Su Liang, also known as Jingshun, was from Wugong. His grandfather, Su Quan, was Deputy Minister of the Central Secretariat and Governor of Yumen County in the Wei state; his father, Su You, was Governor of Taishan County. Su Liang was smart and talented from a young age, loved writing, and was skilled at drafting memorials. He first passed the xiucai examination and went to Luoyang, where he met Chang Jing from Henan. Chang Jing held him in high regard and later told others, "This guy is probably the only one from Guanzhong who can match the talented scholars of Shandong!" Xiao Baoqin, the Prince of Qi in the Wei state, recruited him as a military advisor. Later, when Xiao Baoqin established his office, he appointed Su Liang as the chief clerk. As he accompanied Xiao Baoqin on his western military campaigns, Su Liang was promoted to the position of military advisor for records. When Xiao Baoqin was promoted to Grand General, Su Liang continued to work under him. Xiao Baoqin greatly appreciated Su Liang, entrusting him with all official documents and discussions. Eventually, Su Liang became an official in Wugong County and achieved significant political success.
After Xiao Baoqin rebelled, he appointed Su Liang as Gentleman of the Yellow Gate. Su Liang was quite diplomatic in his dealings, steering clear of conflicts. When Xiao Baoqin was defeated, those who had sided with him in rebellion faced consequences, but Su Liang came out unscathed. Later, during the western campaigns against the rebel forces led by Chang Sun Zhi and Er Zhu Tianguang, Su Liang was appointed as a clerk, specifically handling paperwork. Su Liang's official rank continued to rise, reaching the ranks of General of the Town Army, Grand Minister of Rites, Gentleman of the Scattered Cavalry, and Chief Justice of Qizhou. When He Ba Yue was the Governor of Guanshi, he invited Su Liang to be the Left Chancellor, in charge of confidential affairs.
After Emperor Xiaowu moved west, he was appointed as an Assistant Minister of Personnel and was also given the titles of General of the Guards and Right Guanglu Daifu. In the second year of Datong, he was promoted to the position of Attendant of the Yellow Gate and also served as a Gentleman of the Imperial Library. Later, the son of Emperor Wen of Wei, Prince Yidu, was appointed as the Governor of Qinzhou, and the Emperor also appointed Liang as his Commander. The Emperor specifically said to Liang, "How can you, as an Attendant of the Yellow Gate, take on the role of Commander of Qinzhou? It's just because I love my son so much that I have sent him to a remote area as an inspector, so I am sending you, my trusted aide, to assist him. Don't take it the wrong way!" As he was leaving, the Emperor also gifted him a fine horse.
Seven years later, he was promoted to the position of Lang of the Yellow Gate and was also given the title of General of the Cavalry. In the eighth year, he was promoted to the position of Minister of the Interior and was appointed as the Imperial Commissioner and Acting Governor of Beihua Province, as well as being granted the title of Viscount of Linjing County, with a fief of three hundred households. He was later appointed as the Director of the Imperial Library, in charge of compiling national history. Li Liang was a gifted speaker with a great sense of humor. Emperor Taizu highly valued him, and whenever there was something to discuss, Li Liang's opinions were often right on point. He always remembered the good deeds of others, forgot their faults, and frequently promoted and recommended younger generations, always feeling he could do more. Therefore, people at that time greatly admired him. In the fourteenth year, he was promoted to the position of Secretary of State, General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Yitong Sanqi. Shortly after, he was promoted to the position of Chief Secretary of the Daxing Court and appointed as the Governor of Qizhou. Considering that he was returning to his hometown as a governor, the court made an exception, providing him with carriages, horses, and a band, allowing him to return home first to visit, and also provided him with three thousand cavalry as escorts. The procession was grand all the way, and he toured his hometown along the way, celebrating with friends for ten days before officially taking office. People at that time considered this a great honor. In the seventeenth year, the court summoned him back to the capital and appointed him as an attendant. Later, he passed away while in office, and the court posthumously reinstated him to his original position.
When Li Liang was young, he and his brother Li Chuo were quite renowned. However, Li Chuo's literary talent was not as great as Li Liang's, and in terms of political strategy and ambition, Li Liang was somewhat lacking. Therefore, later generations referred to them as the "Two Sus." Starting from the Daitong period, Li Liang was promoted almost every year, including as many as three promotions in a single year. People remarked on his exceptional talent, making his rapid promotions unsurprising. He wrote dozens of articles that were widely circulated at the time. His son was named Li Shizi, and because of Li Liang's great reputation, he started his official career as a Yellow Gate Official.
