Wei Shuyu, styled Xiaokuan, was from Duling in Chang'an and was known by the courtesy name "Xiaokuan" from a young age. The Wei family was a prominent family in the Sanfu area. His grandfather, Wei Zhishan, had served as the governor of Fengyi and Fufeng counties in the state of Wei. His father, Wei Xu, had been the governor of Wuwei. During the Jianyi period of the Northern Wei Dynasty, Wei Xu became the Right Chancellor of the Grand Council and was also granted the titles of General Who Defends the Nation and Chief Justice of Yongzhou. In the second year of Yong'an, he was promoted to General of the Right and Governor of Nanbin Prefecture. At that time, the Di people conducted frequent raids in the area, and Wei Xu skillfully implemented a policy of appeasement, leading many Di people to submit to him. Later, Wei Xu died in office, and the court posthumously awarded him the titles of Minister of Works and Governor of Jizhou, with the posthumous name "Wenhui."
Wei Shuyu was composed, intelligent, upright, and kind-hearted, with extensive knowledge of classical literature and history. In his youth, when Xiao Baoyin rebelled in the Guanzhong region, Wei Shuyu went to the court requesting to be sent to the front lines. The court recognized his abilities and immediately appointed him as a commanding officer. Later, he followed General Changsun Chengye on a western expedition, and he distinguished himself in every battle. Subsequently, he was appointed as a Doctor of the Imperial Academy while concurrently serving as the governor of Huashan Prefecture. Later, when Yang Kan became the Grand Commander and was stationed at Tongguan, he invited Wei Shuyu to serve as his military advisor. Yang Kan greatly admired Wei Shuyu's talents and married his daughter to him. During the Yong'an period, Wei Shuyu was appointed as General of Xuanwei and an official in the Imperial Secretariat, and soon after, he was granted the noble title of Baron of Shanbei County. During the Putai period, he served as a commander following the governor of Jingzhou, Yuan Zigong, to defend Xiangcheng, and in recognition of his military achievements, he was appointed as the governor of Xiyang Prefecture. At that time, Dugu Xin was the governor of Xinye County, and both he and Wei Shuyu were in Jingzhou; they shared a close friendship, and their political accomplishments were highly regarded, earning them praise from the officials and common people of Jingzhou as "the Linked Pearls." In the early reign of Emperor Xiaowu, Wei Shuyu was appointed as a commander to defend the city walls.
Emperor Wen set out from Yuanzhou to Yongzhou, taking Xiao Kuan along with the army. After capturing Tongguan, he immediately appointed him as the Governor of Hongnong Commandery. He participated in capturing Dou Tai alive and also served as the Left Chancellor, responsible for military matters in Yiyang. He, along with Dugu Xin, moved into Luoyang to defend the city. After that, he welcomed the rebel forces from Yingzhou, along with Yu Wen Gui and Yi Feng, defeating Eastern Wei generals Ren Xiang and Yao Xiong in Yingchuan. Xiao Kuan continued to advance, capturing Pinglekou, taking Yuzhou, and capturing the Governor of Yuzhou, Feng Yong. He then participated in the Battle of Heqiao. At that time, the situation of the army was unfavorable, and the border was in a state of panic, so he appointed Xiao Kuan as the acting governor of Yiyang. Shortly after, he was promoted to the Governor of Nanyanzhou. That year, the Eastern Wei generals Duan Chen and Yao Jie occupied Yiyang and sent their Governor of Yangzhou, Niu Daoheng, to incite the border residents to rebel. Xiao Kuan was deeply concerned about this, so he sent spies to find a letter that Niu Daoheng had written to someone else, and then had a skilled scribe forge a letter purportedly from Niu Daoheng to Xiao Kuan, stating his desire to surrender. He even made the letter look as though it had been scorched. He then had the spies deliver this letter to Duan Chen's camp. After receiving the letter, Duan Chen indeed became suspicious of Niu Daoheng, and none of the strategic plans proposed by Niu Daoheng were adopted. Xiao Kuan realized they had become estranged, so he seized the opportunity to send troops for a surprise attack, capturing Niu Daoheng, Duan Chen, and others alive, finally stabilizing the regions of Xiaoshan and Mianchi.
In the fifth year of the Datong era, Xiao Kuan was titled Marquis. In the eighth year, he was appointed Governor of Jinzhou, and soon after was reassigned to Yubi to guard it, while also managing affairs in Nanfan Province. Previously, the mountain tribes often raided due to their advantageous terrain, but Xiao Kuan exerted his authority to deter them, and the province quickly stabilized. He was later appointed to the position of Grand General.
