Conquering the East, and the Prefect of Cangzhou, Jizhou, and Yingzhou, as well as the Commander-in-Chief, while retaining her position as General. Shortly after, she was promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Right Grand Master of Light. During the chaos in her hometown, she took her mother to seek refuge in Qizhou. Later, she was promoted to Grand General of the Guard. In the fourth year of Tianping, she passed away in Ye City and was posthumously appointed as Minister of Works, receiving the posthumous title of Wenxian. Zheng Shi was knowledgeable in music, generous, and charitable, befriended scholars, and enjoyed drinking and listening to music for her own enjoyment. However, her greed and lustfulness drew criticism from some quarters.
Chuyong and his cousin Baohui entered the court together to serve as officials. Baohui, styled Daoming, was regarded as an esteemed guest by Emperor Taizu. After Baohui's death, he left six sons behind. His son Yuan Liancheng served as an official in the Jizhou region. The Diao family had enjoyed wealth and prestige for generations, but their family values were lacking, causing them to be looked down upon. Yong's descendant, Yuan Shuang, styled Zishan. His great-grandfather Yuan Sou was the governor of Qijun in the Jin Dynasty. Yuan Sou moved to Le'an in Qingzhou due to the chaos in the Jin Dynasty. His father Yuan Daolu was appointed governor of Pingyuan in the early years of the Huangxing period. It was not until Yuan Shuang returned to his hometown. Yuan Shuang was studious from a young age, knowledgeable in classics and history, and was held in high esteem by King Ying of Zhongshan. He was later appointed governor of Xihe. During the Zhengguang era of the Northern Wei, King Xizhi of Zhongshan was killed, and his brother Xilüe fled to hide with a man named Shuang for safety. Shuang protected him for an entire year. At that time, many were pursuing Xilüe, making the situation extremely urgent. Xilüe said to Shuang, “All my brothers have been killed, and I am the only one who survived by luck, thanks to your help. You have shown me great kindness by hiding me for such a long time, but I worry that circumstances may change, and I cannot guarantee my safety in the end. If I am discovered, my death is not a pity, but I cannot implicate you. If you can help me escape the country, I would be forever grateful; if not, I have no choice but to take my own life.” Shuang replied, “Everyone has to die eventually; the hard part is finding a cause worth dying for. Now that I have encountered a kindred spirit, I am willing to die for you, so you need not worry.” Later, Xilüe earnestly asked Shuang to help him get to the south, and Shuang sent his son Chang to escort Xilüe to Jiangzuo.
After the Empress Dowager Ling took power, she knew that Xi Lue had been spared thanks to his talents, so she summoned Xi Lue to be Grand Minister of Splendor. At that time, Xi Lue's sister, Princess Rao'an, was the wife of Diao Xuan. She repeatedly requested the Empress Dowager Ling to summon Xi Lue back to the court. Later, the court exchanged Xi Lue for Jiang Ge and Zu Heng, who were captured in Xuzhou. Because Shuang had a prior connection with Xi Lue, the court sent Shuang to the border to meet Xi Lue.
In the later years of Emperor Suzong's reign, Shuang was appointed as the Governor of Western Yanzhou. At that time, bandits were rampant, and a man named Zhang Taogong gathered a band of outlaws to commit robberies everywhere. After Shuang took office, he sent envoys to persuade Zhang Taogong, appealing to reason and emotion to explain the consequences. Zhang Taogong promptly returned with the envoys to surrender, and Shuang did not hold him accountable. Later, there were more thefts in the region, so Shuang sent Zhang Taogong to capture the thieves, and all of them were caught. As a result, order was restored in the region.
In the early years of Emperor Zhuang's rule, Shuang was promoted to Inspector of Jizhou and was granted the title of Baron of Qucheng for his achievements. In the early years of Emperor Chongzong's rule, he was further promoted to Grand General of the Cavalry and Left Grand Minister of Splendor. In the third year of Xinghe, Shuang passed away. The court posthumously conferred upon him the title of Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, Minister of the Palace Secretariat, and Inspector of Qizhou, and bestowed upon him the posthumous title of "Qingmu."
