Huang Quan, with the courtesy name Gongheng, was from Langzhong, Sichuan. When he was young, he held a minor official position in the district, and later, the Governor of Yizhou, Liu Zhang, appointed him as the chief clerk. At that time, the Deputy of Yizhou, Zhang Song, suggested welcoming Liu Bei to join forces in attacking Zhang Lu. Huang Quan advised Liu Zhang, saying: "Liu Bei has a great reputation and is very powerful. If we treat him as an ordinary soldier, he will definitely be dissatisfied. If we treat him with the courtesy of a guest, then Yizhou cannot support two masters. If Liu Bei remains calm like Mount Tai, you, Liu Zhang, will be in danger, like a tower of eggs that could topple at any moment. It is best to remain closed off and wait for the right time." Liu Zhang did not listen to him, sent people to welcome Liu Bei, and assigned Huang Quan as the magistrate of Guanghan County. Later, when Liu Bei conquered Yizhou, his generals began to divide the counties, and each county surrendered to Liu Bei one after another. Only Huang Quan held out in the city, waiting for Liu Zhang to surrender before he himself surrendered to Liu Bei. Liu Bei appointed Huang Quan as a military commander. When Cao Cao defeated Zhang Lu and Zhang Lu fled to Bazhong, Huang Quan said: "If we lose Hanzhong, the entire Bashu region will be in chaos. Hanzhong is the lifeline of the Shu region!" Therefore, Liu Bei appointed Huang Quan as the military commander, leading the troops to fight against Zhang Lu. Zhang Lu later surrendered to Cao Cao after escaping to Nanzheng, but ultimately, it was Huang Quan's strategy that defeated Du Huo and Pu Hu, killed Xiahou Yuan, and secured Hanzhong.
Liu Bei became the King of Hanzhong and also served as Prefect of Yizhou. He appointed Huang Quan as his Chief of Staff. After Liu Bei proclaimed himself emperor and prepared to conquer Eastern Wu, Huang Quan advised him, "The people of Wu are fierce in battle, and their navy can easily attack downstream but find it difficult to retreat. I request permission to go first to scout the enemy; Your Majesty, you stay back and maintain our position." Liu Bei did not listen to him and appointed Huang Quan as General of the Northern Expedition, leading the army in the north to defend against the Wei army, while Liu Bei himself stayed in the south. Later, the Wu general Lu Yi broke through the encirclement using the current; Liu Bei's army was defeated, and Liu Bei retreated. With the road cut off, Huang Quan had no choice but to surrender to Wei. The court officials sought to punish Huang Quan's wife and children in accordance with the law. Liu Bei said, "It's my fault for Huang Quan; Huang Quan did not wrong me!" and treated Huang Quan's family as before. Cao Cao's son Cao Pi asked Zhuge Liang, "You rebelled once, and now you come to surrender; are you trying to emulate figures like Chen Sheng and Han Xin?" Zhuge Liang replied, "I was given exceptional treatment by Liu Bei in the past; surrendering to Eastern Wu is out of the question, and there is no way back to Shu, so I came to surrender to you. Besides, it's a victory just to save my life; who cares about those ancient celebrities?" Cao Pi thought his answer was good, so he appointed him as General Who Guards the South, Marquis of Yuyang, and appointed him as his attendant, allowing him to ride in the carriage.
Later, some defectors from the Shu Kingdom claimed they wanted to kill Zhuge Liang's family. Zhuge Liang knew this was false, but he refrained from rushing to publicly declare it. Eventually, when the truth came to light, it turned out to be just a rumor. When the news of Liu Bei's death arrived, officials from the Wei Kingdom all congratulated, but Zhuge Liang did not show any reaction. Cao Pi recognized that Zhuge Liang was a shrewd individual and wanted to test him, so he sent for him. Before Zhuge Liang even arrived, he was urged repeatedly, and messengers rushed back and forth without pause, with people and horses crossing paths. The officials and their attendants were all terrified, but Zhuge Liang remained calm. Later, Zhuge Liang was appointed as the governor-general of Yizhou and then transferred to Henan.
