Liu Fu, whose courtesy name was Yuanying, was from the State of Pei. To avoid the chaos of war, he moved to Yangzhou. In the early Jian'an period, he persuaded the generals Qi Ji and Qin Yi under Yuan Shu to lead their troops to join Cao Cao. Cao Cao was very pleased and appointed him as an advisor in his court. Later, Sun Ce's appointed Lujiang Prefect Li Shu killed the Inspector of Yangzhou Yan Xiang, and the people of Lujiang, such as Mei Gan, Lei Xu, and Chen Lan, gathered tens of thousands to cause trouble in the areas around the Yangtze River and Huai River, resulting in widespread destruction across various counties. Cao Cao was preoccupied with dealing with Yuan Shao and felt that Liu Fu could be in charge of the affairs in the southeast region, so he recommended him to be the Inspector of Yangzhou.
After receiving the appointment, Liu Fu alone rode to the desolate city of Hefei and established the administrative center. People like Nan Huixu all submitted to him and came forward to provide resources. Within a few years, his benevolent governance was widely implemented, and the people liked his rule, with tens of thousands fleeing from across the river seeking refuge. He gathered local scholars, established schools, actively cultivated farmland, and built irrigation projects such as Shaobei, Qiebei, Qimen, and Wutang to irrigate rice fields, resulting in savings for both the government and the people. He also raised the city walls, stockpiled substantial quantities of timber and stone, wove millions of straw mats, and stored thousands of measures of fish oil to prepare for war.
In the thirteenth year of Jian'an, Liu Fu died. Sun Quan led a hundred thousand troops to besiege Hefei for over a hundred days, as relentless rain caused the city walls to nearly collapse. They covered the walls with straw mats, lit oil at night to illuminate the outside of the city, observed the enemy's movements, and prepared their defenses. As a result, the enemy forces were defeated and retreated. The people of Yangzhou held him in even greater remembrance, believing that even Dong Anyu guarding Jinyang could not compare to Liu Fu. The irrigation projects he established continue to operate effectively to this day.
Fu Zijing, promoted from the Chamberlain of the Yellow Gate to Governor of Lujiang, the emperor proclaimed: "Your father previously served as the governor of this region, and now you are also serving as the governor of this county. It can be said that you are following in your father's footsteps and living up to the expectations of the people!" Later, he was transferred to be the Governor of Henei, and then promoted to the position of Minister, granted the title of Marquis of Guanneihou, and later appointed as the Intendant of Henan.
The Palace Attendant, Yan Qu, wrote to him: "You have served as a court official, taking on important roles in the capital. Your strategies for governing the people have produced impressive results. The high walls and deep courtyards in your jurisdiction have effectively deterred theft; the crops have produced abundant harvests, free from threats of floods and fires; agricultural tools are well-stocked, ensuring timely farming; mulberry trees and wheat are shielded from the rain; officials are punctual in their duties and do not delay; widows, widowers, and orphans have all been provided relief. You are not only attentive to detail, but you also uphold justice unwaveringly; officials at all levels faithfully carry out the court's orders, and within a hundred miles, the people live in peace and prosperity. Even during the prosperous times of ancient Zhao, Zhang, and the Three Kingdoms, none may compare to you." Fu Zijing's achievements can be summarized as follows: although his initial measures were small and meticulous, they ultimately benefited the people, earning him a solid reputation.