Twelve years ago, Emperor Shenwu (Gao Zhan) of the Qi Empire led all the troops from the Shandong region, determined to invade the territory of Western Wei. He set his sights on the strategically important location of Yubi and first ordered an attack there. The army camped for dozens of miles, all the way to the city gates. They then began to pile up earthen mounds south of the city, intending to use them to breach the city walls. Originally, there were two tall watchtowers to the south of the city, which General Xiaokuan, the city's defender, had reinforced to make them even taller and sturdier, filling them with various weapons and equipment for defense.
Emperor Shenwu of Qi sent people to call out to the city, "Even if you build the towers up to the sky, I can still dig tunnels to break through your city walls!" So, he began to dig tunnels south of the city. At the same time, he also piled up earthen mounds to the north of the city, operating various siege engines around the clock. General Xiaokuan dug a deep moat and blocked the Qi forces' tunnels, ordering soldiers to guard the moat. Whenever the Qi forces dug tunnels near the moat, the defenders immediately rushed up to capture or kill them. Outside the moat, he also placed a lot of firewood. Once enemies were found hiding in the tunnels, they would throw firewood into the tunnels and used bellows to fan the flames inside. With the fire raging, all the enemies hiding in the tunnels were scorched.
Outside the city, the Qi army built siege engines, which battered down the city walls wherever they struck. Even the wooden shields on the walls were no match for them. General Xiaokuan crafted many fabric drapes, hanging them where the enemy's siege engines attacked. The cloth curtains hanging in the air unexpectedly thwarted the siege engines from inflicting damage. The Qi army outside the city tied pine branches and hemp ropes to long poles, doused them in oil, and lit them, intending to burn the cloth curtains and, incidentally, the watchtowers. General Xiaokuan then fashioned long iron hooks with razor-sharp blades. When the enemy's fire poles came, he used the iron hooks to cut the pine branches and hemp ropes from a distance, causing them to plummet.
The Qi army dug twenty-one tunnels around the city walls, which were divided into four routes, and set up wooden beams inside. After finishing, they poured oil on the beams and set them on fire. Once the beams burned through, the city walls would also collapse. General Wei Xiaokuan quickly erected wooden barriers at the collapsed areas to block the enemy, but the enemy still couldn’t break in. Outside the city, the Qi army exhausted various means of attack, all of which were countered by General Wei Xiaokuan one by one.
Gao Huan found himself out of options, so he sent someone named Zu Xiaozheng to persuade them to surrender, saying, "We haven't received reinforcements yet, so why don't you surrender?" Wei Xiaokuan retorted, "Our city is strong, and we have plenty of supplies. They are exhausting themselves attacking the city while we are easily defending it. How can we say we need to rely on reinforcements in ten days or half a month? What I’m more worried about is whether you guys will turn against us! I, Wei Xiaokuan, am a proud man from Guanshi, and I will never be a surrendering general!"
Not long after, Zu Xiaozheng began to sow doubt among the people inside the city: "City Lord Wei may have been bought off by Gao Huan's riches and glory, but why should you soldiers follow him into the fire?" He then posted notices in the city, offering a bounty: "Whoever can kill Wei Xiaokuan and force him to surrender will be appointed as Grand Commander, made a marquis of the founding state, and rewarded with ten thousand acres of land and ten thousand bolts of silk!" Upon seeing this, Wei Xiaokuan immediately wrote on the back of the notice and shot it out: "Whoever can kill Gao Huan will receive this reward!" Wei Xiaokuan's son, Wei Qian, had previously been captured by Gao Huan and later brought to the city below. Gao Huan even threatened him with a knife, saying he would kill him if his father did not surrender. Wei Xiaokuan remained unfazed; instead, he became even more passionate, raising everyone's morale, and everyone felt it was worth dying for him.
Gao Huan fought bitterly under the city of Yubi for sixty days, with casualties totaling around 140,000 to 150,000 from injuries and deaths. He himself was exhausted and fell ill. That night, he slipped away in secret. He later died as a result of this incident. Emperor Wen of Wei greatly admired Wei Xiaokuan's contributions and sent the Grand Secretary of the Palace, Chang Sun Shaoyuan, and the Left Minister, Wang Yue, to Yubi to comfort him. He also promoted him, granting him the title of Grand General of Cavalry, and appointed him as the Governor of Yongzhou.
In the second year of Emperor Fei's reign, Wei Xiaokuan became the Governor of Yongzhou. Previously, there were earthen mounds placed every li along the road, which were often washed away by rain and needed constant repair. After taking office, Wei Xiaokuan ordered locust trees to be planted in those areas instead of mounds. This eliminated the need for constant repairs and provided travelers with shade to rest. When Emperor Wen of Zhou learned of this, he was amazed and asked how it was done. He then said, "Why is Yongzhou the only one doing this? This should be learned by the whole country!" He then ordered all provinces to plant a tree every li along the roads, three trees every ten li, and five trees every hundred li.
