Huo Jun, styled Zhongmiao, was a native of Zhijiang in Nanjun. His elder brother, Huo Du, gathered a force of several hundred men in their hometown. After Huo Du's death, the Governor of Jingzhou, Liu Biao, appointed Huo Jun to take command of his brother's force. Following Liu Biao's death, Huo Jun led the force to join Liu Bei. Liu Bei appointed Huo Jun as a General Officer. When Liu Bei attacked Liu Zhang from the south of Jiameng, he left Huo Jun in charge of guarding Jiameng City. General Yang Bo was dispatched by Zhang Lu to persuade Huo Jun to surrender and jointly defend the city, but Huo Jun replied, "You can take my head, but the city is off-limits!" Yang Bo was forced to retreat. Later, Liu Zhang's generals Fu Jin, Xiang Cun, and others led over ten thousand troops to attack and besiege Huo Jun from the upper reaches of the Lang River, but even after a year of siege, they could not take him down. With only a few hundred troops in the city, Huo Jun took advantage of the enemy's complacency, selected elite troops to launch a counterattack, delivered a decisive defeat to the enemy, and even managed to kill Xiang Cun. After Liu Bei secured control over the Shu region, he highly commended Huo Jun's contributions and established Zitong Commandery by separating it from Guanghan, appointing Huo Jun as the Governor of Zitong and Deputy General. Huo Jun served in this role for three years until his passing at the age of forty, and was buried in Chengdu. Liu Bei was deeply saddened and filled with regret, issuing an edict to Zhuge Liang stating, "Huo Jun was an exceptional talent who made significant contributions to the nation. I wish to pay my respects to him personally." He personally led his officials to pay their respects and stayed overnight at the tomb, which earned him great respect from the people.
Huo Yi, the son of Huo Yu, styled Shaoxian, served as Liu Bei's Prince's Attendant before his death. After Liu Shan succeeded to the throne, Huo Yi was appointed as an attendant to the Crown Prince. When Prime Minister Zhuge Liang was stationed in Hanzhong, he requested Huo Yi to serve as his secretary, allowing him to manage daily affairs alongside Huo Qiao. After Zhuge Liang's death, Huo Yi was appointed as the Yellow Gate Attendant. When Liu Shan appointed his son Liu Xuan as Crown Prince, Liu Xuan enjoyed archery and had little self-restraint. Huo Yi referenced ancient texts and advised him on several occasions, resulting in a good rapport between them. Later, Huo Yi was appointed as the Vice General of the Western Army and promoted to the Protector of the Army, still responsible for his previous duties. At that time, the Yi tribe in Yongchang County rebelled, taking advantage of their difficult terrain. The court appointed Huo Yi as the Administrator of Yongchang, leading a small force to quell the rebellion. He defeated their leader and destroyed their villages, stabilizing the situation in Yongchang County. Huo Yi was promoted to Monitoring General and appointed Prefect of Jianning, also overseeing affairs in Nan County. In the sixth year of Jingyao, Huo Yi was appointed as the General of Annan. In that same year, Shu Han fell to Wei. Huo Yi and the military leader Luo Xian of Badong each managed to secure their territories, then surrendered to Wei. Wei retained their original positions and offered them generous rewards.
Wang Lian, styled Wenyi, was from Nanyang. During Liu Zhang's rule, he traveled to Shu and served as the Prefect of Zitong County. When Liu Bei raised his troops in Jiange and marched southward, he firmly shut the city gates and refused to surrender. Liu Bei respected his decision and did not force him. After Chengdu was secured, Liu Bei appointed Wang Lian as the Prefect of Shifang County, later transferring him to Guangdu County, where he excelled.
