Tran Cong Xan (1731-1787)

Tran Cong Xan was also known as Tran Cong Thuoc, a native of Yen Vi village, Dong Yen district, Khoai Chau phu (phu is an old administrative unit) (now An Vi hamlet, An Vi commune, Khoai Chau district). He won a doctoral title in 1772 under the reign of Le Hien Tong King and was assigned a mandarin position in the royal court. In 1780, he went on a diplomatic mission to the Qing dynasty in China, and after his returning, he was promoted to the court counselor position. In 1785, he took the position of an attaché. In the following year, there were rebellions in the country and he made great contributions in protecting the Le dynasty. Due to this, the King promoted him to a minister of justice position.

When Nguyen Hue King of the Tay Son dynasty reached Thang Long capital, all the mandarins were frightened and quit, except him. When Le King and his mandarins gathered in the royal palace to welcome Nguyen Hue, all the mandarins and troops were frightened of the military power of Nguyen Hue. Only Tran Cong Xan could maintain his proper style as a key mandarin. Nguyen Hue was surprised at his behavior and asked him about affairs in Bac Ha, he replied very firmly without compliance. Nguyen Hue respected him, saying: “I have heard that Bac Ha has many talented people. Now that I myself have come here, I can see that only Tran Cong Xan is a talented man.”

In 1787, he took an order from Chieu Thong King to go to Phu Xuan and bargained with the Tay Son dynasty to redeem Nghe An area. He was the chief of the delegation, which included Ngo Nho as the deputy chief and Le Duy An, a member of the royal family, and other members. Before departure, he reminded Nguyen Huu Chinh to take care of military affairs and to be on the alert against unexpected events: “When I am away, you should be careful. Our troops should be divided to occupy the sides of Thanh Hoa mountains to block Tay Son’s ground troops. Stakes should be set in the seaports facing Son Nam.” Chinh agreed that this was right, but he refused to do so. On the way to Phu Xuan, Ngo Nho suggested modifying the credentials but he rejected.

When coming to Phu Xuan, he presented credentials to Nguyen Hue. After reading the credentials, Nguyen Hue got angry, throwing the credentials to the ground and shouting. Tran Cong Xan expressed his arguments patiently but Nguyen Hue did not agree and imprisoned him. In the prison, he still maintained his normal style and wrote a pair of parallel sentences on the wall.

Đạt đức hữu tam, túng vị năng chi nguyện học
Tiểu tâm vô nhị, hành kỳ tố dã hà vưu.
(there are three things life that one should remember to avoid
Narrow-mindedness, acting on one’s own choice and hatred)

Officials of the Tay Son dynasty asked Nguyen Hue assassinate him, but Nguyen Hue respected his talent and wanted to entice him. Nguyen Cong Xan said he would rather die than be unfaithful. Nguyen Hue understood that he could not be conquered and wanted to kill him, but he was afraid of bad rumor. He then ordered captain Vo Van Nguyen to arrange a boat to take him home. When the boat was in the middle of the sea, Vo Van Nguyet ordered the secret scuttling of the boat and spread the report that it was wrecked by storms. He and all 18 delegates died. The King gave him a Loyal and True title and considered him a good genius as well as built a temple for his worship in his home village.

In Nha Khen village, Phu Hau commune, Ninh Binh province emerged a hillock without grass. It was said that it was his tomb and local people set up a temple for worshipping him. 

In "Vietnamese history", Kinh Duc Tong wrote:

Đầu thư hổ huyện khởi thân ưu
Hồi thủ đinh ninh dự bị mưu
Kháng biện lô đình từ lý chính
Tử trung nguyên bắt đãi trầm chu

Meaning:

Hang cop dang thu ha quan minh
Dan ai, con vang tieng đinh ninh
Loi hay, y cung khi tranh luan
Chang doi dim thuyen chet cung vinh.

(He went to the dangerous place to present credentials
Keeping in mind the King's instruction and his point of view despite being threatened)