Wang Huilong claims to be from Taiyuan in the Jin Yang district. He is the grandson of Sima Yushi, the Minister of Personnel of Sima Dezong, and the son of Sima Ji, the Sanqi Shilang. He was clever from a young age, and Sima Yushi thought he was the best among his grandsons, so he named him Huilong. At first, when Liu Yu was not yet prosperous, Sima Yushi did not pay much attention to him. After Liu Yu became emperor, Sima Yushi and his whole family were killed. At that time, Huilong was only fourteen and had been hidden away by a monk named Sengbin. After more than a hundred days, Sengbin wanted to take Huilong across the river. However, the crossing guards became suspicious and asked, "Are you from the Wang family, rushing like this?" Sengbin replied, "I have been following my master for many years, just going to the west bank and returning soon. This is my student; he doesn't fit your description at all." After crossing the river, they headed west to Jiangling, seeking refuge with Sima Chen, the former subordinate of Huilong's great-uncle, and Jingzhou's former Prefect, Xi Bijiang. At that time, the Governor of Jingzhou, Wei Yong, had died, and Xi Bijiang, along with Luo Xiu, Liu Qigong, and local people like Wang Teng, conspired to rebel, choosing Huilong as their leader and planning to attack the city. However, when Liu Yu heard of Wei Yong's death and feared for Jiangling's safety, he sent his brother Liu Daogui to Jingzhou to take over as governor, so their uprising plan ultimately failed. Luo Xiu then took Huilong and Sengbin north to Xiangyang. Lu Zongzhi, the governor of Yongzhou, provided some assistance to Huilong, helped him cross the river, and then Huilong fled from Hulao to Yao Xing. This is how he described it.
In the second year of the Taichang reign, Yao Hong was defeated in battle, where Huilong returned to Northern Wei. Emperor Tai Zong summoned him and spoke with him, and Huilong requested to join the southern campaign. After he finished speaking, he bowed his head and began to weep. Emperor Tai Zong was moved by him and said, "I am currently in the process of unifying the country and attacking the Wu region. Since you have such determination and plans, can't you join forces with us?" However, Emperor Tai Zong ultimately chose not to appoint him to a higher position. Later, he was appointed the commander of Luocheng Town, leading three thousand soldiers to defend Jinyong City. Just over ten days after taking office, Emperor Tai Zong passed away. When Emperor Shi Zong took the throne, many believed that a southerner was unfit for important positions, so his earlier appointment was rescinded.
At first, Cui Hao's younger brother, Cui Tian, married Huilong Wang's daughter. After Cui Hao got married, upon seeing Huilong, he remarked, "Indeed, a scion of the royal family!" Members of the Wang family were known for their prominent noses, and in the Jiangdong region, they were colloquially known as "Zha Wang." Huilong, too, had a prominent nose, so Cui Hao said, "This truly signifies noble lineage!" He frequently praised Huilong in front of the ministers. When Minister Changsun Song heard about this, he was displeased and reported this to Emperor Shi Zong, arguing that Cui Hao's praise of southerners showed a lack of respect for the nation's customs. Emperor Shi Zong was very angry and called Cui Hao to question him. Cui Hao removed his hat, confessed his mistake, and managed to evade punishment. Later, Lu Gui, the son of Lu Zong, defected to Yao Xing, then returned to the court and claimed that Huilong was actually the illegitimate son of Wang Yu's servant, Monk Bin. Despite hearing this, Cui Hao continued to praise Huilong's family because of his daughter's connection. Consequently, Huilong grew arrogant and overbearing.
