Yang Bo, styled Yanqing, identified himself as being from Huayin, Henan. His grandfather Yang Jie served as an official in the Murong regime and died in Zhongshan while serving as a chancellor. His great-grandfather Yang Zhen returned to Northern Wei when Emperor Taizu was in power and died while serving as the governor of Shanggu. His grandfather Yang Zhen had served as the governor of Henei and Qinghe counties. His father Yang Yi was the governor of Guangping during the Yanxing period and had commendable governance. When Emperor Taizu toured the south, both officials and common people praised him, so Emperor Taizu conferred upon him the title of General Ningyuan and rewarded him with three hundred bolts of silk. Later, he was summoned to serve in the Ministry of Personnel, earning a reputation for his integrity. He was subsequently appointed as General of Annan and Inspector of Luozhou, but he passed away before he could assume the position. The court posthumously restored his original title and promoted him to Duke of Hongnong, with the posthumous title of Jian Gong.
Yang Bo was originally given the name Yuanxiu, and during the Taihe period, Emperor Taizu granted him a name change. His mother was of the Wang clan, a niece of Empress Dowager Wenming. Yang Bo was known from a young age for his caution, filial piety, and dedication to his parents. He was promoted to Junior Grandee and gradually rose to the position of official in the Ministry of Personnel, concurrently serving as an official in the Ministry of Rites. Being a relative of the imperial family, he frequently received generous rewards totaling over ten thousand coins. He was later promoted to an official in the Northern Ministry. Emperor Taizu issued an edict appointing him to inspect the northern border and personally escorted him to the city gate, offering him counsel on military strategies. Not long after, he was promoted to General Longxiang and Outer Court Attendant, later transferring to Deputy Minister of the Imperial Guard, while retaining his position as Outer Court Attendant. He campaigned in the northern desert alongside Prince Yangping Yuan Yi, defeating the Rouran and returning victorious. Emperor Taizu highly valued his achievements and rewarded him with ten servants. He was then promoted to General of the Martial Guard and once again went on a campaign against the Rouran, returning only after advancing as far as Juran Mountain.
He was appointed as the Left General and soon acted as the Former General-in-Chief. Later, he followed the emperor on a campaign to the south and arrived at Zhongli. When the army was returning, the emperor commanded him to lead three thousand infantry and five hundred cavalry to cover the rear. At that time, the spring waters were swelling, and the enemy forces mounted a large-scale offensive, blocking the river with their boats. Seeing that the other troops had not yet crossed the Huai River, he took up a defensive position on the southern bank and personally held the rear. After all the troops had crossed the river, the enemy fully assembled and surrounded Yang Bo. Yang Bo formed a circular formation to resist, personally charging into the fray and killing many enemies. The two sides were stuck in a stalemate for two days and nights, and the soldiers ran out of food, as the enemy's encirclement tightened. Emperor Gaozu watched from the northern bank, unable to rescue them because there were no boats. When the water level receded slightly, Yang Bo led three hundred elite cavalry, charging through the enemy's boats, shouting, "I am crossing the river now; those who can fight, come with me!" The enemy did not dare to move, so Yang Bo led his troops across the Huai River. Emperor Gaozu greatly appreciated him, bestowed upon him the title of Huayinzi, and shortly thereafter appointed him as the Right Guard General.
Then, I set out to battle against Cui Huijing and Xiao Yan; the battle took place in Dengcheng, and we won! The emperor even promoted me, appointing me as General of Pingdong. At that time, the emperor displayed his grandeur by the banks of the Mian River and even held a banquet to celebrate on Shangsi Festival. The emperor competed in archery with the central army and Prince Xie of Pengcheng. I was on Prince Xie's team, but I was actually loyal to the emperor. When I shot the arrow, it hit the bullseye, and I had used up all my tokens. The emperor said, "The left guard has run out of tokens, so the right guard must stop." I replied, "Thanks to the emperor's grace, I will do my utmost." Then I pulled the bow and shot the arrow, hitting the bullseye again! The emperor laughed and said, "Even the legendary archer Yang Youji couldn't do better!" Then the emperor raised his cup and rewarded me, saying, "In ancient times, drinking was for healing, but today I reward you; this is a privilege unlike any in the past!" Later, in Xuanhu, I was appointed as Minister of the Palace and elevated to the title of Count.
At the beginning of the Jingming era, I also took on the role of attendant and was sent to Hengzhou to help the poor. Later, I was promoted to General of the Left Guard. Afterwards, I was appointed as General of Anbei and Inspector of Bingzhou, but I declined, and was finally appointed as General of Anxi and Inspector of Huazhou. After arriving in Huazhou, I took land from the common people and was impeached by the official Wang Ji, resulting in the loss of my official title and position. In the second year of Yanchang, I passed away peacefully at home. My son, Kan, did not bury me and kept appealing until the Xiping era, when I was posthumously honored with the title of General of Zhenxi, my title was reinstated, and I was granted the posthumous title of "Zhuang."
Kan, courtesy name Shiye, had a passion for reading and was particularly skilled at calculations. His family held a prominent position at court and his siblings and nephews all did quite well. However, he was a solitary person who rarely socialized, and many high-ranking officials had never even laid eyes on him. Relatives and friends encouraged him to pursue an official career, but Kan replied, "If I have good land, why should I worry about food in my old age? It's just that I'm not that capable!" At the age of 31, he inherited the title of Huayin Marquis. After that, he first served as a cavalry officer under Grand Commandant Yuè, Prince of Runan, and was later invited by Changsun Zhi, the Governor of Yangzhou, to serve as a military recording officer.
The Yuzhou governor under Xiao Yan, Pei Sui, was planning a surprise attack on Hefei. He secretly bribed people in Shouchun, such as Li Guahua and Yuan Jian, to serve as informants. Pei Sui had already gathered his troops and was just waiting to strike, but he was worried that Shouchun would catch wind of his plan. So he deliberately wrote a letter saying, "The Wei state initially set up defenses at Matou, and I heard they are going to repair the old city of Bainai. If that's the case, we'll be a bit squeezed on both sides, so we need to prepare our defenses. The troops have been gathered, just waiting for your reply." Other officials wanted to reply honestly, claiming they hadn’t heard anything about repairing Bainai City. However, Kan said, "Bainai City is so small that it hardly counts as a strategic location. Pei Sui enjoys playing tricks; now that he has gathered troops and sent this kind of letter, he must be spinning this story for some other reason." Long Sun Zhi understood immediately and said, "Recorder, please write a letter in response." Kan wrote: "He has gathered troops, and there must be another purpose; why would he fabricate a lie about repairing Bainai City! I know what others are thinking; don’t assume we’re clueless!" When Pei Sui got the reply, he realized his plan had been uncovered and disbanded his troops. Li Guahua and others, not arriving at the agreed time, reported each other, leading to the arrest of over ten households. Later, Pei Sui still launched a surprise attack on Shouchun, broke through Luocheng, and then retreated. He set up camp at Lijiang and Liangcheng, raiding every day. Long Sun Zhi then petitioned the court to make Kan the commander.
Kan's uncle Chun was the governor of Yongzhou, and he invited him to his residence to serve as a military officer, also concurrently holding the position of magistrate of Chang'an, handling many affairs within the provincial administration. Later, after Xiao Baoyin and his allies were defeated, the district magistrate Mao Hongbin occupied the county city and attracted the enemy, raiding along the northern banks of the Wei River. Kan suggested to his uncle that he personally lead a campaign against the bandits. He quickly recruited over three thousand soldiers and quietly set out at night, reaching the west of Fengyi County. When the bandits saw the large army approaching, they lost all morale, and Mao Hongbin wrote a letter surrendering and requesting to turn himself in. Consequently, they captured Su Qinming's older brother, the bandit known as Nanping Wang Wugoren.
Governor of Yongzhou Xiao Baoyin rebelled, and the court sent Minister Changsun Zhi to suppress the rebellion. Changsun Zhi appointed Kan as the General of Steadying the Front and a Counselor, making him his left deputy in the acting administration. Soon after, Kan was promoted again to serve as a regular attendant in the Imperial Secretariat.
When the army arrived in Hongnong, Kan said to Changsun Zhi: "In the past, Cao Cao faced off against Han Sui and Ma Chao in Guanzhong, and they were in a stalemate for a long time without a clear winner. This shows that both sides were evenly matched in strength and strategy, largely due to the difficult terrain; victory was hard to achieve with just strategy. With the rebel forces now occupying Tongguan, the terrain is highly advantageous; even if Cao Cao were to come again, he might not have any brilliant strategies. We should first capture Pusuan, then cross the Yellow River to the west bank, position our troops in a stronghold to boost their morale, allowing us to resolve the siege of Huazhou without fighting, and the rebels at Tongguan will scatter at the mere rumor. Once the various regions are secured, Chang'an will naturally follow. What do you think of my plan? I’d like to take the lead for you!"
Chang Sun Zhi said, "Xue Xiuyi has already besieged Hedong, Xue Fengxian has occupied Anyi, and the army commanded by Zong Zhengzhensun in Yuban has been unable to capture it for a long time. Even if your strategy is good, I still have some reservations." Kan said, "Zhensun is someone who rose through opportunism; he can only take orders from others and isn’t fit to command an army. If he were to command the troops, his leadership would surely fall into chaos. How can he go to suppress the rebels? The administrative center of Hedong is in Puban, close to the Yellow River in the west, where most of the local populace, including women and children, remain in their villages. Xue Xiuyi leads elite soldiers to besiege the city in the west, while the local populace stays behind. If we lead the troops over, they will undoubtedly be frightened and want to return home, so the city will naturally be relieved. Achieving victory without a fight is quite easy!"
