Real Histories
Man Chong, whose courtesy name was Boming, was a native of Changyi in Shanyang. At the age of eighteen, he became the district inspector of the county. At that time, various people in the county, including Li Shuo, formed factions and oppressed the people. The governor sent Man Chong to handle the situation. After Li Shuo and the others confessed, they ceased their misconduct. Later, Man Chong was appointed as the magistrate of Gaoping County. There was a man named Zhang Bao, the county's postal inspector, who was involved in corruption and disrupting government affairs. When Zhang Bao came to the county office, Man Chong had him arrested, interrogated him rigorously, and completed the trial that very day. Zhang Bao was dismissed, and Man Chong subsequently resigned and returned home.
When Cao Cao became the governor of Yanzhou, he hired Man Chong as his assistant. Later, when Cao Cao became the Grand Commander, he appointed Man Chong to serve in the Western Bureau, and later made him the magistrate of Xuchang County. At that time, Cao Hong, a prominent relative of Cao Cao, had a high status, and his guests committed crimes in Xuchang County multiple times. Man Chong arrested them and held trials. Cao Hong wrote to Man Chong requesting the release of the prisoners, but Man Chong ignored him. Cao Hong complained to Cao Cao, who summoned the magistrate of Xuchang County. Realizing that Cao Cao intended to release the prisoners, Man Chong swiftly executed the offenders. Cao Cao was pleased and remarked, "This is how such matters ought to be handled."
Later, the Grand Commandant Yang Biao was imprisoned, and the Minister of Works Xun Yu, the Minister over the Masses Kong Rong, and others approached Man Chong, saying, "Just question him, do not use torture." Man Chong did not respond and proceeded to question Yang Biao following legal procedures. After a few days, Man Chong went to see Cao Cao and said, "There is nothing significant to report from questioning Yang Biao. Before executing anyone, we must first clarify their charges. Yang Biao is well respected nationwide; if the charges are unclear, it will let the people down. I am concerned for you!" Cao Cao immediately pardoned Yang Biao. Initially, Xun Yu and Kong Rong were angry when they heard that Man Chong was going to torture Yang Biao, but after this incident, they grew to admire Man Chong even more.
At that time, Yuan Shao was powerful, controlling the Hebei region, and Runan was Yuan Shao's hometown. His disciples and officials were spread throughout Runan, all armed to resist Cao Cao. Cao Cao was deeply concerned, so he sent Man Chong to be the Governor of Runan. Man Chong recruited five hundred men willing to surrender, led them to capture over twenty strongholds, lured the leaders who had not yet surrendered, and killed over ten of them on the spot, swiftly restoring peace to Runan. Man Chong recovered twenty thousand households and two thousand soldiers, allowing them to farm in peace.
In the thirteenth year of the Jian'an era, Cao Cao campaigned against Jingzhou. Upon his return, he left Yue Jin as the General of Fendwei, stationed in Dangyang. Sun Quan frequently raided the eastern border, so Cao Cao recalled Yue Jin to the capital to serve as the Governor of Runan, granting him the title of Marquis of Guannei.
Guan Yu besieged Xiangyang, and Yue Jin assisted General Cao Ren in resisting at Fancheng. As a result, Cao's forces, including Yu Jin, were defeated by Guan Yu due to heavy rain causing flooding. Guan Yu launched a fierce assault on Fancheng, resulting in multiple breaches in the city walls, terrifying the soldiers. Some advised Cao Ren to escape under the cover of night using lightweight boats before Guan Yu could fully encircle them, arguing that even if they lost the city, it would be better than losing their lives. Yue Jin said, "The water is rising quickly, but it likely won't last long. I heard that Guan Yu has sent other generals to Jiaxia, causing panic among the local populace south of Xuchang. Guan Yu is hesitant to attack because he fears our troops will strike from behind. If we flee now, the entire region south of the Huai River will be lost to the state! You should hold your ground." Cao Ren agreed, so Yue Jin submerged his white horse in the river and swore an oath with his soldiers. At that moment, reinforcements led by Xu Huang arrived. Yue Jin fought bravely, achieved great success, and Guan Yu eventually retreated. Yue Jin was bestowed the title of Marquis of Anchangting.
After Emperor Wen ascended to the throne, Yue Jin was promoted to the position of Yangwu General. He defeated the Wu army in the Battle of Jiangling, earned military honors, and was appointed as Fubo General, stationed at Xinye. The army marched south and arrived at Jing Lake, with Yue Jin leading his forces in the front, facing the enemy across the water. Yue Jin instructed the generals, "The wind is strong tonight; the enemy will likely come to burn our camp. Everyone must be prepared!" All the troops remained on high alert. In the middle of the night, the enemy indeed sent ten units to launch a sneak attack and set fire, and Yue Jin led his forces in a counterattack, defeating the enemy, and was subsequently granted the title of Marquis of Nanxiang.
In the third year of Huangchu AD, Yue Jin was granted military authority. In the fifth year, he was appointed as the General of the Front. After Emperor Ming ascended to the throne, Yue Jin was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Changyi. In the second year of Taihe, Yue Jin served as the Inspector of Yuzhou. In the spring of the third year, someone reported that the Wu general Yan Jun claimed to go hunting north of the Yangtze River, and Sun Quan wanted to personally lead the expedition. Yue Jin anticipated that Sun Quan would attack Xiyang, so he made preparations in advance. Upon hearing this, Sun Quan decided to retreat. In the autumn, Cao Cao sent Cao Xiu to attack Hefei from Lujiang, and at the same time ordered Yue Jin to go to Xiakou. Yue Jin submitted a memorial stating, "Although Cao Xiu is clever and decisive, he rarely leads troops in battle. The route he is taking now is backed by a lake and the Yangtze River on the side, making it easy to advance but hard to retreat, which military strategists refer to as a dangerous position. If he enters Hefei without a strong foothold, he should be fully prepared." Before Yue Jin's memorial was acknowledged, Cao Xiu had already penetrated deep into enemy territory. Indeed, the enemy blocked the route at Wuqiangkou, cutting off Cao Xiu's retreat. Cao Xiu faced difficulties in battle and began to retreat. At this time, Zhu Ling and other reinforcements arrived, cutting off the enemy's retreat from behind, and they engaged with the enemy. The enemy panicked and fled, enabling Cao Xiu's army to return safely. That same year, Cao Xiu passed away, and Yue Jin succeeded him as the Commander of military operations in Yangzhou.
The soldiers and civilians in Runan all greatly admire Yue Jin. The common folk came out one after another to see him off, and the roads were packed to the brim, and there was no way to stop them. The military officials proposed executing the troublemakers. The court decreed that Yue Jin should lead a thousand troops, with the rest left out of the equation. After four years, Yue Jin was appointed as the General for Conquering the East. In the winter of that year, Sun Quan claimed he would attack Hefei. Yue Jin requested to gather troops from Yanzhou and Yuzhou, and all the troops were assembled. The enemy soon retreated, and the court ordered the troops to be withdrawn. Yue Jin believed that the enemy's retreat was likely a ruse to draw them out, so he requested not to withdraw the troops. Sure enough, Sun Quan returned after more than ten days, arrived at Hefei's walls, couldn't take the city, and had to pull back.
The next year, the Wu general Sun Bu sent a messenger to Yangzhou to surrender, saying, "The journey is too far, we cannot come in person, please send troops to meet us." The governor Wang Ling presented Sun Bu's letter and requested to send troops to meet them. Yue Jin believed it was a trick and disagreed with sending troops. He wrote a reply to Wang Ling, saying, "Knowing right from wrong, wanting to avoid disaster, submit to the court, abandon evil and do good, that's really commendable. Now you want to send troops to meet them, but with too few troops, they wouldn't be able to defend themselves, and with too many troops, secrets may be leaked. It's best to have a private discussion first, confirm the sincerity of surrender, and then decide how to act based on the situation." Yue Jin instructed the chief official of the prefecture that if Wang Ling wanted to send troops to meet them, do not give him any troops. Later, Wang Ling's request to send troops didn't go through, and only a commander with seven hundred cavalry was sent to meet them. Sun Bu launched a nighttime assault, and the commander fled in defeat, with over half of his men killed or wounded.
At first, Le Jin and Wang Ling had a poor relationship while working together. Wang Ling's faction slandered Le Jin, claiming he was old and incompetent, so Emperor Ming summoned Le Jin. After Le Jin arrived in the capital, he appeared vigorous and healthy. Emperor Ming saw him and promptly sent him back. Le Jin made repeated requests to stay, but the court responded, "In the past, Lian Po had a huge appetite and Ma Yuan could still ride horses into battle. You are not old yet, but claim to be old. You're not at all like Lian Po and Ma Yuan! You should think about how to defend the border and benefit the country."
The next year, Sun Quan sent General Lu Xun to launch an attack on Lujiang. Many believed they should rush to provide support. However, Zhang Liao said, "Although Lujiang is small, the enemy troops are strong and courageous. If they hold their ground, they can last a long time. Moreover, the enemy abandoned their ships and traveled two hundred miles before attacking. Their rear is unprotected, clearly trying to lure us in. We should let them continue forward, in case they get away too quickly for us to catch up!" So Zhang Liao organized the army and went to Yang Yikou. When the enemy heard that a large army was coming from the east, they quickly fled at night. Sun Quan has plans to attack Hefei every year.
In the first year of the Qinglong era, Zhang Liao wrote: "On the south side of Hefei City, which is near the Yangtze River, while the north side is far from Shou Chun. If our troops attempt to rescue, they must first defeat the enemy's main force before they can break the siege. It is easy for the enemy to attack, but it is difficult for us to rescue. The troops in the city should be relocated to a position thirty miles west, where we can take advantage of the terrain. Then build a fortified city there to defend. This will allow us to lure the enemy onto the plains and cut off their retreat, giving us a strategic advantage." General Jiang Ji believed: "This would be seen as a sign of weakness. If the enemy sees our campfires, they might take the opportunity to attack the city, which would be like retreating before a fight. In this way, the enemy will plunder recklessly, and the region north of the Huai River will definitely not be able to hold on." The Emperor disagreed.
Zhang Liao again wrote: "Sun Tzu's Art of War emphasizes the importance of deception in warfare. Therefore, to appear weak while being strong, to distract the enemy with incentives, and to deter the enemy with intimidation. This means that the outward appearance doesn’t always have to match reality. The Art of War also says, 'Those who are good at confusing the enemy must show a certain form.' Now that the enemy has not yet arrived, we will move the city inside first, which is a tactic to lure the enemy. We should lead the enemy away from water sources, choose advantageous terrain for battle, win outside, and reap the rewards inside." Minister Zhao Zi recognized the merit in Zhang Liao's strategy, and the Emperor ultimately granted his request.
That year, Sun Quan personally led troops to besiege Xincheng. Due to the long journey, they dared not to disembark for more than twenty days. Zhang Liao told his generals, "Sun Quan knows we have relocated the city; someone in his army will definitely brag about it. Now he is launching a major attack to take all the credit. Although he does not dare to truly attack, he will definitely come ashore to flaunt his military might and assert his strength." So Zhang Liao secretly sent six thousand infantry and cavalry to ambush in a concealed location in Hefei. Sun Quan indeed came ashore to flaunt his military might, and Zhang Liao's ambush immediately launched an attack, killing hundreds of enemy soldiers, with many others jumping into the water to escape.
The following year, Sun Quan personally led an army claiming to be a hundred thousand strong to Xincheng in Hefei. Zhang Liao quickly rushed to support and recruited dozens of strong men to fell pine trees to craft torches, drenched them in sesame oil, lit them upwind, burned the enemy's siege engines, and also shot and killed Sun Quan's general Sun Tai. The enemy then retreated. In the spring of the third year, Sun Quan sent thousands of soldiers to cultivate land north of the Yangtze River. By August, Zhang Liao believed the crops were almost ripe, with men, women, and children all working in the fields. Their garrison was stationed far from the city, some even hundreds of miles away, creating a prime opportunity for a surprise attack. So Zhang Liao sent a commander to lead three armies down the east bank of the river, destroying the enemy's farmland, burning the food supplies, and then returning. The Emperor issued a decree praising him and bestowed all the captured spoils upon the soldiers.
In the year 199 AD, due to old age, Zhang Chong was summoned back to the court and promoted to Grand Commandant. Zhang Chong did not own any property or have savings at home. The Emperor said, "You lead troops outside, wholeheartedly serving the public, exhibiting the same loyalty and integrity as Xingfu and Jie Zun. I grant you ten hectares of land, five hundred hu of grain, and two hundred thousand coins, to commend your integrity, loyalty, frugality, and thriftiness." Zhang Chong was granted a total of 9,600 households as his fief and was also ennobled as a Marquis for his two sons. In the year 242 AD, Zhang Chong passed away and was posthumously granted the title of Marquis of Jing. His son Zhang Wei inherited the title, renowned for his integrity and moderation, eventually rising to the rank of Commandant of the Guards.
Tian Yu, styled Guo Rang, was a man from Yongnu in Yuyang. When Liu Bei sought refuge with Gongsun Zan, Tian Yu, still a young man, chose to join Liu Bei, who greatly appreciated him. Later, when Liu Bei became the Inspector of Yu Province, Tian Yu requested to return home due to his elderly mother. Liu Bei tearfully bid him farewell, saying, "It's such a pity we can't accomplish great things together!"
Gongsun Zan appointed Tian Yu as the magistrate of Dongzhou County. Gongsun Zan's general Wang Men betrayed him, leading tens of thousands of soldiers sent by Yuan Shao to attack Dongzhou. Everyone was terrified and wanted to surrender. Tian Yu climbed the city wall and said to Wang Men, "You left him after receiving Gongsun Zan's favor, which must have been for a compelling reason; but now you have turned into a traitor, which shows that you are a troublemaker. You're like someone holding a water jar—limited in wisdom; defending the city doesn’t need any special tools. I’ve taken on this task, so why don’t we launch a counterattack?" Wang Men left in shame. Although Gongsun Zan recognized Tian Yu's talents, he couldn't put him to good use. After Gongsun Zan was defeated, Xian Yu Fu was chosen by the locals to serve as the acting governor, and since he had a good relationship with Tian Yu, he appointed him as his chief of staff. At that time, various heroes were rising up, and Xian Yu Fu did not know who to join. Tian Yu said to Xian Yu Fu, "In the end, it will be Cao Cao who unifies the country. You should surrender to him quickly to avoid any future troubles." Xian Yu Fu followed his advice and was highly valued and rewarded by Cao Cao. Cao Cao appointed Tian Yu as a military strategist in his administration, then appointed him as the magistrate of Yingyin County and Langling County, and promoted him to be the prefect of Yiyang, whereever he went, he governed effectively.
Marquis Zhang Zhang of Yanling led an expedition against Daijun and appointed Tian Yu as his staff. When the army reached the north bank of the Yishui River, they were ambushed by the enemy, and the soldiers panicked, unsure of what to do. Tian Yu used the terrain to make the army form a circular formation, with archers and crossbowmen positioned inside, using feigned troops to exploit the enemy's weaknesses. The enemy couldn't advance and scattered in retreat. Tian Yu led the army in pursuit, defeated the enemy, and successfully pacified Daijun, all thanks to his strategies.
I was transferred to Nanyang as governor. Before that, there was a man named Hou Yin in Nanyang who rebelled and took thousands of followers to hide in the mountains as bandits, causing unrest in the whole region. The previous governor captured more than five hundred of Hou Yin's accomplices and reported to the court that they deserved execution.
I met with the incarcerated individuals, comforted them, offered them a way out, and encouraged their reform. Then, I released them from their restraints. The prisoners bowed repeatedly, promising to reform, and then they began to communicate with one another. As a result, the bandits dispersed, and Nanyang County was restored to peace. I wrote a detailed report on this and reported it to Cao Cao, who was quite pleased.
In the early period of Emperor Wen of Han, the nomadic tribes in the north were strong and often harassed the border regions. The court appointed Yu as Colonel and Protector of the Wuhuan, while Qian and Jie were respectively responsible for protecting the Xianbei. From east of Gaoliu to west of Wamo, there were dozens of Xianbei tribes, each ruled by leaders like Binen, Mijia, and Suli, each controlling their own territory. At that time, they also swore to refrain from trading horses with the Central Plains.
Yu believed that the alliance of these nomadic tribes posed a threat to the Central Plains, so he first incited discord among them and provoked them into attacking one another. Suli violated the agreement and secretly sold a thousand horses to the court, which led to an attack from Binen and prompted him to seek help from Yu. Yu was worried that they would unite and cause greater harm, so he decided to help the weak and strike against the evil forces to establish his authority. He took only an elite force deep into the enemy camp, but the Hu were numerous and surrounded him from all sides, cutting off his escape route.
Yu ordered the army to advance, camping more than ten miles from the Hu, piled up cow and horse manure, and set it ablaze, then withdrew the troops via another route. Seeing the flickering flames, the Hu believed the Han army was still present. They pursued for miles before realizing they had been deceived. They chased to Macheng and heavily surrounded Yu's army. Yu was well-prepared; he had the Sima display flags, beat drums, and blow horns, sending infantry and cavalry out from the south gate to attract the attention of the Hu. Yu himself led the elite troops out from the north gate, attacking from both inside and outside, taking the Hu by surprise. The Hu army was in chaos, abandoning their helmets and armor and scattering in all directions. The Han army pursued for more than twenty miles, and the ground was littered with Hu corpses.
Later, the king of the Wuhuan tribe, Gu Jin, was defiant and disregarded the rules. When Yu was inspecting the border, he brought just over a hundred riders into Gu Jin's territory. Gu Jin actually dared to come and see Yu, so Yu had his men execute Gu Jin on the spot to serve as a warning to others. Everyone was frightened and were too frightened to act rashly, so they had no choice but to recommend Gu Jin's brother as his successor. From then on, the Hu people were terrified, and Yu's reputation shook the desert.