After a long time, Huilong was appointed as the tutor to Prince Fan of Le'an and also served as the Grand Administrator of the three provinces of Bingzhou, Jingzhou, and Yangzhou. Huilong requested to serve in the south. Cui Hao strongly recommended him, and thus Huilong was granted the titles of Colonel of the Southern Barbarians, Chief General of Annan, and Left Chief Clerk. Later, Xie Hui, the governor of Jingzhou under Liu Yilong, raised an army in Jiangling and invited Huilong for support. Huilong led ten thousand troops, including Sima Lushou, to capture the Siling Guard before besieging Xiangcheng. After Xie Hui's defeat, Huilong returned to court. Subsequently, Liu Yilong sent Wang Xuanmo to attack Huatai, and the court ordered Huilong to serve as General of Chu's forces and join An Xie and others in the campaign. The two sides were at a standoff for over fifty days, and other generals did not dare to take the initiative due to the strength of the enemy forces, but Huilong launched a surprise attack that decisively defeated the enemy. Emperor Shizu rewarded him with a precious sword, war horses, and money, granted him the title of General Longxiang, conferred upon him the title of Marquis of Changshe, and appointed him as the governor of Xingyang, while he continued to serve as Left Chief Clerk. He served for ten years, focusing on agricultural production and military training, achieving remarkable political results by pacifying remote areas and attracting over ten thousand households to submit to him, earning a reputation as a wise official.
Later, Liu Yilong sent people like Xie Hui and Tan Daoji, who kept roaming the Huai River and Ying River, attacking and plundering one another. Huilong fiercely resisted and repelled their attacks multiple times. Xie Hui even wrote to his friend Xiao Bin, saying, "Lu Gui is too foolish, Ma Chu is too rude; among those rebels, only Wang Huilong and Han Yanzhi truly frighten me. I never expected these seemingly weak scholars would surprise me like this!"
Liu Yilong was up to no good, spreading rumors everywhere, saying that Huilong had great achievements but a low official rank, and wanted to secretly harm you. Then he arrested the Grand General of Annan, Sima Chuzhi, on charges of rebellion. Emperor Wen of the Song Dynasty heard about this and said, "This can't be true; it's like how the people of Qi feared Le Yi." Then he wrote a letter to Huilong, saying, "Liu Yilong is afraid of you like a tiger, wanting to secretly harm you; I know this in my heart. Do not pay attention to those rumors and gossip."
Liu Yilong's plan failed, and he sent an assassin, Lu Xuanbo, to assassinate Huilong, offering a bounty of two hundred households and a thousand bolts of silk. Lu Xuanbo pretended to be a spy and requested to speak with Huilong alone. Huilong grew suspicious and ordered a search of his clothes, where a dagger was found. Lu Xuanbo quickly begged for death. Huilong said, "Everyone has their own master; I can't bear to kill him." Those nearby remarked that Liu Yilong's treachery was far from over; if Lu Xuanbo was not killed, there would be trouble in the future. Huilong said, "Life and death are fated; what's he gonna do to me? Besides, I am now guided by benevolence and righteousness; am I afraid of assassins?" So he let him go. People back then admired his generosity and open-mindedness.
Huilong, having encountered disaster and been displaced, was always very sorrowful, so he wrote a piece titled "Eulogy for Wu Zixu" to express his feelings. After having a son and a daughter, he stopped having marital relations, wore rough cloth clothes, ate vegetarian meals, did not participate in festive activities, and conducted himself with great propriety. The Crown Prince's tutor, You Ya, praised him in court, saying, "Huilong, this is a filial son left over from ancient times!" He also wrote eighteen pieces on the imperial system, titled "National Classics." In the first year of the Zhenjun reign, he was appointed as an envoy with a special decree, General of Ningnan, and Deputy General of Hulao Town. Before he could take office, he died. Before dying, he told his assistant Zheng Ye, "As a Southerner serving in the court, I have no old friendships, yet I have received special favor from the Emperor, allowing me to serve at the border. I vowed to punish the corpse of Wu City and defile the grave of Jiangyin, but unexpectedly fell seriously ill, making my wishes impossible. This not only betrays the grace of the state but also disrespects my ancestors. What more can be said about the length of my life? After my death, please bury me in the eastern township of He Nei Prefecture, using the existing ancient tomb without creating a new grave; just bury my hair and teeth there. If my soul is aware, I hope to repay the court like a grass repaying kindness." At that time, the regulation required that Southerners be buried in Sanggan upon entering the country. Zheng Ye and others petitioned the court to convey Huilong's last wishes, and the Emperor approved it. The court posthumously conferred upon him the titles of General of Annan and Prefect of Jingzhou, with the posthumous title of Mu Hou. Officials and soldiers together built a Buddhist temple at the burial site, painting portraits of Huilong and Monk Bin in the temple and inscribing praises. Lu Xuanbo, grateful for Huilong's generosity, stayed by the grave for the rest of his life. Huilong's son, Baoxing, inherited his title.