In the first year of Emperor Gong's reign, Wei Xiaokuan, as the Grand General, together with Duke Yan, attacked Jiangling and won, thus being appointed as the Duke of Rang. Upon returning from the battle, he was appointed as the Right Minister and was granted the surname Yuwen. Three years later, when Emperor Zhou Wen went on a northern inspection tour, Wei Xiaokuan was ordered to guard Yubi. After Emperor Zhou Xiaomin ascended the throne, Wei Xiaokuan was appointed as the Minister of the Minor Ministry of Education. During the reign of Emperor Zhou Ming, he was appointed as a scholar in the Hall of麟趾, responsible for collating classics.
Initially, because Xiao Kuan had made significant achievements at Yubi, the court established Xunzhou there and appointed him as the governor of Xunzhou. Later, the Qi state sent envoys to Yubi, wanting to trade with us. Duke Jin, referring to Xiao Kuan, found it odd that the two countries had been at a standstill for so long without any communication, and suddenly came to seek trade, which likely had ulterior motives. Additionally, both the Empress Dowager and the Empress had died while in Qi, and seizing the opportunity presented by their request for peace, perhaps they could bring back their remains. Therefore, he dispatched Minister Yin Gongzheng to Yubi to strategize with Xiao Kuan.
Xiao Kuan erected a large tent in the outskirts for Yin Gongzheng to receive the Qi envoys and subtly hinted during the conversation about the royal relatives to the east. After hearing this, the Qi envoys' demeanor improved significantly. Around the same time, the Hu tribes from Fenzhou launched raids on the eastern region's populace, and Xiao Kuan rescued these individuals, and even penned a letter detailing the court's desire to foster friendly relations with neighboring states. Then, he formally returned the remains of the Empress Dowager and the Empress.
Xiao Kuan was skilled at winning the people's favor and managing the army, and he earned the loyalty of the people. The spies he sent to the Qi state were all dedicated and trustworthy. Some Qi individuals even accepted bribes from Xiao Kuan and discreetly sent him letters conveying intelligence. Therefore, the court was able to learn about any movements in Qi in advance. There was once a commander named Xu Pen, whom Xiao Kuan trusted greatly and assigned to guard a garrison. However, Xu Pen ended up defecting with the eastern guards from the city. Furious, Xiao Kuan sent someone to capture him and quickly had his head severed and sent back. His ability to handle affairs is evident.
To the north of Fenzhou and south of Lishi, there are all the Hu people who often rob the common folk and block the river. Xiaokuan was very worried about this. However, that area was already part of the State of Qi, so there was no way to directly send troops to deal with them. He wanted to build a large city at a critical location. Therefore, he gathered 100,000 laborers and 100 soldiers from the west of the river and sent the official Yao Yue to supervise the construction. Yao Yue was quite frightened, believing the force was too small to get the job done. Xiaokuan said, "This city can be built in just ten days. It is more than 400 miles from Jinzhou; if we start work on the first day, the enemy won't even know until the second day; even if Jinzhou sends troops, it'll take them two days to gather; by the time they come up with a plan, it'll take them another three days; factoring in their travel time, they won’t arrive in less than two days. Our city walls will be completed in time." So he ordered the construction to begin. The Qi forces indeed showed up south of the city, thinking there were a lot of troops lying in wait, so they stopped and dared not advance. That night, Xiaokuan ordered fires to be lit in the villages south of the Fen River, near Jieshan and Jishan. The people of Qi thought it was a military camp and pulled back to defend. The city walls were finally completed, just as Xiaokuan had predicted.
Four years later, Wei Xiaokuan was bestowed the title of Zhuguo. At that time, Duke Jin, Yuwen Hu, was leading troops on an eastern campaign. Wei Xiaokuan sent his Chief of Staff, Xin Daoxian, to persuade Yuwen Hu, saying that this battle would be difficult to win, but Yuwen Hu did not listen. As a result, the army indeed encountered serious setbacks; Kongcheng was lost, and Yiyang was also besieged. Wei Xiaokuan then said to the generals, "Yiyang is just a small city; losing it isn't a major concern, but both countries have fought over it for so many years, spending a tremendous amount of manpower and resources. The people of Qi are numerous and strong, and they will certainly not lack strategies. If they give up the territory east of Xiaoshan and turn to attack north of the Fen River, our borders will be in danger. We should quickly build fortifications in Huagu and Changqiu to dampen the enemy's spirit. If they get the upper hand, it will be difficult for us to deal with them later." Then, Wei Xiaokuan personally drew a map and explained the situation in detail. Yuwen Hu sent his Chief of Staff, Shiluo Xie, to ask the envoy, "Although there are many descendants of the Wei family, we can only send about a hundred people to defend the city north of the Fen River. Who should we send?" In the end, this issue was left unresolved. In the fifth year of Tianhe, Wei Xiaokuan was granted the title of Duke of Yunguo, and his fief was expanded to ten thousand households.