The Grand General Sima Yi valued him greatly and asked Zhuge Liang, "How many talents like you does the Shu Kingdom have?" Zhuge Liang smiled and said, "I didn't expect you to value me so much!" Sima Yi even wrote a letter to Zhuge Liang saying, "Huang Gongheng (Zhuge Liang's courtesy name) is an extraordinary person. Every time I meet him, he praises you endlessly." In the third year of the Jingchu era, which was the second year of the Yanxi era of Shu Han, Zhuge Liang was promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry and appointed Colonel Director of Retainers. The following year, he passed away and was posthumously named the Marquis of Jing. His son, Zhuge Yong, inherited his title. Zhuge Yong had no sons, so his lineage came to an end.
Zhuge Liang's son, Zhuge Chong, who stayed in Shu, became the Gentleman of the Imperial Library and served under General Wei Zhuan in the fight against Deng Ai. Upon reaching Fu County, Wei Zhuan hesitated to advance, and Zhuge Chong urged him repeatedly to advance quickly and occupy strategic positions to prevent the enemy from entering the plains. Wei Zhuan still didn't listen, and Zhuge Chong was so anxious that he cried. Consequently, Deng Ai's forces launched a fierce attack, and Wei Zhuan only began to fight back when they retreated to Mianzhu. Zhuge Chong led the soldiers bravely, determined to resist to the death, and ultimately died in battle. The saying "With no great generals in Shu, Liao Hua takes the lead" does not fit the situation here.
Li Hui, whose courtesy name was De'ang, was from Yuan County in Jianning County. He initially served as a postal courier in the county, and his uncle, Cuan Xi, was the county magistrate of Jianning. Due to his relationship with his uncle, Li Hui was also implicated and dismissed from his post. At that time, the governor Dong He felt that Cuan Xi was a prominent figure in the local area and did not take the matter seriously. Later, Li Hui was recommended to a prefecture, but before he arrived, he heard that Liu Bei had returned from Jiameng to attack Liu Zhang. Li Hui believed that Liu Zhang was bound to lose and Liu Bei was bound to win, so he left the county under the guise of a reason and went to join Liu Bei, meeting him in Mianzhu.
Liu Bei admired him greatly and took him to Luocheng. Later, Liu Bei sent Li Hui to build a good relationship with Ma Chao in Hanzhong, and Ma Chao complied. After the fall of Chengdu, Liu Bei became the governor of Yizhou and appointed Li Hui as the assistant clerk. Later, Li Hui was falsely accused by malicious people of plotting rebellion, and he was arrested by the authorities. After investigating and clearing his name, Liu Bei promoted him to the position of a higher-ranking official.
In the first year of the Zhangwu era, the commander Deng Fang of La had passed away, and Liu Bei asked Li Hui, "Who could take his place?" Li Hui replied, "Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, just as Confucius said, 'Use each according to his abilities.' Furthermore, with a wise ruler in power, his subjects can give their utmost effort, as Zhao Chongguo said during the battle of Xianling, 'There is no one better than the old ministers.' I wouldn’t presume to make such a decision and instead rely on Your Majesty's wise judgment." Liu Bei smiled and said, "I had already intended to use you." He then appointed Li Hui as the commander of La, with the authority to bear a staff, and appointed him as the Inspector of Jiaozhou, residing in Pingyi County.
After Liu Bei's death, Gao Ding was running rampant in the Yuesui region, Yongkai was causing trouble in Jianning, and Zhu Bao led a rebellion in Zangke. Prime Minister Zhuge Liang led his troops south, first starting from Yuesui, then repairing the roads and marching towards Jianning. As a result, the rebel forces from different counties banded together and besieged Zhuge Liang's army in Kunming. At that time, Zhuge Liang's army was outnumbered and had yet to hear from him. Zhuge Liang tricked the southern people by saying, "The official troops have run out of food and want to retreat. We have been fighting in foreign lands for a long time, and now we can finally go back. It is impossible to go further north. We want to discuss countermeasures with you, so we are telling you honestly." The people in the south bought it, causing both the siege and defense to slacken. Zhuge Liang then attacked, scored a major victory, pursued the fleeing enemy, and chased them all the way to Panjiang, connecting with Prime Minister Zhuge's army to the east in Zangke. After bringing peace to the south, Zhuge Liang made significant contributions and was made the Marquis of Hanxing and promoted to General of Anhan. Later, when the army withdrew, the southern tribes revolted again and killed the stationed generals. Zhuge Liang personally led troops to suppress them, completely wiping out the troublemakers, relocating their leaders to Chengdu, and gathering resources like cattle, horses, gold, silver, and rhinoceros leather from the elderly and the Pu people to replenish military supplies, ensuring the army's expenses were fully covered. In the seventh year of Jianxing, Jiaozhou was handed over to Sun Wu, and Zhuge Liang was relieved of his duties as governor of Jiaozhou. He was appointed Prefect of Jianning and returned to his home county. Later, he relocated to Hanzhong and died in the ninth year of Jianxing. His son inherited his title. Zhuge Liang's grandson, Zhuge Qiu, served as the Right Division Supervisor of the Imperial Guards, followed Zhuge Zhan to fight against Deng Ai, received orders on the battlefield, and was killed in Mianzhu.