After his mother passed away, Fuzi Jing resigned from his official post to observe a period of mourning. Later, he took on the roles of Grand Minister of Agriculture and Commandant of the Guards, and was granted the title of Marquis of Guanglutin with a fief of three hundred households. He submitted a memorial to the court, emphasizing the importance of Confucian education, stating, "Learning is the foundation of governing the country and stabilizing society; it is an important teaching of the saints. Since the establishment of the Imperial Academy more than twenty years ago, there have been few achievements, mainly due to the lax selection of scholars, students avoiding service, and the aristocrats feeling ashamed to mingle with commoners, resulting in very few true seekers of knowledge. Although the Imperial Academy exists in name, there are no true scholars; although schools are established, there are no results. Scholars should be strictly selected, choosing those with high moral character to teach at the National University. Following ancient traditions, all descendants of officials above the rank of 2000 stones should start studying at the Imperial Academy from the age of fifteen. Clear standards for rewards and punishments should be established; those who excel in their studies and conduct should be promoted to honor their virtues; those who neglect their studies should be demoted as a warning to others; those who struggle in their studies should receive encouragement; those who disregard their studies in favor of socializing will naturally correct their behavior. Only then can education be promoted, society stabilized, achieving peace throughout the land, and people from afar will come to submit. This is the teaching of the saints and the foundation of governing the country." Later, Fuzi Jing was promoted to General of the Northern Garrison, granted the command baton, and put in charge of all military affairs in Hebei. He believed that "the most important long-term stability lies in strengthening border defenses, distinguishing between the people and the barbarians." He then expanded the border defenses, stationed troops in strategic locations, repaired and expanded the dam of the Liling Canal to irrigate Jizhou from north to south, even organizing the locals to plant rice as early as three in the morning, greatly benefiting the residents along the border. In the sixth year of Jiaping, Fuzi Jing passed away, posthumously appointed as General of the Northern Expedition, enfeoffed as Marquis of Jianguo, and posthumously titled Marquis Jing. His son Fuxi inherited his title.
Sima Lang, style name Boda, was from Wen County, Henan. At the age of nine, someone praised his father's handwriting, to which Sima Lang responded, "To disrespect one's own family is to disrespect oneself." The guests were amazed by his words.
At the age of twelve, Sima Lang took the youth examination. The chief examiner, seeing his tall stature, suspected him of lying about his age and questioned him harshly. Sima Lang replied, "Generations of my family have been tall people. Although I am still young, I did not intentionally appear tall in order to pass the exam early. It is not my ambition to deliberately reduce my age to gain fame." The chief examiner regarded him with newfound respect.
Later, when war broke out in the Guandong region, the former Governor of Jizhou, Li Shao, lived in Yewang, which was near the mountains and had treacherous terrain. He wanted to move to Wen County. Sima Lang advised him, "The close relationship between neighboring regions does not only exist between the states of Yu and Guo. The same applies to Wen County and Yewang! By leaving Yewang for Wen County, you are attempting to escape the impending war. Moreover, you are the hope of the people. If you move before the enemy arrives, the people in the mountains will panic, which will shake the people's resolve, giving the wrongdoers an opportunity. I am very worried about the situation in the county." Li Shao did not heed his advice. Consequently, a riot indeed broke out among the mountain people, and many of them relocated, with some even becoming bandits.
At that time, Dong Zhuo relocated the emperor to Chang'an, while he himself stayed in Luoyang. Sima Lang's father, Sima Fang, was supposed to be transferred to Chang'an as the Imperial Secretary, but due to the widespread chaos, he sent Sima Lang and his family back to their hometown of Wen County. Someone reported that Sima Lang was attempting to escape, so he was arrested and handed over to Dong Zhuo. Dong Zhuo said, "You and my son are the same age, yet you are so different!" Sima Lang replied, "You possess extraordinary virtues, but unfortunately, you have found yourself in a time of great chaos. You should eliminate the wicked and recruit the talented, which truly reflects your humility and desire to establish a prosperous era. Your prestige and accomplishments are growing ever more prominent, but the wars and chaos persist without end. The people in the outskirts are unable to live and work in peace, abandoning their homes and fleeing in all directions; even with checkpoints set up and strict punishments enforced, it cannot be halted. This is why I am concerned. I hope you will reflect on history and give it more thought, so that your name will be remembered in history, perhaps even surpassing Yi Yin and the Duke of Zhou." Dong Zhuo replied, "I see now; you make a compelling argument!"
Lang knew Dong Zhuo was doomed. Afraid of being implicated, he quickly distributed his family property to Dong Zhuo's officials, hoping to curry favor and return to his hometown. After returning to his hometown, he said to the villagers: "Dong Zhuo has rebelled, and everyone in the world hates him. Now is the time for loyal subjects and righteous heroes to rise up and resist! Our county is next to the capital, with Chenggao to the east of Luoyang and the Great River to the north. If the uprising armies from across the country haven't made it here yet, they'll likely stop here. This place is surrounded by enemies, and with constant warfare, we can't stay here. It's better to take advantage of the open roads and move our whole family to Liyang. There are troops stationed in Liyang; my father-in-law, Zhao Weisun, lives there. He is in charge of the military camp and can support us. If there are any changes, we can come back later." The villagers were reluctant to leave their hometown; no one was willing to follow him, except for Zhao Zi from the same county, who took his whole family to Liyang.