Bandit Gao Ai, with several thousand men under him, often raided in Youzhou and Jizhou, harming the people. Yu orchestrated the execution of Gao Ai by the Xianbei Suli tribe and delivered his severed head to the capital. The court appointed Yu as the Marquis of Changle Pavilion. Yu served as Colonel for nine years, constantly suppressing the strong tribes that wanted to merge and expand, fostering mutual suspicion among them. Yu incited division among fugitive criminals, as well as those who plotted against the court and were unfavorable to the Hu, preventing their schemes from succeeding and denying them peace.
Yu's career was not yet finished, but allies of Youzhou Governor Wang Xiong sought to replace Yu with him. They spread rumors that Yu was causing trouble on the border and creating problems for the state. So the court transferred Yu to Runan, appointing him as Prefect, and also made him General for the Suppression of Barbarians.
During the reign of Emperor Taihe of Wei, Gongsun Yuan rebelled in Liaodong. The emperor wanted to send troops to quell the rebellion but was unsure whom to send. At this time, Yang Ji, the General of the Central Army, recommended the Inspector of Yuzhou, Zhuge Dan. Therefore, the emperor appointed Zhuge Dan to command the various armies of Qingzhou in his official role, granting him the power of command to suppress Gongsun Yuan. At the same time, envoys from the Wu Kingdom were colluding with Gongsun Yuan, and the emperor saw that the Wu forces were numerous and would have to cross the sea to fight, so he ordered Zhuge Dan to withdraw his troops.
Zhuge Dan estimated that the Wu ships would soon return, as the end of the year brought strong winds and waves, and the Wu army would be afraid of sea storms. He analyzed that there was no place to dock on the eastern coast, so the Wu army would definitely head to Chengshan. Chengshan had no place to hide ships, so the Wu army could only walk along the coastline. Therefore, he scouted the coastline, surveyed the terrain, and identified strategic locations to deploy his troops and bolster defenses. After reaching Chengshan, Zhuge Dan even ascended the observation platform constructed by Emperor Wu of Han. Sure enough, when the Wu army returned, they encountered bad weather; the ships crashed against the rocks and sank in the sea, the waves washed the ships ashore, and the Wu army had nowhere to hide and were all captured. Initially, the other generals waited on open ground for the enemy, and when the enemy was defeated, they all clamored to get involved in the aftermath, wanting to salvage the treasures from the sunken ships. Zhuge Dan worried that the desperate captives would fight to the death, so he refused all their requests.
Zhuge Dan initially commanded the Qingzhou army as its governor. Cheng Xixin, the Inspector of Qingzhou, was resentful and often deliberately countered Zhuge Dan's military strategies. Cheng Xixin knew the emperor had a fondness for pearls, so he secretly reported Zhuge Dan to the emperor, saying, "Although Zhuge Dan has made military achievements, his military discipline is lax. He has seized many weapons, jewels, and gold, which he has secretly distributed and not turned over to the national treasury." As a result, Zhuge Dan's contributions went unrecorded. Later, Sun Quan led an army of a hundred thousand to attack Xincheng, and General Man Chong wanted to lead various armies to rescue. Zhuge Dan said, "The enemy is launching a full-scale assault. Their goal is not merely to capture a few minor spoils of war, but to use the attack on Xincheng to distract our main forces. We should let them attack the city, dampen their spirits, and not engage them head-on. If the city cannot be held, the enemy's morale will drop; once they are exhausted, we can strike again for a more significant victory. If the enemy sees through our strategy, they won't attack the city and will likely withdraw. If we charge out recklessly, we risk falling into the enemy's trap. Moreover, in a confrontation, we should keep the enemy guessing about our intentions and not let them easily guess our plans." Zhuge Dan promptly submitted a report to the court, and the emperor adopted his suggestion. As a result, the enemy indeed retreated. Later, when the Wu army launched another invasion, Zhuge Dan went to resist, and the enemy immediately withdrew. That night, someone in the army panicked and exclaimed, "The enemy is coming again!" Zhuge Dan remained still in bed and commanded everyone to say, "Anyone who dares to move will be put to death!" After a while, no enemy came.
At the end of the Jingchu era, three hundred more counties were added, making a total of five hundred households. At the beginning of the Zhengshi era, he was appointed as the General of the Guards against the Xiongnu and was also conferred the title of General of Valor, concurrently serving as the Inspector of Bingzhou province. The Hu people on the border heard of his reputation and came to pay tribute one after another. The region he governed was stable and peaceful, and the people loved and respected him. Later, the court summoned him to serve as the Guard Commander. He repeatedly requested to resign, but the Grand Tutor Sima Xuanwang, recognizing his abilities, wrote to persuade him to stay, but he did not listen. In his reply, he said, "I am over seventy years old and still holding an official position; it’s like a cracked pot leaking water that keeps flowing in the dark, what sin is this?" So he firmly claimed illness and stayed home. Later, he was appointed as the Grand Minister of the Palace, enjoying the salary of a minister. He passed away at the age of eighty-two, and his son Pengzu inherited his title.
He was known for his purity, frugality, and simplicity, distributing rewards to his soldiers. Gifts sent by the Hu and Di people in private were all registered and kept in the government office, never taken home, and his family often lived in poverty. Despite his different status, everyone held him in high regard for his integrity. In the sixth year of Jiaping, the court issued a decree to honor him and also rewarded his family with money and provisions, as noted in Xu Mai's biography. The inscription on the "Epitaph for the Late Guard Commander Yu" states: "He was known for his purity, frugality, and simplicity, and all rewards were distributed among the soldiers. Every gift from the Hu and Di peoples was recorded and stored in the office, not taken home; his family was often poor."
Qian Zhao, also known as Zi Jing, hailing from Anping Guanjin, went to study with Yue Yin in the same county in his teens. Later, Yue Yin became the Chief of Staff to General He Miao, and Qian Zhao completed his studies with him. Just as chaos erupted in the capital, both He Miao and Yue Yin were killed. Qian Zhao, along with Yue Yin's students such as Shi Lu, courageously buried Yue Yin's body and escorted it back to his hometown, putting their lives at risk. While traveling, they were ambushed by bandits, causing Shi Lu and the others to flee. The bandits wanted to break open the coffin to steal the nails, but Qian Zhao pleaded for mercy through tears. The bandits were moved by his sincerity and let them go. This incident brought him great fame.
The Governor of Jizhou, Yuan Shao, recruited him to his staff, where he served as a supervisor and also led the Wuhuan cavalry. When Yuan Shao's companion violated orders, Qian Zhao took decisive action first and reported later. Yuan Shao appreciated his decisiveness and held no grudge against him. After Yuan Shao's death, he continued to serve Yuan Shao's son, Yuan Shang. In the ninth year of Jian'an, Cao Cao besieged Ye City. Yuan Shang sent Qian Zhao to oversee the transportation of military provisions in Shangdang. Before the supplies could arrive, Yuan Shang was defeated and retreated to Zhongshan. At that time, Yuan Shang's uncle, Gao Gan, was the Inspector of Bingzhou. Qian Zhao believed that Bingzhou had strategic positioning, with Mount Heng to the east and the Yellow River to the west, a military force of fifty thousand, and capable of blocking the fierce Xiongnu to the north. He advised Gao Gan to receive Yuan Shang and observe the situation together. However, Gao Gan was inept and secretly conspired against Qian Zhao. When Qian Zhao heard about this, he quietly departed as the roads were obstructed and couldn't catch up to Yuan Shang. He then went east to join Cao Cao. Once Cao Cao seized control of Jizhou, he also enlisted Qian Zhao to his staff.
Cao Cao was preparing to attack Yuan Tan. He heard that the Wuhuan people in Liucheng were planning to send troops to aid Yuan Tan. Cao Cao sent Zhang Liao to persuade and win over the Wuhuan people, instructing him to go to Liucheng. When Zhang Liao arrived in Liucheng, he unexpectedly ran into Qiao Wang showcasing his power, preparing to send five thousand cavalry to support Yuan Tan. At the same time, Gongsun Kang, the Governor of Liaodong, claimed the title of Governor of Pingzhou and sent an envoy, Han Zhong, with the Chanyu's seal to falsely grant Qiao Wang the title of Chanyu on behalf of the court. Qiao Wang called a meeting of the tribal leaders, with Han Zhong in attendance. Qiao Wang asked Zhang Liao, "Previously, Yuan Shao claimed to have received an imperial decree to appoint me as Chanyu; now Cao Cao says he wants to report to the emperor again and officially appoint me as Chanyu; Liaodong has also brought the seal. So who is the legitimate one, really?"
The envoy replied, "Originally, Yuan Shao was able to appoint officials by the emperor's decree. Later, Yuan Shao went against the imperial order, so the emperor commanded Cao Cao to replace him, saying that he needed to report back to the emperor and officially appoint you as the Chanyu (a title for a ruler of the Xiongnu). This is the right course of action. Liaodong is a remote and small county; how dare you appoint officials on your own?" Han Zhong said, "Our Liaodong is located to the east of the vast sea, with a million troops and tribes like Buyeo and Mohe that can be utilized. In the current situation, the strong will always prevail. Why does Cao Cao do this?" The envoy scolded Han Zhong, "Cao Cao is respectful, humble, and wise. He is loyal to the emperor, suppresses rebels, pacifies the people, and brings peace to the realm. Your ruler and ministers are foolish and stubborn, relying on the dangerous terrain and distance, going against the emperor's orders, trying to appoint officials independently and tampering with the court's seals. They should be eliminated. How dare you be so arrogant and disrespectful as to slander your superiors!" After speaking, he grabbed Han Zhong's head and slammed it against a pillar, drawing his sword to kill him. The King of Qiao was so frightened that his face turned pale; he clung to the envoy, barefoot, begging him to spare Han Zhong, and the people around were all terrified. The envoy finally sat down, explaining the principles of success and failure in governance to the King of Qiao and others, and the consequences of fortune and misfortune. Everyone knelt on the ground, respectfully listening to his teachings. Consequently, the Liaodong envoy was sent back, and the King of Qiao also canceled the plan to send troops to support Yuan Tan.
Cao Cao defeated Yuan Tan in Nanpi and appointed Zhao Tao as a military strategist, following him to campaign against the Wuhuan. Upon reaching Liucheng, he was appointed as the Colonel of the Wuhuan Protectorate. Upon returning to Ye City, the head of Yuan Shang was delivered from Liaodong and displayed in the horse market. Zhao Tao was deeply saddened upon seeing this and set up a mourning altar for Yuan Shang. Cao Cao greatly admired his loyalty and recommended him for his talent. Later, he followed Cao Cao in pacifying Hanzhong. Once the situation was resolved, he returned to Ye City and was appointed as the Colonel for Suppressing the Barbarians, commanding the armies of Qingzhou and Xuzhou to crush the bandits in Donglai, killing their leader and stabilizing the eastern region. After Emperor Wen of Han ascended the throne, Zhang Zhao was appointed as the Chief Protector of the Xianbei Colonel, stationed in Changping. At that time, the border people scattered and fled to the deep mountains and old forests, with several thousand people defecting to the Xianbei side. Zhang Zhao showed great kindness in winning over those defectors. Jianyi Zhonglang General Gongsun Ji and others, along with their subordinates, all pledged loyalty to the court and then returned to their own counties. More than a hundred thousand households from the Su Li and Mi Jia clans of the Huailai Xianbei also pledged their loyalty to the court.
The army was preparing to campaign against the state of Wu, so the court recalled Zhang Zhao. When Zhang Zhao returned to the court, the army had already withdrawn. He was then appointed as the Right General and sent to serve as the governor of Yanmen Commandery. Yanmen Commandery is located on the border, and despite defensive measures, bandit attacks never ceased. Zhang Zhao not only trained the locals for battle, but also petitioned the court to reinstate taxes for over five hundred households of the Wuhuan people, to prepare their horses, and sent scouts to gather intelligence on the enemy. Whenever the enemy invaded the border, Zhang Zhao led the troops to counterattack, and each time achieved decisive victories. As a result, the morale of both officials and civilians soared, and the border was restored to relative peace. He also skillfully sowed discord among the enemy, leading to mistrust among them. Conflicts already existed among the Xianbei leaders Budugen, Xieguini, and Kebineng, so they brought over thirty thousand households to Yanmen Commandery to pledge allegiance to the court. The court ordered an assault on Kebineng, killing Kebineng's brother Juluohou, as well as the defected Wuhuan lords Wang Tong, Wang Ji, and others, which deepened the hatred between Kebineng and the court.
So Zhang Zhao personally led Xie Guini and his men to Yunzhong Commandery to attack Ke Bineng, and defeated him. Zhang Zhao also secured the allegiance of over a hundred thousand households of the Hexi Xianbei, repaired the ancient city of Shangguan in Xingbei, and stationed troops there to secure the area. Whether they were large or small barbarian tribes, they all pledged loyalty to the court. Those who had defected, even if they were relatives, dared not hide them, and voluntarily sent them to the government. Consequently, the border regions stabilized, and banditry diminished. Zhang Zhao also chose some talented and knowledgeable individuals to study at the Imperial Academy, and after they returned, they taught each other. Within a few years, the school flourished. The capital of Yanmen Commandery, Guangwu City, had well water that was both bitter and salty, so the people had to carry water buckets seven miles away to drink, making a fourteen-mile round trip. Zhang Zhao, based on the local terrain, took advantage of the mountainous terrain to dig channels and bring water into the city, greatly benefiting the local populace.
After Emperor Ming ascended the throne, he bestowed upon Zhang Zhao the title of Marquis of Guannei. In the second year of Taihe, the Wuhuan Protector, Tian Yu, was besieged by Ke Bineng at the former city of Mayi, and quickly sent a messenger to request assistance from Guanqiu Jian. Guanqiu Jian immediately organized the troops and prepared to rescue Tian Yu. However, the officials in Bingzhou routinely obstructed him. Guanqiu Jian believed that when a general was besieged, he could not be constrained by bureaucratic protocols, so he submitted a petition to lead the troops himself. He also quickly sent a detailed letter explaining the situation and his plan to first strike the enemy's stronghold from the northwest, then march east to completely eliminate the enemy. Once the letter was delivered, the morale of Tian Yu's army soared. Guanqiu Jian also discreetly sent a letter to the enemy's route, which frightened Ke Bineng and caused his troops to scatter. Guanqiu Jian's army arrived at the former city of Pingcheng, and the enemy forces fled in panic.
Ke Bi Neng assembled a large force of cavalry and arrived at the northern frontier of the former Pingzhou. Guanqiu Jian conducted a covert operation and launched a surprise attack, killing a large number of enemies. Because Zhuge Liang had sent troops to Shu many times, and Ke Bi Neng was cunning and unpredictable, there was a possibility that the two were in collusion. Guanqiu Jian requested to remain vigilant, but some doubted the distance was too great and did not believe his words. As a result, Zhuge Liang indeed sent envoys to establish contact with Ke Bi Neng at Qishan, and Ke Bi Neng even reached the former city of Beidi, coordinating with Zhuge Liang. The emperor then ordered Guanqiu Jian to devise a battle plan. By that time, Ke Bi Neng had already retreated to the southern desert. Guanqiu Jian and Governor Bi Gui discussed, "The nomads are unpredictable. If we exhaust ourselves chasing them from afar, we will not catch up due to speed differences. If we want to launch a surprise attack, the treacherous terrain and challenges in transporting supplies will complicate secrecy. The best strategy is to secure the passes at Xinxing and Yanmen, station troops in the north of the pass, pacify the people outwardly, let the soldiers farm inwardly, store food supplies, wait until the horses are well-fed in autumn and winter, and the troops of the prefectures and counties are assembled, then take the opportunity to attack, which is sure to result in total victory." Before the plan could be put into action, Guanqiu Jian fell ill and passed away.
Guanqiu Jian served in Bingzhou for twelve years, and his reputation was widely recognized. His achievements in border defense were second only to Tian Yu, and the people fondly remembered him. The Prefect of Yuyang, Fu Rong, also distinguished himself in military affairs at Yanmen, and after Guanqiu Jian's tenure, he made significant contributions in Liaodong. Guanqiu Jian's son, Guanqiu Jia, inherited his title. His second son, Guanqiu Hong, was equally brave and resolute as his father. When he served as the Prefect of Longxi, he followed Deng Ai in the conquest of Shu, achieved military successes, and was later appointed Zhenwei Protector during the Xianxi era. Guanqiu Jia and the Minister of Works of the Jin Dynasty, Li Yin, were half-brothers, both of whom passed away at an early age.
Guo Huai, styled Boji, was a native of Yangqu, Taiyuan. He passed the imperial examination during the Jian'an period and was appointed as the deputy magistrate of Pingyuan Prefecture. When Cao Cao became the General of the Five Officials, he transferred Guo Huai to his command as a subordinate official. Later, Guo Huai was promoted to the position of Chief of Military Affairs in the Prime Minister's Office and accompanied Cao Cao in the campaign against Hanzhong. After Cao Cao returned, he left the General Who Conquers the West, Xiahou Yuan, to resist Liu Bei, and appointed Guo Huai as Xiahou Yuan's Chief of Staff. During the battle between Xiahou Yuan and Liu Bei, Guo Huai fell ill and did not go to the front lines. After Xiahou Yuan was killed in battle and chaos broke out in the army, Guo Huai quickly rallied the scattered soldiers, proposed General Zhang He, known for eliminating bandits, as the commander of the army, thus stabilizing the morale.
