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夫為國之體有四焉：一曰仁義，二曰禮制，三曰法令，四曰刑罰。 仁義、禮制，教之本也； 法令、刑罰，教之末也。 無本不立，無末不成。 然教化遠而刑罰近，可以助化而不可以專行，可以立威而不可以繁用。 老子曰：「其政察察，其人缺缺。」 又曰：「法令滋章，盜賊多有。」 然則，令之煩苛，吏之嚴酷，不可致化，百世可知。 考覽前載，有時而用之矣。
The foundation of statecraft rests on four pillars: humanity and righteousness, ritual institutions, laws and decrees, and punishments. Humanity, righteousness, and ritual are the roots of civilizing instruction; while laws, decrees, and punishments are its branches. Without roots nothing stands; without branches nothing is complete. Moral transformation works slowly and from afar, whereas punishment operates at close hand. Punishment may aid civilizing effort but cannot replace it; it may inspire awe but must not be wielded constantly. Laozi said, "When government is excessively exacting, the people grow impoverished in spirit." He also said, "When laws and statutes proliferate, thieves and bandits multiply." When ordinances grow burdensome and officials grow harsh, true transformation becomes impossible—a lesson clear for a hundred generations. A review of earlier histories shows that such methods have nevertheless been employed from time to time.
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In antiquity the Qin state relied on prison officials, until the roads swarmed with convicts in ochre robes. The Han reformed that harshness but overcorrected: the prohibitory net grew so slack that even great offenders slipped through. Great villains and cunning schemers therefore violated righteousness and defied ritual propriety. Men such as Zhi Du and Ning Cheng, fierce in spirit, crushed the wicked by every means solely to remedy the disorders of their age. Though their methods ran counter to true civilizing doctrine, in certain respects something could still be learned from them. Men such as Yu Luohou and his kind were recorded in earlier histories under the title "Cruel Officials." Some rose on lingering family influence, others on trifling merit; seizing a favorable moment, they presumptuously occupied high office. They indulged their narrow tempers, acted without propriety, and whether gentleman or commoner, all suffered their harm. Wherever they held office, everyone trembled before them. Those beneath them looked on them as serpents and vipers; and those who passed through their jurisdictions fled as from mortal enemies. When they showed favor, their hearts held no love of goodness; when they piled on guilt, it was not from zeal against evil. Those they flogged and humiliated were mostly innocent. Judged by their deeds, they were worse than wolves and jackals. Their suppression of treachery and elimination of villains was rather different from the likes of Zhi Du and Ning Cheng, was it not? Men of principle despised them; hence they are gathered in this chapter on cruel officials.
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Among the Wei were Yu Luohou, Hu Ni, Li Hongzhi, Gao Zun, Zhang Sheti, Yang Zhi, Cui Xuan, Li Daoyuan, and Gu Kai. Among the Qi were Di Zhen, Song Youdao, Lu Fei, and Bi Yiyun. The History of Zhou contains no such chapter. The History of Sui records Ku Di Shiwen, Tian Shi, Yan Rong, Zhao Zhongqing, Cui Hongdu, Yuan Hongsi, and Wang Wentong. In this compilation Gao Zun, Yang Zhi, Li Daoyuan, Gu Kai, Song Youdao, Lu Fei, Bi Yiyun, Ku Di Shiwen, Zhao Zhongqing, and Cui Hongdu are each treated in their family biographies; the rest are gathered here.
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Yu Luohou was a native of Dai. As governor of Qin Province he was greedy, brutal, and calmly cruel. When a local man named Fu Chi seized a pair of leg wrappings from Lü Sheng, Luohou had Fu Chi flogged one hundred strokes and his right wrist cut off. A commoner named Wang Longke had stabbed and killed Wang Qiannu and Wang Yu; by law he deserved death. Yet Luohou tore out Longke's tongue while he was still alive, stabbed its root, and drove more than twenty blades into his chest and belly. Longke could not endure the pain; with each cut his body jerked in agony. Luohou then erected four posts and dismembered his limbs. Only when Longke was near death did Luohou behead him, quarter the body, and hang the pieces along the roads. All who witnessed it were stricken with grief and horror. The commoners Wang Yuanshou and others rose in rebellion at once. The authorities impeached him. Emperor Xiaowen ordered an envoy to proclaim Luohou's crimes at the usual execution ground before the troops, then beheaded him to appease the people.
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Hu Ni was a native of Dai. He rose to Director of the Palace Guards and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Yongcheng. Ni commanded the inner palace and did not shrink before the powerful and noble. When Shusun Houtou, Palace Minister, was briefly derelict in his inner duty, Ni punished him according to law. Hou relied on imperial favor and quarreled with him openly. Emperor Xiaowen heard of this and commended Ni, bestowing a suit of robes on him and appointing him governor of You Province with acting authority over Fanyang. Because Yang Ni of Beiping was a distinguished scholar, Ni recommended him in a memorial. He was later transferred to governor of Ding Province. For brutality, excessive punishments, and taking bribes, he was recalled and executed. As he was about to be executed, Emperor Xiaowen received him at Taihua Palace, sent an attendant to read an edict rebuking him, and then allowed him to take his own life at home.
