Jun Buyi, courtesy name Man Qian, is a native of Bo Hai. He studied the "Spring and Autumn Annals," served as a county scribe, was very particular about etiquette in his dealings with others, and was well-known in the state and county. In the later period of Emperor Han Wu, bandits were running wild everywhere. Bao Sheng served as inspector general, in his embroidered uniform with an axe at his side, chasing down bandits, supervising and inspecting various counties and states, and even pursuing them to the seaside. He meted out military justice to those who defied him, and his reputation intimidated the state and county. Bao Sheng had long heard that Jun Buyi was a talented person, so when he arrived in Bo Hai, he sent someone to invite him to meet. Jun Buyi wore a scholar's cap, splendid clothes, carried a finely crafted sword and jade pendants, and went to meet Bao Sheng in grand attire. Bao Sheng's servants wanted him to take off his sword, but Jun Buyi said, "A gentleman's sword is never sheathed. Please allow me to withdraw." The servants reported this to Bao Sheng. Bao Sheng immediately opened the door to welcome him. When he saw Jun Buyi from a distance, dignified and resplendent, he quickly got up to greet him. After sitting down in the hall, Jun Buyi spoke frankly, "I have been living by the seaside, and I have long heard of Bao Sheng's great reputation. Today, I finally have the opportunity to meet you. In government, you've got to be tough but not too tough, or you'll break. Too soft, and you'll fail. One must exercise both grace and severity to make your mark." Bao Sheng knew that Jun Buyi was no ordinary person, so he respectfully accepted his advice, conversed with him very politely, and inquired about the current political affairs. Bao Sheng's staff, all top officials from across the land, were very surprised to hear Jun Buyi speak. Jun Buyi didn't leave until nightfall. Bao Sheng then reported to the court and recommended Jun Buyi, and the court ordered him to be summoned to the capital and appointed him as the governor of Qingzhou.
A long time passed, Emperor Wu of Han died, and Emperor Zhao succeeded to the throne. At this time, Liu Zé, grandson of Prince Xiao of Qi, colluded with local powerful figures to plot a rebellion, intending to first kill the Governor of Qingzhou. Jun Buyi saw through their conspiracy, arrested them, and all were punished. The court promoted him to the position of Prefect of Jingzhao and rewarded him with a fortune. The officials and people of the capital all respected his authority. Whenever he came home from his circuit, his mother would ask him, "Have you righted any wrongful cases and saved how many people?" If Jun Buyi had rectified many wrongful cases, his mother would be very happy, preparing a great spread for him and speaking more warmly than usual; if there were no achievements, his mother would be angry and might not even eat. Therefore, although Jun Buyi was strict in his official duties, he never indiscriminately killed the innocent.
It is said that in the third year of the Dijie era of Emperor Xuan of Han, there was a man who dressed like a prince, riding a yellow ox cart, waving a yellow flag, wearing yellow clothes and a yellow hat, and ran to the gate of the palace, claiming to be the Prince of Wei! This caused quite a commotion, with a massive crowd in Chang'an city watching! The Right General in charge of security quickly led troops to guard the palace gate, just in case.
The ministers of the court, the Prime Minister, the Imperial Censor, and those senior officials all arrived on the scene, each scared to say a word. Only Jun Buyi, the Prefect of Jingzhao, arrived slowly, without saying a word, and directly ordered the man to be tied up! Some people advised him, "We don't know the whole story yet, hold your horses!" Jun Buyi said, "You guys, why are you afraid of this so-called Prince of Wei? Long ago, when Kuai Kui disobeyed orders and tried to escape, he was blocked at the gate, and this incident was recorded in the 'Spring and Autumn Annals'! This guy who claims to be the Prince of Wei has already committed a crime, escaped and hasn't died, and now he dares to come to us; he is clearly a criminal!" And with that, he had the guy thrown in jail.
After the Emperor and General Huo Guang heard about this matter, they were both incredibly impressed: "Court officials should be scholars and righteous men like him!" From then on, Zhang Buyi's reputation soared in the court, and other officials were left in the dust. General Huo Guang even tried to arrange a marriage between his daughter and him, but Zhang Buyi firmly refused. After a while, he resigned from his official position due to illness and returned home, eventually passing away there. He became a legend in the capital. Later, Zhao Guanghan became the Jingzhao Prefect and said, "I crack down on corruption and work for the people, but in terms of achievements, I am far behind Zhang Buyi!"
