Wang Can, courtesy name Zhongxuan, was a native of Gaoping in Shanyang. His great-grandfather Wang Gong and grandfather Wang Chang were both high-ranking officials of the Han Dynasty. His father Wang Qian was He Jin's chief of staff. When He Jin heard that Wang Qian came from a prestigious family, he wanted to marry his daughter to Wang Qian and personally went to meet Wang Qian's two sons to choose a son-in-law. However, Wang Qian declined the proposal. Later, Wang Qian resigned from his official position due to illness and died at home.
After Emperor Xian moved the capital to the west, Wang Can also moved to Chang'an. The Left General of the Household, Cai Yong, was amazed by Wang Can's talent upon meeting him. At that time, Cai Yong was very famous for his learning and held a high position in the court, with streets often clogged with carriages and horses whenever he went out, and his home always full of guests. When he heard that Wang Can had arrived, Cai Yong was so excited that he threw down his shoes in excitement and rushed to welcome him. When Wang Can arrived, everyone was taken aback to see how young, short, and thin he was. Cai Yong said, "This is the grandson of Wang Gong. He will definitely have extraordinary talent in the future. I am not as good as him. My books and articles at home should be given to him." When Wang Can was seventeen years old, the Ministry of Works called him to serve in an official capacity, and the court appointed him as a Yellow Gate Attendant. However, due to the turmoil in Chang'an at the time, he did not take up the position. So he went to Jingzhou to seek refuge under Liu Biao. Liu Biao considered Wang Can unattractive and frail, so he did not pay much attention to him. Later, when Liu Biao died, Wang Can advised Liu Biao's son Liu Cong to surrender to Cao Cao. Cao Cao appointed him as a chief secretary and bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of the Interior.
Cao Cao held a banquet in Hanbin, and Wang Can offered a toast and congratulated him, saying, "At present, Yuan Shao occupies Hebei and relies on a powerful army, aiming to unify the country. However, although he values talent, he does not know how to utilize it, so many outstanding talents have left him. Liu Biao occupies the region of Jingchu, leisurely observing the changes in the situation, believing he has the foresight of the Western Bo Hou from the Zhou Dynasty. Those who have come to Jingzhou to avoid the chaos of war are the finest talents in the realm. However, Liu Biao does not know how to make use of them, so the state is in peril without capable advisors. Upon assuming office, you swiftly reorganized the army, recruited talents, and then swept across the world. After pacifying the Jianghan area, you promoted those outstanding talents, allowing them to hold important positions, leading the populace to willingly submit to your rule. You combine civil and martial virtues, and heroes and valiant men all serve you. This is an achievement befitting the Three Kings—Yao, Shun, and Yu!" Later, Wang Can was promoted to be the Military Advisor. After the establishment of the Wei Kingdom, he was appointed as the Palace Attendant. He was erudite and could respond to any inquiry. At that time, many outdated systems had fallen into disuse and required reestablishment, and Wang Can frequently oversaw these affairs.
At first, Wang Can walked with others, reading the inscriptions on the side of the road. Someone asked him, "Can you recite it?" He said, "I can." So he recited it, not a single word wrong. Later, everyone gathered to play chess, and the chess game ended; Wang Can set it up again. The chess players did not believe it; they covered the board with a cloth and asked him to rearrange it on another board. After comparing, they found not a single mistake. This was a testament to his extraordinary memory. He was good at arithmetic, and he understood the principles behind solving arithmetic problems. He was also good at writing, and he could write flawlessly without needing to revise. People at that time thought he had written it beforehand; in reality, he put a lot of thought into it, pondering repeatedly, and felt it couldn't be improved. He wrote around sixty poems, essays, and treatises in total. In the 21st year of the Jian'an era, he accompanied the army to attack the state of Wu. In the spring of the 22nd year, he fell ill and died on the journey, at the age of forty-one. Wang Can had two sons, who were later caught up in a scandal involving Wei Fang and were executed, which brought an end to his family line. Wang Can, Emperor Wen (Cao Cao) at the time, and the Marquis of Pingyuan (Cao Zhi) shared a love for literature and enjoyed a close friendship. He maintained close friendships with Xu Gan (styled Weichang) from Beihai, Chen Lin (styled Kongzhang) from Guangling, Ruan Yu (styled Yuanyu) from Chenliu, Ying Yang (styled Delian) from Runan, and Liu Zhen (styled Gonggan) from Dongping.