Chang Sun Zhi accepted his suggestion and allowed his son Yan and others to lead the cavalry, along with Kan, to cross the Yellow River from Hongnong. The cavalry excel in field battles but are not adept at siege warfare, so they occupied Shizhuibi. Kan then commanded, "Let’s station the army here, wait for the infantry to arrive, assess the sentiments of the local populace, and then take action. If someone surrenders, let them return to their villages; when the main army lights the beacon, they must also light the beacon to surrender. If a village fails to light the beacon, it indicates they do not surrender and must be dealt with; rewards will be given to the soldiers!" The common people informed each other; even those who did not genuinely surrender feigned lighting the beacon. By morning, flames were visible for hundreds of miles. The rebel forces in the city, bewildered by the situation, fled in disarray, and Xue Xiuyi also fled. After Chang'an City was pacified, Kan received significant credit for his achievements.
At first, he was appointed as the Champion General and the Governor of Dong Yongzhou. That year, the prefecture was abolished, and he was appointed as the Middle Scatter General, serving as the Military Governor, stationed at Tongguan. Upon returning to the court, he was appointed as the Right General and the Governor of Qizhou. Just as Yuan Hao's army was approaching Luoyang, the court issued an edict, appointing him as the General of the Pacification Army, leading the army to guard Daliang. Before the order was issued, he was appointed as the General of the Northern Central Army.
Emperor Xiaozhuang wanted to move the capital to the north of the Yellow River. Holding his hand, he said, "I have moved you around and arranged you in this position in order to deal with today's situation. But your family has significant responsibilities, with so many people; it will be very troublesome to follow me. You should go back to Luoyang and make plans for the future." He replied, "Your Majesty's special grace, how can I easily abandon the righteousness between monarch and minister because of my humble family?" He insisted on following the emperor.
When they arrived in Jianzhou, the court conferred rewards for meritorious service. From the Prince of Chengyang down to ten people, all were promoted three ranks. Because of his loyalty on the Yellow River bridge, the emperor especially wanted to give him a promotion of four ranks. He firmly declined, requesting to be treated the same as others, and it took a long time for the emperor to agree. In the end, he was appointed as the General of the Guards, the Minister of Finance, also serving as the Attendant of the Yellow Gate, and was granted the title of Duke of Fuxi County, with a fief of one thousand households.
When the emperor returned from his southern tour, Gao Huan had Xiao Yan and Chen Qingzhi guard the northern city while he occupied the southern bank. A loyalist from Xiazhou secretly contacted Gao Huan, wanting to destroy the bridge to achieve glory, and Erzhu Rong led troops to rush over. The bridge was destroyed, but Gao Huan was well prepared; Erzhu Rong's army was utterly defeated, and Gao Huan killed them all. Erzhu Rong was very discouraged, contemplating retreat and devising another plan of attack.
At this time, Gao Kan said, "Your Majesty, when you left Bingzhou, you already knew that the righteous warriors from Xiazhou would come to help in order to achieve greater victories and strengthen the throne, right? It's common in history for armies to disperse and regroup, to recuperate before fighting again. How can we be disheartened by a single failed plan? The current setback in battle actually works in Your Majesty's favor, as the two enemies are inflicting casualties on each other. If we retreat now, the people will be let down, and their morale will falter. How can we ensure that everyone stays loyal and united? It's better to call on the people to weave more bamboo rafts, prepare more boats, and position them along the river in large numbers, creating ferry crossings every few hundred miles. This way, our forces will be spread out, and Gao Huan won't be able to predict where we’ll cross the river. Once we successfully cross the river, we'll achieve a significant victory!" Erzhu Rong laughed heartily, "Imperial Attendant, let's go with this plan!" So Erzhu Zhao, Gao Kan, and others crossed the river at Yangnan on Mazhu and defeated Gao Huan's son, the General of the Army, Guanshou, and captured him. Gao Huan quickly fled to the south. After the emperor returned to the capital, Gao Kan was removed from his posts as Minister and Director of the Yellow Gates and appointed as General of the East and Grand Master of Splendid Happiness. Due to his achievements in the Battle of the Ji River, he was promoted to Duke of Kaiguo of Jibei Commandery, with an additional five hundred households of land grants, and his eldest son, Gao Shichong, was appointed as a Secretary in the Palace.
At that time, the circulating coins were privately minted by many people, becoming thinner and smaller in size, so light that they could be blown away by the wind or even float on water, with the price of a dou of rice rising to a thousand coins! Gao Kan reported, saying, "When Ma Yuan was in Longxi, he once submitted a request to resume the minting of the five-zhu coins. This matter was submitted to the three ministries but was not approved. Later, when Ma Yuan was summoned to the court as a Tiger Ben Zhonglangjiang, he personally explained to Emperor Guangwu the necessity of resuming the minting of the five-zhu coins, which led to their implementation. When I was in Yongzhou, I also submitted the same proposal, suggesting that the common people and the government be allowed to mint five-zhu coins together. This way, the common people would be willing to do it, and this would help address social issues. However, when the memorial was submitted to the Ministry of Personnel, the eight ministers all rejected it. The current situation is not much different from the past; the reasoning remains unchanged. Please, Your Majesty, take a look at the memorials I submitted earlier and study them carefully." Gao Kan elaborated on each point in relation to the current situation, and Emperor Xiaozhuang adopted his suggestion. Thus, the five-zhu coins were minted according to Gao Kan's recommendations.
Speaking of which, Wanqi Chounu attacked Dongqin, then besieged Qizhou, and incited rebellion in the Bashu region. The Grand General Er Zhu Tianguang led troops westward to quell the rebellion, and the court sent Kan to serve as an envoy with special authority while concurrently holding the position of Minister of Rites, to act as a morale-boosting ambassador for the troops. After returning, Kan was appointed as a palace attendant and was also promoted to the positions of General of the Guard and Right Minister of Rites, marking a significant rise in his rank.
Later, Emperor Zhuangdi planned to deal with Erzhu Rong. Kan, the younger brother of his wife, Li Xi, Prince of Chengyang, and others secretly conspired with him. When Erzhu Zhao marched to Luoyang, Kan was at home on leave, allowing him to hide secretly and escape to Huayin. During the Putai period, Erzhu Tianguang was still in Guanzhong, so he sent Kan's daughter-in-law's father, Wei Yiyuan, to persuade him to surrender and made a covenant to spare his life. Kan's brother, Kan Yu, worried that the whole family would be implicated, so he let Kan go to the appointment, deliberately causing him to break faith with Erzhu Tianguang, thinking that as long as Kan was sacrificed, the whole family could be saved. Kan eventually went and was killed by Erzhu Tianguang in the seventh month of autumn. During the Taichang period, the court posthumously appointed him General of Chariots and Cavalry, General of Equal Rank, and Governor of Youzhou. His son, Chunduo, inherited his title.
Kan's brother, Chun, styled Yanshou, originally named Zhongkao, was given a new name by Emperor Gaozu during the Taihe period along with his brother Kan. He was generous and cautious. Initially appointed as a middle-ranking official, he was responsible for the imperial stables. Because he was cautious and skilled in medicine, he was promoted to Inner Attendant, serving in the palace with his brother Kan. Later, he also took on the duties of Lantai, and then transferred to the Central Cao, where he adjudicated legal cases with great fairness, and Emperor Gaozu greatly appreciated him. When Empress Dowager Wenming passed away, Emperor Gaozu did not eat for five days. Chun advised him, saying, "Your Majesty, your filial piety is deep, surpassing that of the ancient Emperor Shun. You have been mourning for five days, not eating or drinking, causing the courtiers to be anxious and unsure of what to do. Your Majesty shoulders the ancestral legacy, leading the people; how can you, like an ordinary citizen, starve yourself to death? Moreover, the rituals of the sages emphasize preserving the foundation. Even if Your Majesty wants to leave a good name for generations to come, what about the ancestral temple?" Emperor Gaozu was moved by his words and finally ate some porridge. Chun was later promoted to Assistant Minister of Palace Carriages.
He was first appointed as General of Anyuan and Governor of Yuzhou. Later, Emperor Gaozu traveled from Luoyang to Yuzhou, stayed at the governor's mansion for one night, and rewarded him with ten horses and one thousand rolls of silk. After that, he was promoted to General of Champion and Governor of Jizhou. Emperor Gaozu traveled from Zhongli to Ye City, passed by Qiaoao, stayed at his governor's mansion again, and rewarded him with two horses and fifteen hundred rolls of silk. Unfortunately, he was later dismissed from office because he was accused of corruption and embezzlement by Cui Chang, the Prefect of Pingyuan. He was then demoted to General Ning Shuo and Governor of Liangzhou.
Initially, Prince Wuxing Yang Ji was defeated by Yang Lingzhen and surrendered to Xiao Juan. At this time, Yang Ji led more than ten thousand rebels from Hanzhong to the north, wanting to recover his former territory. He stationed five thousand infantry and cavalry at Xiabian, sent a letter to Yang Ji, and explained the situation. Yang Ji took the letter and said to the messenger, "This letter from Sir Yang has really eased my heartache!" So he surrendered with his men. Shortly afterwards, due to his mother's old age, he resigned and returned to his hometown. Later, Yang Hui, the leader of the Di tribe in Wudu, rebelled again, so the court appointed him as Jiedushi, General of Champion, Commander of the Western Expedition, and Acting Governor of Liangzhou, to lead the military commander Yang Zhi to suppress Yang Hui, ultimately defeating him.
