Han Ji, courtesy name Gongzhi, was a native of Duyang, a town in Nanyang. Some powerful and influential people in the county, including Chen Mao, falsely accused Han Ji's father and older brother, which resulted in their execution. Han Ji did not openly complain, but quietly saved up money, secretly gathered a group of loyal followers, and finally caught Chen Mao, beheading him as a tribute to his father's grave, which brought him widespread recognition. Later, he was recommended to be a virtuous and filial official, and the Grand Minister also called for him, but he declined. He simply changed his name and went into hiding in the mountains of Luyang to avoid trouble. The mountain folk banded together, planning to raid nearby homes. Han Ji took out his family's money to treat them to food and drink, and discussed the pros and cons with their leader. The mountain people were swayed by him and chose not to do any harm. Later, Yuan Shu wanted to summon him, so he relocated to the mountains of Shandu. Jingzhou Governor Liu Biao also politely summoned him, but he fled and settled in the Chanling area, where the locals held him in high regard, but Liu Biao was quite upset. Han Ji was afraid, so he reluctantly accepted a court appointment and was appointed as the magistrate of Yicheng County.
After Cao Cao pacified Jingzhou, he summoned Han Ji to serve as an official under the Prime Minister. Later, he was appointed as the Prefect of Leling, and then transferred to the role of Supervisor of Metallurgy. Previously, iron smelting relied on horse-drawn power, requiring hundreds of horses each time; later, it was changed to manpower, which proved to be both time-consuming and labor-intensive. Han Ji harnessed the mountain's flowing water to develop a hydraulic iron smelting method, which tripled the efficiency compared to previous methods. He worked in this position for seven years, and the iron smelting equipment was greatly improved. The court issued an edict praising him and promoted him to Commander of the Treasury, ranking just below the Nine Ministers in status. After Emperor Wen ascended the throne, he was granted the title of Marquis of Yicheng Pavilion. In the seventh year of Huangchu, he was promoted to Grand Minister and further granted the title of Marquis of Nanxiang Pavilion, with a fief consisting of two hundred households.
At that time, the system in the new capital of Luoyang was not yet perfect, and the deities of the ancestral temples were in the old capital of Ye. Han Ji submitted a memorial to the court, requesting the transfer of the deities from the four temples in Ye to Luoyang, to build temples in Luoyang, offer sacrifices on time, and personally present offerings. He advocated for correct rituals, eliminated improper rituals, and did many things to correct the ritual system. He served in the position of Minister of Ceremonies for eight years but resigned due to illness. In the spring of the second year of the Jingchu era, the court issued a decree stating, "Han Ji, the Grand Master of the Palace, has high moral character and noble aspirations, already in his eighties, but he persists in his principles with even greater determination, truly embodying simplicity and loyalty, and becoming even more diligent with age. Han Ji is appointed as Minister of Works." In the fourth month of summer, Han Ji passed away. Before his death, he instructed to be buried in ordinary clothing, with a simple burial. He was posthumously honored as the Honorable Marquis. His son Han Zhao inherited his title. After Han Zhao's death, his son Han Bang succeeded to the title.
Cui Lin, styled Deru, was a native of Dongwucheng in Qinghe Commandery. He was a late bloomer in his childhood, and his family didn't pay him much mind, except for his brother Cui Yan, who saw potential in him. Later, after the founding emperor subdued Jizhou, he appointed Cui Lin as the magistrate of Wuxian. At that time, he was so poor that he didn’t even have a horse, so he had to walk to his new post.
Later, when the founding emperor wanted to campaign at Huguan, he asked the local officials who had the best performance, and Zhang Zhi, the Inspector of Bingzhou, recommended Cui Lin. Cui Lin was then promoted to the main scribe of Jizhou and later rose to become an assistant to the Prime Minister. After the establishment of the Wei dynasty, Cui Lin's official positions continued to rise, and he eventually rose to the position of Deputy Imperial Censor.
After Emperor Wen ascended the throne, he appointed Cui Lin as Minister, but was later appointed as the Inspector of Youzhou. At that time, General Wu Zhi was responsible for military affairs in Hebei, and Wang Xiong, the Prefect of Zhuo County, said to Cui Lin's aide, "General Wu is a minister highly trusted by the Emperor, with great power and influence! He leads the army, and all the provinces and counties must show respect by writing letters to him, but Inspector Cui does not flatter him at all. If General Wu is beheaded for not fixing the border defense properly, do you think Inspector Cui can save him?" The aide told Cui Lin about this, and Cui Lin said, "As an Inspector, I feel as relieved as slipping off my shoes when I leave this place. Why would I have any relationship with General Wu? Youzhou borders the barbarians, and stability should be the priority. If we disturb them, it will only incite their resistance, which would bring hidden dangers to the country from the north. I don't want to be responsible for that." During Cui Lin's tenure in Youzhou, the bandits became considerably more subdued; however, he did not flatter his superiors, and as a result, he was demoted to the position of Prefect of Hejian, a decision many considered unfair.