Later, the truth was revealed: it turned out he was a conman, from Xiayang, named Cheng Fangsui or Zhang Yannian, who was a fortune teller living by the lake. A former attendant of the Crown Prince had asked Fangsui to tell his fortune, and Fangsui said he looked like the Crown Prince. Upon hearing this, Fangsui got a bright idea to get rich, so he pretended to be the Crown Prince and went to the palace gate. The Imperial Censor questioned Fangsui's neighbors, including Zhang Zonglu, and eventually, Fangsui was sentenced to death for deceiving the court and was beheaded in the Eastern Market.
Now, let's talk about Shu Guang, whose courtesy name was Zhongweng, from Lanling in Donghai. He was an avid student from a young age, proficient in the "Spring and Autumn Annals," teaching in his hometown where students traveled from miles around to learn from him. Later, he was summoned by the court and became a Doctor (a high-ranking official) and Grand Master (the Chief Imperial Secretary). In the third year of Di Jie's reign, the Emperor appointed a Crown Prince, selecting Bing Ji as the Grand Tutor (the chief tutor to the Crown Prince) and Shu Guang as the Junior Tutor. A few months later, Bing Ji was promoted to Chief Imperial Secretary, and Shu Guang took over as the Grand Tutor.
As for Guang's nephew, styled Gongzi Shou, he was also recommended to be the Crown Prince's steward for his excellent character. Gongzi Shou was courteous, respectful, intelligent, and possessed a silver tongue. Once, when the Emperor visited the Crown Prince's Palace, his greeting and handling of the Emperor's visit were impeccable. When it came time for the banquet, he toasted and wished long life, his grace and elegance impressed the Emperor. Not long after, Gongzi Shou was appointed as the Crown Prince's tutor.
The Prince's maternal grandfather, Xu Bai, the Duke of Ping'en, felt that the Prince was still young, so he requested that his younger brother, Xu Shun, be appointed to oversee the Prince's household. The Emperor informed Guang of this matter, and Guang said, "The Prince is the heir to the country, the future ruler. His tutors and companions should be chosen from the best and brightest in the land, not just from his mother's family. Moreover, the Prince already has a senior tutor and a junior tutor, as well as a complete staff. It would look bad to have Xu Shun in charge of the Prince's household; this is not conducive to establishing a good image for the Prince in front of the people." The Emperor thought his words made sense and relayed them to the Prime Minister, Wei Xiang. Upon hearing this, Wei Xiang quickly took off his hat and apologized, saying, "We ministers never would have thought of that, Your Majesty." Because of this incident, Guang won the Emperor's favor and was rewarded many times. Every day, when the Prince attended court, Guang and his son would accompany him, with the senior tutor in front and the junior tutor in the back. Both father and son served as the Prince's tutors, a great honor for the whole court and country.
Father and son served in the palace for five years. When the prince was twelve years old, he had already read "The Analects" and "The Classic of Filial Piety." At this time, Guang said to his son, "They say contentment prevents humiliation, and knowing when to stop prevents disaster. Success followed by retreat – that's the way of Heaven. Now that we have both achieved high-ranking positions and gained fame, if we do not step down now, we may regret it in the future. It would be better for us to resign together and return to our hometown, enjoy our later years peacefully, until we die. Wouldn't that be nice?" His son bowed and said, "I will follow your arrangement." That day, father and son both pretended to be ill and took leave. Three months later, they officially requested leave to return home. Guang claimed to be very ill and requested retirement in writing. The Emperor, seeing he was old and frail, granted his request and even rewarded him with twenty catties of gold, while the prince also gave him fifty catties of gold. The ministers, old friends, and elders from their hometown bid them farewell outside the eastern capital gates. The farewell procession had hundreds of carriages stretching as far as the eye could see, creating a magnificent scene. After bidding farewell to everyone, father and son left the capital. On the way, people lining the road cried out, "What virtuous men!" Some were even moved to tears. After returning to his hometown, Guang would have his family prepare food and invite relatives, friends, and old neighbors to hold feasts every day. He regularly checked his remaining funds, selling off some to fund his constant entertaining.
