Cheng Yu, courtesy name Zhongde, was from Dong'e. He was tall and strong, standing over eight feet tall, and had a handsome beard. During the Yellow Turban Rebellion, County Magistrate Wang Du started the rebellion by burning down the warehouses. The county magistrate panicked and jumped the wall, while the common people fled east with their elderly and children towards Qushan. Cheng Yu sent scouts to check on Wang Du's situation and found that they had taken an empty city that they couldn't hold, so they fell back and camped about five or six miles west of the city. Cheng Yu gathered the wealthy landowners in the county, including Xue Fang, and said, "Wang Du and his men have seized the city but can't defend it. Their intentions are clear—they want to plunder wealth and have no plans for a long-term defense. Why don't we all go back to the city to defend it together? The city walls are high and thick, and there is plenty of food. If we go back to persuade the county magistrate to defend together, Wang Du won't last long, and we can defeat them." Xue Fang and the others thought Cheng Yu made sense. However, the common people refused to return, insisting, "The bandits are in the west; we only see danger in the east!" Cheng Yu told Xue Fang and the others, "These foolish commoners just can't be reasoned with." So Cheng Yu quietly dispatched a few riders to raise a flag on the eastern hill. When Xue Fang and the others saw it, they yelled, "The bandits are coming!" and quickly ran down the mountain towards the city, with the common people following in fear. They found the county magistrate and together defended the city. When Wang Du and his men assaulted the city, they couldn't breach the defenses and decided to retreat. Cheng Yu led the common people to open the city gates, fiercely attacking them, and Wang Du and his men were defeated and fled. Thus, Dong'e City was saved.
In the Chuping years, the Inspector of Yanzhou, Liu Dai, invited Cheng Yu to take up a position, but Cheng Yu declined. At that time, Liu Dai had a good relationship with both Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan. Yuan Shao entrusted his wife and children to Liu Dai, and Gongsun Zan sent his aide Fan Fang to help Liu Dai with troops. Later, Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan fell out, and Gongsun Zan defeated Yuan Shao's army. He sent a messenger to inform Liu Dai to send Yuan Shao's family back and completely cut ties with Yuan Shao. He specifically warned Fan Fang: "If Liu Dai does not send away Yuan Shao's family, you should withdraw your troops. After I defeat Yuan Shao, I will go attack Liu Dai." Liu Dai was indecisive for several days, and the Chamberlain Wang Yu advised Liu Dai, "Cheng Yu is very strategic and can make crucial decisions." Liu Dai then summoned Cheng Yu and asked him what he should do. Cheng Yu said: "You are abandoning Yuan Shao's immediate assistance and seeking Gongsun Zan's distant help, which is like sending someone from Yue to save a child who is drowning right in front of you. Gongsun Zan is no match for Yuan Shao. Although he has defeated Yuan Shao's army now, he will ultimately be defeated by Yuan Shao. If you focus solely on immediate gains without considering the long-term, you will ultimately fail." Liu Dai accepted his advice. Fan Fang returned with his troops, but before they could arrive, Gongsun Zan was defeated by Yuan Shao. Liu Dai recommended Cheng Yu for the position of Cavalry Commandant in a memorial, but Cheng Yu declined, claiming he was unwell.
Liu Dai was killed by the Yellow Turban Army. Cao Cao arrived in Yan Province and summoned Cheng Yu. As Cheng Yu was about to set off, people from his hometown approached him and asked, "What caused such a big shift in your attitude?" Cheng Yu smiled and did not answer. Cao Cao spoke with Cheng Yu and was impressed by him, so he appointed him as the magistrate of Shouzhang County. Later, Cao Cao went to campaign against Xu Province, leaving Cheng Yu and Xun Yu to guard Juancheng. Zhang Miao and others betrayed and joined Lu Bu, with many counties joining their cause, only Juancheng, Fan County, and Dong'e stood firm. Soldiers who surrendered to Lu Bu said that Chen Gong wanted to personally lead the attack on Dong'e and sent Fan Yi to attack Fan County, instilling fear among the officials and residents of the cities. Xun Yu said to Cheng Yu, "Now that Yan Province has all rebelled, only our three cities remain. With Chen Gong and his troops approaching, if we don't take steps to reassure the people, these three cities won't be able to hold out for long. You are the people's hope; go back and persuade them—it should work!"
Cheng Yu returned, passing through Fan County, and persuaded the county magistrate Jin Yun, saying, "I heard that Lu Bu captured your mother and your brother's wife. How can a son not be heartbroken? The world is in chaos, and heroes are emerging; there will definitely be someone who can pacify the chaos. Wise people should think this through. Follow the winner to prosper, follow the loser to be doomed. Chen Gong betrayed us and joined Lu Bu, prompting many cities to respond. It seems like they have abilities, but if you take a closer look, what kind of person Lu Bu really is? Lu Bu is rough, has no friends, is hot-tempered and rude—just a brute with courage. Chen Gong and the others only united out of necessity. They are not reliable at all. Even though they have a large army, they are bound to fail in the end. Cao Cao's talent and strategy are exceptional, almost like a gift from heaven! You need to hold Fan County, and I’ll take care of Dong'e. Together, we can achieve glory like Tian Dan. Do you want to betray your loyalty, side with the bad guys, and let your family suffer? Think it over carefully!" Jin Yun cried and said, "I dare not have second thoughts anymore."
By that time, Fan Yi had already reached Fan County. Jin Yun sought out Fan Yi and had soldiers ambush him, then returned to rally the troops for defense. Cheng Yu also sent people to cut off the Cangting Ferry. When Chen Gong arrived, he found himself unable to cross the river. Cheng Yu went to Dong'e, where the county magistrate Zao Zhi had already motivated officials and people to resolutely resist. Xue Ti, an official from Yanzhou, also collaborated with Cheng Yu on countermeasures, successfully defending three cities while waiting for Cao Cao's return. Upon Cao Cao's return, he grasped Cheng Yu's hand and said, "If it weren't for your efforts, I wouldn't have a place to come back to." So he recommended Cheng Yu for the position of magistrate of Dongping, stationed in Fan County.
Cao Cao and Lu Bu were fighting in Puyang, but they had faced several setbacks. Suddenly, a locust disaster struck, and both sides withdrew their troops. At this time, Yuan Shao sent someone to talk to Cao Cao about forming an alliance and hoped that Cao Cao would relocate his family to Ye City. Cao Cao had just lost control of Yanzhou, his army was running low on supplies, and he was contemplating accepting Yuan Shao's proposal. Just then, Guo Jia returned and was summoned to see Cao Cao. Guo Jia asked Cao Cao, "I heard you want to relocate your family and form an alliance with Yuan Shao. Is that true?" Cao Cao said, "Yes." Guo Jia said, "Are you feeling pressured by the urgency of the situation? Otherwise, why would you consider this so carelessly? Yuan Shao occupies the land of Yan and Zhao; he wants to unify the country, but his strategies are lacking. Do you really think you're inferior to him? Can you not assist a wise leader like Han Xin or Peng Yue to achieve greatness? Although Yanzhou has lost many places, there are still three cities under your control and at least ten thousand soldiers at your disposal. With your bravery and martial prowess, along with strategists like Xun Yu and myself, winning the hearts of the people and making good use of existing resources, achieving hegemony is still very much within reach! I hope, General, that you'll reconsider!" After hearing Guo Jia's words, Cao Cao ultimately dismissed the idea of forming an alliance with Yuan Shao.
The emperor approved and appointed Cheng Yu as the Minister of Personnel. However, Yanzhou was not yet stable, so the emperor also appointed him as the Eastern General, concurrently serving as the Governor of Jiyin, responsible for all affairs in Yanzhou. Liu Bei lost Xu Province and sought refuge with Cao Cao. Cheng Yu advised Cao Cao to kill Liu Bei, but Cao Cao did not listen. This event is noted in the "Records of Wu." Later, Cao Cao sent Liu Bei to attack Yuan Shu in Xu Province. Cheng Yu and Guo Jia advised Cao Cao together, saying, "You did not eliminate Liu Bei a few days ago, and we indeed did not consider it carefully. Now that you are lending troops to him, he will definitely have ulterior motives." Cao Cao regretted it, but it was too late. Fortunately, Yuan Shu died of illness, Liu Bei arrived in Xu Province, killed Che Zhou, and rebelled against Cao Cao. Not long after, Cheng Yu was promoted to General Who Inspires Fear.
Yuan Shao was in Liyang, preparing to cross the river southward. At that time, Cheng Yu only had seven hundred soldiers guarding Juancheng. When Cao Cao heard about it, he sent someone to tell Cheng Yu, wanting to send him an additional two thousand soldiers. Cheng Yu refused, saying, "Yuan Shao has amassed a hundred thousand troops and believes himself invincible. Now that he sees my forces are few, he will surely underestimate us and won't attack. If you send more troops to me, Yuan Shao will have to attack, and if he attacks, he will definitely win. This would only result in both sides suffering. I hope you do not doubt my judgment!" Cao Cao listened to his words. When Yuan Shao heard that Cheng Yu had few soldiers, he indeed did not come to attack. Cao Cao said to Jia Xu, "Cheng Yu's bravery surpasses that of the legendary strongmen Ben and Yu." Cheng Yu recruited outlaws from the hills and valleys, gathered a few thousand elite troops, and then joined forces with Cao Cao in Liyang to confront Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang. Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang were soundly defeated and forced to flee, and Cheng Yu was promoted to General Who Inspires Valor and made Marquis of Anguo Pavilion.
Cao Cao launched a campaign against Jingzhou, and Liu Bei fled to the Kingdom of Wu. Everyone believed Sun Quan would certainly kill Liu Bei, but Cheng Yu analyzed and said, "Sun Quan has just come into power and has not yet made everyone fear him. Cao Cao is unmatched in the realm, currently attacking Jingzhou and instilling fear in the Jiangdong region. Although Sun Quan has strategies, he alone cannot resist. Liu Bei has a good reputation; Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are capable of facing tens of thousands. Sun Quan will definitely use them to resist Cao Cao. This situation is difficult to resolve. Liu Bei will grow stronger as a result, and Sun Quan cannot kill him." Sun Quan indeed gave Liu Bei many soldiers to resist Cao Cao. Afterwards, the Central Plains gradually returned to stability, and Cao Cao patted Cheng Yu on the shoulder and said, "When we lost in Yanzhou, I didn't listen to your advice. How could I have come to this point today?" Clan members held a banquet to celebrate, and Cheng Yu said, "Contentment prevents disgrace. I can retire." So he submitted a request to resign from his military authority and withdrew from public life.