Several months later, the various states and counties in the east all took up arms, with hundreds of thousands of troops gathering in Xingyang and Henei. The generals did not trust each other, acted on their own, plundered everywhere, and most of the common people died. After a long time, the Eastern Allied Forces disbanded, and Cao Cao and Lu Bu faced off in Puyang. It was only then that Lang returned to Wen County with his family. That year there was a famine, with starving bodies everywhere, and even the horrific sight of cannibalism. Lang did his best to care for his family and teach his younger brothers, and did not abandon his principles in these chaotic times.
At the age of twenty-two, Emperor Taizu appointed me as a clerk in the Ministry of Works, and later transferred me to become the county magistrate of Chenggao County. Due to illness, I resigned from my position and then became the county magistrate of Tangyang County. During my tenure, I implemented benevolent policies and never resorted to corporal punishment. The people were law-abiding, and no one committed crimes. In the past, some individuals were relocated to the capital to serve, but when the county needed them for shipbuilding, they worried they wouldn't meet the deadline. However, they voluntarily returned to help, which showed their deep respect for me. Later, I was promoted to be the county magistrate of Yuancheng County, and then became the chief scribe in the Chancellor's Office. At that time, I felt that the chaos stemmed from the collapse of the Qin Dynasty's feudal system, which led to the lack of preparation for hunting and training soldiers in the counties and states. Although the feudal system cannot be restored temporarily, I suggested that military forces should be established in the counties to defend against external invasions and deter criminals internally, which I believed was a long-term strategy. I also believed that the well-field system should be restored. In the past, it was difficult to forcibly take away land passed down through generations by the common people, so it was never implemented. Now, after the chaos in the world, the people are displaced and the land is ownerless, becoming public land, creating an ideal opportunity to restore the well-field system. Although my suggestions were not adopted, the establishment of military forces in the counties at least aligned with my original intentions.
Later, I was promoted to Yanzhou Governor, where I achieved remarkable success and received praise from the people. Even in the military camp, I always wore rough clothing, had simple meals, and led my subordinates by frugality. I’ve always had a passion for studying ethical classics, and people like Li Di from my hometown were famous at the time, but I frequently criticized and dismissed them. Eventually, when Li Di and the others failed, people recognized my unique insight. Zhong Yao and Wang Can both wrote articles saying, "Only a sage can bring about peace." However, I believe that even if people like Yi Yin and Yan Hui are not sages, if they can be passed down through generations, a peaceful and prosperous era can still be achieved. In the 22nd year of Jian'an, I campaigned against the state of Wu alongside Xiahou Dun, Zang Ba, and others. Upon our arrival at Juchao, a large-scale epidemic broke out in the army. I personally oversaw the distribution of medicine. Unfortunately, I too fell ill and passed away that year at the age of 47. Before I died, I instructed my family to wear only rough clothing and headscarves, and to bury me in ordinary clothes. The people in the region remembered me fondly. After Emperor Ming took the throne, he posthumously granted my son Yichang the title Marquis of Wuting, along with a fief of one hundred households. My brother Fu also arranged for his son Wang to inherit my title. Following my death, Wang's son Hong inherited the title as well.
Initially, I was reassigned to the state of Zhao alongside Zhao Zi, who later rose to the position of Minister of Ceremonies and was known for his sociability with scholars. Liang Xi, also known as Ziyu, hailed from Zhexian in Chenjun. He began his career as a minor official in the county, overseeing various administrative tasks. Later, when Cao Cao became Minister of Works, he appointed Liang Xi as the Prefect of Zhang County. He then climbed the ranks, serving as Prefect of Chengshi County, Haixi County, and Xiapi County, excelling in each of these roles with outstanding accomplishments.
