Zhu Xi
In 1179, after not serving in an official capacity since 1156, Zhu Xi was appointed Prefect of Nankang Military District (南康軍), where he revived White Deer Grotto Academy. and got demoted three years later for attacking the incompetency and corruption of some influential officials. There were several instances of receiving an appointment and subsequently being demoted. Upon dismissal from his last appointment, he was accused of numerous crimes and a petition was made for his execution. Much of this opposition was headed by Han Tuozhou, the Prime Minister, who was a political rival of Zhu's. Even though his teachings had been severely attacked by establishment figures, almost a thousand brave people attended his funeral. After the death of Han Tuozhou, Zhu's successor Zhen Dexiu, together with Wei Liaoweng, made Zhu's branch of Neo-Confucianism the dominant philosophy at the Song Court.
Zhu Xuan
It is not known when Zhu Xuan was born, but it is known that he was from Xiayi (下邑, in modern Suzhou, Anhui). As of 882, he was serving under Cao Cunshi (曹存實) the military governor of Tianping Circuit, when Cao was killed in battle when Tianping came under attack by Han Jian the military governor of neighboring Weibo Circuit (魏博, headquartered in modern Handan, Hebei). Zhu took over the defense of Tianping's capital Yun Prefecture (鄆州) after Cao's death and was able to prevent it from falling to Han. Then-reigning Emperor Xizong thereafter made Zhu the acting military governor.