Next, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel of Salt and Iron, in charge of overseeing the revenue from salt and iron. He managed the salt and iron business in an orderly manner, generating significant profits for the state, greatly benefiting the national finances. He was also very good at employing people, promoting many talented individuals to official roles, such as Lv Yi, Du Qi, Liu Gan, and so on. These people later became high officials, all of whom Wang Lian had a hand in promoting. He was later promoted to Governor of Shu County and General of Xingye, while also serving as the Chief Historian to the Prime Minister, and was granted the title of Marquis of Pingyang.
At that time, several counties in the south were resistant to the court's authority, and Zhuge Liang planned to personally lead the expedition. Wang Lian advised, "The southern regions are barren and plagued by disease; it is not suitable to risk the country's entire hopes there." Zhuge Liang realized that his subordinates were not as capable as he was, so he really wanted to go personally, but Wang Lian's sincere advice made Zhuge Liang hesitate to set out. Eventually, Wang Lian passed away. His son, Wang Shan, succeeded him and eventually became the Governor of Jiangyang.
Xiang Lang, whose courtesy name was Juda, was a native of Yicheng in Xiangyang. Jingzhou Governor Liu Biao appointed him as the county magistrate of Linju. After Liu Biao's death, he sought refuge with Liu Bei. After Liu Bei consolidated his power in Jiangnan, Xiang Lang was tasked with overseeing military and civilian affairs across the four counties of Zigui, Yidao, Wu, and Yiling. After the unification of Shu Han, Liu Bei appointed him as the Administrator of Baxi, then transferred him to Zangke County, and later to Fangling County. When Liu Shan ascended the throne, Xiang Lang was appointed as an Infantry Colonel, replacing Wang Lian as the Chancellor's Chief Clerk. When Chancellor Zhuge Liang went on a southern campaign, Xiang Lang remained behind to manage rear operations. Five years later, he followed Zhuge Liang to Hanzhong. Xiang Lang had a good relationship with Ma Su, but when Ma Su fled, he was aware of it yet chose not to report it, which angered Zhuge Liang, resulting in his dismissal and return to Chengdu. Several years later, he was appointed as a Court Official, and after Zhuge Liang's death, he was promoted to Left General, recognized for his past contributions, and appointed as the Marquis of Xianming Pavilion, eventually rising to the rank of Special Imperial Counselor.
Initially, although Xiang Lang was young and had read some books, he did not prioritize personal moral development, mainly relying on his strong ability to handle affairs. After resigning from his position as Chief Clerk of the Chancellor, he leisurely spent nearly thirty years before dedicating himself to the study of classics, working diligently. In his eighties, he personally reviewed books, corrected errors, and accumulated a large number of volumes, which were among the most extensive collections of that period. He welcomed guests warmly, mentored newcomers, only discussing ancient principles and not involving himself in contemporary politics, earning widespread admiration. He was greatly respected by everyone, from court officials to common folk. He passed away in the tenth year of the Yanxi period. His son, Xiang Tiao, inherited his title, and during the Jingyao period, he was appointed Deputy Imperial Censor.
Xiang Chong, the son of Xiang Lang's elder brother, served as a gate general during the time of Liu Bei. In the Battle of Zigui, he was defeated, but only Xiang Chong's camp remained intact. In the first year of Jianxing, he was granted the title of Marquis of Duting, and later served as the Inspector of the Central Region, in charge of the imperial guard. When Zhuge Liang was preparing for a northern expedition, Xiang Chong wrote to Liu Shan, stating, "General Xiang Chong is a person of integrity, well-versed in military matters, has been tested before, and the late emperor also praised him for his abilities, so everyone unanimously recommended him to serve as the Inspector of the Central Region. I believe that all matters in the camp should be consulted with him, which will surely foster unity and harmony within the army, allowing everyone to perform at their best." Later, Xiang Chong was promoted to General. In the third year of Yanxi, he fell in battle while campaigning against the Han-Jia tribes. Xiang Chong's younger brother, Xiang Chong, successively served as the Chief of Archery and the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat.