Later, he returned to the central government and became the Western Cao Ling Historian, and then was promoted. Because Bingzhou had just surrendered, the court appointed him as the governor of Bingzhou with the title of separate department Sima. At that time, the aftermath of the high-ranking officials' rebellion was still unfolding, the Hu people at the border were causing chaos, Zhang Xiong was acting tyrannically, and the common people were fleeing and seeking refuge in the Hu tribes; soldiers and bandits were banding together to commit crimes, inciting each other, and the situation was very chaotic. Upon taking office, Liang Xi implemented a policy of appeasement, politely meeting with local elites and gradually recommending them for positions in his administration. Once these elites were settled, he recruited strong young men to serve as volunteer soldiers; he also took the opportunity of the army's expedition to select some people to serve as elite soldiers. After the officials and soldiers left, he gradually relocated these families to Ye City, moving tens of thousands of people; those who disobeyed orders were dealt with harshly, while those who surrendered numbered in the tens of thousands. As a result, the Xiongnu Chanyu acknowledged his authority, various vassal leaders submitted to him, and the tribal people lived peacefully, paying taxes and serving as regular citizens. With the border stabilized, the people returned to farming, diligently engaging in agriculture and sericulture, and government orders were carried out smoothly. Liang Xi recommended many talents, many of whom gained fame, as noted in the "Biography of Changlin." Cao Cao held him in high regard, granting him the title of Marquis of Guannei and officially appointing him as governor. Local people praised him, saying they had never seen such a good governor in their lives! In the 18th year of Jian'an, Bingzhou came under the jurisdiction of Jizhou, and he was appointed as a Yilang, Deputy Governor of the Western Regions, where he continued to lead his former subordinates. He was also tasked with procuring timber in Shangdang for the construction of palaces in Ye City.
Liang Xi submitted a memorial requesting the establishment of two Colonels of Land Reclamation to lead six hundred soldiers in reclaiming land and planting crops along the roads to solve the issue of expenses for both people and livestock. Later, the Xiongnu Chanyu came to the capital to meet the emperor, and there were no further battles on the northwest border, all thanks to Liang Xi's contributions! After Emperor Wen of Wei ascended the throne, he reestablished Bingzhou and appointed Liang Xi as the governor again, granting him the title of Marquis of Shenmenting with a fief of one hundred households; his governance record was consistently the best in the country. In the second year of the Taihe era, he was summoned back to the capital to serve as the Grand Minister of Agriculture. Liang Xi served as the governor of Bingzhou for over twenty years, but he lived a very simple life, with nothing valuable in his home. Emperor Ming of Wei was surprised to hear this and rewarded him generously. In the fourth year of Taihe, he passed away peacefully, and his son Liang Shi inherited his title.
At first, Wang Si and Xi were both clerks in the Western Bureau. One day, when Wang Si was on duty, he submitted a memorial to Emperor Taizu that missed the mark. Emperor Taizu was furious and ordered the official in charge to be punished severely. At that moment, Wang Si happened to be out, and Xi took his place to face Emperor Taizu. However, before Xi could explain, he was arrested. Upon hearing this, Wang Si hurried back, admitted his mistake, and said he deserved to die.
Emperor Taizu, seeing the situation, admired Xi's silence and appreciated Wang Si's sense of duty, saying, "I didn't expect to have such loyal comrades in my army!" Later, Emperor Taizu promoted both of them to the position of governor, with Wang Si being sent to Yuzhou. Wang Si was indeed a capable official, but he was overly strict and detail-oriented in his work, lacking in overall perspective. He eventually rose to the rank of Nine Ministers of State and was also granted the title of Marquis of the Realm.
Zhang Ji, courtesy name Deyong, was from Gaoling in Fengyi. At the age of sixteen, he held a minor official role at the county level. Later, he was promoted to work in central departments, recommended as a candidate known for filial piety and integrity, but was not appointed. When Cao Cao was the Minister of Works, he wanted Zhang Ji to work for him. Before Zhang Ji could go, he was recommended as a talented individual, appointed as the magistrate of Xinfeng County, and he had the best administrative record in the Sanfu region.