After about a year, Lao Guang's grandkids secretly spoke to the brothers and elders he trusted more, saying, "Grandpa, when you were alive, you didn't leave us any foundation. Now we're blowing through our inheritance. You should talk to Grandpa's father-in-law and get him to convince Grandpa to buy some property." In their spare time, the elders told Lao Guang about this idea. Lao Guang said, "I'm not stupid; I know what's best for my grandkids. I already have old houses and fields. If my grandkids work hard, they'll be fine, just like everyone else. More money will just make them lazy. Smart people get lazy with money; dumb people just screw up more. Rich folks make enemies. I don't want them getting into trouble with all that money. This is the Emperor's gift, my retirement money, and I'm enjoying it with my friends. What's wrong with that?" So, they left him alone. In the end, Lao Guang kicked the bucket.
Next is the story of Yu Dingguo, whose style name was Manqian, from Tan County in Donghai. His dad, Yu Gong, was a jailer and a judge. He was fair, and everyone respected his decisions. They even built him a shrine, the Yu Gong Shrine.
There was a dutiful daughter-in-law in the East Sea who was young and widowed, and her son had also died. However, she cared for her mother-in-law tirelessly. The mother-in-law wanted to marry her off, but she always refused. The mother-in-law told the neighbors, "This daughter-in-law serves me very diligently, pitying that her son has died and she remains a widow. I am old and rely on young people for support; how can this be?" Later, the mother-in-law committed suicide. The mother-in-law's daughter went to report to the authorities, saying, "This daughter-in-law killed my mother!" The authorities arrested the dutiful daughter-in-law, who firmly denied killing her mother-in-law. After investigation and trial, the dutiful daughter-in-law admitted to the crime herself. The case was sent to the government office, and the county magistrate believed that this daughter-in-law had served her mother-in-law for over ten years, known for her filial piety, and would not have committed murder. The prefect did not listen, and the county magistrate argued with the prefect, but could not win. So he wept outside the prefect's office, then left on the pretext of being ill. The prefect ultimately sentenced the dutiful daughter-in-law to death. The county suffered a three-year drought. Later, when the prefect arrived, he divined the reason, and the county magistrate said, "The dutiful daughter-in-law should not have died. The former prefect's forced judgment is the root of the disaster, isn't it?" So the prefect sacrificed a cow at the daughter-in-law's grave, erected a stele, and immediately there was a heavy rain, and the crops flourished. The county people really respected the prefect after that.
When Zhang Dingguo was young, he studied law with his father. After his father passed away, Zhang Dingguo became a jailer and a county magistrate. He was later appointed as a clerk in the Ministry of Justice due to his outstanding abilities. He was selected to handle rebellious cases with the Chief Censor. With his exceptional talent, he was promoted to Imperial Censor and then further promoted to Deputy Imperial Censor. During the reign of Emperor Zhao, Prince Changyi usurped the throne and behaved immorally. Zhang Dingguo submitted a memorial protesting his actions. Later, Prince Changyi was deposed, and Emperor Xuan ascended the throne with General Huo Guang in charge of the Secretariat. Zhang Dingguo submitted a memorial requesting promotions for all the officials who advised against Prince Changyi. As a result, Zhang Dingguo was appointed as Grand Master of the Palace, in charge of the Secretariat, and was highly favored. Several years later, he was promoted to Commander of the Imperial Granaries, surpassing his previous position as a clerk.
Zhang Dingguo then immersed himself in the *Spring and Autumn Annals*, studying diligently under his new master and showing him the utmost respect. He was known for his integrity and respect, especially towards his teachers. Even to those of low status who visited him on foot, Zhang Dingguo treated them with equal respect, showing the utmost courtesy and consideration. Scholars praised him for his fairness and compassion in his judgments. He always sought to show mercy to the widowed and handled suspicious crimes with extra caution. The court praised him, saying, "When Zhang Shizhi was a judge, there were no wronged people in the world; when Zhang Dingguo was a judge, the common people themselves felt there were no injustices." Zhang Dingguo could drink several stones of wine without getting drunk, and in winter, he became even more alert after drinking alcohol while handling cases. He served as a judge for eighteen years before being promoted to Chief Imperial Censor.