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李洪之，本名文通，恆農人也。 少為沙門，晚乃還俗。 真君中，為狄道護軍，賜爵安陽男。 會永昌王仁隨太武南征，得元後姊妹二人，洪之潛相餉遺，結為兄弟，遂便如親。 頗得元後在南兄弟名字，乃改名洪之。 及仁坐事誅，元後入宮，得幸於文成，生獻文。 元後臨崩，太后問其親，因言洪之為兄。 與相訣經日，具條列南方諸兄珍之等，手以付洪之。 遂號為獻文親舅。 太安中，珍之等兄弟至都，與洪之相見，敘元後平生故事，計長幼為昆季。 以外戚為河內太守，進爵任城侯，威儀一同刺史。 河內北連上党，南接武牢，地險人悍，數為劫害，長吏不能禁。 洪之至郡，嚴設科防，募斬賊者，便加重賞，勤勸務本，盜賊止息。 誅鋤奸黨，過為酷虐。 後為懷州刺史，封漢郡公，徵拜內都大官。 河西羌胡領部落反叛，獻文親征，命洪之與侍中、東郡王陸定總統諸軍。 輿駕至并州，詔洪之為河西都將，討山胡。 皆保險距戰，洪之築壘於石樓南白雞原以對之。 時諸將悉欲進攻，洪之乃開以大信，聽其復業。 胡人遂降。 獻文嘉之。 遷拜尚書、外都大官。
Li Hongzhi, whose original name was Wentong, was a native of Hengnong. In youth he was a Buddhist monk; only later did he return to lay life. During the Zhenjun reign he served as Protector-General of Didao and was enfeoffed as Baron of Anyang. When Prince Yongchang Ren accompanied Emperor Taiwu on the southern campaign, he obtained two sisters of Empress Yuan. Hongzhi secretly sent them gifts, swore brotherhood with them, and thereafter treated them as kin. Learning the names of Empress Yuan's brothers in the south, he changed his own name to Hongzhi. When Ren was executed for his crimes, Empress Yuan entered the palace, won favor from Emperor Wencheng, and bore Emperor Xianwen. As Empress Yuan lay dying, the empress dowager asked about her kin; she said Hongzhi was her brother. After many days of parting words, she wrote out a full list of her southern brothers, including Zhenzhi, and handed it to Hongzhi. He was thereafter styled Emperor Xianwen's maternal uncle. During the Tai'an era Zhenzhi and his brothers reached the capital. Meeting Hongzhi, they recounted the empress's life and, by order of age, became sworn brothers. As a maternal relative of the throne he was appointed governor of Henei, advanced to Marquis of Rencheng, and accorded the ceremonial rank of a provincial governor. Henei bordered Shangdang to the north and Wulao to the south. The terrain was rugged and the people fierce; banditry was frequent and local officials could not suppress it. When Hongzhi took office he imposed strict regulations, offered heavy rewards for beheading bandits, and urged the people to return to honest livelihood; banditry ceased. In rooting out traitorous factions he went beyond all bounds into cruelty. Later he became governor of Huai Province, was enfeoffed as Duke of Han Commandery, and was summoned as Grand Director of the Inner Court. When Qiang and Hu tribal leaders in Hexi rebelled, Emperor Xianwen campaigned in person and ordered Hongzhi and the Attendant Secretary, Prince of Dongjun Lu Ding, to command all the armies. When the imperial procession reached Bing Province, he appointed Hongzhi General of Hexi to campaign against the mountain Hu. They all held defensible ground and resisted. Hongzhi built fortifications at Baiji Plain south of Shilou to confront them. Though all the generals wished to attack, Hongzhi instead offered generous terms and allowed them to resume their livelihoods. The Hu thereupon surrendered. Emperor Xianwen commended him. He was promoted to Director of the Masters of Writing and Grand Director of the Outer Court.
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Later he served as Commissioner with the Staff of Authority, General Who Pacifies the South, and governor of Qin and Yi provinces. On taking office he established regulations to suppress wrongdoing. Anyone found carrying a blade on the road was punished as for robbery. Grades of severity and leniency were each set forth in written articles. He then held a great feast for the province's leading men and elders and displayed the regulations to them. That night he secretly sent cavalry in detachments to cover the main roads. Anyone who violated the prohibitions was seized, sent to the provincial capital, and publicly beheaded. Among those killed, the wrongly executed numbered as many as a hundred. The Chipo Kelang Qiang lived deep in mountain valleys. Though nominally under imperial restraint, royal officials seldom reached them. Hongzhi cut a road through the mountains more than ten paces wide, displaying the might of a marching army. He then marched into their territory, and the mountaineers were struck with terror. Hongzhi rode with several dozen horsemen to their villages, comforted their wives and children, asked after their hardships, and gave them provisions and gifts. The Qiang were delighted and asked to be enrolled for taxation; revenue came to ten times the usual amount. Hongzhi was skilled in governing frontier peoples and wielded both authority and grace, yet reports of his cruelty were heard throughout court and countryside.