Later, Cui Lin was promoted to the Grand Herald position. The King of Kucha sent his son to pay homage to the Emperor, and the court was delighted by their long journey, generously rewarding the King of Kucha. Other countries also sent princes to pay tribute, and the envoys arrived in droves. Cui Lin was concerned that some envoys could be impostors, so he secretly conspired with some Hu merchants to pass messages through them, taking bribes and imposing exorbitant escort fees, inflicting significant losses on the populace. His actions were wasteful and detrimental to the citizens, and he was even mocked by foreigners, a concern he had long harbored. So he wrote a letter to Dunhuang explaining the situation, citing precedents of how previous dynasties received envoys, in hopes of establishing a unified standard moving forward. After Emperor Ming ascended the throne, Cui Lin was bestowed the title of Marquis of Guannei and was elevated to the roles of Glorious Charioteer and Prefect of the Masters of Writing. When he took office, all counties eliminated illegally appointed and overstaffed officials. Cui Lin's governance was rooted in integrity, prioritizing the greater good. Therefore, even after his passing, people continued to cherish his memory.
Liu Shao wrote an essay on the imperial examinations, establishing rules for all officials. Lin Biao (referring to Cui Lin here and below) said, "Look at the examination system of the Zhou Dynasty; that document was comprehensive. Since King Kang, this system has been deteriorating; the key lies in the quality of the implementers. By the end of the Han Dynasty, the examination system failed; isn't the responsibility on those assistant officials who were not careful in their work? In the military now, some soldiers are more and some are less, and the examination system frequently changes its regulations, making it difficult to implement. Moreover, with so many people, if you fail to identify the main issues and lead by example, how can everyone work together? Look at Gaoyao working under Yu Shun, Yi Yin assisting the king of the Shang Dynasty; those who disregarded benevolence and righteousness were excluded by them. The methods of governance of the Five Emperors and Three Kings varied, but they were able to govern the country according to the situation, either fostering prosperity or quelling rebellions. The Book of Changes says, 'If things are kept simple and clear, the world can be governed well.' Emperor Taizu (Cao Cao) formulated systems based on the actual situation, drawing from past dynasties while adapting to the present, not rigidly adhering to ancient laws. I believe the current system is not overly lenient, as long as we uphold principles and remain on course. If all court officials were as diligent and responsible as Zhongshan Fu, who would dare to be negligent?"
In the first year of Jingchu, both the position of Minister of State and Minister of War were vacant. The Cavalry Attendant Meng Kang recommended Lin Biao, saying, "The Prime Minister is the model for people to study and emulate. We must select those who are loyal, upright, of noble character, and willing to take on responsibilities, to serve as role models for the entire nation. Personally, I think that the Commandant of the Sluices, Cui Lin, is naturally upright and broad-minded. In terms of his virtues, he can be compared to the ancients: loyal and upright like Shi Yu; honest and frugal like Ji Wenzi. Wherever he governs, prosperity ensues; when he was in charge of external affairs, the regions he oversaw were well-organized. He is truly a rare talent in assisting the emperor and an outstanding talent in taking on heavy responsibilities!" The following year, Lin Biao was appointed Minister of War, granted the title of Marquis of Anyang Pavilion, with a fief of six hundred households. The Three Dukes were enfeoffed as marquises, and Lin Biao was the first. Shortly thereafter, he was also granted the title of Marquis of Anyang Township.
The Chancellor of Lu submitted a memorial, saying, "Before the Han Dynasty, temples were established for Confucius. The Marquis of Baocheng offers sacrifices annually, holding sacrificial ceremonies in Bi Yong, where the Master must be honored. The royal family also worships Confucius during the Gu and Spring and Autumn sacrifices. Now the Marquis of Zongseng has inherited Confucius's lineage, but has not yet been ordered to perform the worship ritual. He should be granted sacrificial livestock, and senior officials should preside over the sacrifice, honoring him as a noble spirit." This matter was handed over to the Three Offices for discussion. The scholar Fu Zhi quoted from the "Spring and Autumn Annals," stating that what is recorded in the sacrificial scriptures is Confucius. The Marquis of Zongseng inherits Confucius, merely continuing the bloodline of the unparalleled sage, showcasing the virtues of the saint. To promote his teachings more prominently and to extol his noble character, this should be done in accordance with the memorial from the Chancellor of Lu.
In the discussion, Lin Shi believed: "The Marquis of Zongsheng also performed sacrifices at the emperor's command, and was not left unbidden. King Wu of Zhou enfeoffed the descendants of the Yellow Emperor, Yao, and Shun, and established the Three Honorable Titles (a term for the descendants of the three ancient emperors), but the descendants of Yu and Tang were not included in the sacrificial list at that time, yet other officials were specifically commanded to perform sacrifices for them. From the Duke of Zhou to the Three Emperors, there were no sacrifices made for them, yet their names were recorded in the ritual texts. Currently, only Confucius is honored with sacrifices, as he is more recent in our history. As descendants of nobility, they enjoy an endless array of sacrifices, surpassing even the ancient emperors, Tang and Wu; this can be seen as a lofty reward for their virtuous deeds, and there is no need to repeat sacrifices to those who are not of their clan."