While transporting grain and supplies in Liangzhou, they were robbed by some Di people, so the court appointed him as General of Conquering Barbarians and tasked him with appeasing the Di people. Not long after, the Di people rebelled again, so the court appointed him as Grand Master of Ceremonies, Acting General of the West, and Commander-in-Chief of the Expedition to quell their rebellion. After quelling the rebellion, he also served concurrently as the Minister Steward.
The Qiang leader Lü Gou'er from Qinzhou and the Tuge leader Chen Zhan from Jingzhou gathered their forces to revolt. The court appointed him as a deputy commander to follow General Yuan Li of Anxi to suppress them. The rebel forces entered the Longshan Mountains, taking up strategic positions and fortifying their defenses. Some suggested ambushing troops on the mountain paths to cut off their retreat and waiting for their supplies to run out before attacking; others proposed cutting down trees on the mountain and setting them on fire before launching an assault. However, he said, "These are not good methods. These rebels are essentially bandits without a fixed strategy. As long as the imperial army arrives, there are no battles we cannot win. They are hiding to avoid death. We should order our troops not to plunder indiscriminately, and the rebels will think we’re afraid to advance because of the difficult terrain, underestimating our forces. Then we can take advantage of their unpreparedness and crush them in one fell swoop." So he ordered the army to advance slowly without attacking. The rebels indeed came out to plunder, and he used the army's donkeys and horses to lure them in, without giving chase. This went on for several days. He secretly selected elite soldiers and ordered them to grit their teeth and launch a night raid on the enemy camp, killing Chen Zhan and sending his head back to the court. After that, he was officially appointed Minister of the Imperial Stable and was promoted to General of An Dong.
At the beginning, during the reign of Emperor Xian, more than ten thousand households of the Rouran tribe pledged allegiance to the court and lived in the towns of Gaoping and Bogu. By the end of the Tahe period, most had defected, leaving only over a thousand households. At that time, Minister Wang Tong and General Lang Yu from Gaoping Town suggested relocating the remaining Rouran tribe to Huai Bei to prevent them from defecting again. The court agreed to the suggestion but worried they would be reluctant to move, so they sent Chun with the emperor's decree to carry out this task.
Chun believed that relocating them would be unwise, so he submitted a memorial to the emperor saying, "I believe the ancients said: 'People from remote areas will not imitate the rituals of the Central Plains, and the barbarians will not disturb the Huaxia.' For those people in remote areas, it is sufficient to implement a policy of non-interference. Therefore, the previous dynasty settled them in remote areas specifically to pacify the locals, attract those far away, and to manage various ethnic groups, as well as to distinguish between Huaxia and the barbarians, and between the internal and external affairs of the court. Now there are many new subjects, and if the old subjects see others being relocated, the new subjects are bound to feel uneasy. This unease will make them nostalgic for their homeland, and nostalgia will lead to defection. As the saying goes, 'A dying fox returns to its den,' and this danger is even greater. Moreover, this ethnic group wears animal skins and eats meat, and they prefer the cold winter. They would likely struggle to survive in the hot and humid south. In this way, we would not only lose their loyalty, but also their role as a frontline defense. Relocating them to the Central Plains would only create future problems. I believe this approach is unwise." At that time, most of the court ministers disagreed with Chun, so they still relocated the Rouran people to Jizhou, allowing them to settle along the Yellow River. Later, when Yuan Yu of Jizhou rebelled, the Rouran people did indeed cross the Yellow River to join the rebel army, plundering across the region, just as Chun had foreseen.
During the early years of the Yongping period, a man named Cheng Jingjun in Xuzhou started a rebellion in Suyu, and the court ordered Chun to lead forty thousand troops to suppress it, but they were unsuccessful and had to retreat. After a long time, Chun was appointed as the commander of Shuozhou, Fuming Wuchuan, and Huai Shuo three towns and three military affairs, Pingbei General, and Shuozhou Governor. During his tenure in Shuozhou, the court reported that when Chun served as the Minister of Imperial Stables, he gathered some ruffians to steal three hundred and forty acres of farmland, which, under the law, warranted a five-year prison sentence. Based on the recommendation of the Minister of Works, Xing Luan, it was proposed that Chun be demoted to commoner status, listed among thieves, and he should not be allowed to hold any official position like his fellow citizens. Emperor Shizong believed that since new laws had been enacted, the old system should not apply, so he decreed that the court's judgment should be carried out, allowing Chun to redeem himself. Soon after, Chun was promoted to the General of the Army, returned to court as the Minister of Justice, and was responsible for supervising the repair of the Baigou dike. Later, he was appointed as the Governor of Dingzhou in his capacity as the General. It is said that since Emperor Taizu pacified Zhongshan, to deter threats from all directions, many military offices were established, with a total of eight large armies, each with five thousand soldiers and horses, and a total of forty-six officials and generals in each army receiving salaries. After the Central Plains region stabilized slightly, the troops from these eight armies were gradually reassigned to guard the south, reducing each army to just over a thousand soldiers, but the number of generals and officials stayed the same, and their salaries remained unchanged. Later, Chun submitted a memorial to the court requesting the disbandment of four of the large armies, reducing the salaries of one hundred and eighty-four generals.
At that time, there were some royal family rice fields in the state, which required the conscription of three thousand laborers and three hundred carts of fodder each year to repair the ditches and dams in the fields. Chun believed these troops should only be responsible for the land taxes and shouldn't impose extra labor on the common folk. Furthermore, repairs should take place during the off-season, so as not to disrupt the farmers' work. Chun also submitted a memorial to the court requesting the disbandment of these troops, and the court approved his request. During Chun's tenure in the state, he received praise for repairing the Heishan road, but he privately used military resources to fell timber for building a Buddhist temple, which led to his impeachment by the censor and his dismissal from office, reducing him to commoner status.
In the fifth year of the Zhengguang era, he was appointed as the General of National Defense and the Governor of Nanjin Prefecture. At that time, a rebellion erupted in Nanjin Prefecture, and the roads were blocked, forcing him to stay in Chang'an. Later, he was reassigned as the Governor of Qizhou, then promoted to General Who Pacifies the Army and Minister of Defense. After that, he was further promoted to Left Guard General while also serving as the Right Minister of the Secretariat. He hurried to Bingzhou, offering thirty thousand bolts of silk to recruit refugees from Hengzhou and Shuozhou to bolster the army, but this plan fell through. Soon after, he was granted the title of Guard General and appointed Commander of military affairs in Yongzhou, Nanjin Prefecture, and Banzhou, alongside being the General of the Army and Governor of Yongzhou, and he was promoted to Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry and Minister of the Three Departments.
Xiao Baoyin, Yuan Hengzhi, and other troops were defeated by the rebel army. Hengzhi fled east across the river from north of the Wei River, and Chun pursued him relentlessly. Xiao Baoyin soon arrived and took refuge in Xiaoyao Garden, gathering soldiers and managing to assemble over ten thousand men. Thanks to his efforts, the morale in the Sanfu area improved slightly. At that time, Jingzhou, Qizhou, and Binzhou had all been occupied by the rebels, and the territories west of Fufeng were no longer controlled by the court. Chun then recruited troops from all over, mustering over seven thousand men, and appointed his nephew Lu Shijian Kang to lead this army in defense. The court issued an edict, appointing Chun as Minister of the Imperial Court while retaining his position as Right Minister of Personnel, overseeing the generals of various routes in Guansi. All officials below the fifth rank and counties needing personnel replenishment were to be appointed by him. Chun later fell seriously ill and repeatedly petitioned for his resignation, which the court approved, appointing Xiao Baoyin to replace Chun as the governor and acting minister.
Old Chun went back home and ran into his son, Ziyu, who was on his way back to the capital. Old Chun said to his son, "The current governor of Yongzhou is not much stronger than Xiao Baoyin, but the officials under him should be reliable ministers sent by the court. How can he just let anyone take charge? This is a serious blunder on the court's part! Moreover, Baoyin doesn't take the governorship seriously; he seems quite pleased to get the position. When it comes to rewards and punishments, he plays fast and loose with the rules, and he probably has other ideas. The Guanzhong region is really dangerous. This time you go to the capital, please bring this up with the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, and also mention it to the chancellors. They should replace the three key officials: the Chief of Staff, the Sima, and the Defense Commander. These three officials are all that’s needed to stabilize Guanzhong! If they are not replaced, there's bound to be serious trouble down the line!"
After Ziyu returned to the capital, he told Emperor Suzong and Empress Dowager Ling everything that Lao Chun had said, but they simply did not believe him. Later, Xiao Baoyan even tried to kill the Censor-in-Chief Li Daoyuan, and even submitted a memorial to explain himself, claiming that Lao Chun and his son were falsely accusing him. The imperial court then issued an edict, reappointing Lao Chun as the military commander of Yongzhou, Qizhou, and Nanbianzhou, restoring his previous military titles, and granting him the additional title of 'Kaifu Yitong Sansi,' allowing him to continue serving as the Prefect of Yongzhou and commanding the army to attack the Shu region. Lao Chun declined, citing his old age and weak health.