During the Ganlu period, I was appointed as the Prime Minister by the Emperor and granted the title of Marquis of Xiping. After three years, Emperor Xuan died, and Emperor Yuan ascended the throne. Because I had previously served the court during the Dingguo era, the new Emperor respected me greatly. At that time, Chen Wannian was the Imperial Censor and worked with me for eight years. We generally saw eye to eye and there were no conflicts. Later, Gong Yu replaced Chen Wannian as the Imperial Censor, and his opinions often clashed with mine. I was well-versed in political affairs, and usually, the Prime Minister would adopt the suggestions I put forward. However, when Emperor Yuan first took the throne, the eastern regions suffered from disasters and famine for several consecutive years, causing the common people to flee to the central regions. Those eager to file impeachments claimed that it was our fault as ministers. Therefore, the Emperor often summoned me and the Imperial Censor during morning court sessions to reprimand us face to face, questioning how we had been doing our jobs, and saying: "Corrupt officials shelter criminals and wrong good people, causing innocent people to suffer. In theft cases, officials don’t catch thieves but instead arrest the people who report the crimes. The common people become afraid to report crimes in the future, which allows thieves to run rampant. The common people suffer many injustices, with local officials turning a blind eye, leading many to come to the capital to seek justice. The system for selecting high-ranking officials is flawed, so many incumbent officials are incompetent. The common people's fields suffer from disasters, and officials are unwilling to reduce or exempt taxes, instead pressing for tax collection, making the common people even more distressed. The refugees in the eastern regions are hungry, cold, and sick. Although I have already ordered officials to transport food, open warehouses to help the people, and distribute clothing for warmth, it may still not be enough until spring. Now, how do the Prime Minister and the Imperial Censor plan to remedy these mistakes? Tell me what you think we should do, and don't hold back on telling me where I messed up." So I wrote the Emperor an apology.
In the first year of Yongguang, that spring saw a severe frost, followed by an unusually cold summer and weak sunlight. The emperor issued a decree sternly questioning, saying, "Reports from eastern officials indicate that families are abandoning one another, and that the prime minister, censors, and investigators have covered it up, perhaps even downplaying the extent of the problem. How has the situation deteriorated so drastically? I want to know the truth of the matter. The harvest this year remains uncertain. If floods or droughts strike, the consequences will be catastrophic. What measures can you propose to prevent or mitigate the effects of such calamities? I expect complete and honest answers."
Frightened, Dingguo immediately submitted a self-critique, tendered his marquisate, and requested retirement. The emperor replied, "You've been instrumental in governing the country, and I can't afford to be complacent. Everything in the country relies on you. Only a saint could be without fault. We are burdened by the legacy of the Zhou and Qin dynasties – a corrupt society, a people lacking morality, an imbalance of yin and yang, and frequent natural disasters; the causes are multifaceted. Even saints, drawing on past experience, would hesitate to offer definitive answers, let alone myself. I am thinking day and night about solutions, but I cannot be completely wise. As the classics say, 'The emperor bears responsibility for the well-being of his people.' Although you hold an important position, you don't need to blame yourself too much. You must rigorously assess local officials, ensuring that the incompetent are not allowed to continue harming the people. Continue to uphold your principles, apply your wisdom judiciously, and govern with foresight." Citing ill health, Dingguo resolutely resigned. The emperor granted him a comfortable carriage, four horses, and sixty catties of gold, allowing him to retire. Dingguo died several years later at the age of over seventy, receiving the posthumous title of Anhou.
His son Dingguo's son Yong inherited the title. When he was young, Yong liked to drink and often made mistakes. It wasn't until he was around thirty years old that he turned over a new leaf and became a responsible person. He became a high-ranking military official and served as Colonel of the Changshui. After Dingguo's death, he observed a very respectful mourning period, and his filial conduct was widely praised. As a result, he was promoted from Marquis to Cavalry Commander, Palace Attendant, and finally to the Grand Master of Ceremonies. He married Princess Shih of Guantao, the eldest daughter of Emperor Xuan and the aunt of Emperor Cheng, who was known for her exceptional virtue and wisdom, specially chosen by the emperor for Yong. The emperor originally wanted him to be the Prime Minister, but Yong passed away. His son Tian inherited the title, but Tian was a man of poor character.