This year, the state of Qi actually lifted the siege on Yiyang and turned its attention to attacking north of the Fen River, beginning to build defensive walls and fortifications. The Prime Minister of Qi, Hulv Mingyue, came to the east bank of the Fen River and requested to meet Wei Xiaokuan. Hulv Mingyue said, "Although Yiyang is a small city, we have fought for it for a long time. Now that we have taken Yiyang, we hope you won't take offense at our request for compensation in the north of the Fen River." Wei Xiaokuan replied, "Yiyang is their strategic location, and the north of the Fen River is a place we've already given up. Why should we offer compensation for a place we've already given up? Furthermore, as a minister assisting the young ruler, you should devote yourself to balancing the forces of Yin and Yang and pacifying the people. Why resort to war, fostering hatred and disaster? Both Cangzhou and Yingzhou have suffered from floods, with nothing growing for miles around. Do you really want to see a battlefield filled with corpses between the Fen and Jin Rivers? Just for the sake of grabbing some insignificant land, causing people to be displaced, I really think you should not do this."
Wei Xiaokuan's military advisor Qu Yan was skilled in divination. He told Wei Xiaokuan, "Next year, there will definitely be a large-scale slaughter in the Eastern Wei court." Wei Xiaokuan then had Qu Yan write a verse: "A hundred sheng, an ancient measuring unit, rise to the sky; the bright moon shines over Chang'an." He also said, "High mountains don't crumble on their own, and oak trees don't just stand tall by themselves." He then sent this verse to the city of Ye. Emperor Gaozu Xiaozheng saw it and refined it, which ultimately led to Hulv Mingyue's death due to this verse.
After the Jiande period, Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou was determined to eliminate Northern Qi. Wei Xiaokuan presented three strategies in a memorial, with the first strategy outlined as:
I stayed at the border for several years and identified some opportunities, but success is hard to come by without the right timing. Therefore, in the past few years, leading troops into battle has squandered resources and funds, and I have achieved no accomplishments, all because of missed opportunities. Why do I say this? South of the Huai River used to be fertile land, and with the remnants of its power, the Chen State could easily pacify it. The Qi State sent troops for many years to provide assistance, but they all failed, and the nation was plagued by disunity and drained of its strength. As the "Records of the Grand Historian" state: "When the enemy has weaknesses, one must not miss the opportunity." Now, if the army departs from Zhi Pass, marching in orderly formation to launch a joint attack with the Chen State; simultaneously dispatching the volunteer army from Guangzhou to San Ya; enlisting elite troops from the southern mountains to march down the river; and sending the Beishan Ji Hu to block their routes between Bingzhou and Jinzhou. All these troops must also recruit elite generals from the Guanzhong and Hedong regions, offering them generous titles and rewards to lead the charge. When the army advances, it will be like mountains moving, rivers altering their course, thunder crashing, and lightning flashing, with hundreds of thousands of troops attacking simultaneously, bearing down on the enemy's stronghold. The enemy will undoubtedly see our banners and scatter in fear; wherever we go, the enemy will be crushed. Now is the time to completely pacify the rebellion. The second plan is:
If the court is considering long-term plans and is not currently planning a large-scale attack, then it should work with the State of Chen to contain the enemy's forces. North of Sanya, south of Wanchun, we should vigorously develop farmland and stockpile supplies ahead of time. We need to recruit local elite soldiers and strong generals to form an army. With enemies to the southeast and infighting among themselves, we can launch surprise attacks to breach their borders. If they send troops to help, we will fortify our defenses and wait for them to move far away before launching an attack. We should consistently deploy border troops to keep their main forces in check. We won't have to incur significant military expenses, but they will be exhausted. Within one or two years, they will surely rebel on their own. Furthermore, the Qi State is both incompetent and tyrannical, with chaotic laws, rampant corruption, and the sale of offices and prisons for profit, indulging in debauchery while resenting loyal officials. The people all over the country are complaining, and it has become unbearable. From these circumstances, the downfall of the Qi State is just around the corner. At that time, we can seize the opportunity to strike swiftly, as easy as snapping a twig.
The third plan is:
Our Great Zhou territory stretches across Guanzhong and the Yellow River, boasting great strength and a bright outlook. The founding emperor was blessed by the heavens, initiated reforms and revitalization, so our great achievements over the past two hundred years have been accomplished. The southern region below the Yangtze River, the western Ba Shu region, and the border areas are all peaceful, and stability has been achieved west of the Yellow River. Only the Zhao and Wei States are still a thorn in our side, mainly because we have to deal with enemies from three directions simultaneously and have no time to deal with them. That's why the Zhao and Wei States have managed to hang on until now. When Goujian defeated Wu, it took ten years; when King Wu attacked King Zhou, it took two attempts to succeed. Now, if we continue to recuperate and bide our time, I believe we should rebuild friendly relations with our neighbors and renew alliances. This will stabilize the people's morale, boost the economy, build our strength, and prepare for the right moment. This is a long-term strategy that will ultimately let us reap the rewards with minimal effort.
