Ren Jun, courtesy name Boda, was from Zhongmou, Henan. During the turmoil at the end of the Han Dynasty, people in the Guandong region were gripped by fear. The county magistrate of Zhongmou, Yang Yuan, was both anxious and afraid, considering abandoning his post and fleeing. Ren Jun counseled him, saying, "Dong Zhuo has rebelled, and people all over the country are angry, but no one dares to be the first to stand up and resist. It's not that they lack the will, but the timing is not right. If you dare to take the lead, there will definitely be many people who will support you." Yang Yuan asked, "What should I do then?" Ren Jun said, "Currently, there are more than ten counties in Guandong, with a total of no less than ten thousand soldiers. If you temporarily serve as the Acting Intendant of Henan and command them, you will definitely succeed." Yang Yuan accepted his advice and appointed Ren Jun as the chief clerk. Ren Jun then submitted a memorial on behalf of Yang Yuan, requesting to act as the Acting Intendant of Henan, to strengthen defenses across the counties and subsequently raised troops.
Later, when Cao Cao mobilized his forces and entered Zhongmou, everyone was at a loss. Only Ren Jun and his fellow townsman Zhang Fen discussed and ultimately decided to submit the entire county to Cao Cao. Ren Jun also gathered hundreds of relatives, guests, and household servants willing to follow Cao Cao. Cao Cao was highly pleased and appointed Ren Jun as the Cavalry Commandant, even marrying his own cousin to him, demonstrating immense trust in him. Every time Cao Cao went on a campaign, Ren Jun stayed behind to manage logistics. At that time, food supplies were scarce. Cao Cao appointed Ren Jun as the Colonel of Agriculture, recruiting locals for land cultivation in Xuchang, yielding a harvest of a million bushels of grain. Each county established agricultural agencies, and within a few years, substantial grain reserves were amassed across the region, and the granaries were overflowing.
During the Battle of Guandu, Cao Cao appointed Ren Jun to be in charge of managing military equipment and transporting provisions. The enemy forces repeatedly attacked and plundered the supply routes, so Cao Cao dispatched a thousand chariots to form a unit, divided into ten groups to take turns transporting provisions, and set up camps along the way for protection, preventing the enemy from approaching. The country's prosperity was initiated by Zao Zhi and ultimately realized by Ren Jun. Due to Ren Jun's significant contributions, Cao Cao granted him the title of Marquis of Duting, along with a fief of three hundred households, and promoted him to Colonel of the Waters. Ren Jun was generous and methodical in his actions, and whenever he had suggestions, Cao Cao would adopt them. During famines, he provided aid to friends, orphans, widows, and impoverished relatives, timely helping them through difficult times and earning a good reputation for his integrity. In the ninth year of Jian'an, Ren Jun passed away, which led Cao Cao to mourn deeply. His son Ren Xian inherited his title. After Ren Xian's death without a son, the title was revoked. When Emperor Wen posthumously honored the meritorious officials, Ren Jun was posthumously titled Marquis Cheng, and his second son Ren Lan was appointed Marquis of Guannei. Su Ze, styled Wenshi, was a military man from Fufeng. He was renowned from a young age for his knowledge and high moral character, recommended for his filial piety and talent, and invited to serve as an official, but he declined. He initially served as the Administrator of Jiuquan and was later transferred to Anding and Wudu, earning a good reputation wherever he went. During Emperor Gaozu's (Liu Bang) campaign against Zhang Lu, when passing through his county, Emperor Gaozu was pleased to see Su Ze and requested him to guide the way. After Zhang Lu was defeated, Su Ze pacified the Di people in the Anding and Xia regions, opened up the Hexi Corridor, and was then appointed as the Administrator of Jincheng. At that time, after the turmoil of war, the population had sharply declined, and the people were displaced, impoverished, and starving, and Su Ze meticulously comforted them.
He also actively pacified the Qiang and Hu people, obtaining their cattle and sheep to provide for the impoverished elderly. He shared food with the people, and within a month, the refugees all returned, totaling several thousand households. He then clearly established bans, with death as the penalty for violators and substantial rewards for those who complied. He personally taught the people farming, which led to a growing number of people pledging their allegiance to him. Li Yue rebelled in Longxi, and Su Ze led the Qiang and Hu people to surround Li Yue, who immediately surrendered. After the death of Emperor Gaozu, Qu Yan from Xiping rebelled, declaring himself the Protector of the Qiang. Su Ze led troops to suppress him, and Qu Yan, fearing for his life, surrendered.
Due to Su Ze's achievements, Emperor Wen promoted him to the position of Protector of the Qiang and bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Guannei.
Later, the rebellion spread to nearby counties, with Zhangye Prefect Du Tong being taken control of by Zhang Jin, and Jiuquan Prefect Xin Ji was sidelined by Huang Hua. Zhang Jin and Huang Hua both declared themselves prefects and joined the rebellion. At the same time, three different Hu tribes in Wuwei were looting together and cutting off the roads. Wuwei Prefect Guanqiu Xing urgently requested military reinforcements from Xiahou Ze. At that time, the powerful figures of Yongzhou and Liangzhou were inciting rebellion alongside the Qiang and Hu people, thinking that Zhang Jin was on a roll. Generals Hao Zhao and Wei Ping were stationed in Jincheng and received orders not to move westward.
Xiahou Ze then gathered the county officials, including Hao Zhao and the leaders of the Qiang tribe, to discuss: "Although the rebel army is strong, they are newly formed, and some may have been coerced and not united. We can take this opportunity to attack them; the good and the bad will surely separate. Once they split, they'll surrender to us; we'll grow stronger while they weaken. In this way, not only will we bolster our numbers, but our morale will soar as well. If we lead our forces against them, we’re sure to defeat them. If we wait for the main army to arrive, the good will have nowhere to turn and will surely join forces with the bad. When the good and the bad come together, it will be difficult to separate them again. Even though there are imperial orders, we can defy them and take charge ourselves; it’s doable."