Bao Xing lost his father at a young age and was very filial to his mother. His wife was the daughter of Minister Lu Xia and Cui Hao. At the time, both Bao Xing's mother and Lu Xia's wife were pregnant, and Cui Hao said, "The children you will have in the future will all be considered my own, and we can arrange a marriage for them." When Bao Xing married Lu Xia's daughter, Cui Hao personally drafted and oversaw the wedding ceremony, telling the guests, "The family's etiquette must be upheld to the highest standard." Later, Cui Hao was killed, and Lu Xia's second wife, who was also Bao Xing's stepmother, was implicated and had her home confiscated and lost her official position. Bao Xing fled to avoid trouble and only returned after a short time. Lu Xia's wife was then granted a title by the court and was placed in Duhe Town, Gao Che Hua Gu. Bao Xing sold all his family property to redeem her from outside. The local government summoned him to serve as a judicial officer and recommended that he take the scholar examination, but he did not accept. He stayed indoors and did not socialize with others. Later, he inherited the titles of Changshe Marquis and Longxiang General. After his death, his son Qiong inherited his title.
Qiong, styled Shizhen, was the name granted by Emperor Gaozu. In the ninth year of Taihe, he became a Temple Official. In the sixteenth year, his official rank was lowered by one level, from Marquis to Count. Emperor Gaozu married his eldest daughter into the palace as a concubine, and he was also appointed as General of the Front Army and Grand Zhongzheng of Bingzhou. During the Zhengshi period, he served as the Governor of Guangzhou. Later, he faced accusations of accepting bribes, reported by Lieutenant Wang Xian, but ultimately, the matter was clarified, and he faced no punishment. During the Shengu period, he was appointed as Left General and Inspector of Yanzhou.
After leaving the provincial capital and returning to the capital city, he spent many years with few opportunities for advancement and remained in stagnation. He lived west of the residence of Sikong Liu Teng. Although Liu Teng held immense power and influence, he initially did not neglect him. However, as Liu Teng's power grew, he annexed the neighboring property and expanded his residence, while Qiong steadfastly refused to give up his own house. As a result, Qiong felt wronged and led an uncomfortable life. Qiong's daughter married Lu Daoliang from Fanyang, but Qiong forbade her from returning to her husband's home. After his daughter passed away, Qiong was heartbroken and unable to move on. He buried his daughter in another place, leaving the grave unsealed, and often cried at the gravesite. It took a long time before he finally covered the grave. People at the time found it odd and suspected he was hiding something. Additionally, he was hard of hearing and often begged from monks and ordinary people, endlessly.
If anyone happened to encounter him, they would find it both amusing and awkward. Once, he met the Grand Guardian, King Huai of Guangping, on the road, and he actually saluted Huai from horseback, even mentioning that his horse was too thin. King Huai immediately gifted him a fine horse and a full set of horse gear. He had also visited the Minister of Works, Li Chong, riding to Li Chong's Huangge, and upon seeing Li Chong's son, Shizhe, he directly asked if Li Chong was present. Li Chong hurried out, and only then did Qiong dismount. Li Chong was frugal and liked to stick paper scraps on his collar, which made Qiong laugh as he pulled them off. Li Chong's son, Li Qingjun, usually dressed very elegantly. It seemed that wealth and nobility seemed to hold little appeal for him. The commander Yuan Cha sent him a horse, along with a servant to stay with him. When Wang Yong heard this, he laughed and said, “The customs of Donghai have now also become corrupt!”
