A Brief
History of Founding Grandfather Chung-sheungRevered Founding Grandfather
Chung-sheung received Jing ("Pacify") as his given name. When grown up he
took the name On-doh, and used Moh-kai as an alternative name. As a
government official, he attained a senior position in the imperial court,
with a county of two thousand six hundred households paying him taxes,
another two hundred households providing him with produce. The Emperor
honored him with purple gold fish bag decorations and an honorary title.
In the first year of the Peaceful Reign Period, he left Kwangtung for the
nation's capital, and on his way suffered from illness and died in Kam
Ling City. The Emperor grieved his death and bestowed the posthumous name
Sheung on him.
He was upright and strong of character, kind and
sincere in words, and not emotional when faced with issues. Since young,
he had read widely, memorized much, and well versed in knowledge of
history, literature and philosophy. He was a successful candidate in the
highest imperial examination in the second year of the Heavenly Sacred
Period, and was assigned to an executive post in the Gum County. At that
time, the Emperor, displeased with reports on inefficient administrative
officials, instituted several inspectors and four imperial remonstrators,
of whom Revered Sheung was one, to hear their words on the nation's
affairs. Encouraged by a promotion, he was even more diligent and faithful
in doing his work. He was so outspoken on administration issues that
treacherous colleagues feared him. In the 4th year of the Celebration
Period, the State of Hah, represented by Yuen Hoh, offered to enter into
an alliance with our country. A neighboring State, Seet Dahn, saw the
threat of a strong alliance, and asked our country not to befriend a
"thief", and vowed to help us conquer the State of Hah. Our Revered Sheung,
with his wisdom and diplomatic maneuvers, managed to dissuade our country
from entering into war, and get the State of Hah to be our vassal.
In the 3rd year of the Imperial Blessing Period,
he administered the Kin Prefecture. He resigned from his government
service at the death of his father to fulfill his filial piety. It
happened that the barbarian traitor Noong Ji-ko captured several southern
cities, and besieged Canton. Revered Sheung was summoned from his filial
grief to assume an important position and help fight Noong Ji-ko,
defeating the traitor who fled west. Revered Sheung successfully
implemented strategies to befriend some possible supporters of Noong Ji-ko,
where by isolating the latter. At that point, Revered Sheung asked
permission to complete the full term of his filial grief, but his request
was rejected due to the existing peril of Noong Ji-ko. Fortunately, after
some maneuvering, he succeeded in capturing Noong Ji-ko and his brother
and executed them in the nation's capital. After, Revered Sheung was
promoted several times, with his highest position at the National History
Department. In the 5th year of the Rich Blessing Period, Gaau
Ji invaded a southern prefecture and killed five high-ranking officials.
On account of Revered Sheung's prestige among the southerners, who also
feared him, the Emperor commissioned Revered Sheung as the Peacekeeper of
Kwangsi, with a large army after him. He arrived at the trouble site, and
by his influence he successfully summoned the enemy to surrender, killing
five leading evil doers. When starting his homeward trip to make an
official report, the local people, out of love and respect, wanted to keep
him from going.
The Emperor assigned Revered Sheung to other
high-ranking positions before his death during the reign of Yin Chung
Emperor of the Sung Dynasty, at the age of 65. Revered Sheung served the
country in civil and military affairs for a total length of ten years,
administering six prefectures, where all citizens appreciated him for
goodness and mercy. He never stopped learning, and had a book in hand even
during military service. He left posterity an essay collection of twenty
volumes, five rolls of memorials to the throne, and forty rolls of
corrigenda on three history records.