Lu Tong, courtesy name Shulun, was from Zhuo County in Fanyang and was the grandson of Lu Xuan. His father, Lu Fu, courtesy name Xianyuan, served as a deputy official in his hometown. Lu Tong was very tall, standing a full eight feet tall, and was also robust and good at dealing with people. During the Taihe era, he initially served as a Court Gentleman in the residence of the Prince of Beihai, Xiang. He gradually rose through the ranks and also served concurrently as Minister of Works and Administrator of Changli. He later served as Chief Clerk of Jizhou and concurrently as Administrator. He was then transferred to Luoyang, where he served as Deputy Intendant of Henan and was later promoted to a position in the Ministry of War.
During that time, a commoner named Bai Zaosheng revolted in Yuzhou, and the Prince of Zhongshan, Ying, along with the Imperial Secretary Xing Luan, led troops to suppress the rebellion. Lu Tong was appointed as the Chief Clerk of Jizhou. After his father passed away, he resigned from his position to observe a mourning period. Upon completing his mourning period, he was appointed as a Military Advisor in the Ministry of Works and concurrently as Commandant, in charge of construction at the Eastern Palace. During the Yanchang era, a rebellion broke out among the commoners in Qinzhou, and Lu Tong was appointed as an Imperial Attendant to pacify the rebels, successfully convincing many to surrender. Upon his return, he was promoted to Deputy Minister of the Imperial Secretariat and was granted the title of General of State Assistance, although he declined this title in deference to his father's memory and instead accepted the title of General of Dragon Cavalry.
During the Xiping era, he was further promoted to Deputy Minister of the Imperial Secretariat and was additionally appointed as General Who Subdues the Barbarians. At that time, the Inspector of Xiangzhou, Xi Kangsheng, unfairly imposed heavy taxes on the people, frequently demanding seventy or eighty feet of cloth to gain rewards and recognition, causing significant hardship among the commoners. Lu Tong, who shared quality silk from his court salary with his subordinates, exposed Xi Kangsheng's corrupt tax collection practices. After reporting this in a memorial, the court penalized Xi Kangsheng and praised Lu Tong for his integrity.
During the reign of Emperor Suzong of the Tang Dynasty, the government was somewhat corrupt, with many people falsely claiming credit for military achievements. When Lu Tong was reviewing the official records in the Ministry of Personnel, he also carefully checked and found that over three hundred individuals had falsely claimed military achievements. So Lu Tong submitted a memorial stating:
I found that many personnel files in the Ministry of Personnel have been tampered with. While reviewing the records of the Ministry of War, I also found many errors. After a brief review, I have already identified over three hundred individuals committing fraud, and those who have not been discovered yet are estimated to be in the thousands. Even if their crimes are forgiven, these records must be thoroughly organized. I suggest sending an official and a clerk, one from the Ministry of Personnel and one from the Ministry of War, to cross-check the records from both ministries. If the names and ranks match, they should be clearly written in large, legible characters on yellow paper, specifying the exact rank and quantity, and then the respective department's minister should affix their seal for confirmation. Make two copies, one for the Ministry of Personnel to keep on file, and one for the Ministry of War for future reference. This way, forgery can be prevented, and the risk of future alterations can be eliminated. In the past, the records of military achievements submitted to the court only included names without birthplaces, making it easier for those attempting to deceive to succeed. Now I suggest that each individual's birthplace be detailed, including the province, county, district, and the name of the village leader; for official officers, their positions and promotion history should also be included. Then have the military seal stamped, followed by successive submissions, with the commander and general also affixing their seals, before finally being sent to the Ministry of Works. The Ministry of Works will then pass it on to the Grand Commandant for careful verification, and after confirming its accuracy, it will be reported to the court for final review before officially reporting. On the reporting day, the yellow paper will bear a red seal and then be submitted to the Ministry of Personnel.
Recently, it's not just a matter of switching credit levels and tampering with records. Some individuals have received promotions multiple times, or claimed credit under false names, and there are quite a number of such individuals. The main reason is that the Ministry of Personnel lacks a comprehensive registration system, leading to numerous loopholes. Why do I say this? Because after the Ministry of Personnel promotes an official, there is no record in the files, which allows these individuals to exploit the loophole. Starting from now, after officials are promoted, the date of promotion must be meticulously recorded in the roster, confirmed with the seal of the Minister of Personnel, and then submitted to the department. A copy must also be made by the Langzhong, sealed with the same seal as the Minister of Personnel, kept by the Langzhong himself, and passed on step by step. This will effectively prevent fraudulent activities.