In the third year of Xiaochang, he was appointed as the General of Zhendong, Golden Purple Guanglu Dafu, and the Director of the Central Secretariat. This was likely due to his son Zunye being a Huangmen Lang at that time. When Qiong passed away, he was seventy-four years old. After his death, he was posthumously granted the title of General of the Northern Expedition, the Supervisor of the Central Secretariat, and the Inspector of Bingzhou. Beginning with his great-grandfather Huilong's entry into officialdom, only he served as an official for three generations in their family, and it was not until Qiong's generation that there were four sons.
The eldest son of the Wang family, Zunye, was handsome, had a fine demeanor, and was well-read, having perused numerous historical texts. He later became a Zuo Lang in the Imperial Library and co-authored the "Records of the Imperial Court" with Cui Hong, the Left Historiographer of the Ministry of Works. He was later promoted to General of the Right Army and concurrently served as the Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, to offer condolences to the Rouran (a Xianbei tribe). He also went to Daijing to collect some missing historical materials to fill in the gaps in the "Records of the Imperial Court." He, along with Cui Guang and Prince Yanming of Anfeng, participated in the formulation of the clothing regulations. When Cui Guang lectured on the "Classic of Filial Piety" to Emperor Suzong, Zunye also participated in the explanation, while Yanming took notes on the key points. The brothers were also tasked with writing the "Poems for the Ancestral Worship Banquet." People back then would say, "The Wang brothers are truly a group of talented individuals!" Zunye was later promoted to Left Historiographer of the Ministry of Works and Huangmen Lang, responsible for ceremonial annotations.
Zun Ye had a good reputation back then. He served as a Palace Attendant alongside Yuan Fan, the Zhongshu Ling from Chen Jun, and Wang Song from Langya, and they were referred to as the "Three Scholars." At that time, the court's power was concentrated in the Menxia, and people referred to the Shizhong and Palace Attendants as "Little Prime Ministers." However, Zun Ye was very low-key and quiet, living quietly like a recluse in the countryside. He often wore pointed shoes, prompting many to deliberately scuff their new ones to copy him. With the chaos unleashed by Empress Dowager Hu, Zun Ye sought a place to escape, so he requested to be assigned to Xuzhou. Empress Dowager Hu said, "Wang Song was just transferred from Youzhou to Palace Attendant not long ago; why do you want to run off to Xuzhou? Wait a year or two, and there will definitely be a better position for you." Zun Ye and his brother had connections with many outstanding talents of the time, and they were highly praised. Later, when Er Zhu Rong invaded Luoyang, the brothers were in mourning for their father's death. Since they were cousins of Emperor Zhuang, they welcomed Er Zhu Rong together, but ultimately met their end in He Yin. People lamented their talents but also criticized them for being too eager for quick success. After their deaths, they were posthumously awarded the title of Governor of Bingzhou, and he authored the ten volumes of "Records of the Three Jin." Zun Ye's son, Song Nian, later became a Palace Attendant in the Ministry of Revenue.
Han Yanzhi, styled Xianzong, was from Zheyang in Nanyang and a descendant of the Wei State's Minister of Works and Minister of War, Sima Ji. He once served as a military aide under Sima Dezong. Later, when Liu Yu attacked Sima Xiuzhi, before reaching Jiangling, he secretly sent someone to write a letter to Han Yanzhi, attempting to recruit him. Han Yanzhi replied, "I heard that you personally led the army to the western border, and the people in the entire region are terrified. Why is that? Because no one understands the reason behind your military expedition! Sima Pingxi is loyal to the nation and benevolent towards the people, and can be compared to those loyal subjects of ancient times. Liu Yu, everyone knows your intentions. You still want to deceive the loyal subjects of the country, which is intolerable to heaven and earth. Success or failure doesn't hinge on that! Now you attack the ruler of others and use interests to tempt others. This is truly treacherous, and there must be reasons for it! Are there really no loyal ministers to support someone like Sima Pingxi, who possesses such noble character? Even if the world falls into chaos in the future, and the world is in turmoil, I would rather meet him in the afterlife like Zang Hong, and there's really nothing more to say!" After reading the letter, Liu Yu sighed and showed it to his subordinates, saying, "A subject should be like him!" Liu Yu's father, Liu Qiao, also went by the style Xianzong, so Han Yanzhi took the style Xianzong for himself and named his son Qiao, which clearly indicated his refusal to submit to the Liu family. Later, Han Yanzhi defected to Yao Xing. In the second year of Taichang, he and Sima Wensi both surrendered to the court, and the court appointed Han Yanzhi as the commander of Hulao and conferred upon him the title of Marquis of Luyang.