After the memorial was submitted, Emperor Wu sent Prince Yuanwei of Huainan and Minister Yilou Qian to Qi to forge a marriage alliance. Subsequently, a large-scale military mobilization took place, and after two expeditions, Shandong was pacified, ultimately fulfilling Xiaokuan's strategy. Due to his old age, Xiaokuan requested retirement multiple times. The Emperor refused because the country was not yet fully pacified. At this point, Xiaokuan pretended to be ill and requested retirement again. The Emperor said, "I have already expressed my thoughts to you in person before; why do you need to request again?"
Five years later, the Emperor led an expedition to the east and passed through Yubi. He visited the defensive fortifications and was very impressed, staying for a long time before leaving. Xiaokuan, believing he was familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of Qi, requested to be the vanguard. The Emperor believed that Yubi was a strategic location that could only be defended by Xiaokuan, so he did not agree. When Prince Zhao led troops to attack the Ji Hu, forming an encirclement with the main force, the Emperor ordered Xiaokuan to be the commander of the expedition, stationed in Huagu, to coordinate with each other. Xiaokuan captured four cities. Emperor Wu pacified Jinzhou and then allowed Xiaokuan to return to his original station.
When the Emperor returned in triumph, he passed by Yubi again. The Emperor lightly remarked to Xiaokuan, "People say that the elderly are wise and good at military planning. But I only worked alongside young people, and we pacified the rebellion in one go. What do you think?" Xiaokuan replied, "Now that I am old, I only have sincerity. But when I was young, I also worked for the court and pacified the Guanzhong region." The Emperor laughed and said, "You are right!" He then ordered Xiaokuan to return to the capital with him, appointing him as Grand Minister of Works, serving as the governor of Yanzhou, and promoting him to the rank of Senior Pillar of the State.
In the inaugural year of the Elephant Era, Gao Xiaokuan was appointed as the governor of Xuzhou and also served as the military commander overseeing fifteen towns across eleven states. He was also appointed as the Commander of the Marching Army and sent to Huainan to suppress the rebellion. He dispatched Yuwen Liang to attack Huangcheng and Liang Shiyan to attack Guangling, while he personally led the main army to attack Shouyang, successfully capturing it. Upon Gao Xiaokuan's arrival in Huainan, local regions pledged their loyalty. However, the Wumen area in Huainan featured treacherous terrain; if the Chen army opened the sluice gates, it would cut off the main transportation route. Gao Xiaokuan immediately ordered his troops to guard Wumen. As expected, the Chen army's inspector, Wu Wenyu, ordered the sluice gates opened, but it was already too late. The Chen army retreated, and the Huainan region was completely pacified.
When the army returned in triumph and reached Yuzhou, Yuwen Liang unexpectedly staged a rebellion! He secretly led a few hundred cavalrymen to attack Gao Xiaokuan's camp. Fortunately, Gao Xiaokuan's steward, Ru Kuan, quickly informed him of the situation. Gao Xiaokuan was well-prepared for this, and Yuwen Liang couldn't breach the camp and was forced to flee, ultimately being captured by Gao Xiaokuan. In recognition of his achievements in pacifying Huainan, the court bestowed an additional title upon Gao Xiaokuan, elevating one of his sons to the rank of Duke of Hua.
Later, Emperor Xuan passed away, and Gao Xiaokuan assisted Emperor Wen in his rule. At that time, Wei Chijiong was the governor of Xiangzhou, and the court ordered Gao Xiaokuan to replace him. The court also appointed the junior minister, Chilie Changyi, as the governor of Xiangzhou, first sending him to Ye City. Gao Xiaokuan then set out and, upon reaching Chaoge, Wei Chijiong sent the general Helan Gui with a letter to welcome him. Gao Xiaokuan kept Helan Gui to chat, carefully observing him, and suspected that Wei Chijiong had ulterior motives, so he pretended to be ill and walked slowly. He also sent someone to Xiangzhou to request medicine, secretly investigating the situation. When he arrived at Tangyin, he encountered Chilie Changyi fleeing in a panic. Gao Xiaokuan's nephew, Gao Yi, the Wei County governor, also abandoned the county city and fled. After understanding the situation, Gao Xiaokuan immediately turned his horse back. He ordered the destruction of all the bridges he had crossed; all the horses at the relay stations were gathered for his use. He also instructed the relay station officials to say, "The Duke of Shu (referring to Wei Chijiong) will arrive soon, prepare more food and drink to wait for him." Indeed, Wei Chijiong sent his deputy Liang Zikang to lead hundreds of cavalry to chase after Gao Xiaokuan, but the food and drink at the relay stations were quite lavish, and Liang Zikang stopped to enjoy them along the way, ultimately failing to catch up with Gao Xiaokuan.