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In his early days Hongzhi's wife Lady Zhang was herself an intelligent and forceful woman. From poverty to wealth she contributed greatly to his rise, and they had several dozen sons and daughters. Later Hongzhi took a cousin of Liu Fang as a second wife, favored her, and grew distant from Lady Zhang. She too bore many children. He maintained two separate households, favoring the Liu household disproportionately. The two wives competed in jealousy, and mothers and children of the two houses treated one another as enemies. When he took office in the Western Provinces he brought Lady Liu with him.
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Hongzhi had never been honest in office and frequently accepted bribes. When Emperor Xiaowen had just established the salary system and laws were stern, Hongzhi was chained and sent to the capital. The emperor came to Taihua Palace, assembled the ministers in court, and recounted his crimes. Because he was a senior minister, he was permitted to take his own life at home. Hongzhi's disposition was bold and generous; he endured what others could scarcely bear. When ill he underwent cauterization: the moxa cones were nearly two inches across, applied at more than ten points on head and feet all at once, yet he spoke and laughed as usual and never ceased receiving guests. As death approached he bathed, dressed in mourning garments, and with guards supporting him walked through every room of the house again and again, weeping for a long time before lying down and taking poison.
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At first Hongzhi had passed himself off as Empress Yuan's brother and was privately treated as a member of the imperial maternal clan. Only after his crimes were exposed did Emperor Xiaowen gradually explain to the court that the kinship had been a fraud. Yet the Li family still treated one another with affection, their bonds as close as blood kin. When Hongzhi first met Empress Yuan, he reckoned himself her elder brother by age. When Zhenzhi and his brothers arrived, Hongzhi—relying on the empress's long-established order of seniority—addressed them, bowed, and seated himself exactly as among family. In his later years he often invited them to feasts. When drunk they sometimes spoke of how the relationship had begun; Hongzhi would rise and show added deference, yet laugh and talk as before. Their wealth and splendor blazed like a great house of imperial kin. He then abandoned his own clan and attached himself solely to Zhenzhi and his brothers. Later he made some effort to support his original clan, but only in private. Lady Liu bore four sons.
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The eldest son, Shen, was bold and resourceful from youth and was renowned for spirited valor. For military merit he was enfeoffed as Baron of Changle County and rose through the ranks to General Who Pacifies the East and Grand Master of Palace Counsel. During the Xiaochang era he acted as governor of Xiang Province and was soon formally appointed General Who Pacifies the Army. Ge Rong attacked him with all his best troops but for a long time could not overcome him. When Ge Rong was captured, he was advanced to duke for his merit. When Yuan Hao entered Luoyang and Emperor Xiaozhuang toured north, Shen was made Attendant-in-Ordinary. He was also appointed Director of the Palace Department while continuing to act as governor of Xiang Province. When the imperial carriage returned to the palace, his fief was changed to Duke of Ankang Commandery. In the first year of Putai he was promoted to General of Fast Cavalry, Honorably Equivalent to the Three Highest Ministers, and Chief Rectifier of Xiang Province. He died and was posthumously honored as Minister of Works and Governor of Ji Province. His son was Shi Yao. When Qi received the transfer of the mandate, his rank was reduced by precedent.