So Hao Zhao and the others agreed to Xiahou Ze's plan, and they deployed troops to aid Wuwei, defeating the three types of barbarian tribes, and then attacking Zhang Jin of Zhangye with Guanqiu Xing. When Liang Xing heard this news, he brought three thousand troops to meet Xiahou Ze, claiming to be an ally but actually planning to stir up trouble. Xiahou Ze lured him into a meeting, then killed him, displayed his severed head, and his subordinates all scattered and fled. Xiahou Ze then led various armies to surround Zhangye and breach its defenses, killed Zhang Jin and his accomplices, and the rest laid down their arms. Liang Xing's forces were routed; Huang Hua, fearing for his life, released the captured Xing Ji and surrendered, finally bringing peace to the Hexi region. Xiahou Ze returned to Jincheng. Later, Xiahou Ze was granted the title of Marquis of Duting, with a fief consisting of three hundred households.
Su Ze was appointed as a courtier, working in the same department as Dong Zhao. When Dong Zhao slept, he always would rest his head on Su Ze's knees. Su Ze would push him off and say, "My knees are not for sycophants to use as pillows!" At first, upon hearing that Wei had replaced the Han Dynasty, Su Ze and the Marquis of Linzi, Cao Zhi, both donned mourning clothes and wept. When Emperor Wen of Wei heard that Cao Zhi had cried, but he did not hear that Su Ze had cried. One time, while Emperor Wen was in Luoyang, he casually asked, "I abdicated the throne in accordance with heaven's will, but I heard someone crying. What's going on?" Su Ze thought Emperor Wen was asking him, so he immediately bristled and was about to argue. The courtier Fu Xun quickly restrained Su Ze and whispered, "Don't say anything!" Su Ze then fell silent.
Emperor Wen asked Su Ze again, "In the past, after conquering the Jiuquan and the Zhangye, envoys from the various countries of the Western Regions came to pay tribute. Dunhuang even presented thumb-sized pearls. Can this continue? Can we get even more?" Su Ze replied, "If Your Majesty can spread education and virtue throughout the country, and grace and blessings reach the deserts, then these things will naturally come without seeking. Even if they are sought after, there's no reason to be proud of them." Emperor Wen fell silent. Later, Su Ze followed Emperor Wen on a hunting trip. Accidentally breaking a branch and failing to catch a deer, Emperor Wen became furious. He sat on a Hu-style bed, drew his sword, and arrested all the officials, planning to execute them. Su Ze knelt down and apologized, saying, "I have heard that ancient sage kings did not kill people for failing to catch something while hunting. Your Majesty is currently ushering in a golden age like Yao and Shun, but so many officials are being killed just because a deer was not caught. I believe this is wrong. I would rather die than let this go unpunished!" Emperor Wen said, "You are an honest official!" He then pardoned all the arrested officials. However, because of this incident, everyone began to fear Su Ze. In the fourth year of Huangchu, Su Ze was demoted to Dongping Prefect. Before taking office, he died of illness on the way and was posthumously bestowed the title of "Lord Gang." His son, Su Yi, inherited the title. After Su Yi's death without a son, his brother Su Yu succeeded him in the title. Su Yu became a minister during the Xianxi period.
Du Ji, courtesy name Bohou, was a native of Duling in Jingzhao. He lost his father when he was young, and his stepmother was harsh towards him, but he became well-known for his filial piety. At the age of twenty, he became the county magistrate of Zhengxian. The county held several hundred prisoners, and Du Ji personally went to the prison to carefully examine the prisoners' crimes, their severity, and urgency, handling each case individually and ultimately releasing them all. Although not every decision was necessarily correct, the locals were amazed by his courage at such a young age. He was later recommended as a filial and upright official and became the magistrate of Hanzhong Prefecture. During the period of chaos, he resigned and went to Jingzhou, returning only during the Jian'an era. Xun Yu recommended him to Cao Cao, who appointed Du Ji as the Minister of Works and Justice, later promoting him to the position of Protector of the Qiang and concurrently serving as the Hedong Prefect.
After Cao Cao pacified Hebei, Gao Gan rebelled in Bingzhou. At that time, Wang Yi, the Prefect of Hedong, was summoned back to the court, and two local men named Wei Gu and Fan Xian, ostensibly pleading for Wang Yi, were actually in secret collusion with Gao Gan. Cao Cao approached Xun Yu and said, "The generals in the west, relying on their strategic locations and cavalry, are sure to cause trouble if we go to attack them. Zhang Sheng is causing trouble in the areas of Yao and Mian, secretly contacting Liu Biao, and Wei Gu and the others are taking advantage of the situation to start trouble. I'm concerned that the situation could become serious. Hedong is located among mountains and rivers, with neighbors who love to cause trouble. This is the most crucial strategic location in the realm right now! Help me find someone as capable as Xiao He or Kou Xun to defend that region." Xun Yu replied, "Du Ji would be a great fit for this." So Cao Cao immediately appointed Du Ji as the Prefect of Hedong.
Weigu and his thousands of troops have blocked the route to Shanjin. Du Ji arrived in Hedong but has not yet crossed the river. Cao Cao sent Xiahou Dun to attack them, but he has not yet arrived. Someone advised Du Ji to wait for the main forces to arrive before taking action. However, Du Ji said, "There are thirty thousand households in Hedong; not all of them wish to rebel. Now that we are at their doorstep, those who wish to surrender will be fearful and likely listen to Weigu. Weigu wields significant power now and will certainly fight to the death. If we cannot win, the neighboring regions will inevitably get involved, leading to chaos; if we win, it would result in harming the county's populace. Besides, Weigu has not openly defied the imperial order yet; on the surface, they are still feigning to plead for the former prefect's mercy and will not directly harm the new prefect. I will ride over alone, catching them off guard. Weigu is full of schemes but lacks resolve; he will definitely pretend to accept me. I will remain in the county for a month, employing strategies to delay them; that should suffice." Thus, Du Ji secretly took a detour and crossed the Yellow River at Wujin.