Someone suggested that Xiaokuan take advantage of the weak defenses in Luoyang and quickly occupy Heyang, as the troops stationed there were all Xianbei from the eastern regions. If he acted first, he could avoid bigger troubles down the line. Thus, Xiaokuan stationed himself in Heyang. There were originally eight hundred Xianbei living in Heyang, whose homes were in Ye City. Seeing Gao Xiaokuan arrive with a small force, they planned to coordinate an attack from within and without. Gao Xiaokuan learned of their plan and secretly sent someone to Luoyang, pretending to go collect a reward, and after deceiving these people to Luoyang, he detained them. This ultimately thwarted the Xianbei conspiracy.
In June, the court ordered the mobilization of troops from Guanzhong, appointing Xiaokuan as the marshal to lead the army eastward. In July, the army arrived at Heyang. Xue Gongli and others besieged Huai Prefecture near the area, but Xiaokuan sent troops to defeat them. The army advanced southeast of Yongqiao City, located in Huai County. Yongqiao City was a fortress with strong defenses, already occupied by Jiong's troops. The soldiers believed the city obstructed their path and requested to attack it first. Xiaokuan said, "Although this city is small, it is difficult to attack. If we fail to capture it, it will damage our military prestige. Now, let's defeat their main force first. What does this small city really matter?" Thus, the army moved to Wuzhi and defeated Jiong's son Dun, who fled back to Ye City on horseback. The army stationed south of the Bao Shrine at the west gate of Ye City. Jiong personally went into battle and was defeated by Xiaokuan. Jiong, left with no escape, t
Xiaokuan has been on the border for many years, repeatedly defending against formidable foes. Initially, people did not understand his strategic plans; only after his strategies proved successful did everyone come to admire him. Even in the military, he paid great attention to studying history and literature. After handling government affairs, he always read books by himself. In his later years, he suffered from eye ailments and had scholars read to him. Having lost his parents at a young age, he was exceptionally filial towards his brother and sister-in-law. He never kept his salary for himself, and if there were orphans and widows among his relatives and friends, he would definitely help them. He was praised by both the court and the public. His eldest son Chen is already ten years old, and Emperor Wei wanted to marry his daughter to him. Xiaokuan declined, saying that his brother's son Shikang was older. Emperor Wei admired his approach and married his daughter to Shikang. Xiaokuan had six sons, each of whom was well-known.
Wei Xiang, styled Jingyuan, was a man of noble aspirations, unconcerned with fame and fortune. When he was young, he was appointed as an official in Yongzhou by the court, but he didn't like the job, so he pretended to be ill and resigned. Later, the court summoned him more than a dozen times, but he refused each time. Eventually, Emperor Taizu wanted to conquer the world and sought talents everywhere. Hearing that Wei Xiang was talented but reclusive, he held him in high regard, sent envoys to invite him to take office, and offered him many generous offers. Although the emperor was sincere, Wei Xiang still refused. The emperor increasingly valued him, but he remained unmoved. Wei Xiang lived in a place surrounded by mountains and water, enjoying a very comfortable life, reading and playing the piano every day, and people referred to him as "the hermit." Some who admired his noble character would bring wine to visit him, and Wei Xiang would warmly entertain them, and everyone would have a great time. After Emperor Ming ascended the throne, he held Wei Xiang in even greater esteem and composed poems for him.
"The six lines predict seclusion, with the three stars dimly shining. Yongyang is distant, and Cangzhou is never to return. The fragrance moves the autumn orchid, the wind blows the lotus leaf garment. Sitting on a stone, peering into the cave of immortals, fishing from a raft at the cliff's edge. The mountain pines stand straight a thousand feet tall, the mountain springs cascade down a hundred zhang. Simply ascend Ping Le Pavilion to gaze upon Shouyang Wei from afar. How can we, like the four recluses, come to partake in my myriad schemes?" Wei Jiao responded with a poem, expressing his willingness to occasionally visit the emperor. Emperor Ming was very happy and ordered that Wei Jiao be sent a dou of Hedong fine wine every day, and he was also titled as "Duke of Idleness." At that time, Duke Jin Hu was in power, busy constructing a mansion. He once invited Wei Jiao to his mansion to ask him about some political matters. Wei Jiao looked up at Duke Jin Hu's luxurious mansion, sighed slowly, and said, "Indulging in fine wine while residing in such a grand house, those who possess such things—who among them has not ultimately faced decline?" Duke Jin Hu was very unhappy, but the wise men all agreed that Wei Jiao was speaking the truth. Later, the envoy from the Chen Kingdom, Shangshu Zhou Hongzheng, came to pay his respects. He had long heard of Wei Jiao's great name and was eager to meet him. The court agreed. Zhou Hongzheng visited Wei Jiao, and they spent the day in lively conversation and laughter. Zhou Hongzheng regretted not having met Wei Jiao earlier. Later, Zhou Hongzheng invited Wei Jiao to the inn as a guest, but Wei Jiao did not go. Zhou Hongzheng even composed a poem for him: "The virtue star has not yet moved, will the true vehicle come?" This shows just how respected Wei Jiao was at that time!