Zhan Liangdi, whose courtesy name was Jingjun, had ambition and integrity from a young age, and like his brother Zhan Liang, he was well-known in the Western Regions. In his twenties, he passed the xiucai examination and was appointed as a Fengchaoqing, later serving as a Shiyushi and eventually reaching the position of Yuanwai Sanqi Shilang. When Xiao Baoyin was campaigning westward, he appointed Zhan as the acting Director of the Tai Langzhong and trusted him greatly.
Later, when Xiao Baoyin planned to rebel, Zhan was bedridden at home. Xiao Baoyin sent Zhan's uncle, Jiang Jian of Tianshui, to persuade him: "I cannot sit idly by; I must look out for myself and stop serving the Wei state. Our lives, deaths, honors, and disgraces are intertwined; I do this to repay you." Upon hearing this, Zhan burst into tears. Jiang Jian hurriedly stopped him: "How can you act this way?" Zhan said, "Our entire family of over a hundred people is about to be executed; how can I not cry?" After crying for a while, he slowly said to Jiang Jian: "Please tell Prince Qi that when he was down and out, it was the court that provided him protection, allowing him to attain his current wealth and honor. Now, during this tumultuous time for the nation, he cannot repay the court's kindness with all his strength; how can he sei
Xiao Baoyin sent Jiang Jian again to persuade Zhan: "This is a life-saving method; we have to do this!" Zhan replied again, "To accomplish great things, one should have the support of extraordinary talents from all over the world. Now you are only scheming with those gamblers and petty thugs in Chang'an; can we really accomplish anything? I can't stand the thought of thorns taking over the royal courtyard! I hope you can let me go home and retire, so I can be buried whole and honor my ancestors." Xiao Baoyin always held him in high regard and knew he would not serve him, so he agreed to let him return to his hometown in Wugong. Later, Xiao Baoyin indeed failed.
After the emperor ascended the throne, he summoned Zhan and promoted him to Shangshu Lang. The emperor once said to him, "I heard you spoke very eloquently when you replied to Xiao Baoyin; can you tell me about it?" Zhan quickly bowed his head in gratitude and said, "I think my eloquence doesn't hold a candle to Wu Bei's, but I've always stood by my beliefs, and I think I did reasonably well. It's just that while negotiating with Xiao Baoyin, I got to the point, yet I failed to make him uphold his integrity; that's on me!" The emperor was very pleased to hear this and promoted him again, making him Sanqi Shilang. Not long after, he was promoted to Zhongshu Shilang. When Emperor Xiaowu first became emperor, Zhan returned to his hometown due to illness and eventually died there. After he passed away, the court posthumously granted him the titles of Sanqi Changshi, General of Zhenxi, and Governor of Yongzhou.
Zhan's younger brother was named Zhan Rang, courtesy name Jingshu. He was intelligent and eager to learn from a young age, with considerable insight. He initially served as a chief clerk locally and gradually rose through the ranks to become a Biejia, Governor of Wudu County, General of Zhenyuan, and Grand Minister of the Golden Purple Court. When Taizu became Chancellor, he invited him to work in his office and valued him greatly. Later, he appointed him as General of the Guard and Governor of Nanfan Prefecture. He did an excellent job in Nanfan Prefecture. He later died in office. After he passed away, the court posthumously granted him the titles of Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, Yitong Sansi, and Governor of Jingzhou.
Liu Qiu, courtesy name Zhongpan, was the elder brother of Si Huiqing. He began serious study at the age of thirteen. At that time, the sons of officials dressed flamboyantly when they went to school, but Liu Qiu was not concerned about his appearance. He studied the "Five Classics" thoroughly and grasped their main ideas, and he also extensively read various historical texts, enjoying writing. During the Xiaochang era, the governor of Yangzhou, Li Xian, recommended Liu Qiu as a scholar, and the governor of Yanzhou, Feng Jun, invited him to serve as a chief clerk in his office. Later, Fan Zihu became the Minister of Personnel, and his brother Fan Yi became the governor of Yangzhou, which allowed Liu Qiu to work in Yangzhou as a subordinate. The court also granted him the title of General of Zhenyuan, but he disliked holding office and resigned, choosing to return to Luoyang. During the time of great chaos in the world, he retreated to Yangcheng to farm, planning to live out his old age there.