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張赦提，中山安喜人也。 性雄武，有規畫。 初為武卉中郎。 時京畿盜魁，首稱豹子、彪子，並善弓馬，於靈丘、應門間聚為劫害。 至乃斬人首，射其口，刺人臍，引腸繞樹而共射之，以為戲笑。 其暴酷如此。 軍騎掩捕，久弗能獲，行者患焉。 赦提為逐賊軍將，未幾而獲彪子、豹子及其黨與，盡送京師，斬於闕下，自是清靜。 其靈丘羅思祖，宗門豪溢，家處隘險，多止亡命，與之為劫。 獻文怒之，孥戮其家。 而思祖家黨，相率寇盜。 赦提募求捕逐。 以赦提為遊徼軍將，前後擒獲，殺之略盡。 因此，濫有屠害，尤為忍酷。 既資前稱，又藉此功，除幽州刺史，假安喜侯。 赦提克己厲約，遂有清稱。 後頗縱妻段氏，多有受納。 命僧尼因事通請，貪虐流聞。 中散李真香出使幽州，採訪牧守政績。 真香驗案其罪，赦提懼死欲逃。 其妻姑為太尉、東陽王丕妻，恃丕親貴，自許詣丕申訴求助，謂赦提曰：「當為訴理，幸得申雪，願寬憂，不為異計。」 赦提以此，差自解慰。 段乃陳列：真香昔嘗因假而過幽州，知赦提有好牛，從索不果。 令台使止挾前事，故威逼部下，拷楚過極，橫以無辜，證成誣罪。 執事恐有不盡，使駕部令趙秦州重往究訊，事狀如前，處赦提大辟。 孝文詔賜死於第。 將就盡，命妻而責之曰：「貪濁穢吾者卿也，又安吾而不得免禍，九泉之下，當為仇仇矣。」
Zhang Sheti was a native of Anxi in Zhongshan. He was bold and martial by nature and skilled in planning. He first served as a Rapid-as-Tigers Palace Gentleman. At that time the leading bandits of the capital region were known as Baozi and Biaozi. Both were skilled horsemen and archers who gathered between Lingqiu and Yanmen to rob and plunder. They would behead victims, shoot arrows into their mouths, stab their navels, draw out their intestines and wrap them around trees for target practice—all as sport. Their cruelty was beyond measure. Government cavalry hunted them for a long time without success, and travelers lived in fear. Sheti was appointed general to pursue the bandits. Before long he captured Biaozi, Baozi, and their followers, sent them to the capital, and had them beheaded at the palace gate. The region was thereafter at peace. At Lingqiu, Luo Sizu of a powerful clan lived in rugged terrain where many fugitives gathered and joined him in banditry. Emperor Xianwen was enraged and executed his entire family. Yet Sizu's clansmen and followers turned to banditry in succession. Sheti recruited men to hunt them down. Appointed patrol general, Sheti captured and killed nearly all of them. In the process he slaughtered indiscriminately, showing exceptional cruelty. On the strength of his earlier reputation and this achievement, he was appointed governor of You Province with acting rank as Marquis of Anxi. Sheti disciplined himself and enforced austerity, earning a reputation for integrity. Later he indulged his wife Lady Duan, and many bribes were accepted. He used monks and nuns to solicit favors on his behalf, and reports of his greed and cruelty spread widely. Palace Attendant Li Zhenxiang was sent to You Province to investigate the conduct of regional governors. Zhenxiang verified his crimes, and Sheti, fearing execution, planned to flee. His wife's aunt was the wife of Grand Marshal Prince of Dongyang Pi. Relying on Pi's influence, she promised to appeal to him and told Sheti, "I will plead your case. With luck you will be cleared—set your mind at ease and make no rash move." Sheti was somewhat reassured by this. Lady Duan then argued that Zhenxiang had once passed through You Province on leave, learned that Sheti owned a fine ox, and failed to obtain it when he asked. Bearing this grudge, she claimed, he had coerced Sheti's subordinates with excessive torture and fabricated crimes against the innocent. The authorities, fearing the investigation was incomplete, sent Director of the Imperial Carriage Zhao Qinzhou to reinvestigate. The facts were confirmed as before, and Sheti was sentenced to death. Emperor Xiaowen ordered that he be permitted to die at his residence. As death approached he summoned his wife and reproached her: "You are the one who stained me with greed, reassured me yet could not save me from ruin. In the grave we shall be mortal enemies."
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There was also Zhao Ba, governor of Huashan, whose cruelty and violence knew no bounds. Commissioner Cui Guang memorialized against Ba: "He disregards the laws, rules through arbitrary cruelty, and even strikes officials with his own hands until his subordinates flee in terror. He cannot be allowed to govern the people or bring order to the realm. He should be detained in the province at once." An edict removed him from office.