Emperor Wu of Han once had dinner and drinks with Yang Xiu one night, bestowing upon him many pieces of silk and even having several guards help carry them out. Yang Xiu only took one piece, indicating that a single token of gratitude was sufficient. Emperor Wu held him in even higher regard as a result. Later, Yang Xiaokuan became the governor of Yanzhou, and Yang Xiu went to Yanzhou to see him. When he was about to leave, Yang Xiaokuan gave him his good horse and saddle as gifts. Yang Xiu felt that the saddle and bridle were too luxurious and had no desire for them, so he smiled and said to Yang Xiaokuan, "Ancient people do not discard old hairpins and shoes, as it is considered embarrassing to go out and return with them. Although I am not as good as the ancients, I do not subscribe to the notion of discarding the old in favor of the new." So he rode back on his original horse.
Emperor Wu of Han, due to the differing philosophies of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, commanded Yang Xiu to evaluate the merits and faults of the three teachings. Yang Xiu said that although these three sects are different, their ultimate goal is to do good, and although they may seem different in depth, there is fundamentally no hierarchy among their principles. So he wrote an essay titled "The Sequence of the Three Teachings" and presented it to the emperor. Emperor Wu was quite pleased after reading it. At that time, Emperor Xuan was still in the Eastern Palace and wrote a letter to Yang Xiu, dispatching someone on the emperor's steed to bring him, asking him for methods of self-cultivation. Yang Xiu replied, "Isn't it stated in the 'Shangshu' that frugality is the embodiment of virtue and extravagance is the root of evil? Desires should not be indulged, and ambitions should not be satisfied. These are the teachings of the sages, and I hope Your Highness will carefully consider them."
Yang Xiu's son, Yang Guan, served as the inspector of Suizhou and died from illness; Yang Xiaokuan's son, Yang Zong, died in battle in Bingzhou. Within one day, the family received two pieces of tragic news in quick succession. The family members cried and mourned for each other, deeply mournful, while Yang Xiu maintained his composure. He said to his family, "Life and death are part of existence; the ebb and flow of people is natural, so there is no reason for sorrow." Then he picked up his qin and played as he usually did.
Yang Xing had a particular fondness for fame and righteousness, was humble and skilled at guiding others. He would befriend even ordinary farmers and herdsmen if they had any commendable qualities. He formed particularly close friendships with his fellow clansman Yang Xuan and Liang Kuang from An Ding. In his youth, he had a passion for literature and history, enjoyed writing, and personally transcribed hundreds of thousands of words from various texts. In his later years, he led a tranquil life, devoting himself solely to understanding the natural order and the pursuit of truth. He destroyed all the things he had written before, resulting in many of his writings not surviving.
During the Jiande period, as he grew older, Xing preemptively instructed his sons: "In the past, scholars An and Wang wrapped their bodies in rushes and cloth bags, and the two wise men held esteemed positions that ordinary people could not match. On the day of my death, you can use old clothes for my burial; there is no need to make new ones. The coffin only needs to be able to hold the body; use a cart to transport the coffin. The grave should be four feet high and the burial pit one zhang deep. Do not concern yourselves with other trivial matters. Preparing offerings for morning and evening sacrifices is too cumbersome; while I cannot entirely suppress your emotions, please limit offerings to the first and fifteenth of each month. Only vegetarian dishes should be used; do not offer any livestock sacrifices. Do not accept offerings from relatives and friends who want to send condolences. I often worry that I may not be clear-minded at the end, so I am sharing these thoughts with you in advance. On the day I take my final breath, please do not go against my wishes."
In the second month of the first year of Xuanzheng, Xing passed away peacefully at home at the age of seventy-seven. The Emperor sent envoys to pay respects and bestowed many honors. His sons conducted his funeral in accordance with his wishes. His son was called Shikang.