In the third year of Datong, Wang Yuanji Hai, the King of Fengyi, and the military leader Dugu Xin were stationed in Luoyang. At that time, the old capital Luoyang lay desolate and in ruins, and talents were scarce; only Liu Qiu was in Yangcheng and Pei Zou in Yingchuan. Dugu Xin and his men summoned both Liu Qiu and Pei Zou to Luoyang, appointing Liu Qiu as the Langzhong of the Xingtai and Pei Zou as an official of the Dudu Mansion, with both tasked with managing documents. People at that time said—"Pei Zou in the North, Liu Qiu in the South." During this busy military period, Liu Qiu worked diligently, often toiling through the night. Wang Yuanji Hai of Fengyi once said: "With Liu Langzhong handling official business, I don’t need to check in on things anymore."
In the fourth year of the Datong era, Liu Qiu entered the court. Emperor Taizu of the Northern Wei dynasty wanted to give him an official position, but Liu Qiu declined, explaining that he needed to care for his elderly mother and requested to remain by her side. Taizu agreed. It was a long time before Liu Qiu took up the position of Langzhong under Dugu Xin. Dugu Xin, who was appointed Inspector of Qinzhou, took Liu Qiu on as his deputy. Although Liu Qiu held a significant position, he did not engage in the official affairs of the office; instead, he simply discussed matters with Dugu Xin. Later, Dugu Xin asked Liu Qiu to meet Taizu, who subsequently appointed Liu Qiu as a secretary in the Prime Minister's office. Due to Liu Qiu's contributions at court, he was granted the title of Lord of Meiyang County, with a fief of two hundred households.
Liu Qiu felt that the historians' secret recording of officials' good and bad deeds was not enough to serve as a deterrent and admonition. So he wrote a memorial to the emperor: In ancient times, kings established historians not only to record events but also to warn themselves and their ministers. When the king took action, the left historian recorded it; when the king spoke, the right historian recorded it. This is how good deeds are commended, bad deeds are condemned, and good morals are upheld. Therefore, the "Spring and Autumn Annals" recorded the resistance of Nan Shi and exposed the crimes of Cui Zhu; Dong Hu's historical records revealed the faults of Zhao Dun. It can be seen that historians have been recording impartially for a long time. However, since the Han and Wei dynasties, historians have only recorded in secret, known only to later generations, which offers no benefit at the time, and certainly does not align with the idea of "praising the good and correcting the bad"!
Moreover, those who write historical records, recording events in secret, even if they can write impartially, others do not know. This not only leads to various discussions but also fosters differing opinions. Therefore, Ban Gu acquired a bad reputation for bribery, and Chen Shou had controversies over demanding grain. Multiple families wrote the histories of both the Han and Wei dynasties, and several families also chronicled the Jin dynasty. Historical records in later generations are complex and difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood.
I respectfully urge Your Majesty to follow the example of the ancient sage kings, to be diligent in governance, to open avenues for discussion, and to accept honest counsel. Please allow the historians to publicly clarify the recorded matters of the court before they are archived. This way, right and wrong can be clearly identified, and the consequences of actions can be fully revealed, encouraging those who do good to strive harder and alerting those who have erred. Though I may be simple-minded, I still take the liberty to suggest that Your Majesty consider my advice and widely solicit opinions from everyone. Liu Qiu's proposal was ultimately accepted and implemented. In the fourteenth year of his reign, he was appointed Deputy Secretary. While the Secretariat was responsible for compiling texts, it had not previously been involved in recording historical events. It was only after he took on the role of Deputy Secretary that he began to oversee and manage these matters. In the sixteenth year, he was promoted to Deputy Minister of the Central Secretariat, tasked with compiling the Annals, while still concurrently serving as Deputy Secretary. At that time, there was discussion among people about literary styles, with some arguing that ancient and modern writing styles differed. However, he believed the distinction was in the times, not in the writings themselves, and thus wrote an essay titled "On Literary Quality" to explain his perspective. This essay is quite extensive, so I won’t go into detail here. When Emperor Xiaowen of Wei ascended the throne, he was promoted to Secretary Supervisor and was also bestowed the title of General of Chariots and Cavalry, and honored with the title of minister of the three departments. He was carefree and unconcerned with trivial matters, wearing tattered clothes and eating simple meals, never changing his principles. Some criticized him for this, but he responded, "Clothes only need to cover the body, and food only needs to fill the stomach; to wear oneself out chasing after these things only leads to more troubles." In the winter of the first year of Emperor Xiaowu of Wei, he passed away at the age of fifty-four years. The court posthumously appointed him Governor of Yanzhou and conferred upon him the posthumous title of Filial. In his lifetime, he authored dozens of articles that have been preserved through the ages, and his son Hongjian succeeded him in his title.
