In the early period of the Han Dynasty, Wei Wuzhi was granted the title of Marquis of Gaoliang. He had a son named Wei Jun, whose son was Wei Hui, and Wei Hui's son was Wei Yan. Wei Yan's son was Wei Xin, with the courtesy name Zihu. Wei Xin became orphaned at a young age, but he was ambitious and possessed a strong sense of integrity, and he was well-versed in a wide range of literature and history. During the reign of Emperor Cheng of Han, he became the Administrator of Julu and settled there permanently.
Wei Xin's son was Wei Yue, with the courtesy name Chude. He was a composed and dignified man, known for his great tolerance. Li Xiaobo from Zhao State, the Duke of Xuancheng, held him in high regard and arranged for his daughter to marry him. Wei Yue later became the Administrator of Jiyin and became renowned for his exceptional accomplishments.
Wei Yue's son was Wei Zijian, with the courtesy name Jingzhong. He began his career as a court official and gradually rose to become the Chief Attendant of the Palace. Earlier, Emperor Shizong pacified a rebellion by the Di tribes and established a garrison in Wuxing, later renamed Dongyizhou. However, the garrison commanders and provincial governors struggled to govern effectively and had poor relations with the local people, resulting in renewed unrest among the Di tribes and escalating into a border crisis. Therefore, the court appointed Wei Zijian as the Provincial Governor of Dongyizhou. Wei Zijian adopted a balanced approach of benevolence and firmness, significantly improving social order and restoring peace and stability to the region.
In the fifth year of the Zhengguang era, in the cities of the Southern and Northern Qin states, Mo Zhenian Sheng, Han Zuxiang, Zhang Changming, and others successively rebelled. They believed they should first confiscate the weapons of the people in the city, feeling that the inhabitants were very strong and that their kind had already betrayed them. Wei Zijian believed that the people in the city had enough forces to handle the situation, and each one was brave and skilled in battle, making them entirely reliable. Rushing to confiscate weapons could backfire and destabilize the rear. Therefore, he gathered everyone in the city to explain the situation; he also petitioned the court, requesting amnesty for those innocent civilians who were implicated for various reasons. The emperor was very enlightened and agreed to his request. Wei Zijian then arranged for the fathers, brothers, and sons of the rebels to be settled in the garrisons of the counties, mutually supporting each other, ultimately safeguarding the city.
When the Qin rebels pressed their advantage and set up camp at Heishui, Wei Zijian secretly dispatched troops to attack them, achieving numerous victories and gaining widespread acclaim, leading those who had rebelled earlier to surrender. Wei Zijian also reported the battle developments to the court, and the emperor was delighted, issuing a decree appointing Wei Zijian as the concurrent Minister of the Secretariat while allowing him to keep his governorship. Thus, his reputation struck fear throughout the Shu region, and he took charge of the affairs of Liangzhou, Bazhou, Yizhou, and Qinzhou. Fu Shuyan (Fu Jinghe), the governor of Liangzhou, was envious of him and started bribing officials in Luoyang, hoping to undermine the Secretariat.
At first, Cao Zijian (Cao Zhi) made multiple requests to return to the capital. It was not until this time that he sent the acting governor Tang Yong to replace him, while Fu Shuyan stayed behind to continue serving as the chief official. When Cao Zijian was about to leave, the local Di people were very reluctant to part with him, and they gathered to block the road and prevent his departure. The registrar Yang Sengfu went to explain to them first, but the Di people were very angry, saying, "We kept the governor here, but you are sending Cao Zijian away!" They then assaulted Yang Sengfu with several strikes, almost killing him. Cao Zijian took his time to comfort and persuade them, and it took him ten days before he was finally able to set off. Along the way, officials offered him many gifts, yet he declined them all. As a result, the Di people in Dongyi and Shudi rebelled again, attacking Tang Yong. Tang Yong abandoned the city and fled, thus losing a state and county. When Tang Yong fled, Cao Zijian's guests, a monk named Tancan and a man named Geng Xian from Julu, were both captured by the Di people. Later, when the Di people found out they were Cao Zijian's guests, they cried and returned their clothes and belongings, even sending them off on white horses. Cao Zijian's kindness and integrity resonated deeply with them. Since the court established counties like Huayang, Xing Luan of Liangzhou, Fu Shuyan of Yizhou, and Cao Zijian were the three best governors. At first, Cao Zijian served as the General of the Front Army, without any changes in position for ten years. In his leisure time in Luoyang, he often played chess with Li Shao, the Minister of Personnel, and his brother Li Yanshi. People at the time said he was obsessed with it. Cao Zijian always said, "Playing chess can enhance my strategy, courage, and wisdom, and I have benefited greatly from it. Besides, I haven't yet had the chance to serve the country, so playing chess isn't a big deal." However, once he actually reached the border, he served for five years without playing another game of chess.