Zhang Yi, styled Junsi, was from Chengdu. He was well-versed in the "Gongyang Chunqiu" and was also familiar with historical books and Han Dynasty classics. When the Ruzhou man Xu Wenxiu arrived in Shu, he believed that Zhang Yi was a rare talent of his time, comparable to Zhong Yuanchang, and recommended him to Liu Zhang, who appointed Zhang Yi as a loyal and upright official. Later, he was appointed as the magistrate of Yufu County, and was subsequently transferred back to the capital to serve as an aide, while also serving concurrently as an under-marshal. When Zhang Fei set out from Jingzhou and entered Shu through Dianjiang, Liu Zhang sent Zhang Yi to lead troops in defense, but they were defeated outside Deyang and forced to retreat to Chengdu. Later, Liu Zhang sent Zhang Yi to negotiate with Liu Bei, who promised to treat Liu Zhang fairly and guarantee his safety. The city gates only opened after Zhang Yi returned to Chengdu. Liu Bei appointed Zhang Yi as Prefect of Bajun, and later reassigned him to the court as the General of the Household for Agriculture, overseeing the production of agricultural tools and weapons.
Previously, the Inspector of Yizhou, Zheng Ang, was killed. The influential warlord of Yizhou, Yong Kai, wielded considerable power in the south and secretly colluded with Sun Quan, often sending people back and forth. Thus, Liu Bei appointed Zhang Yi as the Governor of Yizhou and sent him there directly. Yong Kai appeared respectful on the surface, but in reality was not obedient. He cynically remarked, "Killing him isn't worth it; let's bind him and send him to Sun Quan." So Zhang Yi was sent to Sun Quan.
Just as Liu Bei had passed away, Zhuge Liang sent Deng Zhi to negotiate with Dong Wu, instructing Deng Zhi to speak with Sun Quan and see if Zhang Yi could be brought back. After spending several years in Dong Wu in hiding, Zhang Yi had concealed his identity, so Sun Quan agreed to Deng Zhi's request to release Zhang Yi. Before leaving, Sun Quan summoned him and asked, "What are the customs like in your place regarding the tale of Zhuo Wenjun's elopement with Sima Xiangru in Shu?" Zhang Yi replied, "I believe Zhuo Wenjun's elopement is far superior to a minister taking another man's wife." Sun Quan then said, "After you return, you will undoubtedly serve in the court rather than toil in the fields. How do you plan to repay me?" Zhang Yi replied, "I returned due to my crime and will abide by the court's decisions. If I am fortunate enough to survive, all blessings before the age of 58 are my parents' kindness, and after that, they are your majesty's grace." Sun Quan laughed heartily, greatly admiring Zhang Yi. After leaving Sun Quan, Zhang Yi regretted not playing the fool, immediately boarded a ship and rushed back. Sun Quan indeed sent people to pursue him, but Zhang Yi had already entered the Yong'an territory tens of miles away, and the pursuers were unable to catch up.
After arriving in Shu, Prime Minister Zhuge appointed me as a military officer, responsible for handling affairs in the prefecture, and also as an official in charge of the administration of Yizhou. The Prime Minister stationed troops in Hanzhong, and I was appointed as the Captain of Archers, tasked with guarding the prefectural office and overseeing its officials. I often said, "The Prime Minister rewards and punishes fairly; rewards will not be overlooked for those far away, and punishments will not be biased towards those close by. Titles cannot be obtained without merit, and penalties cannot be exempted due to power and status. This is why both the wise and the foolish are able to set aside their own interests."