Lu Silu was from Shouzhang County in Dongping Commandery. He had a gentle personality and was not fond of socializing. At the age of fourteen, he studied under Xu Zunming. He excelled in debate, and his classmates often said, "There's no one who can match his debating skills in discussing the 'Shangshu' and interpreting the 'Yijing'!" At nineteen, he passed the xiucai exam with outstanding results. He was then appointed as a military officer in Xiangzhou. When Ge Rong besieged Ye City, he contributed significantly to its defense and was granted the title of Baron of Pinglu County, later becoming the magistrate of Luancheng County. During the Putai era, the official Sima Ziru recommended him for the position of langzhong in the Ministry of Personnel. Soon after, due to the region's cold climate, he was reassigned and became a scholar at the Imperial Academy. He then requested a position in the Guanzhong region as a langzhong of the xingtai. He entered Guanzhong with Yao Youyu and Ru Wen, gaining the favor of He Ba Yue, the xingtai, and was responsible for confidential affairs, earning a strong reputation at the time.
After He Ba Yue was killed by Hou Mochen Yue, Zhao Gui and others discussed sending Helian Da to greet Emperor Gaozu, and Lu Silu participated in their plans. After Emperor Gaozu became the Grand Commander of Guanshi, he appointed Lu Silu as the chief historian of his court, and soon promoted him to Right Deputy of the xingtai. Because of his contributions in welcoming Emperor Wei Xiaowu back to Guanzhong, he was granted the title of Viscount of Ru Yang, with an estate of four hundred households, and was further promoted to General of Champion and appointed as a palace attendant. After Emperor Wei Wen ascended the throne, he served as an official writer, then was promoted to General of the East and Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, concurrently managing the affairs of the Seven Armies and the two departments of the palace. He participated in the capture of Dou Tai, and was thus promoted to the rank of marquis, with his estate expanding to eight hundred households. In the fourth year of the Datong era, he was sentenced to death for allegedly defaming the court.
Xue Sili is a dedicated learner with literary talent. Even though he is busy with military affairs, he is never without a book. By day, he deals with political matters, and by night, he immerses himself in reading, with servants holding candles to light up for him. He went through several liters of candle wax. After the victory at the Battle of Shayuan, the emperor asked him to write the battle report, and he completed it in no time at all. Emperor Taizu praised him for writing well and quickly. His inscriptions, elegies, memorials, and praises have endured through the ages. Seven years later, he was posthumously awarded the title of General of Chariots and Cavalry and Governor of Dingzhou. His son Xue Tang inherited the family business, and during the Northern Wei Dynasty, he achieved the rank of Grand Master of the Imperial Carriage.
At that time, Cui Teng from Boling and Dong Shao from Xincai were both well-known and held prominent official positions. Cui Teng served as the Chief Historian of the Prime Minister's Office, and Dong Shao served as the Deputy Imperial Censor. They were both executed for their criticisms of the court.
Xue Cheng, styled Jingyou, was from Fenyin, Hedong. His great-grandfather Xue Hongchang fled to Xiangyang with his family during the rebellion of Helian Bobo.
Xue Cheng's father died when he was young, and his family was poor. He supported his grandmother by farming and read books in his spare time. He went largely unnoticed by people at the time. Most of the talents recruited in the south were from prestigious families. As an outsider, Xue Cheng received little recognition. Despite this, he was talented and ambitious, never resorting to flattery of the powerful. Wei Qianduo, the Left Deputy General, said to Xue Cheng, "Your family background is not bad, and you look good. Why don't you dress neatly and go to the Ministry of Personnel to apply?" Xue Cheng replied, "The sons of prestigious families hold high positions, while talented individuals are relegated to lowly positions. This has long been lamented, and I can do nothing about it." Wei Qianduo told others, "This young man possesses great integrity, but he is simply a product of his time."
During the reign of Emperor Xiaochang, Xue Hong returned to Luoyang leaning on a cane. Prior to this, Xue Hong's ancestor Xue Zhenduo and clan ancestor Xue An had both led the regions of Xuzhou and Yanzhou to submit to Northern Wei. His cousin Xue Huaijun was very close to Xue Hong when he saw him. At that time, during the political turmoil caused by Er Zhu Rong's deposing and reinstating of emperors, Xue Hong returned to Hedong and stayed at Xue Huaijun's home. He kept to himself and spent his days reading and hand-copying books, almost transcribing two hundred volumes. Only Prefect Yuan Xi pressured him to take an official position, but he refused. Xue Huaijun would often say, "You return to your hometown without starting a career or getting married; do you still want to go back to the south?" Xue Hong, however, remained unfazed and stuck to his original way of life. During the era of Putai, he was appointed as an advisor and promoted to General Fubo.