Fan Xian wanted to kill Du Ji to intimidate the others, to see if Du Ji would stay or leave. He killed over thirty subordinates at the gate of the mansion, but Du Ji remained unfazed. Wei Gu took one look and said, "Killing him is useless; it will only leave a bad reputation. Besides, we have already controlled him now." So they spared Du Ji's life. Du Ji said to Wei Gu and Fan Xian, "Wei Gu, Fan Xian, you are the distinguished families of Hedong. I depend on you for success. But there are clear roles between a ruler and his ministers; success and failure are shared, and important matters should be discussed together." Du Ji appointed Wei Gu as the commander, acting as the prefect and magistrate; more than three thousand soldiers were under the command of Fan Xian. Wei Gu and the others were quite pleased; although they outwardly obeyed Du Ji, they didn't see him as a real threat. Wei Gu wanted to mobilize a large number of troops, but Du Ji was worried, so he advised him, "If you want to do great things, you cannot disturb the people. Mobilizing troops on a large scale now will cause panic; it's better to gradually recruit soldiers with money." Wei Gu thought it made sense, so he took his advice and started recruiting soldiers, which took a couple of weeks to finish. The generals were money-hungry, so they recruited very few soldiers. Du Ji advised Wei Gu and the others again, "People have a sentimental attachment to their families. Generals and officials can take turns resting, and it won't be hard to call them back when needed." Wei Gu and the others were already worried about the scattered morale, so they took his advice.
In this way, the good people were all out and about secretly supporting Du Ji; the bad people dispersed and went back home, leading to a loss of morale. At this time, the White Horsemen attacked Dongyuan, Gao Gan entered Huoze, executed the county magistrates across several counties in Shangdang, captured the governor in Hongnong, and Wei Gu and others secretly mobilized troops but were slow to arrive. Du Ji knew that all counties had submitted to him, so he led dozens of cavalry out of the city to support Zhang Bi there. Many officials and common folks rushed to Du Ji, and in a short time, he had gathered more than four thousand people. Wei Gu and others attacked Du Ji with Gao Gan and Zhang Cheng, but failed to defeat him. They then attacked other counties, but came away empty-handed. Back then, the whole country was in shambles, only Hedong County restored order earliest and suffered the least losses. Du Ji served as the Prefect of Hedong, adopting a kind and lenient approach towards the people. If common people filed lawsuits or complaints, Du Ji would personally come forward, explain things to them, and send them home to think it over. If they still didn't understand, they could come back to the government office. The village elders pointed fingers at one another, saying, "We have such a good prefect, how can we not listen to him?" From then on, lawsuits became less frequent. Du Ji also ordered each county to recommend filial sons, virtuous wives, and obedient grandchildren, freeing them from forced labor, and regularly comforting and encouraging them. He gradually guided the people to raise cattle, horses, and even poultry and livestock, setting up relevant rules and guidelines. The people worked hard, and every household lived a prosperous life. Du Ji then said, "The people are prosperous, we must educate them!" So in winter, he trained the army, taught martial arts, set up schools, and personally taught the classics, influencing the entire Hedong County.
During the rebellion led by Han Sui and Ma Chao, many counties in Hongnong and Fengyi prefectures supported them. Although Hedong prefecture bordered the rebels, the people remained steadfast. When Cao Cao marched west to Puban and faced off against the rebels at the Wei River, the army depended entirely on supplies from Hedong prefecture. After the rebels were defeated, there were still over two hundred thousand hu of grain remaining in Hedong prefecture. Cao Cao remarked, "The Governor of Hedong, Du Ji, is like what Confucius said about Great Yu: 'I have no dissatisfaction with him.'" He then promoted Du Ji to the rank of a 2,000-bushel official. Later, when Cao Cao campaigned in Hanzhong, he sent five thousand men to transport provisions. These soldiers enthusiastically declared, "A person only dies once in their lifetime; we must not disappoint our Governor!" In the end, not a single person ran away, demonstrating Du Ji's popularity! After the establishment of the Wei state, Du Ji was appointed as a Minister. After things settled down, Cao Cao further commanded, "In the past, Xiao He stabilized Guanzhong, Kou Xun pacified Hebei; your achievements are as great as theirs. I originally intended to give you the position of Advisor, but considering that Hedong prefecture is the heart of our Wei state, a place of abundant national strength, enough to control the world, I will let you continue to stay in Hedong to guard." Du Ji served as the Governor of Hedong prefecture for sixteen years, establishing it as the wealthiest region in the country.
After Emperor Wen of Han ascended the throne, he promptly conferred upon Du Ji the title of Marquis of the Passes and also made him a Minister. Once Emperor Wen officially ascended the throne, he further elevated Du Ji's title to Marquis of Fengle Pavilion, bestowed upon him a fief of one hundred households, and appointed him as Prefect of the Imperial Secretariat, responsible for managing public order and judicial affairs in the capital region. Later, when the Emperor wanted to attack the state of Wu, he appointed Du Ji as Minister of the Imperial Secretariat to oversee government affairs in the capital. After the Emperor went to Xuchang, Du Ji stayed behind in the capital.
The emperor ordered him to build a royal ship, but unfortunately, it sank during a trial voyage on the Tao River, and Du Ji also died. The emperor was filled with sorrow and shed tears, issuing a decree saying, "In the past, there were those who died in the water while diligently performing their duties, and those who died on the mountain while working hard like Hou Ji. Now, Du Ji, the Minister of Works, died when the ship sank during the trial voyage in Mengjin. This is the ultimate display of loyalty! We are deeply grieved!" He then posthumously honored Du Ji as the Grand Master and conferred upon him the title of Dai Hou. His son, Du Shu, inherited the title.