Cheng Yu had a strong-willed personality and often clashed with others. Someone accused Yu of plotting rebellion, but the Emperor favored him even more, giving him more rewards. After the Wei Kingdom was established, Yu was appointed as the Guard Officer, but he vied for power with the Central Officer Xing Zhen, trying to outdo each other in grandeur, and as a result, he was dismissed. After Emperor Wen succeeded to the throne, Yu was reinstated as the Guard Officer and was appointed as the Marquis of Anxiang, with an additional three hundred households added to his fiefdom, bringing his total to eight hundred households. He also conferred his title to his son Yan and grandson Xiao, thus making them Marquises as well. The court was planning to elevate him to a Duke, but he unexpectedly passed away. The Emperor shed tears over his passing and posthumously conferred upon him the title of General of Chariots and Cavalry, with the posthumous title of Marquis Su. His son Wu inherited his title. After Wu's death, his son Ke inherited the title. After Ke's death, his son Liang inherited the title.
This Yu, who has a terrible temper, always butts heads with others. Someone accused him of rebellion, but instead, his father-in-law, Emperor Taizu, treated him even better, showering him with even more rewards. After the founding of the Wei Dynasty, he became the Guard Commander, but ended up clashing with the Central Commander, Xing Zhen, which led to his dismissal. After Emperor Wen took the throne, he was reinstated as Guard Commander and was granted the title of Marquis of Anxiang, with three hundred more households added to his fief, bringing the total to eight hundred. He also passed his title to his son Yan and grandson Xiao, allowing them to also become marquises. Just as he was about to be made a Duke, he passed away. The Emperor cried and posthumously named him General of Chariots and Cavalry, with the posthumous title of Marquis Su. Wu passed away, and his son Ke took over; then Ke passed away, and his son Liang inherited.
Good morning. Once upon a time, during the Jia Ping era, there was a person named Xiao who served as the Chamberlain of the Yellow Gate. At that time, the supervising officials were excessively arrogant and overbearing. Xiao wrote to the emperor, saying: "The Book of Rites states: 'Establishing official positions and assigning duties is for the better service of the people.' The Spring and Autumn Annals says: 'Just as there are ten suns in the sky, there are also ten ranks among people.' I hold a humble position and am unqualified to oversee those high-ranking officials. Therefore, the wise emperors of the past sought out talented individuals, set examples for them, and assessed officials based on their achievements every nine years. Everyone should focus on their own duties, not overstep their bounds. Just like Luan Shu, who wanted to save the Marquis of Jin, his son did not listen; when a dead person was lying in the street, Bing Ji also did not care. Superiors do not assess merits that are not within their responsibilities; subordinates do not seek extra rewards; officials do not hold multiple powers; and the people do not labor for multiple matters at the same time. This is the key to governing the country, as well as the key to the rise and fall of the nation. From ancient classics to the Qin and Han dynasties, although the names and specific responsibilities of official positions were different, they all emphasized clear ranks and restraint of subordinates, with the same purpose. Initially, there was no official position of supervision to intervene in other political affairs! In the beginning, when the Martial Emperor just established the dynasty, the officials were not fully equipped, the army was very hardworking, and the people were not at peace, so some minor issues had to be carefully investigated. Hence, the establishment of supervision, responsible for handling all matters, but supervision must be done in an orderly manner, not indulgently. This was a temporary measure in troubled times, not a regular system of governance by the emperor. Later, the power of supervision grew, and due to various diseases, the transfer of power became chaotic, and no one corrected it. As a result, the supervisory officials were allowed to oversee the palaces and intervene in various departments' affairs; official positions lacked clear boundaries, and responsibilities were poorly defined. They did whatever they wanted, purely based on personal preferences. They wrote their own laws, ignoring formal decrees; they decided on the outcomes of cases without review. They selected subordinates, mistaking cautious people for careless ones, and flattering individuals for talents. In handling political affairs, they viewed cruelty and tyranny as justice and strictness, and following rules as cowardice. Externally, they used the emperor's authority to strengthen their own influence; internally, they befriended a group of villains as their confidants. The ministers were reluctant to compete for power and profit with them, only able to endure silently; the common people feared their power, only able to silently endure, not daring to speak out. As a result, Yin Mogong blatantly committed wrongdoing, with his crimes well known to all passersby, yet they ignored even minor faults that had accumulated over many years. This not only contradicts the original purpose of establishing official positions in the Book of Rites, but also violates the principles of the hierarchical system in the Spring and Autumn Annals. Now the court has officials and generals leading various departments; there are advisors and secretaries handling political affairs, inspectors overseeing the capital, and chief censors overseeing the palaces, all of whom are carefully selected talents and are constrained by clear regulations and systems. If these individuals can diligently fulfill their duties, then the minor supervisory officials are useless. If excellent talents need to be reselected to serve as supervisors, wouldn't that just add another official of the same rank as the chief censor and inspector? If the original method of selection is followed, then the kind of villainous behavior like that of Yin Mogong will happen again. Upon careful consideration, the position of supervisor is entirely unnecessary. In the past, Sang Hongyang amassed wealth for the Han dynasty, and Bu Shi said that only by killing Sang Hongyang would the heavens send rain. If the success or failure of politics really affects the universe, I am afraid that floods and droughts are possibly caused by the supervision. Duke Cao Gong befriended villains and alienated gentlemen; this was ridiculed in historical records. Duke Wei Xian did not listen to the advice of his ministers, only believed the words of villains, which Lady Jiang regarded as his fault. Even if supervision is beneficial to the country, from the perspective of ritual and righteousness, it would hurt the hearts of the ministers, especially now that these villains are exposed yet remain in their positions. It is like not mending a torn hole in clothes, losing direction, and making mistakes over and over again.
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So, the official was dismissed. Xiao was later promoted to Governor of Runan and passed away in his forties.
Guo Jia, whose courtesy name was Fengxiao, hailed from Yuzhou in Henan Province. At first, he went to visit Yuan Shao and said to Yuan Shao's strategists Xin Ping and Guo Tu, "Truly intelligent people can accurately gauge their lord's abilities, enabling them to succeed in their endeavors and naturally gain recognition. Lord Yuan merely wants to emulate Duke Zhou by employing those of lower status, but he fails to grasp the key to effective leadership. He overthinks, lacks focus, and is indecisive, making it too difficult to achieve great ambitions and establish dominance alongside him!" So he left Yuan Shao.
Prior to this, there was a highly strategic individual named Xi Zhicai in Yingchuan, whom Cao Cao greatly valued. Unfortunately, he passed away early. Cao Cao wrote to Xun Yu, "Since Zhicai's death, I have had no one to consult with. There are talented people in Runan and Yingchuan; who can replace him?" Xun Yu recommended Guo Jia as his replacement. Cao Cao summoned Guo Jia and discussed important matters with him. Cao Cao said, "The person who can help me achieve great ambitions must be him!" Guo Jia came out and happily said, "He truly is my enlightened lord!" Then Guo Jia was appointed as the Minister of War.
In the battles against Lu Bu, they fought three times and defeated him, with Lu Bu retreating and not coming out to fight. At that time, the soldiers were exhausted, and while Cao Cao considered withdrawing, Guo Jia urged him to seize the opportunity and launch a fierce attack, which resulted in capturing Lu Bu. This event is documented in Xun You's biography. Sun Tzu's Art of War states: "All warfare is based on deception." In this battle, Guo Jia's strategies were nothing short of brilliant and well-calculated.
Sun Ce marched a thousand miles and occupied the entire Jiangdong region. It is said that Cao Cao and Yuan Shao were facing off at Guandu, and Sun Ce intended to cross the river and attack Xuchang from the north. Everyone was very afraid. Guo Jia analyzed and said, "Sun Ce has just unified Jiangdong, and all those killed were brave heroes who sacrificed themselves for him. But Sun Ce is careless and lacks vigilance. Even with a million troops, he would be no match for even one person in the heart of the Central Plains. If he encounters an assassin's sudden attack, he is just a lone man. In my opinion, he will definitely die at the hands of some unknown soldier." Before Sun Ce had even crossed the Yangtze River, he was killed by Xu Gong's gatekeeper.
After defeating Yuan Shao, Cao Cao set out to confront Yuan Shao's two sons, Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang, and won several battles in Liyang. The generals under him thought they should take advantage of the victory and quickly defeat Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang. However, Guo Jia said, "Yuan Shao was particularly fond of these two sons, and they definitely cannot get along well. Yuan Shao also has advisers like Guo Tu and Feng Ji who love to play tricks and give them advice. These two brothers are bound to have internal strife and mutual suspicion. If we push too hard, they will temporarily unite; if we slow down the attack, they will fight each other. We should first move south to confront Liu Biao in Jingzhou. Let them fight each other first, and then we can deal with them, thus taking control of Jizhou in one fell swoop!" Cao Cao thought Guo Jia's plan made sense and led his troops south. When the army reached Xiping, Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang actually began fighting over control of Jizhou. Yuan Tan was defeated by Yuan Shang and fled to Pingyuan, where he sent Xin Pi to offer his surrender to Cao Cao. Cao Cao returned with reinforcements, eventually capturing Ye City, then went to Nanpi to attack Yuan Tan, completely pacifying Jizhou. Cao Cao also conferred the title of Marquis of Weiyang Pavilion upon Guo Jia.