Lü Kai, style name Jiping, was a native of Buwei County in Yongchang Commandery. He served as the Five Officials' Clerk and the Chief Clerk in the commandery. At that time, Yong Kai and others heard that the late Lord Liu Bei had died in Yong'an, so they became even more arrogant and brazen. General Li Yan wrote a six-page letter to Yong Kai, reasoning with him and appealing to his sentiments, advising him not to rebel. But Yong Kai only replied with a one-page letter, on which was written: "I have heard that there are no two suns in the sky, no two kings on the earth. Now that the empire is divided into three, there are three rightful sovereigns. Therefore, the people in distant regions are anxious and bewildered, not knowing whom to submit to." His attitude was truly arrogant and overbearing to the extreme. Later, Yong Kai surrendered to Eastern Wu, and Eastern Wu appointed him as the Administrator of Yongchang from afar.
Yongchang Commandery was located to the west of Yizhou Commandery, with rugged and difficult roads, isolated from Shu Han. The commandery's Administrator was changed, and Lü Kai, along with Magistrate Wang Kang, led officials and people to close the borders and resolutely resist Yong Kai. Yong Kai sent messengers to Yongchang Commandery several times with proclamations, proclaiming his "justice." Lü Kai replied with a letter, saying: "Calamities have befallen from the heavens, and wicked individuals seize the opportunity to incite chaos. The people of the world are gritting their teeth in fury, with all officials and people, big and small, willing to give their all, even if it means risking their lives, to pacify this national crisis. General, your family has enjoyed the favor of the Han dynasty for generations; you should gather your troops personally, be the first to answer the call, serve the country, not betray your ancestors, inscribe your achievements on bamboo slips, and leave a lasting legacy for generations. How can you forsake your roots and ally with foreign enemies?"
In the past, Emperor Shun was diligent in political affairs and passed away in Cangwu. Later generations all praised him, and his reputation has been passed down to this day. He died by the river, so what is there to be sad about? King Wen and King Wu were appointed by the heavens, and King Cheng only pacified the realm. Emperor Liu Bei raised troops to fight against bandits, and people from all over the world submitted to him. The court ministers were all wise and intelligent, and the realm enjoyed peace. Yet, General, you seem unable to recognize the patterns of rise and fall, the signs of success and failure, like a wildfire sweeping through the grasslands or walking on thin ice, where fire dies and ice melts. What will you depend on? Your ancestor, Marquis Yong, caused some resentment but was eventually ennobled. Dou Rong understood the situation and submitted to Emperor Guangwu, and left behind a good reputation. Now, Prime Minister Zhuge is exceptionally talented and wise, serving the young master Liu Shan. If you can repent and change your ways, it's not too hard to follow in the footsteps of the ancients. What is there in this small Yongchang County that makes you so stubborn?
I heard that the State of Chu disrespected the Zhou royal family, and Duke Huan of Qi rebuked it. When King Fu of Wu declared himself emperor, the people of Jin no longer supported him. Moreover, what you've allied with isn't the legitimate line, so who will submit to you? I adhere to ancient customs and have no dealings with you, which is why I did not reply to your previous letters. After receiving your message again, I've been restless and rushed to express my thoughts, hoping you can take a moment to consider them, General. Lv Kai is highly respected and known for his virtue in the county, which is why he can uphold his integrity.