Emperor Ming also granted Lin Yi to one of his sons, bestowing upon him the title of marquis. In the fifth year of Zhengshi, Emperor Ming passed away and was posthumously named Xiaohou. His son Shu inherited the title. Gao Rou, styled Wenhui, was from Yuxian, Chenliu. His father, Gao Jing, served as the Commandant of Shu Commandery. Gao Rou stayed in his hometown and said to the people in the county, "Now heroes are rising up one after another, and Chenliu is located in a place of constant warfare! Although Cao Cao has occupied Yanzhou, he originally had ambitions to unify the realm, so he cannot sit back and relax. Zhang Miao has succeeded in Chenliu before; I am worried that he will take advantage of the situation and cause chaos. I want to hide with everyone for a while." Everyone thought that Zhang Miao had a good relationship with Cao Cao, and Gao Rou was young, so they did not pay much attention to his words. Gao Rou's cousin Gao Gan, who was the nephew of Yuan Shao, called him to come to Hebei, and Gao Rou took his whole family there. At that time, Gao Jing passed away in Xizhou; the roads were treacherous and difficult to navigate, with bandits lurking everywhere, but Gao Rou bravely ventured to Shu to retrieve his father's coffin. He experienced hardships and difficulties along the way, enduring everything, and only returned to his hometown three years later.
Once upon a time, after Taizu defeated Yuan Shao, he appointed Jian Rou as the county magistrate. The local people had long heard of Jian Rou's reputation. The petty officials who often engaged in wrongdoing were terrified at the news of Jian Rou's arrival, prompting them to voluntarily resign and flee. But Jian Rou replied, "Back when Bing Ji was in office, if his subordinates made mistakes, he would show them leniency. Moreover, these people under me haven't done anything wrong yet! Bring them all back!" Those officials were summoned back, and each one of them turned over a new leaf and became good officials.
Later, Gao Gan surrendered to Cao Cao, but not long after, he rebelled in Bingzhou. Jian Rou went to join Cao Cao, who wanted to seize the opportunity to eliminate him as a warning to others. However, during Jian Rou's time as magistrate, he handled cases fairly and promptly, never procrastinating. Therefore, Cao Cao promoted him to the position of Minister of Works. Cao Cao wanted to send Zhong Yao and others to attack Zhang Lu, but Jian Rou cautioned, "Sending a large army west now could provoke Han Sui and Ma Chao, who might see it as us inviting trouble. They could collude and rebel. We should first pacify the Three Frontiers region. Once it's stable, we can easily seize Hanzhong." Shortly after Zhong Yao entered Guanzhong, Han Sui and Ma Chao indeed rebelled, demonstrating the accuracy of Jian Rou's judgment.
When the Wei Kingdom was first established, Jia Rou became the Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel and was later promoted to Chief of the Ministry of Personnel. Upon taking office, he issued an order saying, "In areas that have already been stabilized, priority should be given to etiquette and legal codes; in chaotic situations, emphasis should be placed on criminal laws. Just as Emperor Shun exiled the Four Evils and Gao Yao formulated laws; Emperor Gaozu of Han abolished the harsh laws of the Qin Dynasty, and Xiao He established new laws. You officials must diligently study the legal statutes, enforce the law impartially, and consider the people more!"
Once, soldiers, including Song Jin, fled in Hefei. According to the previous law, soldiers who fled in battle would have their families implicated. Cao Cao was very angry about this and increased the punishment. Song Jin's mother, wife, and two brothers were all arrested, and the authorities requested that all of them be executed.
However, Jia Rou submitted a memorial saying, "It is indeed necessary to punish the soldiers who fled, but I heard that some of them regretted their actions. I believe their families should be spared, which has two advantages: one is to make the enemy doubt us, and the other is to induce them to repent. Now, according to the old law, they have already been pushed to despair, and increasing the punishment will only make them more desperate. I am afraid that in the future, if one soldier flees, others will fear being implicated and follow suit, making it impossible to apprehend them. Increasing the punishment will not prevent desertion, but will only make more people flee." Cao Cao replied, "That’s a good point!" and then ordered not to kill Song Jin's mother and brother, thus preserving many lives.
I was appointed governor of Yingchuan and later returned to the Ministry of Justice as an official. At that time, officials Lu Hong and Zhao Da were appointed to investigate the people. I gently advised them, "Establishing official positions with clearly defined roles and responsibilities. The purpose of appointing officials is not solely for communication between higher and lower ranks, but also because individuals like them often abuse their power based on personal biases. They should be dealt with properly." The Emperor said, "You may not know them as well as I do. The key is to expose issues and discern the truth. If virtuous gentlemen were in charge, they wouldn't be able to achieve that. Previously, Sun Tzu used thieves, and he had his reasons." Eventually, their corruption was uncovered, and the Emperor executed them to make amends with me.
After Emperor Wen ascended to the throne, he appointed me as the Imperial Secretary for Literary Affairs and bestowed upon me the title of Marquis of Guannei. Later, I was promoted to the Imperial Secretary for Literary Affairs and Law Enforcement. At that time, slanderous rumors frequently circulated among the people, which angered the Emperor. He would execute anyone spreading these rumors and even rewarded informants. I submitted a memorial stating, "Now, those who err lose their chance to reform, and informants are sure to be rewarded. This will encourage those with ill intentions to falsely accuse one another. This does not effectively suppress wrongdoing, reduce litigation, or promote good governance. In the past, Duke of Zhou praised the ancestors of the Yin and Shang dynasties, ignoring the grievances of the wicked. Emperor Taizong of the Han Dynasty also abolished punishments for slander. I believe the laws regarding slander and informant rewards should be abolished to reflect Heaven's benevolence." The Emperor did not immediately accept my suggestion, and as a result, more and more people falsely accused each other. The Emperor then decreed, "Anyone who dares to accuse others of slander will be punished according to the crimes of the accuser." This completely eradicated false accusations.