Next, Cao Cao prepared to attack Yuan Shang and the Wuhuan tribes. Many of his subordinates were worried that Liu Bei might be sent by Liu Biao to launch a surprise attack on Xuchang to deal with Cao Cao. At this time, Guo Jia analyzed and said, "Although Your Excellency has a great reputation, the Wuhuan tribes are far away and are unlikely to be on guard. We can take advantage of their unpreparedness and launch a surprise attack and defeat them. Besides, Yuan Shao treats the local populace and the Wuhuan tribes relatively well, and Yuan Shang and his brother are still alive. The people of the four provinces in Jizhou submitted to you solely out of fear, and you have not had the chance to show them kindness. If you march south, Yuan Shang will use the power of the Wuhuan tribes to recruit those who are loyal to Yuan Shao. Once the Wuhuan tribes move, the people will also respond, giving Tadun the chance to be emboldened and entertain treacherous ideas. By then, Qingzhou and Jizhou may not be ours. As for Liu Biao, he's merely someone who talks a good game about military strategy. He knows his own limitations and cannot control Liu Bei. If you trust Liu Bei too much, you might not be able to control him; if you trust him too little, he won't give his all. So, even if Liu Biao bluffs and comes from a distance to attack, Your Excellency does not need to worry." After hearing this, Cao Cao set out according to the plan. Upon reaching Yixian, Guo Jia said again, "Speed is the most crucial factor in warfare. We are now rushing a thousand miles with so much baggage, making it difficult to move, and if the enemy finds out, they will surely be prepared. It is better to leave the baggage behind, travel lightly, take the back roads, and catch them off guard." Cao Cao then secretly set out from Lulong Pass and headed straight for the court of the Chanyu. Upon hearing that Cao Cao was approaching, the Wuhuan people quickly assembled their troops to meet him in battle. As a result, Cao Cao defeated them, killing Tadun and many Wuhuan nobles. Yuan Shang and his brother Yuan Xi escaped to Liaodong.
Guo Jia was a particularly cunning individual, and he could manage affairs adeptly. Cao Cao praised him, saying, "Only Fengxiao can truly understand my thoughts." When he returned from Liucheng at the age of thirty-eight, he fell seriously ill, and visitors came in droves to see him. After Guo Jia passed away, Cao Cao personally went to offer condolences, expressing profound sorrow and saying to Xun You and others, "You are all older than me; only Fengxiao was the youngest. If the world is pacified, I wanted to entrust future matters to him. Unfortunately, he passed away in his prime; such is fate!" Cao Cao then proclaimed, saying, "Military Strategist Guo Jia has been with me for eleven years. Every time there was a major event or a need to adapt on the battlefield, he could help me with strategies. Before I even settled on an idea, Guo Jia had already thought of a plan. His contributions to unifying the realm were unparalleled. Unfortunately, he passed away young before he could fulfill his potential. Remembering his contributions is truly unforgettable. I will bestow upon him an additional 800 households of land, making a total of 1,000 households." He was posthumously named Zhenhou, and his son Guo Yi inherited his title.
Later, when Cao Cao returned from the campaign in Jingzhou, he fell ill with a plague in Baqiu and was forced to burn his ships in order to escape. He sighed, saying, "If Guo Fengxiao were here, I wouldn't have ended up in this situation." At first, Chen Qun frequently took issue with Guo Jia in court, but Guo Jia remained unfazed. Cao Cao grew to value Guo Jia more and more, but he also appreciated Chen Qun for sticking to his principles. Guo Jia's son Guo Yi later became the Prince's Scholar but also died young. His son Guo Shen inherited his title. Guo Shen also died, and his son Guo Lie inherited the title.
Dong Zhao, courtesy name Gongren, was from the county of Dingtao in Jiyin commandery. He was recommended for office through his filial piety and served as the prefect of Yingtao and the magistrate of Bairen. Later, Yuan Shao appointed him as a military strategist. In the battle at Jieqiao between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan, the commandant of Julu, Li Shao, and the local officials in the commandery all wanted to surrender to Gongsun Zan because of his formidable military strength. Upon hearing this, Yuan Shao sent Dong Zhao to take up the post of commandant in Julu. Yuan Shao asked Dong Zhao, "How do you plan to control the situation?" Dong Zhao replied, "The strength of a single person is limited and cannot resolve the rebellious intentions of many. To make them submit, one must first find common ground with them, gain their trust, understand their true thoughts, and then take measures to control them. Specific strategies should be determined by the circumstances at hand, which are still unclear." At that time in Julu commandery, dozens of local elites, including Sun Kang, fancied themselves as strategists, creating panic among the populace. Upon arriving in the commandery, Dong Zhao fabricated a decree purportedly from Yuan Shao, announcing to the entire commandery that he had secured confessions from the bandits Luo Hou and Zhang Ji of Anping, who planned to attack Julu, and that the local powerful figures such as Sun Kang were their collaborators. He ordered for them to be dealt with according to military law, holding only the individuals accountable, ensuring their families would not be implicated. Holding the forged order, Dong Zhao executed Sun Kang and the other conspirators. The residents of the commandery were filled with fear, but Dong Zhao reassured them individually, gradually stabilizing the situation. Once the task was complete, Dong Zhao reported to Yuan Shao, who was deeply impressed by him.
Later, the Prefect of Wei Commandery, Li Pan, was killed by bandits. Yuan Shao then appointed Dong Zhao to take over as the Prefect of Wei Commandery. At that time, there was chaos in Wei Commandery, with more than ten thousand bandits conducting trade and transactions. Dong Zhao treated them well and secretly used them as informants, then seized the opportunity to launch attacks, repeatedly achieving significant victories. Within two days, Yuan Shao sent messengers three times with reports of victory. Dong Zhao's brother, Dong Fang, was serving in Zhang Miao's army. Zhang Miao and Yuan Shao had conflicts, and Yuan Shao, believing slander, wanted to punish Dong Zhao. Dong Zhao planned to go to see Emperor Xian of Han, but was detained by Zhang Yang in Henei. Dong Zhao seized the opportunity to return the seal to Zhang Yang and was appointed as Captain of Cavalry. At that time, Cao Cao was serving as the Governor of Yanzhou and sent a messenger to Zhang Yang, hoping to pass through the west to Chang'an, but Zhang Yang did not agree. Dong Zhao advised Zhang Yang, saying, "Although Yuan Shao and Cao Cao appear to be allies, their alliance will not last long. Although Cao Cao's power may be weak now, he is actually a hero of the world, and we should befriend him. Moreover, we have the opportunity now to report Cao Cao's situation to the court and recommend him; if successful, we can establish a strong friendship." Zhang Yang then reported Cao Cao's situation to the court and recommended him. Dong Zhao also wrote a letter for Cao Cao to the various generals in Chang'an, expressing Cao Cao's goodwill. Zhang Yang also sent a messenger to see Cao Cao. Cao Cao presented Zhang Yang with numerous gifts, and thus established contact with the generals in the west. Emperor Xian of Han was in Anyi, and on his way from Henei, Dong Zhao was appointed as a Counselor.
In 196 AD, Cao Cao defeated the Yellow Turban Army in Xuchang and then sent envoys to the Hedong region to manage affairs. At this time, Emperor Xian of Han was about to return to Luoyang. The relationships among Han Xian, Yang Feng, Dong Cheng, and others were strained and contentious. Cao Cao felt that Yang Feng had the most troops, but there were few people supporting him. So he wrote a letter to Yang Feng, stating, "General, you and I have long been aware of each other's reputations and hold mutual admiration. I have long wished to befriend you. Now, General, you have overcome many difficulties and escorted the emperor back to Luoyang. This is a remarkable achievement in assisting the emperor, rare both in ancient and modern times. It's truly remarkable! Now the world is in chaos; there are villains everywhere, and the country has not yet stabilized. The throne is of utmost importance; it is essential that someone assists the emperor effectively. This requires the collaboration of many talented individuals to govern effectively; it cannot be accomplished by one person alone. Just like the human body, the limbs and heart must rely on one another. If one is missing, it simply cannot function. General, you should wield significant power in the court, and I will assist you from the outside. I have provisions at hand, and you command troops. If we support one another, we can face challenges together and stand united through thick and thin."
Upon receiving Cao Cao's letter, Yang Feng was elated. He said to the other generals, "The Yanzhou army is stationed near Xuchang, equipped with troops and provisions; our nation should count on them!" Consequently, everyone jointly memorialized the court, recommending Cao Cao for the position of General Who Guards the East, inheriting his father's title of Marquis of Feiting. The officials under Cao Cao responsible for transmitting imperial edicts were also promoted as a result.
Lao Zhu (Zhu Yuanzhang) met with the emperor in Luoyang, sitting with Liu Ji, and asked him, "Now that I'm here, what's the next step?" Liu Ji said, "General, you have raised an uprising, suppressed rebellion, and assisted the emperor. This is a remarkable achievement, akin to the Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn period! Your subordinates all have their own agendas and might not follow your lead. It's not really appropriate for you to stay here helping the emperor right now. It would be best to bring the emperor to Xuchang. The court has just recovered from the chaos of war and returned to the old capital of Luoyang. The common people are hoping for stability. If you move the capital again, it will make everyone uneasy. But remember, extraordinary results require extraordinary measures.
Lao Zhu said, "That is also what I have been thinking. Yang Feng is currently near Liang County, and I've heard his troops are top-notch. Could he be a problem for me?" Liu Ji said, "Yang Feng's influence is weak, with few supporters, and he can be easily swayed. The incidents in Zhendong and Feiting were both resolved by Yang Feng, and I heard he even received an official appointment from the court, proving his loyalty. We should quickly send envoys with some generous gifts to win him over. Tell him, 'The capital lacks food, and we want the emperor to temporarily stay in Luyang. Luyang is close to Xuchang, making transportation easier, so there will be no concerns about food shortage.' Yang Feng is brave but not very perceptive; he won't suspect a thing. While the envoys are going back and forth, we can figure out our next move. How could Yang Feng ever be a problem for you?" Lao Zhu said, "Good!" and immediately sent envoys to meet with Yang Feng. Then he brought the emperor over to Xuchang.