In the first year of Jianyi, Lao Chun was promoted to the position of Minister of State. Later, Erzhu Rong led an expedition against Ge Rong, and the court appointed Lao Chun to lead the rear guard. Erzhu Rong captured Ge Rong, and the battle ended. When Yuan Hao attacked Luoyang, Lao Chun's son, General Ziyu, who was known for conquering the East, was stationed in Xingyang at the time and was captured by Yuan Hao. Lao Chun's brother Shun was the governor of Jizhou; Shun's son Zhongxuan was the Prefect of Zhengping; Lao Chun's nephew Kan and grandson Dun were both with the emperor in Hebei, and Yuan Hao became suspicious of them. Because the Lao Chun family had significant power, the court feared it would sway public sentiment and had not yet punished them.
At that time, everyone was deeply concerned about Lao Chun, and some advised him to escape with his family. Lao Chun said, "There are so many people in my family, where can we escape to? Let's just wait patiently!"
The emperor has returned to the palace, but Mr. Chun repeatedly declined, and the emperor would not accept this. Mr. Chun has submitted multiple requests to retire and return home to enjoy his old age, and the emperor said: "Mr. Chun is an elder of the state, someone we all highly respect. You are getting old and wish to retire; I have been considering your past contributions, which is why I have not agreed until now. However, you have requested many times, and your reasons are very compelling, making it truly difficult to refuse. I am also very reluctant to part with you, so I will allow your retirement now! You may wear court robes, and I will grant you a set of court robes, along with a piece of clothing, an eight-foot-wide bed and tent, as well as a cane. You do not need to attend court; you can ride in a comfortable carriage drawn by four horses, and I will provide attendants for you, sending two people to convey my orders, so that your local officials will often send someone to inquire about your health."
The emperor met with Mr. Chun in Hualin Garden, stepped down from the imperial throne, held Mr. Chun's hand, and said with tears: "Sir, you are a veteran minister of the late emperor and an elder statesman of the country. The world is still not stable, and we still need to consult you. However, you have noble aspirations and are determined to retire, and I cannot force you; I am truly saddened!" Mr. Chun was equally moved and nearly choked up, wanting to kneel, but the emperor personally supported him to stop him. The emperor then awarded Mr. Chun some silk and sent the Imperial Guard to escort him, while the court officials all gathered at Zhangfang Bridge in the west of the city to see him off. Along the way, the onlookers praised him unanimously.
As Mr. Chun was about to leave, he advised his descendants:
"My family has been honored guests of the court since the founding of the Wei state, receiving land, houses, servants, and livestock from the court, thus becoming a wealthy family. From then until now, twenty years have passed, and high-ranking officials from the provinces and counties have come and gone, bestowing many gifts and salaries. As for relatives and friends, regardless of whether it is a joyous event or a funeral, we always send generous gifts and entertain visiting guests and officials with food and drink. As a result, our relatives and friends have always been satisfied with us."
When the country was newly established, men liked to wear brightly colored clothes. Although I don't remember what my grandfather (Shanggu Weng) was like during that time, I remember how my father (Qinghe Weng) dressed. He always wore plain clothes, cinched with a belt, and often warned us brothers, "If your descendants are richer and more prosperous than us today, you must be careful, never accumulate more than a pound of gold or a hundred bolts of silk to flaunt wealth." He also warned us not to pursue wealth and not to marry into families with power. But we brothers couldn't do that. Now, your dressing style is becoming increasingly extravagant, showing that the frugality that characterized our family is not as strong as it was in our ancestors.
When we brothers were at home, we always shared the same plate; if someone went out and didn't come back, the rest of us would wait for him to come back before eating together, even if it meant going hungry. There were eight of us brothers, but now there are only three of us left, and we truly can't stand to eat apart. I hope our descendants will live together and share their wealth, as you can see for yourselves, this is no empty promise. But I heard that you brothers sometimes eat separately, which is not as good as our generation.
Although I am not poor today, the house I live in isn't extravagant, because I'm worried that your descendants may not be wise and won't be able to keep the family legacy.
At that time, I was working in Beijing, and court regulations were extremely strict; the atmosphere was quite tense. At the start of the Taihe era, my brothers and I all served in the palace. My eldest brother served by the side of Emperor Gaozu, while my younger brother Yang Jin and I served by the side of Empress Dowager Wenming. The emperor often instructed the eunuchs to report on matters within ten days. If they couldn't report, the emperor would be furious. Many people, to curry favor with the emperor, reported anything they could, and some even sowed discord between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. We brothers warned each other, "We are fortunate to be serving by the side of the two emperors; the relationship between mother and son is delicate, so we must be careful with our words. Reporting on others is already difficult; even if we are reprimanded by the emperor, we must be careful with our words."
For over ten years, my brothers and I never spoke ill of anyone, so many people criticized us, thinking we were not proactive. Our response was, "We have heard those rumors, but we're concerned they might not be true. If we misled the emperors, it would cause trouble, so we dare not speak carelessly." Later, we were recognized for not gossiping. We never dared to casually pass on even the words exchanged between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. In the 21st year of Taihe, I returned to Beijing from Jizhou and attended a banquet in the Qinghuitang. Emperor Gaozu said to the princes and ministers, "When I was in Beijing, the Empress Dowager was very strict, and I often got beaten, which led to various rumors. Only you brothers, the Yangs, can truly maintain harmony between me and my mother." After that, the emperor raised a special toast to me, my eldest brother, and a few other brothers. He warned us, "If you ever gain the emperor's appreciation and trust, you must be careful with your words and actions, and never speak ill of others!"
I consider myself to have both literary and martial talents, as well as a good family background. I have served as a Palace Attendant and Minister, held positions among the Nine Ministers, served as a governor of various provinces ten times, and also held positions such as Grand Master of Splendor, Supervisor of the Left, and Supervisor of the Left Palace, Minister of Works, and Grand Guardian. Now I am serving as Minister of Works. All this is because of my loyalty, integrity, caution, and never speaking ill of others behind their backs. Regardless of their status, I treat everyone equally. This is how I have reached my current position. I've heard that you young people are mimicking the behavior of the common folk, some sitting and waiting for others to flatter them, some busy ingratiating themselves with the powerful, some casually speaking ill of others, fawning over officials and nobles while looking down on the poor. These are all serious mistakes in how to deal with others and significant flaws in personal conduct! Your family has served the court since the Wei Dynasty, producing seven county governors and thirty-two provincial governors, with many prominent officials inside and outside the court, which was rare at the time. If you can uphold propriety, steer clear of extravagance and arrogance, and avoid being conceited, you can avoid criticism and become a respected family. I am now seventy-five years old, still in good health and able to pay respects to the emperor. The reason I'm eager to retire is to help you understand the importance of contentment, to set an example for you—not to chase after lasting fame. If you can remember my words, you will not regret it a hundred years from now. Chūn had lived in Huayin for over a year. In July of the first year of Putai, he was killed by Erzhu Tianguang at the age of seventy-seven, which caused widespread grief among the people. During the early Taichang period, he was posthumously appointed as Commander of military affairs in the provinces of Jide, Ding, and Yin, as well as Grand Preceptor, Prime Minister, and Governor of Jizhou.
My son Ziyu, with the courtesy name Yuangui. At first, he served as Left Chamberlain under the Prince of Guangping, who enjoyed hunting and often went out, with Ziyu always advising him not to. During the Zhengshi era, many royal relatives of Jingzhao and Guangping were debauched and extravagant. I submitted a petition to the court for a thorough investigation, so the court dispatched the Imperial Censor Cui Liang to investigate. As a result, over thirty people in the city were executed, and those who survived were dismissed from their positions and reduced to commoners. Only Ziyu and Cui Kai from Boling were spared punishment for their loyal advice. Later, Ziyu was appointed as a Doctor of the Imperial Academy and a Gentleman of the Cavalry.
Initially, the Prefect of the Masters of Writing, Wang Su, was appointed as the Inspector of Yangzhou and was given a farewell at the East Pavilion in Luoyang. At that time, high-ranking officials and nobles from the court gathered to bid him farewell, and the Emperor even ordered the princes to accompany him. Ziyu's uncle, Wang Bo, was also present at the feast. After drinking, Prince Ji of Guangyang and Prince Xiang of Beihai debated with Wang Bo, arguing over who was more reasonable, but Wang Bo held his ground. Prince Xiang looked at Ziyu and said, "Your uncle is stubborn and never gives in, but he can't compare to your father!" Ziyu replied, "My father complies when the reasoning is sound; if not, he stands firm in his views. My uncle is strong-willed and won't compromise easily, but if the situation is soft, he won't insist." Everyone present were impressed by his eloquence. Wang Su said, "If it weren't for this young man, how could the virtues of the two princes be fully showcased without him?"
In the third year of Yan Chang, Wang Yu was promoted to the position of Deputy Grand Secretary while retaining his original post. At that time, Emperor Su was still young, cradled in arms, and only had a wet nurse accompanying him in and out of the palace, without informing the court officials. Wang Yu advised, "Your Majesty, although we officials may seem shallow in knowledge, we are indeed serving in the palace, and the movements of the Crown Prince should have someone to assist him. However, the Crown Prince is currently going in and out at will, without a teacher's guidance or the company of ministers. This doesn't set a good example for the people or establish proper etiquette between ruler and subject. If Your Majesty wishes to summon the Crown Prince, you must issue an edict, so that all officials are aware, leaving a precedent for future generations." Thus, the emperor issued a decree stating, "From now on, without my edict, the Crown Prince is not allowed to go out freely. The court officials on duty must accompany him all the way to the Gate of Eternal Life."