During the early years of the Huangchu era, Liu Ci and others reported over ten thousand cases of corruption among officials and civilians, and I requested that their authenticity be investigated; as for minor offenses, they were usually just fined. Four years later, I was promoted to the position of Minister of Justice.
It is said that in the early Wei Dynasty, the three high-ranking ministers were idle and showed little concern for state affairs. At this time, He Yan wrote a memorial to the emperor, essentially stating: "The success of all things in the world depends on the cycles of the four seasons, and the prosperity of the nation relies on the collaborative efforts of the emperor and the assisting ministers. From ancient times to the present, which wise and virtuous monarch did not rely on talented and virtuous ministers? For example, King Tang of Shang relied on Yi Yin, King Wen and King Wu of Zhou relied on Jiang Shang. In the early Han Dynasty, Xiao He, Cao Shen, and other meritorious officials were also the emperor's trusted aides. Now the three ministers in our court are the nation's pillars, and the common people are watching them, but they are being sidelined and not allowed to participate in political affairs. They are all quite leisurely, and few have the courage to offer suggestions. This is not how the court should treat its ministers! In ancient times, difficult legal issues were traditionally discussed under the locust and thorn trees. Therefore, from now on, whenever the court faces difficult issues, especially major criminal matters, they should seek the opinions of the three ministers more. Every time there is a new moon or full moon (the first and fifteenth day of the lunar month), they can specially invite them to discuss the gains and losses, clarifying the situation, allowing them to better assist the emperor and benefit the people." The emperor was very pleased and adopted his suggestion.
Later, due to past personal grievances, the emperor wanted to break the law and execute the official in charge of law enforcement oversight, Bao Xun. However, He Yan strongly opposed this and refused to comply with the emperor's orders. The emperor was very angry and summoned He Yan to the palace for a reprimand. At the same time, he ordered an investigation of Bao Xun at the Ministry of Justice, and ultimately, Bao Xun was executed, and only then was He Yan permitted to return to the monastery.
After Emperor Ming became the emperor, he enfeoffed Rou as the Marquis of Yanshou Pavilion. At that time, those scholars were all studying the classics, and Rou wrote to the emperor, saying, "I have heard that adhering to principles and valuing learning is an important teaching of sages; upholding literature and emphasizing Confucianism is a wise move for emperors. In the late years of the Han Dynasty, the national strength weakened, and the system of rites and music fell into disarray. The various feudal lords fought among themselves, treating war as their main task, resulting in Confucian scholars retreating without the opportunity to showcase their talents. When the founding emperor first took up arms, he sympathized with the decline of Confucianism, and when he pacified the world, he ordered the establishment of educational positions across various counties. After the founding emperor ascended the throne, he further developed his predecessor's cause, establishing schools in various states and counties, allowing talented individuals from across the realm to receive an education and learn the rituals of sacrifice. Your Majesty, you now reign with wisdom and insight, with ambitious governance policies, inheriting and expanding the achievements of your ancestors. Even as Xia Qi succeeded Yu on the throne, and King Cheng of Zhou inherited the foundation of King Wu of Zhou, they cannot compare to you! However, although the scholars are all well-versed in learning and have good conduct, being exemplary scholars chosen from across the nation, their promotions are strictly limited, which could hinder the promotion of Confucianism and fail to motivate the complacent. Confucius once stated, 'If you can't select and educate the talented, you should motivate them.' Therefore, in the state of Chu, Shen Gong and the scholars all worked hard to study, talents emerged during the Han Dynasty, and scholars took pride in learning. I believe scholars are the wellspring of virtue and exemplars of the Six Arts, and they should be granted exceptional official positions according to their knowledge and character. Only in this way can we truly value Confucianism, encourage learning among the people, and enhance the impact of education in our nation." The Emperor accepted his advice.