Yang Feng was quite disheartened, so he and Han Xian joined forces to riot and loot in Dingling. Lao Zhu paid them no mind and secretly mobilized his troops to assault Yang Feng's camp in Liang County, defeating them swiftly. Yang Feng surrendered, and the situation was settled. Yang Feng and Han Xian lost their forces and retreated to Yuan Shu. During this time, Liu Ji was appointed as the Governor of Henan. Zhang Yang was slain by his general, Yang Chou, and Zhang Yang's Chief Clerk, Xue Hong, and the Prefect of Henan, Miao Shang, defended the city while waiting for Cao Cao to come to their aid. Lao Zhu instructed Liu Ji to enter the city alone and persuade Xue Hong, Miao Shang, and the others to surrender, and he succeeded that very day. Afterwards, Liu Ji was appointed as the Governor of Jizhou. Cao Cao dispatched Liu Bei to confront Yuan Shu and told Xun Yu: "This Liu Bei is both brave and ambitious, with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei as his right-hand men. What kind of person he truly is, is hard to say!" Cao Cao said: "I've already made him a promise." Upon Liu Bei's arrival in Xiapi, he killed Che Zhou, the Inspector of Xu Province, and then declared his rebellion. Cao Cao personally led his troops to campaign against Liu Bei and appointed Xun Yu as the Governor of Xu Province.
Yuan Shao sent the general Yan Liang to attack Dong County. Cao Cao then transferred Xun Yu to serve as the governor of Wei County and tasked him with joining the campaign against Yan Liang. After Yan Liang's death, Cao Cao laid siege to Ye City. Yuan Shao's relative Yuan Chunqing was the governor of Wei County at that time and was in Ye City, while his father Yuan Yuanchang was in Yangzhou. Cao Cao sent someone to fetch him. Xun Yu wrote a letter to Yuan Chunqing, saying: "It is said that filial individuals do not forsake their parents for profit, righteous individuals do not forget their lord for personal gain, those with ambition do not take part in rebellion out of mere chance, and wise individuals do not resort to tricks to save themselves. You are a minister of Yuan Shao. You went to the Baiyue region in the south to avoid the internal strife, not out of estrangement from your family, but rather because you were drawn to the environment there. Smart individuals should be able to understand, and perhaps this is understandable. Cao Cao admires your loyalty and integrity, and as a sign of goodwill, he has sent someone to Jiangdong to escort your father. He is expected to arrive soon."
Even if you are now in a remote place, attached to a virtuous and righteous monarch, as stable as Mount Tai, as upright as a tall pine tree, from a moral standpoint, you should abandon Yuan Shao, ally with Cao Cao, forsake the common people, and serve your father! Moreover, Duke Yi of Zhu allied with Duke Yin of Lu, and the people of Lu praised him, but historical records do not mention what title he was given, indicating that a title cannot be conferred without the sovereign’s reward; this illustrates the principle found in the "Spring and Autumn Annals." Furthermore, you are now bound to a collapsing state, obeying a false command? If you join hands with those unrighteous people, but ignore your own father, how can this be seen as filial piety? Forgetting the court where your ancestors were, accepting improper official positions, how can this be considered loyalty? If you cannot be loyal and filial, how can you claim to be wise? Also, you have received favor and summons from Cao Cao before, but now you are turning away from your kin and siding with others, accepting improper salaries, betraying your confidants, moving away from blessings, getting closer to danger, giving up honorable actions, and bringing upon yourself great shame—doesn’t that seem regrettable? If you can repent, serve the emperor, support your father, and join Cao Cao, then loyalty and filial piety can be balanced, and your reputation will be illustrious. You should reflect deeply and make the right choice sooner rather than later.
After the city of Ye was captured, Cao Cao recommended Xun Yu, appointing him as the Grand Adviser. Later, Yuan Shang joined the Wuhuan tribe led by Tadun, and Cao Cao prepared to campaign against them. Cao Cao was worried about the difficulty of transporting military supplies, so he dug the Pinghu Canal and Quanzhou Canal to facilitate maritime transport, a suggestion made by Xun Yu. Cao Cao also promoted him to Chief Libationer of the Army.
Hou Zhao suggested, "We should follow the example of the ancients and establish a system of five noble ranks." Taizu replied, "Establishing a system of five noble ranks is a task only a sage could undertake, not something that subjects can just establish. How could I achieve that?" Hou Zhao responded, "Throughout history, no subject has assisted the king with such great achievements as you have today. No one with achievements like yours has held a high position for a long time. Now, because you feel your achievements are not perfect enough and are ashamed, and because you dare not take on greater responsibilities to preserve your reputation, your merits have surpassed those of Yi Yin and the Duke of Zhou, which represents the highest moral virtue! However, wise rulers like Taijia and King Cheng are rare. Educating the people is more challenging now than it was during the Yin and Zhou dynasties. As a high-ranking minister, if others doubt your important decisions, it must be considered with care. Although you have great achievements and virtues, and are proficient in laws and spells, without establishing a solid foundation for future generations, it is still insufficient. The foundation relies on land and talent, which should be developed gradually to secure your position. You are loyal, principled, and commanding. You have heeded the counsel of Geng Yan and Zhu Ying. I have greatly benefited from your kindness and cannot afford to speak too frankly." Eventually, Taizu accepted the titles of Duke and King of Wei, both proposed by Hou Zhao.
Guan Yu surrounded Cao Ren in Fancheng. Sun Quan sent a messenger to deliver a message, saying, "We are sending troops to launch a surprise attack on Guan Yu from the west. Jiangling and Gong'an are important cities. If Guan Yu loses these two cities, he will definitely escape by himself, and the siege of Fancheng will naturally be lifted. We request your secrecy, so that Guan Yu will be on guard." The Emperor asked his ministers, and they all agreed to keep it a secret. Later, Zhao said, "Military affairs require flexibility, and the key is timing. We should maintain secrecy on the surface, but actually leak the information in secret. If Guan Yu hears that Sun Quan is attacking and returns to defend himself, the siege will be quickly lifted, and we will benefit. This way, we can keep both sides in check, and we can wait for them to both suffer losses. Keeping it secret and allowing Sun Quan to succeed is not the best approach. Furthermore, the besieged soldiers are unaware of the reinforcements; they worry about food and fear, and if they start having other thoughts, it could lead to trouble. Publicizing the news is more advantageous. Also, Guan Yu is tough and confident in the defense of the two cities, so he will not retreat quickly." The Emperor said, "Good!" He then ordered the reinforcements led by Xu Huang to shoot a specially made message arrow into the siege and Guan Yu's camp. The besieged soldiers heard the news, and their morale surged. As expected, Guan Yu hesitated. Sun Quan's army arrived, captured the cities of Jiangling and Gong'an, and Guan Yu was ultimately defeated.
When Emperor Wen became emperor, he appointed Zhao as the chief architect in charge of palace construction. After Emperor Wen officially ascended the throne, he promoted Zhao to be the Grand Herald and also titled him the Marquis of Youxiang. Two years later, the Emperor granted Zhao a hundred households as a fief, and at the same time, appointed Zhao's brother Fang as the Marquis of Guannei and assigned Zhao to serve as his attendant.
Three years later, General Cao Xiu of the Dong Army was preparing to cross the river at Dongpukou to fight. He reported, "I want to swiftly cross the Yangtze River with my best troops and take advantage of the enemy's resources to achieve victory quickly; if they don’t listen to me, it’s no big deal." Emperor Wen was concerned about Cao Xiu's hasty river crossing and quickly sent someone to stop him. At that time, Zhao was serving by the emperor's side and said, "I see that you look worried, Your Majesty; is it because Cao Xiu wants to cross the river? Crossing the river now seems tough for everyone. Even if Cao Xiu has this idea, he can't do it alone; he’ll definitely need the other generals’ help. Guys like Zang Ba are already rich and have no other ambitions; they just want to live comfortably, enjoy wealth and glory. Why would they risk their lives for a long shot? If they don’t cooperate, Cao Xiu's plan will naturally fail. I’m worried that even if Your Majesty orders him to cross the river, he will hesitate and may not obey the order."
Not long after, a strong wind blew, pushing the enemy's ships near Cao Xiu's camp. So, Cao Xiu scored a big victory, killing many enemies and capturing many, making the enemy troops fall apart. The emperor quickly ordered all the troops to cross the river. However, before the troops could set off, the enemy reinforcements showed up by ship.
The emperor personally went to Wancheng and sent General Xiahou Shang and others to attack Jiangling, but they didn’t manage to take it. At that time, the water level of the Yangtze River was low and the river was narrow. Xiahou Shang thought about taking the infantry and cavalry to a small island in the river to set up camp and build a floating bridge for easy travel across. Many thought this would help them take Jiangling.
Zhao (Xiahou Xuan) wrote in a memorial: "Emperor Wu (Cao Cao) is both wise and brave, but in using troops and fighting battles, he is very cautious and does not dare to be as reckless as he is currently acting. It’s common sense that armies prefer to attack and dislike retreating. Even in fighting on flat ground without dangerous terrain, it is still very difficult, let alone deep into enemy territory. Both the route of advance and the route of retreat should be chosen based on favorable terrain. The army must advance and retreat; it cannot always expect everything to go smoothly. Setting up camp on a small island in the middle of the river is too risky; building a pontoon bridge to cross the river is too dangerous; with only one road for passage, it is too narrow. These three points are major military taboos that are currently being ignored. If the enemy frequently attacks the pontoon bridge, and if a vulnerability arises, the elite troops on the small island in the middle of the river could very well defect from our Wei Kingdom and may surrender to the Wu Kingdom. I am deeply concerned about this, unable to eat or sleep well, while those ministers seem completely relaxed and unconcerned, which is truly baffling! And the water level of the Yangtze River will rise; if it rises suddenly, how will we defend ourselves? Even if we cannot capture Jiangling, we must prioritize our own safety! Why take risks and not feel afraid? The situation is very dangerous, and I urge Your Majesty to consider this matter carefully!"
The emperor understood Xiahou Xuan's words and immediately ordered Xiahou Shang and the others to quickly withdraw their troops. With the enemy attacking from both sides, the officials and soldiers retreated along a single road, struggling to fully escape. Generals Shi Jian and Gao Qian managed to escape with great difficulty. Ten days after the troops withdrew, the Yangtze River's water level surged. The emperor said, "Your analysis of this situation is spot on! Even if Zhang Liao and Chen Wu were to command, could they do better than you?" Five years later, Xiahou Xuan was granted the title of Marquis of Chengdu and appointed as the Grand Minister of Rites. In the same year, he was appointed as the Minister of Household Affairs. He followed the emperor on an expedition to the east, and seven years later returned to court and was appointed as the Grand Minister of Works. After Emperor Ming ascended the throne, Xiahou Xuan was promoted to the Marquis of Leping, with a fief of one thousand households, and promoted to the position of Guard Commander. He was further granted an additional fief of one hundred households and conferred upon his son the title of Marquis of Guanneihou.