Xu Gan has served as a Military Advisor and Libationer to the Minister of War, as well as the Literary Attendant Officer of the Five Officials. Chen Lin used to be the Chief Secretary under He Jin. He Jin wanted to eliminate the eunuchs, but the Empress Dowager opposed him. He Jin then summoned fierce warriors from across the land to march their troops into the capital in an attempt to intimidate the Empress Dowager. Chen Lin advised He Jin, saying: "The Book of Changes states, 'even a deer has no worries.' As the saying goes, 'to catch a sparrow, one must cover their eyes.' Even minor matters should not be accomplished through deceit, let alone state affairs. How can you use deceitful means for national matters? Now, General, you hold the royal authority, wield military power, and have a majestic presence. Success or failure lies within your thoughts; using this method is like setting fire to your own hair. You should act swiftly, decisively, reasonably, and in accordance with the will of heaven; yet you are forsaking your advantages and seeking others' counsel. When a large army gathers, the strong will prevail; it's like handing over weapons upside down, surrendering the initiative to others; it will surely not succeed, only cause chaos." He Jin ignored his advice and ultimately brought disaster upon himself. Chen Lin fled to Ji Province, where Yuan Shao assigned him the task of writing. After Yuan Shao's defeat, Chen Lin sought refuge with Cao Cao. Cao Cao remarked, "When you wrote letters for Yuan Shao, a personal attack on me would have been enough; why did you have to involve my ancestors?" Chen Lin apologized, and Cao Cao, appreciating his talent, chose not to blame him. It is said that when Wang Can was young, he studied under the renowned calligrapher Cai Yong. During the Jian'an period, Cao Hong wanted him to take on the role of secretary, but he refused to comply. Later, Cao Cao appointed both Wang Can and Wang Lin as Military Advisors to the Minister of War, responsible for managing the archives, with most court documents and announcements being authored by them. Wang Lin was later appointed as the Supervisor of the Masters of Writing, while Wang Can took on the role of Attendant Officer of the Granaries.
Wang Can's brothers, Wang Gan, Wang Lin, Wang Yang, and Wang Zhen, were also summoned by Cao Cao to serve as aides to the Chancellor. Wang Yang was later promoted to the Marquis of Pingyuan County and then became a literary official. Wang Zhen was disciplined for disrespect, but after the punishment, he was appointed as a clerk. The brothers all wrote dozens of poems and articles.
Wang Can died in the 17th year of Jian'an. Wang Gan, Wang Lin, Wang Yang, and Wang Zhen all died in the 22nd year of Jian'an. Emperor Wen of Wei once sent a letter to Wu Zhi, the magistrate of Yuancheng, saying, "Many friends and relatives died during the recent epidemic, including Xu, Chen, Ying, and Liu. If you look at scholars, both past and present, most do not pay attention to the details, and few manage to make a name for themselves based solely on reputation. However, Wang Can had exceptional literary talent, noble character, simplicity, and a lack of desires, with aspirations of retreating to Jishan, truly a model gentleman! He wrote over twenty essays on 'Zhong Lun,' with elegant language that deserves to be passed down through generations. Delian (Wang Can) was always passionate about creation; his talents were sufficient to write books and develop his own theories, but unfortunately, his ambition was not fulfilled, which is really a shame! Kong Zhang (Wang Lang) wrote very well, though somewhat elaborately. Gong Gan (Wang Su) had a grand style in his writing, but it was not refined enough. Yuan Yu (He Yan) wrote with great beauty, and his writings are a pleasure to read. Zhong Xuan (Cao Zhi) was especially good at poetry, but unfortunately, because of poor health, he couldn't fully showcase his talents; in his field, no one in ancient times could match him. As the saying goes, Boya broke his zither for Zhong Ziqi, and Confucius wept for Zilu, both lamenting the difficulty of finding true friends and capable students! These sons (referring to the Wang brothers and other scholars) may not have reached the heights of the ancients, but they were certainly prominent figures of their time!"
Apart from these seven people, there are also talented individuals like Han Dun and Fan Qin from Yingchuan, Lu Cui from Chenliu, Ding Yi and Ding Zhi from Peiguo, Yang Xiu from Hongnong, Xun Wei from Henei, etc., but they cannot compare to these seven. Wang Chang's brother Wang Qu and Wang Qu's son Wang Zhen also gained fame through their writings. Wang Qu reached the rank of Attendant. Wang Zhen was involved in military affairs during the Xianxi era. Wang Can's son Wang Ji was exceptionally talented, unconventional, and principled, living a frugal life, taking Zhuangzi as a role model. First, let's discuss Ji Kang from Qiao County, who wrote exceptionally well, had a particular fondness for the ideas of Zhuangzi, had a unique personality, and liked to uphold justice and be generous. Later, during the Jingyuan period, he was executed for unspecified reasons. Next is Huan Wei from Pi, who came from humble beginnings and wrote the impressive "Hunyu Jing" at just eighteen, expressing his thoughts based on his understanding of Daoist philosophy. He later served as a clerk in the Qi State and finally became the magistrate of Ancheng County. There is also Wu Zhi, a man from Jiyin, whose excellent writings were highly valued by Emperor Wen. He rose to the position of General Zhenwei, was granted a ceremonial staff, commanded the military forces in Hebei, and was eventually made a marquis.