It is said that the emperor ordered the construction of the Daxing Palace, which exhausted the common folk. There was also a large-scale selection of concubines, leading to a surge in the number of concubines in the palace. However, the princes kept dying one after another, and there was no heir in sight. At this time, a minister named Rou advised in a memorial, "The minority ethnic groups in the north are very cunning, sharpening their knives in secret and could strike at any moment. We cannot be careless; we ought to train our soldiers properly, strengthen our military power, and wait for the enemy to exhaust themselves. But now we are focusing on construction projects, wearing everyone out. If the states of Wu and Shu catch wind of our vulnerabilities and team up against us, it will be a big problem! Emperor Wen of Han didn't even build a small pavilion to save money; General Wei Qing didn't have time to build his own mansion to guard against the Xiongnu. What we're spending now is way more than just a few million coins, and we are not just worried about the threats from the northern minority ethnic groups! The construction of the Daxing Palace is almost complete, sufficient for court banquets. Let's halt construction and let the common folk return to their fields. Once the border is stable, we can slowly resume construction. Legend has it that the Yellow Emperor had twenty-five sons, and his kingdom lasted. The Zhou Dynasty had over forty states with the Ji surname, and it lasted for a long time. Your Majesty, you are wise and knowledgeable, but recently, with the princes dying one after another and no auspicious signs, the courtiers are very worried. The Zhou Rituals stipulate that the emperor can have a total of one hundred twenty concubines and palace concubines, which is already enough. I heard that the number of palace concubines now may exceed this limit, and the shortage of heirs might be tied to this. I believe we should carefully select some concubines to meet the needs of the palace and send the rest back home. Your Majesty should also look after your health and keep a calm mind to have many children and grandchildren." The emperor replied, "I know you are loyal and considerate of the country. I will seriously consider your words, but we can talk about other things later."
At that time, the hunting laws were extremely strict. The county magistrate Liu Gui from Yiyang secretly shot rabbits in the palace's forbidden grounds. His aide, Zhang Jing, reported this to the authorities. The emperor withheld Zhang Jing's name and arrested Liu Gui. Ruo asked to know the informant's name, and the emperor angrily said, "How dare Liu Gui hunt in my imperial palace's forbidden area! He should be punished! Hand him over to the court for questioning; the court will handle the questioning. Why do we need to know who the informant is? Would I arrest him for no reason?" Ruo replied, "The court represents fairness in the realm; how can we break the law because of Your Majesty's anger?" Ruo pleaded earnestly. The emperor then realized and announced Zhang Jing's name, reopened the case, and both of them received the punishment they deserved.
It is said that at that time, there was a rule stating that if a government official's family member passed away, they had to return to work after one hundred days. There was a low-ranking official from the Ministry of Rites named Jie Hong, whose father passed away. After one hundred days, he was unexpectedly called to military service, and the court ordered him to go to war. Due to his poor health, he declined, claiming he was sick. The emperor was furious when he heard this and said, "You are not a filial son like Zeng Can or Min Ziqian; how dare you claim to be sick?" He then ordered his arrest for questioning. At that moment, a man named Ruo saw that Jie Hong was indeed very weak and reported this to the emperor, urging leniency for him. The emperor then ordered, "Jie Hong is indeed a devoted son! Let him go!"
Later, there was a man named Gongsun Yuan, whose brother was named Gongsun Huang, who had served as a servant to their uncle, Gongsun Gong. Before Gongsun Yuan rebelled, Gongsun Huang had repeatedly reported Gongsun Yuan's suspicious behavior to the emperor, warning of his rebellion. After Gongsun Yuan rebelled, although the emperor was reluctant to execute him publicly, he considered having him killed in prison. At this time, Rou wrote to the emperor once more, saying, "It is said in the books that 'punishment is meant for the guilty, and grace is used to commend good deeds'; this reflects the wisdom of ancient emperors! Gongsun Huang and his family are all rebellious accomplices; they should be executed publicly to prevent them from leaving descendants. However, I’ve heard that Gongsun Huang had proactively reported and warned of Gongsun Yuan's conspiracy; although he is a criminal family member, his true intentions deserve forgiveness. Look, Confucius understood Sima Niu's concerns, and Qi Xi understood Shu Xiang's mistakes; these exemplify the admirable virtues of ancient times! I believe Gongsun Huang did speak up, and he should be spared; if he didn't say anything, then he should be publicly executed. Now, neither pardoning his death penalty nor commending his merits, leaving him to die in prison will likely spark widespread debate and perhaps raise doubts about the court's decision!" The emperor ignored his advice and still sent poison to Gongsun Huang and his family, giving them coffins and funeral clothes, permitting them to be buried at home.
At that time, anyone caught hunting deer in restricted areas would face execution and have their property confiscated; those who reported such offenses would be handsomely rewarded by the court. Minister Rou wrote, "A wise ruler governs by making agricultural development and frugality top priorities. Look, when agriculture thrives, food becomes abundant, and when expenses are kept low, wealth increases. With plenty of food and wealth, what troubles could we possibly have? In ancient times, if a man did not farm, others would starve; if a woman did not weave, others would freeze. From then until now, common people have had to perform various labor tasks, but fewer and fewer are personally involved in farming. Combined with the current hunting ban, deer roam freely, damaging crops everywhere, causing immeasurable losses. Though people try to prevent it, they are fundamentally powerless. Take the area around Xingyang for example; for hundreds of miles around, the harvest is poor year after year, and the safety of people's lives is really concerning! There are already few people in the world who can create wealth, yet the damage caused by the deer is considerable. If war or disaster struck, how would we cope? I hope Your Majesty can learn from the wisdom of the ancients, sympathize with the hardships of the people in farming, relax the ban on hunting, allow common people to hunt deer, and lift the ban. This way, the people will benefit in the long run, and everyone will be happier." Rou continued in the memorial, "There are already few people in the world who can create wealth, yet the damage caused by the deer is considerable. If war or disaster struck, how would we cope? I hope Your Majesty can learn from the wisdom of the ancients, sympathize with the hardships of the people in farming, relax the ban on hunting, allow common people to hunt deer, and lift the ban. This way, the people will benefit in the long run, and everyone will be happier."