Yuan Shang resisted Cao Cao in Liyang, sending his appointed Prefect of Hedong Guo Yuan, Inspector of Bingzhou Gao Gan, and the Xiongnu Chanyu to attack Pingyang, and sent envoys to coordinate with the generals in Guanzhong. The Colonel of the Retainers, Zhong Yao, sent Zhang Ji to persuade General Ma Teng and others. Zhang Ji presented an analysis of the situation to them, and Ma Teng and the others agreed to his advice. Ma Teng sent his son Ma Chao with over ten thousand soldiers to attack Gao Gan and Guo Yuan together with Zhong Yao, achieving a decisive victory and killing Guo Yuan. Gao Gan and the Xiongnu Chanyu surrendered. Later, Gao Gan mounted another rebellion. Zhang Sheng from Henan gathered over ten thousand followers, conducting raids in the Xiaoshan and Minchi regions, and Wei Gu from Hedong and Zhang Yan from Hongnong rose up in response. Cao Cao appointed Zhang Ji as an official, taking part in Zhong Yao's military campaigns, and sent him westward to confront Ma Teng and other generals. They all led troops to attack Zhang Sheng and his followers together, defeating them. Zhang Yan and Wei Gu were killed, and Gao Gan fled to Jingzhou. Zhang Ji was titled as the Marquis of Wushi.
Cao Cao was preparing to campaign against Jingzhou, while Ma Teng and others occupied different areas in Guanzhong. Cao Cao then sent Zhang Ji to persuade Ma Teng and the others to disarm and return to the court. Although Ma Teng agreed, he hesitated. Zhang Ji, fearing a change of heart, mobilized the counties to speed up food and fodder reserves and sent officials out to welcome him. Ma Teng had no option but to head east. Cao Cao recommended Ma Teng as Colonel and Ma Chao as a general, commanding their armies. Later, Ma Chao rebelled, and Zhang Ji followed Cao Cao to defeat Ma Chao in Huayin, pacifying the western regions of Guanzhong. Zhang Ji was appointed as the Prefect of Jingzhao, resettling refugees, rebuilding county towns, and the people were extremely grateful. After Wei was established, he became a Grand Secretary and later served as the Inspector of Yongzhou. Cao Cao said to Zhang Ji, "Having you back in your home province is as safe as strolling around in fine clothes during the day!" He followed Cao Cao against Zhang Lu, then entered San Pass to suppress the rebellion of the Di tribes, seizing their food supplies for the army. After Zhang Lu surrendered, Zhang Ji suggested that Cao Cao relocate tens of thousands of households from Hanzhong to Chang'an and the Sannong areas. Later, he, together with Cao Hong, defeated Wu Lan at Xiaobian, and with Xiahou Yuan, attacked Song Jian. He also independently attacked Lintao and Didao, pacifying them. At that time, Cao Cao was relocating the people to Hebei, and the people of Longxi, Tianshui, and Nan'an were very afraid, so Zhang Ji allowed the officials and soldiers of these three counties to rest for a while, allowing them to build houses and water mills, which helped stabilize the situation for the people.
Cao Cao was about to attack the defenders of Hanzhong, worried that Liu Bei would attack the Di people in Wudu from the north, thus threatening Guanzhong, so he consulted Zhang Ji. Zhang Ji said, "You could persuade them to retreat north into the valley to evade the enemy. Give generous rewards to those who arrive first so that those in front know there are benefits to be gained, and those behind will definitely follow suit." Cao Cao adopted his plan and personally came to Hanzhong, withdrew the army, sent Zhang Ji to Wudu, and moved over 50,000 members of the Di people to the regions of Fufeng and Tianshui.
At that time, Yan Jun of Wuwei, He Luan of Zhangye, Huang Hua of Jiuquan, and Qu Yan of Xiping all rebelled together, claiming to be self-proclaimed generals who fought amongst themselves. Yan Jun sent his mother and son to Emperor Taizu as hostages, asking for help. Emperor Taizu asked his adviser, who said, "Yan Jun and the others are pretending to be loyal to the court, but in reality, they are arrogant and rebellious. Their plan is set, and their strength is enough. It won't be long before they rebel again. Now that Shu has just been pacified, it's best to let them fight each other first, like Bian Zhuang stabbing the tiger, and wait for them to weaken each other." Emperor Taizu said, "Good!"