Wei Ju, courtesy name Bórú, was from Anyi in Hedong. He was exceptionally intelligent and talented from a young age. Cao Cao brought him on as a subordinate official, later appointing him as the magistrate of Maoling County and a Gentleman of the Imperial Secretariat. During Cao Cao's campaign against Yuan Shao, Liu Biao supported Yuan Shao, while the generals in Guanzhong hesitated to advance. There were conflicts between the Governor of Yizhou, Liu Zhang, and Liu Biao. Wei Ju was sent to Yizhou as an Imperial Clerk to urge Liu Zhang to send troops to restrain Liu Biao. However, when he reached Chang'an, the roads were blocked, preventing him from entering, so he stayed in Guanzhong to guard the area. Many people wanted to return to their hometowns at that time, and the generals in Guanzhong recruited these refugees to serve as soldiers under their command. Wei Ju wrote a letter to Xun Yu, saying, "Guanzhong is a rich land. Due to the previous wars, it was left desolate. Over a hundred thousand households who had fled to Jingzhou have heard that their hometowns are now peaceful and wish to return. But when they return, they have no work to do, and the generals are competing to recruit them as soldiers. The counties are too poor to compete with them, so the influence of these generals is growing stronger. If anything unexpected happens one day, it will lead to endless trouble! Salt is a national treasure. Since the chaos of war, the management of salt has been chaotic. Officials should be appointed to supervise the sale of salt as before, using the proceeds to buy cattle for farming. If the common people return, use these resources to support them. Let them work hard to cultivate the land, accumulate food, and make Guanzhong prosperous. When people in distant places hear about this, they will rush back. Then, have the Colonel of Retainers stationed in Guanzhong to oversee the area. This will weaken the power of the generals and strengthen the power of the government and the people. This is a strategy to weaken the enemy and strengthen oneself!" Xun Yu passed the letter to Cao Cao, who accepted his suggestion, appointing an official to oversee the salt affairs and stationing the Colonel of Retainers in Hongnong. Once Guanzhong was stabilized, Cao Cao summoned Wei Ju back to court and gradually promoted him to the position of Gentleman of the Imperial Secretariat. After the establishment of the Wei Kingdom, Wei Ju was appointed as an attendant, working with Wang Can on policy formulation. When Emperor Wen ascended the throne, Wei Ju was transferred to the position of Gentleman of the Imperial Secretariat. Shortly after, he returned to the Han Dynasty as an attendant, participating in the activities to persuade Emperor Xian of Han to abdicate, and drafted the relevant edicts. After Emperor Wen ascended the throne, Wei Ju once again served as a Gentleman of the Imperial Secretariat and was granted the title of Marquis of Yangjiting.
After Emperor Ming ascended the throne, he was appointed as the Marquis of Wenxiang, with a fief of three hundred families. Then, he submitted a memorial saying, "The 'Nine Chapters Law' has been passed down since ancient times, used to judge cases and determine guilt, and the reasoning is quite intricate. Magistrates everywhere should be well-versed in the law. While the state places great importance on criminal law, it is often overlooked in practice; jailers play a critical role in the lives of ordinary citizens, yet those responsible for their selection often underestimate their importance. These factors may contribute significantly to poor governance. Therefore, I propose establishing legal scholars who can teach one another the law." His suggestion was adopted.
At that time, the people were living in hardship, and the labor was burdensome. He wrote a memorial saying, "Change the people's hearts, change their nature, forcing them to do things they are unwilling to do. It is not easy for ministers to say, and it is even harder for the emperor to accept. People all like wealth and glory and fear poverty and death, but all these things are in the hands of the emperor. Whoever the emperor favors will be wealthy and honored; whoever he dislikes will face poverty and death. Those who obey the emperor's will receive benefits; those who go against the emperor's will will be unlucky. Therefore, the ministers all strive to obey the emperor's will and avoid angering him. Unless it is someone who is willing to sacrifice everything for the country, who would dare to risk offending the emperor by speaking frankly? Your Majesty, if you observe closely, you will grasp the sentiments of your subjects. Nowadays, many people prefer to say what sounds good, comparing you to Yao and Shun when discussing politics, and saying the enemy is weak like a mouse when discussing war. I believe this is misguided. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Han, the vassal states were powerful, and Jia Yi considered this very dangerous. Moreover, the country is currently fractured into three factions, and heroes in various regions govern independently. Those who surrender are not truly loyal; they all say they were forced to surrender, which is no different from the period of the Warring States. Now the land is desolate for a thousand miles, and the common people live in poverty. If Your Majesty does not pay attention to this issue, the country will decline to a point of no return. According to ritual and law, the emperor's utensils must be decorated with gold and jade, and the food must be delicacies from mountains and seas. However, in times of disaster, one must reduce food and wear simple clothes. Therefore, the degree of extravagance and frugality should align with the nation's wealth. During the reign of Emperor Wu, the emperor’s household maintained simple meals, modest clothing, and plain bedding, which helped pacify the world and leave blessings for future generations. These are all things that Your Majesty has personally witnessed. Now the most important thing is for the ruler and his subjects to discuss together, calculate the income and expenditure of the national treasury, and spend within their means. We must seriously study Goujian's strategy of developing the livelihood of the people and guard against potential dangers. However, the production of gold and silver objects by the Shangfang is increasing, projects are ongoing, and extravagance and waste are escalating, leaving the national treasury increasingly empty. Emperor Wu of Han believed in immortals and thought he could obtain heavenly dew and jade fragments, so he set up a "Fairy Pavilion" to receive the dew. Your Majesty, in your wisdom, merely smiled at this. Emperor Wu of Han was criticized for seeking heavenly dew, but Your Majesty, without seeking it, has set up the "Fairy Pavilion" in vain; this serves no purpose and instead squanders manpower and resources, which should be reduced by Your Majesty." This individual named Ji frequently offered such loyal counsel during the Han and Wei dynasties.