In the year 230 AD, I became the Minister of State. Two years later, I was appointed as the Grand Commandant. I wrote a letter to the Emperor, essentially stating some of the bad habits in society at that time: "Throughout the ages, emperors have always valued those who are honest, loyal, and trustworthy, and held contempt for hypocrites and deceitful individuals, because these people will undermine social morals and disturb the order of the state. In the past, Wei Fang was killed during the Jian'an period, and Cao Wei was executed during the Huangchu period. Your Majesty has also issued numerous decrees in the past, detesting the hypocrites and trying to combat evil forces with great determination. However, the law enforcement officials are afraid of their power and dare not expose them, resulting in deteriorating social norms and the increasing desires of the bad people. I've noticed that young people nowadays care less about learning and focus instead on networking; these so-called pillars of society do not prioritize filial piety, brotherly love, and high morals, but put fame and fortune first. They form cliques, pat each other on the back, and gang up on anyone who dares to speak out; those who flatter them receive benefits. They even say to each other: 'Why worry about not being able to get by these days? As long as you avoid hard work and just network; why fear that others don't understand you? Just use sweet words to deceive them.' I have also heard that some people have their servants pretend to be courtiers, enter the palace, deliver letters, and gather information. All of these are illegal acts that carry the death penalty, even worse than the crimes of Wei Fang and Cao Wei."
After hearing my words, the Emperor was very angry and issued a severe decree, dismissing Zhuge Dan, Deng Yang, and others from their positions. I passed away at 81 and was posthumously honored with the title Marquis of Ding, and my son succeeded me in my title. My son later became a county magistrate and served as one of the Nine Ministers.
Liu Ye, also known as Ziyang, was from Chengde in Huainan (pronounced as dē) and was a descendant of Prince Fuling, the son of Emperor Guangwu of Han Liu Xiu. His father was called Liu Pu, and his mother was called Xiu. They had two sons, an elder brother named Liu Huan and a younger brother named Liu Ye. When Liu Huan was nine years old and Liu Ye was seven, their mother became gravely ill. Before she passed away, she told Liu Huan and Liu Ye, "There are flatterers and schemers among your father Liu Pu's attendants. After I die, they will surely cause chaos in the household. When you grow up, if you can remove these people, I will have no regrets."
When Liu Ye was thirteen years old, he said to his brother Liu Huan, "We can finally fulfill our mother's last wish." Liu Huan replied, "How can this be done!" Without another word, Liu Ye went inside and killed the attendant, then went directly to his mother's grave to pay his respects. The household erupted into chaos, and someone reported the incident to Liu Pu. Liu Pu was furious and sent people to capture Liu Ye. When Liu Ye came back, he apologized to his father, saying, "I couldn't go against our mother's last wish and am willing to accept the punishment for acting on my own." Liu Pu was taken aback by Liu Ye's actions but ended up not blaming him.
There was a man in Runan named Xu Shao, who had a knack for reading people. He came to Yangzhou to escape the war chaos, and he commented on Liu Ye, saying that this young man would surely help emperors in the future and had a lot of talent!
In Yangzhou, there was a man named Zheng Bao, along with Zhang Duo and Xu Qian, who were all brash heroes with many followers, each exuding an air of arrogance. Zheng Bao was particularly formidable, a figure greatly feared by the locals. He wanted to lead the common people to join him in Jiangdong, as he heard of the reputation of my brother Ye in the area and wanted to coerce Ye into backing him. During this time, my brother Ye was in his twenties and felt anxious but hadn't found a way out. Coincidentally, Cao Cao sent someone to investigate in Yangzhou, so Ye went to meet the envoy, assessed the situation, and kept the envoy in Yangzhou for several days. Zheng Bao then brought hundreds of people, along with cattle and wine, to pay a visit to the envoy. Ye told the servants to set them up outside and prepare food and drinks; he himself drank with Zheng Bao inside the house. Ye secretly signaled a few strong young men to take down Zheng Bao during the toast. Zheng Bao wasn't much of a drinker and was quite alert, so the ones pouring the drinks didn't dare to make a move. Eventually, Ye drew his sword and killed Zheng Bao, severing his head to show his men, and said, "Cao Cao has commanded that anyone who dares to act recklessly will share Zheng Bao's fate!" Everyone was terrified and quickly ran back to their camp. In Zheng Bao's camp, there were still thousands of elite soldiers. Ye was afraid they would rebel, so he mounted a fine horse, took a few servants, and ran to the entrance of Zheng Bao's camp to talk sense to their leader, appealing to both reason and emotion. The leaders were so scared that they quickly bowed down and opened the gates for Ye to enter. Ye reassured them, and everyone respected him and chose Ye as their leader.
Yan saw that the Han Dynasty was increasingly weak, and he was merely a minor figure. Since he didn't want to lead troops, he handed Zheng Bao's subordinates over to the Governor of Lujiang, Liu Xun. Liu Xun was taken aback and asked why. Yan said, "Zheng Bao has no control over these men. They survive primarily through robbery. I also lack substantial resources. If I suddenly manage them well, they'll surely resent it. In the long run, there will definitely be trouble, so I handed them over to you." At that time, Liu Xun's military strength in the Jianghuai region was formidable. Sun Ce, who held a grudge against Liu Xun, sent numerous gifts along with a letter, saying, "The people of Shangliao always bully us, and we have endured it for many years. But it's difficult to attack them, so we want to ask you to help us fight. Shangliao is very wealthy. Conquering it will make our country strong and prosperous. We will support you from the outside." Liu Xun believed it to be true. After receiving Sun Ce's jewels and some local specialties, he was overjoyed. Everyone congratulated him, except for Yan. Liu Xun asked him why, and Yan said, "Although Shangliao is small, the city is strong, the moat is deep; it's difficult to attack and easy to defend. It's impossible to take it in just a dozen days. This way, our troops will be exhausted outside, and the country will be empty inside. Sun Ce will take advantage of this and attack us from behind, and we won't be able to defend our rear. This puts you in a difficult position, General. If you insist on sending troops, disaster is inevitable!" Liu Xun did not listen to his advice, sent troops to attack Shangliao, and Sun Ce indeed attacked Liu Xun from behind. Liu Xun was defeated and fled to Cao Cao's place. When Zhu Yuanzhang marched into Shou Chun, there was a mountain bandit named Chen Ce in Lujiang, commanding tens of thousands, occupying a strategic location. Previous attempts by lesser generals to eliminate him had failed. Zhu Yuanzhang asked his advisors whether they should launch an attack on Chen Ce. Everyone replied, "The terrain is treacherous, with deep, narrow valleys that are easy to defend but hard to assault." They continued, "Even if we manage to defeat him, the gains would be minimal, and losing the attempt wouldn't be a significant loss."
At this time, Xie An's nephew Xie Ye stood up and said, "Chen Ce and his men are just a group of nobodies, taking advantage of the chaos in the world to hide in dangerous places, making themselves appear formidable, but in fact, they have no true influence and authority. In the past, those young generals led troops to eliminate bandits, with limited forces and the country still not fully pacified, so Chen Ce dared to rely on the dangerous terrain to defend. Now that the world is almost pacified, we should strike first and report later; as long as rewards and punishments are clear, those people are all fearful of death and motivated by greed, and they will definitely surrender. Just like the advice given to Han Xin by Guangwu Jun back then, saying that Han Xin's reputation is enough to deter the enemy, taking the initiative can make neighboring countries submit. Moreover, your illustrious achievements are well-known, conquering the east and the west, your reputation is far-reaching. If you first order them to surrender and then lead the army to advance on the enemy, when the order is announced, the enemy will collapse on their own!"
Zhu Yuanzhang laughed heartily after hearing this and said, "You make a lot of sense!" So he sent elite troops to take the lead, followed by the main army, and as Xie Ye predicted, they quickly captured Chen Ce. After Zhu Yuanzhang triumphantly returned to the court, he promoted Xie Ye to the position of Siku Cangcao Yuan.
When Cao Cao attacked Zhang Lu, he promoted Sima Yi as his chief clerk. After arriving in Hanzhong, the mountain roads were treacherous and difficult to traverse, and the army's food was running out. Cao Cao said, "There's no way we can succeed here. Our army is short of food; we might as well retreat quickly!" After saying this, he personally led the retreat, letting Sima Yi supervise the rear troops to withdraw in order.
Sima Yi felt that Zhang Lu was beatable, but because the food supply was insufficient, even if they retreated, the troops might not be able to safely withdraw. So he quickly sent someone to report to Cao Cao, "We might as well continue the attack!" Cao Cao then ordered to continue the attack, deploying a barrage of crossbow bolts to shoot at Zhang Lu's camp. Zhang Lu was thrown into a panic and scattered, and Hanzhong was swiftly brought under control.
Sima Yi continued, "At the time, you only brought five thousand infantry and dared to attack Dong Zhuo, defeated Yuan Shao in the north, and campaigned against Liu Biao in the south. You occupied over 80% of the more than one hundred counties in the country, shaking the world and earning respect even from overseas. Now that you have taken Hanzhong, the people of Shu are terrified; Shu will be easily within your grasp, and with the momentum of victory, it will soon be captured. Although Liu Bei is talented, he is indecisive in his actions. He has just recently occupied Shu, and the people of Shu have not fully pledged their loyalty. Now that Hanzhong has fallen, the people of Shu are in great fear, and the kingdom is already on the verge of collapse. With your wisdom and military prowess, taking advantage of the chaos in Shu will surely lead to victory. If there is any hesitation, Zhuge Liang will become prime minister due to his talents, and Guan Yu and Zhang Fei will become generals because of their bravery. The people of Shu will settle down, relying on their advantageous terrain, making it difficult for us to conquer. If we do not seize Shu now, it will undoubtedly pose a future threat." However, Cao Cao did not listen to his advice, and the army withdrew.