In the beginning, Dingguo's father, Yu Gong, had his family's gate broken, and the elders of the village were repairing it together. Yu Gong said, "We should build a tall gate that can allow a four-horse chariot to pass through. I have done many good deeds while handling cases, never wronging a good person. My descendants will surely prosper." Later, Dingguo became the Prime Minister, and Yong became the Grand Master of Ceremonies, and their family was ennobled for generations, fulfilling Yu Gong's prophecy.
Xue Guangde, styled Changqing, was from Pei County. He made a living in the State of Chu by teaching the Classic of Poetry. Gong Sheng and Sheshe were his students. Later, Xiao Wangzhi became the Grand Master of Ceremonies and promoted Xue Guangde as his subordinate. Xiao Wangzhi often discussed political matters with Xue Guangde, valued him highly, and recommended him as talented and suitable for serving in the court. Xue Guangde later became a scholar, participated in debates at the Stone Canal Pavilion, was promoted to Censor, and succeeded Gong Yu as Chamberlain for Law Enforcement and Grand Master of Ceremonies.
Xue Guangde is gentle and refined, very cultured. After becoming the Minister of Justice, he dared to speak frankly and offer advice. Just ten days into his new position, the emperor went to Ganquan Palace to offer sacrifices, and after the suburban sacrifice was completed, the emperor wanted to go hunting. Xue Guangde wrote a memorial saying, "I have heard that the people in the eastern regions are very impoverished, with the commoners displaced. Your Majesty, however, spends all day listening to the bells commemorating the fall of Qin and the decadent music. I am truly worried for Your Majesty! The soldiers are suffering in the field, and the officials are exhausted. I hope Your Majesty will return to the palace quickly, think about the people's suffering, and the people of the world will be extremely grateful!" The emperor turned back that day. In the autumn of that year, after the emperor offered sacrifices at the ancestral temple and came out of a less formal exit, wanting to take a boat back to the palace, Xue Guangde stopped in front of the emperor's carriage and took off his hat, bowing and saying, "We should walk on the bridge!" The emperor said, "Minister of Justice, put on your hat!" Xue Guangde replied, "If Your Majesty does not listen to me, I will commit suicide and defile the imperial carriage with my blood, and Your Majesty will not be able to enter the ancestral temple!" The emperor did not say anything. The Palace Attendant, Zhang Mengjin, said, "I have heard that a wise monarch has upright ministers by his side. It is dangerous to take a boat, but safe to walk on the bridge. A wise monarch would not choose danger. Your Majesty should listen to the words of the Minister of Justice." The emperor said, "Shouldn't a wise person act in this way?" So they walked on the bridge. A month later, due to severe disasters and famine that year, with the people displaced, Xue Guangde, along with Prime Minister Dingguo and Grand Marshal Cheqi General Shigao, requested retirement. The emperor granted them carriages, horses, and sixty pounds of gold, allowing them to retire. Xue Guangde served as Minister of Justice for a total of ten months before resigning. He returned to his hometown in Pei County, where the county magistrate welcomed him at the county border. The people of Pei County revered him, and his carriage became a treasured family heirloom.
Ping Dang, whose style name was Zisi, inherited a fortune of one million from his grandfather and moved from Xiaoyi to Pingling. When Ping Dang was young, he served as a junior official in the Daxing administration and was promoted to a scholar at the Dahonglu for his achievements. He later served as the magistrate of Shunyang County and Xunyi County due to his outstanding political accomplishments and finally became a doctor (a scholar of the imperial academy) thanks to his expertise in the classics. Ping Dang was recommended by high-ranking officials, who believed that his arguments were insightful and thorough, so he was appointed as a censor in the imperial secretariat. Whenever disasters occurred, Ping Dang always quoted from the classics and analyzed the pros and cons. While his writing wasn't as polished as Xiao Wangzhi's or Kuang Heng's, their perspectives largely coincided.