He received an order from the court to oversee the compilation of the classics and later became an official in the Wei Kingdom, and wrote dozens of articles. He enjoyed studying ancient texts, the bird-and-insect seal script, clerical script, and cursive script, in which he excelled. As the Jian'an period was coming to a close, the Right Chancellor of the Ministry of Works, Pan Xu from Henan, and the Cavalry Attendant, Wang Xiang from Henan, both gained renown for their writings, just like Liu Ji. After Liu Ji's death, he was posthumously granted the title of Jing Marquis, and his son Liu Guan succeeded him as the titleholder. Liu Guan was appointed General of the West during the Xianxi era.
Liu Yi, whose courtesy name was Gongsi, was from Anzhong County in Nanyang. When he was ten years old, he was playing in the classroom, and Sima Decao from Yingchuan patted his head and said, "Child, child, 'the principles of the classics,' don't you know it yourself?" Liu Yi's older brother Liu Wang had a good reputation, and Liu Biao, the governor of Jingzhou, recruited him as a counselor. However, his other two friends were falsely accused and defamed, and both were killed by Liu Biao. Liu Wang resigned and returned home because his candid advice clashed with Liu Biao's decisions. Liu Yi advised him, "When Zhao killed the calf that cried out, Confucius still traveled to different states. Now, if you can't achieve harmony in the court like Liu Xiang, then you should follow the example of Fan Li and gracefully step back after achieving success. Sitting at home and isolating yourself from worldly affairs might not be wise!" Liu Wang didn't listen to him and was soon killed. Fearing for his safety, Liu Yi fled to Yangzhou and later sought refuge with Cao Cao. Cao Cao appointed him as an official in the Chancellor's office and later promoted him to the rank of Wuguan Jiangwen. Emperor Wen highly valued him and ordered Liu Yi to write cursive script. Liu Yi replied, "Initially, due to the distinction between honor and inferiority, this was a customary practice. So, I have always been cautious in following these rules and dare not write cursive script easily. If I must obey your command, I understand the importance of humility and caution. I do not place importance on peculiar or extraordinary skills but prefer a simple and unadorned style. If the State of Yan does not look down on Guo Kui, and the State of Qi does not underestimate the number nine, Yue Yi will come to serve, and then the hegemony can thrive. Sacrificing personal ambitions for greater achievements, even if I am dull and slow-witted, I dare not refuse." When the Wei Kingdom was first established, he became the Yellow Gate Attendant.
Lao Zhu (Zhu Yuanzhang) was in Chang'an, planning to personally lead the troops to attack the Shu area. The counselor Liu Ji quickly wrote a letter advising, "A wise person will not underestimate the opinions of the people simply because they are intelligent, and an emperor will not refuse to listen to the advice of others just because of their status. Therefore, those who achieve enduring success must observe the small details as well as the bigger picture; their wisdom far surpasses those who act alone. They are not ashamed to seek advice from others and hope to collect opinions from everyone as much as possible. Like the string of a musical instrument, which cannot speak, but is used by sages to remind themselves. I am mediocre and my knowledge is shallow; I can only aspire to be like that string."
"In the past, Yue Yi was able to lead the weak army of the Yan Kingdom to defeat the powerful Qi Kingdom, but he could not capture Jimo with a small force. This shows that those who think ahead, even if weak, can hold their ground; while those who only seek their own downfall, even if strong, will inevitably fail. Since you mustered your forces, it has been over thirty years, and none of the enemies you have encountered have been able to defeat you, and no strong opponent has not yielded to you. Now you have the national military strength, with the prestige of winning a hundred battles, but Sun Quan relies on the natural defenses of the Yangtze River to hold on to the Wu area, and Liu Bei also firmly occupies the Shu area. The subjects of those remote lands are not as capable as the soldiers from Jizhou; the power of Sun Quan and Liu Bei is not as strong as Yuan Shao's, but Yuan Shao ultimately failed, while Sun Quan and Liu Bei have not yet been defeated. This is not because they are more foolish or have worse military abilities than their predecessors, but because they understand how to strategize for themselves, which sets them apart from those who only seek their own ruin."