The next day, Liu Bei wanted to cross the Han River and attack. The generals believed that the disparity in forces between us and the enemy was too great to overcome and suggested deploying defensive formations along the Han River to prevent Liu Bei from pursuing his victory. However, Guo Huai said, "This merely shows weakness and won't intimidate the enemy. It is not a good strategy. It is better to set up formations further away from the Han River, lure the enemy over, and attack them when they have crossed halfway, so we can defeat Liu Bei." Implementing Guo Huai's strategy, Liu Bei indeed suspected that we were bluffing and did not dare to cross the river easily. Guo Huai maintained a resolute stance. Guo Huai reported the situation to Cao Cao, who appreciated his strategy and granted Zhang He command authority, allowing Guo Huai to continue as Chief of Staff. After Cao Pi became king, he appointed Guo Huai as Marquis of Guannei and promoted him to Senior Historian of the Western Garrison. Later, Guo Huai served as the protector of the army in the campaign against the Qiang people, assisting the General of the Left Zhang He and the Champion General Yang Qiu in suppressing the rebellion led by mountain bandits Zheng Gan and Lu Shui, achieving victories. As a result, the Guanzhong region achieved stability, and the people were able to live and work in peace.
In the first year of the Huangchu period, Guo Huai was ordered to congratulate Cao Pi on his accession to the throne, but he fell ill en route, causing a delay. When all the courtiers had gathered, Cao Pi sternly asked him: "In the past, King Yu met with the feudal lords on Tu Mountain, and those who arrived the latest, such as Fengfeng Shi, were executed. Now the whole world is celebrating, but what's the reason for your lateness?" Guo Huai replied: "I heard that during the time of the Five Emperors, the people were governed by virtue and education, and it was only during the Xia Dynasty, when political decline began, that punitive laws were used. I live in a prosperous era like that of Yao and Shun, so I know I won't be killed like Fengfeng Shi." Cao Pi was pleased with his response, promoted Guo Huai to be the Inspector of Yongzhou, and bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Sheyang Pavilion. He officially assumed his post five years later. Pi Xiti, the leader of the Qiang people in the Anding region, rebelled, and Guo Huai led troops to pacify them. Whenever the Qiang and Hu people surrendered, Guo Huai would first send someone to inquire carefully about their family situation, the number of men, women, children, elderly, their ages, and so on; after meeting them, Guo Huai could quickly understand their situation, asking detailed questions, and everyone said he was perceptive and wise.
In the year 228 AD, Zhuge Liang launched a campaign from Qishan, sending General Ma Su to Jieting, while Gao Xiang was stationed at Lieliu City. Zhang He defeated Ma Su, then attacked and captured Gao Xiang's camp, losing both places. Zhang He also defeated the renowned Qiang leader Tang Xiti in Longxi, winning a victory at Fuhan, and was later promoted to General Who Establishes Might.
In the year 230 AD, the Shu army attacked Lucheng. At that time, the Longyou region faced food shortages, and everyone was discussing large-scale grain transport from Guanzhong. However, Xiahou Mao used a mix of kindness and pressure to win over the Qiang and Hu people, encouraging them to send grain voluntarily, resolving the army's food problem, and was later promoted to General Who Displays Valor.
In the year 232 AD, Zhuge Liang led troops out of Xiegu and cleared farmland in Lankeng. At that time, Sima Yi was stationed with his troops at Weinan; Xiahou Mao believed that Zhuge Liang would definitely strive for the Northern Plains, so he suggested they should occupy it first, but many others disagreed with him. Xiahou Mao said, "If Zhuge Liang crosses the Wei River and reaches the Northern Plains, linking up with the troops on the Northern Mountain, cutting off the road from Long Mountain, disturbing the people and minority groups, this would not be a good thing for the country!" Sima Yi thought he was right, so Xiahou Mao took up position in the Northern Plains. Before the defense works were completed, the Shu army launched a large-scale assault, and Xiahou Mao took the initiative to meet them in battle. After a few days, Zhuge Liang led a large army westward, and the generals all believed he was targeting the Western Encirclement, but only Xiahou Mao believed it was a diversion, trying to lure the troops to reinforce the Western Encirclement, and would actually attack Yangsui. That night, Zhuge Liang did indeed attack Yangsui, but thanks to Xiahou Mao's preparations, the Shu army could not breach the defenses.
In the year 234 AD, Shu general Qiang Wei marched out of Longxi. Xiahou Mao led his troops to pursue, catching up to Qiang Wei at Qiangzhong. Qiang Wei retreated, so Xiahou Mao then dealt with the Qiang tribe leader Midiang and others, bringing peace to over 3,000 households of the Roudi people, and resettled them in the Guanzhong region. Xiahou Mao was promoted to the rank of Left General. The Xiongnu people of Liang Yuanbi in Liangzhou led over 2,000 households to submit to Yongzhou. Xiahou Mao petitioned the court for permission to settle them in Gaoping, Anding County, to serve as a buffer for the local populace, and later established a Western Prefect there. Xiahou Mao was further promoted to Front General, while still serving as provincial governor.
Five years later, Xiahou Xuan led troops to attack the Shu Kingdom, with the army led by Huainan taking the lead. Huainan felt the situation was unfavorable and voluntarily withdrew, so they avoided a major defeat. Afterwards, they were granted titles and ranks by the court.
In the eighth year, the leaders of the Qiang tribes in the Longxi, Nan'an, Jincheng, and Xiping regions, such as Ehe, Shaoge, Fatong, and Ezhase, united to rebel, attacking cities and colluding with the forces of the Shu Kingdom. The renowned Hu leader in Liangzhou, Zhi Wudai, also joined the rebellion. The court dispatched troops to quell the rebellion, with Xiahou Ba leading the forces stationed at Weichi. When the army from Huainan arrived at Dida, everyone agreed that they should first pacify the Fuhanshan region, resolve the Qiang tribes' internal rebellion, and then undermine the enemy's conspiracy from the outside. However, Huainan analyzed that Jiang Wei would definitely come to attack Xiahou Ba, so he led his troops into Fengzhong, then turned south to confront Xiahou Ba. Jiang Wei indeed attacked Weichi, but the Huainan army arrived just in time, forcing Jiang Wei to flee. Huainan then suppressed the rebellious Qiang tribes, defeating and killing Ehe and Shaoge, and subduing more than 10,000 households.
In the ninth year, Ezhase and others stationed troops at Hekou and Baitu Ancient City, occupying the river to block the advance of the army. Huainan discovered that the enemy's main force was upstream of the river, so they secretly crossed the river downstream, seized Baitu City, and launched an attack, securing a decisive victory. Zhi Wudai besieged Wuwei, while his family stayed in Xihai. Huainan quickly marched to Xihai with the intention of raiding Zhi Wudai's stronghold, but Zhi Wudai quickly turned back to confront them. The two sides clashed north of Longyi, with Huainan defeating him and driving him away. There was a guy named Ju'e Lu on the west side of Shitou Mountain, setting up roadblocks on the main road to intercept the court's messengers. Huainan took care of him on the way back. Jiang Wei set out from Shiyin, detoured to Qiangchuan, then headed west to support Zhi Wudai, while leaving Liao Hua, the Prefect of Yinpingshu, at Chengzhong Mountain to fortify the area and gather the scattered remnants of the Qiang tribes. Huainan planned to divide his forces to launch an attack on Liao Hua.
The generals all felt that Jiang Wei's military strength was formidable, and he had connections with the barbarians in the west. Liao Hua held a strategic position. If the troops were divided into two routes, the forces would be scattered. At that point, they would be unable to defeat Jiang Wei or capture Liao Hua. This isn't a viable plan. It's better to concentrate the forces and head west together, taking advantage of the fact that the barbarians and Shu have not completely united yet, cutting off their internal and external connections. This is the best strategy. Huai Nan said, "Attacking Liao Hua now, surprising him, Jiang Wei will definitely come back to rescue. By the time Jiang Wei arrives, Liao Hua will have already been captured by us, leaving Jiang Wei exhausted. We don't need to penetrate deep into enemy territory; the alliance between the barbarians and Shu will naturally collapse. This is a win-win strategy!" So Huai Nan sent Xiahou Ba and others to pursue Jiang Wei in Dazhong, while he led a large army to attack Liao Hua. Jiang Wei did indeed quickly return to rescue Liao Hua, just as Huai Nan had expected. Later, Huai Nan was elevated to the Marquis of Duxiang.
In the year 249 AD, Guo Huai was promoted to the position of General of the Western Conquest and was also in charge of military affairs in Yongzhou and Liangzhou. That year, he collaborated with the Inspector of Yongzhou, Chen Tai, to defeat the Shu generals such as Ju An, easily capturing them.
In 250 AD, the Emperor issued a decree commending him: "In the Battle of Hanchuan back then, we were on the brink of defeat; thanks to your taking on the mission at a critical moment, turning the tide. Your contributions are all recorded in the imperial records! You have been in the Guanzhong region for over thirty years, fighting enemies externally and pacifying the people internally, with great achievements. In recent years, you have defeated Liao Hua and captured Ju An, with remarkable military achievements; I am extremely pleased! Now, I appoint you as General of Chariots and Cavalry, with the title of Yitong San Si, and your previous position remains unchanged." The Emperor also elevated his title, making him the Marquis of Yangqu, with a fief consisting of 2,780 households, and granting an additional 300 households to be given to one of his sons as a Viscount.
In the year 256 AD, Guo Huai passed away and was posthumously titled Grand General and given the posthumous title Zhenhou. His son Guo Tong succeeded him. Guo Tong later became the Governor of Jingzhou and also passed away. His son Guo Zheng inherited the title. Later, during the Xianxi era, the court established a five-rank title system, and due to Guo Huai's significant contributions in earlier times, he was posthumously granted the title of Fenyangzi.
Historical assessments indicate: Man Chong was resolute in his aspirations, firm and decisive, brave, and strategic; Tian Yu was known for his integrity and clear strategies; Qian Zhao upheld justice, demonstrated bravery and valor, and achieved remarkable military success; Guo Huai's strategies were meticulous and had a lasting impact on the governance of Qinzhou and Yongzhou. However, Tian Yu only attained the rank of a minor provincial governor, and Qian Zhao ultimately rose to the position of county magistrate, both of whom were unable to fully realize their potential.
Xin Pi, courtesy name Zuozhi, was born in Yuzhou, Henan Province. His ancestors moved from Gansu Province to Henan during the Jianwu era of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Xin Pi followed his brother Xin Ping and aligned himself with Yuan Shao. When Cao Cao became the Minister of Works (Sikong), he wanted Xin Pi to work for him, but Xin Pi refused. Later, when Yuan Shang attacked Xin Ping's army in Pingyuan, Xin Ping sent Xin Pi to ask Cao Cao for help.
Cao Cao was preparing to attack Jingzhou, with his army encamped at Xiping. Xin Pi conveyed Xin Ping's intentions to Cao Cao, who was quite pleased. A few days later, Cao Cao decided to attack Jingzhou first and allow Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang to fight each other. One day, Cao Cao hosted a banquet, and Xin Pi noticed his expression, knowing that Cao Cao had changed his mind. He then informed Guo Jia of this development. Guo Jia told Cao Cao, who asked Xin Pi, "Is Yuan Tan reliable? Can Yuan Shang be counted on to be defeated?"
Xin Pi replied, "My Lord, you shouldn't worry about whether he is reliable or not, just look at the situation. The Yuan brothers have been at each other's throats; this is not something others can interfere with, but the world is about to be unified by you. Now Yuan Tan is asking for your help, which says it all. Yuan Tan clearly sees that Yuan Shang is finished, but he also can't do anything about him, which means Yuan Shang is done. The army is defeated in external battles, advisers are killed internally, brothers are fighting each other, the country is torn apart; battling year after year, soldiers' armor is crawling with lice, and on top of that, droughts, locusts, and famine are coming one after another. The country has no grain reserves, soldiers have no rations, heavenly disasters are falling, man-made calamities keep piling up; whether the common folks are wise or not, they all know the situation is over. This is heaven's way of bringing down Yuan Shang! As the 'Art of War' states, even with strong cities and a million soldiers, without food, they cannot hold. Now if you attack Ye City, if Yuan Shang doesn’t return to save the day, they won't be able to hold it; if he comes back to save it, Yuan Tan will take advantage of the situation to attack him. With your strength now, taking down an already weary enemy is as easy as a gust of wind blowing autumn leaves away. Heaven has handed Yuan Shang to you; if you choose not to attack Yuan Shang and instead go after Jingzhou, Jingzhou is rich and peaceful, and the country has not had conflicts with Jingzhou. The ancients used to say: 'Take advantage of the chaos, attack the doomed country.' Now Yuan Shao's two sons are ignoring the big picture, fighting each other; this spells disaster. The common people have nothing to eat, soldiers have no food; if they don't have food today, they might not know if they can survive tomorrow. If you don’t calm them down now and wait, by then, they might realize they’re doomed and try to reform, and you will miss the key moment to use force. Now take advantage of their plea for help; go appease them, this is the biggest advantage. Furthermore, there's no bigger rebellion than the one in Hebei; once Hebei is brought under control, your army will grow strong, and the entire realm will shake."
Cao Cao said, "Good!" and agreed to help Yuan Tan suppress the rebellion, with his troops stationed in Liyang. The following year, they attacked Ye City and captured it. Cao Cao then recommended Xin Pi for the position of Advisor in his memorial.
Some years later, Emperor Taizu sent General Cao Hong to pacify the Xianbian region, and also had Wang Pi and Cao Xiu participate in military operations. Emperor Taizu ordered, saying, "Emperor Gaozu was greedy and lustful, but he was fortunate to have Zhang Liang and Chen Ping to make up for his shortcomings. Now, Wang Pi and Wenlie, the responsibilities you carry are significant!" After the military operations, Wang Pi was appointed as Chief Historian to the Prime Minister.
After Emperor Wen ascended the throne, Wang Pi was promoted to be a Court Attendant and was granted the title of Marquis Within the Passes. At that time, the court was discussing whether to revise the calendar. Wang Pi believed that the Wei Dynasty should follow the system of Shun and Yu, to conform to the will of heaven and pacify the people. Although Emperor Tang and King Wu of Zhou changed the calendar after unifying the world through war, there was no need to follow their example. Confucius once said to "follow the ways of Xia," and the "Zuo Zhuan" states, "the Xia calendar conforms to reason," so why deliberately oppose it? Emperor Wen thought Wang Pi's argument made sense and adopted his suggestion.
Emperor Wen wanted to move 100,000 families from Jizhou to Henan. At that time, there was a locust plague and the people were going hungry. Many officials thought this was impossible, but Emperor Wen persisted. Wang Pi and other ministers requested an audience, and Emperor Wen knew they wanted to advise against it, so he met with them looking stern. The ministers were afraid to speak. Wang Pi then asked, "Your Majesty, what's your plan for relocating the people?" Emperor Wen asked, "Do you think I shouldn't relocate them?" Wang Pi replied, "Indeed, I think it should not be done." Emperor Wen said, "I don't want to talk about this with you." Wang Pi said, "Since Your Majesty does not consider me unworthy and has kept me by your side to participate in discussions on state affairs, how can you not let me weigh in on this? I'm not saying this for my own benefit, but for the country's long-term future. How can you be angry?" Emperor Wen didn't answer and got up to head back to the palace; Wang Pi followed him and even grabbed his sleeve. Emperor Wen shrugged him off and ignored him, and only came out after a while, saying, "Zhuo Zhi, why are you so worked up?" Wang Pi said, "If we relocate now, we'll not only lose the people's support, but we also won't be able to feed them." Emperor Wen ultimately decided to relocate only half of the population. Once, Wang Pi accompanied Emperor Wen on a hunting trip to shoot pheasants. Emperor Wen said, "Shooting pheasants is a lot of fun!" Wang Pi said, "Your Majesty may find it fun, but for everyone else, it's really tough." Emperor Wen fell silent and didn’t go hunting much after that.
Cao Zhen led troops to Jiangling to fight Zhu Ran, and Xin Pi followed as a military advisor. Upon returning, the emperor appointed him as the Marquis of Guangpingting. The emperor planned to launch a major attack on Wu, but Xin Pi advised, "The common people of Wu and Chu live in difficult terrain and are hard to deal with. They are usually submissive, but once they have the opportunity, they rebel. This has been a persistent problem. Your Majesty rules the entire country now, but how long can those who resist hold out? In the past, when Yu Tu declared himself emperor and Zhao Tu established himself as king, they either surrendered or were annihilated within a few years. Why? Because defying the rule of the court cannot last long, and those who possess great virtue are respected by all. Now that the world has just been pacified and the land is vast with few people, it is crucial to plan carefully before going to war. Even then, there will be fear, let alone going to war without proper planning. I believe this is not beneficial. The late emperor led troops to the Yangtze River several times but ended up withdrawing each time. Now, without increasing the army, going to battle as usual is too risky. The best course of action now is to take a page from Fan Li's book and pacify the people, from Guan Zhong to entrust government affairs to talented individuals, from Zhuge Liang to cultivate the land, and from Confucius to govern with benevolence and win over distant lands. Within ten years, the middle-aged will still be in their prime, children will be able to fight, the common people will understand reason, and the soldiers will be eager to achieve success. Then, we can go to war without needing to fight." The emperor asked, "So, according to you, should we leave captives for future generations?" Xin Pi replied, "King Wen of Zhou left what King Zhou of Shang left behind for King Wu of Zhou. It's just a matter of seizing the opportunity. If the timing isn't right, can we really force the issue?" In the end, the emperor still went to war against the state of Wu, but ultimately withdrew his troops when they reached the Yangtze River.