After a long time, he was promoted to an official in the Grand Commandant's office and concurrently served as a Secretary in the Central Secretariat. One time, Empress Dowager Ling casually said to him, "The emperor is still young, and I personally handle state affairs, but my own virtue is lacking, and my influence is weak. I can't even persuade my relatives, and I am not well-liked outside. If you know anything, please do not conceal it." He then reported that Li Chong, the governor of Yangzhou, had filled five carts with goods, and Yang Jun, the governor of Hengzhou, had crafted ten sets of silver tableware, all of which were given to General Yuan Cha. Empress Dowager Ling called Yuan Yi and his wife, tearfully scolding them. Yuan Yi harbored deep resentment towards him.
Wang Yu's sixth uncle, Shu, was married to Wang He of Wuchang's younger sister, and this He was indeed the great-grandfather of Yuan Yi. Shu passed away early, leaving behind one son and six daughters. After Shu's death, the Yuan family often insisted on moving out and living separately. Wang Yu's father, Chun, gathered relatives and friends, tearfully saying, "My younger brother has unfortunately passed away early, and now his son is unmarried and his daughters are not married. Why are they in such a hurry to move out?" But the Yuan family did not listen. As a result, Wang Yu held a grudge.
In the second year of Shengui, commoner Liu Xuanming from Yingzhou plotted a rebellion and fled after the conspiracy was uncovered. Yuan Yi then instructed He and Yuan Shi to falsely accuse Yu of hiding Liu Xuanming, saying, "His father, the governor of Dingzhou, Chun, and his uncle, the governor of Huazhou, Jin, both sent three hundred sets of weapons, with malicious intent." Yuan Cha also took part in the scheme. Yuan Yi then dispatched five hundred guards to surround Yu's home at night and capture him, but they found nothing. After Empress Dowager Ling inquired about the situation, Yu detailed the provocations from the Yuan family, speaking with deep sorrow. The Empress Dowager then released Yu from his restraints, sentenced He and Yuan Shi to death, and although Yuan Yi was implicated, he was merely stripped of his title, and Yuan Shi was not held accountable in the end. After Yuan Yi was deposed, the Empress Dowager appointed Yu as the Jiyin Interior Minister.
Prince Xī of Zhōngshān raised an army in Yèchéng, and Yuan Cha sent the Chamberlain for the Yellow Gates, Lú Tóng, to Yèchéng to carry out Xī's execution and investigate his associates. Lú Tóng, understanding Yuan Yi's intentions, arrested Yu in the county and brought him to Yèchéng, interrogating him for a hundred days straight before allowing him to return to his original position.
At the beginning of the Xiàochāng era, he was appointed as General of the Conquering Troops and Attendant of the Central Secretariat, later promoted to Attendant of the Yellow Gates. At that time, there was a famine in the northern border towns, with over two hundred thousand famine victims. The court sent him to settle these victims in the three provinces of Jì, Dìng, and Yíng, ensuring they had food. Later, bandits surrounded Bīnzhōu, and the court appointed him as an attendant, entrusting him with the Emperor's seal to urge the Grand Commandant of the Northwest Route, Prince Hào of Běihǎi, and allowing him to supervise the army. The siege of Bīnzhōu was successfully lifted.
The bandits Zhang Yinglong and Jiang Shenda from Shu in Yongzhou heard that the prefecture was empty, so they planned to attack. The prefect Yuan Xiuyi was filled with fear, so he requested support. Within a day and a night, nine urgent documents were sent out. The General Li Shuren hesitated and refused to send troops. He said, "Chang'an is the foundation of Guanzhong. The main army is stationed in Jingzhou and Binzhou, confronting the bandits. If Chang'an falls, the main army will naturally disperse. What good would it do even if this army were to go?" So he led the troops alongside Li Shuren and others, and killed Jiang Shenda and over four hundred bandits in Chendi, while the rest scattered. The court believed he was slow to mobilize the army after receiving orders, so he was dismissed from his position. Later, he was appointed as an attendant and urged the army. Shortly after, he was appointed as the General Conquering the Caitiffs and the prefect of Jingzhou. Not long after, his father Chun was assigned to Yongzhou as the prefect. The court summoned him back and appointed him as the Supervisor of the Ministry of Personnel and the General of the Guards, later promoted to General of the Central Army and was later honored with the title of General of the East. When Xiao Baoyin and others were defeated in Guanzhong, the court appointed him as the Minister of the Seven Armies, Commissioner, Acting General Pacifying the Army, and Commander, responsible for defending Yongzhou. When he encountered bandits and was defeated, he returned. He was later appointed as the Minister of Revenue, then promoted to General Pacifying the Army and the prefect of Xuzhou, followed by his appointment as General of the East, Acting General of Chariots and Cavalry, Commander of the Southeastern Circuit, and was later honored with the title of Cavalier Attendant.
Later, the governor of Taishan, Yang Kan, rebelled in southern Taishan. Xiao Yan sent General Wang Bian to lead troops to invade Xuzhou. Xu Lingzhen from Fan County was appointed by Xiao Yan as General of the North and Governor of Fan County. He led over ten thousand troops to launch an attack on Fan City. He dispatched another general, Liu Jue, to confront them, and on the battlefield, Liu Jue beheaded Xu Lingzhen, which forced Wang Bian to retreat as well. Yang Kan's brother, Yang Shen, was then serving as the acting governor of Xuzhou, and officials in the provincial government wanted to punish Yang Shen. He said, "In ancient times, Uncle Xiang was not removed from his position over a minor offense, and 'The Spring and Autumn Annals' praised him for it. Why should Yang Shen be punished for Yang Kan's wrongdoing? We ought to adhere to the court's decree." Thus, he did not heed everyone's opinions.
Not long after returning to court, Yuan Hao launched an attack on Daliang. Yang Yu was appointed as the General for the Eastern Campaign and Right Grand Minister, and was additionally granted the titles of Cavalry General and Commandant of the Southern Route, stationed in Rongyang. After seizing King Huiye of Jiyin, Yuan Hao pursued his victory, and his army quickly arrived at the city. He sent his Left Guard Liu Ye, Wang Daoan, and others to persuade Yang Yu to surrender, but Yang Yu refused, prompting Yuan Hao to launch an assault on the city. When the city fell, Commander Yuan Gong and Governor Wang Cong of Xihe fled over the city walls and were subsequently captured. Yang Yu and his five brothers were on the city tower when Yuan Hao arrived, bringing Yang Yu down from the tower and confronting him: "Yang Yu, are you willing to die? You have looked down on me, not the other way around!" Yang Yu replied, "I never intended to live; the reason I stayed up here was to avoid the chaos below. I only regret that my eighty-year-old father has no one to care for him, is gravely ill and about to die. I can only plead with you to spare my brother's life; even if I die, I can die with my eyes closed." Yuan Hao then took Yang Yu into custody.
The next morning, Yuan Hao's subordinates Chen Qingzhi and Hu Guang, along with more than three hundred people, knelt in front of Yuan Hao's tent and begged for mercy, saying, "The Emperor crossed the river after traveling over three thousand miles without wasting a single arrow. Yesterday alone, over five hundred people were killed. Please kill Yang Yu so we can have our revenge!" Yuan Hao said, "When I was in Jiangdong, I heard Emperor Wu of Liang say that on the day when Jiankang was captured, Yuan Ang guarded Wu County and refused to surrender, praising his loyalty. Why should I kill Yang Yu? As for the rest, do whatever you like!" So Yang Yu and his thirty-seven subordinates were killed, and the Shu soldiers were commanded to cut open their bellies, dig out their hearts, and eat them. After Yuan Hao captured Luoyang, Yang Yu's name was removed from the official records, claiming he was a commoner.
Yang Yu's elderly mother, Lady Xiao Zhuang, regained her former official position after returning to the palace. When Yang Yu's father, Yang Chun, retired due to old age and wanted to return home, the court refused his request. After Erzhu Rong's death, Yang Yu served as the Eastern Commandant, leading the army to resist Erzhu Zhongyuan. After Erzhu Zhao captured Luoyang, Yang Yu returned to the capital. He later went back home to retire, but tragically died in a natural disaster. In the early years of the Taichang era, the court posthumously appointed him as the military governor of Yingzhou and Dingzhou, the Grand General of the Cavalry, the Minister of Works, and the Governor of Dingzhou.
Yang Yu's son, Yang Xiaoyong, was an official in the Imperial Secretariat. He fled and hid in the barbarian areas, secretly contacting local leaders, planning to respond to Qi Xianwu Wang and eradicate the Erzhu clan. He disguised himself and sneaked into Luoyang, waiting for the right moment to act. He was eventually betrayed, captured by Gao Huan, delivered to the court, and ultimately executed. Yang Chun's brother, Yang Ying, known by his courtesy name Huizhe, served as a provincial officer.
Zi Shuliang, during the Wuding period, became the new prefect of Xin'an. His younger brother Ying Dishi, styled Yanhe, was known for his generosity and prudence. During the Taihe period, he started serving as an official in the court. He gradually rose through the ranks to become the General of the Pavilion of Direct Command, General of the Northern Central Army, concurrently serving as General of the Guards and Minister of Public Works. He played a significant role in supporting the ascension of Emperor Zhuang and was granted the title of Duke of Sanmen County, with a fief of seven hundred households. Later, he was sent to serve as General Who Pacifies the North and Inspector of Jizhou, and soon after was promoted to General of the Pacifying Army. He resigned from his position and returned to his hometown, but was tragically assassinated at the age of sixty-five. During the Taichang period, the court posthumously honored him as Commander of Military Affairs in the two provinces of Yin and An, Duke of Taiwei, Director of the Imperial Secretariat, and Inspector of Xiangzhou.