It is said that after some time, the soldier Dou Li from the army camp did not return after going out. The camp believed he was dead, so they reported him missing and forced his wife Ying and children into servitude for the government. Ying traveled everywhere, running all the way to the state capital, pleading for justice, but no one listened to her. Desperate, she went to court to file a complaint. The judge asked softly, "How do you know your husband is not dead?" Ying cried and replied, "My husband has always been honest and kind since he was young. He cares for his elderly mother at home with great filial piety, and he is also very loving to his children, taking care of them every step of the way. He is certainly not the type to be irresponsible or neglectful of his family." The judge asked again, "Has your husband had any disputes with others?" Ying replied, "My husband is kind and has no grudges with others." The judge asked again, "Has your husband lent money to others?" Ying said, "He once lent money to a fellow soldier in the camp named Jiao Ziwen, but later he did not get the money back." At that moment, Jiao Ziwen was in prison for a minor offense, so the judge visited him to ask what crime he had committed. During the conversation, the judge asked him, "Have you ever borrowed money from someone else?" Jiao Ziwen replied, "I'm too poor to borrow money from anyone." The judge noticed a change in Jiao Ziwen's expression and said, "You killed Dou Li; you should confess quickly!" Jiao Ziwen then confessed and detailed how he killed Dou Li and where he buried the body. The judge promptly dispatched men to dig based on Jiao Ziwen's confession, and sure enough, they found Dou Li's body. The emperor ordered Ying and her children to be restored to their civilian status and made this known to the public as a warning.
During the twenty-third year of his reign, he was promoted to the position of Grand Minister of Ceremonies, and just over ten days later, he was promoted to Minister of Construction, and later transferred to Minister of the Masses. Grand Tutor Sima Xuanwang requested the removal of Cao Shuang's official position, and the Empress Dowager issued an edict appointing Ruo to temporarily act as Grand General, taking control of Cao Shuang's military camps. The Grand Tutor said to Ruo, "You are emulating Zhou Bo!" After Cao Shuang was executed, Ruo was granted the title of Marquis of Wan Sui Township. When the Noble Marquis ascended to the throne, he was further titled as the Marquis of Anguo and promoted to Grand Commandant. When the Common Marquis ascended to the throne, his fief was expanded to include an additional four thousand households, and he was posthumously granted the title of Viscount for two of his sons. In the fourth year of Jingyuan, he passed away at the age of ninety, posthumously named the Marquis Yuan. His grandson, Hun, inherited his title. During the Xianxi reign, the court established a system of five-tiered noble titles, and in recognition of the contributions of Ruo and others from the previous dynasty, the title of his grandson Hun was changed to Changluzi.
Sun Li, styled Dedai, was from Rongcheng, Zhuozhou in Hebei Province. When Cao Cao subdued Youzhou, he recruited Sun Li as a strategist in the Ministry of Construction. During the early years of war, Sun Li and his mother became separated, and a man from the same county named Ma Tai found Sun Li's mother. Sun Li entrusted all his family's wealth to Ma Tai. Later, Ma Tai committed a crime and was sentenced to death for his crime. Sun Li secretly took him away and encouraged him to turn himself in, saying, "I did not intend for him to escape," and went directly to the official responsible for prosecuting corruption, Wen Hui. Wen Hui admired him and reported the matter to Cao Cao, leading to reduced sentences for both Ma Tai and Sun Li.
Later on, Sun Li was appointed as the county governor of Hejian and gradually promoted to the position of Prefect of Yingyang. In the Lushan region, there were hundreds of bandits occupying strategic locations, preying on the local population. As a result, Sun Li was transferred to Lu County to serve as the county magistrate. After assuming office, Sun Li used his own salary to rally both officials and the populace, offering rewards for capturing the bandits, persuading their surrender, and even sending spies. He quickly pacified the rebellion in the Lushan region. After that, he successively served as the Prefect of Shanyang, Pingyuan, Pingchang, and Langye. When he followed the Grand Marshal Cao Xiu to attack the Kingdom of Wu at Jiashi, Sun Li advised Cao Xiu not to advance too deep into enemy territory. However, Cao Xiu disregarded his advice and ultimately faced defeat. Later, Sun Li was appointed Prefect of Yangping and then returned to the court as a high-ranking official.
While Emperor Ming was constructing the palace, bad weather led to widespread crop failure. Sun Li strongly opposed the construction, which ultimately ceased. The emperor issued a decree saying, "I wholeheartedly accept your candid advice; let the people return to their fields at once!" At that time, the person in charge of building the palace was Li Hui, who requested an additional month to complete some tasks. Sun Li went directly to the construction site, did not file any additional reports, and directly read out the emperor's decree, ordering the people to return. The emperor appreciated his decisiveness and chose not to blame him.