Therefore, Duke Wen of Zhou attacked Chongguo three times without success, then withdrew his troops to focus on cultivating virtue and governing with benevolence, and finally conquered Chongguo. When the State of Qin was still a vassal state, whoever they attacked would surrender; but after unifying the six states and declaring themselves emperor, the State of Qin fell into chaos because of a commoner's outcry and eventually perished. This was because Qin neglected the suffering of the common people. I am worried that although the bandits in the Shu region may not compare to the six states, there's no shortage of talent in the world. If a situation of collapse arises, the consequences could be dire, and we must handle it cautiously. There are important gains and important losses in the world: when the situation is in my favor, I strive for it; this is an important gain; when the situation is not in my favor, but I still strive for it, it is an important loss. The best way now is to assess the strategic positions in all directions, choose important passes for defense, select the most elite soldiers from across the country, and rotate them in guarding the borders. Your Highness can rest peacefully in the comfortable palace, dedicate yourself to governing the country diligently; vigorously develop agriculture and sericulture, keep everything simple and frugal, so that in ten years, the country will thrive and the people will live in peace and prosperity."
After hearing this, Lao Zhu stepped up and said to Liu Ji, "It's not just you who should understand me; I should also understand you. Now you want me to just sit back and reap the rewards like Duke Wen of Zhou, but I'm afraid I can't do that."
Wei Fang rebelled, and Chen Yi's younger brother Chen Wei was implicated by Wei Fang and should have been sentenced to death according to the law. Cao Cao ordered, "Uncle Xiang does not take a seat on his younger brother's back; this is an ancient system." So he showed him special mercy, did not investigate his guilt, and only transferred him to work in the warehouse department of the Prime Minister's office. Chen Yi wrote a letter of thanks saying, "The sins I have committed should extend to the entire family, and calamity should affect the whole clan. Thanks to the grace of heaven, I have caught up with the peaceful era, like pouring hot water on a pot of boiling oil, which did not completely ruin my family; like igniting fireworks from cold ashes, or blooming flowers from dead trees. People receive blessings from heaven and earth but often cannot repay them; children are raised by parents but cannot be grateful. I can serve my country with my life, but it's hard to express my gratitude in words." Chen Yi wrote dozens of works and discussed criminal law and etiquette with Ding Yi, and these works have been passed down. After Emperor Wen ascended the throne, Chen Yi was appointed as an attendant and was granted the title of Marquis of Guannei. He passed away in the second year of Huangchu, without a child, and the emperor allowed his disciple Chen Fu to inherit his title.
Liu Shao, styled Kongcai, was a native of Guangping in Handan. During the Jian'an period, he served as a calculation official and went to Xuchang. One day, the Grand Astrologer reported, "A solar eclipse will occur on the first day of the first month." At that time, Liu Shao was with Xun Yu, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, and there were dozens of people present. Some suggested cancelling the morning court, while others proposed postponing it. Liu Shao said, "Zishen and Bizao were renowned historians in ancient times, and they once predicted water and drought disasters, but the predictions were wrong, missing the right timing. The 'Book of Rites' states that when vassals visit the emperor, there are four situations where the ritual cannot be completed upon reaching the emperor's palace gates, one of which is a solar eclipse. Since the sages established this system and did not cancel the court due to unusual phenomena, it is possible that the disaster has resolved itself or that the prediction methods themselves were wrong." Xun Yu was very impressed by his words and ordered the morning court to proceed as usual, and that day, a solar eclipse did not occur.
Xi Lü recommended Wang Shao for an official position at that time. Later, Xi Lü was dismissed from his position, and Wang Shao became the attendant of the Crown Prince, and later was promoted to the position of Gentleman of the Secretariat. During the early years of the Huangchao period, he became a Gentleman of the Imperial Secretariat and a Cavalry Attendant. The Emperor tasked him with collecting and organizing the Five Classics and various texts, categorizing and compiling them into the "Imperial Overview."
After Emperor Ming ascended to the throne, Wang Shao was appointed Prefect of Chenliu, where he governed diligently, was devoted to the welfare of the people, and vigorously developed education, earning the admiration of the locals. Later, the court recalled him and appointed him as a Cavalry Commandant. Alongside Imperial Censor Yu Yi and Xun Shen, he formulated legal articles, wrote eighteen new laws, and authored the "Treatise on Laws." He was later promoted to Cavalry Attendant.
At that time, it was rumored that Gongsun Yuan had accepted the title of King of Yan bestowed by Sun Quan. Some in the court suggested sending troops to attack him and hold Gongsun Yuan accountable. However, Wang Shao argued, "Previously, the Yuan brothers sought refuge with Gongsun Kang, who killed them and presented their heads to the court. This shows that Gongsun Yuan's ancestors had been loyal to the court. Also, the news we are hearing now is difficult to verify. In ancient times, when remote areas were not completely submissive, the court would uphold benevolent governance and refrain from using force easily, as war would bring suffering to the people. We should be lenient towards him and give him a chance to reform." Later, Gongsun Yuan indeed killed the envoys sent by Sun Quan, including Zhang Mi, and presented their heads to the court.