His son Zibian, styled Sengda, rose to the rank of Palace Attendant, General Who Pacifies the East, and Inspector of Dongyongzhou. Zibian's younger brother Zhongxuan was known for his elegance and talent. Starting as an official in the court, he gradually rose to become a Record Keeper of the Grand Commandant, Gentleman of the Palace Library, and Palace Attendant, and was granted the title of General Who Guards the Frontier, along with the title of Marquis of Hongnong. During the Jianyi period, he was promoted to Palace Attendant. He was then sent to serve as General Who Pacifies the West and Prefect of Zhengping, with his title further elevated to Count. He achieved notable accomplishments in local governance, which led to his appointment as General Who Maintains the West. While returning to the capital, he was assassinated along with his brother and father. In the early years of Taichang, the court posthumously honored Zibian as Commissioner Bearing Credentials, Commander of Military Affairs in the two provinces of Yan and Heng, Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, Supervisor of the Palace Attendants, and Inspector of Hengzhou; posthumously honored Zhongxuan as Commander of Military Affairs in the two provinces of Qing and Guang, Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, Chief Minister of the Right of the Masters of Writing, and Inspector of Qingzhou.
Zhong Xuan's son Xuan grew up to be handsome and tall. At just nine years old, he was captured and grabbed the soldier who was capturing him, saying, "If you want to kill my elders, please kill me first!" The soldier sliced off his arm, yet he still insisted on dying first and was ultimately killed by the soldier. In the early Yongxi years, the court posthumously promoted him to Prefect of Ruyin. Zhong Xuan's younger brother Ce served as an official in the Zhu Yi Zhi Ge and was also killed. In the Taichang era, the court posthumously appointed him as the Commander of military forces in the two provinces of Pingying, General of the Northern Army, Minister of Personnel, and Governor of Pingzhou. Ce's younger brother Zhiqing served as the Right Minister of Personnel during the Taichang era but was later executed for a crime.
Shundi Jin, styled Luohan, originally named Yanzuo, was the name bestowed upon him by Emperor Gaozu. He had been cautious since childhood, earning praise for his calm demeanor. At the age of eleven, he was appointed as an attendant in the palace. At that time, Emperor Gaozu was still a child, while Empress Wenming held power. Shundi Jin often served alongside the Empress, and one time he suddenly coughed violently, his voice hoarse, and spat out several liters of blood, quickly hiding the blood in his sleeve. The Empress heard the sound, searched around but found nothing, and asked him what was wrong. He honestly explained the situation. The Empress appreciated his caution even more and rewarded him with a hundred rolls of silk. Later, he was promoted to Langzhong in the Imperial Seal.
Shun Dijin rarely interacted with the outside world because of his important position in the palace, and rarely interacted with his own relatives and friends. He had known Situ Fengdan since he was young, but as Fengdan's power grew, Shun Dijin always deliberately avoided him; when Fengdan invited him, he often made excuses about being sick to avoid going. This angered Fengdan, and Shun Dijin grew even more distant from him. A trusted advisor urged him, "Lord Situ was your friend when you were young; you should interact with him more, seek his help. Why do you instead distance yourself from him?" Shun Dijin replied, "If I am valued by those in power, how can I live peacefully in the future? As long as I can protect myself, that's enough."
Later, he was promoted to General Zhenwei, overseeing memorial submissions. He then served as Head of the Imperial Bedchamber, and was subsequently promoted to Colonel of the Imperial Guards. When Emperor Gaozu went on a southern expedition, he appointed Shun Dijin as Chief Historian of the Southern Expedition Office, and in Xuanhu, he was additionally appointed as General of the Direct Pavilion. He followed the emperor across the Huai River during his campaign, and at that time Situ Fengdan passed away. Emperor Gaozu tasked Shun Dijin with escorting the coffin back to the capital. He was then promoted to Colonel of Changshui while continuing his service in the Direct Pavilion. During the Jingming period, Emperor Shizong went to Beimang for leisure, and Shun Dijin was accompanying him at the time. The Grand Marshal, Prince Xianyang Xi, conspired in a rebellion, and Emperor Shizong hurried back to Hualin Palace. At that time, some members of the Direct Pavilion were implicated in Prince Xi's rebellion and were on the wanted list. After Prince Xi's rebellion was suppressed, the emperor addressed his courtiers, "Half of those in the Direct Pavilion were traitors. If they were not extremely loyal, how could they not have participated in this rebellion?" So the emperor promoted Shun Dijin to Left General of the Household. He was later promoted to General of the Valiant Cavalry, continuing his service in the Direct Pavilion.
He was appointed as the General of the Conquered and the Governor of Qizhou. After taking office, he personally handled every detail and worked very diligently. One day, a commoner from Qizhou, carrying three pieces of silk, was robbed by bandits ten miles outside the city. At that moment, a messenger was riding quickly towards him, and the robbed man informed him of the situation. The messenger arrived at the prefectural office and reported the situation to the governor. The governor immediately issued an order: “There is an individual dressed in a specific color and riding a horse of a particular color, who was robbed ten miles east of the city, but I don't know his name. If anyone knows his family, please hurry to check.” At that moment, an elderly woman emerged, weeping, and said her son had been robbed. The governor promptly dispatched cavalry to chase after the robbers, and they not only rescued the person but also recovered the three pieces of silk. From then on, everyone in the entire prefecture respected and obeyed him. If any of the officials under him were found to be corrupt or accepting bribes, he never punished them publicly; instead, he wrote them private letters, sternly reprimanding them. As a result, his subordinates were deeply moved and were deterred from breaking the law. Later, following the death of his mother, he resigned from his position. Towards the end of the Yanchang era, he was once again appointed as the Right General and Governor of Huazhou. He and his brother Wei Bo both served as governors of Huazhou in turn, and people at that time envied the two brothers. Previously, when the court collected silk, the measuring tools consistently measured longer than the standard size. Due to various reasons, everyone shifted blame onto each other, causing considerable suffering for the common people. After taking office, he ordered that the items submitted be measured according to the standard size. For those items of good quality, he rewarded them with food and drink, then let them go; for those items of poor quality, he accepted them but did not provide any food, thus humiliating them. Consequently, everyone worked hard to improve quality, and the items submitted were better than before. Later, he was appointed as the General of the Northern Middle Army and concurrently served as the Governor of Hanoi.
The empress dowager suspected him of being disloyal and didn't want him in important local government positions, so she assigned him as the General of Pingbei and Governor of Sizhou, while keeping his military rank the same. Finally, he was summoned to be the Right Guard General.
During the Xiaochang era, Gao Jin was appointed as the Cavalier Attendant, and shortly after, he went to Dingzhou to conduct official business. As a result, several nearby states and counties started a rebellion, and it seemed like they were about to reach the capital city. The court quickly promoted him to General of Anbei, Acting General of Fubing, Grand Commander of the Northern Road, and Right Guard General. He was later reassigned as Left Guard General and was also given the title of General of Fubing.
When he first received the order, Gao Jin stationed his troops in Lingqiu. At this time, the rebel leader Xianyu Xiuli rebelled in Boling, and Dingzhou was on the verge of being attacked. Gao Jin had no choice but to lead his troops south to rescue the city. Upon arriving at the city, before the camp could be set up, Dingzhou's army had just faced a defeat, and their morale was low. Seeing this situation, with the enemy forces strong and our soldiers weary and fatigued, and the camp not yet built, there was no way to face them directly. If the enemy launched a night attack, it could be dangerous. He wanted to move the army into the city and come up with a new plan. However, Dingzhou's Governor, Yuan Gu, warned that the enemy was already at the city walls, and we couldn't show weakness and absolutely couldn't open the gates to let the army in. Gao Jin grew anxious and drew his sword, intending to break down the gate, and the army was finally able to get inside the city. Sure enough, the enemy attacked at night, but seeing the deserted city outside the walls, they retreated in disappointment.
Later, the bandit forces attacked the eastern side of Dingzhou City and had already breached the outer city walls. The governor promptly closed the east gate of the inner city, which caused panic among the citizens, leaving no one willing to venture out to fight. Gao Jin wanted to lead his troops into battle, but the chief secretary, Xu, blocked the city gate and refused to let it open. Gao Jin drew his sword and attempted to strike Xu, but missed. Xu, terrified, fled. Gao Jin then opened the city gate, rushed out to fight the bandits, and in that battle, he killed an enemy general and hundreds of soldiers. The bandits were defeated, and the people of the city finally felt a sense of relief. The court issued a decree appointing him as the Minister of Guard while retaining his previous position, and at the same time appointed his brother Gao Chun as the left guard general. Shortly thereafter, Gao Jin was promoted to General of the Garrison and Commander-in-Chief of the Bandit Suppression, and concurrently held the positions of Minister of Personnel and Chief of the Northern Office.
It is said that originally, Gao Jin's brother, Gao Chun, had offended the people of Dingzhou due to a complaint lodged by Zhao Lue, a resident of Julu. By the time Gao Jin arrived in Dingzhou, Zhao Lue's family had already fled. Gao Jin ordered that Zhao Lue be appeased and invited him to return to his home. As a result, the people throughout the prefecture came to respect and praise him.