After returning to Luoyang, it wasn't long before I was appointed as a chamberlain and Minister of Guards. At first, when Yuan Hao attacked Luoyang and Emperor Xiaozhuang fled north in panic, I told my good friend Lu Yixi, "The King of Beihai (referring to Yuan Hao) has brought ruin upon the state, yet he seeks refuge with Xiao Yan to become a subordinate. At my age, how could I possibly serve him as a subject?" So I moved my entire family south of Luoyang. It was only after Yuan Hao was suppressed that I returned to Luoyang. I had previously suffered from rheumatism, and my condition worsened during this time. Since the ministerial position involved numerous responsibilities, I repeatedly submitted requests for retirement and was eventually granted the title of Right Grand Minister of Rites.
After Xing Gao was pacified, Li Yanshi, the son of the Grand Tutor, and Li Yu, the chamberlain, were ordered to travel to the eastern regions to comfort the people. At that time, the influence of maternal relatives was very strong, and the courtyard was filled with farewell guests. I also went to visit and bid farewell to Li Yu. Li Yanshi asked me, "What advice do you have for my son for this mission?" I replied, "He must always remember the principle that 'too much invites loss.'" Li Yanshi remained solemn for a long time after hearing this. Later, Emperor Xiaozhuang killed Er Zhu Rong, and many people died in the He Yin Incident, while families celebrated among themselves. My son-in-law, Li Renyao, the second son of Grand Marshal Li Qian, was also killed in this incident. I said to my cousin Lu Daoqian, "Although the court has executed the powerful ministers this time, those wicked individuals are still causing chaos, and I haven't heard of any special plans or strategies. I'm afraid things will not end well. This marks the beginning of the Li family's turmoil; isn't it a bit premature to celebrate now?" Sure enough, after the years of Yong'an, members of the Li family fled in all directions, and many were killed, just as I had predicted.
Later, I held the position of Left Grand Minister of Rites and was also granted the titles of Cavalry Commandant and General of Cavalry.
Cao Zhi's son, Cao Shou, was appointed as a local governor in the south after entering officialdom. The region was prosperous, but the times were tumultuous. He was honest and never cared about wealth, so when he returned to the capital, his family often couldn't get enough to eat or wear warm clothes, and he led a simple life throughout. He was cautious and didn't socialize much, maintaining good relations only with Minister Lu Yixi and his cousin Lu Daoyu, the governor of Jingzhou. Before his death, he instructed his two sons, saying, "Life and death are two different things; when alive, everyone is the same. People emphasize lavish funerals; I have never been greedy for wealth, and I have no desire for a lavish burial shroud. After I die, just bury me in ordinary clothes. I have experienced hardships in my life, been married three times, and the practice of joint burial is not an ancient custom. Besides, the graves of your two mothers are in our hometown; their graves are secure, and they each have their own burial plots. Only your stepmother's grave is outside; you can relocate her to the family cemetery, inter her according to custom, and place her behind my grave. That's sufficient; there's no need for a joint burial. You must follow my wishes, so that I have no regrets after death." In the spring of the second year of Yongxi, Cao Shou passed away in Xiaoyi, Luoyang, at the age of sixty-three. The court posthumously granted him the title of Sima of Dingzhou and bestowed upon him the posthumous title "Wenjing." He had two sons, Cao Shou and Cao Zuo.