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崔暹，字元欽，本雲清河東武城人也，世家於滎陽、潁川之間。 性猛酷，少仁恕，奸猾好利，能事勢家。 初以秀才累遷南袞州刺史，盜用官瓦，贓汙狼籍，為御史中尉李平所糾，免官。 後行豫州事，尋即真。 遣子析戶，分隸三縣，廣占田宅，藏匿官奴，障吝陂葦，侵盜公私，為御史中尉王顯所彈，免官。 後累遷瀛州刺史。 貪暴安忍，人庶患之。 嘗出獵州北，單騎至人村，有汲水婦人，暹令飲馬，因問曰：「崔瀛州何如？」 婦人不知是暹，答曰：「百姓何罪！ 得如此癩兒刺史。」 暹默然而去。 以不稱職，被解還京。 武川鎮反，詔暹為都督，李崇討之。 違崇節度，為賊所敗，單騎潛還。 禁於廷尉，以女妓園田貨元叉獲免。 建義初，遇害於河陰。 贈司徒公、冀州刺史，追封武津縣公。
Cui Xuan, courtesy name Yuanqin, was said to be from Dongwucheng in Qinghe. His family had long been established between Xingyang and Yingchuan. He was fierce and cruel by nature, lacking in mercy, crafty and greedy, and skilled at currying favor with the powerful. Entering office through the xiucai examination, he rose to governor of Southern Yan Province. He misappropriated official tiles, and his corruption was notorious. Censor-in-Chief Li Ping impeached him and he was dismissed. Later he administered Yu Province and soon received the full appointment. He had his son divide the household and register members under three counties, seized extensive lands and properties, concealed government slaves, monopolized pond reeds, and encroached on public and private property. Censor-in-Chief Wang Xian impeached him and he was again dismissed. Later he rose to governor of Ying Province. Greedy, brutal, and pitiless, he was hated by the people. Once while hunting north of the province he rode alone to a village. A woman was drawing water; Xuan had her water his horse and asked, "How is Governor Cui of Ying Province?" Not knowing it was Xuan himself, the woman replied, "What crime have the people committed to deserve such a leprous wretch of a governor?" Xuan departed in silence. Deemed unfit for office, he was dismissed and recalled to the capital. When Wuchuan Garrison rebelled, Xuan was appointed commander to campaign under Li Chong. He disobeyed Chong's orders, was defeated by the rebels, and fled back alone. He was imprisoned by the Minister of Justice but secured release by bribing Yuan Cha with female entertainers, gardens, and fields. At the beginning of the Jianyi era he was killed at Heyin. He was posthumously honored as Grand Steward and governor of Ji Province, and enfeoffed as Duke of Wujin County.
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His son Zan, courtesy name Zuzhen, served as Concurrent Left Assistant Director of the Masters of Writing and died in office. Zan's wife was a sister of Emperor Zhuang and was later enfeoffed as Grand Princess of Xiangcheng; Zan was therefore posthumously granted the governorship of Ji Province. His son Mao, courtesy name Zu'ang, inherited his grandfather's noble rank.
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Di Zhen, courtesy name Anbao, was originally from Shangquyang in Zhongshan. During the Wei Taihe era his family moved to Wuzhou Garrison. During the Xiaochang era, when the Six Garrisons rebelled, Zhen joined the rebel Du Luozhou. When Luozhou was absorbed by Ge Rong, Zhen entered Ge Rong's army. When Ge Rong was defeated by Erzhu Rong, Zhen and the remaining rebels were relocated to Bing Province. He followed Northern Qi's Shenwu in his campaign east of the mountains. When Shenwu raised his army at Xindu he appointed Zhen chief clerk, enfeoffed him as Marquis of Shangqu County, and made him governor of Yin Province. Zhen's greed was insatiable, and the people of the province suffered greatly. Later he served concurrently as Right Vice Director of the Masters of Writing and Grand Commissioner, directing military affairs. He attacked Liang generals including Cheng Jingxie, lifted the siege of Dongxing, and returned to Pengcheng. Zhen ruled his subordinates with cruelty, alienating soldiers and civilians alike, and treated local gentry without courtesy. He was eventually killed by men of the province. He was later posthumously honored as governor of Ding Province and Minister of Works.
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田式，字顯標，馮翊下邽人也。 祖安興、父長樂，仕魏，俱為本郡太守。 式性剛果，多武藝，拳勇絕人。 仕周，位渭南太守，政尚嚴猛，吏人重足而立，無敢違法。 遷本郡太守，親故屏跡，請托不行。 周武帝聞而善之，進位儀同三司，賜爵信都縣公，擢拜延州刺史。 從平齊，以功授上開府，徙為建州刺史，改封梁泉縣公。 後從韋孝寬討尉遲迥，以功拜大將軍，進爵武山郡公。 及隋文帝受禪，拜襄州總管。 專以立威為務，每視事於外，必盛氣以待之。 其下官屬，股栗無敢仰視。 有犯禁者，雖至親昵，無所容貸。 其女婿京兆杜甯自長安省之，式誡寧無出外。 寧久之不得還，竊上北樓，以暢羈思。 式知之，杖寧五十。 其所愛奴，嘗詣式白事，有蟲上其衣衿，揮袖拂去之，式以為慢己，立棒殺之。 或僚吏奸贓，部內劫盜者，無問輕重，悉禁地阱中，寢處糞穢，令受苦毒。 自非身死，終不得出。 每赦書到州，式未暇省讀，先召獄卒殺重囚，然後宣示百姓。 其刻暴如此。 由是為上所譴，除名。 式慚恚不食，妻子至其所輒怒，唯侍僮二人，給使左右。 從家中索椒，欲自殺，家人不與。 陰遣侍僮詣市買毒藥，妻子又奪棄之。 式恚臥，其子信時為儀同，至式前流涕曰：「大人既是朝廷重臣，又無大過，比見公卿放辱者多矣，旋復外用，大人何能久乎？ 乃至於此！」 式欻起抽刀斫信，信避之，刃中於門。 上知之，以式為罪己之深，復其官爵，尋拜廣州總管，卒官。