Once upon a time, the bandit chief Xue Xiuli and his lieutenant Du Luozhou led their men to burn, kill, and plunder everywhere, causing chaos in the city. Our isolated city was caught between the two bands of robbers, in a perilous situation. General Yang Jin, on the other hand, stayed composed, quickly gathered food and firewood, repaired weapons, reinforced the city walls, and prepared for battle. Every time the bandits attacked, he employed various clever tactics against them. What’s even more impressive is that he dug a tunnel just ten paces from the city wall, all the way down to the water table, and hid his troops inside. When the enemy attacked, they suddenly burst out of the tunnel, catching them completely off guard. He also had his men set up furnaces to melt iron, pouring hot molten iron on the enemy, which was downright fearsome! The bandits would whisper among themselves, "We fear General Yang's molten iron; it's as terrifying as the stars in the sky!"
General Yang Jin continued to communicate with the bandit leader Yuan Hongye, as well as several other leaders in the bandit army such as Wei Linggen, Cheng Shagui, and Pan Faxian, by writing letters, reasoning with them, appealing to their emotions, providing iron vouchers, promising them titles, and requesting their assistance in eliminating another bandit leader, Mao Puxian. Yuan Hongye and the others were touched by General Yang Jin's sincerity and replied, "We are currently discussing how to get rid of Mao Puxian; you can expect some good news from us! Also, the main reason these bandits are besieging our city is to capture the northerners. Most of the northerners in the city are troublemakers; you must eliminate them all, or they will become allies of the enemy! Please consider this carefully!" General Yang Jin believed that even though the northerners in the city were troublemakers, they controlled important resources in the city, and he couldn't bring himself to kill them all at once, so he decided to confine them to the inner city and bolster security. The soldiers were deeply moved, believing that General Yang was compassionate and kind-hearted. Initially, the court provided Yang Jin with twenty iron vouchers to distribute among the surrendered bandit leaders. General Yang Jin discreetly handed the iron vouchers to them, and as a result, Xue Xiuli and Mao Puxian later met their demise.
Later, Du Luozhou came to besiege the state city again, and General Yang Jin fought to the death, defending the city. When the court learned of this, they promoted him to Guard General, granted him the title of county marquis, provided him with a fief of one thousand households, allowed him to decide how to reward those meritorious soldiers, and exempted the local populace from taxes for eight years. Ge Rong, this guy, sent messengers to persuade Yang Jin to surrender. When General Yang Jin heard this, he was enraged and killed Ge Rong's messenger on the spot to show his determination. From the beginning of the siege, General Yang Jin persisted for three years, and the court failed to send reinforcements. In desperation, General Yang Jin had to secretly send his eldest son through the encirclement to seek assistance from Ana Gui, the leader of the Rouran tribe, to send troops to attack the bandits. Yang Jin's son cried day and night, and Ana Gui promised to send his nephew Tu Doufa to lead ten thousand elite soldiers southward. The vanguard had reached Guangchang, but the bandits established defenses at the mountain pass. The Rouran army hesitated and ultimately withdrew.
Li Yi, the chief historian from Tianjin, actually led the bandits into the city! The bandits rushed in, and Tianjin fought valiantly but was outnumbered and ultimately captured. General Zhou of Luozhou stripped Tianjin of his clothes and imprisoned him in the dungeon. After a few days, the bandits even contemplated cooking him! Fortunately, the other bandits stopped them, so he was not killed. Tianjin had met Li Yi before, and in the dungeon, he sternly rebuked the bandit leader, bringing tears to the eyes of those present. Li Yi was ashamed. The guards told General Zhou of Luozhou about this, but he chose not to hold Li Yi accountable. Later, Ge Rong defeated General Zhou of Luozhou, and Tianjin was captured by Ge Rong. It was only after Ge Rong was defeated that Tianjin finally returned to Luoyang.
During the Yong'an period, the court issued an edict appointing Tianjin as General and Inspector of Jingzhou, and also conferred upon him the official positions of Cavalry Attendant and Governor of the Province. However, Tianjin had been injured while fighting bandits in Zhongshan before, and he stubbornly refused to accept the appointment at the palace gates. Two years later, the court appointed him concurrently as the Minister of Personnel, promoted him to General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Left Grandee of the Palace, continuing to have him in charge of the Ministry of Personnel. Later, when Yuan Hao's troops approached Luoyang, Emperor Zhuang intended to lead the troops himself, so he appointed Tianjin as the Grand Commander of the Central Army, also serving concurrently as Leading General. Before they could even set out, Yuan Hao's forces had already arrived. After Yuan Hao's defeat, Tianjin remained in the palace, personally tidying up the palace, and sent his second son Yi to seal off the government treasury and arrange for guards. When the emperor returned, Tianjin greeted him at Beimang Mountain, crying and asking for forgiveness, which deeply moved the emperor, who then comforted him. Soon after, Tianjin was appointed Minister of Works and also conferred the title of Palace Attendant.
After Erzhu Rong's death, the court appointed Gao Jin as Commander-in-Chief of the nine provinces of Anding, Sizhou, Yanzhou, Hengzhou, Yunzhou, Shuozhou, Xianzhou, Fenzhou, and Weizhou, and also named him General of the Valiant Cavalry, Prefect, Grand Secretary, Governor of Anding, while he retained his positions as Palace Attendant and Minister of Works, assigning him to campaign against the Hu people and be in charge of military deployments in that area. Gao Jin quickly arrived in Ye City with just five hundred Imperial Guards, with a very weak force. He began recruiting soldiers and buying horses, preparing to advance from Fukou. However, Erzhu Zhao and his men had already captured Luoyang, and the Inspector of Xiangzhou, Li Shen, and others wanted to open the city gates and surrender to Gao Jin, but he refused. This was because his son Gao Yi was already Inspector of Guangzhou, and his nephew Gao Yu was the Eastern Grand Preceptor at that time, leading troops in Peixian, Liangzhou. Gao Jin planned to head east and revise his battle plans.
He led the light cavalry, intending to cross the Yellow River from Jizhou, but Er Zhu Zhongyuan had already occupied Dongjun, and his plan could not be realized, so he was forced to return to the capital. In the first year of the Putai era, Gao Jin was also murdered in Luoyang at the age of sixty-three. In the early years of Taichang, the court posthumously awarded him the military titles of Governor of Qinzhou, Huazhou, and Yongzhou, Grand General, Grand Preceptor, and Governor of Yongzhou, with the posthumous title of 'Xiao Mu.' Plans were made to bury him in his hometown, and the court sent the Grand Minister of Ceremonies to supervise his funeral with the emperor's orders. Gao Jin had six sons.
His eldest son, Gao Dun, styled Shancai, came from a prominent family, and several of his sons received titles of nobility at a young age, but Gao Dun was somewhat aloof and only became the chief clerk of the Western Command after he was nearly thirty. Later, he was promoted step by step to the position of Minister of Personnel Affairs. When Emperor Zhuang was on a northern inspection, Gao Dun was ordered to Shandong to comfort the troops. After the emperor's carriage entered Luoyang, Gao Dun was appointed as the Left Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. He also served as a Grand Master of Ceremonies while still holding the position of Left Minister. Towards the end of the Yong'an era, his father Gao Jin was dispatched by the court to Hebei, and Gao Dun went to Ye City as a Palace Attendant to participate in provincial affairs, soon being promoted to General of the Eastern Expedition and Grand Master of Ceremonies with a gold and purple insignia. He was also murdered in Luoyang at the age of forty-two. In the early years of Taichang, the court posthumously awarded him the titles of Grand General of Cavalry, Minister of State Affairs, and Governor of Youzhou, with the posthumous title of 'Gong Ding.'
Gao Dun's brother, Gao Yi, styled Zundao, was exceptionally talented. He initially served as a Gentleman-in-Waiting. For his service, he was granted the title of Marquis of Huayin and later promoted to the position of Attendant to the Emperor. When their father, Gao Jin, was besieged by enemies in Zhongshan, Gao Yi requested to send a mission to Er Zhu Rong, requesting that he send troops to rescue them, and the court approved his request.
In the beginning, when Emperor Zhuang was still in Heyang, Yang Yi went to see him alone. Emperor Zhuang was very impressed with him and appointed him directly as the Minister of the Yellow Gate, while also giving him the role of Director of the Imperial Library. Later on, several ministers at court stirred up a lot of trouble, which only added to Emperor Zhuang's worries. He ordered Yang Yi to stay by his side day and night, even spending several nights sleeping beside the emperor. One night, Emperor Zhuang turned to Yang Yi and said, "Recently, I've been feeling uneasy about everyone I meet. Thankfully, I have you here; it helps me feel a bit more at ease."
Not long after, Yang Yi was promoted to the position of Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Personnel, and later was appointed as the General of Pingxi and the Governor of Nanjin Prefecture, and also received the title of Attendant of the Imperial Court. At that time, he was only twenty-nine years old, which was unprecedented among state and prefecture governors. Due to the long and difficult journey, he was later reassigned as the General of Pingdong and the Governor of Guangzhou. Upon taking office, Yang Yi devoted himself to the welfare of the people, worked diligently, and often worked late into the night, often unable to sleep at night. Whenever soldiers were dispatched, he personally saw them off, never complaining of fatigue regardless of wind or rain. He enforced the law strictly, with clear rewards and punishments, and the entire state was orderly, and no one dared to violate the laws. Those years coincided with a famine, and many people starved to death. Yang Yi wanted to use the grain from the official granaries to relieve the suffering of the people, but the relevant departments feared taking responsibility and dared not release the grain. Yang Yi said, "The country is based on the people, and the people rely on food for survival. If the people cannot survive, how can the emperor be at peace? I would gladly accept any punishment for this!" So he first released the grain for relief and then reported to the court. The ministers below the Right Minister Yuan Luo believed that the national reserves should not be touched and firmly disagreed. Only the Minister of Personnel, King Yu of Linhuai, agreed to allocate twenty thousand shi of grain. The emperor ultimately approved the allocation of twenty thousand shi. After distributing the grain, Yang Yi noticed that many elderly, weak, sick, and disabled people were unable to survive, so he cooked porridge at the gate of the prefecture for charity, saving over ten thousand lives. When the emperor heard about this, he praised him greatly. Yang Yi governed with integrity, loved the people as his own children, and especially despised the powerful and tyrannical. He built a wide network of informants and conducted strict surveillance. His soldiers and officials, when sent to the counties to carry out their duties, would bring their own rations, and even if someone invited them to a meal, they resolutely refused to eat, saying, "Lord Yang has eyes like a hawk; we cannot deceive him!" His accomplishments in Guangzhou were truly remarkable.