When Gao Huan raised his army, She Di Yanzong fled to the Chen and Liang regions for safety. He said to his cousin, She Di Xiaotong, "Gao Huan has blocked the army in Lingzhou, and the chaos in the world is just beginning! The terrain in Guanzhong is perilous, and a great ruler is sure to rise there in the future!" So he took Xiaotong with him to Chang'an for some leisure time. After hearing about this, Hou Mochen Yue summoned him to serve as a court official and promoted him to General Zhenyuan and Infantry Captain. Later, after Hou Mochen Yue killed He Ba Yue, everyone was congratulating one another and offering comfort. Only She Di Yanzong remarked to those closest to him, "Hou Mochen Yue's military abilities were already poor, and now he has killed such a good general; his downfall won't be far off! He could arrest us at any moment; what is there to celebrate or be comforted by?" Those who heard this felt he was right, and concern appeared on their faces. Not long after, Gao Huan quelled Hou Mochen Yue's rebellion and summoned She Di Yanzong to serve as a military secretary.
After Emperor Xiaowu of Wei moved to the west, he promoted She Diyanzong again, appointing him as General for Pacifying the Barbarians and Master of the Palace Guards. He also granted him the title of Lord of Xiayang County, with a land grant of two hundred households. When Emperor Wen of Wei ascended the throne, he further promoted him to be the Deputy Director of the Imperial Secretariat, appointed him as General of the Eastern Frontier, increased his fief by one hundred households, and elevated his title to Count.
In the fourth year of the Datong era, the Xuanguang Hall and Qinghui Hall were just completed, and She Diyanzong composed a poem to praise them. Emperor Wen of Wei also had two unique vessels made. One was a bowl held up by two immortals placed in a dish, with a mountain on the bowl's lid that released a fragrant aroma. One immortal poured water from a golden bottle onto the mountain, causing water to cascade into the bowl, with smoke rising from the mountain. This was called the "Immortal Vessel." The other vessel had two lotus flowers in a dish, with a lotus pod hanging down into the vessel. Water poured into the flowers would flow out from the lotus pod, filling the vessel, and decorated with ducks, geese, and frogs. This was called the "Water Lotus Vessel." Both vessels were placed in front of the Qinghui Hall. The vessels were shaped like wine vessels, but were square, leveling when filled and tilting when overflowing. She Diyanzong also composed poems for these two vessels separately.
At the beginning of the Datong era, many laws and regulations were still in development. Emperor Wen of Wei had She Diyanzong, along with Lu Bian and Tan Zhu, participate in their formulation. Due to his experiences of war and displacement, he had little taste for music. Even when alone in his room, he often bore a troubled look. Later, he was executed for his offenses. His son, She Dishu, inherited his title and held positions such as Deputy Minister of Rites, General of the Standard Bearers, and Deputy Envoy to the State of Chen.
Xue Zhi, from Fenyin in Hedong, was the grandson of Xue Zunyan, who held the positions of General of Pingyuan in the State of Wei, Hedong Prefect, and Marquis of Anyi; his father Xue Yi served as a Ministry of Personnel official and Prefect of Qinghe and Guangping counties. Xue Zhi loved reading and writing from a young age. Before the age of twenty, he became a county chief clerk, county official, and gradually rose to the positions of Imperial Secretary, Left General, and Grand Master of the Court. When Emperor Xiaowu of Wei moved west, Xue Zhi was granted the title of Marquis of Heyang County, with a land grant of four hundred households and the title of Central General. In the first year of Emperor Fei of Wei, he served as an assistant in the Imperial Historiography, participated in compiling national history, and soon was promoted to Deputy Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, in charge of compiling court chronicles. Later, he was promoted to Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, Grand General of Cavalry and Chariots, and the Three Excellencies. During the campaign to conquer Jiangling led by Duke Yan, Xue Zhi was appointed as a military scribe and participated in military planning. After the capture of Jiangling, Xue Zhi was promoted to Count, with his land grant increased to nine hundred households. At that time, the court was undergoing reforms and wanted to implement the Rites of Zhou, so Xue Zhi and Duke Lu Bian studied ancient and modern systems together to formulate a plan. After the establishment of the Six Ministries, Xue Zhi was appointed as a Junior Minister of the Interior. When Emperor Xiaomin ascended the throne, Xue Zhi was further promoted to Marquis, with his land grant increased to fourteen hundred households, and his official position rose to Grand Master of Ceremonies of the Court. Lu Rou, the former Chief of the Imperial Secretariat, was well-educated and talented, but Xue Zhi was equally renowned, so they were popularly referred to as "Lu and Xue" by the people. Later, Xue Zhi was promoted to Grand General of Cavalry, Governor of the Palace, and appointed as the Inspector of Xizhou, where he died in office. The people mourned his death greatly, and the court posthumously appointed him as the Inspector of Yuzhou Province and bestowed upon him the posthumous title of "Li." He left behind more than twenty volumes of writings that have been handed down through generations, as well as his three-volume work "Records of the Western Capital," which was lauded for its thorough research and extensive knowledge.
