暠 Gǎo

Gao had a fine bearing and was known for his dignity, and in his time people expected him to become a chief minister. He rose through several posts to Junior Mentor of the Heir Apparent and Earl of Wudu County. When he died he was posthumously made Grand Area Commander-in-chief of Yi Prefecture. Edit

Yun rose to Vice Minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud. Yun's son Jin was also well known. He liked to keep company with the worthy men of his day and to help others in their need, and rose through several promotions to Supervising Secretary. At the start of Zhide he followed the Prince of Guangping on the eastern campaign and, as Vice Minister of Works, served as Adjutant of the Grand Marshal's headquarters of the Prince of Yong; he was flogged by the Uighurs and nearly died. He was moved to the Ministry of War. When he died he was posthumously made Minister of Rites. Edit

Xiaojie's great-great-grandson Shuo was styled Yanfu. His father Yuji was Vice Censor-in-Chief and Investigation Commissioner of the Eastern Capital Region in the Tianbao period. By the hereditary privilege Shuo was appointed Administrator of the Military Section of a Guard Command of the Heir Apparent. When Ma Sui was Military Commissioner at Taiyuan, he called Shuo to serve as Vice Governor, and Shuo was moved to Prefect of Fen Prefecture. When Li Ziliang replaced Sui, he again memorialized for Shuo to be Vice Governor. The senior general Zhang Yao had the soldiers' hearts; he had once asked for leave and not been granted it. Then Ziliang died, and Shuo and the Army Supervisor Wang Dingyuan kept the death secret, first granting Yao his leave and putting Mao Chaoyang in his place, and only then announcing the death. An edict made the Prince of Tong Grand Military Commissioner and appointed Shuo Adjutant and Acting Military Commissioner. Edit

Dingyuan, believing Shuo owed him a debt, became very overbearing and willful. He asked to be granted a seal of his own, and Army Supervisors having seals began with Dingyuan. He then filled posts and moved the generals about on his own authority. One Peng Lingyin, who had long served with merit, would not submit, and Dingyuan in anger killed him and buried him in horse dung; when his family asked for the body it was refused, and the whole army was resentful. Shuo reported the matter, and Dezong, because of Dingyuan's merit in escorting him at Fengtian, spared his life and only dismissed him from office. Before the edict arrived, Dingyuan plotted to assassinate Shuo, and Shuo escaped by fleeing. Dingyuan called the generals together, took an edict out of a box and deceived them: "By edict Li Jinglüe is to take charge as Acting Military Commissioner, and Shuo is recalled. You gentlemen all have new appointments." The generals were about to bow when the senior general Ma Liangfu cried out: "These are lies; do not accept it!" Dingyuan was afraid and ran to the Qianyang Tower, but when he called on his own men none came, and he threw himself down and died. Shuo beheaded all his fellow plotters, and only then was there peace. Shuo was promoted to Acting Minister of Rites and Military Commissioner. He was enfeoffed in due course as Baron of Longxi County. Edit

Shuo was expert in his duties. He built the Tiancheng Army fort, and the frontier defenses gradually became complete. Late in life he fell ill and could not attend to business, and the army nearly mutinied. When he died he was posthumously made Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. Edit