Liang Shiyan, courtesy name Xiangru, was a man from the Wushi clan in Anding. He had a strong sense of chivalry from a young age, enjoyed reading military books, and also dabbled in history and classics. Emperor Wu of Zhou wanted to pacify the Eastern Xia, and upon hearing of Liang Shiyan's bravery and decisiveness, he promoted him from the county magistrate of Fufeng to the general of Jiuku Town, then further promoted him to Chief Minister, and granted him the title of Duke of Weixian. The people of Qi were very afraid of him. Later, as the governor of Xiongzhou, he followed Emperor Wu in attacking Jinzhou, was promoted to Grand General, and appointed as the governor of Jinzhou. When Emperor Wu returned to the capital, the last ruler of Qi, the Qi Houzhu, personally led troops to besiege Jinzhou, breaching the city walls and engaging in fierce hand-to-hand combat. Liang Shiyan remained calm and composed, telling his soldiers, "If we are to die today, I will go first!" The soldiers fought bravely, the battle cries echoed like thunder, each able to take on a hundred enemies. When the Qi army slightly retreated, he ordered his wife and the families of the soldiers to reinforce the city walls day and night, which were repaired in three days. When Emperor Wu's army arrived, the Qi army lifted the siege. Liang Shiyan met with Emperor Wu, tears streaming down his face as he grasped Emperor Wu's beard, causing Emperor Wu to shed tears as well. At that moment, Emperor Wu wanted to return to the capital, but Liang Shiyan dismounted to advise against it, and Emperor Wu listened to his advice. Emperor Wu held his hand and said, "Jinzhou is mine; it is the foundation of pacifying Qi; you should defend it well." After Qi was pacified, Liang Shiyan was appointed as Duke of Chengguo, rising to the position of Grand Commandant and the registrar of Yongzhou. When Emperor Xuan ascended the throne, he appointed him as the governor of Xuzhou. He fought alongside Wuman Gui, Qincheng Jiang Wumingche, and Pei Ji in Luoyang, basically pacifying the Huainan region. When Emperor Wen of Sui became prime minister, he was transferred to the governor of Bozhou. Later, when Yu Chi Jiong rebelled, he served as the marching general, joining forces with Wei Xiaokuan to suppress the rebels. He ordered his servants, including Liang Mo, to lead the vanguard, while he followed with the army, advancing with unstoppable momentum, defeating Yu Chi Jiong step by step.
After Yu Chi Jiong was subdued, he was appointed as the governor of Xiangzhou. However, due to his significant accomplishments, he was feared by the emperor, so he requested to return to the capital. After returning to the capital, he lounged at home with nothing to occupy his time, feeling resentful of his own accomplishments. He plotted a rebellion with Yu Wen Xin, Liu Fang, and others. They planned to act while the emperor was paying respects at the ancestral temple. He also intended to start a rebellion in Puzhou first, then quickly take over Hebei, seize Liyang Pass, cut off the road to Heyang, raid for cloth to craft armor, and recruit bandits as soldiers. However, his nephew Pei Tong caught wind of this and reported it to the emperor. Instead of immediately exposing him, the emperor appointed him as the governor of Jinzhou to gauge his true intentions. Shi Yan triumphantly declared to Liu Fang and the others, "Thank heaven!" He also requested that his colleague Xue Mo'er serve as his chief of staff, which the emperor agreed to.
Later, Shi Yan and the other officials attended court together, and the emperor promptly arrested Shi Yan, Yu Wen Xin, Liu Fang, and the others on the spot. During the interrogation, they refused to confess. Therefore, the emperor brought Xue Mo'er for confrontation. Xue Mo'er laid out the whole story, revealing that Shi Yan's second son had tearfully urged him to reconsider, while his third son Shu Xie had said, "To be a fierce beast, you need to stick together." Upon hearing this, Shi Yan's expression shifted dramatically, and he turned to Xue Mo'er and said, "You've killed me!" And so, Shi Yan was put to death at the age of seventy-two.
He had five sons. His eldest son, Cao, who was known as Mengde, held the titles of Kaifu and Duke of Yixiang County, but he died young. His second son, Gang, styled Yonggu, rose to the position of Grand General, Tongzheng County Duke, and Governor of Jingzhou. He was exiled to Guazhou for advising his father and escaping punishment. His third son, Shu Xie, faced repercussions due to his father's rebellion.
Liang Mo was a servant of Shi Yan, highly skilled in martial arts and exceptionally brave. Whenever Shi Yan went into battle, Liang Mo fought alongside him. During the Northern Zhou dynasty, Liang Mo rose to the rank of Kaifu official. During the Kaihuang era of Emperor Yang of Sui, he served as a military commander under Yang Su in the campaign against the Turks, eventually attaining the rank of Grand General. He later took part in suppressing the rebellion led by Yang Liang and was appointed to the position of Zhuguo official. In the fifth year of the Daye period, he accompanied Emperor Yang of Sui in the campaign against the Tuyuhun, fighting bravely in battle and sacrificing himself heroically, and was posthumously honored with the title of Guanglu Daifu.