After returning from Hanzhong, Sima Yi was appointed as the Chief Military Historian and was granted military command. In the first year of the Yankang era, the Shu general Meng Da surrendered to Wei. Meng Da was both dignified and capable; Emperor Cao Pi valued him greatly, appointed him as the Prefect of Xincheng, and also conferred upon him the title of Cavalier In Regular Attendance. However, Sima Yi suspected, "Meng Da surrendered only to protect himself. He is self-assured and skilled in political maneuvering, and will not truly be grateful to Wei. Xincheng is located at the border between Wu and Shu. If Meng Da rebels, it could pose a significant threat to the country." However, Cao Pi did not ultimately heed Sima Yi's advice, and Meng Da ultimately failed in his rebellion.
In the year 220 AD, Cao Cao appointed Chen Qun as an attendant minister and also granted him the title of Marquis of Guannei. Cao Cao asked his ministers whether Liu Bei would attack Eastern Wu in order to avenge Guan Yu. Everyone said, "The Kingdom of Shu is small and weak, with only Guan Yu as a famous general. If Guan Yu dies and their army is defeated, the people of Shu will surely be fearful and unable to mobilize their troops again." Only Chen Qun said, "Although Shu is weak, Liu Bei wants to strengthen himself through military power and will definitely send troops to show his strength. Moreover, the bond between Guan Yu and Liu Bei is akin to that of a father and son; if Guan Yu dies, Liu Bei cannot just sit back and not avenge him." Later, Liu Bei did indeed send troops to attack Eastern Wu. Eastern Wu mustered all its strength to resist and even sent envoys to offer their allegiance. The courtiers all congratulated, but only Chen Qun said, "Eastern Wu has always been south of the Yangtze River and beyond the Han River, with no intention of submission. Your Majesty, although your virtues are like those of Emperor Shun, the nature of those barbarians will not be swayed. They came to offer their allegiance only out of necessity and should not be trusted. They will definitely be in trouble inside and out, which is why they sent envoys. We should take advantage of their weakness and attack and conquer them. If we indulge the enemy for a moment, it will be a disaster for generations to come; we need to be cautious!" Liu Bei's army was defeated and retreated, and Eastern Wu's respect for the Han Dynasty disappeared. Cao Cao wanted to mobilize troops to punish Eastern Wu, but Chen Qun advised him, "Eastern Wu has just achieved victory, with unity from top to bottom, and its terrain is dangerous, relying on the Yangtze River and the lakes; it will be difficult to attack them for the time being." Cao Cao did not listen to him.
Five years later, Cao Cao arrived at Sikou, Guangling, and ordered the armies of Jingzhou and Yangzhou to launch a joint attack on Dongwu. Cao Cao summoned his ministers and asked, "Will Sun Quan come in person?" The ministers all said, "Your Majesty leading the troops in battle, Sun Quan will certainly be intimidated and will undoubtedly mobilize the entire country to resist. Furthermore, he wouldn't dare to entrust such an important army to his subordinates; he will certainly lead the troops himself." Chen Qun remarked, "Sun Quan believes that Your Majesty intends to use a powerful army to constrain him, but the real key to the attack lies with other generals. He will likely station his troops and wait for the right moment, rather than act impulsively." Cao Cao's army stayed in place for several days, and Sun Quan did not come as expected, so Cao Cao had no choice but to retreat. Cao Cao said, "Your strategy is sound. Remember, you must help me eliminate these two bandits, not just understand their intentions."
After Emperor Ming ascended the throne, he was appointed as the Marquis of Dongting, with a fief of three hundred households. The Emperor issued a decree saying, "Honoring ancestors is to emphasize filial piety; tracing one's origins is to educate future generations. Therefore, Shang Tang, King Wen, and King Wu founded the Shang Dynasty and Zhou Dynasty, and in the Book of Songs and the Book of Documents, they honored Houji and Qi, praised the stories of You Xian and Jiang Yuan, to illustrate the origins of great virtue and the reasons behind the rise of the nation. Our Wei Dynasty inherited the mandate of heaven, flourished under Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Taizu, and Emperor Wuzu and Emperor Wenzu were even more illustrious. Regarding the father of Emperor Gaozu, the recluse Jun, he cultivated himself diligently, with humble and virtuous conduct; his actions were upright and honest, this was a blessing from heaven. However, his deeds are recorded vaguely and are difficult to verify, which does not align with the principles of honoring filial piety and tracing origins. Therefore, I urge all officials to deliberate and determine how to posthumously honor him."
Yang Ye said, "The Emperor's filial piety towards his ancestors, wanting to reward them, is indeed very sincere. However, there are norms for closeness and distance, all based on etiquette and regulations, in order to set aside personal feelings to establish just laws as an example for future generations to follow. The reason why the Zhou Dynasty posthumously honored Hou Ji as an ancestor is because he assisted Tang Yao, and his name was recorded in the sacrificial records. As for the early Han Dynasty, the posthumous honors typically extended only to the father's generation. If we refer to the Zhou Dynasty, then the rise of the Great Wei Dynasty began with the founding emperor; if we refer to the Han Dynasty, then the posthumous honors should not extend to the grandfather. This is both a precedent from previous dynasties and a clear principle for today. Your Majesty's filial piety is sincere, but the actions of a monarch should be verifiable, so caution must be taken to follow the rites. I believe that posthumous honors should only be given to the founding emperor."
Shangshu Wei Zhen also agreed with Yang Ye's opinion, and this matter was ultimately handled accordingly. The Governor of Liaodong, Gongsun Yuan, usurped his uncle's position and declared himself king, even sending envoys to present his case. Yang Ye believed that the Gongsun family had been old officials since the Han Dynasty, serving for generations, located in Liaodong, surrounded by mountains and sea, with limited communication. The non-Han tribes were far from the Central Plains, difficult to control, and the Gongsun family's power was growing stronger. If he is not defeated now, he will surely become a threat in the future. If they wait until he has ill intentions and gathers forces, it will be even more difficult to defeat him. It would be better to take advantage of his recent self-declaration, unstable supporters and many enemies, and unexpectedly send troops to quell the rebellion, while offering rewards to recruit soldiers, thereby easily quelling the uprising. Later, Gongsun Yuan did indeed rebel.
Lao Ye kept to himself in court. When asked why, Lao Ye said, "The Wei Dynasty was just established not long ago, the situation is still unstable, wise folks tend to be cautious; everyone has not fully adapted to the new dynasty. I was just a minor relative in the Han Dynasty, but now in the Wei Kingdom, I am a key figure, and having few friends is just fine by me."
In the sixth year of Taihe, he was appointed as Chief Grand Physician due to illness. After some time, he rose to the position of Grand Herald, served for two years, resigned, and returned to his role as Chief Grand Physician, and eventually died. He was posthumously granted the title of Marquis of Jing, and his son Yu inherited his title. Lao Ye had another son named Tao, who was talented but had a questionable character and eventually became the Prefect of Pingyuan.
Jiang Ji, styled Zitong, was a native of Ping'a in the state of Chu. He started as a minor official in the county and eventually rose to the position of provincial aide. In the thirteenth year of Jian'an, Sun Quan led his troops to besiege Hefei. At that time, Cao Cao's army was campaigning in Jingzhou and was struck by a plague, so only General Zhang Xi was sent with a thousand cavalry to Ruyang to call for reinforcements, but he also fell victim to the plague. Jiang Ji secretly informed the regional inspector, claiming to have received a forged letter from Zhang Xi stating that forty thousand soldiers had arrived at Yulou and sent a registrar to welcome Zhang Xi. He dispatched three messengers with the letter to the city of Hefei; one messenger managed to enter the city, while the other two were captured by Sun Quan's forces. Sun Quan took the false information at face value and quickly burned down his camp and fled, thus saving the city of Hefei.
In the second year of his service, Jiang Ji was sent to Qiao County. Cao Cao asked him, "Back then, when Yuan Shao and I confronted each other at Guandu, we moved the people of Yan and Baima to safety. The people were unable to leave, and Yuan Shao's army dared not come to plunder. Now I want to relocate the people of Huainan, what's your opinion?" Jiang Ji replied, "At that time, our forces were weak and the enemy was strong. If we don't relocate, we would definitely fail. Since defeating Yuan Shao, we’ve captured Liucheng in the north, controlled the Jianghan area in the south, and Jingzhou has also surrendered. Our reputation has intimidated the world, and the common people have no other concerns. However, people are generally attached to their hometowns and actually do not want to move. It may cause instability." Cao Cao did not listen to him, and as a result, over a hundred thousand people in the Jianghuai region were frightened away and fled to Sun Quan's territory. Later, when Jiang Ji was sent to Ye City, Cao Cao personally came out to greet him, laughing heartily as he said, "I only meant for them to avoid the bandits, but I ended up scaring them all off!" He then appointed Jiang Ji as the Prefect of Danyang.
After the return of the army from the southern expedition, Cao Cao appointed Wen Hui as the Inspector of Yangzhou and Jiang Ji as his assistant. Cao Cao declared, "Jizi (referring to Wen Hui) is a loyal subject, and Wu should have a master. Now that the master (Wen Hui) has returned to his state, I no longer have to worry." Later, someone falsely accused Jiang Ji of plotting a rebellion and aspiring to be the commander. Upon hearing this, Cao Cao pointed to his earlier order and said to Left General Yu Jin, Pei Xiang Feng Ren, and others, "Could Jiang Ji really do something like that? If this is true, then I must be too foolish! This must be the ignorant common people wanting to rebel and spouting nonsense!" Cao Cao promptly investigated the matter and cleared Jiang Ji's name. Later, Cao Cao appointed Jiang Ji as the Chief Clerk in the Prime Minister's Office of the Western Bureau and ordered, "Emperor Shun appointed Gao Tao, and the unrighteous kept their distance from him; Zang Fou could accurately judge; this depends on having wise subordinate officials."