The Emperor has approved the memorial. He further submitted: Previously, I suggested using yellow silk for recording military achievements, detailing the official position, household registration, and the method by which the Ministry of Personnel verifies military achievements, a total of three points, which the Emperor has already approved. I believe that using yellow silk for recording military achievements, although it can generally prevent false reporting and counterfeiting, the issues of false reporting and deception within the army cannot be entirely eliminated. Therefore, I request that from now on, every time the military inspects the roster, the Xing Tai, military supervisors, and commanders must clearly write down and keep records everywhere. A certificate of merit should be issued for killing one or more enemies. On the certificate, the center should prominently display the official positions of the Xing Tai and the commanding officers, as well as the names of the personnel involved in the battle. For killing three enemies or sustaining significant injuries, it should also be detailed on the certificate. Each entry should be written on a separate line and torn vertically after completion. Both sides of the certificate must include the year and date, stating where the battle took place, which official position earned which merit, and stamped as proof. One copy is given to the meritorious personnel, and one copy to the Xing Tai. Once the records reach the capital, they should be submitted to the Ministry of War, and an additional copy must be carefully preserved.
Since the capital relocation, the army has repeatedly achieved victories, resulting in an increasing number of military achievements that need to be recorded. Some accomplishments have not been documented in time, mainly because over time, deceit can easily arise, and the longer the time passes, the easier it is to fabricate. Those cunning officials exploit the loopholes, and the issue of falsification is becoming increasingly serious. Therefore, I request that from now on, all military merit records that have already been reported and rewarded should be widely disseminated across different regions, stating the results of military merit judgments in certain areas, to ensure everyone is informed. A fixed reward system should be established, limited to three years. The positions and backgrounds of those who have contributed should be arranged within this timeframe; actual positions and honorary titles should be awarded based on ability. This way, diligent individuals can quickly receive rewards, and those who achieve merits will work even harder, preventing delays and reducing opportunistic mindsets. If difficulties arise, or if there is no supervisor for assessments in the state, this does not apply to such cases.
Additionally, regarding the system of military merit records, they should be reported on the day the troops return. Recently, the acting court and supervising generals have only submitted reports upon reaching the capital, with some even taking one or two years to report military merit records. The root of false reporting and impersonation lies here. From now on, military merit records must be reported on the day the troops return, and delays of more than a month are not allowed.
The emperor has approved and ordered its implementation.
After Yuan Yi deposed Empress Ling, the governor of Xiangzhou and King of Zhongshan, Xi, raised an army in Ye City to rebel. Consequently, Xi was defeated. Since I held the positions of envoy and concurrently served as the Deputy Minister of the Yellow Gate and the Comforting Envoy alongside Xi, I went to Xiangzhou to carry out his punishment. Upon my return, I was appointed General of the East, Minister of the Yellow Gate, and Deputy General of the Ming Hall. Not long after, I was promoted to General of the Pacification Army and Grand Master of the Palace, and I also served as the Chief of the original province. I had a good rapport with Yuan Yi and had earned his trust. When executing Xi, I thoroughly investigated his accomplices in hopes of pleasing Yuan Yi, which drew some criticism from others. Yuan Yi assigned me twenty Imperial Guards for my protection. My elder brother, Xiu, was always boastful in his youth, often saying, "Becoming a noble is possible." It was only then that he was appointed Water Commissioner. I asked Yuan Yi to promote him by two ranks, and my brother Xiu was then appointed as the governor of Anzhou. Everyone praised me for this matter.
In Yingzhou, the common people revolted alongside De Xing, and I was appointed Minister of Finance, while still retaining my previous position as Deputy Minister of the Yellow Gate. I was also sent to Yingzhou to provide support and was authorized to act with discretion. I sent several people, but they were all killed by the rebels. With no other options, I released the families of thirty rebels and their household servants, granting them their freedom. Then I sent someone with my letter to persuade De Xing to surrender, which he eventually did. After calming the local populace, I made my return. However, De Xing revolted again, and the emperor ordered me to return to my original position as general and serve as the governor of Youzhou, while also concurrently holding the position of Minister of State to offer comfort to him. I deemed De Xing unreliable, so I led my troops there, but ultimately suffered a great defeat and returned in disgrace.