Wang Shao once wrote "Ode to Zhao Capital," which Emperor Ming greatly admired, so he ordered him to write "Ode to Xu Capital" and "Ode to Luo Capital." At that time, the court was preoccupied with military campaigns abroad and extensive palace construction at home. When writing these two odes, Wang Shao subtly conveyed his counsel.
During the reign of Qinglong, the Wu army surrounded Hefei. At that time, the officials guarding the eastern front were on staggered leave. General Man Chong requested the court to send reinforcements from the central army and recall the soldiers on leave to prepare to concentrate our forces for a counterattack. Wang Shao argued, "The enemy has just arrived and their morale is high. Man Chong only has a small number of troops holding out in Hefei. If we attack recklessly, victory is not guaranteed. Man Chong's request for reinforcements is not wrong. However, we should first send five thousand infantry and three thousand elite cavalry to advance boldly at the front to intimidate the enemy. Once the cavalry reaches Hefei, they should disperse, create a show of force outside the city to lure the enemy out, then block their retreat and cut off their supply lines. When the enemy hears that a large force is closing in and their retreat is cut off by the cavalry, they will surely panic and collapse without a fight." The Emperor accepted his advice. When the army reached Hefei, the Wu forces indeed retreated.
The emperor issued a decree to widely search for talents. The Minister of the Imperial Household, Xiahou Hui, recommended the court attendant Liu Shao to the emperor, saying: "I have found that Liu Shao is loyal and upright, thinks deeply about issues, and handles matters with great thoroughness. Therefore, all kinds of talents, regardless of their abilities, can find common ground and gain insights from him. Honest people appreciate his fairness and impartiality, those who are serene and self-effacing admire his profound thoughts and humble demeanor, literati praise his meticulous reasoning, legal scholars admire his precise calculations and analysis, intellectuals appreciate his depth and steadiness, writers love his incisive arguments and elegant writing style, those who establish systems value his concise strategies, and those skilled in strategy commend his clear thinking and sharp insight. All these evaluations are based on their respective expertise and assess Liu Shao's talents from various perspectives. I have often listened to his profound discussions, read his deep arguments, and day by day, my admiration for him has only deepened. I believe he is truly a rare talent in the court. People like him should support the emperor in managing state affairs and participate in decision-making in the court. He will definitely help drive the nation's prosperity and development, something that few can achieve. I humbly request Your Majesty to allow Liu Shao to fully showcase his talents in a tranquil setting so that your benevolence may reach the heavens and your glory will shine ever more brightly."
During the Jingchu era, Liu Shao was responsible for establishing the examination system for officials. In his memorial, he stated: "The examination of officials is a major aspect of national governance, yet it has not been emphasized in past dynasties. As a result, there are deficiencies in the governance system that have not been addressed, leading to a mix of outstanding and mediocre individuals that are difficult to distinguish. Your Majesty, with your wise foresight and concern for the decline of national morals and discipline, has issued an edict seeking improvement. I have been honored to participate in this matter and have formulated the Examination of Officials with seventy-two articles, as well as written an explanatory article. Given my limited knowledge, I find it challenging to fully convey the spirit of your decree and refine the system of laws and regulations." He also believed that a system of rites and music should be instituted to transform societal customs, and therefore wrote fourteen articles on music theory, but he was unable to complete this before Emperor Ming's death, and as a result, these systems were never implemented. During the Zhengshi era, he devoted himself to teaching classics and was granted the title of Marquis of Guannei. Throughout his life, he wrote over one hundred articles including discussions on law and biographies. After his death, he was posthumously honored with the title of Guanglu Xun. His son, Liu Lin, inherited his title.
Liu Shao's contemporary, Miao Xi from Donghai, was also gifted and prolific in his writings, eventually becoming a Shangshu and Guanglu Xun. Miao Xi's friend, Zhong Changtong from Shanyang, served as a Shangshu Lang during the late Han dynasty but died young. He wrote "Changyan," which is beautifully written and definitely worth a read.
At that time, in addition to the famous ministers, there were also some officials who wrote many articles that were passed down through the generations. For example, the Attendant Cavalry Su Lin from Chenliu, the Guanglu Daifu Wei Dan from Jingzhao, the Taishou of Le'an Xiahou Hui from Qiaoguo, the Taishou of Chenjun Sun Gai from Rencheng, and the Langzhongling Du Zhi from Hedong, all authored well-known articles that have been widely read.