Chancellor Zhuge went south to attack Yong Kai, but as soon as the army set out, Yong Kai was killed by Gao Ding's soldiers. Upon arriving in the south, Zhuge Liang reported to the court, saying, "The officials Lv Kai and Wang Kang from Yongchang County have been loyal to the court in the remote areas for more than ten years. Yong Kai and Gao Ding oppressed them and caused chaos in the northeast, but Lv Kai and the others have consistently upheld justice and did not collude with the rebels. I did not expect the people of Yongchang to be so simple and upright!" Zhuge Liang then appointed Lv Kai as the governor of Yunnan, granting him the title of Marquis of Yangqianting. Unfortunately, Lv Kai was later killed by the rebel Yi tribes, and his son Lv Xiang inherited his title. Wang Kang was also honored for his loyalty and appointed as the governor of Yongchang. Thus, the matter came to a close. Zhuge Liang's southern campaign to suppress the rebellion, with the original target Yong Kai dead, unexpectedly discovered officials like Lv Kai and Wang Kang who were loyal and unwavering, which was an unexpected gain. The court also honored them, affirming their loyalty and steadfastness. However, his untimely death was regrettable, but fortunately, his son inherited his title, thus continuing his legacy of loyalty. Ma Zhong, whose courtesy name was Dexin, was from Langzhong, Bashu. As a child, he carried his maternal family name, Hu, before later returning to his original surname and changing his name to Zhong. He served as a county official and was recommended as a filial and incorruptible official at the end of Jian'an, serving as the magistrate of Hanchang County. When Liu Bei suffered defeat at the Battle of Xiaoting during his eastern campaign, Baixi Prefect Yan Zhi mobilized five thousand troops from various counties to replenish the losses, sending Ma Zhong to escort the troops. After returning to Yong'an, Liu Bei met with Ma Zhong and spoke with him. Liu Bei told the Minister of the Interior Liu Ba, "Although we have lost Huang Quan, we have gained Hu Du (Ma Zhong), which proves that there's no shortage of talent in the world!"
In the first year of Jianxing, Prime Minister Zhuge Liang opened his office and appointed Ma Zhong as Chief of Staff. Three years later, Zhuge Liang launched a southern campaign and appointed Ma Zhong as the Prefect of Zangke. County magistrate Zhu Bao staged a rebellion, but after the rebellion was suppressed, Ma Zhong calmed the populace, governed effectively, earned their trust, and gained considerable prestige. In the eighth year of Jianxing, Ma Zhong was summoned back to court to serve as an aide to the Prime Minister, assisting Chief Clerk Jiang Wan in managing the government office, and also serving as an official responsible for state affairs. The following year, when Zhuge Liang launched a northern expedition to Qishan, Ma Zhong joined Zhuge Liang's army to assist with military operations. After the northern expedition ended, Ma Zhong led generals, including Zhang Yi, in quelling the Qiang rebellion in Wenshan County.
In the eleventh year of Jianxing, the powerful chieftain Liu Zhou from Nanyi staged a rebellion, causing disturbances in several counties. The court recalled Zhang Yi, the Governor of Lijiang, and Ma Zhong replaced him. Ma Zhong eventually killed Liu Zhou and suppressed the rebellion in the south. Ma Zhong was appointed as the General overseeing the Fierce and Mighty Army and was bestowed the title of Marquis of Boyang. Initially, in Jianning County, Magistrate Zheng Ang was murdered, and Magistrate Zhang Yi was captured and sent to the Kingdom of Wu, so the governor had been stationed in Pingyi County. After Ma Zhong took office, he relocated the administrative center to Weixian, situated between the Han and Yi peoples for more effective governance. In addition, Yuegui County had long been deprived of some territory, and Ma Zhong, together with Governor Zhang Yi, reclaimed the lost territory. Therefore, Ma Zhong was appointed as the General of Annan and was further elevated to the title of Marquis of Pengxiang.