Du Shu, courtesy name Wubo, served as the Supervisor of the Yellow Gate Cavalry Attendant during the reign of Emperor Xian of Han. Du Shu was honest and upright, never concealing his thoughts, and was relatively unknown in his youth. After becoming an official, he avoided forming cliques and dedicated himself to the public good. Whenever court affairs faced challenges, he always grasped the fundamental principles and spoke frankly. Therefore, officials like Xin Pi held him in high regard.
At that time, the ministers were discussing the pros and cons of certain policies, and Du Shu said, "In ancient times, provincial governors enforced the six laws of the court, upheld integrity, and had high prestige. Now, we can allow them to refrain from leading troops and focus on handling civil affairs." Not long after, General of the North Lü Zhao also assumed the position of Governor of Jizhou. Du Shu then wrote to the emperor:
Your Majesty, the most important thing in governing the country is to stabilize the people, and the key to stabilizing the people lies in a full treasury. To replenish the treasury, we must prioritize agricultural production and cut expenses. Currently, there are still two rebels to be eliminated, and war chariots are frequently mobilized, which requires brave warriors to fight. However, intellectuals blindly chase fame and fortune, praising Sunzi and Wu Qi as models, while local officials neglect strategies to appease the people and focus only on leading troops into battle. Farmers are all enlisted in the army; how can this be seen as prioritizing agricultural production? The treasury is becoming emptier each year, while the system grows increasingly complicated; the people are becoming poorer, yet taxes are increasing every year. How can this be considered saving expenses?
The Great Wei currently controls the land of ten provinces, but due to the previous wars, the population is not as large as it once was. However, there are two rebellious forces in the south, the unyielding Hu tribes in the north, and all three frontiers are facing unrest, with war spreading throughout the country. Therefore, to govern the land of ten provinces and pacify the people of ten provinces, the difficulty is akin to trying to travel a long distance on feeble horses; how can we not value the strength of our people? Even the Martial Emperor, who is frugal and maintains a full treasury, cannot station troops in all ten provinces at the same time, not to mention the twenty-plus counties! Currently, troops are stationed in the border provinces of Jingzhou, Yangzhou, Qingzhou, Xuzhou, Youzhou, Bingzhou, Yongzhou, and Liangzhou. The country can only rely on the provinces of Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Sizhou, and Jizhou to bolster the treasury and defend against external enemies.
I once oversaw the military in the provinces and counties, always thinking about fighting and not paying much attention to the people, so it is essential to appoint generals and local officials to concentrate on governing these regions. However, Your Majesty has appointed Lv Zhao as the governor of Jizhou and has given him many honors. Jizhou has the largest population, the most cultivated land, and abundant mulberry and jujube resources, making it an important area for the country to collect taxes, so he should not be burdened with military responsibilities. If the north truly requires troops, a general can be appointed to guard the region. In this way, the expenses incurred and the dual role of one individual would be equivalent. However, talent is relatively easy to find; if the court lacks talent, there will certainly be multiple individuals holding dual positions. From this, it can be inferred that the country selects individuals for positions based on their titles, rather than selecting titles based on the individuals’ talents. If official positions are assigned appropriately, political affairs will become transparent; lawsuits will decline, and with transparent governance, the people will thrive.
Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, the number of cases nationwide has risen year by year, from over a hundred annually to more than five hundred now. The population has not increased, and the laws have not become stricter. Is it not reasonable to infer that this is due to the decline in political education and the incompetence of local officials? Last year, a large number of cattle died, with about twenty percent of the nation’s cattle dying; wheat yields were poor, and autumn planting was not carried out in a timely manner. If rebels are still lurking on the border, transporting food and supplies, it would be impossible to reach them even if they were a thousand miles away. Ultimately, is this not a case where a stronger army leads to more problems? The world is like a human body; if the core is strong, even if the limbs are afflicted, there won't be major issues; Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Sizhou, and Jizhou are the core of the world. Therefore, as a humble subject, I earnestly hope that the local officials of these four provinces can focus on developing agricultural production to alleviate the pressures on the border. However, it's hard to stand firm on a lone opinion or to act against the ruler's wishes; it's difficult to accumulate grievances, and hard to distinguish truth from falsehood. Therefore, over the years, my opinions have not been adopted by a wise ruler. Most of those who speak these words are of low status; words from those of low status are often overlooked. If effective strategies must originate from the nobility, who are unwilling to risk offending anyone for the sake of loyalty and admiration, then this is a longstanding issue. At that time, His Majesty wanted to discuss and evaluate the system for examining officials on a large scale, to assess all officials, both internal and external. Shu believed this system was poorly implemented, as the evaluation criteria did not align with the actual work, nor did the work priorities reflect national interests. He wrote in his memorial:
The book says, "Examine the officials' achievements, promote or demote based on performance after three assessments." This is indeed a great imperial system! Let capable individuals hold corresponding positions, and let those who have merit receive appropriate rewards, just like Wu Huo can lift a thousand-pound heavy object, and Bo Le can select a fine horse from a thousand miles away. Although the performance assessment system was never fully established after the Six Dynasties, and the examination system during the period of the Seven Sages has not been passed down, I believe that this system can be roughly followed, but the details are difficult to fully enumerate. As the saying goes, "There may be bad people in the world, but no system is inherently flawed." If the system can fully function, then Tang, Yao, and Yu would not have needed Ji and Qi's assistance, and the Yin, Shang, and Zhou dynasties would not have needed Yi Yin and Lv Shang to assist them. Now, the system of assessing officials is based on the systems of the Zhou and Han dynasties, combined with the theories of Jing Fang, which can be said to be the essence of the assessment system. By encouraging humility and benevolence to foster a peaceful and prosperous governance, I believe this is still not perfect.