In this way, many officials participated in the creation of articles, which were widely circulated and added vibrancy to the culture of the time. "Sulin, the Cavalry Attendant from Chenliu, Weidan, the Groom of the Chamberlain for Law Enforcement from Jingzhao, Xiahou Hui, the Prefect of Le'an from Qiaoguo, Suncheng, the Prefect of Chenjun from Rencheng, and Duzhi, the Attendant Official from Hedong, also wrote essays, which were quite renowned." This statement encapsulates the flourishing literary scene of that era, with many officials participating and leaving behind many excellent works.
Fu Gu, styled Lanshi, was a native of Niyang in Beidi and a descendant of Fu Jiezhi. His uncle, Fu Xun, served as an Imperial Secretary during the Huangchu era. Fu Gu gained recognition early in life, and Sikong Chen Qun recruited him as his assistant.
At that time, the Cavalry Attendant Liu Shao established an examination system, which was implemented in the three offices. Fu Gu disagreed with Liu Shao's views and said, "I have heard that the system of emperors is very grand and profound, and the teachings of the sages are very mysterious and profound. If people without real talent cannot truly implement these systems, the saying 'divine insight depends on the individual' means just that. However, now the country's strategies are declining, there has been little progress for many years, the teachings of the sages have faded, and the classics are incomplete. Why is this? Because the principles are indeed vast and profound, and there are too few talented people. Although Liu Shao's examination system aims to refer to the systems of promoting and demoting officials from previous generations, the system itself has many shortcomings."
Only the institutional framework of the Zhou Dynasty remains relatively intact. The Zhou Dynasty established feudal lords as a buffer against external threats, set up various official positions within the country, managed six key functions, had fixed land taxes and clearly defined official duties, with various individuals occupying these roles. The common people engaged in different professions, which made it easier to evaluate performance and adjust officials' ranks accordingly. The Wei Kingdom inherited the final stages of hundreds of dynasties and the systems of the Qin and Han Dynasties, but it failed to effectively inherit and develop these systems. From the Jian'an period to the Qinglong period, although the Wei Kingdom pacified chaos, established the imperial court, and eliminated rebellions, the state was too preoccupied with urgent affairs to refine its systems. Both governance and military operations relied on pragmatic solutions, and the appointments of officials and military personnel were determined by immediate needs. Applying ancient systems to modern governance proved complex and challenging. This was because the system was overly ambitious in design and at times unrealistic, and laws needed to adapt to contemporary demands, which complicated their transmission to future generations.
Establishing official positions, assigning duties, and streamlining civil administration are the foundation of founding a country; assessing the actual situation according to titles, correcting mistakes, and improving the system are the finer points of governance. With the foundation of the country not yet established, the assessment system has been prioritized, making it hard to assess talent and differentiate the genuine from the false. In ancient times, wise rulers selected talents by examining their conduct in the local area and their knowledge in school. If their conduct was good, they were considered virtuous; if their knowledge was good, they were considered capable. Village elders would recommend talented individuals to the monarch, who would then accept their suggestions. Talented individuals were sent out to work, and capable individuals were sent to the court to serve. This was the method used by the ancient wise rulers to select talents. Nowadays, people from all over the country, including those in the capital, do not have a system of recommendations from the village. The responsibility of selecting talent now rests entirely with the Ministry of Personnel. Judging their abilities based on their rank and qualifications isn't always reliable; judging their virtues based on their achievements isn't always reliable either. Thus, the assessment system fails to fully identify talent. Summarizing the emperor's system and refining the nation's laws is complex and difficult to articulate completely.
During the early years of the Zhengshi period, he was appointed as a junior official and later promoted to the position of Huangmen Shilang. At that time, Cao Shuang held great power, and He Yan became the Minister of Civil Affairs. Wang Su said to Cao Shuang's brother Cao Xi, "This Uncle He Ping may seem quite calm at first glance, but in fact, he is very shrewd and especially greedy. He doesn't consider the fundamental interests of the country at all. I'm concerned that he'll mislead you brothers first, and those truly talented individuals will be marginalized, resulting in the court's downfall!" He Yan and the others were very unhappy with Wang Su because of this, so they found a small fault and dismissed him from his position.
Later he was appointed as the Governor of Yingyang, but he did not take up the post. The Grand Tutor Sima Yi (Xuan Wang) requested him to serve as a Gentleman Attendant. After Cao Shuang was executed, Wang Su was appointed as the Governor of Henan and later promoted to the position of Minister. Wang Su often said, "The Qin Dynasty abolished the feudal lords, established county officials, and created various official positions, which differs from ancient practices. The Han Dynasty and Wei Dynasty followed suit, and this practice has continued to this day. However, scholars and intellectuals often attempt to merge the rituals and systems of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, resulting in overly complicated rituals that are detached from reality and inconsistent with the actual situation, with improper names and improper words. Therefore, throughout the ages, no dynasty has truly managed to govern the country well, likely due to this. I had originally planned to implement significant reforms to the official system, emulate ancient practices and return to the right course, but now, given the difficulties facing the royal family, these reforms cannot be implemented for the time being."