It is said that since the reign of Emperor Yuan, Wei Xuancheng became the Prime Minister. He suggested restoring the ancestral temple of the former emperor. He wrote: "I have heard that Confucius said: 'If there is a wise king, he must build upon the foundation laid by his predecessors to implement benevolent governance.' Our Han Dynasty has ruled for over two hundred years with diligence and clear governance. However, the customs of the common people are still not very good, and there are ominous signs in the heavens; disasters occur frequently. What is the reason for this? Is there a deeper problem at play? Why are good omens not appearing? Misfortune and blessings do not appear out of thin air; there must be a reason. We must thoroughly investigate the causes and solve the problem at its roots. When Emperor Yao was in power, before governing the world, he first disciplined himself, restored proper rituals, cultivated his character, and set his household in order, which then influenced the entire country. The "Classic of Filial Piety" states: 'Among all things in the world, humans are the highest. There is no greater virtue than filial piety, no greater filial piety than respecting one's father, and no greater respect for one's father than emulating the heavens. Duke of Zhou is a prime example.' Those who are filial to their parents can inherit and carry forward the aspirations of their ancestors. Duke of Zhou inherited the achievements of Kings Wen and Wu, established the system of rites and music, respected his father, and emulated the heavens. He understood that King Wen did not want his son to surpass him, so he arranged the order of sacrifices properly, tracing back to Hou Ji, and then sacrificed alongside the Heavenly Emperor. This embodies the morality of a sage; nothing is greater than filial piety. Our founding emperor was also a wise ruler. After he unified the realm, he honored the former emperor, just as Kings Wen and Wu honored their predecessors. The former emperor is the ancestor of the Han Dynasty, and future generations should respect him to promote great virtue; this is the ultimate act of filial piety. The "Book of Documents" states: 'By earnestly studying the ancient rituals and systems and establishing achievements, one can achieve long-lasting peace and stability, passing it down continuously.'" The emperor, heeding Wei Xuancheng's advice, ordered the restoration of the ancestral temple.
After a while, the court sent him to Youzhou to resettle the refugees. He memorialized the court, suggesting commendation for the governors and officials who actively participated in the resettlement efforts, and also proposed temporarily allowing the extraction of salt from Bohai's salt ponds to alleviate the urgent needs of the people. When he inspected various places, everyone praised him highly. Among the eleven envoys, his achievements were the best, so he was promoted to the position of Chief Minister's Assistant. Later, due to some mistakes, he was demoted to Inspector of the Border Regions, but was later summoned back to serve as an Imperial Attendant, and then gradually promoted to important positions such as Director of the Changxin Palace, Grand Herald, and Minister of the Imperial Household.
First, Chunyu Changbai, the Weiwei, remarked that the construction of Changling had not been completed, leading to discussions among the subordinates. Everyone felt that this project had been ongoing for many years, so they might as well just finish it. The Emperor subsequently abandoned the Changling project because Chunyu Chang believed that a loyal strategy should be prioritized instead, prompting the ministers to discuss the matter of rewarding Chang. Although Chang's suggestions were insightful, everyone felt that he should not be given a title due to the previous disagreement regarding Changling, resulting in Chang's demotion to the prefecture of Julu. Later, the Emperor still bestowed a title upon Chang. Due to his expertise in the "Tribute of Yu," Chang was sent to govern the Yellow River and rose to the rank of Commander of the Cavalry, responsible for the construction of river embankments.
After Emperor Ai ascended the throne, he summoned Chang back, first appointing him as Grand Master of the Palace Attendants, then various lesser offices, culminating in Cavalry Commander. Later, he was promoted to Grand Master of Ceremonies and finally became the Prime Minister. During the winter, the Emperor also granted him the title of Marquis of Guannei. The following spring, the Emperor sent envoys to summon him, intending to bestow further rewards. However, by that time, Chang was already seriously ill and unable to attend the summons. His family advised him, "You cannot force yourself to get up and accept the marquisate for the sake of leaving something for your descendants." Chang replied, "I've failed the Emperor's trust in my high office; I'm ashamed of my salary. To take this honor now, only to lie down and die—I'd be guilty even in death. I'm doing this for my sons!" So he wrote a letter requesting retirement. The Emperor replied, "I chose you as Prime Minister from among many people; your tenure was short, and your assistance to me was brief. Now there are continuous natural disasters, no heavy snow in winter, and severe drought, all due to my fault. How can you blame yourself? Why do you doubt yourself, write a letter requesting retirement, and return the title and land of Marquis of Guannei? I will have Minister Tan give you a cow and ten stones of fine wine. You must take good care of your health and recover well!" One month later, Chang passed away. His son Yan, who was intelligent and capable, later rose to the position of Grand Minister of Works and was granted the title of Marquis of Fangxiang. Since the establishment of the Han Dynasty, only the Wei and Ping families, before this, had seen father and son both reach the position of Prime Minister.