To assess scholars in the states and counties, they must pass four exams, all of which must demonstrate practical results, before they can be observed and selected to serve as officials in the court, serving the people, and then gradually promoted to county magistrates based on their merits, or directly promoted and ennobled. This is the most vital part of the assessment system. I believe officials should be allowed to fully demonstrate their abilities, express their ideas, establish detailed assessment systems for states and counties, strictly enforce the systems once established, set up reliable rewards, and enforce effective penalties. As for the nobles and ministers in the inner court, they should also be assessed based on their positions.
In ancient times, the three high officials would sit in the court to discuss national affairs. The ministers in the inner court would correct errors; no good deed would go unrecorded, and no fault would go unreported. The world is vast, and there are many things happening, which cannot possibly be fully grasped by a single wise person. Therefore, the monarch is the head of the country, and the ministers are the monarch's assistants. They form a cohesive unit, relying on one another to accomplish great things. As the ancients said, the talent that supports the country cannot be represented by a single piece of wood; the monarch's achievements cannot be accomplished by one person's strategies alone. It can be seen that no minister can simply do their job and pass assessments to usher in an era of peace and prosperity! Moreover, even among the common people, there are those who sacrifice for loyalty, confide in friends, and uphold integrity for honor. What about those high-ranking officials serving in the court? What they pursue is not just personal trust, not just the kindness of friends, and certainly not just fame!
Those ministers who receive the emperor's favor and important tasks do not just want to elevate the current emperor to a position higher than Tang Yao and Yu Shun; they also want to be remembered in history like their ancient counterparts, Jì and Qí. Therefore, the ancients were not worried that they lacked the determination to govern the country, but rather that the responsibilities they undertook were not great enough, which is largely a result of the monarch's actions. Monarchs like Tang Yao and Yu Shun delegated responsibilities to Jì, Qí, Kuí, and Lóng, expecting them to achieve success. When they made mistakes, they executed Gùn and banished the Four Evildoers. Nowadays, those ministers directly receive imperial decrees and work in the court. If someone works diligently for the public, serves fearlessly in office, upholds justice, avoids favoritism, and dares to speak frankly, then such actions will surely catch the emperor's attention.
However, if someone merely holds a position for show, fancies themselves clever for their silence, only seeks to evade accountability as an official, is solely concerned with self-preservation in the court, acting cautiously and submissively everywhere, the emperor will also take note of such behavior. If one is only trying to retain their position, hasn't committed any wrongdoing, but draws suspicion for their loyalty and diligence, their just words and actions go unacknowledged, while private gossip becomes the norm. Even if Confucius himself were to offer advice, it would be difficult to fully utilize their talents, much less ordinary individuals! Nowadays, scholars studying the Legalism of Shang Yang and Han Feizi believe that Confucianism is antiquated and cannot be applied in the world; this represents the greatest flaw in today's social climate and is a concern that entrepreneurs should approach with caution. Ultimately, the assessment system was not implemented.
Le An Lian Zhao was promoted and esteemed for his talents, and he was known for his candor. He fervently advised in his memorial: The Secretary Lang Lian Zhao reported that Left Minister Cao Fan deserved punishment for disobeying the imperial decree, but he faced no punishment and was even acquitted. Lian Zhao also stated, "Those who deserve punishment should be reported separately." The Secretary Chen Jiao also reported that he did not dare refuse punishment, nor did he feign respect due to the severity of the punishment; his words were exceedingly sincere. I privately feel a deep sense of regret for the court!
A sage can emerge in any era without changing the people's customs to govern the country well, but this requires wise and capable assistants, because the sage needs to inspire them through morality and guide them with rituals. In ancient times, those emperors who were able to help the emperor in governing the world and achieving long-term stability were able to gain the support of the people from a distance and make full use of their ministers' wisdom. If the officials serving in the court today are the most outstanding talents in the world, but cannot fully utilize their abilities, it can't be said that the emperor is skilled at choosing capable people; if the officials appointed are not the most outstanding talents in the world, it cannot be said that the emperor is good at appointing officials. Your Majesty, you are busy with countless affairs, often working late into the night, but the affairs of state are not being handled effectively, and the criminal laws are becoming increasingly lax. Is this not because your advisors are not up to the task?
The reason lies not only in the fact that we, your subjects, have not been loyal, but also because Your Majesty cannot effectively manage your officials. Baili Xi was not valued in the State of Yu, but he was very talented in the State of Qin; Yu Rang appeared to submit to the Zhongxing family, but in the end, he avenged Duke Zhao. These are all clear examples from history! I am now saying that the people in the court are not loyal, which is unfair to all; however, some issues can be inferred from these incidents. Your Majesty is worried about the empty state treasury, the ongoing wars, and even had to stop the seasonal taxes and supply of imperial clothing, reducing the food in the imperial private storehouses, all because of your noble intentions. Everyone in the court praises your wisdom, but who among the ministers involved in confidential government affairs truly cares about this?
Speaking of which, the Captain Wang Cai and the entertainer Meng Si have done a lot of bad things, causing a ruckus in the capital. Strangely, these misdeeds were initially uncovered by a low-ranking official, while the high-ranking officials and ministers remained silent. Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, who among the Justice Commandant and the Chief Censor has truly investigated and punished corrupt officials, ensuring a clean and honest court?
If Your Majesty feels that there is a lack of talent now and the court lacks capable assistants, then consider reflecting on the ancient Jì and Qì; they were wise ministers who helped govern the nation and ensure its stability! Are we really just going to sit back and wait for future talents to emerge? Those self-proclaimed wise ministers now, each holding high positions and high salaries, yet they haven't demonstrated true loyalty to Your Majesty, nor have they shown enough sincerity to the court. This is because the tasks assigned to them are too vague, and the social climate is poor; everyone is cautious and dare not to speak the truth!