Someone suggested launching an attack on the state of Wu and presented three different battle plans. The emperor asked for Jia Chong's opinion, and Jia Chong replied: "In the past, King Fu Chai defeated the state of Qi, conquered the state of Jin, and dominated the Central Plains, but eventually died in Gusu; King Min of Qi annexed land and expanded territory, opening up thousands of miles of land, but ended up in ruin. A good start does not necessarily lead to a good outcome, as ancient people have long proven. Since Sun Quan defeated Guan Yu and occupied Jingzhou, he became complacent and arrogant, leading to the grand military plans made by Xu Wenhou (the Marquis of Xuanwen) in preparation for a major attack. Now that Sun Quan has died and entrusted the state to Zhuge Ke, if we can correct Zhuge Ke's tyranny, easing the people's suffering and allowing them to live in peace, with unity both internally and externally, even if we cannot ultimately protect ourselves, we can survive longer south of the Yangtze River. However, some suggest directly crossing the river and acting rashly; some suggest advancing on all fronts and attacking the cities of Wu; some suggest extensive farming to wait for the right moment: these are all common strategies against a strong enemy. However, since our military campaign began, it has been three years, not a blitzkrieg. Wu has been in chaos for nearly sixty years, with deception between rulers and subjects, sharing fortunes and misfortunes. Now that they have lost their commander, there is fear among them. If Wu stops their ships at important ferry crossings and holds onto key cities, the reckless plan on the river may be difficult to execute successfully. Only extensive farming is the most secure method. By farming on the border, the enemy will not come to harass; by stockpiling grain, there is no need to transport food; by seizing the opportunity to strike, there is no need for long-distance travel: this is the military's most pressing task. In the past, Fan Kuai wanted to lead a hundred thousand troops to dominate the Xiongnu, but Ji Bu openly criticized him. Now, wanting to cross the Yangtze River and penetrate enemy territory is the same reasoning. It is better to first rectify the laws, train the soldiers, strategize in stable locations, and use long-term plans to deal with the remnants of the enemy's forces, which is bound to lead to success."
No text to translate.
Later, the great general of Wu, Zhuge Ke, had just captured Dongguan and pressed his advantage, claiming that he would attack Qingzhou and Xuzhou, prompting the court to prepare its defenses. Jia Chong believed, "North of the Huai River is not an easy path for the Wu army to travel, and in the past, when Sun Quan sent troops to sea, they were all swallowed by the wind and waves; none of them returned. Would Zhuge Ke really gamble his fate on the surging waves? At most, Zhuge Ke would send some experienced water battle generals and soldiers, take boats up the Huai River, and feign an attack on Qingzhou and Xuzhou, while he himself would lead a large army to attack Huainan." Later, Zhuge Ke did indeed attack New City (Xincheng), but failed and returned. Fu Gu often discussed the similarities and differences in people's talents and characters with others, and once discussed these issues with Zhong Hui. In the late years of the Jiaping period, the emperor bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Guannei. After the Duke of Gao ascended to the throne, he was further promoted to Marquis of Wuxiang. In the spring of the second year of Zhengyuan, Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin rebelled. Some felt that King Jing of Sima should not go to the front lines himself, but should send Grand Commandant Wang Chang instead. Only Fu Gu and Wang Su persuaded King Jing of Sima to go in person. King Jing of Sima ultimately decided to lead the troops himself. Fu Gu was appointed as the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat and accompanied King Jing of Sima on the eastern expedition. The rebellion led by Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin was eventually suppressed, with Fu Gu playing a significant role. After King Jing of Sima's death, Fu Gu and King Wen of Sima returned directly to Luoyang, where King Wen of Sima began to take on governance. All these events are recorded in Zhong Hui's biography.
Because of his military achievements, Fu Jia was appointed as the Marquis of Yangxiang, with his fiefdom expanded by six hundred households, totaling one thousand two hundred households. In the same year, Fu Jia passed away at the age of forty-seven, and the court posthumously honored him with the title of Grand Preceptor and conferred the posthumous title of Marquis Yuan. His son, Fu Zhi, inherited his title. During the Xianxi era, the court established a five-rank system of nobility. Due to Fu Jia's notable contributions in earlier dynasties, his son Fu Zhi's title was changed to Marquis of Jingyuan.
Commentary: In the past, Emperor Wen and Prince Chen, despite being of royal lineage, had a wide appreciation for literature and learning, mutually admiring each other, leading to the rise of a group of talented individuals, among whom Cao Zhi and five others were the most famous. Cao Zhi especially held the position of Minister of Works (Changbo), establishing a generation of systems, but his humility and open-mindedness did not match the purity and nobility of Xu Gan. Wei Ju, due to his wide knowledge and mastery of allusions, became a paragon of support for the king during that era. Liu Shao was well-versed in various classics and possessed both literary talent and moral integrity. Liu Yi was known for his integrity and uprightness, while Fu Jia gained renown for his exceptional talents.