Xue Zhi was extremely filial; even as he grew older and held many official positions, he still devoted himself to serving his parents diligently every day from morning till night without any slack. People at the time praised him for this. His son, Xue Ming, inherited his title and held the position of General of the Right and Prefect of Qingshui County during the end of the Elephant era.
Li Chang was from Dunqiu Linhuang, and his childhood nickname was Na. His grandfather, Li Biao, was quite famous during the Wei dynasty and served as the Deputy Censor-in-Chief; his father, Li You, was also talented and received praise from people at that time. Li You's brother, Li Zhi, served as the Governor of Southern Jingzhou, and Li You followed his brother to Jingzhou. When the Eer Zhu Rong rebellion broke out, he and his brother escaped to the Jiangzuo region.
This person had a particularly straightforward personality and was somewhat of a loner. He was exceptional from a young age, especially talented in writing, and became quite famous in Luoyang. At that time, when the Ming Hall was built in Luoyang, he was only in his teens and wrote an essay titled *Ming Hall Fu*. Although it had some flaws, his talent was already quite evident, and everyone said, "This child has inherited the good traditions of his family!" When he first met Emperor Taizu, the emperor particularly appreciated him, offered him generous support, and allowed him to study at the Imperial Academy. Every time Emperor Taizu met students, he would inquire about Chang's progress. Chang was quick-witted and spoke clearly, and the emperor praised him each time.
Later, Duke Sui De, Lu Tong, recommended Chang Dang for the position of Sima when selecting officials, and Emperor Taizu agreed. Although Chang was young, Lu Tong valued him greatly and listened to him in both public and private matters. He also served as a Langzhong (Junior Official), in charge of ceremonial rites. He gradually rose through the ranks, becoming a Langzhong of the Imperial Court, a Grand Central Inspector of Xiangzhou, a Libationer of the Eastern Pavilion of the Prime Minister's Office, a General of the Central Army, and a Grand Master of Ceremonies. Although he always held lower official positions, Emperor Taizu always wanted to give him important positions. So he appointed him as a scribe in the Prime Minister's Office and let him edit the national history. Later, he was promoted to a Langzhong of the Grand Council and an Attendant of the Imperial Secretary. Not long after, he was promoted to a Gentleman of the Yellow Gate (a court official), granted the title of Count of Linhuang County, with a fief of five hundred households.
Emperor Taizu once said to him, "Your ancestors served as a Supervisor in the court, and you are upright, so you should continue the family tradition. However, the position of Supervisor involves impeaching officials, so I have thought about it carefully before giving you this position. But this position has been vacant for a long time, and no one else is suitable except you." So he was appointed as a Supervisor. A year later, he was also appointed as an Imperial Commissioner, Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Equal to the Three Excellencies, and was granted the surname Yuwen. After the establishment of the Six Ministries, he was appointed as a Senior Minister of the Interior, his title was raised to Marquis, and his fief was increased by five hundred households. Later, he was promoted to a Grand Interior Minister. At the beginning of the reign of Emperor Shizong, he served as a Senior Minister of the Interior. In the first year of the Wucheng era, he served as the Recorder of the Inner and Outer Offices. In the early years of Baoding, he was promoted to Grand General of the Cavalry and Supervisor of the Imperial Household. Two years later, he was promoted to a Senior Officer of the Imperial Court.
At that time, the court wanted to select officials who were both virtuous and talented, so they selected Chang along with Anchang Gong Yuanze, Zhongdu Gong Lucheng, Linzi Gong Tang Jin, and others to serve together as advisors. Shortly afterward, his title was elevated to Duke, and his fiefdom expanded to thirteen hundred households. Five years later, he was appointed governor of Changzhou. While in Changzhou, he fell ill and requested to return to the court, which the court approved. However, before he could reach the capital, he passed away en route at the age of fifty. After his death, he was posthumously named governor of Xiangzhou and Yingzhou.