Later, Yang Yi's family faced tragedy; Er Zhu Zhongyuan sent someone to Guangzhou to assassinate him when he was only thirty-two years old. The officials and common people in the province were heartbroken, and everywhere in the city and countryside, memorial halls were set up to honor him, with memorial activities held continuously for a month. In the early years of Taichang, the court posthumously awarded him the titles of Governor of Yuying and several military ranks, General of the Guard, Minister of Personnel, and Governor of Yuzhou, with the posthumous title of "Zhen."
His younger brother, Mi, courtesy name Zunzhi, initially served as a military officer in the Grand Commandant's office. Gradually, he rose through the ranks to become an official in the Grand Commandant's office, and due to his contributions, he was also granted the title of Marquis of Hongnong. He later became General of the Town Army, Grand Minister of Golden Purple, and General of the Guard. Unfortunately, in Jinyang, he was murdered by Er Zhu Zhao. Later, during the Taichang years, the court posthumously awarded him the title of General of the Cavalry and Governor of Yanzhou.
His brother was named Zunyan, and during the Wuding years, he rose to become Minister of Personnel and was also granted the title of Marquis of Huayin County.
Another brother, Wei, courtesy name Yanji, was known for his good character, honesty, and education. He initially served as a court official and gradually rose to the position of Cavalry Officer, General of the Directorial Pavilion, Chief Justice of the Province, concurrently General of the Military Guard, and Supervisor of Imperial Cuisine. In the early years of Xiaochang, he was promoted to General of the Right Guard and also added the titles of Cavalry Officer and General of Annan. Unfortunately, in the early years of Emperor Zhuang, he was killed in Hexin. Later, the court posthumously awarded him the titles of General of the Guard, Minister of the Three Departments, and Governor of Yongzhou.
His son Yuanrang, by the end of the Wuding years, became a junior official in the Ministry of Rites.
The Yang family has been simple and honest for generations, with brothers respecting and yielding to each other like a father to his sons. Yang Bo has a strong character, while his younger brothers Yang Chun and Yang Jin are humble and courteous, always speaking in the third person. The brothers gather every morning in the hall, sitting together all day and never entering the inner rooms. They won’t eat until all the dishes are ready. The hall is often separated by curtains, serving as a resting area where they sometimes nap and share laughter. Yang Chun, being older, once returned home drunk after a night out, and Yang Jin helped him back to his room, waiting at the door until he fell asleep safely before leaving. Both Yang Chun and Yang Jin are over sixty and hold high official positions, yet Yang Jin visits Yang Chun twice a day, morning and evening. The younger generation waits on the steps, but Yang Chun won’t let them sit, and Yang Jin doesn't dare to either. Whenever Yang Chun goes out, if he hasn't returned by sunset, Yang Jin won't eat first, waiting to eat together after Yang Chun comes back. At mealtime, Yang Jin personally hands Yang Chun the spoon and chopsticks, tasting each dish before eating only after Yang Chun gives the go-ahead. Yang Jin served as the Minister of Works (司空), and many provincial officials came with their subordinates to ask Yang Jin for help in getting promoted, but Yang Jin would always reply, "You should ask my elder brother about that; why come to me?" Previously, when Yang Jin was an official in Sizhou and Yang Chun lived in the capital, during every festival, Yang Jin would send good things to Yang Chun through someone, and if the items hadn't arrived, he wouldn't eat a bite himself. Whenever Yang Chun received gifts from Yang Jin, he would be moved to tears. Both brothers have grandsons, and only Yang Chun has a great-grandson who is fifteen or sixteen years old. Yang Chun has always wanted to marry him off early, hoping to witness his great-grandson's marriage. From Yang Yu downwards, most of the family members are well-educated, and they were the envy of many during that time. Their family has over a hundred members, all dressed in matching mourning attire, eating from the same pot, and there are no disputes at home; since the Wei dynasty, only the Lu Yuan and Yang Bo brothers have been their equals, and no other families in the world can compare.
Shilong and others wanted to frame the Yang family, falsely accusing them of plotting rebellion, and requested the court to arrest them. The former Emperor (the Deposed Emperor) did not agree, but Shilong insisted repeatedly. With no other option, the court had to issue a decree for the relevant departments to investigate. Shilong sent soldiers to surround Yang Chuan's home at night, and when daylight came, they arrested Yang Chuan in Huayin. The entire Yang family, young and old, could not escape, and their property was confiscated. Later, Shilong reported, "The Yang family truly rebelled, resisting the soldiers at night and were all killed." The former Emperor was deeply saddened by what had happened, but said nothing. He knew that Shilong was overbearing, but he could do nothing about it. During the Yongxi period, the Yang family moved his ashes back to Huayin for burial, and many people went to see, all very sad.
Let me tell you the story of my great-uncle Jun Shuzu. His grandfather Hui started as an official in the Ministry of Revenue and was later promoted to the Governor of Luozhou, where he was posthumously granted the title of Hongnong Duke, with the posthumous title Jian Gong. His father En served as the Prefect of Hejian. Jun Shuzu was quite capable, rising from the position of Zhengyi Zheng all the way to Changshui Xiaowei, Zhonglei General, and the Prefect of Luoyang. He was then sent as the Prefect of Zhongshan, and upon his return, he became the Left Chief of the Minister of Works. He later served as the Governor of Xuzhou, then the Governor of Dongjingzhou, before returning to the court as the Minister of Justice. He was later appointed as the Governor of Hengzhou, and then promoted to the General of Huai Shuo Town. Everywhere he served, he gained a reputation for his effective administration. Finally, he was promoted to the General of the Army, Supervisor of Seven Military Departments, and the Governor of Huazhou. After his death, he was posthumously awarded the titles of Commissioner-in-Chief, Cavalier Attendant, Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, Left Grandee of the Imperial Clan, and the Governor of Huazhou.
His eldest son Xuan was still a Junior Official when he died. Xuan's younger brother Mu had served as the Deputy Prefect of Huazhou. Mu's younger brother Jian rose to the position of General Ningyuan and Governor of Dunqiu. During the Jianyi period, he was appointed as the Minor Minister of the Grand Treasury. Not long after, he became the Central Administrator of Huazhou and was also promoted to the rank of Left General. Jian had known Yuan Hao before, and after Yuan Hao attacked Luoyang, Jian accepted his appointment. Later, when Emperor Zhuang returned to the palace, Jian was dismissed from his position because of this incident. He was then appointed as the General and the Governor of Yingzhou, and soon after, he was further granted the title of Regular Attendant and General of Pingnan, but he ultimately never assumed the position of Governor of Yingzhou. During the Putai period, he was appointed as the General of the Southern Expedition and Grand Minister of Golden Purple and Guanglu. In the Yongxi period, he was appointed as the Grand General and concurrently the Governor of Beiyongzhou, but he ended up getting trapped in the Guansi region.
Jian's younger brother Kuan started as a Deputy of the Imperial Clan, and during the Jianyi period, he became a Regular Attendant of the Central Secretariat, concurrently serving as the Deputy of Henan. He gradually rose through the ranks to become a Regular Attendant, General of Andong. In the second year of Yong'an, he was appointed as the General of the Central Military and Minister of the Grand Treasury. He then became a Regular Attendant, General of the Cavalry, Right Grand Minister of Guanglu, and Duke of Chengcheng County. During the Taichang period, he was appointed as the Deputy Yellow Gate Attendant, and soon after, he was further granted the title of General of the Cavalry and was appointed as the Chief Justice of Huazhou, responsible for overseeing the internal records. Later, he was dismissed from office due to misconduct. In the third year of Yongxi, he also concurrently served as the General of the Imperial Guard and later served as a Gentleman of the Yellow Gate. He later followed Emperor Shi to Guansi. Both Jian and Kuan were irresponsible and reckless, acting inappropriately and were looked down upon by others.
The historian said, the Yang brothers are known for their loyalty, integrity, humility, and prudence, serving in prominent roles both at court and in the provinces. They are highly respected and have brought glory to several dynasties; they are truly renowned throughout the realm. They are humble and sincere, their words and actions come from the heart, respectful and cautious, serving as paragons of virtue in their behavior. They truly embody the family style of the Han Dynasty and the family rules of the Chen family. Their sons are all outstanding; the family is brimming with talent, and this is truly a testament to their accumulated good deeds!
Later, the barbarians rebelled, seized power, and acted cruelly and with abandon, inflicting brutal punishment on the Yang family, resulting in the tragic downfall of the family. This retribution came too quickly; how could the principle of cause and effect be so inverted?! "The principle of retribution—why does it seem so contradictory?!"