Tian Shi, courtesy name Xianbiao, was a native of Xiagui in Fengyi. His grandfather Anxing and father Changle both served Wei as governors of their native commandery. Shi was firm and resolute by nature, skilled in martial arts, and unmatched in physical courage. Serving the Zhou, he became governor of Weinan. His administration was harsh and severe; officials and commoners alike stood in fear, and none dared break the law. Transferred to governor of his native commandery, he kept kin and friends at a distance and accepted no private petitions. Emperor Wu of Zhou heard of this and commended him, promoting him to Equal to the Three Excellencies, enfeoffing him as Duke of Xindu County, and appointing him governor of Yan Province. For his service in the conquest of Qi he was granted Superior Opening of the Palace, appointed governor of Jian Province, and re-enfeoffed as Duke of Liangquan County. Later he followed Wei Xiaokuan against Yuchi Jiong and was appointed Grand General, advanced to Duke of Wushan Commandery. When Emperor Wen of Sui ascended the throne, Shi was appointed regional commander of Xiang Province. He devoted himself solely to inspiring fear. Whenever he held court outside, he awaited his subordinates with fierce intimidation. His subordinates trembled with fear and dared not meet his gaze. Whoever violated his prohibitions, even the closest kin, received no mercy. His son-in-law Du Ning of Jingzhao came from Chang'an to visit. Shi forbade him to go outside. Unable to return home for a long time, Ning secretly climbed the north tower to ease his longing. When Shi learned of this he had Ning flogged fifty strokes. A favorite slave once came to report a matter. When an insect climbed on his collar and the slave brushed it away, Shi took this as disrespect and had him beaten to death on the spot. Whether corrupt officials or bandits within his jurisdiction, regardless of the severity of the crime, he confined them in underground pits amid filth and excrement to suffer torment. None were released except by death. Whenever an amnesty edict arrived, Shi would not even read it before ordering the execution of serious criminals, and only then proclaim the amnesty to the people. Such was his cruelty. For this the emperor rebuked him and struck his name from the rolls. Ashamed and enraged, Shi refused to eat. When his wife and children approached he grew angry; only two attendant youths remained at his side. He demanded pepper from the household with which to kill himself, but his family refused. He secretly sent his attendants to buy poison at the market, but his wife seized and discarded it. Lying ill with rage, Shi was visited by his son Xin, then Equal to the Three Excellencies, who wept and said, "Father, you are a senior minister of the court and have committed no grave fault. Many nobles have been dismissed and humiliated only to return to office shortly thereafter. How can you remain in such despair? How have you come to this!" Shi suddenly rose, drew his sword, and struck at Xin. Xin dodged, and the blade struck the door. The emperor learned of this and, moved by Shi's deep self-reproach, restored his rank and office. He was soon appointed regional commander of Guang Province and died in office.
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Yan Rong, courtesy name Guigong, was a native of Hongnong in Huayin. His father Kan was a grand general of Zhou. Rong was fierce and strict by nature and skilled in martial arts. He served the Zhou as a senior gentleman of the inner attendants. He followed Emperor Wu in the campaign against Qi and was granted the rank of Opening of the Palace with Ritual Equal to the Three Excellencies, enfeoffed as Duke of Gaoyi County. When Emperor Wen of Sui ascended the throne, Rong was promoted to Grand General and Duke of Luocong Commandery and appointed governor of Jin Province. He soon followed Prince of Hejian Hong against the Turks and was appointed Pillar of the State, then regional commander of Qing Province. In the province he selected the strongest men as patrol chiefs. Anyone who passed them was interrogated and flogged until the wounds often exposed bone. Bandits disappeared and the province grew orderly. Travelers from other districts who passed through his territory feared him as they would bandits and dared not pause to rest. Later, when he came to court for audience, he received special imperial favor. Because his mother was elderly, Rong requested permission to attend court annually, and the emperor granted it.
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During the campaign against Chen he served as campaigning commander, leading naval forces from Donglai along the coast into Taihu Lake and capturing Wu Commandery. After Danyang fell, the Wu people set up Xiao Kan as leader. Defeated by Yuwen Shu, Kan retreated to Baoshan. Rong pursued with elite troops. Kan was defeated, fled, and was captured. When the campaign ended he was appointed acting regional commander of Yang Province. He was soon summoned as General of the Martial Guard and later appointed regional commander of You Province.