Cao Shou, whose personal name was Fo Zhu and courtesy name was Boqi, was already able to write articles at the age of fifteen. Later, he followed his father to the border regions during a time of great chaos. He developed a passion for practicing archery and horsemanship, hoping to achieve success through martial skills. Zheng Bo from Xingyang playfully asked him, "Young master of the Wei family, how are you faring with your long spear?" Cao Shou felt a bit embarrassed by this, so he threw himself into his studies. In the summer, he would sit on a bench bed, moving his position with the shade of the trees to read and recite. After several years, the bench had been worn down, but he persevered without giving up. Later, due to his talent, he gained great fame. Initially, because of his father's achievements, he was appointed as a Doctor at the Imperial Academy. Later, when Er Zhu Rong massacred court officials at He Yin, Cao Shou was among the besieged crowd, and he narrowly escaped when night fell.
Li Shenjun, the Minister of Personnel, valued talent greatly and recommended him for the position of military advisor in the Ministry of Works. In the third year of Yong'an, he was appointed as an official in charge of the northern guests. Later, when the Emperor was enthroned, he took a liking to him and requested that he write a "Fengshan Essay." He picked up his brush and wrote without a draft, producing nearly a thousand words and made very few revisions. At that time, the palace attendant Jia Sitong stood nearby, visibly surprised. The Emperor remarked, "Even a person who can compose poetry in seven steps cannot write such a good article." He was promoted to Cavalry Attendant and was then tasked with compiling the daily records and editing the national history. Before long, he also took on the role of Palace Secretary, and he was just twenty-six that year.
After the ascension of the new emperor, he reinstated him to his original position. A mountain of documents piled up, but he handled them all to the emperor's satisfaction. Cui Xiang, the Huangmen Lang, followed King Qi Xianwu to the capital, and at that time, he was highly valued by the emperor. At first, he did not visit Cui Xiang. Later, Cui Xiang wrote the "Dengzuo She," in which he referred to "Liantuo Body Xiaowen," which he considered too straightforward and a bit mocking. Li Shen, the Zheng Yuan Lang, informed Cui Xiang about this, and Cui Xiang was very angry and jealous. Later, when the former emperor passed away, the emperor requested him to draft an edict. Cui Xiang remarked, "This person often enters and exits the court, and can write an edict in a day, with beautiful writing and gorgeous language. Such a person views the rebellious soldiers as traitors; and his father and brother have served as officials and now serve him." Nantai sought to impeach him, but fortunately, Shangshu Xin Xiong pleaded for him in front of Wei Qi Jun, saving him from any punishment. He had a younger brother Zhongtong, who was still young and had yet to take up an official position. He was afraid that his brother would be implicated, so he registered him and sent him back to his hometown to properly care for his parents.
The emperor once took many soldiers to hunt south of Songshan, and they were gone for sixteen days. The weather was cold at the time, and everyone was very tired, amidst widespread complaints. The emperor and his officials were dressed in foreign attire and riding horses, with palace maids and concubines mixed in, showcasing various unusual skills and adornments, many of which were not in accordance with etiquette. He wanted to speak up but was hesitant; he wanted to remain silent but felt compelled to express himself, so he wrote a poem "Nanshou Fu" to critique the situation. That year, he was only twenty-seven years old, and though his writing was impressive, he ultimately adhered to traditional values. The emperor personally penned a decree in response, offering him high praise. Zheng Bo remarked, "Had it not been for my intervention, you would have been dismissed long ago."