After Empress Ling regained power, Li Shuren was dismissed from his position due to disagreements with his faction. In the third year of the Xiaochang reign, he was appointed as the Left General and Grand Master of the Palace, and concurrently held the position of Left Chancellor. Later, he held the positions of Governor of Qizhou and Yanzhou and was the Grand Commander of the military. After Emperor Zhuang ascended the throne, the emperor decreed the restoration of his original position, appointing him as the Minister of the Imperial Court while also managing the Ministry of War. In recognition of his earlier contributions in Dexing, he was granted the title of Duke of Zhangwu County, with a fief consisting of four hundred households. While he was Minister of War, he was soon promoted to the Minister of the Imperial Court and was further granted the title of General Who Conquers the South. During the Putai era, he was appointed as the Chamberlain, and his official rank was elevated to General of the Cavalry and Grand Master of the Left. At that time, he was plagued by a long illness but still managed to fulfill his official duties, requesting the emperor to permit him to take on the role of Minister of Ceremonies. In his early years, when he served alongside the former emperor in the palace, the two had a good understanding and relationship. The former emperor, remembering their past friendship, agreed to allow him to serve as Minister of Ceremonies while keeping his other official positions unchanged. In the early years of the Yongxi era, Li Shuren passed away at the age of fifty-six. The court posthumously granted him the titles of Chamberlain, Military Governor of Jizhou, Cangzhou, and Yingzhou, General of the Cavalry, Duke of the State, and Governor of Jizhou, retaining his title as Duke of the Founding, and bestowed upon him four hundred bolts of silk, with the posthumous title of Xiaomu. Three years later, the court further posthumously awarded him the position of Right Minister of the Secretariat. He left behind four sons. His eldest son, Li Fei, was an official in the office of the General during the Wuxing era. Li Fei's brother, Li Jun, served as the Administrator of Qingzhou. Another son of Li Shuren, Li Jing, was the Deputy Minister of Rites. Li Jing's son, Li Jingyu, is mentioned in the "Rulin Zhuan."
Zhang Lie, courtesy name Huixian, was from Wucheng in Qinghe East. His grandfather named him Lie, using his given name as his courtesy name. His great-grandfather Zhang Xi was the Right Deputy Director of the Ministry of Personnel under Murong Jun. His grandfather Zhang Xun was a Cavalry Officer who followed Murong De southward, so he lived in Linzi, Qi County. Zhang Lie lost both his parents at a young age and lived in poverty, but he extensively read the classics and histories, demonstrating great ambition. At that time, there were also Cui Huibo and Fang Huishu in Qingzhou, who had good reputations like Zhang Lie, and they were collectively referred to as the "Three Huis." During his grandfather Zhang Xi's reign, Zhang Lie entered the officialdom and served as an Imperial Censor and a Minister in charge of the Imperial Clan. Later, he moved to Luoyang and held positions as a Gentleman of the Yellow Gate in the Ministry of Rites, a Historiographer for Prince Pengcheng, and a Colonel of Infantry for the Crown Prince. Xiao Baojuan sent Chen Xianda to lead troops to Hannan with the intention of invading. At that time, Wang Qingshi, the Prefect of Shunyang, was a hereditary official from Jiangnan. The Governor of Jingzhou and Prince Guangyang believed he was somewhat problematic, so they petitioned to have him replaced. The emperor then asked the ministers to recommend capable individuals they knew, and they all made suggestions. The emperor said, "This county is definitely a place of military importance now. We must find a capable talent. How can we recommend someone casually? Zhang Lie of the Crown Prince's residence, whenever discussing national affairs, he always provides insightful input. I want to use him, what do you think?" Prince Pengcheng also thought Zhang Lie was good, so the emperor ordered Zhang Lie to be appointed as General of Lingjiang and Prefect of Shunyang. Zhang Lie was besieged by Cui Huijing, a subordinate of Xiao Baojuan, just two days after taking office, where he was besieged for over seventy days. Zhang Lie boosted morale and gained immense popularity among the soldiers. Coincidentally, at this time, the emperor personally led a southern expedition, and Cui Huijing fled. The emperor personally commended Zhang Lie, saying, "You are indeed capable, and you have truly lived up to my expectations!"