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榮性嚴酷，有威容，長吏見者，莫不惶懼自失。 范陽盧氏，世為著姓，榮皆署為吏卒，以屈辱之。 鞭笞左右，動至千數，流血盈前，飲啖自若。 嘗按部，道次見叢荊，堪為笞箠，命取之，輒以試人。 人或自陳無咎，榮曰：'後有罪，當免。」 及後犯細過，將撾之，人曰：「前日被杖，許有罪宥之。」 榮曰：「無過尚爾，況有過邪！」 榜捶如舊。 榮每巡省管內，聞人吏妻有美色，輒舍其室而淫之，貪暴放縱日甚。 時元弘嗣除幽州長史，懼辱，固辭。 上知之，敕榮曰：「弘嗣杖十已上罪，皆奏聞。」 榮忿曰：「豎子何敢弄我！」 及遣弘嗣監納倉粟，颺得一糠一秕，罰之，每笞不滿十，然一日中或至三數。 如是歷年，怨隙日構。 榮遂收付獄，禁絕其糧。 弘嗣饑，抽衣絮雜水咽之。 其妻詣闕稱冤，上遣考功侍郎劉士龍馳驛鞫問，奏榮毒虐，又贓穢狼籍，遂征還京，賜死。 先是，榮家寢室無故有蛆數斛從地墳出。 未幾，榮死於蛆出之處。 有子詢。
Rong was severe and cruel by nature, with an intimidating presence. Senior officials who met him were struck with terror. The Lu clan of Fanyang was an eminent family for generations. Rong appointed them all as clerks and runners to humiliate them. He flogged his attendants by the thousand until blood pooled before him, yet ate and drank as usual. Once on tour he saw brambles suitable for whips along the road, ordered them cut, and used them to test his punishments on people. When someone protested his innocence, Rong said, "If you commit a crime later, you shall be pardoned." When the man later committed a minor offense and was about to be beaten, he said, "When you flogged me before, you promised to pardon any future offense." Rong replied, "When you were innocent I still beat you—how much more now that you are guilty!" He beat him as before. On his tours, whenever he heard that an official's wife was beautiful, he would enter their home and violate her. His greed, violence, and license grew worse daily. When Yuan Hongsi was appointed chief clerk of You Province, he firmly declined, fearing humiliation. The emperor learned of this and ordered Rong, "For Hongsi, all punishments of ten strokes or more must be reported to the throne." Rong raged, "How dare that stripling make a fool of me!" When he sent Hongsi to supervise grain collection, he punished him for every husk or chaff found—each beating fewer than ten strokes, yet two or three times a day. For years their enmity deepened. Rong had him imprisoned and cut off his food. Starving, Hongsi pulled stuffing from his clothes, mixed it with water, and swallowed it. His wife appealed at the palace gate. The emperor sent Vice Director of Merit Evaluation Liu Shilong to investigate. Liu reported Rong's cruelty and corruption. Rong was recalled to the capital and ordered to take his own life. Earlier, several bushels of maggots had suddenly emerged from the ground in Rong's bedchamber. Before long Rong died in that very place. He had a son named Xun.
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元弘嗣，河南洛陽人也。 祖剛，魏漁陽王。 父經，周漁陽郡公。 弘嗣少襲爵，十八為左親衛。 開皇元年，從晉王平陳，以功授上儀同。 後除觀州長史，以嚴峻任事，州人多怨之。 轉幽州。 時總管燕榮肆虐於弘嗣，每笞辱。 弘嗣心不伏，遂被禁。 及榮誅，弘嗣為政，酷又甚之。 每鞫囚，多以酢灌鼻，或椓弋其下竅。 無敢隱情，奸偽屏息。 仁壽末，授木工監，修營東都。 大業初，煬帝潛有遼東意，遣弘嗣於東萊海口監造船。 諸州役丁苦其捶楚，官人當作，晝夜立水中，略不敢息，自腰已下無不蛆生，死者十三四。 尋遷黃門侍郎，轉殿中少監。 遼東之役，進位金紫光祿大夫。 後奴賊寇隴西，詔弘嗣擊之。 及玄感反，弘嗣屯兵安定。 或告之謀應玄感，代王侑遣執送行在所。 以無反釋。 帝疑之，除名徙日南，道死。 有子仁觀。
Yuan Hongsi was a native of Luoyang in Henan. His grandfather Gang was Prince of Yuyang under the Wei. His father Jing was Duke of Yuyang Commandery under the Zhou. Hongsi inherited his noble rank in youth and at eighteen became a Left Imperial Guard. In the first year of Kaihuang he followed the Prince of Jin in the conquest of Chen and was granted Superior Palace Attendant of the Same Rank. Later he was appointed chief clerk of Guan Province. His stern severity made him widely resented. He was transferred to You Province. The regional commander Yan Rong constantly flogged and humiliated him. Hongsi refused to submit and was imprisoned. After Rong was executed, Hongsi took power—and his cruelty exceeded Rong's. When interrogating prisoners he often poured vinegar into their nostrils or drove stakes into their lower bodies. None dared conceal the truth, and fraud ceased. At the end of the Renshou era he was appointed Director of the Carpentry Office to build the Eastern Capital. At the beginning of Daye, Emperor Yang secretly planned a campaign against Liaodong and sent Hongsi to Donglai to supervise shipbuilding. Corvée laborers from the provinces suffered under his beatings. Officials on duty stood in water day and night without rest. Maggots bred from the waist down, and three or four in ten died. He was soon promoted to Attendant Gentleman of the Yellow Gate and then Junior Director of the Palace. During the Liaodong campaign he was promoted to Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon. Later, when slave rebels raided Longxi, he was ordered to attack them. When Yang Xuan'gan rebelled, Hongsi stationed troops at Anding. Someone reported that he planned to join Yang Xuan'gan. Prince of Dai You had him seized and sent to the emperor's camp. He was released when no evidence of rebellion was found. The emperor remained suspicious, struck his name from the rolls, and exiled him to Rinan. He died on the road. He had a son named Renguan.