Initially, King Xianwu of Qi insisted on resigning from the position of General of Tianzhu, and the emperor asked him to draft an edict, granting his request. The emperor considered appointing him as Prime Minister and asked him about the rank associated with that position; he answered honestly, leading the emperor to abandon the idea. Because he did not understand the thoughts between the emperor and Xianwu Wang, he felt uneasy and requested to resign, and the emperor allowed it. After some time, he was appointed as an official in the court of the emperor's brother, Wang Zan, feeling he couldn't refuse, he wrote a poem titled "Court Bamboo Fu" to express his feelings. Soon after, he also served as a Registrar of the Imperial Academy, along with Wen Zisheng of Jiyin and Xing Zicai of Hejian, and they were collectively referred to as the "Three Talents." At that time, the emperor was suspicious of Xianwu Wang, and the relationship between the two was tense, so he used illness as an excuse to resign decisively. His uncle Cui Xiaofen was puzzled and asked him why; he replied, "I fear events like the Jinyang mutiny could happen again." Shortly afterwards, Xianwu Wang moved south while the emperor traveled west to Guanzhong. Wang Xin married Xiao Yan's daughter; Wang Xin was both handsome and talented, known for his eloquent writing style, and everyone, including Xiao Yan and his ministers, held him in high regard. Earlier, during the friendly exchanges between the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Li Xie and Lu Yuanming were the first envoys dispatched; both were highly capable and well-respected in other nations. At that time, Xiao Yan reflected and remarked, "Li Xie and Lu Yuanming are outstanding heroes of their time, while Wang Sengbian and Wei Shou are ministers of national revival. I wonder what remarkable figures the future will bring!" Xiao Yan later appointed Wei Shou as a Cavalry Attendant, entrusting him with the task of compiling the national history.
In the second year of Wuding, Wei Shou was promoted to Chamberlain and also served as the Deputy Director of the Imperial Library, continuing his historical research. Once, during an imperial banquet, the emperor asked the courtiers what day the first day of the first month was, but no one could answer. Wei Shou replied, "Dong Xun, a scholar of the Jin Dynasty, stated in his work 'Answers to Questions' that according to folk beliefs, the first day of the first month is the rooster, the second day is the dog, the third day is the pig, the fourth day is the sheep, the fifth day is the ox, the sixth day is the horse, and the seventh day is the human." Xing Shao, who was also present, felt quite embarrassed. After the reconciliation between the North and South, official correspondence often included phrases like "wishing peace and tranquility in our lands and harmony all around." Later, when Xiao Yan sent envoys to Northern Wei, he omitted the word "your" from the letters, leaving only "ours," symbolizing a unified realm without external enemies. When Wei Shou drafted his reply, he wrote, "wishing peace and tranquility in your territory and harmony in ours." Subsequently, people in the South followed this format in their correspondence.
Later, Gao Yang entered the court, and Emperor Wenxuan appointed him as Prime Minister. Gao Yang firmly declined and requested Wei Shou to draft a memorial. After the memorial was written and submitted, Emperor Wenxuan, who was present, pointed at Wei Shou and remarked, "This person will definitely become the second Cui Guang in the future." Four years later, Gao Yang hosted a banquet at the Sima Temple, where he told Sima Ziru, "Wei Shou is now the official historian, and my reputation rests entirely on his writings. I heard that during the Northern Expedition, many courtiers gave gifts to the historians. Did you, Sima Puyi, also give gifts?" Everyone burst into laughter at this. Gao Yang then said to Wei Shou, "Don't think that just because you see Yuan Kang and the others bustling around in front of me, I value their diligence. My reputation for the rest of my life is in your hands; don't think I don't know." Not long after, Wei Shou was promoted again, this time to Compiler.
Speaking of Gao Yang (Emperor Wenxian) at that time, there was a cool and refreshing autumn day when he organized a large-scale archery competition and asked everyone to write poems. Among the poems collected, there was a particular line that caught his attention: "A letter to summon Chang'an, a note to build Ye." Gao Yang thought this line of poetry was quite impressive, and he praised the author by saying, "We have talents like Wei Shou in our court now, truly the glory of our country! When he writes, it appeals to both the refined and the common; his writing is smooth. I let my sons write as well, but their level is nowhere near his. Sometimes I want to write something, but then I forget, or I want to say something but can't express myself well enough, always feeling like I can't express myself well enough. But when Wei Shou writes, he covers all aspects—it's truly remarkable!" He even specifically appointed Wei Shou as the master of ceremonies, responsible for receiving the envoys from the Southern Liang Dynasty, Xie Tang and Xu Ling.
Later, Hou Jing captured Jiankang (Nanjing), and Xiao Fan, the Prince of Poyang of the Liang Dynasty, was the Prefect of Hezhou at the time. Gao Yang sent Wei Shou to write a letter to Xiao Fan, urging him to surrender. Upon receiving the letter, Xiao Fan immediately led his troops to surrender to Gao Yang. The Prefect of Hezhou, Cui Shengnian, wanted to resist in the city, but he was unsuccessful. Gao Yang said to Wei Shou, "Now that we have pacified a province, this is all your doing! It's a shame you couldn't easily win over a place like that."