After Emperor Ming ascended the throne, Xin Pi was appointed Marquis of Yingxiang, with a fief consisting of three hundred households. At that time, Liu Fang, the Director of the Palace Secretariat, and Sun Zi, the Prefect, were highly trusted by the Emperor and held significant power in court matters. All the court officials flattered them, but Xin Pi did not associate with them. Xin Pi's son Xin Chang advised him, saying, "Now that Liu Fang and Sun Zi are in power and everyone is flattering them, you should lower your guard a bit and get along with them; otherwise, someone will definitely speak ill of you." Xin Pi replied sternly, "Although the Emperor is not particularly wise, he is not foolish either. I have my own principles in how I conduct myself. Even if I do not get along with Liu Fang and Sun Zi, at most, I will not be able to become a high-ranking official. What’s there to be afraid of? What kind of man would sacrifice his integrity for a government position?" The Palace Attendant Bi Gui submitted a memorial stating, "Although the Minister of Works Wang Si is diligent, his loyalty and strategy are not as good as Xin Pi's. Xin Pi should replace Wang Si." The Emperor asked for Liu Fang and Sun Zi's opinions, and they replied, "Your Majesty chose Wang Si for his practical effectiveness, not because of his reputation. Xin Pi is indeed upright, but he has a strong and stubborn personality. Your Majesty should think this over carefully." Therefore, the Emperor declined Bi Gui's suggestion and appointed Xin Pi as the Commander of the Guards.
The emperor is undertaking a major renovation of the palace, while the common people are worn out. Yang Fu submitted a memorial saying, "I've heard that Zhuge Liang focuses on military training and management, and Sun Quan has sent troops to Liaodong. Thinking carefully about their intentions, it seems they aim to keep each other in check. Being vigilant in times of peace is a wise ancient policy. But now the palace is being built so grandly, combined with years of poor harvests, as the Book of Songs puts it: 'The common people toil hard; when will they be able to enjoy a bit of stability? Only when blessings are spread throughout the country can the four corners be stabilized.' Your Majesty, you must think for the sake of the country and the people!"
The emperor replied, "The northern minority tribes have not been eliminated yet, and the palace is being renovated. This is indeed a perfect time for straightforward advice! When the emperor builds the capital, it should be done in a way that the people can bear, to avoid adding to the burdens of future generations, as Xiao He formulated for the Han Dynasty. You are now a senior minister of Wei, and you should also understand this principle." The emperor also wanted to build an observatory on Beimang Mountain, so that he could see Mengjin. Yang Fu advised once more, stating, "The natural world has its highs and lows, but now you're trying to go against nature; and it will also consume a lot of manpower and resources, which the common people simply can't bear. Moreover, if the nine rivers overflow, causing widespread flooding, and if the hills are all leveled, what will we have to defend against the floods?" The emperor then stopped.
In the second year of Qinglong, Zhuge Liang led his army to attack Weinan. Before this, the Grand General Sima Xuanwang had repeatedly requested to battle with Zhuge Liang, but Ming Di never agreed. That year, the emperor realized he could no longer hold it back, so he appointed Yang Fu as the Grand General's military advisor with full command; all the troops obeyed Yang Fu's control, and no one dared to disobey. After Zhuge Liang's death, Yang Fu went back to his role as Guard Commander. After Yang Fu's death, he was posthumously honored as the Marquis of Su. His son, Yang Chang, inherited his title and later served as the Prefect of Henan during the Xianxi period.
Yang Fu, courtesy name Yishan, was a native of Ji County, Tianshui. When he served as a state functionary, he was ordered to accompany the governor Wei Duan to Xuchang and later appointed as the Prefect of Anding. Upon his return, the generals in the Guanzhong region inquired about the outcome of the conflict between Yuan Shao and Cao Cao. Yang Fu said, "Yuan Shao is generous but indecisive, good at planning but lacks determination; indecisiveness undermines his credibility, and his lack of decisiveness causes him to miss opportunities. He may be powerful now, but he will ultimately not achieve great things. Cao Cao is talented and decisive, with unified laws, elite troops, and a knack for utilizing those who are overlooked. Those he employs are dedicated, and he is bound to achieve great things!" Yang Fu was not fond of the role of Prefect and chose to resign. Later, Wei Duan was summoned to be the Grand Commandant, and his son Wei Kang succeeded him as the governor, inviting Yang Fu to serve as his assistant. Yang Fu was commended for his filial piety, called to serve in the Prime Minister's Office, and the state requested him to stay and serve as a military advisor. Ma Chao suffered defeat in Weinan, fled, and took refuge among the Qiang tribe. Cao Cao pursued him to Anding, only to have Su Bo rebel in Hejian, prompting Cao Cao to plan a return to the east. At this juncture, Yang Fu approached Cao Cao and said, "Ma Chao has the strategic acumen of Lord Xinling and the valor of Xiang Yu. Both the Qiang and Hu tribes rally behind him, and the people of the Western regions are afraid of him. If the army retreats without proper precautions, we risk losing the counties in Longyou." Cao Cao concurred, but the army's withdrawal was rushed, and adequate preparations were not made.
Ma Chao led the Qiang tribal leaders to attack the counties of Longyou. Those counties all surrendered to him, except for Jicheng (present-day Gangu County, Gansu). Ma Chao gathered all available troops in Longyou, and Zhang Lu sent the general Yang Ang to help, totaling over ten thousand people, to attack Jicheng. Yang Fu selected over a thousand elite soldiers from among the officials, gentry, and his own kin in the state, and had his brother Yang Yue build a crescent moon-shaped encampment on the city wall to fight against Ma Chao. From the first month of the lunar calendar to the eighth month, the reinforcements never arrived. The state sent the deputy Yan Wen to secretly seek help along the river, but he was killed by Ma Chao. This terrified the governor and the magistrate, who began considering surrendering to Ma Chao. With tears in his eyes, Yang Fu implored them, "For the sake of justice, our family encourages each other and vows to defend Jicheng to the death. Our determination is even firmer than that of Tian Dan defending the city alone! Now, to fail at the last moment and gain an unjust reputation, I would rather die than surrender this place!" With that, he burst into tears. The governor and the magistrate had no option but to send someone to negotiate with Ma Chao and opened the city gates to welcome him. Upon entering the city, Ma Chao captured Yang Yue and ordered Yang Ang to execute the governor and the magistrate.
I’m Old Zhang. I’ve always wanted to take care of Ma Chao, but I never found the right opportunity. Later, I had to return home for my wife’s funeral and took some time off. My elder brother Jiang Xu was stationed in Licheng at the time. I grew up in Jiang Xu’s house since I was a child. When I saw Jiang Xu and his mother, I recounted what had happened in Jizhou, and as I spoke, I became overcome with sadness. Jiang Xu asked me, “What’s going on with you?” I said, “I failed to defend the city; the lord died, and I’m still here. How can I face the world and live on! Ma Chao betrayed his father, then the lord, and cruelly killed the county officials. This is not just my responsibility; the entire province’s gentry has been humiliated! The lord held military power but did not want to punish the traitors, just like the assassination of the king recorded by Zhao Dun! Even though Ma Chao is formidable, he’s disloyal and has committed so many crimes that he can be easily dealt with.” Jiang Xu’s mother wholeheartedly agreed after hearing this and let Jiang Xu listen to me. After we talked it over, we plotted with the villagers—Jiang Yin, Zhao Ang, Yin Feng, Yao Qiong, Kong Xin, as well as the people of Wudu—Li Jun and Wang Ling, to go after Ma Chao together. I sent my younger brother Zhang Mo to reach out to Xiahou Yuan in Jizhou and unite with Liang Kuan from Anding County, Zhao Qu from Nan'an County, Pang Gong, and others. Once we made our plans, in September of the seventeenth year, Jiang Xu and I raised troops in Licheng. When Ma Chao caught wind that we were mobilizing, he personally led his troops out. Zhao Qu, Liang Kuan, and the others lifted the siege on Xiahou Yuan, closed the gates of Jizhou, and went to attack Ma Chao’s family. Ma Chao pulled a surprise attack on Licheng and captured Jiang Xu’s mother. Jiang Xu’s mother yelled at Ma Chao, saying, “You unfilial son, the evil thief who killed the lord, how can heaven and earth tolerate you for long? Why don’t you hurry up and die? Do you still have the face to come out and see people?” Furious, Ma Chao killed Jiang Xu’s mother. I fought Ma Chao, took five arrows, and lost seven of my clan brothers. Ma Chao eventually fled to Zhang Lu’s camp.
After pacifying Longyou, Emperor Taizu commended our merits in defeating Ma Chao, ennobling eleven lords and granting me the title of Marquis of Guannei. I declined, saying, "When my lord was alive, I failed to fulfill my duty of protection. Even after his death, I did not die with honor. I should have been punished, perhaps even executed. Ma Chao is still alive; I should not accept a title." Taizu said, "You, along with those capable individuals, have accomplished great deeds. People in the west regard this as a tale of heroism. Zigong declined rewards, and Confucius said he stopped at the pinnacle of goodness! So just accept this reward with a clear conscience! Jiang Xu's mother wisely advised him to raise troops early; she was truly wise. Even Yang Chang's wife cannot compare to her! Truly virtuous, virtuous! A good history book will surely record this, not bury your merits."
Cao Cao attacked Hanzhong and appointed Xiahou Mao as Inspector of Yizhou. Upon his return, he appointed him as Prefect of Jincheng, but before he could depart, he was reassigned as Prefect of Wudu. Wudu was close to Shu Han, so Xiahou Mao planned to govern the area peacefully, following the example of Gong Su. Just then, Liu Bei sent Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, and others to attack Xiabian, and the Di people, led by Leiding, responded to Liu Bei. Cao Cao sent General Cao Hong to resist Ma Chao and his forces, causing them to retreat.
Cao Hong hosted a banquet to celebrate, with female musicians in sheer clothing dancing and drumming, which made everyone laugh. Xiahou Mao voiced his strong disapproval of Cao Hong, saying, "Men and women should be separated. This is a major national etiquette. How can you allow women to perform so provocatively in public? Even the likes of Jie and Zhou did not behave so recklessly!" With that, he angrily left. Cao Hong quickly stopped the music and dance, asking Xiahou Mao to return and sit down, feeling a newfound respect for him.
Later, Liu Bei took control of Hanzhong and advanced towards Xiabian. Cao Cao considered Wudu to be remote and wanted to transfer Xiahou Mao, but he feared the locals would resist leaving their homes. Xiahou Mao enjoyed a high reputation locally. Previously, he had relocated the Di and other people, moving them to the Jingzhao, Fufeng, and Tianshui areas, which involved tens of thousands of households. When he settled in Xiaohuili, the locals followed him, carrying their belongings. As an official, he focused solely on the bigger picture, and his subordinates dared not oppress the locals. Emperor Wen of Wei asked the attendant Liu Ye and others, "What kind of person is the Prefect of Wudu?" Everyone said that Xiahou Mao had the ability to assist the monarch. Before he could be put to good use, Emperor Wen passed away. He served as Prefect of Wudu for over a decade before being summoned back to court and appointed as the City Gate Captain.
Xiahou Mao frequently saw Emperor Ming in embroidered hats and silk half-sleeves. Xiahou Mao asked Emperor Ming, "What ritual does this clothing adhere to?" Emperor Ming didn't respond. From then on, Emperor Ming stopped appearing before Xiahou Mao in clothes that didn't adhere to the ritual.
At that time, the chief architect had just begun constructing palaces and was recruiting beautiful women to fill the harem, and the emperor frequently went hunting.
This suggests that the newly appointed chief architect began building palaces, brought many beautiful women into the palace, and often went hunting in his spare time.
In autumn, a heavy rainstorm swept through with thunder and lightning, and many birds were killed by the lightning. Fu Shangshu said, "I have heard that when a wise ruler reigns, his subjects will be diligent and responsible, not daring to slack off. Emperors Yao and Shun were wise rulers who eagerly sought out talent, humbly accepting advice; Great Yu diligently managed the waters, focused on state affairs, yet was frugal in his palace; King Cheng Tang faced a drought and reflected on his actions, taking responsibility; King Wen of Zhou punished even his own wife in order to govern the country; Emperor Wen of Han was diligent and frugal, wearing coarse clothes himself: these are all examples that can guide future generations in planning for the long term. Your Majesty has inherited the great achievements of Emperor Wu in expanding the empire, as well as the virtuous foundation of Emperor Wen's peaceful reign. You should learn from the good governance of ancient sages and avoid the corrupt governance of later inept rulers. Good governance means diligence, frugality, and caring for the people; bad governance means indulgence and capriciousness. I hope Your Majesty will carefully study the reasons for the rise and fall of dynasties throughout history, and see the changes in the late years of the Han Dynasty, which should serve as a warning! If Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling had not abolished the laws of their ancestors or abandoned the diligence and frugality of the Wen and Jing reigns, even the founding Emperor would have been able to display his talents. How could Your Majesty then secure your position? Wu and Shu have not yet been pacified, and the army is still engaged in battles beyond our borders. I hope Your Majesty will think twice before acting, be cautious in your decisions, learn from history, and heed its warnings. The other day, there was heavy rain and abnormal thunder and lightning; even the birds were struck dead by lightning. Heaven and Earth regard the emperor as their own child, so if there are political mistakes, disasters will come. The Book of Documents says, 'When the nine clans are harmonious, the world will be peaceful.' I hope Your Majesty will reflect on your actions, seek a balance, think carefully, and save expenses. After Wu and Shu are pacified, the world will be peaceful, the people will be happy, and the nine clans will live in harmony. In this way, our ancestors will also be pleased, and even Yao and Shun would probably be satisfied. Now is the time for Your Majesty to demonstrate sincerity to the world, pacify the people, and let the distant people feel the benevolence of Your Majesty." At that time, Prince Yongqiu Wang Zhi was dissatisfied with the emperor; as a close relative of the vassal state, the laws were particularly stringent, so Fu reiterated the importance of harmony among the nine clans. The emperor's reply was, "I have received your secret memorial; you first cited examples of ancient wise rulers to admonish my wrong political affairs. Your words are sincere and earnest, loyal and honest. I have reflected on my mistakes and will correct them according to your advice; I have thoroughly understood your suggestions. I greatly appreciate your earnest advice."
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I later served as the Minister of Works. At that time, General Cao Zhen led the troops to attack the Shu Kingdom, but they encountered rain and the army came to a standstill. I wrote to the emperor, saying: Alas, in the past, King Wen received the auspicious sign of the red crow and still managed everything, not even caring about eating; King Wu set sail with a white fish, and the ruler and his ministers were alarmed. Even with such good omens, they were still so worried, not to mention the continuous natural disasters now and the army standing still like a mountain? The Wu and Shu kingdoms have not been pacified yet, but the heavens keep sending disasters. Your Majesty should devote more attention to state affairs, emphasizing virtue, frugality, and diligence. The army set out a few days ago but was delayed by heavy rain in the mountains for several days. Transportation is extremely challenging, and the soldiers are working tirelessly, with expenses being huge. If the logistics can't keep up, it could lead to disaster. As the 'Zuo Zhuan' states: "Advance when you see favorable situations, retreat when you encounter difficulties; this is the strategy of employing troops." Now the army is trapped in the valley, facing a dilemma; this is not the proper way to command an army! When King Wu withdrew his troops back then, the Shang Dynasty perished; he understood the will of heaven! This year there is famine again, and the common people are suffering from starvation. Your Majesty should issue a decree to cut back on the palace's food and clothing, and the procurement of those exquisite treasures should be halted. When Shao Xincheng served as Minister of Works during the prosperous era, he petitioned the emperor to reduce palace expenditures on food and clothing. Now that the military funds are insufficient, we must be even more prudent with our spending. After the emperor heard my words, he ordered the recall of the army.
Later, the emperor ordered a serious discussion on which political measures were unfavorable to the common people. I presented my views: the key to good governance is appointing talented individuals; to revitalize the country, the key lies in developing agriculture. If one does not appoint talented individuals but only people they like, this is a serious taboo in governance; excessive building and the construction of grand palaces and pavilions hinder the production of the common people, which constitutes a serious harm to agriculture; craftsmen who neglect their duties to compete in making exquisite items to please the emperor, this is a major taboo damaging the fundamentals. Confucius once said, "Harsh policies are more ferocious than tigers!" Nowadays, those officials who only care about their own enjoyment, govern the country without following the rules, and only know how to engage in intricate and harsh matters, are the main culprits causing unrest among the people! The immediate priority is to eliminate these four dangers, while also ordering court ministers and various counties to recommend upright and honest officials, which is also a way to select talented individuals.
I also submitted a memorial suggesting the reduction of palace maids who are not favored. The emperor summoned the official in charge of the harem and asked how many people were in the harem. Following the usual practice, the official said, "This is confidential and cannot be disclosed." I was furious upon hearing this and had him punished with a hundred lashes, rebuking him, "National secrets are not shared with the Nine Ministers, yet you want to keep it secret from a low-ranking official?" When the emperor heard about this, he respected and feared me even more.
The emperor had a special affection for his daughter, Princess Shu, but unfortunately she passed away at a young age, which brought great sorrow to the emperor. Later, the emperor posthumously honored her as Princess Pingyuan, built a temple in Luoyang to worship her, and buried her in Nanling. The emperor planned to personally attend the funeral, but Minister Fu offered counsel against it, saying, "When Emperor Wen and Empress Wu Xuan passed away, Your Majesty did not attend the funerals in person, to emphasize the importance of the state and a prudent approach for the future. Why should you now attend the funeral of a child who had not yet left the cradle?" In the end, the emperor did not heed Fu's advice.
The emperor felt deeply pained and insisted on personally seeing his daughter off on her final journey. However, Lord Fu's words are indeed reasonable; even when the emperor himself passed away, he did not attend his own funeral. No matter how dearly he loved this little princess, he couldn't break such a rule, could he? The emperor must be deeply conflicted, torn between profound paternal love and the greater good of the realm. How could he choose? In the end, the emperor decided to personally attend the funeral, demonstrating that the bond between father and daughter triumphed over all.