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王文同，京兆頻陽人也。 性明辯，有幹用。 開皇中，以軍功拜儀同，授桂州司馬。 煬帝嗣位，為光祿少卿。 以忤旨，出為恆山郡贊務。 有一人豪猾，每持長吏長短，前後守令咸憚之。 文同下車，聞其名而數之。 因令剡木為大橛，埋之於庭，出尺餘，四面各埋小橛，令其人踣心於木橛上，縛四支於小橛，以棒打其背，應時潰爛。 郡中大駭，吏人懾氣。 及帝征遼東，令文同巡察河北諸郡，文同見沙門齋戒菜食者，以為妖妄，皆收系之。 北至河間，召郡官人。 小有遲違者，輒覆面於地而捶殺之。 求沙門相聚講論及長老共為佛會者數百人，文同以為聚結惑眾，盡斬之。 又悉裸僧尼，驗有淫狀非童男女者數千人，復將殺之。 郡中士女，號哭於路，諸郡驚駭，各奏其事。 帝聞大怒，遣使者違奚善意馳鎖之，斬於河間，以謝百姓。 仇人剖其棺，臠其肉啖之，斯須咸盡。
Wang Wentong was a native of Pinyang in Jingzhao. He was sharp-witted and capable. During the Kaihuang era he was appointed Palace Attendant of the Same Rank for military merit and made military assistant of Gui Province. When Emperor Yang succeeded to the throne he became Junior Director of the Imperial Household. For offending the emperor he was sent out as assistant administrator of Hengshan Commandery. A local bully held leverage over every official who came through, and successive governors and magistrates all feared him. When Wentong took office he heard the man's name and rebuked him. He had a large wooden stake carved and buried in the courtyard with a foot exposed, with smaller stakes on four sides. The man was laid chest-down on the large stake with limbs bound to the smaller ones and beaten on the back until his flesh burst apart. The whole commandery was terrified, and officials and commoners alike submitted in fear. When the emperor campaigned in Liaodong, Wentong was ordered to inspect the Hebei commanderies. He arrested all monks he found fasting and eating vegetables, deeming them deluded. Reaching Hejian in the north, he summoned the commandery officials. Anyone who was slightly tardy was laid face-down and beaten to death. He found several hundred monks gathered for doctrinal discussion and Buddhist assemblies. Wentong deemed this sedition and beheaded them all. He also stripped all monks and nuns and examined them. Finding several thousand who were not celibate, he prepared to execute them as well. Men and women of the commandery wailed in the streets. The neighboring commanderies were horrified and each memorialized the emperor. The emperor was enraged and sent the envoy Wei Xishanyi to seize him. Wentong was beheaded at Hejian to appease the people. His enemies opened his coffin, cut his flesh into strips, and ate it until nothing remained.
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【論】
Commentary
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論曰：士之立名，其途不一，或以循良進，或以嚴酷顯。 故寬猛相資，德刑互設。 然不嚴而化，君子所先。 于洛侯等為惡不同，同歸於酷，肆其毒螫，多行殘忍。 賤人肌膚，同諸木石； 輕人性命，甚於芻狗。 長惡不悛，鮮有不及。 故或身嬰罪戮，或憂恚俱殞，異術皆斃，各其宜焉。 凡百君子，以為有天道矣。
The commentary says: Gentlemen establish their reputations by different paths—some through dutiful governance, others through harsh severity. Leniency and severity must complement each other; moral teaching and punishment must work together. Yet gentlemen prefer transformation without harshness. Yu Luohou and the others committed different crimes, yet all alike ended in cruelty, unleashing their venom and acting with savage brutality. They treated human flesh as no more than wood and stone; they valued human life less than straw dogs. Persisting in evil without repentance, few escaped their downfall. Some were executed for their crimes, others died of grief and rage—different ends, all meeting death as each deserved. All men of principle took this as proof that Heaven's justice endures.