After Gao Yang's death, his son Gao Yang (Emperor Wenxuan) was in Jinyang. Wei Shou was then working on important matters at the Northern Hall with the Yellow Gate Officer Cui Jishu, Gao Dezhen, and the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Personnel Wei Jin. Later, he was promoted to the Secretariat Director, also serving as a Library Official, and was appointed as the Grand Central Supervisor of Dingzhou. At this time, Northern Qi was preparing to abdicate the throne, and Yang Yin suggested that Wei Shou be placed in a separate location, responsible for drafting the abdication decree and various documents. A person was assigned to guard him and prevent him from leaving freely. In the first year of Tianbao, Wei Shou was appointed as the Minister of the Central Secretariat, continuing to serve as a Library Official, and was granted the title of Viscount of Fuping.
Two years later, I received an imperial order from the emperor to compile the history of the Wei kingdom and was appointed as the governor of Wei Commandery. However, the emperor was very gracious to me, granting me a generous salary, allowing me to dedicate myself entirely to writing in the Historical Institute, while I did not need to manage county affairs. At the beginning, the emperor asked the officials to share their aspirations, and I said at that time, "I hope to complete the 'Book of Wei' with integrity as soon as possible." Therefore, the emperor entrusted me with the full responsibility for this task. He also appointed Prince Pingyuan Gao Longzhi to supervise, but Gao Longzhi was essentially just a figurehead. The emperor specifically instructed me, "Write well, write with integrity; I do not want to repeat the mistake of Emperor Taiwu of Wei, who persecuted historians!"
In the early period of the Wei dynasty, Deng Yuan authored over ten volumes of the "Chronicles of Dai." Later, Cui Hao was responsible for editing the history, and You Ya, Gao Yun, Cheng Jun, Li Biao, Cui Guang, and Li Yan also participated, handed down through generations. Cui Hao wrote the historical records in a chronological format, and only then did Li Biao begin to change it into the forms of annals, tables, treatises, and biographies, but the book was not yet finished. By the time of Emperor Shizong, the emperor had Xing Luan continue writing the "Annals of Emperor Gao," which he finished in the fourteenth year of Taihe, after which he had Cui Hong and Wang Zunyi continue to further refine it, continuing until the reign of Emperor Suzong, with extensive and detailed content. Prince Jiyin Huiye also wrote thirty volumes of "Records of the Dispute over the Imperial Family."
Then, I, along with the Assistant Minister of the Interior Fang Yanyou, the Minister of War Sima Xinyuan, the Doctor of the National Academy Diao Rou, Pei Angzhi, and the Secretary Lang Gao Xiaogan, collaboratively undertook the responsibility of reviewing and organizing these historical materials, ultimately completing the "Book of Wei." We carefully identified the titles of the historical materials, meticulously verified each source, and collected and organized some lost or missing records, supplementing the subsequent events, and finally completed this comprehensive historical text that reflects the history of the Wei dynasty, which we then submitted to the emperor.
This monumental work records the rise and fall of a dynasty and comprises twelve annals and ninety-two biographies, totaling one hundred and ten volumes. I spent five years completing it and submitted the manuscript in March. In autumn, the emperor appointed me governor of Liangzhou, but I felt that the historical work was still incomplete, so I petitioned to continue this work, and the emperor granted my request. In November, I submitted ten additional volumes: four on "Heavenly Phenomena," three on "Geography," two on "Laws and Calendars," four on "Rituals" and "Music," one on "Food and Goods," one on "Punishments," two on "Spiritual Responses," two on "Official Families," and one on "Explaining Laozi," totaling twenty volumes. These treatises, combined with the previous annals and biographies, amount to one hundred and thirty volumes, divided into twelve sections. Moreover, this collection includes thirty-five essays, twenty-five prefaces, ninety-four commentaries, two tables at the beginning and end, and one epistle.