Your Majesty, you have just finished building the Xu Palace and are beginning the construction of palaces and pavilions in Luoyang. The Grand Minister said: "Emperor Yao lived in a simple thatched hut, and all the people in the world lived in peace and happiness; King Yu's palace was simple, and all the people thrived in their production. During the Yin and Zhou dynasties, the tallest palace was merely three feet high, and there were at most nine tables. The ancient wise emperors never squandered the people's money on building luxurious palaces. Xia Jie built the opulent Xuan Hall and the Elephant Gallery, and King Zhou of Shang built the Leaning Palace and Deer Terrace; both ended up losing their countries. King Ling of Chu built the Zhanghua Terrace and ultimately suffered for it; Qin Shihuang built the Afang Palace, which led to rebellion and the downfall of the Qin Dynasty. Regardless of the life and death of the people, only seeking their own pleasure, in the end, none of them had a good ending. Your Majesty should take Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, Wen, and Wu as examples, and Xia Jie, King Zhou of Shang, King Ling of Chu, and Qin Shihuang as profound lessons. You stand at the pinnacle, overseeing the virtues of future generations. You should carefully guard the throne and inherit the ancestral foundation; even such a great foundation still has the risk of downfall. If you are not careful day and night, compassionate to the people, but only seeking your own pleasure and building palaces, then there will be a danger of destruction. The Book of Changes says: 'The house is very large, but the family is empty; the windows are open, but quiet, and no one is there.' As the Son of Heaven, the world is your home; this sentence explains the dangers of building luxurious houses, which will eventually lead to no one in the family. Now, two minority groups in the north have united to plot against our ancestral temples and national altars; a hundred thousand troops are engaged in battle on both fronts, and the border is never peaceful. Farmers have put down their work, and the people are starving. Your Majesty seems to disregard these pressing matters, but only blindly builds palaces without end. If the country perishes and the ministers can still survive, I will not say anything; but the sovereign of the realm and the ministers are the backbone of the country, sharing life and death, honor and disgrace. The Book of Filial Piety says: 'The Son of Heaven has seven ministers who dare to speak frankly; even if the Son of Heaven is unjust, he will not lose the world.' Although I am foolish and weak, I dare not forget the responsibility of a minister who dares to speak frankly. If my words are not sharp enough to awaken Your Majesty, I fear that the ancestral foundation will be lost. If my death can save a possibility, then the day I die will be as alive as ever. I humbly offer my apologies and seek Your Majesty's forgiveness, cleanse myself, and await Your Majesty's judgment.
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After Fu submitted his memorial, the emperor was touched by his loyal counsel and personally wrote a reply to him. Every time there was a court meeting, Fu always spoke boldly, treating all major matters of the world as his own responsibility. He repeatedly requested to resign, but the emperor did not allow it. Eventually, he passed away, leaving behind no wealth. His grandson, Sun Bao, inherited his title.
Gao Tanglong, also known by his style name Shengping, was from Pingyang in Taishan and was the son of Lu Gaotang. When he was young, he was a scholar, and later Xue Ti, the Governor of Taishan, appointed him as a postal inspector. The county's military commander quarreled with Xue Ti, even insulting him to his face. Gao Tanglong immediately drew his sword and shouted at the commander, "When the ruler of Lu was insulted, Confucius stood up for him; when Lin Xiangru was humiliated by the King of Qin, he used the He Shi Bi to counter. As a subordinate, it is only right to stand up for a just ruler!" The commander's face went pale with fear, and Xue Ti quickly stood up to intervene. Later, Gao Tanglong resigned from his post and went into hiding in Jinan.
In the 18th year of Jian'an, Cao Cao summoned him to be the chief military advisor, and later he became the literary officer of Marquis Hui of Licheng, and then was promoted to a minister. After Cao Cao's death, Marquis Hui showed no sadness at all and instead indulged in hunting and leisure everywhere. Gao Tanglong spoke out with righteousness and advised him appropriately. During the Huangchu era, he served as the county magistrate of Tangyang, and later was selected as the teacher of Marquis Pingyuan (Cao Rui). When Marquis Pingyuan ascended the throne as the emperor, known as Emperor Ming of Wei, he appointed Gao Tanglong as an imperial censor, a doctor, and a cavalry commander. When Emperor Ming just ascended to the throne, some ministers proposed holding a celebratory banquet. Gao Tanglong argued against holding a banquet, saying, "Emperor Yao and Emperor Shun exhibited restraint in their mourning, and Emperor Gaozong likewise refrained from displaying grief; that's why their virtues spread throughout the world." Emperor Ming respected his opinion and adopted his suggestion. Eventually, Gao Tanglong was promoted to Prefect of Chenliu.
In Chenliu, there was a commoner named Duminyou, who was over seventy years old. He was very honest, and Gaotang recommended him as a clerk. The emperor appreciated him and promoted him to be a Gentleman of the Interior to commend him. Later, the emperor summoned Gaotang as an Attendant Cavalier and granted him the title of Marquis of Guannei.
During the Qinglong era, the imperial palace planned to renovate the Dazhidian and bring back a massive bell from Chang'an. At that time, a man named Long submitted a memorial to the emperor stating: "In the past, King Jing of Zhou did not appreciate the wise governance of King Wen and King Wu of Zhou, ignored the system established by Duke Zhou, insisted on casting large coins, and also cast a massive bell. At that time, Duke Mu of Shan advised him, and Jiu of Lingzhou also advised him, but he did not listen. As a result, the fortunes of the Zhou Dynasty declined, and this incident was recorded in official history as a cautionary tale for future generations. However, now those opportunists exploit the extravagance and excesses of the Qin and Han Dynasties to mislead the emperor, seeking to acquire what the fallen rulers possessed, resulting in wasted resources and financial strain, undermining the government's virtuous policies, which does not help foster a culture of ritual and music or ensure the peace of the nation!"
That day, the emperor went to Shangfang to enjoy the scenery, and Long and Bian Lan followed. The emperor handed Long's memorial to Bian Lan and asked him to refute Long, saying, "The country's rise and fall is tied to politics; what does that have to do with music? If the teachings are unclear, how can we blame the bells?" Long replied, "Music and rites are the foundation of governing a nation! Look, in the past, when the Xiao Shao music was played at its height, the phoenix came to pay homage; when the thunder drum changed six times, the heavenly gods descended, all because of clear politics, appropriate punishments, and social harmony. Conversely, when the new music of the Shang Dynasty appeared, King Zhou of Shang perished; when King Jing of Zhou commissioned the great bell, the Zhou Dynasty began to decline. The rise and fall of the country often depends on these matters; how can it be said that it has nothing to do with the decline of music and rites? The actions of kings should be recorded in history books; this is an ancient rule. If something improper is done, what can be used as an example for future generations? A wise king welcomes criticism and advice from others, which is why loyal ministers openly address the king's faults!" The emperor was very pleased after hearing this and expressed his agreement. The emperor appointed him as a court official and also as the Grand Historian. When the Chonghua Hall caught fire, the emperor asked him, "What happened, exactly? According to our rituals, is there a reason to pray for disaster relief?"
Long said: "Those disasters are warnings to rulers. They can only be overcome by following rituals and laws and cultivating virtues. The I Ching states: 'If extravagance is not curbed above, and indulgence is not restrained below, disaster will burn down their houses.' It also says: 'When the ruler builds tall towers, disasters will come from heaven.' This means that if the ruler only focuses on decorating the palace and ignores the suffering of the people, heaven will send droughts and fires will start from the tall palace. Heaven is warning and condemning Your Majesty; Your Majesty should pay more attention to the welfare of the people to respond to the will of heaven. In the past, Tai Wu grew mulberry trees in the court, and Wu Ding had pheasants fly into the tripod. They were both afraid because of disasters, quickly reflected on themselves, cultivated virtues, and three years later, barbarians from afar came to pay tribute, so they were called Zhong Zong and Gao Zong. This is the bright mirror of the past! Now, checking the previous divination records, the occurrence of fires is to warn those tall towers and palaces. However, the current luxury of the palaces is actually because there are too many court officials. The palace attendants should be streamlined, leaving only those with noble character, just like the system of the Zhou Dynasty, and the rest should be dismissed. This is the method taught by Zuo Ji to educate Gao Zong, and also the reason why Gao Zong can enjoy a great reputation."
The emperor asked Long again: "I heard that during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, the Boliang Palace caught fire, and as a result, he vigorously built palaces to suppress disasters. What does this mean?"
Long replied, "I heard that after the fire at the Boliang Palace in Xijing, shamans from the Yi and Yue tribes were invited to build the Jianzhang Palace to avert calamities. This is the practice of the Yi and Yue shamans, not the teachings of the wise. As stated in the 'Records of the Five Elements': 'After the fire at the Boliang Palace, Jiang Chong used witchcraft to harm the Crown Prince.' As the text states, building the Jianzhang Palace by the Yi and Yue shamans will not truly avert calamities. Confucius said, 'Disasters are caused by improper behavior, and the spirits and gods respond accordingly to warn the ruler.' Therefore, a wise ruler, upon seeing disasters, should blame themselves, retreat to cultivate virtue, and eliminate disasters. It is time to stop the wasteful and burdensome project. The construction of the palace should be simple and practical, with the interior able to withstand storms and the exterior suitable for ceremonial purposes. The area that was burned should be cleared, and nothing should be built there again. Cypress and grains will surely flourish there, as a reward for Your Majesty's sincere and virtuous conduct. How can we squander resources and burden the people? This is not how to invite good fortune or win over distant lords." In the end, the Emperor rebuilt the Chonghua Hall, which led to it being renamed the Nine Dragon Hall, as there were sightings of nine dragons in all counties and states at that time.
When the construction of the Lingxiao Pavilion began, a magpie nest was found on top. The emperor asked Long what was going on. Long replied, "In the Book of Songs, it says 'The magpie has its nest, the turtledove dwells in it.' Now we are building palaces and constructing the Lingxiao Pavilion, but the magpie has already nested there. This indicates the palace isn't finished yet, and we can't move in. This may be a warning from above, that the palace is not yet completed, and people of other surnames may come to control it. This is a warning from above! Heaven doesn’t play favorites; it only blesses those who do good. We need to take this seriously. When the Xia and Shang dynasties perished, it was because those who inherited the throne did not obey the will of heaven, only listened to evil people, neglected virtue, and pursued pleasure, so the downfall came swiftly. But Tai Wu and King Wu feared disasters, seriously followed the warnings of heaven, so their countries could prosper. Now if we can stop large-scale construction projects, be frugal, strengthen virtue, and ensure all actions follow the will of the Heavenly Emperor, eliminate the suffering of the people, and enhance the well-being of the people, then we can surpass the Three Kings, surpass the Five Emperors; it's not just about saving the Yin Dynasty from danger! I'm willing to face any danger, as long as it ensures Your Majesty's peace and protects the state; even if it means being crushed to pieces, I am willing. How could I fear offending you and not speak up? Should Your Majesty not hear honest advice?" After hearing this, the emperor's expression shifted, and so did his demeanor.
Long's words made the emperor's heart sink. He analyzed the significance of magpies building nests, connected the rise and fall of the Xia and Shang dynasties, cited the example of King Wu of Zhou, and finally expressed his unwavering loyalty, unafraid to offend the emperor, seeking only the peace and happiness of the nation and its people. His speech conveyed concerns about the country's fate and loyalty to the emperor; more importantly, it prompted the emperor to reflect on his governance strategies. The emperor was profoundly touched by Long's words, and his demeanor visibly softened.
That year, a comet appeared in the sky, moving towards the vicinity of the Great Chariot. Long Shangshu presented a memorial to the emperor, saying: "Throughout history, emperors have relocated and built cities, always first determining the positions of the heavens, earth, and ancestral shrines, reverently paying tribute to them. When constructing palaces, ancestral temples should come first, followed by stables and warehouses, and residential buildings last. Currently, the Round Altar, the Square Altar, the Southern and Northern Suburbs, the Hall of Light, and the ancestral shrines have not been established, and the system of ancestral temples does not conform to the established rituals, yet there is a rush to construct palaces, causing the common people to lose their jobs. Outsiders are all saying that the cost of building palaces is similar to the cost of raising troops for war; the common people are truly suffering, and grievances are widespread. The Book of Documents states: 'The wisdom of the heavens reflects the wisdom of the people; the majesty of the heavens is due to the majesty of the people,' meaning that if the people are settled and content, they will receive the five blessings from the heavens; if the people are full of complaints, they will incur the six disasters from the heavens, showing that the rewards and punishments from the heavens depend on public opinion and must follow the will of the people. Therefore, the most important task for rulers is to pacify the people; only then can the ancient teachings be deeply ingrained in people's hearts; this has been true from ancient times to today. It was the simplicity of their palaces that allowed Tang Yao, Yu Shun, and Da Yu to achieve greatness, while luxurious palaces were the root cause of the downfall of Xia Jie and Shang Zhou. The current palace construction blatantly disregards ritual norms, and the Nine Dragon Palace has been rebuilt, adorned with even more lavish decorations than ever. The comet in the sky shines brightly, starting from the mansion star and heading straight towards the emperor's seat, threatening the Purple Star; this is the heavens protecting Your Majesty, hence showing the warning signs. The appearance and disappearance of the comet are in noble star positions, sincere and solemn, hoping that Your Majesty will awaken to this truth; this is akin to the heartfelt counsel of a loving father. You should approach this with the seriousness and respect of a devoted son, setting a good example and warning future generations; this must not be overlooked, lest it provoke the heavens' wrath further."
At that time, it was said that there were continuous significant national affairs, and the application of laws was also very strict. Zhang Long submitted a memorial to the emperor, saying: "To expand the territory and inherit the legacy, we must wait for a wise monarch, assist in governing the nation and ensuring stability, and also need virtuous assistants, so that all undertakings can proceed smoothly and society can be stable and prosperous. To change customs, promote education, unify the entire nation, with virtue illuminating all corners, and all subjects revering justice, this is not something that ordinary officials can achieve. Currently, officials at all levels are only concerned with the complexities of criminal law and do not address the fundamental issues, so although punishments are implemented, problems cannot be solved, and social ills cannot be eradicated. We should promote rituals and music, repair the Mingtang Palace, hold activities such as the Three Yong rites, Great Archery, and Elderly Care events, build suburban temples, honor scholars, recommend reclusive scholars, regulate systems, revise the calendar, alter clothing colors, promote benevolence, advocate thriftiness, and only then can we conduct grand ceremonies to honor heaven and earth, giving thanks to heaven and earth for our achievements, filling the world with elegant hymns, and educating future generations. This is the scene of a prosperous era and an everlasting legacy! However, if all the people in the world can live in harmony, what is there to be concerned about? If problems are not fundamentally solved and only the symptoms are treated, it is like re-entangling a mess, which is not a way to govern a country. Officials, courtiers, and Confucian scholars should be instructed to carefully deliberate on this matter and develop specific plans to serve as models."
Zhang Long also believed that revising the calendar, attire, insignia, and instruments has always been a means for emperors to show the sacredness of political power and change the appearance of the people, so ancient emperors would declare themselves kings in the spring to mark the transition of the three dynasties. So he elaborated on the previous rules and requested the emperor to make changes. The emperor adopted his suggestion, changing the third month of the fifth year of Qinglong to the fourth month of the first year of Jingchu, with yellow as the main clothing color and white livestock used for sacrifices, all determined based on the Earthly Branches.
Zhang Long was consequently promoted to Guanglu Xun. However, the emperor was far more interested in building palaces, adorned pavilions, quarrying quartz from Taihang Mountain, excavating Wen stone from Gucheng, constructing Jingyang Mountain in Fanglin Garden, building Zhaoyang Hall north of the Taiji Palace, casting extraordinary and magnificent mythical beasts such as the Yellow Dragon and Phoenix, and decorating Jinyong City, Lingyuntai, and Lingxiaoque. Various projects were carried out on a large scale, involving tens of thousands of participants, from officials and ministers to ordinary students; everyone spared no effort. The emperor even personally went to dig soil to set an example. However, the Liaodong region had yet to pay tribute to the court. At this time, the Empress Dowager passed away. A torrential downpour occurred, submerging the homes of ordinary people and causing significant losses. Zhang Long once more submitted a fervent remonstrance to the emperor, stating:
It is often said that the greatest virtue of heaven and earth is their perpetual renewal, and the greatest treasure of a sage is their status. How can one preserve their status? Through benevolence and righteousness! How can one unite people? Through wealth! Therefore, the common people are the bedrock of the nation, and food and wealth are the lifeblood of the common people. Food and wealth cannot flourish without the nurturing hands of human labor. Therefore, in ancient times, emperors would often personally cultivate the fields to encourage agricultural production, and empresses would often raise silkworms to promote weaving, to show respect to the heavens and express gratitude for their blessings.
Back in the day during the era of the Tang dynasty, when it was marked by misfortune, there was a great flood. Yu's father Gun went to manage the flood, but to no avail. Later, Emperor Yao appointed Yu to manage the flood. Yu cut down trees along the mountains to divert the flood, spending twenty-two years in total. The scale of the disaster was unprecedented, and the labor required was equally extraordinary. Even the wise emperors Yao and Shun could only stand by helplessly. Eventually, Yu successfully managed the flood, divided the land into nine regions, and rewarded the people according to their contributions. Both nobles and commoners had their own attire. Nowadays, although the situation is not as urgent, it is not good for court officials and common people to work together. If this were known to foreign countries, it would bring shame upon us. If this were recorded in history, it would reflect poorly on us. Therefore, leaders should lead by example, care for the people, and protect them like a loving mother, truly worthy of the title "benevolent ruler, the people's parent." Nowadays, everyone is working hard, disease and disaster are rampant, fewer people are farming, and famine is looming. The people have endured years of suffering. We should show them more compassion and provide support to help them through these tough times.
I have read in ancient books that there is always a connection between heaven, earth, and people. Therefore, the wise kings of ancient times respected heaven’s will, followed the principles of yin and yang, worked diligently, and feared going against them. In this way, the country could be governed well, and their virtues would align with heaven. Even in the face of disasters, they would fear the consequences and swiftly amend their mistakes to ensure the longevity of the country. However, in later times, incompetent rulers who did not follow the laws of their predecessors, ignored the advice of upright ministers, indulged in their own pleasures, disregarded warnings, and ultimately faced their downfall.