The following year, I went to Hanzhong to visit Prime Minister Zhuge Liang and seek advice on political matters. Hundreds of people saw me off, and the roads were packed with carriages and horses. When I returned home, I wrote to my relatives and friends, saying, "Recently, I have been busy hosting guests day and night, with no time to rest. Everyone respects the Prime Minister's Chief Clerk, and I, as a small person like Zhang Yi, also benefit from this, exhausted to the bone." I tend to speak this way. When I was young, I had a good relationship with Yang Gong from Jianwei, who passed away young, leaving behind his young orphans. I took them in and let them live with me, caring for them like I would my own mother. When Yang Gong's children grew up, I helped them get married, buy land and property, and start their own lives. I always made an effort to support old friends, help declining clans, and performed many acts of kindness. Later, I was promoted to Assistant General of Han while continuing to serve as the Chief Clerk. I passed away in the eighth year of Jianxing. My son Zhang Mu inherited my title, serving as the governor and military inspector of three counties. My younger son, Zhang Du, served as the Chief Librarian to the Crown Prince.
Yang Hong, courtesy name Ji Xiu, was a native of Wuyang in Jianwei. During the reign of Liu Zhang, he held various official positions across multiple jurisdictions. After Liu Bei pacified Shu, the governor Li Yan appointed him as a merit officer. When Li Yan wanted to relocate the county seat, Yang Hong strongly counseled against it. However, Li Yan did not listen, so Yang Hong resigned from his position as a merit officer and requested retirement. Li Yan wanted to recommend Yang Hong to the state to serve as an official in Shu County. When Liu Bei was fighting for Hanzhong, he urgently wrote to call for troops. The military advisor Zhuge Liang asked Yang Hong about this matter. Yang Hong said, "Hanzhong is a crucial strategic location in Yizhou. If we lose Hanzhong, we won't be able to hold onto Shu. This is a matter of survival for our country! In this situation, men should go to the front lines to fight, and women should be responsible for logistics. What’s there to hesitate about when it comes to sending troops?" At that time, the governor of Shu County, Fa Zheng, was following Liu Bei northward. Therefore, Zhuge Liang recommended Yang Hong to be the governor of Shu County, with full responsibility for all affairs, and he was immediately appointed. Not long after, he was reassigned to serve as an official in Yizhou.
After Liu Bei declared himself emperor, he failed to conquer Eastern Wu and returned to Yong'an. The Han Jia Prefect Huang Yuan, whom Zhuge Liang had a low opinion of, learned of Liu Bei's illness and feared future trouble. He raised an army to rebel and even set fire to Linqiong City. At that time, Zhuge Liang was on an inspection tour in the east, which emboldened Huang Yuan. Liu Shan promptly informed the Grand Tutor Dong Yun and sent his own troops under Generals Chen Hu and Zheng Chuo to confront Huang Yuan. Everyone thought that if Huang Yuan failed to capture Chengdu, he might retreat to Yue Xi and then occupy the southern central region. Dong Yun said, "Huang Yuan is fierce and impulsive, and he has no redeeming qualities. Is he capable of such actions? He merely wants to flee east along the river, hoping to wait until the emperor was safe, and then surrender; if the situation is not right, he will flee to Eastern Wu for survival. Order Chen Hu and Zheng Chuo to block him at the Nan'an Gorge." Chen Hu and Zheng Chuo followed Dong Yun's advice and successfully captured Huang Yuan alive. In the first year of the Jianxing era, Dong Yun was appointed Marquis of Guannei, then became Prefect of Shu County, the General of Loyalty and Righteousness, and later became the Commandant of the Yue Cavalry, while still serving as Prefect of Shu County.