I think loyal ministers aren't always those closest to Your Majesty, and those close courtiers are not necessarily loyal. Why? Because those courtiers who are not so close have no conflicting interests, so they can work wholeheartedly! The current situation is that some people envy others, spread rumors and slander, and even say it is because of personal grievances; some people flatter others, praise them desperately, and even say it is because of personal feelings. This isn't merely about speaking ill or praising others; even the gains and losses of national affairs are being influenced by these personal grudges.
Your Majesty should consider ways to make the courtiers open their hearts, work diligently, and emulate those loyal ministers of ancient times, wholeheartedly serving the country and only seeking to leave their names in history. But if people like Lián Zhāo continue to cause trouble in the court, I fear that those ministers will only look out for their own positions, and when something goes wrong, they will view it as a lesson for future generations!
Duke Zhou once warned the Duke of Lu, saying, "Do not let the ministers hold resentment for being overlooked." He did not say who was wise and who was foolish; the implication is clear: as long as they are capable individuals, they should be utilized. Emperor Yao praised Shun's achievements, saying that he eradicated the four evils, without specifying the magnitude of his accomplishments; as long as there is guilt, they should be dismissed. The current situation is that courtiers do not think they are incompetent, but they feel that Your Majesty does not appreciate them; they do not think they are not smart enough, but they believe that Your Majesty does not value their opinions. Your Majesty, why not adopt Duke Zhou's approach to employing capable individuals and learn from Emperor Yao's practice of dismissing the guilty?
Have the attendants and secretaries serve by your side regularly and follow your carriage during inspection tours, so they can report directly to you and have their suggestions considered, allowing you to have a clear understanding of the courtiers' actions. Those who are loyal and capable will be rewarded, while those who are incompetent will be eliminated. Who would dare to be negligent and not give their all? By utilizing your wisdom to personally engage with the courtiers on state affairs, enabling each minister to contribute their utmost and making them feel close to you, they will naturally think of how to repay you. In this manner, the assessment of talent depends entirely on how you choose to employ them. What cannot be achieved by governing the country in this manner? What successes cannot be realized through this method?
Every time there is a military operation, your edict always states, "Who should worry about this? I should be the one to worry!" The recent decree also said, "Those who neglect their personal matters in favor of official duties will certainly not succeed. As long as you prioritize public affairs over private matters, you can handle things well." After reading your decree, I realized that your wise considerations have deeply resonated with the hardships of the people. However, I am puzzled as well. Why do you not address the root of the problem, but only worry about trivial matters? A person's abilities are innate. Even I sense that the courtiers have not fully discharged their responsibilities. The method of employing people by a wise ruler should encourage capable individuals to contribute wholeheartedly and ensure that those lacking ability do not assume roles beyond their capacity. Choosing the wrong person doesn’t necessarily imply wrongdoing. But if the entire court tolerates unsuitable individuals, then it is strange. You know they are not doing their best, yet you take on their concerns about their duties. You know they lack ability, yet you teach them how to handle things. Isn’t this wearing you out while allowing the officials to slack off? Even with saints and sages present, this approach is ultimately ineffective for governing a country! The 'Book of Rites' states, 'In governing a country, one must first rectify their own heart.'
Your Majesty, you are once again worried that the palace regulations are not strict enough, and the stream of people seeking favors is never-ending. You are imitating Yi Yin's approach and have established a system for welcoming and sending off guests, choosing officials of questionable character to oversee the palace gates. Although this may seem to strengthen discipline on the surface, this is hardly a solution to the problem! In the past, during the reign of Emperor An of Han, the Minister of Justice Guo Gong's recommendation of his innocent nephew Dou Jia was still noted, and various accusations and memorials were flying around. Now, when the Prefect of the Masters of Writing Kong Xian recommends the arrogant and domineering brother of the Grand General, the relevant authorities have said nothing; everyone is waiting to see which way the wind blows, and only the Grand Marshal seems to matter, even more than directly handling the matter. Choosing officials without regard for their actual abilities is a significant problem in personnel matters! Dou Jia recommended his own relative, and Guo Gong was not a prominent court official, yet this happened; the current situation is even more dire than before, Your Majesty, unless you push for strict enforcement of penalties to eliminate nepotism. Yi Yin's practice of assigning officials of questionable character to guard the palace gates is not a viable governance strategy. The ministers' advice is seldom heeded; how can we root out corruption while tolerating people like Zhao?
Correcting evil is what a loyal minister should do, but people dislike those who do so because they ignore reason and only seek to flatter and please those in power. If Your Majesty does not investigate their origins and instead believes that those who oppose popular opinion and defy societal norms are doing their duty, while those who act in secret and do not seek fame and fortune are serving their country faithfully, then what talented ministers would not be able to do these things? In reality, they only heed reason and choose not to take action. If everyone in the world abandons morality and only pursues profit, what should be Your Majesty's greatest concern? Why not nip this trend in the bud from the beginning? Those who seek to curry favor by guessing Your intentions are shallow and unscrupulous; they only want to please Your Majesty, not truly govern the realm and care for the people. Why not try to change this atmosphere and set an example? Would they still cling to their ways and go against Your intentions? For a courtier, gaining Your Majesty's trust is the cornerstone of their existence; holding high office is an honor; receiving generous salaries is material security. Even foolish courtiers would not refuse to enjoy these benefits; instead, they often break taboos out of a sense of moral obligation! Your Majesty should show them compassion and extend your trust; why instead document the intrigues of individuals like Zhao, but turn a blind eye to them? There are enemies outside waiting for an opportunity, and there are poor people within the country. Your Majesty must carefully consider the nation's rise and fall, the gains and losses of political affairs, and really cannot be negligent! During his eight years at court, his speeches were consistently straightforward, always in this vein.