The principles of heaven are clear, so let's examine it from a human standpoint. Humans harbor emotions like greed, desire, integrity, and chastity within themselves. Once these emotions are stirred, they start to conflict within us. If desires are strong and self-control is weak, indulgence and lack of self-restraint will ensue; if willpower is weak, excessive indulgence can spiral out of control. Human emotions can be categorized as likes or admiration, and the accumulation of these likes and admiration cannot be achieved through sheer human effort, nor can they be established solely by wealth. Without emotional restraint, people can become overwhelmed, and material possessions will not satisfy their desires. When exhaustion and desire peak at the same time, chaos will follow. Thus, without emotional control, social order cannot be upheld. Confucius said, "If people lack long-term foresight, they will inevitably face immediate troubles." From this perspective, the establishment of rituals and moral codes is not meant to deliberately restrict individuals, but to prevent disasters and foster an era of peace and prosperity.
Now the bandits from Wu and Shu are not your typical mountain bandits. They occupy strategic locations, rely on the advantage of waterways, have a large number of troops, falsely claim the title of emperor, and want to compete with the Central Plains dynasty. If someone reports that Sun Quan and Liu Chan are both working hard to govern and restoring a clean and frugal style, won't Your Majesty be surprised? You might think they are not easy to deal with and could become a hidden danger to the country. If the informant says that these two bandits are cruel and oppressive, extravagant and greedy, squeezing the people, increasing taxes, causing immense suffering among the people, leading to widespread complaints. When Your Majesty hears this news, won't you be furious and want to quickly eliminate them to relieve the innocent people's suffering? Not to mention, wouldn't it be easier to defeat them while they are worn out? If that's the case, then we can judge based on the actual situation, and the time to resolve this matter is not far away.
Emperor Qin Shi Huang did not establish a good moral foundation, but he built the extravagant Palace of Efang, did not worry about internal conflicts, but spent huge sums of money building the Great Wall. At that time, he did this with his ministers to establish an eternal foundation, so that future generations would always have the world; little did he know that a single commoner's shout could bring everything crashing down? So I think, if those previous monarchs knew that what they were doing would ultimately fail, they wouldn't have done it. Therefore, fallen monarchs often believe they are invincible, only to find themselves overthrown; while wise monarchs always think they may perish, and as a result, they preserve their kingdom. Emperor Wen of Han was considered a wise monarch in the past; he led a frugal life and genuinely cared for the people, but Jia Yi warned that the situation was dire, and many were moved to tears by it.
The current situation is worse than it was during the reign of Emperor Wen of Han. The common people can't even get enough to eat for an entire year, the country doesn't have enough reserves, there are powerful enemies outside watching closely, border skirmishes are constantly flaring up, major projects are being carried out domestically, and disturbances are happening everywhere. If a real war breaks out, I'm worried that the common people won't even have a chance to surrender to the invaders.
Furthermore, the salaries of generals keep getting slashed, now only one-fifth compared to before; those who used to receive rewards have seen their benefits cut entirely, and even those who were originally exempt from taxes now have to pay half. Consequently, officials' incomes have actually increased compared to before, while their expenses have decreased. However, the state finances are perpetually in the red, with various taxes coming one after another. Thinking about it, where on earth has all this money gone? Salaries and rewards are what the monarch uses to support officials and the people, to make them loyal, but now they have been reduced, which is like taking away their very livelihoods! Gaining and then losing, this will make the common people resentful. The Zhou Li states that the Grand Steward oversees the revenue from nine different types of taxes to pay for nine types of expenses, with clear purposes for the income, and each department's expenses are sufficient. After meeting all the expenses, the remaining money can be used to entertain the king. When the emperor spends money, it has to be approved by the Sihui.
Now, those handling state affairs at court are either the Three Departments and Nine Ministers or the close ministers of the Imperial Court, all of whom are your trusted aides and should be able to speak frankly. If they see a deficit in state finances but dare not tell you, only busy with their own affairs, fearing that they will not do well, then they're just a bunch of yes-men who only know how to flatter, not truly loyal ministers assisting you. Li Si once advised Emperor Qin Er Shi, saying, "To be a monarch without arrogance and extravagance, this is called the shackles of the world." After hearing his words, the Qin state fell, and Li Si's family was wiped out. Therefore, Sima Qian criticized him for failing to speak up and offer advice, as a warning for future generations.
After reading the memorial, the emperor said to the Chief of the Imperial Secretariat and the Grand Preceptor, "Look at Long's memorial, it really makes me afraid!" This Long, who was seriously ill, dictated a memorial for submission.
Zengzi fell ill, and Meng Jingzi inquired about his condition. Zengzi said, "When a bird is about to die, its song is mournful; when a person is about to die, their words are good." I am deeply ill, my condition is worsening day by day, and I have been worried that I might suddenly die before expressing my sincere wishes. How can my sincerity pale in comparison to that of Zengzi? I hope Your Majesty can take a moment to consider it!
If Your Majesty can correct past mistakes and create a great future, then Heaven will bless us, and people from all over will strive for righteousness. Auspicious signs will appear, the stars will shine favorably, and we will surpass the achievements of the Three Kings and Five Emperors, instead of merely clinging to our ancestors' legacy and maintaining the status quo.
After reading the memorial, the Emperor said to the officials in charge of handling documents, "Look at this memorial from Long, it really makes me anxious!" Long was seriously ill and could only dictate the memorial, which reads:
"Zengzi fell ill, and Meng Jingzi inquired about his condition. Zengzi said, 'When a bird is about to die, its song is mournful; when a person is about to die, their words are good.'" I am currently very ill, my condition is worsening day by day, and I have been worried that I might suddenly pass away before expressing all my thoughts. My loyalty pales in comparison to Zengzi's! I hope Your Majesty can take a look at my memorial!
If Your Majesty can correct some past mistakes and robustly advance the nation, then Heaven will surely bless us, and people from all over will look up to our benevolence and righteousness. Treasures and auspicious signs will appear, the heavens will smile upon us, and we will be able to surpass the achievements of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, instead of merely clinging to our ancestors' legacy.
I often feel that those who become emperors all desire to emulate the golden ages of Yao, Shun, Tang, and Wu, but end up following the path of Jie, Zhou, and Li. They mock the incompetent rulers who led their countries to ruin, yet they do not learn from the governance of Yu, Xia, Yin, and Zhou. Alas! By following their ways, they are looking for fish in a tree, trying to warm ice by the fire; it is clearly impossible to achieve the results they want!
Think about it, the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties managed to rule the realm because of the succession of sages that lasted for hundreds of years. Every inch of land was under their jurisdiction, and every individual was their subject. The world was peaceful, and the country was stable. The gold on Deer Terrace and the food on the Grand Bridge were abundant, yet they still sat comfortably in the court. What's going on here? However, figures like Xia Jie and Shang Zhou relied on brute force, only knowing how to reject advice from others and hide their faults. They favored flattery, liked to build grand palaces, and were enamored with extravagance. They enjoyed listening to jesters and clowns and indulged in pleasure. When heaven could no longer tolerate their actions, they were punished; the country turned into ruins, the people became slaves, the capital of King Zhou of Shang fell, and the army of King Xia Jie scattered. The emperors like Tang and Wu also had faults; are they not human? They are all descendants of wise rulers!
Let's talk about the Warring States period. The realm was prosperous and powerful. After Qin unified the country, instead of adhering to the principles of wise kings, they built the extravagant Qin Palace, erected the Great Wall, boasting about the strength of the Central Plains, and conquering the barbarians, which shook the world. They believed their foundation was solid and their country secure, but they perished in the second generation; the country was destroyed.
Look at Emperor Wu of Han. He inherited the successes of the Wen and Jing eras, fought against the Xiongnu, and promoted infrastructure development. Within a decade, the country was prosperous. But he believed in sorcerers and blamed fate, building the grand Jianzhang Palace with countless gates, which led to Jiang Chong's deceitful words misleading the public, causing chaos in the court, with father and son fighting each other, bringing calamity upon future generations; the disaster lasted for several generations.
During the Huang Chao period, I saw ominous signs from the heavens: strange birds appeared that grew up in swallows' nests, with red beaks, claws, and chests. This is a significant omen for the Wei family! We should be wary of ambitious ministers, like eagles, stirring up trouble in the court. We can choose the princes to guard the country and manage the army, thus stabilizing the capital and reinforcing royal authority. In the past, during the Zhou Dynasty's eastward migration, they relied on the Jin and Zheng states; during the Han Dynasty when Empress Lü held power, the country was stabilized thanks to Marquis Zhu Xu. These serve as lessons from previous dynasties! The heavens do not favor anyone; only virtue can receive blessings from the heavens. When the common people praise your good policies, your rule can endure; if the common people complain, your rule is in danger. Therefore, the realm belongs to the people, not solely to Your Majesty! As my health deteriorates, I can only ride home in a carriage. If I die, even if my spirit knows, I will be eternally grateful and repay the emperor's kindness with tears.
The Emperor decreed: "You, as honest and upright as Boyi, and incorruptible like Shiyu, resolute in mind, never flattering, why did you return home for such a minor ailment? Great Yu, who upheld his principles, continued to govern flood control even while gravely ill. You should eat well and take care of your health!" After Long's death, he left a will requesting a simple burial, wearing ordinary clothes for the funeral.
During the Taihe period, Central Guard Jiang Ji submitted a memorial saying, "We should hold the Fengshan ceremony according to ancient rituals." Upon hearing Jiang Ji's words, I broke out in a cold sweat from fear! This matter was shelved for several years before a decision was made to proceed, with Wang Su tasked with designing the ceremony. Upon hearing of Wang Su's death, the Emperor sighed, "Heaven does not wish for me to complete this task; Gao Tangsheng (referring to Wang Su) has departed!" His son, Wang Chen, inherited his title.
At first, Emperor Jing felt that the old scholars in the court, like Su Lin and Qin Jing, were aging, and he worried that there would be no one to carry on their legacy and pass down the teachings of Confucianism. So he issued an edict saying, "After the passing of the sage in the past, their teachings were recorded in the Six Arts. Among the classics of the Six Arts, rites and music are the most important and must not be neglected for a moment! Nowadays, moral standards have declined, drifting far from their roots for a long time. Therefore, Min Zi criticized Yuan Bo for his lack of study, and Xun Qing rebuked the Qin Dynasty for killing Confucian scholars. If Confucianism is abandoned, how can education thrive? The esteemed scholars in the court are all aging; who will carry on their teachings and educate future generations? In the past, when Fu Sheng grew old, Emperor Wen of Han appointed Chao Cuo as his successor; when the Gu Liang school was declining, Emperor Xuan let Shi Lang inherit. Now, appoint thirty talented officials and bureaucrats who can interpret the classics to study under Grand Master Su Long, Privy Councilor Su Lin, and Scholar Qin Jing, learning the Four Books and Three Rites. Relevant departments should develop detailed evaluation criteria. Xiahou Sheng once remarked, 'A scholar's greatest flaw is their lack of understanding of the classics. As long as you master the classics, achieving high positions and rewards will be as easy as picking up grass from the ground.' Now, as long as you can deeply study the classics, titles, salaries, honors, and favor will come naturally. Shouldn't you strive for it?"
After a few years, Su Long and others passed away, and the enthusiasm for studying the classics waned.
Initially, when Ren Zhanqian from Rencheng was the county magistrate, he was responsible for defending Ye City. At that time, Emperor Wen was still known as the Crown Prince and he particularly enjoyed hunting, setting out every morning and not coming back until night. Zhanqian cautioned him, "Nobles and ministers ought to establish defenses to fortify the nation. The capital's defenses are meant to guard against unforeseen events. As the Book of Songs states, 'The heir is like a city wall; do not allow it to crumble.' It further states, 'The situation has not yet become irreparable, so timely counsel should be offered.' If you become consumed by hunting, setting out in the morning and returning at night for the thrill of the hunt, while overlooking the potential dangers, I am genuinely concerned." The Crown Prince was rather displeased at the time, but he subsequently reduced his hunting activities significantly.
During the early years of Emperor Wen's reign, he wanted to elevate Lady Guo Gui to the position of empress. Zhan Qian advised against this, and his specific arguments are documented in the "Biographies of Imperial Consorts." During the reign of Emperor Ming, there was extensive construction, and many relatives were sidelined. Zhan Qian wrote again, saying: "Heaven created the people and allowed them to support the monarch in order to protect the people and educate the masses. Therefore, governing the world is not for the benefit of the emperor alone, and granting land is not for the vassals themselves. From the Three Sovereigns to Tang, Yao, Yu, and Shun, they all regarded the people as the most important, influencing them with noble virtues, and the people relied on them. After the Three Sovereigns, during the Han Dynasty, the governance of the country declined, leading to an increase in wars. Since then, no dynasty has been able to govern the world well. The founding emperor was wise and martial, eradicating chaos, restoring royal rule, and founding the empire. Emperor Wen inherited the mandate of heaven, expanded the royal foundation, and ruled for seven years without being able to handle everything. Your Majesty is wise and should prioritize peace to allow the people to recuperate. But now the border is unstable, there are military expeditions and overseas wars, flags are planted far and wide, the army is restless, and land and water transport are disrupted, causing the people to abandon their homes and spend huge sums of money every day. The scale of palace construction is immense; countless pine trees have been felled, valleys excavated, and strange stones transported from the Huai and Yellow Rivers have been turned into stone quarries to supply building materials. Yet these places have been transformed into royal gardens, with dense forests and abundant deer and rabbits. Agricultural production has been severely disrupted, the land is overgrown with weeds, disasters are rampant, the people suffer heavy losses, and the auspicious signs from heaven have diminished, causing crops not to grow. I have heard that King Wen built Fengyi without haste at the beginning, and the people all came to help, completing it in a few days. Lingzhao and Lingyou were also shared with the people. Now the palaces are luxurious, the carvings exquisite, forgetting the thrift of Yu and Shun, while still thinking of King Zhou of Shang's Qiongshi, with forbidden areas thousands of miles away and nets set for hunting everywhere. The extravagance rivals that of the A Fang Palace, consuming countless manpower and resources. I fear that the people's strength will be depleted, leaving them unable to endure. Previously, the Qin State controlled the world by occupying the Hangu Pass, considering their virtues superior to the Three Sovereigns and their achievements greater than the Five Emperors, wanting their title to be passed down for generations. However, the Second Emperor was destroyed. The desire to become a commoner is akin to uprooting a tree, causing its branches to wither.
A wise monarch governing the realm should elevate talented individuals and befriend those with merits; when talented individuals hold official positions, they can achieve great things. Sharing joys and hardships with loyal companions can secure stability in the realm; with a strong foundation and support both inside and out, one can weather the ups and downs. When King Cheng was young and unable to rule personally, the Duke of Zhou, Duke of Lu, Duke of Shao, and Duke of Bi all assisted him; now the candidates for feudal lords today lack the talent of the Duke of Zhou and Duke of Shao. The crown prince has not yet been established, and there is no heir to the throne. I hope Your Majesty pays attention to the borders and keeps lasting peace, so that the realm will prosper." Later, he served as the Commandant of Yanzhong, resigned due to illness, and eventually passed away.
People evaluate Xin Pi and Yang Fu, noting their integrity, courage, and willingness to speak out, comparable to the noble character of Ji An! "Ah, the noble character of Ji An!" Gaotang Long, who is both knowledgeable and virtuous, is eager to assist the monarch, offers timely advice in challenging situations, and speaks earnestly and sincerely—truly a loyal minister! "With the aim of rectifying the monarch, presenting advice in response to changes, expressing sincerity, truly loyal!" However, he later insisted on reforming the calendar, which led to chaos in the ancestral rites of the Wei ancestors, likely because he was "thinking too far ahead"! "By the time the calendar was reformed, the confusion surrounding the sacrifices to the Wei ancestors was deemed excessive!"
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.
He Qia, whose courtesy name was Yangshi, was from Xiping in Runan. He was successful in the imperial examination for filial piety, and the Grand General invited him to serve in an official capacity, but he declined. Yuan Shao was the dominant figure in Jizhou and sent people to Runan to invite talented individuals to help. He Qia believed Jizhou was not a wise choice, noting, "The common folk in Jizhou are too strong-willed, filled with formidable characters, and the region is fraught with danger. Although Yuan Benchu is quite powerful at present, more formidable individuals are emerging, and who can predict what the future holds! Liu Biao in Jingzhou lacks grand ambitions and appreciates talented individuals, and the terrain in Jingzhou is treacherous, while the mountain folk are relatively weaker and more easily swayed by him." So he gathered his family and friends and headed south to seek refuge with Liu Biao, who welcomed him as an esteemed guest. He Qia said, "The reason I chose not to ally with Yuan Shao is that he is too focused on territorial disputes. In these turbulent times, leaders should not be too close, as it becomes perilous over time, and there will inevitably be schemers." Thus, he journeyed south to Wuling.
After Cao Cao conquered Jingzhou, he invited He Qia to serve as an advisor in the Chancellor's office. At that time, Mao Jie and Cui Yan were both known for their loyalty, honesty, and diligence, and they placed great importance on selecting thrifty talents. He Qia said, "To govern the world, we need people; we cannot only use a 'thriftiness' standard to measure things! While being overly thrifty might work for managing one's own affairs, using this standard to demand others may lead to trouble. Nowadays, there is a popular saying in the court that if an official wears new clothes and rides in a good carriage, he is considered corrupt; but if a leader goes out to inspect and dresses shabbily in tattered clothes, he is considered clean. This has caused some officials to intentionally soil their clothes and conceal their fine carriages and horses; some high-ranking officials even bring their own lunchboxes to eat at the office. Establishing good rules and observing the people's customs, the key is to strike a balance; only then can it endure. Now, emphasizing a difficult-to-achieve standard of behavior to constrain various types of people, forcing them to comply, will surely exhaust them. The purpose of ancient education was mainly to align with public sentiment. Any extreme or strange behavior will breed hypocrisy."