Five years later, Prime Minister Zhuge Liang was stationed in Hanzhong, wanting to appoint Zhang Yi as the Chief of Staff, so he asked Dong Yun for his opinion. Dong Yun replied, "Zhang Yi is intelligent and capable of handling difficult matters. His talent is indeed suitable for this position, but his character lacks fairness. I'm afraid he cannot be trusted with such power. It would be better to let Xiang Lang take on the role. Xiang Lang is more upright. Zhang Yi is currently under his guidance and can learn from his abilities. This is beneficial for everyone." Initially, Zhang Yi had a good relationship with Dong Yun when he was young. Zhang Yi was exiled to Dong Wu, and Dong Yun was the magistrate of the county where Zhang Yi was. When Zhang Yi's son made a small mistake and received punishment, Dong Yun did not show him any leniency. When Zhang Yi later heard about this, he felt a deep resentment, and their relationship became distant. When Dong Yun recommended candidates to Zhuge Liang, he told Zhang Yi about this matter. Zhang Yi said to Dong Yun, "You've betrayed me. You could have prevented this." At that time, some suspected that Dong Yun wanted to be the Chief of Staff himself, while others believed Dong Yun was aware of Zhang Yi's grievances and did not want Zhang Yi to hold an important position overseeing affairs in the rear. Later, Zhang Yi and the Superintendent of Salt and Iron, Cen Shu, had a strained relationship, even to the point of mutual resentment. Zhuge Liang wrote a letter to Zhang Yi, saying, "When you were in Moxia before, the camp had been attacked. I was worried and couldn't eat or sleep. Later, when you were exiled to Nanhai, we mourned together and had troubled sleep and meals. When you returned, I entrusted you with important responsibilities to assist the royal family. I have always believed our friendship is as strong as the ancient bond of stone. The way of the stone covenant is to help each other, even at the expense of one's own interests, without any complaints. Moreover, I only entrusted matters to Dong Yun, yet you can't accept it." Through this incident, everyone understood that Dong Yun was fair and selfless.
Hong Shao didn't particularly enjoy studying, but he was genuinely honest and kind-hearted, treating others sincerely and warmly. He cared for the country and the people as he would his own family, and he was extremely filial to his stepmother. Unfortunately, he died after only six years in office. Initially, under Li Yan, Hong Shao served as a clerk, and even before Li Yan arrived in Jianwei, Hong Shao had already been promoted to Shu Commandery. Later, Hong Shao promoted his talented subordinate, He Zhi, who was quite capable and was later recommended for a position as a county official. Several years later, he became the governor of Guanghan, while Hong Shao was still serving in Shu Commandery. Therefore, people in Western Shu greatly admire Zhuge Liang because he was able to fully utilize the talents of each individual.
Fei Shi, styled Gongju, was from Nan'an in Jianwei. During Liu Zhang's reign, he served as the magistrate of Mianzhu County. When Liu Bei besieged Mianzhu, Fei Shi willingly opened the city gates and surrendered. After the pacification of Chengdu, Liu Bei was appointed as the Governor of Yizhou and appointed Fei Shi as the military supervisor. Later, he was sent to be the governor of Zangge County, then returned to serve as the provincial chief of staff. When Liu Bei proclaimed himself King of Hanzhong, he sent Fei Shi to appoint Guan Yu as the Front General. When Guan Yu heard that Huang Zhong had been named Rear General, he angrily said, "How can a great man be ranked alongside an old soldier?" and he refused the appointment. Fei Shi advised him, "Building a kingdom requires more than just one talent. In the past, Xiao He and Cao Cao were acquainted with Liu Bang when they were young, while Chen Ping and Han Xin joined later. In terms of official positions, Han Xin held the highest position, but there were no complaints from Xiao He or Cao Cao. Now, the King of Han has promoted Huang Zhong to such a high position for his momentary achievements, but will his regard for you be any less? Furthermore, you and the King are like two arms of the same body, sharing weal and woe, blessings and misfortunes. You shouldn't worry about your rank or how much you get rewarded. I'm just a messenger following orders; if you don't accept the appointment, I’ll have to go back empty-handed, and we'd both regret it." Guan Yu was deeply moved by this and immediately accepted the appointment.
