Abstract: At the end of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, YAN Zhi-tui remarked FAN Ye’s The History of the Later Han Dynasty but ignored FAN’s name. YAN and FAN were both noble scholars, but YAN disliked FAN’s faith and personality. YAN’s criticism of FAN was a symbol of the self-transformation of the noble literati. YAN changed his thoughts and lifestyle to adapt to the new time and survive in the new social environment. He was an example of successful transformation.