A year later, He Luan killed Yan Jun, and Wuwei King Mi killed He Luan. At that time, Liangzhou had yet to be established, and the defense from Sifang to the Western Regions fell under Yongzhou's jurisdiction. After Emperor Wen became emperor, Liangzhou was officially established, and Zou Qi, the Prefect of An Ding, was appointed as governor. Zhang Jin of Zhangye captured the prefect, raised an army to oppose Zou Qi, and Huang Hua and Qu Yan each drove away the original prefects and raised troops in support of Zhang Jin. Zhang Jin increased his forces under the guise of protecting the Qiang, which allowed Su Ze to gain merit and be promoted to Duke of Douxiang.
Later, the Lu Shuihu and others in Liangzhou rebelled again, causing chaos in the Hexi region. The emperor was deeply concerned and said, "Except for Suze, no one can stabilize Liangzhou." He recalled Zou Qi and appointed Suze as his successor. The emperor issued a decree stating, "Previously, Jia Fu requested to attack the bandits in Yancheng. Emperor Guangwu smiled and said, 'Let the Imperial Guard go to attack Yancheng; what else do I have to worry about?' Your strategic acumen surpasses that of most; now is the time to use you. You should act based on the circumstances, no need to ask for instructions on everything." Then he sent the guards Xiahou Ru, General Fei Yao, and others to follow Suze.
When Suze arrived at Jincheng and wanted to cross the river, other generals felt that the forces were limited and the route was perilous, and they could not penetrate deep into enemy territory. Suze said, "Although the road is dangerous, it is not as dangerous as Jingxing. Those Hu are merely a disorganized mob; they have no strategy like Zuoche, and the situation in Wuwei is critical and requires immediate reinforcement." So he crossed the river. Over 7,000 Hu cavalry intercepted our forces at Zhan Yinkou. Suze deliberately leaked false information that the army was going to pass through Zhan Yinkou, and then secretly bypassed to Wuwei. The Hu believed it was a heavenly army and fled in fear, eager to claim rewards. Suze captured Wuwei just before Fei Yao and the others arrived; Xiahou Ru and others had not arrived yet. Suze rewarded his troops and aimed to pursue the Hu while they were still on the run.
Other generals all said, "The soldiers are exhausted, and the enemy is emboldened. It's very difficult to confront them." Su replied, "The army is currently without provisions; we should use the enemy to resupply ourselves. If the enemy sees our army gathered, they will retreat to the deep mountains. If we pursue them, the roads will be treacherous, and we risk starvation. If we withdraw, they will come out to plunder. In this way, our army will be trapped; this is what they mean by 'indulging the enemy for a day brings calamity for generations!'" So Su led the vanguard to Xianmei. Several thousand Hun riders tried to set fire to the camp amid a strong wind, which instilled fear in the soldiers. Su secretly hid three thousand elite troops as an ambush at night and sent the officer Cheng Gongying to lead more than a thousand cavalry to challenge the enemy, ordering them to pretend to retreat. The Huns indeed eagerly pursued, and Su then launched the ambush to cut off their retreat, surrounding them from front and back, resulting in a resounding victory, with over ten thousand enemy troops killed or captured.
The Emperor was very pleased and issued a decree: "You crossed the Yellow River, risked danger, attacked the enemy with a tired army, and achieved victory against the odds; your merits surpass those of Nan Zhong, and your diligence exceeds that of Ji Fu. Your merit lies not only in defeating the Huns but also in permanently stabilizing the Hexi region, relieving me of worries about the western border!" Su was then appointed as Marquis of Xixiang, with an additional two hundred households added to his fief, totaling four hundred households including his previous fief.
The Inspector of Jiuquan, Su Heng, rebelled and, together with the Qiang leader Lindai and the Dingling tribe, attacked the border county with more than ten thousand cavalry. Later, they were defeated by Xiahou Ru, and both Su Heng and Lindai surrendered. Su Heng then submitted a memorial to the court, requesting to repair the left city wall with Xiahou Ru, build defensive works, set up beacon towers and relay stations to defend against the Qiang and Hu tribes. The Western Qiang, frightened, surrendered with over twenty thousand of their number.