Zhang Lie thanked him, saying, "If it weren't for Your Majesty personally leading the troops south, I would have been trapped and left to die here by the enemy. So, it is Your Majesty who has not failed me, rather than me being able to not let down Your Majesty." The emperor greatly appreciated his response. During the reign of Emperor Shizong, he posthumously honored his father's previous merits, granting his father the title of founding noble of Qinghe County, with an estate comprising two hundred households. Shortly after, his father returned home to care for his elderly mother. Over the course of more than ten years, there were frequent famines. His father would cook porridge to feed the hungry, earning him the villagers' praise.
When Emperor Suzong first took office, his father was appointed as General Longxiang and Right Minister of History. Later, he was promoted to General Zhenglu and Minister of Works. Before this, Yuan Cha's father, King Jiangyang, had served as the Governor of Qingzhou. Once Yuan Cha came to power, his father cultivated favor through their relationship, and the two became very close. As a result, his father was appointed as General Qian and Palace Attendant, and soon after promoted to General Pingnan and Grand Minister of Guanglu. Later, when Empress Ling resumed power, she believed that his father was an ally of Yuan Cha, so she transferred him to the positions of General Zhendong and Governor of Qingzhou. At that time, some people were concerned that his father's wealth and numerous servants could cause resentment, making him unsuitable for an appointment in his home province, so he was reassigned to General Anbei and Governor of Yingzhou. He governed Yingzhou with integrity, ensuring the people lived in peace and contentment. After his term ended, he returned to the capital, resigned from his position, and went home to enjoy his retirement. His brothers lived together in harmony, getting along famously, which made their relatives envious. In the first year of Yuanxiang, his father passed away at home at the age of seventy-seven. During his lifetime, his father authored a work called "Family Admonitions," in which he detailed his aspirations, character, and the official positions he had held. Before his death, he instructed his children and nephews not to request the court to confer titles posthumously, but to merely have the "Family Admonitions" inscribed on a stone tablet. His son Zhi completely followed his father's last wishes.
His son, Zhi, is very knowledgeable and talented. He became an official in the court as soon as he reached adulthood, successively holding the positions of Court Attendant, Junior Minister, General of the Dragon's Might, and Admonition Officer. However, he did not inherit his father's title. During the Xihe era, he died at home. His younger brother, Deng, served as the chief clerk of a province. His father's brother, Seng Hao, whose courtesy name was Shanke, was well-read and skilled in debate, gaining considerable fame at the time. During the Xiping era, the court summoned him to be a Counselor; in the fifth year of the Zhengguang era, he was again summoned to be a Doctor of the Imperial Academy; in the second year of the Xiaochang era, he was summoned to be a Cavalry Attendant; but he declined all these positions. He was commonly known as "Zheng Jun." He had a particular passion for managing businesses and worked tirelessly, accumulating immense wealth, along with many other assets. His brothers lived simply, traveling in worn-out carriages and horses, and dressed in plain clothing, while the maidservants and concubines at home were dressed in fine silk and satin. Seng Hao especially liked playing chess and did not choose his opponents, which sparked much discussion. During the reign of the former Emperor Fei, Cui Zuochi raised an army to attack Dongyang City, and Seng Hao was also involved. After the plot was uncovered, he was executed in prison, and his family property was confiscated. Only after Emperor Du came to power was his family able to reclaim their property. His son, Gui, served as the chief clerk of a province.
The historian described Lu Tong as a man of great character, very honest, able to adapt, and capable of handling various matters. Zhang Lie, on the other hand, was renowned in his youth for his integrity and was recognized for it. Both were known for their subtlety in action, ultimately achieving success and fame. They followed the right path, upright and clear, but is there something amiss here?
The latter half of this sentence, "there may be issues," suggests that the historian is questioning whether there were any unknown problems in their rise to success, or if there were any shortcomings. He did not state it outright but left it for readers to contemplate. After all, behind success and fame often lie untold hardships and a sense of helplessness, and even some means that are difficult for us to accept.