After the establishment of the Wei Kingdom, I became a Palace Attendant. Later, a guy named Bai Mao Jie slandered and defamed Cao Cao, which infuriated Cao Cao. I explained to Cao Cao that Bai Mao Jie's past behavior was verifiable and requested to investigate the truth. After the court session ended, Cao Cao said to me, "The person who accused Bai Mao Jie not only slandered me but also made Cui Yan very uncomfortable. This undermines the bond between ruler and subject. It is intolerable to lament for a deceased friend and cause such discord! In the past, Xiao He and Cao Shen rose from humble beginnings with Liu Bang, establishing great merit. Whenever Liu Bang faced difficulties, the two of them were respectful and obedient, following the principles of loyalty exceptionally well, which is why they could bring blessings to future generations. The reason I didn’t immediately investigate Bai Mao Jie was to ensure a more thorough inquiry."
I replied, "If what the accuser said is true, then Bai Maojian's crimes are extremely serious, and heaven and earth would not tolerate him. I am not intentionally shielding Bai Maojian from justice, but because he was specially promoted among many officials, held important positions, enjoyed favor for many years, was known for his integrity and loyalty, earning the respect of everyone. He should not have done such a thing. However, human nature is difficult to gauge, so it is still necessary to investigate thoroughly and verify carefully. Now, Your Majesty is gracious and reluctant to hold him accountable, but if this is not clarified, suspicion will start from those around him."
Cao Cao said, "I do not investigate because I want to balance both sides, to protect Bai Maojian and also consider the accuser."
I replied, "If Bai Maojian really slandered you, he should be publicly dealt with; if Bai Maojian did not, then the accuser is falsely accusing a minister and misleading you in making decisions. I feel genuinely uneasy if neither situation is thoroughly investigated."
Cao Cao said, "We are currently at war, how can we casually act on others' words in an investigation? The story of the fox shooting at Gu Sheyang serves as a warning to the ruler!"
After Cao Cao captured Zhang Lu, I suggested to him that he should take the opportunity to withdraw the troops and resettle the people, which would save the cost of garrisoning. Cao Cao did not take my advice at that time, but later relocated the people and abandoned Hanzhong. After that, I was transferred to the position of Langzhongling. After Emperor Wen ascended the throne, I was appointed as Guanglu Xun and titled as Marquis of Anchengting. After Emperor Ming ascended the throne, I was further enfeoffed as Marquis of Xilingxiang, with a land grant of two hundred households.
During the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang, the Cavalier Attendant Gao Tanglong submitted a memorial saying, "Although the weather is fine, the common people exhibit a sense of lethargy and despair; this is definitely because the relevant authorities have failed in their duties and gone against the natural order!" The Emperor graciously accepted the criticism and sought opinions from many.
Gaotang Long believes: "Nowadays, there are fewer people farming and more people not working productively. The country is founded on the people, and the people rely on food. If the people's farming time is wasted, the very foundation for feeding the people will be undermined. Therefore, wise ancient rulers sought to minimize unnecessary expenditures and focused on developing agricultural production. From spring to summer, the common people are burdened with various corvee tasks, agricultural production is neglected, and the people are grumbling; even though the weather is favorable, the harvest is likely poor. The key to solving this problem lies in thrift. The great foundation created by Emperor Taizu was due to his frugality in avoiding unnecessary expenditures, providing for the army and rewarding soldiers and officials, ensuring they were well-fed and clothed, and the state treasury was filled with food and silk because he did not build luxurious palaces and avoided extravagant waste. Now, the priority is to reduce heavy corvee tasks, cut unnecessary affairs, and stockpile supplies for the army. Border defense should be fully prepared; carefully assess the enemy's strengths and weaknesses, reserve troops, prepare and plan strategies to defeat the enemy, clearly outline attack and capture plans, and listen to the opinions of the people extensively to find the best solution. If plans are not determined in advance and one underestimates the enemy, mobilizing a large army will be futile, as the ancients warned: 'Favoring military force without instilling fear,' this is a warning from the ancients!"
Gaotang Long was later promoted to Taichang, leading a life of simplicity and frugality, even selling his land and home to make ends meet. When Emperor Ming heard about this, he rewarded him with extra food and cloth. After Gaotang Long passed away, he was posthumously honored with the title of Jianhou. His son Gaoli (pronounced lí) inherited his title. Gaoli's younger brother Gaoyi was exceptionally talented, eventually attaining the position of court officer.
Gaotang Long and his fellow villager and good friend Xu Hun were good friends. Xu Hun was the son of Xu Shao. Xu Hun was renowned for his honesty and insight, serving as a secretary under Emperor Ming.
Chang Lin, style name Bo Huai, is from Wen County, Henan. When he was seven, a family friend visited and asked Chang Lin, "Is your uncle at home? Why don't you pay your respects to the guest?" Chang Lin replied, "Although he is a guest, why should I pay my respects to him if you call him 'uncle'?" Everyone thought he was quite insightful and praised him.
Wang Kuang, the Prefect of Henan, raised troops against Dong Zhuo and sent students to secretly investigate the wrongdoings of the common people in various counties. Once discovered, they were arrested and extorted for money to atone for their wrongdoings. If they delayed payment, their whole family would be killed, in order to establish authority. Chang Lin's uncle offended a guest, was reported by the students, and Wang Kuang was furious, ordering his arrest and interrogation. The whole family was terrified, not knowing how much they would be fined, and fearing they would be arrested with no one to help them. Chang Lin went to see Hu Mubiao, who was from the same county as Wang Kuang, and said, "Prefect Wang, you are both a scholar and a warrior, coming to our remote county. Our county is surrounded by mountains, with vast land and numerous people, and there is no shortage of talent. You can freely select and employ them. The Emperor is still young, and the villain Dong Zhuo holds power, leaving the people in turmoil. This is your chance to showcase your talents and strategies. If you want to eliminate the villains and support the royal family, the wise will respond to you like thunder. The key to quelling the rebellion is unity. If you fail to show kindness and use people wisely, the country will soon fall, and there will be no time to assist the court and earn your place in history. You should remember what I said!" He then explained the situation of his uncle being arrested. Hu Mubiao immediately wrote a letter of rebuke to Wang Kuang, who subsequently released Chang Lin's uncle.
Chang Lin escaped to the Shangdang area and cultivated the slopes. At that time, there were droughts and locust plagues, and only Chang Lin’s family reaped a bountiful harvest, so he shared grain with them, measuring out a liter at a time. Later, he aligned himself with the former Prefect of Hejian, Chen Yanbi. The Chens and Fengs were prominent local families. Zhang Yang coveted their women and riches, seeking to take them for himself. Chang Lin led his clansmen to devise strategies for them. They were besieged for more than sixty days but ultimately managed to hold the fortress.
After Gao Gan became the Governor of Bingzhou, he promoted Lin to Cavalry Captain, but Lin declined the offer. Later, the Governor Liang Xi recommended Lin and several other talented individuals in the state, including Yang Jun, Wang Ling, Wang Xiang, and Xun Wei, to be appointed as county magistrates by Cao Cao. Lin served as the county magistrate of Nanhe County, where he achieved remarkable results. He was later promoted to Baling Prefect and Inspector of Youzhou, leaving a trail of success wherever he served. When Cao Pi was appointed General of the Guards, Lin was his staff officer. When Cao Cao marched west, Tian Yin and Su Bo rebelled, causing unrest in Youzhou and Jizhou. Cao Pi wanted to personally suppress them, but Lin counseled him, stating, "I served as an official in Baling and Youzhou before. I have a clear understanding of the situation regarding those rebel forces. The people in the north have grown accustomed to a stable life and detest turmoil. There have not been any disturbances for a long time, and there are many law-abiding citizens. Tian Yin, Su Bo, and their ilk are merely a disorganized mob, incapable of posing a real threat. With the army away on a distant campaign and powerful enemies outside, General, you are the pillar of the state. Mobilizing hastily and embarking on a long journey, even if victorious, would not reflect well on you." Cao Pi accepted his advice and sent generals to suppress the rebellion, quickly restoring order.
Later, Lin was appointed as the Prefect of Pingyuan and the Commandant of Eastern Wei Commandery. He later returned to the court and became an official under the Prime Minister. After the establishment of the Wei dynasty, he was appointed as Minister of the Interior. When Cao Pi became emperor, Lin was promoted to the position of Minister of Revenue and was granted the title of Marquis of Leyang Pavilion. He was later appointed as the Grand Minister of Agriculture. After Cao Rui ascended the throne, Lin was enfeoffed as Marquis of Gaoyang Township, appointed as the Grand Herald, and later as the Minister of Ceremonies. Sima Yi respected Lin greatly, treating him as an esteemed elder of the village, and bowing to him every time they met. Some people advised Lin to avoid contact with Sima Yi due to his great power, but Lin replied, "Sima Yi acts this way to maintain the order of respecting elders and superiors, setting an example for the younger generation. I am not afraid of his power, and I have no control over his etiquette." The person giving advice could only awkwardly retreat. At that time, people considered Lin to have noble character and wanted to recommend him as an assistant minister, but Lin claimed to be seriously ill. Later, he was appointed as a Grand Minister. He passed away at the age of eighty-three, posthumously honored as General of Chariots and Cavalry, with a funeral conducted at the Marquis level. He was posthumously honored with the title of Marquis Zhen. His son Lin Shi inherited the title, becoming the Prefect of Mount Tai, but was later killed for committing a crime. Lin Shi's younger brother, Lin Jing, inherited the title.
Yang Jun, styled Jicai, was from Huojia in Henan. He once studied with Bian Rang from Chenliu, who held him in high regard. Yang Jun recognized that the world was in chaos at that time, and Henan was a key transportation hub where war was inevitable. Therefore, he led over a hundred households of the elderly, the weak, women, and children to flee to the mountains near the capital. Along the way, Yang Jun consistently helped the poor, and they all supported one another, overcoming difficulties together. Six families from his clan were taken as slaves due to the war, and Yang Jun spent all his wealth to redeem them.
When Sima Yi was sixteen or seventeen years old, he met Yang Jun, who said, "This kid is going to be something great!" Sima Lang was already quite well-known back then, but his cousin Sima Zhi wasn’t as recognized. Only Yang Jun said, "Although Sima Zhi's reputation isn't as great as Sima Lang's, his talent is actually just as good." Later, Yang Jun moved to Bingzhou to escape. In his hometown, there was a guy named Wang Xiang who lost both his parents when he was really young and had to work as a servant. When he was seventeen or eighteen years old, he would sneak off to read while watching the sheep, and got caught and beaten. Yang Jun saw his potential and decided to help Wang Xiang out, so he helped him find a wife and start a family, and only then did he leave.
Cao Cao appointed Yang Jun as the county magistrate of Quliang, and later worked as an aide in the Chancellor's Office, where he was recognized as a talented individual, becoming the Governor of Anling County, and later promoted to the Governor of Nanyang. He implemented moral education in Nanyang, established schools, and earned the people's praise. He was later reassigned as a military advisor for the Southern Expedition. After the establishment of the Wei Kingdom, he was promoted to the rank of Captain. During Cao Cao's campaign in Hanzhong, a rebellion broke out in Ye City in Wei. Yang Jun voluntarily admitted his guilt and surrendered to Cao Cao. As a result of his actions, Yang Jun was dismissed from his post, so he wrote a letter to resign to the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince was displeased and remarked, "Captain Yang, you’re planning to leave, why the dramatic exit?" So Yang Jun was demoted to Governor of Pingyuan. After Emperor Wen of Wei ascended the throne, Yang Jun returned to his position in Nanyang. At this point, Wang Xiang had been appointed as a Cavalier in Regular Attendance, and he recommended Yang Jun to Emperor Wen of Wei, saying, "I’ve heard that Yang Jun, the Governor of Nanyang, is of noble character, broad-mindedness, a compassionate heart that can inspire everyone, honesty and reliability that can unite people, and is good at nurturing young talents, tirelessly mentoring others, gentle on the outside yet strong on the inside, both kind and decisive. Since a young age, he has left behind good political achievements wherever he went, having served twice in Nanyang with great distinction, for which the neighboring communities are grateful to him. Now that Nanyang is peaceful and without incident, he can’t fully demonstrate his abilities, so he should be brought back to court to help the Emperor govern the country."
It is said that Jun has always felt responsible for his responsibilities in dealing with others since he was young. His fellow townsman Sheng Gu and Wei Xun from Chenliu were originally soldiers, but Jun recommended and promoted them, and both became outstanding figures. Later, Sheng Gu became the county magistrate, and Wei Xun became both an imperial censor and a county magistrate. There are many similar examples of Jun's vision and actions. Initially, Jun had a close relationship with the Marquis of Linzi. Before the issue of Cao Cao's succession was still uncertain, he privately inquired about the opinions of various officials. Although Jun assessed the abilities of both Emperor Wen and the Marquis of Linzi, he did not explicitly indicate who was more suitable for the throne, but he praised the Marquis of Linzi a few times. Emperor Wen held a grudge over this. In the third year of Huangchu, the emperor went to Wancheng. Due to a shortage in market supplies, he was in a bad mood and angrily arrested Jun. The Grand Commandant Sima Yi, Palace Attendant Wang Xiang, and Xun Wei all pleaded for Jun, kowtowing until they bled profusely, but the emperor did not agree. Jun said, "I acknowledge my mistake." Then he committed suicide. Everyone felt very sorry for him.
Du Xi, styled Zixu, was from Dingling in Yingchuan. His great-grandfather Du An and grandfather Du Gen were both well-respected figures of their time. Du Xi went to Jingzhou to escape the turmoil of war, and Liu Biao was very polite to him. Seeing this, Du Xi advised Fanchin, from the same county, "I came here with you to escape the turmoil, seeking only a temporary refuge to wait for a chance to reemerge. I never expected Liu Biao to be incapable of stabilizing the situation, and we have to rely on him? If you still don't know when to advance or retreat, then we're no longer on the same wavelength, and I'll have to cut ties with you!" Fanchin, deeply moved, replied, "I will definitely listen to you." Thus, Du Xi decided to move to Changsha.
During the Jian'an period, Cao Cao brought the emperor to Xuchang. Later, Xi (referring to Xi Zhi) returned to his hometown. Cao Cao thought highly of him and appointed him as the county magistrate of Xie County. Xie County was located near the south, and at that time bandits were rampant. The county officials were solely focused on sheltering the people in the city and neglected farming. As a result, the fields were barren, the people suffered, and the granaries were empty.
Xi Zhi knew that he needed the support of the people, so he allowed the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled to return home to tend to their farms, leaving the able-bodied to defend the city. The people were very happy. At this time, over ten thousand infantry and cavalry from Jingzhou launched an attack on Xie County. Xi Zhi gathered the officials and people of the county, selected over fifty individuals, and took an oath with them, declaring they would fight to the death together! Those relatives and friends were free to escape if they wished. As a result, everyone knelt down and expressed their willingness to fight to the death for the county.
Xi Zhi personally armed himself with a bow, arrows, and stones, and led everyone bravely in resistance. The people were deeply grateful and followed his lead. During the battle, they took down hundreds of enemy soldiers, but more than thirty of their own men died, and the remaining eighteen were injured. In the end, the enemy ultimately breached the city walls. Xi Zhi led the injured officials and people to carve a path out of the encirclement. Almost all of them were killed or injured, but not a single person betrayed him. Later, Xi Zhi gathered the scattered people and moved them to Mobei to set up camp. The people admired him and followed him, feeling as if they were returning home.
Zhong Yao recommended Du Xi to become an official in military affairs. Xun Yu also recommended him, and Cao Cao appointed him as the Prime Minister's Military Sacrificial Wine. After the establishment of the Wei Kingdom, Du Xi became a Court Attendant, collaborating with Wang Can and He Qia. Wang Can was knowledgeable, so when Cao Cao went out for leisure, he often had Wang Can accompany him in the carriage. However, Cao Cao held more respect for He Qia and Du Xi than for Wang Can. Du Xi often had one-on-one discussions with Cao Cao, sometimes talking until midnight. Wang Can, who was more impatient, once stood up and complained, "I wonder what Cao Cao said to Du Xi?" He Qia replied with a smile, "There is nothing perfect in this world. Just serving Cao Cao during the day is enough. Why are you so anxious, wanting to have everything?" Later, Du Xi became the Chief Historian of the Prime Minister and followed Cao Cao to attack Zhang Lu in Hanzhong. After Cao Cao returned, he appointed Du Xi as the Commandant of the Cavalry, leaving him in charge of military affairs in Hanzhong. Du Xi comforted the people, persuaded them, and as a result, many people joyfully relocated to Luoyang and Ye City, totaling more than 80,000 people. Xiahou Yuan was defeated and killed by Liu Bei, and the army was left without a commander, leaving the soldiers very discouraged. Du Xi, Zhang He, and Guo Huai collaborated to manage military affairs. As a temporary measure, Zhang He was appointed as the commander, which united everyone's efforts and stabilized the three armies. After Cao Cao returned to the east, he needed to select someone to remain in Chang'an as the Chief Retained Palace Historian, responsible for guarding the city. The candidates proposed by others were not suitable, so Cao Cao said, "Why let a good horse go to waste and search for another?" Therefore, he appointed Du Xi as the Chief of the Retained Palace, stationed in Guanzhong.