In the fifth year of the Yanxi period, Ma Zhong returned to the court. As he passed through Hanzhong, he visited Grand Marshal Jiang Wan and announced an imperial decree that appointed him as the Grand General of Zhen Nan. In the spring of the seventh year of Yanxi, Grand General Fei Yi went north to defend against the Wei country's army, leaving Ma Zhong to handle the affairs of the Shangshu in Chengdu. After Fei Yi returned to the capital, Ma Zhong went back south. In the twelfth year of Yanxi, Ma Zhong passed away, and his son Ma Xiu inherited his title. Ma Zhong was known for his kindness and generosity, and he had a great sense of humor. While he enjoyed joking and laughing, he never displayed his anger. However, he was decisive and resolute in handling political affairs, earning both respect and affection from the local tribes. After Ma Zhong's death, many people came to his memorial hall to mourn for him. A temple was built in his honor, which still stands to this day. Zhang Biao was a well-known figure at that time, with a reputation and loyalty that surpassed others. Yan Yu, who had previously earned many merits, was very diligent in his work. However, when they took over Zhang Biao's position, neither could match his prestige or achievements.
Wang Ping, courtesy name Zijun, was from Dangqu, a place in Brazil. He was raised by his grandmother, from the He family, and later changed his surname to Wang. He followed Du Huo and Pu Hu to Luoyang and was appointed as an acting Colonel. Later, he followed Cao Cao to attack Hanzhong, but surrendered to Liu Bei and was appointed as the General of the Yamen and Deputy General. In the sixth year of Jianxing, he followed the military officer Ma Su as the vanguard. Ma Su camped the army on the mountain instead of by the water, which caused disorder. Wang Ping cautioned Ma Su repeatedly, but Ma Su did not listen and was defeated at Jieting. Everyone scattered to escape, but only Wang Ping led a thousand men, sounded the drums to create the illusion of an ambush, and Wei general Zhang He believed there was an ambush and hesitated to attack. Wang Ping slowly reassembled the scattered soldiers and led them to safety. Prime Minister Zhuge Liang executed Ma Su along with generals Zhang Xiu and Li Sheng, and stripped generals like Huang Xi of their military authority. Due to his exceptional performance, Wang Ping was promoted to military officer, commanded five troops, managed the camp, and was promoted to the General of the Conquering Bandits and appointed as the Viscount of Ting. In the ninth year of Jianxing, Zhuge Liang besieged Qishan, and Wang Ping was solely responsible for guarding the camp in the south. Wei's Grand General Sima Yi attacked Zhuge Liang, and Zhang He attacked Wang Ping, but Wang Ping defended firmly and Zhang He could not do anything about it. In the twelfth year of Jianxing, Zhuge Liang died in Wugong, the army retreated, Wei Yan rebelled, but was defeated by Wang Ping, which was Wang Ping's credit! Later, Wang Ping was promoted to the Rear Guardian General, the General of Anhan, acting as the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Wu Yi, in Hanzhong, and also served as the Prefect of Hanzhong. In the fifteenth year of Jianxing, Wang Ping was appointed as the Marquis of Anhan, replacing Wu Yi to lead Hanzhong. In the first year of Yanxi, Grand General Jiang Wan stationed in Mianyang, and Wang Ping was appointed as the Front Guard, acting as Jiang Wan's steward. In the sixth year of Yanxi, Jiang Wan returned to Fucheng, and Wang Ping was appointed as the Front Supervisor and Grand General of Zhenbei, commanding Hanzhong.
In the spring of 234 AD, General Cao Shuang of the Wei Kingdom marched with over one hundred thousand infantry and cavalry towards Hanchuan in a grand display, with the vanguard having already reached Luogu. At that time, the soldiers stationed in Hanzhong were fewer than thirty thousand, which sent the generals into a panic. Some suggested, "We don't have enough forces to take on the enemy, so we should just defend Hanzhong and Lecheng. When the enemy breaks in, the reinforcements from Fucheng can arrive in time to rescue the mountain passes." However, Jiang Wei said, "No! Hanzhong is over a thousand miles from Fucheng. If the enemy takes the mountain passes, it will be a big problem. We should send Liu as the guard and Du as the attendant to occupy Xingshi first, while I will hold the rear to intercept. If the enemy strikes at Huangjin, I will lead a thousand men to meet them in battle. When the reinforcements from Fucheng arrive, that would be our best strategy." Only Liu Min shared Jiang Wei's view and promptly set the plan in motion. As a result, the reinforcements from Fucheng and General Fei Yi began to arrive from Chengdu. Seeing the situation turning unfavorable, the Wei army withdrew, adhering to Jiang Wei's strategy. At that time, Deng Zhi was in the east, Ma Zhong was in the south, and Jiang Wei was in the north, all of whom achieved significant military successes. Jiang Wei grew up in the military camp and barely recognized a handful of characters, knowing fewer than ten. However, when others transcribed his dictation, his writings were well-organized. He had people read him the biographies from "Records of the Grand Historian" and "Book of Han," grasping the main ideas and articulating them confidently. He was strict about following the rules, never joking around in speech, always maintaining an upright posture from morning until night, meticulous and without the roughness often associated with generals. However, his character was narrow-minded, suspicious, and arrogant—flaws that plagued him. In 242 AD, Jiang Wei passed away, and his son, Jiang Xun, succeeded him in his title.