Gu Xuan, with the courtesy name Zipei, was a native of Huaiyang in Yangxia. He was well-versed in the Book of Changes (Yijing) and had served under Zhang Yu. He was recommended to become a scholar and later promoted to Governor of Dongping. Zhang Yu, being the emperor's teacher, was highly trusted by the emperor. He praised Gu Xuan for his extensive knowledge and high prestige, deeming him capable of handling governmental affairs. As a result, Gu Xuan was appointed as the Right Commandant of the Fufeng prefecture and later became the Minister of Justice. Due to his status as an official from a princely state, he was later sent to Taiyuan as the Prefect. Several years later, he was summoned back to the court and successively held the positions of Grand Steward, Minister of Works, and Right General. After the accession of Emperor Ai, he was reassigned as the Left General. Over a year later, the emperor wanted to appoint Ding and Fu to important positions, so he issued an edict to Gu Xuan, stating: "Many officials complained that officials from princely states were unfit for guard duty, and that a general like you shouldn't command troops or hold such a high position. I have valued you because you are a senior official of the Han Dynasty, but you previously married the daughter of the Prince of Huaiyang, and this marriage relationship has not been severed, which violates the country's system. Now, the Grand Steward will bestow upon you fifty catties of gold, a fine carriage and four horses, retrieve your Left General's seal, and allow you to return home as a Marquis." After retiring for several years, Bao Xuan, the Inspector, repeatedly recommended him to the emperor. Coincidentally, on the first day of the first month of the first year of Yuanshou, a solar eclipse occurred. Bao Xuan once again recommended Gu Xuan to the emperor, who then summoned him and appointed him as the Grand Steward. He was later promoted to Minister of Works, then Chief Justice, and finally made Marquis of Changping.
After the death of Emperor Ai, Wang Mang, the Marquis of Xin Du, became Grand Marshal and effectively controlled the court. In a memorial, he said: "The Three Dukes are like the three legs of a tripod supporting the court. If one leg is incompetent, it will lead to chaos in the country. I have modest abilities, am old, frequently ill, and my memory is declining. I request to resign from the positions of Grand Minister of Works and Marquis of Changping, retire home, and await the end of my days." After reporting to the Empress Dowager, Wang Mang issued an edict to Gu Xuan, saying: "You're getting on in years, and your contributions haven't been particularly noticeable. You are old and in poor health; this is not a way to assist the country and stabilize the world. I'm sending Feng to collect your seal; you can go back to your estate now." Wang Mang resented Gu Xuan's request for retirement, so he did not grant him gold, carriages, and horses. Gu Xuan lived in his fief for several years before passing away, with the posthumous title of Qīng Hóu. His descendants continued until his grandson, and after Wang Mang's failure, his descendants were cut off.
As for Ju Bu Yi, he studied hard to become an official, always acted decisively, and became renowned for it, with a lifetime of admirable deeds. Shu Guang, on the other hand, played it safe, carefully avoiding trouble and disgrace – a perfectly respectable approach. As for Yu Dingguo and his son, they sympathized with lonely elderly people and those who were wrongly accused, championing their cause. Xue Guangde famously saved the magistrate's carriage, earning glory for his courageous act in the face of danger; while Peng Xuan, when faced with danger, decisively stopped, a far cry from those who only worried about keeping their jobs.
So, all in all, all of these officials are good officials! "Jun Buyi dedicated his life to public service, always handling affairs with clarity and decisiveness, and leaving behind a remarkable legacy." This poem highly praises Jun Buyi's life. Although Shu Guang didn't shine as brightly as Jun Buyi, he lived a life of quiet competence, avoiding disgrace and danger—a respectable achievement in its own right. And don't forget Yu Dingguo and his son, Xue Guangde, and Peng Xuan; each had their own strengths, all worthy of emulation.