Once, Emperor Ming was hunting on Mount Daishi. A tiger charged at the emperor's retinue, and Sun Li immediately dropped his whip and dismounted, intending to draw his sword to attack the tiger. The emperor ordered him to mount his horse. When Emperor Ming was on his deathbed, he appointed Cao Shuang as the Grand Marshal, feeling that Cao Shuang needed a good assistant. Therefore, before his death, he left a posthumous edict under the bed, appointing Sun Li as the Grand Marshal's Chief of Staff, and also granting him the title of Gentleman of the Imperial Guard. Sun Li was known for his integrity and strength, but Cao Shuang held a low opinion of him. He transferred Sun Li to serve as the Inspector in Yangzhou, promoted him to General of the Waves, and granted him the title of Marquis Within the Passes. The Wu general, Quan Cong, led tens of thousands of troops to invade. At that time, most of the troops in Yangzhou were resting, and the defending forces were minimal. Sun Li personally led the guards to resist, engaged the Wu army at Shaobi, battled from dawn until dusk, and over half of his soldiers were either killed or wounded. Sun Li charged into battle, his horse was wounded in several places, and he bravely wielded his war hammer against the enemy, without regard for his own safety. In the end, the enemy retreated. The emperor issued a decree to commend and reward him, bestowing upon him seven hundred rolls of silk. Sun Li held a memorial for the fallen soldiers, personally mourned and conducted the rites, and gave all the rewarded silk to the families of the fallen soldiers, not retaining a single piece for himself.
I was appointed as the Minister of the Interior, later appointed as the Governor of Jingzhou, and then promoted to Governor of Jizhou. The Grand Tutor Sima Xuanwang said to me: "The territorial dispute between Qinghe County and Pingyuan County has been going on for eight years now. Two governors have been changed but the issue remains unresolved. Yu Shun and Rui Bo had to wait for King Wen to make a ruling to resolve the issue. You should handle this matter properly." I replied: "Those who file lawsuits cite graves as evidence, and the judges base their decisions on the age of the graves' occupants. However, we cannot press the elderly for answers, and graves can sometimes be relocated due to changes in terrain or to evade enemies. From what I've heard, even Gaoyao would struggle to reach a decision. If we want to prevent lawsuits, we should use the map from the time of the founding emperor's original division of Pingyuan County to make a ruling. Why bring up old issues and create more lawsuits? In the past, King Cheng played a game with Uncle Yu using a tong leaf, and Zhou Gong used this to assign him land. The map is currently kept in the court's archives and can be used for a ruling right in court, without needing to go out to the provinces." Xuanwang said: "Yes, then I will order to retrieve the map."
The map has been brought, and according to it, the territory should be awarded to Pingyuan County. However, Cao Shuang sided with Qinghe County's claims and ordered, "The map is not valid and needs to be thoroughly verified." I submitted a memorial, stating, "Guan Zhong was a chief advisor to the hegemon; although his abilities may be modest, he was able to capture several cities of the Bo family without inciting any resentment. I took on the responsibilities of the Mu Bo, followed the clear map of the court, and personally surveyed the border. Indeed, the boundary is Wangweng River; while Shu County is marked by Madanhou, they falsely claimed it to be Mingdu River. They fabricated claims to mislead the court. I’ve heard that words can carry great weight; accumulated damage can destroy bones, and three people can turn a rumor into a reality. Even a kind mother can wrongly accuse her own child. Now the two counties have been disputing the border for eight years. Today, the issue can be resolved because there are decrees and maps to verify. Pingyuan County is located between two rivers, extending eastward, with a Jue di in the middle. Jue di is in the southwest of Gaotang County, while the disputed land is in the northwest of Gaotang County, more than twenty li apart; it's truly distressing and heartbreaking! According to the decree and the map, Shu County refuses to accept the order. This reflects my inadequacy; how can I face myself and accept a salary for doing nothing?" So, I tightened my belt, put on my shoes, and waited for the decision.
Upon reading my memorial, Cao Shuang was furious. He accused me of harboring resentment and sentenced me to five years of punishment. I remained at home for a year while many defended me, and eventually, I was appointed as the City Gate Colonel.
At that time, the Xiongnu King Liu Jing was quite powerful, and the Xianbei tribe often came to harass the border. The court sent Wang Li to be the governor of Bingzhou and also gave him the title of Zhenwu General, with the authority to carry the emperor's seal and serve as the protector of the Xiongnu. When Wang Li went to visit the Grand Tutor Sima Xuanwang, he had a grim expression and didn't say a word. Sima Xuanwang asked him, "You've just been given such an important position in Bingzhou; why do you look so unhappy? Are you unhappy about the border division? We are about to part ways; why do you not seem happy at all?"
Wang Li said, "Your question is really too detailed! I may not have much to offer, but how could I care about the official position and the past? I originally thought that you could assist the Wei country like Yi Yin and Lv Shang, fulfill the late emperor's wishes, and establish a lasting foundation for the Wei country. But now, with the country in imminent danger and chaos everywhere, that’s why I’m unhappy!" As he spoke, tears began to flow uncontrollably down Wang Li's face. Sima Xuanwang said, "Alright, alright, endure the storm for a while."
After Wang Shuang was executed, Wang Li was appointed as the Commandant of the Capital, and he governed seven counties and five states with considerable respect. Later, he was promoted to Minister of Works and granted the title of Marquis of Dali Pavilion, with a fief of one hundred families. Wang Li and Lu Yu were from the same hometown and were about the same age, but they didn't get along. Despite their individual strengths and weaknesses, their ranks were comparable. In the second year of the Jiaping era, Wang Li passed away and was posthumously honored with the title Marquis Jing, and his grandson Wang Yuan succeeded him in the title.