Since the reign of Emperor Taizu, Zhang Chang wielded significant power, overseeing military movements and resource allocation. He was responsible for drafting imperial edicts and official documents. Later, Duke Jin continued to trust him with governance. Zhang Chang often said, "Writing articles alone won’t leave a lasting legacy; governing the country is what truly measures up to the ancients." Therefore, he left no drafts of his writings, dedicating himself entirely to political affairs. Furthermore, throughout his life, he abstained from alcohol and music. People praised him for this during his time. His son, Zhang Dan, inherited the family legacy.
There was a man named Tan Zhu, courtesy name Fengxiang, from Gaoping. He loved reading, excelled in writing, and could play the se. He was appreciated by Prince of Langya at a young age. At the age of nineteen, he became a retainer for Emperor Xiaoming of Wei. Later, the Governor of Sizhou and Prince Yuanhui of Chengyang appointed him to a position, but he was not fond of the position. He soon resigned and traveled through the Sui region. At that time, Mao Xia was appointed as the governor of Beiyongzhou and recommended Tan Zhu for a junior position. He went to Luoyang to support Erzhu Tianguang in resisting Emperor Shengwu of Northern Qi in the east. Later, he was appointed as a military officer in Xiyanzhou, then served as a military officer in the Ministry of Works, and was promoted to General Zhenyuan, and also served as an imperial censor. Most of the memorials and documents submitted to the court were drafted by Tan Zhu. He later assisted Mao Hongbin in guarding Tongguan, was promoted to General, and appointed as Grand Master of the Palace. After Emperor Xiaowu of Wei moved to Chang'an, he was granted the title of Count of Gaotang, appointed as a Secretariat Attendant, participated in compiling national history, and was promoted to General of Zhenjun. Later, due to speaking rashly, he was accused by Xu Zhao, the Huangmen Shilang, and died in the Ministry of Justice's prison.
Yuan Wei, courtesy name Youdao, was from Luoyang in Henan and was a descendant of Emperor Zhaocheng of Wei. His great-grandfather Yuan Zhong served as Minister of the Left and was granted the title of Prince of Chengyang; his grandfather Yuan Sheng served as an imperial attendant and was granted the title of Duke of Chengyang; his father Yuan Shun followed Emperor Xiaowu of Wei to the west, later held positions as Director of the Palace Library, Governor of Yongzhou, and was granted the title of Prince of Puyang. Yuan Wei loved learning from a young age and was well-educated and cultured. He was appointed as a Cavalier Attendant at a young age for his diligent service to the emperor. For his dedication, he was granted the title of Count of Gaoyang.
In the early years of the Datong reign, he was appointed as General of Fubo, Langzhong of the Ministry of Revenue, and also served as an aide to the Crown Prince. Eleven years later, he was promoted to Prince's Son and concurrently appointed as Langzhong of the Ministry of War. Not long after, he was appointed as Deputy Right Chief of the Southeastern Circuit. In the sixteenth year, he was promoted to Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry and granted the title of Equivalent of the Three Excellencies. As a relative of the Wei clan, he was granted the title of Prince of Nan'an, with a fief of five hundred households. In the seventeenth year, he was appointed as Chief Scribe of the Youzhou Governor's Office. Later, when Yu Chijiong attacked the Shu region, Yuan Wei was appointed as Chief Scribe, responsible for drafting documents and battle reports, all of which were written by him. After the pacification of the Shu region, his fief was increased by another five hundred households due to his contributions. After the establishment of the Six Ministries system, he was appointed as Lower Grand Master of the Shifu, with his title reduced by one level according to regulations, and he was renamed the Duke of Huainan County.
After Emperor Xiaomin ascended the throne, he was appointed as Chief Scribe of the Protectorate of the Duke of Jin. In the early years of Emperor Shizong's reign, he was appointed as the Middle Grand Master of the Shifu. He was tasked with proofreading and organizing the classics and historical records at Linzidi Palace. Later, he was appointed as Chief Scribe of the Longyou General's Office, promoted to General of Cavalry and granted the title of Equivalent of the Three Excellencies. In the second year of Baoding, he was promoted to Governor of Chengzhou. Yuan Wei's political achievements were renowned for his honesty and peacefulness, and he was well-supported by the people. Many refugees resettled and thrived under his leadership, totaling about three thousand households. In the first year of Tianhe, he returned to the court and served as the Middle Grand Master of Artisans, later transferring to the Middle Grand Master of the Ministry of Rites. Six years later, he was sent abroad to serve as Governor of Suizhou, but he declined due to the age of his mother and continued his role in the Ministry of Rites. Shortly after, due to his mother's passing, he resigned from his official position. In the second year of Jiande, he returned to his role in the Ministry of Rites, later promoted to Middle Grand Master of the Ministry of Rites, concurrently serving as Middle Grand Master of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and ultimately promoted to Small Minister of Justice.