He was first appointed as the Grand Prefect of Hongnong, and a few years later promoted to Chancellor of the Zhao Kingdom, but he resigned again due to illness. Later, he became the Prefect of Hedong, and over a year later, he was promoted to the Commander of Huai North, but he still resigned due to illness. He served in various places, always focusing on the greater good, striving to be fair and just, and was deeply loved by the people, but his contributions went unrecognized in the capital. After some time, he was appointed as the Deputy Grand Censor. He served in the court, but due to his incompatible temperament, he was frequently reassigned. He was then sent to serve as the Inspector of Youzhou and was also named General of Establishing Might, with command authority and concurrently serving as the Protector of the Wuhuan. At that time, the General Who Conquers the North, Cheng Xi, was stationed in Jicheng, and Minister Yuan Kan and others reminded him, "Cheng Shenbo once gave away his fields and property to Qingzhou during the reign of the previous emperor. Now, both of you are holding authority and stationed in the same city; you should be cautious in dealing with him." However, he dismissed their warnings. Not long after taking office, a Xianbei nobleman named Er bypassed the border and directly led dozens of cavalry to the prefecture. The prefecture's forces killed a local guide but did not report to the court. Cheng Xi accused him of negligence, referred him to the judicial office for trial, and almost sentenced him to death. Because his father had died in service, he was spared from execution and demoted to commoner status, exiled to Zhangwu County in the first year of Jiaping. He was a straightforward man who acted on impulse, often without considering the consequences, ultimately leading to this failure.
At first, when he returned from Zhaojun, Ruan Wu from Chenliu County was also dismissed from his position as the prefect of Qinghe, and both of them lived near the Ministry of Justice. Ruan Wu said to him, "I see your talent and character. Although you can adhere to principles, it's hard to accomplish anything; your talent is sufficient for high office, but it is difficult to be valued; your knowledge is sufficient to critique both ancient and modern matters, but your aspirations are not firm. This is what people refer to as 'talented but without purpose.' Now that you have some free time, you can think carefully and write down your own insights." After arriving in Zhangwu County, he wrote eight chapters of "Tilun." He also wrote an article "On Human Nature," probably inspired by his own experiences. Four years later, he passed away in exile.
In the second year of the Ganlu era, Le Xiang in Hedong was over ninety years old, and he wrote a memorial praising his father's achievements and virtues, which touched the court deeply. Therefore, an edict was issued to appoint his son Yu as the Marquis of Fengle County, with a fief of one hundred households. His memorials, discussions, and refutations were all very valuable, and his writings on several significant current events were preserved.
Zheng Hun, styled Wengong, was from Kaifeng, Henan. His great-grandfather was named Zheng Zhong, and his grandfather was named Zheng Xing; both were famous scholars. Zheng Hun's elder brother Zheng Tai conspired with Xun You and others to kill Dong Zhuo, later became the Inspector of Yangzhou, and eventually passed away.
Zheng Hun, along with his nephew Zheng Mao, fled to Huainan to avoid the chaos of war. Yuan Shu treated them with great kindness and courtesy. However, Zheng Hun realized that Yuan Shu was destined to fail. At that time, Hua Xin was the Prefect of Yuzhang and had a good relationship with Zheng Tai, so Zheng Hun crossed the Yangtze River to seek refuge with Hua Xin.
Cao Cao learned of Zheng Hun's honesty and reliability, so he recruited him as a counselor, later promoting him to be the Magistrate of Xiaocai County, and then the Magistrate of Shaoling County. Before the unification of the realm, the common people were generally impoverished and struggling, did not value production, and could hardly afford to raise their children, leading many to abandon their children.
After Zheng Hun took office, he confiscated the fishing and hunting tools used by the common people and required them to switch to planting mulberry trees and grains. He also cultivated rice fields and strictly prohibited the abandonment of infants. At first, the locals were afraid of punishment, but as time went on, life gradually got better. Everyone began to raise children, and many children used the character "Zheng" as part of their names.
Later, Zheng Hun was appointed as an advisor in the Chancellor's Office and was promoted to Left Fengyi. It is said that at that time, a group led by Liang Xing turned into bandits, amassing over five thousand followers, robbing everywhere. Counties were helpless against them, terrified and reporting the situation to the authorities. Everyone felt that they should quickly move to a safe place to hide. However, General Hun said, "Liang Xing and his men are scattered now, hiding in deep mountains and forests. Most of the people following them are forced into it. We should open our doors and welcome them to surrender, explaining the court's kindness to them. If we hide ourselves, it would be a sign of weakness!"
So, he quickly organized the common people, strengthened the city walls and prepared defenses. Then, he called on everyone to catch the thieves together, set up a clear rewards and punishments system, and made an oath with everyone that the thieves caught would receive a reward of seventy percent of the spoils. The locals were thrilled and actively went to catch the thieves, capturing many valuables and some women. The bandits who had lost their wives and children all surrendered one after another. General Hun ordered that captured women must be returned before the bandits could reclaim their own wives and children. This created distrust among the bandits, leading to their disbandment. He then sent some trusted members of the common people to convince the bandits hiding in the mountains to surrender, one by one. Later, he instructed the county magistrates to return to their own counties to reassure the locals.
Liang Xing and his men were afraid, gathering their remaining lackeys in Fucheng. Emperor Taizu sent General Xiahou Yuan to help, and General Hun led the common people to charge into battle, defeating Liang Xing and his gang. Later, a group of bandits led by Jin Fu forced the county magistrates of Xiayang and Shaoling, along with their people, to take refuge in Weishan. General Hun led his troops to defeat them, capturing the two county magistrates and rescuing the people they had abducted. Another bandit named Zhao Qinglong killed the Left Interior Minister Cheng Xiu. Upon hearing this, General Hun immediately sent warriors to cut off his head as an example. In total, over four thousand households surrendered to the imperial court, and the mountain bandits were subdued, allowing the common people to live in peace. Later, General Hun was transferred to Shangdang as the governor.