Once, it was said that the ministers all wanted to support the King of Han, known as Zhong, in becoming emperor. Zhuge Liang submitted a letter of opposition, saying, "Your Highness, you fled to a foreign land and gathered an army to prepare to overthrow the treacherous villains because Cao Cao and his son forced Emperor Xian to abdicate. The primary enemy has not been eliminated yet, and if you declare yourself emperor first, it might raise doubts among the people. In the past, Emperor Gaozu and the Chu state agreed that whoever first conquered the Qin state would become king. Even after later capturing Xianyang and Ziying, Emperor Gaozu still humbly declined, not to mention that Your Highness has not yet led troops into battle but wants to declare yourself emperor? I truly believe this would not benefit Your Highness!" As a result of this, Zhuge Liang offended Liu Bei and was demoted to a minor official in Yongchang.
In the third year of Jianxing, when Zhuge Liang returned to Hanyang County after a southern expedition, the surrendered general Li Hong came to pay his respects. At that time, Jiang Wan and Zhuge Liang were together. Li Hong said, "I passed by Mengda's place and happened to run into Wang Chong, who was coming from the south. He said that Mengda had previously left Liu Bei and joined Wei, which made you very angry and led you to want to kill Mengda's entire family. Fortunately, the Lord did not agree. Mengda said, 'Zhuge Liang is a man of integrity and will not do that.' Mengda doesn't believe Wang Chong's words, completely trusts you, and has no other thoughts." Zhuge Liang said to Jiang Wan, "After returning to Chengdu, I must write a letter to inform Zidu (Jiang Wan's style name) about this matter." Zhuge Liang said, "Mengda, that little guy, was disloyal when he worked under General Zhenwei before, and later betrayed the Lord. Is he worth writing a letter to?" Zhuge Liang remained silent after hearing this.
In fact, Zhuge Liang wanted to recruit Meng Da as outside help, so he wrote a letter to Meng Da saying: "Last year, I went on a southern campaign and only returned at the end of the year. I happened to meet Li Hong in Hanyang and heard about your situation. I felt a deep sense of emotion and regret, missing your previous loyalty to Liu Bei. Is it just empty talk about fame and fortune that's made us drift apart? Ah, Meng Da, it was indeed Liu Feng who mistreated you and undermined the late lord’s commitment to valuing talent. Li Hong also said that Wang Chong spread rumors that you could see through my thoughts, so I chose not to listen to Wang Chong. I've thought a lot about what you said before, reminiscing about our friendship, and I've always hoped for your return, which is why I wrote you this letter." After receiving Zhuge Liang's letter, Meng Da contacted Zhuge Liang multiple times, expressing his intention to defect from Wei. The Wei kingdom sent Sima Yi to subdue Meng Da, and ultimately, Meng Da was killed. Zhuge Liang deemed Meng Da unreliable, so he chose not to rescue him. Later, Jiang Wan came to power, and Zhuge Liang was appointed as the Grand Counselor, eventually passing away at home. Wang Chong was from Guanghan, served as a gatekeeper, and worked under Li Yan in Jiangzhou. Because Li Yan disliked him, Wang Chong feared punishment and surrendered to the Wei kingdom. The Wei kingdom appointed Wang Chong as the Prefect of Leling. Everyone says that Huo Jun held the lonely city and kept it from falling; Wang Lian, with a firm stance, did not waver at all; Xiang Lang, this young guy, is super eager to learn and never stops studying; Zhang Yi reacts quickly and can adapt to situations; Yang Hong is truly loyal and dedicated to the public good; Fei Shi speaks straightforwardly, saying whatever comes to mind. These folks are definitely worth remembering.
Think about it, people like Liu Bei, who possess broad-mindedness, and are as organized as Zhuge Liang, are frequently criticized for their speech, let alone those younger generations who are of average ability? It is noted that Huo Jun's solitary city stands firm, Wang Lian's steadfast integrity remains unshaken, Xiang Lang is eager to learn tirelessly, Zhang Yi is quick-witted and responsive, Yang Hong is loyal and devoted, Fei Shi speaks candidly and with conviction; each of them has merits worth noting. Considering Liu Bei's broad-mindedness, Zhuge Liang's precision, and the directness of poetry, there's still room for growth, especially for those mediocre successors!