At the beginning, there was a man named Jufu from Jufu Township in Hanchang County, who served under Jiang Wei and was known for his loyalty, bravery, and generosity. He had made great military achievements multiple times, with achievements second only to Jiang Wei. He was promoted to the rank of Left General and was granted the title of Dangqu Marquis.
Zhang Yi, styled Boqi, was a native of Nanchong in Bajun. When he was young, he became the county magistrate. When Liu Bei unified the Shu region, bandits attacked the county town. The county magistrate abandoned his possessions and fled, but Zhang Yi risked his life amid the chaos to escape with the magistrate's wife, saving her life. This act earned him widespread acclaim, and he was summoned by the state to serve as an official. At that time, the esteemed officials Gong Lu and Yao Zhu, both of whom held high ranks in the prefecture, were well acquainted with Zhang Yi.
In the fifth year of Jianxing, Prime Minister Zhuge Liang was stationed in Hanzhong. Bandits from Guanghan and Mianzhu, including Zhang Mu, were robbing military provisions and plundering the people. Zhang Yi was appointed as a military commander and led troops to suppress them. Zhang Yi estimated that these bandits were scattered and difficult to defeat, so he pretended to negotiate with them and agreed to have a drink together. During the banquet, Zhang Yi personally led his soldiers and took the opportunity to kill more than fifty people, including Zhang Mu, the leader of the bandits. The remaining bandits were then pursued and suppressed within ten days, quelling the bandit uprising. Later, Zhang Yi fell seriously ill, and his condition became critical. His family was very poor. He Qi, the Prefect of Guanghan and a reputable and kind-hearted man from Shu County, despite not being very close to Zhang Yi, still came to his aid. He Qi provided substantial financial support for his treatment, and a few years later, Zhang Yi recovered from his illness. He was known for his integrity, honesty, and loyalty—truly a remarkable individual.
Later, Zhang Yi was appointed as the commander of the Yamen, under the command of General Ma Zhong. He went north to suppress the Qiang people's rebellion in Wenshan and south to pacify the rebellions of local tribes in four counties. He consistently employed excellent strategies and secured victories in every battle. In the fourteenth year of Jianxing, Fu Jian, the king of the Di people in Wudu, requested to surrender. The court sent General Zhang Wei to meet him, but he did not return after the time we agreed upon, which worried General Jiang Wan greatly. Zhang Yi analyzed and said, "Since Fu Jian has requested to surrender, there shouldn’t be any surprises. I heard that Fu Jian's brother is very cunning, and the local tribes are not united in their actions, so there must be disagreements, which is why the delay." After a few days, news came that Fu Jian's brother had indeed taken four hundred households to surrender to the Wei kingdom, leaving only Fu Jian to surrender.
Initially, after Prime Minister Zhuge Liang pacified Gaoding in Yuezhi, local ethnic groups frequently rebelled, even killing the Governor Gong Lu and Jiao Huang. After that, the governors dared not go to the county office, instead staying in Anshang County, which was more than eight hundred li away from the county office, which left Yuezhi County essentially a shell. At that time, everyone was trying to restore the normal operation of the county office, so Li Yi was appointed as the Governor of Yuezhi. Li Yi took his subordinates to the county office and adopted a conciliatory approach, by using kindness and trust to win over the local tribes, and many people submitted to him.