It is said that when Emperor Taizu attacked Hanzhong, he appointed Zheng Hun as the Intendant of Jingzhao. Upon seeing that the local residents had just moved in, Zheng Hun implemented a resettlement plan that encouraged wealthy and poor families to live together, as well as honest and reliable people and elderly widows. He encouraged everyone to farm well, strictly enforced the law, and cracked down on criminals. As a result, the common people were able to farm peacefully, and thefts decreased. When the army arrived in Hanzhong, he excelled in transporting military provisions. He also encouraged the common people to reclaim land in Hanzhong, and not a single person deserted. Emperor Taizu held him in high regard and summoned him back to court as the Prime Minister's Secretary.
When Emperor Wen ascended the throne, Zheng Hun was appointed as an imperial censor and was also granted the title of Commandant of the Capital Guard. Later, he was promoted to be the Administrator of Yangping Commandery and Pei Commandery. These two commanderies were prone to flooding, leaving the people hungry. Zheng Hun, on the border of Xiaoxian and Xiangxian, built dams and cultivated rice fields. The people in these commanderies thought he was just fooling around, but Zheng Hun said, "This area is low-lying and ideal for irrigation, which would benefit the people in the long run. This is the foundation of prosperity for the people!" He personally worked alongside officials and the people, and they completed the project before winter arrived. Several years later, there was an abundant harvest, with significantly increased yields per mu, doubled tax revenue, and everyone benefited. They inscribed stone tablets in his honor, naming the dam "Zheng Pond."
Later, he became the Administrator of Shanyang Commandery and Wei Commandery, using similar governance methods. He also noticed a shortage of timber among the people in these commanderies, so he urged everyone to plant elm trees for fencing and various fruit trees. The elm trees grew into hedges, and the fruit trees were laden with fruit. In Wei Commandery, every village was neatly organized, and the common people were prosperous, living prosperous lives. When Emperor Ming heard about this, he praised Zheng Hun in an imperial decree, publicized this across the country, and promoted him to Director of Works. Zheng Hun was renowned for his integrity and commitment to public service, even though his own family was impoverished. After his death, his son, Zheng Chong, was appointed as a court official.
Cang Ci, courtesy name Xiaoren, was from Huainan. He started as a low-ranking county official. During the Jian'an period, Cao Cao began recruiting soldiers to farm in Huainan, appointing Cang Ci as the Commandant of Suiji, tasked with maintaining peace and recruiting. As the Huangchu era was coming to a close, he became the magistrate of Chang'an, renowned for his integrity and organized approach, held in high regard and affection by both officials and the populace. During the Taihe period, he was promoted to Prefect of Dunhuang. Dunhuang County lay on the frontier, cut off from the Central Plains by years of conflict, and had been without a prefect for twenty years. The local powerful clans exploited their power with impunity, turning it into a local norm. Previous prefects, such as Yin Feng, catered to the powerful clans' customs, never considering any change to the status quo. Upon his arrival in Dunhuang, Cang Ci swiftly took action against the powerful families, brought relief to the impoverished populace, and established an orderly governance. The wealthy clans hoarded land while ordinary people were left landless; Cang Ci revised the tax system based on local conditions, gradually compelling them to return the land they had usurped.
Before, there were many cases piled up in the prison in Dunhuang that the county was unable to resolve, all just sitting there; Cang Ci personally went to review the cases, carefully sorting out what was urgent and what was serious. If it was not a capital crime, he would give them a few lashes and let them go, with fewer than ten people sentenced to death each year. In addition, the minority ethnic groups in the Western Regions often came to pay tribute, but the wealthy clans often got in the way, deliberately cutting off their connections; even when they did trade, they would cheat and insult them, and many things were left unresolved. The minority ethnic groups often complained, and Cang Ci patiently reassured them. For those who wanted to go to the capital, he would give them a travel pass; for those who wanted to return to the Western Regions, he would help get things sorted for them, even offering items from the government store for fair trade, and sending officials to escort them on their way. Therefore, both the locals and the minority groups praised his kindness.
Several years later, Cang Ci passed away, and the people were grief-stricken, as if they had lost a loved one. They painted his portrait and missed him dearly. When the minority groups in the Western Regions heard about Cang Ci's passing, they gathered at the local magistrate's office to mourn, some even slashing their own faces with knives to show their deep sorrow. They even built a shrine for him and honored him from a distance.
From the era of Cao Cao to the Xianxi period, the Wei commandery magistrate Wu Guoren Chen Guo, the Qinghe commandery magistrate Ren Yu from Le'an, the Jingzhao commandery magistrate Yan Fei from Jibei, the Hongnong commandery magistrate Linghu Shao from Taiyuan, and the Lu country magistrate Kong Yi from Luru, some showed compassion for the people and handed down fair judgments; some enacted compassionate policies and were well-loved; some lived modestly; some exposed evil and punished criminals; all were outstanding officials of the 'Er Qian Shi' rank.
It is said that Ren Jun, this guy, answered the call of the militia from the beginning and joined Emperor Gaozu. Then he cleared land for farming and stocked the granaries with grain; he made significant contributions! Su Zewei, on the other hand, made great achievements in quelling the rebellion; not only was he outstanding in his political achievements, but he was also especially honest and strong-willed, which is truly admirable! Du Ji, generous and decisive in character, governed the region effectively, and the people lived well. Zheng Hun and Cang Ci, both caring for the people, each had their own effective methods of governance. These few are all renowned officials of the Wei Dynasty! I’ve said a lot about their governance and political views, and they are all quite valuable for reference. In conclusion, the achievements and political ideas of these individuals are worth studying.