Guan Yu laid siege to Fancheng and Xiangyang. Since Emperor Xian of Han was in Xuchang, near Guan Yu, Cao Cao wanted to move the capital. Sima Yi and Jiang Ji counseled Cao Cao, saying, "Yue Jin and others were drowned by a flood, not defeated in battle, which does not significantly affect the overall situation of the country. Liu Bei and Sun Quan seem friendly at first glance, but their relationship is actually strained. If Guan Yu gains power, Sun Quan will certainly oppose him. We can secretly support Sun Quan and promise to cede the Jiangnan region to him, so that the siege of Fancheng can be lifted." Cao Cao listened to their advice, and upon hearing this, Sun Quan led his troops west to attack Gong'an and Jiangling. Ultimately, Guan Yu was captured.
After Emperor Wen took the throne, he appointed Wang Ling as Grand Historian. Later, when Emperor Wen became emperor, he sent Wang Ling to serve as the General of the Eastern Central Army. Wang Ling requested to remain at court, but the emperor decreed, "The founding emperor, Liu Bang, once sang 'How can valiant men guard the four corners!' The world is not yet stable, and we need capable ministers to guard the borders. When the world is peaceful, you can come back and enjoy wealth and glory." Wang Ling submitted a strategy, which the emperor admired, so Wang Ling was appointed as a Cavalier In Regular Attendance.
At that time, the emperor issued a decree to the Southern Expedition General Xiahou Shang, saying, "You are my trusted minister, and I need to entrust you with important tasks. Your kindness should inspire loyalty strong enough for people to die for you, and your benevolence should evoke gratitude. However, remember not to be arrogant and ruthless, and do not kill innocents indiscriminately." Xiahou Shang presented this decree to Wang Ling. After meeting the emperor, the emperor asked Wang Ling, "What is your view on the state of the world?" Wang Ling replied, "I see no positives, only signs of a nation in decline." The emperor grew angry and asked for the reasons. Wang Ling provided a detailed explanation and concluded with, "'Acting tyrannically' is a clear warning in the books; 'The Son of Heaven does not jest' is highly valued by the ancients. I hope Your Majesty will consider it carefully!" The emperor calmed down after hearing Wang Ling's counsel and ordered the previous decree to be revoked.
In the third year of the Huangchu era, Wang Ling and Cao Ren together attacked Wu. Wang Ling led his troops to launch a surprise attack at Xianxi, while Cao Ren wanted to attack Ruxukou. Wang Ling said, "The enemy has taken the west bank and positioned their boats upstream. If our army enters Ruxukou, it would be like walking into hell—a road to destruction!" Cao Ren ignored his warning and suffered defeat. After Cao Ren's death, Wang Ling was once again appointed as the East Central General and took over his troops. The emperor decreed, "You possess both literary and military talents, have great ambitions, an open mind, and have always had the ambition to surpass rivers and merge with Wu. Therefore, I appoint you as a leader again." Soon after, Wang Ling was summoned to be a Chancellor.
When the emperor visited Guangling, Wang Ling reported that the waterway was impassable and advised the emperor by submitting a memorial on the situation in the three states. The emperor did not accept his advice, which left thousands of warships stranded. Some suggested leaving the troops to farm on the spot, but Wang Ling argued that the area was near lakes and bordered by the Huai River to the north, making it susceptible to enemy attacks if the water level rose, so it was not suitable for farming there. The emperor followed his advice, and the emperor's carriage set off immediately. When they returned to Jinghu, the water level had dropped, and the emperor entrusted the remaining boats to Wang Ling for handling. These boats were originally meant to sail for hundreds of miles. Wang Ling took a different approach, digging four or five new waterways to gather the boats, constructing earthen dams to block the lake water, and then gradually guiding the remaining boats into the Huai River. Once the emperor returned to Luoyang, he said to Wang Ling, "There are a few things you should be aware of. I had originally decided to burn half of the boats in Shanyang Pool, but you managed to transport the boats there and arrived at Qiao County alongside me. Every suggestion you've made has been spot on. In the future, we need to carefully consider and discuss our plans to attack the enemy."
After Emperor Ming became the emperor, he granted him the title of Marquis of Guannei. Grand Marshal Cao Xiu marched his troops to Wan City, and Ji Jiu submitted a memorial stating, "Venturing deep into enemy territory, facing Sun Quan's elite troops, with Zhu Ran and others upstream, taking advantage of Cao Xiu's exposed rear to attack, I fail to see any advantage in this!" Upon the army's arrival at Wan City, Wu dispatched troops to Anlu. Ji Jiu submitted another memorial stating, "Now the enemy is brazenly appearing in the west; they are likely planning to concentrate their forces for an attack on the east. We must urgently command all forces to come to our aid!" Consequently, Cao Xiu's army was defeated, abandoning their helmets, armor, weapons, and supplies as they retreated. Wu aimed to block Jiashi, but when reinforcements arrived, the imperial army managed to avoid total annihilation. Later, Ji Jiu was elevated to the position of Central Protector-General.
At that time, the power of the Imperial Secretariat and the Chancellors was very great. Ji also submitted a memorial saying: "If the power of the ministers is too great, the country will be in danger. If those close to the emperor are too familiar, the emperor himself will be deceived. This is what the ancients warned us about long ago! In the past, those ministers handled government affairs, and inside and outside the court they incited discord. Your Majesty, you handle government affairs alone, in an orderly manner, and everyone is very respectful. The ministers are not disloyal, but when power is in their hands, people will not respect the emperor; this is the nature of power. Since Your Majesty has already seen the situation of the ministers, I hope you will not forget those around you. Those around you are loyal, upright, and possess foresight and wisdom. They might even outperform the ministers, but they are good at flattery and may do better than the ministers. Now when people outside speak, they always say what the Imperial Secretariat said; even if the Imperial Secretariat is cautious and does not dare to interact with the outside world, with this title, they will still confuse the world. Moreover, they actually hold important power, are in front of Your Majesty every day, and if Your Majesty grows weary and makes compromises on certain matters, the ministers will realize they can sway outcomes and act accordingly. Once this trend emerges, they will build their own power base within, privately contact their own people, and gather support for themselves. As a result, evaluations of people will be affected, merits and rewards will change, honest individuals will be marginalized, and flatterers will prosper. They start from the details and gradually grow stronger. If the emperor trusts them, he will not suspect or notice. These are matters a wise ruler should heed early on. By examining surface appearances, the truth of the matter will naturally become apparent. Perhaps courtiers are afraid to speak out of turn and incur the resentment of those around them, so they dare not submit memorials. I speculate privately that Your Majesty will focus on deep thought and widely solicit opinions. If things are not handled reasonably enough and measures are not thorough enough, you will surely change strategies, emulate the wise monarchs of ancient times, and not be limited to current habits! However, a ruler cannot handle everything personally; there must be others to share the burden. If a single individual oversees all three departments, without the loyalty of a Duke of Zhou or the fairness of a Guan Zhong, it could lead to the abuse of power and jeopardize the state. Although there are not many pillars of the country now, those who can govern a state well, who can perform their duties faithfully and wholeheartedly, can be simultaneously driven, and this will prevent the Holy Court from being monopolized.
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Emperor Ming proclaimed, "Honest ministers who dare to speak up are the pillars of a ruler! Talented in both literature and military affairs, and diligent in their responsibilities, whenever major national matters arise, he always has suggestions; loyal and dedicated; I truly admire him!" As a result, Ji was promoted to General of the Guard and appointed as a Cavalier Attendant.
In the early years of the Jing dynasty, there was military conscription and palace construction. There were widespread complaints, worsened by poor harvests and a lack of food. Ji, the King of Jinan, wrote to the emperor, saying, "Your Majesty should inherit and carry forward the great achievements of your ancestors, and not be complacent! Although we now have the territory of twelve provinces, the total population is smaller than that of a single major commandery in the Han Dynasty. Two rebels have not been eliminated, and troops are stationed on the border. The people are resentful, being forced to farm while also fighting. The ancestral temples and palaces require restoration, with too few farmers and too many idle hands. The priority now should be to ease the burdens on the people and avoid overburdening them. If the people are overtaxed and face natural disasters, even a million-strong army will be of no use. In short, the people need time to farm and should not be hindered during the planting season. A ruler aspiring to great achievements must first consider the people's capacity to endure and allow them to recuperate. Consider Goujian, who endured hardships, and King Zhao, who showed compassion for his people; only then were they able to overcome the strong and avenge their enemies. These two enemies must be dealt with, as it is a responsibility passed down through generations. Your Majesty is both wise and martial; you should focus on defeating the rebels rather than getting caught up in trivial matters. Indulging in pleasure will drain your energy; excessive mental consumption will lead to exhaustion, and excessive physical fatigue will lead to collapse. Your Majesty should streamline the ranks, select capable individuals, and bolster the army. Redundant personnel and ineffective officials should be dismissed to ensure efficiency." The emperor issued a decree saying, "If it weren't for your reminder, I wouldn't have known about these situations!"
The memorial from the Jinan King was compellingly argued, analyzing the current predicament, proposing solutions, drawing on historical examples to bolster his arguments, and even reminding the emperor to take care of his health and avoid overexertion. After listening, the emperor also realized the seriousness of the problem and was awakened.
After Qi Wang ascended the throne, he appointed Ji to the position of leading military general, promoted him to Changling Tinghou, and later promoted him to Grand Commandant. Initially, the attendant Gao Tanglong discussed the sacrificial rites to the heavens, claiming that the Wei Kingdom was a descendant of Emperor Shun and should offer sacrifices to him. Ji argued that Emperor Shun's original surname was Gui, and his descendants were named Tian, not the ancestors of the Cao clan, so he penned a rebuttal to Gao Tanglong.