The Ma tribe in the north was quite powerful and refused to recognize the court's authority. Li Yi personally led troops to suppress them, capturing their leader Wei Lang alive. Li Yi did not kill him but encouraged him to persuade others to submit to the court. Li Yi also requested the court to grant Wei Lang the title of marquis. Now, the over three thousand households of the Ma tribe settled down and flourished, serving the court well. Hearing this, other tribes followed suit. Li Yi was honored by the court for resolving the border issues and was appointed as a marquis within the pass.
The ruler of Suqi Prefecture, Dong Feng, and his younger brother, Kui Qu, initially surrendered to the court but later rebelled. Li Yi killed Dong Feng. Dong Feng's wife was the daughter of the King of Maoniu, and Li Yi cleverly pardoned her. Kui Qu fled to the western border. Kui Qu was very brave and fierce, greatly feared and respected by other tribes. He sent two trusted aides to pretend to surrender to Li Yi, but in reality, they were trying to gather information. Li Yi saw through their plot, promised them great rewards, and turned them into informants. These two then conspired to kill Kui Qu. With Kui Qu's death, the other tribes fell into line. In addition, the leader of the Stuqi tribe, Li Qiucheng, who had previously killed the magistrate Gong Lu, was captured on Li Yi's orders, his crimes were listed, and he was executed.
Li Yi found that the county government's walls and buildings were in disrepair, so he rebuilt small defensive fortifications. After three years in office, he was transferred back to his original county, repaired the city fortifications, and the local people of all ages actively participated in this project.
Ding Ya, Tai Deng, and Bei Shui counties were more than 300 miles away from the county seat and once produced salt, iron, and lacquer, but these resources were consumed by the minority groups who controlled them for a long time. Li Yi led his men to reclaim these three counties and appointed officials. When Li Yi arrived in Ding Ya County, the local strongman, Lang Cen, who was the uncle of Panmu King, held significant influence among the tribes. He refused to come and meet Li Yi because he was unhappy with Li Yi seizing their resources. Li Yi then sent dozens of strong men to directly capture him, kill him, and bring his body back to the tribe. He lavishly rewarded the soldiers who captured him and laid out Lang Cen's wrongdoings for everyone, warning, "Do not act recklessly, or your clan will be exterminated!" All the tribes were intimidated and quickly submitted. Li Yi hosted a grand banquet with cattle feasts to entertain them, emphasizing the court's benevolence, and ultimately regained resources such as salt and iron, making the county government's supplies more abundant.
Over four thousand households of the Maoniu Yi people lived near Hanjia County. Their leader, Langlu, wanted to take revenge on his uncle (referring to someone who had a conflict with them before). So, Langlu sent his uncle to go and investigate the situation and see how things were.
County magistrate Li Yi immediately sent a trusted person to send cattle and wine to reward them, and also let them meet his wife, have a good conversation, and express goodwill. Lang accepted the gifts and even saw his sister. The siblings were overjoyed and decided to join Li Yi along with their followers. Li Yi treated them exceptionally well, rewarded them with many things, and then sent them back. From then on, the Maoniu Yi people no longer dared to cause trouble again.
There used to be an old road in the county that passed through the Maoniu Yi territory, leading directly to Chengdu, flat and close. But since the Maoniu Yi rebelled, this road had been abandoned for over a hundred years, and everyone had to take a long and treacherous detour. Li Yi sent envoys with money and gifts to Lu (referring to the leader of the Maoniu Yi's road) and asked him to communicate well with Lu. After hearing this, Lu and his wife and children decided to join Li Yi. Li Yi and Lu made an oath, and the old road was restored. The road was cleared over a distance of more than a thousand miles, and the pavilions and post stations were restored. Li Yi also reported to the court, and the road was bestowed the title "Maoniu Tianjupi Wang," and envoys were sent to pay tribute. Later, the emperor conferred upon Li Yi the title of General of the Hu Rong and allowed him to continue managing Hanjia County.
When Li Yi first saw Fei Yi becoming the Grand General, he perceived him as quite easy-going and overly kind to the newly allied people. Li Yi wrote him a letter of advice, saying, "In the past, Cen Peng led the troops and was ordered to act in She, but he was killed by assassins because he trusted the newly attached people too much. Now that you are a high-ranking general, you should take heed of the past and exercise more caution!" Eventually, Fei Yi was indeed killed by Guo Xiu, a general who had surrendered to Wei.