Once, General Xu You led his troops, defying Cao Cao's orders and frequently speaking disrespectfully. Cao Cao was extremely angry and wanted to go directly to deal with him. His ministers quickly advised, "Why not surrender Xu You and let's deal with the powerful enemy together!" Cao Cao slammed his knife down onto his knee, his face darkening with anger, refusing to listen. Xun Yu tried to offer further advice, but Cao Cao cut him off: "I've made my decision, so please stop." Xun Yu said, "If your plan is right, I will support you wholeheartedly; but if your plan is wrong, even if successful, it should be changed. How can I not speak up and clarify things? What's going on here?" Cao Cao said, "What am I supposed to do if Xu You doesn’t respect me?" Xun Yu asked, "What kind of person do you think Xu You is?" Cao Cao said, "Just an ordinary person." Xun Yu replied, "Only the wise can recognize the wise; how can ordinary folks possibly understand extraordinary people? Right now, it’s a time when wolves hold power, and foxes are stirring up trouble. People might say you’re picking on the weak while avoiding the strong. I’ve heard that a crossbow weighing thousands of pounds won’t fire just because of a mouse, and a bell weighing ten thousand stones won’t sound just because of a small stick hitting it. So, with just Xu You, what’s worth all this fuss?" Cao Cao listened and said, "Good!" So he treated Xu You well, and Xu You indeed surrendered. At that time, Xiahou Shang was very close with the crown prince. Xun Yu believed Xiahou Shang wasn’t a true friend and didn’t deserve special treatment, so he told Cao Cao. Cao Cao was initially displeased, but later realized Xun Yu's intentions. This incident is also noted in "The Biography of Xiahou Shang." Xun Yu was known for his gentleness and never offended anyone; these are just examples of his character.
After Cao Cao became the King of Wei, he appointed Xun Yu as the Marquis of Guannei. After Cao Cao declared himself emperor, Xun Yu was appointed as the Director of Military Supplies and later served as a Minister, and was later appointed as the Marquis of Wuping. He was then reassigned as the Director of Military Supplies and Law Enforcement, and later entered the court as a Minister. When Emperor Ming of Wei succeeded to the throne, Xun Yu was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Pingyang Township. When Zhuge Liang led troops to Qin Chuan, General Cao Zhen led the army to resist, and Xun Yu was appointed as the Military Advisor to the Grand General, with a fief of a hundred households granted to him, and the title of Marquis of Guannei was conferred upon his elder brother. After Cao Zhen's death, Sima Yi succeeded him, and Xun Yu once again served as a Military Advisor, with his fief increased by three hundred households, bringing the total to five hundred and fifty. Later, due to illness, Xun Yu was recalled to the court and appointed as the Grand Master. After Xun Yu's death, he was posthumously granted the title of Minister of Works, with the posthumous title of Marquis Ding, and his son Xun Hui inherited his title.
Zhao Yan, courtesy name Boren, was from Yuzhou City, Henan Province. To avoid the chaos of war, he went to Jingzhou, Hubei Province, where he had a particularly good relationship with Du Xi and Fan Qin, living together like one big family. When Cao Cao brought Emperor Xian of Han to Xuchang, Zhao Yan said to Fan Qin, "Cao Cao is stationed in the east; this is fate, he will definitely save the world, and I know what to do." In the second year of the Jian'an era, when he was twenty-seven years old, Zhao Yan took his family and went to join Cao Cao. Cao Cao appointed him as the Prefect of Langling County. Langling County had many troublemakers who completely disregarded the law. Zhao Yan captured the most unruly ones, and after questioning, he sentenced them to death. After imprisoning them, Zhao Yan reported to the court, requesting exemption from taxes for Langling County. From then on, his prestige and benevolence spread far and wide.
At that time, Yuan Shao led his troops south to attack, sending people to various counties in Yuzhou to persuade defectors to surrender. Many counties surrendered to Yuan Shao. Only Yang'an County did not waver, but the Commandant of Yang'an County, Li Tong, was eager to collect cotton and silk. Zhao Yan said to Li Tong, "The world is not yet unified; many counties have rebelled. Those counties that surrendered to Yuan Shao still want to collect their cotton and silk. The common people tend to thrive in chaotic times; isn’t that regrettable? Furthermore, everywhere is dangerous now; we must be cautious!" Li Tong replied, "Yuan Shao and Cao Cao are fighting fiercely, and all the neighboring counties have rebelled. If we don’t send the cotton and silk, others might think we’re hesitating or have reservations." Zhao Yan responded, "What you said makes sense, but we need to weigh the pros and cons. If we slightly delay the collection, we can solve this problem." Then, Zhao Yan wrote to Xun Yu, "Yang'an County now needs to send cotton and silk; the journey is perilous, and we’re likely to be ambushed by enemies. The people are already struggling; neighboring cities have all rebelled and are easily breached, which puts the safety of the region at risk. Furthermore, the people in this county are very loyal; they do not change their stance even in danger. Every little good deed must be rewarded to encourage loyalty among those who support the country. Acts of goodwill for the country should resonate in the hearts of the people. I believe the country should appease them, and the collected cotton and silk should be returned to them." Xun Yu replied, "I have informed Cao Cao about this matter, and he has ordered that all the cotton and silk collected from Yang'an County be returned to the people." Everyone was happy, and Yang'an County also settled down.
He first served as a minor official under the Minister of Works, called the Clerk. At that time, Yu Jin was stationed in Yingying, Yue Jin was stationed in Yangdi, and Zhang Liao was stationed in Changshe. These generals were all strong-willed and often clashed with one another. Eventually, he was assigned to coordinate the activities of these three armies, and every time he communicated well with them, explaining things, and as a result, everyone got along much better.
When Cao Cao attacked Jingzhou, he appointed him as the Prefect of Zhangling and later promoted him to command the guard troops, responsible for commanding Yu Jin, Zhang Liao, Zhang He, Zhu Ling, Li Dian, Lu Zhao, and Feng Kai. Later, he returned to the position of Registrar in the Prime Minister's Office and was subsequently promoted to the Prefect of Fufeng.
Cao Cao handed over the remaining soldiers of Han Sui and Ma Chao, about five thousand men, to the General who Pacifies Difficulties, Yin Shu, to oversee, and appointed this old chap as the guard of Guanzhong, commanding all the troops. At that time, the Qiang and Hu people were often harassing the region, so he led Yin Shu and others and chased them down to Xinping, decisively defeating them. Later, a farmer named Lv Bing proclaimed himself a general, gathered a following, and occupied Chencang. He led Yin Shu and others to attack, quickly putting down the rebellion.
A thousand two hundred soldiers were sent to support Hanzhong, and Zhang Yan sent them off. The soldiers said goodbye to their families, looking worried. The day after Zhang Yan sent them off, he sensed something was off, so he went to Xiegu Pass to personally comfort them and offer encouragement, reminding them repeatedly. That night, he stayed at the home of the Inspector of Yongzhou, Zhang Ji.
After the army had marched forty miles, the soldiers did indeed mutiny, and it was unclear how Zhang Yan was doing. Zhang Yan only had a hundred and fifty cavalrymen with him, who were part of the same unit as the mutinous soldiers, some were even related to them. Hearing about the situation, they were all frightened, wearing armor and holding weapons, feeling uneasy. Zhang Yan wanted to go back, but Zhang Ji advised him: "The camp is already in chaos; you going back alone won't help. Let's wait until the situation is clearer."
Zhang Yan said, "Although I have my doubts that there are people in the main camp in cahoots with the rebels, we ought to wait until we hear something's gone down before we act. Some folks want to turn over a new leaf but are still on the fence. We should take advantage of their hesitation and quickly appease them. As their commander, if I can't even calm them down, I'll be the one in hot water. It must be fate!" So he left. After trekking thirty miles, he ordered the horses to rest and called his followers to explain the situation to them, comforting and encouraging them sincerely. Everyone was pumped and said, "We will follow General Hu Jun to the death and will never have a second thought!"
Zhang Yan hit up each camp and rounded up over 800 ringleaders involved in the rebellion, without bothering to question anyone else. Those who were captured in the counties were also released. Then everyone surrendered together. Zhang Yan quietly reported back to the court, "We should send generals to the main camp and request to use veteran soldiers to guard the Guanzhong region." Emperor Taizu sent General Liu Zhu with two thousand men over, and when Liu Zhu arrived, he let those soldiers go, but the word got out, and all the camps were terrified and could not be appeased.
Zhang Yan said to the generals, "There are already few veteran soldiers, and the reinforcements from the east have not arrived, so the camps felt bold enough to scheme. If a rebellion actually breaks out, the fallout would be catastrophic. They are currently hesitating, so we should make them decide quickly." He then announced that a thousand good soldiers would stay behind to hold down the fort in Guanzhong, while the rest would be transferred to the east. He immediately found the supervisors, took out the roster of soldiers from each camp, carefully checked and separated them. The soldiers who stayed felt reassured and rallied around Zhang Yan. Those who were to be transferred didn’t dare to make any sudden moves. Within a day, Zhang Yan sent them all on their way and had the one thousand remaining soldiers stationed separately. The reinforcements from the east arrived quickly, and Zhang Yan persuaded those people to bring the remaining one thousand soldiers to the east as well, settling in over twenty thousand folks in total.
Guan Yu besieged General Cao Ren in Fancheng. At that time, Yilang Pang Tong (styled Shiyuan) participated in Cao Ren's military operations, advancing south to fight alongside General Xu Huang. Upon arriving at Fancheng, Guan Yu had Cao Ren surrounded like an iron bucket, with no reinforcements in sight yet. Xu Huang's forces were not enough to break the siege, and other generals blamed Xu Huang for being too slow with the reinforcements. Pang Tong said to these generals, "Guan Yu's siege is already very solid now, and the situation is still precarious. Our forces are few, and Cao Ren is trapped in the city, unable to help. Attacking rashly now would only lead to mutual destruction. Instead, we should first press Guan Yu's siege with our army, while secretly contacting Cao Ren to let him know that we are coming to rescue him, which will also boost morale. The reinforcements should arrive within ten days, enough for Cao Ren to hold on. By then, with a coordinated attack from within and without, we will definitely defeat Guan Yu. If there are repercussions for the delayed rescue, I, Pang Tong, am willing to take responsibility for everyone." The generals were all pleased to hear this, so they dug tunnels and used flying arrows to send messages to Cao Ren, successfully making contact several times. The reinforcements also arrived, and the two sides clashed in a fierce battle.
Guan Yu's army was defeated and retreated, but their ships still occupied the Mian River, cutting off Xiangyang's communication with the outside world. Hearing this, Guan Yu fled south immediately. Cao Ren gathered his generals to discuss, and everyone said, "Guan Yu is in danger now; we have to capture him!" Pang Tong said, "Sun Quan is currently locked in a standoff with Guan Yu, trying to take advantage of the situation to attack his rear. However, if Guan Yu returns, we might find ourselves caught in the middle, facing threats from both sides. So, although Sun Quan seems to be asking for help, he actually wants to wait and see how the situation develops. Guan Yu is now isolated and needs to remain alive to keep pressuring Sun Quan. If we pursue too deeply, Sun Quan will turn his attention to us, and we will be in danger. My lord must consider this carefully." Cao Ren then lifted the martial law. Cao Cao heard that Guan Yu had fled and was worried that his generals would pursue him, so he immediately ordered Cao Ren to act according to Pang Tong's plan.
After Emperor Wen became emperor, Zhao Yan became a palace official. Not long after, he was appointed as the Cavalry Commandant, concurrently serving as the Prefect of Hedong, and also became the Chief of Imperial Agriculture. In the third year of Huangchu, the emperor granted him the title of Marquis of Guannei. Later, when Sun Quan sent troops to attack the border, General Cao Xiu, the General of the Eastern Conquest, led the armies of five provinces to resist, and Zhao Yan was appointed as a military advisor. When Sun Quan's army retreated, Zhao Yan returned to court with the army as well, and was appointed as the Marquis of Yitu Ting, and was then promoted to Chief of the Imperial Treasury, and later served as a Minister.
Later, he joined the campaign against the state of Wu, and when he arrived in Guangling, he stayed there as the military strategist for the Eastern Expedition. After Emperor Ming ascended the throne, Zhao Yan was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Duxiang, with a fief of six hundred households. He was also appointed to supervise the military affairs of Jingzhou and was granted the title of commandant. At that time, he fell ill and could not take up his post, so he returned to his previous position as a high official. Later, he was appointed to oversee the military affairs of Yuzhou, then promoted to the position of Grand Marshal Military Advisor, and finally returned to the court as the Minister of Agriculture. After the enthronement of King Qi, Zhao Yan was appointed to oversee the military affairs of Yongzhou and Liangzhou, and was granted the title of commandant. He was then promoted to General Conquering Shu, and later to General Conquering the West, overseeing the military forces in Yongzhou and Liangzhou. In the fourth year of the Zhengshi era, Zhao Yan, old and sick, requested retirement, and the court summoned him to be the General of Cavalry. Later, he was promoted to Minister of Works. After his death, he was posthumously granted the title of Marquis Mu, and his son Zhao Ting inherited his title. Initially, Zhao Yan, along with his fellow townsmen Xin Pi, Chen Qun, and Du Xi, were renowned and collectively known as the "Xin, Chen, Du, Zhao" quartet.
Pei Qian, whose courtesy name was Wenxing, was from Wuxi in Hedong. To escape the chaos of war, he went to Jingzhou, where Liu Biao welcomed him warmly. Pei Qian privately told his friends Wang Can and Sima Zhi, "Liu Biao is not cut out to dominate the world; he only aspires to be a virtuous ruler like King Wen of Zhou. His failure is only a matter of time." So he went to Changsha. After Cao Cao conquered Jingzhou, he appointed Pei Qian to participate in the military affairs of the Prime Minister. Pei Qian successively served as magistrate of three counties and later returned to the court as an official responsible for the granaries. Cao Cao asked Pei Qian, "You and Liu Bei were both in Jingzhou before. What is your opinion of Liu Bei's abilities?" Pei Qian replied, "If he were to be in the Central Plains, he could create chaos across the realm but would struggle to govern effectively. However, if he were to occupy strategic locations, he would be sufficient to be a regional lord."
Once upon a time, the county was in chaos, so the court secretly appointed Qian as the acting county magistrate. At that time, the Wuhuan King, along with a few leaders, a total of three leaders, all claimed to be the Chanyu, and they were acting tyrannically and completely lawless in the county. Previous magistrates had been unable to handle them, so Cao Cao wanted to send elite soldiers to assist Qian in dealing with these troublemakers.
However, Qian said: "The people in this county are numerous, and the land is vast, with strong soldiers and horses, capable of mustering tens of thousands of troops at any moment. These Chanyus are accustomed to being arrogant and unruly, but deep down they are actually quite fearful. If we bring a large army, they will surely be afraid and fight us to the end; if we bring a small army, they will not take us seriously. We should solve this problem with strategy, not just by intimidating them with force." So, Qian went to the county alone. When the Chanyus saw him, they were surprised yet pleased. The magistrate chose a policy of appeasement and established a good rapport with them. As a result, the followers of the Chanyu all apologized and returned the women, valuables, and weapons they had looted earlier. Qian also took action against several corrupt officials in the county colluding with the Chanyus, such as Hao Wen and Guo Duan, a total of more than ten, which quickly deterred the northern region and reassured the people.
He served in the county for three years, and after returning to the court, he became an official serving under the Prime Minister. Cao Cao greatly appreciated his achievements in governing the county. However, Qian said: "Although I am lenient towards the common people, I am strict towards the barbarians. Those people must be saying that I am too harsh, but in fact, what I did was still merciful; those barbarians are inherently arrogant and unruly. If we are too lenient, they will become uncontrollable, and trying to rein them in with laws after indulging them will only lead to disputes. From the situation, the county will eventually rebel." Cao Cao regretted having recalled him too soon. Soon after, the three Chanyus indeed rebelled, and Cao Cao dispatched Marquis Yanling Zhang to subdue them.
Later, he became the Chancellor of Pei and was promoted to the Governor of Yanzhou. When Cao Cao was at Mobei, he saw Qian's army lined up neatly and greatly admired it, and specially rewarded him. After Emperor Wen of Wei ascended the throne, Qian was summoned back to the court to serve as a Cavalry Attendant. He later served as the Colonel of Agricultural Affairs in Wei Commandery and Yingchuan, where he proposed reforms to the talent selection system, allowing officials from all regions to advance through agricultural positions. He was then promoted to the Inspector of Jingzhou and appointed as the Marquis of Guanneihou. After Emperor Ming ascended the throne, Qian was recalled to the court as the Minister of Rites. He later served as the Intendant of Henan, then promoted to Grand Commandant and Minister of Agriculture, and appointed as the Marquis of Qingyangting with a fief consisting of two hundred households. He also became the Prefect of the Masters of Literature, proposing reforms to the division of official duties and establishing over one hundred and fifty regulations for handling government affairs. After his father's passing, he resigned from office and was appointed as the Grand Master of the Household. He passed away in the fifth year of the Zhengshi era, posthumously honored with the title of Grand Minister of Ceremonies and given the posthumous title of Zhenhou. His son Qian Xiu inherited his title. Qian left a will requesting a simple burial, with just a chair and a few pottery vessels in his tomb, and nothing more. His son Qian Xiu later served as the Supervisor of the Masters of Literature during the Xianxi era. It is noted in the commentary that harmony and peace are the qualities of a good official; integrity and diligence are the foundation of being a good person; Yang Jun stresses the importance of human relationships and righteousness; Du Xi is gentle, knowledgeable, and possesses a broad understanding; Zhao Yan is firm and decisive in his actions; Pei Qian is approachable, upright, and resolute. All of these individuals were rare and admirable figures of their time! Especially Chang Lin, who remarkably did not concern himself with official titles, retiring to his hometown after achieving the rank of Grand Master, truly deserving of admiration!
"Chang Lin embodies purity and steadfastness, Yang Jun acts with integrity, Du Xi is knowledgeable and warm-hearted, Zhao Yan is both resolute and temperate, Pei Qian is consistently virtuous and steadfast. They are all exemplary figures of their era. Lin is able to remain unburdened by worldly concerns and retire gracefully from his official duties. How truly admirable!" This passage summarizes the excellent qualities of these scholars and particularly praises Chang Lin's indifference to fame and wealth. Just imagine, in that era, few could attain such virtue!
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."
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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.
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