Wang Guan, style name Weitai, was from Liaocheng City, Shandong Province. Though he came from a poor family, he was ambitious and determined to make a mark. He was later summoned to the palace by the founding emperor and became the Prime Minister's secretary. He was then sent to Gaotang, Yangquan, Zeng, and Ren counties as county magistrate, where he governed the areas very well wherever he served.
After Emperor Wen became the emperor, Wang Guan was called back to the court and became Secretary of State and Chief Judge. Later, he was sent to serve as the governor of Nanyang and Zhuo Commandery. Zhuo Commandery bordered the territory of the Xianbei tribe to the north, and there were frequent raids by the Xianbei people. Wang Guan ordered the local people to form groups of ten households each, live together, and build defensive structures while keeping watch over one another. Some people were unwilling, so Wang Guan sent court officials to assist their families at home, claiming they were going to help, without specifying when they would return, only instructing them to return only after the task was completed. As a result, both officials and the people actively participated, and within less than ten days, all defensive structures were completed. With sufficient defense preparations, the raids by the Xianbei people decreased.
After Emperor Ming became the emperor, he ordered each county to report on their public safety situation, divided into three levels: "severe" (very poor public safety), "moderate" (average public safety), and "good" (good public safety). The supervising official wanted to report Zhuo Commandery as "moderate," but Wang Guan said, "We are right next to the Xianbei, who frequently raid us. How can we say public safety is moderate? This should clearly be classified as 'severe'!" The supervising official said, "If we report Zhuo Commandery as 'severe,' it may affect your son's official position." Wang Guan said, "Being an official means serving the common people. Currently, public safety in our commandery is not good; according to regulations, taxes and labor services should be reduced. How can I sacrifice the welfare of the entire county for the sake of my son's official position?" So, he insisted on reporting Zhuo Commandery as "severe," and later his son successfully assumed his post in Ye City (now Linzhang, Hebei). At that time, Wang Guan only had one son, who was very young. He was truly a man devoted to the common good! Wang Guan lived a simple life and set an example of diligence and frugality, and his subordinates followed his example, embracing diligence and thriftiness, and encouraging one another.
It is said that Emperor Han Ming went to Xuchang for a visit and appointed Wang Guan as the Imperial Secretary and put him in charge of the prison. Many people were impatient and quick-tempered at that time, but Wang Guan remained impartial and fair in his handling of matters. Later, the Grand Commandant Sima Xuanwang recognized his abilities, appointed him as an Attendant of the Palace, then promoted him to a Minister, and subsequently transferred him to the Intendant of Henan, and then to the Privy Treasurer.
General Cao Shuang, abusing his power, sent a man named Zhang Da to cut down the timber from Wang Guan's property and took away many personal items. Upon learning of this, Wang Guan immediately documented and confiscated these items. As the Privy Treasurer was in charge of the treasures of the Three Departments, the Imperial Court, and the Inner Treasury, Cao Shuang and his associates were extravagant and often requested items from Wang Guan. However, Wang Guan adhered to his principles and refused to bend the law for personal gain. Unable to do anything, Cao Shuang transferred Wang Guan to the Master of Ceremonies. Later, Sima Xuanwang removed Cao Shuang from power, appointed Wang Guan as the Commander of the Central Forces to oversee Cao Shuang's brother Cao Xi's camp, granted him the title of Marquis of Guannei, then appointed him as a Minister, and also bestowed upon him the title of Cavalry Commander. Once the Noble Duke ascended to the throne, he further elevated Wang Guan to the title of Marquis of Zhongxiang. Not long after, he granted him the title of Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, and then promoted him to the position of Deputy Director of the Right.
After Chang Daoxiang became emperor, he also elevated Wang Guan's title to Marquis Su and added a thousand households of land grants to him, bringing his total to two thousand five hundred households. Later, he appointed him as Minister of Works, but Wang Guan refused to accept it. However, the emperor insisted and sent someone to his home to directly confer the position on him. A few days after Wang Guan took office, he handed over the seal and ribbon and went straight home to retire. Finally, Wang Guan died at home, leaving behind a will that stated he wanted a simple burial, with only one coffin big enough to hold his body, without any gold, silver, or treasures for burial, and no tombstone or grave mound. After his death, he was posthumously honored as the Marquis of Su, and his son Wang Kui inherited his title. During the Xianxi era, the court reinstated the five ranks of nobility. Due to Wang Guan's past significant contributions, Wang Kui's title was changed to Jiaodongzi. Some people commented: Han Ji was quiet and indifferent, using virtue to educate the people, honest in his official duties; Cui Lin was simple and capable in his work; Gao Rou was proficient in legal texts; Sun Li was upright and decisive in his work; Wang Guan was honest, upright, and self-disciplined. These men were pillars of the court. However, Han Ji didn't rise to high office until he was over eighty; Gao Rou served in his position for twenty years before retiring. Compared with Xu Mai and Chang Lin, these two men had their share of regrets.