Zhuge Ke had just defeated the Wei army and was preparing to attack with a grand display of force. His younger brother, Zhuge Zhan, who was the son of Zhuge Liang, the Prime Minister, was serving as an attendant at the time and wrote a letter to advise him: "The ruler of Eastern Wu has just passed away, the new emperor is young, and as the Grand Tutor, you have a great responsibility. This is not an easy task! Even talented individuals like the Duke of Zhou have experienced rebellions by Guan Shu and Cai Shu. During the regency of Huo Guang, there were rebellions by the King of Yan, the King of Gai, and Shangguan Jie. If it weren't for the wise decisions of Emperor Cheng and Emperor Zhao of Han, the consequences could have been dire. I have heard that the late emperor was decisive in his actions, clear in rewards and punishments, and wasn't particularly considerate of others' feelings. Before his passing, he specifically summoned you to entrust you with matters, which is indeed concerning. Moreover, the people in the Wu and Chu regions are known for their fierce disposition, as we have known before. By leaving the young monarch and going deep into enemy territory, this may not be a sustainable strategy. Although the political situation in Eastern Wu is stable and unified, wise leaders should be wary of unforeseen events. Taking lessons from history, you should think carefully. If not you, who else can advise the Grand Tutor? It would be wiser to gather your troops, cultivate the land, and win the people's goodwill for a few years before planning any military campaigns. It is not too late. I hope you will seriously consider my advice." Zhuge Ke was eventually wiped out along with his family for this reason. Zhuge Zhan's insights were largely sound.
After serving as the county magistrate for fifteen years, the people in the region lived in peace and prosperity, and the atmosphere was harmonious. Zhuge Zhan repeatedly requested to return to the capital, and the court finally summoned him back to Chengdu. The local people and minority ethnic groups were very reluctant to see him go, supporting his carriage and weeping as they bid him farewell. When he passed through Maoniuyi, the city mayor and all the townspeople came out to welcome him; they followed him all the way to the border of Shu County, with over a hundred local officials and townspeople accompanying him to the capital to pay their respects. Upon returning to Chengdu, Zhuge Zhan was appointed as the General for Pacifying Bandits. He was generous, passionate, and had a heroic spirit, earning the respect of scholars. However, he was also somewhat unrestrained in his behavior, not adhering closely to etiquette, which drew some criticism. This was in the seventeenth year of the Yanxi era. The Prefect of Didi in Wei, Li Jian, secretly wrote a letter requesting to surrender, and General Wei Jiang Wei led Zhuge Zhan and others to use the supplies provided by Li Jian to march into Longxi. Upon reaching Didi, Li Jian indeed led all the city’s officials and residents out to greet the army. On the battlefield, Zhuge Zhan fought against the Wei general Xu Zhi, died in battle, but he inflicted more casualties on the enemy than his own side suffered. After Zhuge Zhan's death, the court granted his eldest son Ying the title of Marquis of Xixiang, while his second son Huxiong inherited his title. The people and minority ethnic groups in the southern Yuesui region were deeply saddened to hear of Zhuge Zhan's death, and they built temples in his honor, holding sacrificial ceremonies for him in every season and during times of drought or flood.
As the comments say: Huang Quan, a person of culture and thoughtfulness; Li Hui, a straightforward and ambitious individual; Lu Kai, loyal and unwavering in his duties; Ma Zhong, although impulsive, possessed a strong will; Wang Ping, loyal, brave, and disciplined; Zhang Yi, knowledgeable, with strong judgment, and decisive. These people, with their own strengths, made names for themselves, achieving great success and truly seizing their opportunities!
Look, these individuals each possess unique talents and accomplishments. Huang Quan is exceptionally talented, Li Hui has lofty ambitions, Lv Kai is unwaveringly loyal, Ma Zhong is tenacious, Wang Ping is rigorous and diligent, and Zhang Yi is both wise and bold; all of them distinguished themselves in that era. This illustrates that while individual abilities are important, timing is also crucial, as the saying goes, "the times create heroes"! Their success stems not only from their outstanding qualities but also from the context of that era. As articulated in "Mencius," "opportune timing is inferior to advantageous location, and advantageous location is inferior to harmonious relations." Individual abilities, opportunities of the era, and teamwork are all essential.