Four years later, he was sent to Northern Qi as an envoy for a courtesy visit. That autumn, Emperor Gaozu personally led an army to the east, and Yuan Wei was captured by the Northern Qi people in the process. Six years later, after the Northern Qi was defeated, Yuan Wei was finally released. Considering that he had been imprisoned for a long time, Emperor Gaozu promoted him to Shang Kaifu. In the second year of Daxiang, he was appointed as the governor of Xiangzhou and rose to the rank of General.
This person had a gentle personality, enjoyed tranquility, and was not overly concerned about making a living at home. He particularly loved studying and reading books, and even when busy with work, he never set aside his books. He was cautious and careful, never getting into conflicts with others, which earned him considerable respect from his contemporaries. When he had just come back from Ye City, Yu Xin even wrote a poem for him: "The fall of Guo and the return of the precious cauldron." This illustrates his esteemed status in literary circles. Later, he passed away due to illness.
His father, Emperor Taizu, was inherently magnanimous and kind-hearted, rarely suspicious of others. He took good care of the Yuan family relatives, arranging official positions for them so they could hold positions in the court. After his son, Emperor Xiaomin, ascended the throne, he maintained this practice. Later, Emperor Ming and Emperor Wu also followed the wishes of their ancestors. Although the Wei dynasty ultimately perished and the imperial power changed hands, the Yuan family thrived, their influence even surpassing that of several preceding generations. However, due to the passage of time, many historical records have been lost, and many events are unclear. I am now documenting the official titles and names that I know of:
General of the Column State, Grand Tutor, Grand Minister of Works, Prince of Guangling Yuan Xin;
General of the Column State, Special Advisor, Minister of Documents, Junior Teacher, Prince of Yiyang Yuan Zixiao;
Minister of Documents and Cavalry, Prince of Fengyi Yuan Jihai;
Minister of War, Prince of Chenjun Yuan Xuan;
General, Prince of Huai'an Yuan Yu;
General, Prince of Liang Yuan Jian;
General, Minister of Documents, Junior Guardian, Junior Minister of Works, Duke of Guangping Yuan Zan;
General, Counselor, Junior Minister of Works, Governor of Jingzhou, Duke of Anchang Yuan Ze;
Court Attendant, Cavalry General, Chancellor equivalent to the Three Departments, Junior Scholar, Duke Yuan of Han:
Court Attendant, Cavalry General, Chancellor equivalent to the Three Departments, Minister of Personnel, Duke Yuan Zheng of Lu County:
Court Attendant, Cavalry General, Chancellor equivalent to the Three Departments, Director of the Central Secretariat, Governor of Xun Prefecture, Duke Yuan Yan of Yidu County:
Court Attendant, Cavalry General, Chancellor equivalent to the Three Departments, Governor of Shan Prefecture, Duke Yuan Shou of Anle County:
Court Attendant, Cavalry General, Chancellor equivalent to the Three Departments, General of the Martial Guards, Governor of Suizhou, Duke Yuan Shen of Fangling County.
The historical records state: Emperor Taizu pacified the chaos and stabilized the nation, establishing the foundation of the state. He worked day and night, actively seeking talented individuals, wholeheartedly striving for the welfare of the people. He was able to engage with the common folk to find reclusive sages like Ruan Ji, and also could publicly recruit talented individuals like Sun Chu along the official paths. It can be said that no talented individual went unnoticed, and there were many noble officials at court. People like Su Liang and others were all highly knowledgeable, with their writings being outstanding, with some drafting documents at court, while others authored works that would be remembered in history. They all held high positions, each demonstrating their abilities. When compared to Chen Lin and Xu Gan, they truly stood out as formidable young talents! When it comes to Emperor Taizu's appointments of them, it was undoubtedly the best choice of the time. Wei Wendi once remarked, "Most scholars, both ancient and modern, overlook subtle moral conduct." Isn't this precisely what Lü Silie, Xue Zong, and others exemplified?
Emperor Wen of Wei's words actually mean that although some literati are talented, they might lack in character. This is akin to what we say today: some people may be very capable, but their character might not measure up. However, Emperor Taizu had a keen eye for selecting talent. He values ability and contributions to the country, so those with true talent and knowledge are often given significant roles. Take Su Liang and the others, for instance; they are all elites. Some contribute writings in the court, while others leave behind many works; they are all well-known figures. Compared to earlier renowned scholars, they are just as impressive, if not more so. Therefore, Emperor Taizu's personnel strategy was undoubtedly the best choice for that time.