Han Yanzhi often went to Baiguwu to pay homage at the tomb of Lu Zong, thinking that he too would be buried there one day. He once told his descendants, "The Heluo region was the capital of the Three Dynasties; it will surely prosper here again in the future. After I die, I won’t have to go through the trouble of moving my grave north; I’ll be buried right here!" After his death, his son honored his wishes and buried him beside Lu Zong’s tomb. More than fifty years after Han Yanzhi’s death, Emperor Gaozu moved the capital to Luoyang, and his grandson lived in Baiguwu, which lies to the north of his tomb. Han Yanzhi's first wife, the Luo clan, gave birth to a son named Han Cuo, who followed in his father's footsteps and submitted to the court. Later, the King of Huainan betrothed his daughter to Han Yanzhi, and they had a son named Han Daoren. Han Cuo designated Han Daoren as his legitimate heir, inheriting his father's title, serving as the Palace Minister, and was granted the title of Duke of Xiping as well.
Yuan Shi, courtesy name Jizu, was a native of Yangxia in Chen Jun and a descendant of the Minister of Works, Pang, of the Han Dynasty. His father, Yuan Yuan, served as an attendant to the Imperial Secretary Chang Ming. Yuan Shi once served as an adviser to the Prince of Wuling, Liu Zun, in the south. Later, he and others joined Yao Xing. In the second year of Taichang, he returned to the court, became a valued guest of the emperor, and was granted the title of Yangxia Zi. He became close friends with the Minister of Works, Cui Hao, upon meeting him. At that time, the court's ceremonial system was entirely established by Cui Hao. Cui Hao believed that Yuan Shi had a deep understanding of ancient allusions and often sought his advice when drafting documents. Yuan Shi was very upright, maintaining a sense of poverty even while wandering outside, never compromising the dignity of a scholar. People at the time held him in great respect, referring to him as Yuan Ziyi. In the second year of Yanhe, General Wei and King of Le'an, Fan, became the Governor of Yongzhou. The court ordered Yuan Shi and the Deputy Director of the Palace Library, Gao Yun, to serve as his attendants together, but Yuan Shi declined the offer and was ultimately relieved of this position. Yuan Shi was calm by nature, had a passion for learning, and read widely, thoroughly studying the interpretations and phonetics of the Book of Songs. He also wrote a book called "Character Explanation," but unfortunately never completed it. He passed away in the second year of Tian'an and was posthumously honored with the title of Inspector of Yuzhou and received the posthumous title of Marquis Su. His son, Yuan Ji, inherited his title and became the Prefect of Weijun, achieving notable success in governance and was subsequently promoted to General of Ningyuan. Later, his descendants established themselves in Yangxia, Yingchuan.
The historical records state that Diao Yong had exceptional talent and insight, achieved significant accomplishments, and was well-rewarded by the court, highlighting the importance of hereditary titles. Wang Huilong risked his life to return to the court. He faced many hardships and obstacles along the way. He pacified the people and commanded the army, instilling great fear in the enemy. Shi Zhenbao had outstanding sons who upheld and enhanced the family’s reputation. Han Yanzhi wrote a letter to Liu Yu, demonstrating the dignity of the state. Yuan Shi assisted Cui Hao in establishing a system of rituals, and contemporary people praised him for his integrity, all of which are commendable achievements.