At that time, Cao Shuang was wielding power, and Ding Mi, Deng Yang, and others arbitrarily changed laws and regulations. Coincidentally, a solar eclipse occurred, and the court issued a decree for officials to discuss the reasons behind it and the implications. Ji submitted a memorial stating, "In the past, Emperor Shun assisted in governing the world, carefully learning from the failures of Xia Jie and Shang Zhou; Duke Zhou assisted in governance, carefully selecting his colleagues; Duke Huan of Qi consulted divination for disaster, and Yan Ying replied that he should show kindness to the people; the ruler of Lu State consulted divination for strange omens, and Zang Sun replied that he should reduce taxes and labor. The celestial anomalies are, in fact, the result of human failings. Now, these two rogues, Cao Shuang and Sima Yi, remain unpunished, and the soldiers have been in battle for decades, with complaints from men, women, and children, and the people are impoverished. Only exceptional individuals can create effective systems that endure through the ages. How can we allow mediocre officials to make arbitrary changes? This approach does nothing to benefit the governance of the country, and will only increase the burden on the people. I hope the court will let civil and military officials perform their duties, with integrity and transparency as guiding principles, so that prosperity will naturally follow."
Later, Ji followed the Grand Tutor Sima Xuanwang and stationed his troops at the floating bridge over the Luo River, took part in the execution of Cao Shuang and others, and was granted the title of Marquis of Duxiang, with a fief of seven hundred households. Ji wrote a memorial saying, "I have received the court's favor and held important positions, while Cao Shuang dared to harbor treacherous intentions; this is my failing. The Grand Tutor took decisive measures, Your Majesty recognized his loyalty, and the criminals were executed; this is a blessing for the nation. Rewards and titles should be given to those who have merit. Regarding merit, I was not aware of their conspiracy beforehand; regarding military matters, I am not a military leader, yet I accepted the rewards, which may encourage subordinates to imitate me and undermine the tradition of humility." Ji firmly declined, but the court did not allow it. Ji passed away that same year and was posthumously honored with the title of Jinghou. His son Xiu inherited the title. After Xiu's death, his son Kai inherited the title. During the Xianxi era, the court implemented a five-tier title system, and because Ji had made notable contributions in earlier dynasties, his grandson Kai was granted the title of Xiacaizi.
Liu Fang, whose courtesy name was Ziqi, hailed from Zhuo Commandery and was a descendant of Liu Hong, the Prince of Xixiang from Guangyang during the Han Dynasty. He served as a local official in the commandery and was later recommended for his filial piety and integrity. During the turmoil in the country, Liu Song, the Prince of Yuyang, seized his territory, so Liu Fang sought refuge with him.
After Cao Cao captured Ji Province, Liu Fang advised Liu Song, saying, "When Dong Zhuo rebelled in the past, heroes and champions rose up one after another, each commanding their own troops and seeking power for themselves. Only Cao Cao alone managed to restore order, support the emperor, and carry out imperial orders to punish the guilty. He was unstoppable in his campaigns. Look at how powerful Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu were, yet both faced crushing defeats in Huainan and at Guandu. Cao Cao seized the opportunity and is on the verge of pacifying the north. His prestige and authority are firmly established, and the tide is turning in his favor. Surrendering early will yield rewards, while those who delay will meet their doom. Now is the moment to act decisively! Previously, Jing Bu abandoned his prestigious position in the south and joined the Han Dynasty because he understood the cycles of fortune and misfortune and knew how to make the right choice. General, you should surrender to Cao Cao and establish a good relationship with him." Liu Song listened to his words.
Just as Cao Cao was engaged in a campaign against Yuan Tan in Nanpi, he sent a letter to persuade Liu Song to surrender. Liu Song then surrendered to Cao Cao with the counties of Yongnu, Quanzhou, and Anci. Liu Fang crafted a beautifully eloquent reply to Cao Cao on behalf of Liu Song. Cao Cao was impressed by his literary skill and heard about his role in persuading Liu Song to surrender, so he summoned him to take up an official post. During the tenth year of Jian'an, Liu Fang and Liu Song went to Cao Cao's court together. Cao Cao was delighted and remarked to Liu Fang, "In the past, Ban Biao allied himself with Dou Rong and achieved significant accomplishments in Hexi. Your circumstances with Liu Song are strikingly similar!" He appointed Liu Fang to assist in military affairs, eventually making him the Minister of War, and later he served as the Chief Clerk and Recorder, before being appointed as the county magistrate of Heyang and Dingshi in his later years.
When the Wei Dynasty was first established, he served as a secretary together with Sun Zi from Taiyuan. Previously, Sun Zi had also served as a county official and was involved in the military affairs of the Chancellor. After Emperor Wen ascended the throne, both he and Sun Zi were promoted and became ministers of the left and right, respectively. Several months later, he was reassigned to a local area as a county official. During the Huangchu era, the Secretariat was renamed the Chancellery, and he was granted the position of supervisor, while Sun Zi became a magistrate. Both of them were also given the official title of 'geshi zhong'. He was further granted the title of Marquis of Guanneihou, while Sun Zi was granted the title of Marquis of Guanzhonghou, and from that point on, they both held responsibility for confidential matters. Three years later, he was promoted to the Marquis of Weishoutinghou, while Sun Zi was granted the title of Marquis of Guanneihou.
After Emperor Ming succeeded to the throne, the Emperor favored and trusted them even further, and also granted them the title of 'sanqi changshi'. He was promoted to the Marquis of Xixianghou, while Sun Zi was promoted to the Marquis of Leyangtinghou. As the Taihe era drew to a close, General Zhou He of the Wu Dynasty sailed to Liaodong to conspire with Gongsun Yuan. The Emperor wanted to launch an attack, but most courtiers thought it was not feasible. Only Sun Zi supported the idea of military action, and ultimately achieved a resounding victory, leading to his promotion to the Marquis of Zuoxianghou. He was skilled in drafting documents and proclamations; many of the edicts and proclamations issued by the three generations of Wei emperors were drafted by him.
At the start of the Qinglong period, Sun Quan and Zhuge Liang joined forces to launch an attack on the Wei kingdom. The border guards received a letter from Sun Quan, who completely rewrote the letter, adding phrases that suited the circumstances. Along with General Man Chong, they feigned that Sun Quan intended to surrender to Wei and took the modified letter to show Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang then passed the letter to Wu generals like Bu Zhi, who subsequently showed it to Sun Quan. Sun Quan, fearing that Zhuge Liang might suspect him, quickly offered an explanation. That year, he and Sun Zi were both appointed as Attendants and Grand Masters of Light. In the second year of Jingchu, Liaodong was pacified. Due to their contributions in strategy, they were both ennobled, and their original counties were elevated to marquisates. He was granted the title of Marquis of Fangcheng, and Sun Zi was granted the title of Marquis of Zhongdu.
That year, the emperor fell gravely ill and wished for Prince Yu of Yan to become the Grand General, also appointing generals such as Xiahou Xian, Cao Shuang, Cao Zhao, and Qin Lang to assist in governance. Prince Yu, being humble and cautious, refused the offer. The emperor summoned eunuchs Zhang Fang and Jia Chong to his bedroom and asked why Prince Yu was unwilling. They explained that Prince Yu felt he could not bear the heavy responsibility. The emperor asked if Cao Shuang could replace Prince Yu, to which Zhang Fang and Jia Chong assented. They also suggested that the emperor quickly summon Prime Minister Sima Yi to stabilize the imperial court. The emperor accepted their advice and immediately wrote a decree on yellow paper and handed it to Zhang Fang.
Zhang Fang and Jia Chong had just left when the emperor changed his mind again, ordering the summoning of Sima Yi to be stopped. After a while, the emperor called Zhang Fang and Jia Chong back, saying, "I originally wanted to summon Sima Yi, but Cao Zhao and the others stopped me, nearly derailing my plans!" So, a new edict was written. The emperor only summoned Cao Shuang, had Zhang Fang and Jia Chong receive the edict together, and then dismissed the official positions of Prince Yan, Xiahou Xian, Cao Zhao, and Qin Lang. Grand Commandant Sima Yi also arrived and received the edict at the emperor's bedside, and then the emperor passed away.
After the Prince of Qi ascended the throne, because Zhang Fang and Jia Chong had provided crucial support at a critical moment, they were each granted an additional three hundred households of land. Zhang Fang, who already had eight hundred households, now had a total of eleven hundred households, while Jia Chong had one thousand households. Zhang Fang's son was appointed as a Marquis of a Commandery, another son as a Cavalry Officer, and the rest of his sons became Gentlemen of the Household. In the first year of the Zhengshi era, Zhang Fang was promoted to Left Grand Master of Ceremonies, and Jia Chong to Right Grand Master of Ceremonies, each receiving a gold seal and purple ribbon, equivalent to the Three Excellencies. In the sixth year, Zhang Fang was promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Jia Chong to General of the Guards, while their other positions remained unchanged. In the seventh year, a son of each Zhang Fang and Jia Chong was respectively appointed as a Marquis of a Commandery. When they grew older, they retired from their official posts, but on holidays and the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month, they could still meet the emperor as Marquises, holding the title of Special Merit. After Cao Shuang was executed, Jia Chong was appointed as Palace Attendant and Chief of the Imperial Secretariat. In the second year of Jiaping, Zhang Fang passed away, posthumously honored as the Respectful Marquis, with his son Zhang Zheng succeeding to the title. Jia Chong also retired and returned home, but was later reassigned as General of Chariots and Cavalry, then as Palace Attendant, with his title of Special Merit remaining unchanged. Three years later, Jia Chong passed away, posthumously honored as the Loyal Marquis, with his son Jia Hong succeeding to the title.
Zhang Fang's talent and strategy are greater than Jia Chong's, but his personal moral character is inferior to that of Jia Chong. Both Zhang Fang and Jia Chong are good at pleasing the emperor and never openly express their opinions. They suppressed Xin Pi and backed Wang Si, which led to public criticism. However, they also heed the advice of their courtiers, advocate for justice, and privately suggest improvements to the emperor, instead of merely flattering. During the Xianxi era, the court established five ranks of nobility, given their contributions in the previous dynasty, their titles were changed to Zhengfang Chengzi and Lishi Zi respectively.
People say that the intelligence and strategy of Cheng Yu, Guo Jia, Dong Zhao, Liu Ye, and Jiang Ji are rare talents in the world! Although they may not be as good in moral character as Xun You, in terms of planning and anticipating events, they are all on par.
Liu Fang is quite talented in literature; Sun Zi is hardworking and meticulous in his duties. These two handled propaganda for Cao Cao, and Cao Cao held them in high regard at that time. However, their conduct is not particularly upright, so the criticisms they face are often exaggerated.