Later, Qiu Guang and his associates killed the commandant of Xiping Commandery, and other generals wanted to go and attack them. Zhang Ji said, "Only Qiu Guang and his group have rebelled; not all the people in the commandery necessarily participated. If we directly lead troops over, the officials and the common people, as well as the Qiang and Hu, will all think that the court does not distinguish between right and wrong, and it would be like giving wings to a tiger. Qiu Guang and his group want to use the Qiang and Hu people as helpers, so we should let the Qiang and Hu people attack them first, increase the rewards and recruitment efforts, and reward them for every captured prisoner. This way, we weaken their power externally, dissolve their relationships internally, and surely win without fighting." So he ordered to inform various Qiang tribes, granting amnesty to those misled by Qiu Guang and others; whoever can kill the leader of the bandits and bring their head will be heavily rewarded. As a result, Qiu Guang's subordinates delivered his head, and the rest of the people lived in peace, and life returned to normal.
Zhang Ji served as the governor of Liangzhou for over a decade, achieving remarkable success and gaining a wide reputation. The talented individuals he promoted and relied on, such as Pang Yan from Fufeng, Yang Fu from Tianshui, Hu Zun from Anding, Pang Yu from Jiuquan, Zhang Gong from Dunhuang, Zhou Shenglie, and so on, all eventually rose to prominent positions. In the fourth year of Huangchu, Zhang Ji died. The court issued a decree stating, "In the past, Xun Huanzi made contributions in Zhai territory, and the Marquis of Jin rewarded him with a thousand households; Feng Yi contributed to the Han Dynasty, and Emperor Guangwu enfeoffed his two sons. Liangzhou governor Zhang Ji, who was able to pacify the people, gather the masses, and make the Qiang and Hu submit, can be regarded as a pillar of the state. Unfortunately, he passed away, and I am deeply saddened, granting his son the title of Marquis of Guannei." After Emperor Ming ascended the throne, Zhang Ji was posthumously granted the title of Marquis Su. His son, Zhang Ji, succeeded him in the title.
Zhang Ji was originally a Junior Official of the Central Secretariat, gradually promoted to the Governor of Dongguan Prefecture. During the Jiaping era, his daughter became the Empress, and he was summoned to serve as a Guanglu Daifu, and later promoted to Tejin. His wife Xiang Shi was bestowed the title of Lady of Ancheng. Later, Zhang Ji conspired with Li Feng, the Zhongshu Ling, to rebel and was executed for treason. The details are documented in the biography of Xiahou Xuan.
Wen Hui, styled Man Ji, was from Qixian County in Taiyuan. His father Wen Shu served as the Governor of Zhuo County, but he later passed away. When Wen Hui was fifteen years old, he returned home after his father's funeral to find his family wealthy. Wen Hui said, "The world is in chaos now, how can we focus solely on wealth?" So he distributed the family's wealth to assist relatives and clan members. He was highly respected by the people in the region, comparing him to the ancient virtuous officials Xuandai and Yueshi Fu. He was later recommended as a Filial and Incorruptible Official and held positions such as the Prefect of Linqiu County, Yanling County, Guangchuan County, Pengcheng Xiang, and Lu Xiang, all of which received high praise. He later joined the court as the Chief Scribe to the Prime Minister and was subsequently appointed as the Inspector of Yangzhou. Cao Cao said, "I would really like you to stay by my side, but given the significance of the affairs in Yangzhou, I have to let you go there. As it is said in the classics: 'A reliable supporter! All matters are peaceful!' Shouldn't we appoint Jiang Ji as your assistant?" At that time, Jiang Ji was serving as the Governor of Danyang, so Cao Cao assigned him back to Yangzhou. Cao Cao also told Zhang Liao, Yue Jin, and others, "Wen Hui, the Inspector of Yangzhou, is well-versed in military affairs. Be sure to consult him on any military matters."
In the twenty-fourth year of Jian'an, Sun Quan attacked Hefei. At that time, troops were stationed in various states for defense. Wen Hui said to the Governor of Yanzhou, Pei Qian, "Although there are bandits here, it is not a cause for concern. What we should really worry about is any changes in the south. The Huai River is flooding, and the troops in Zixiao County are not adequately prepared for a long-distance defense. Guan Yu is brave and skilled in battle; he will definitely take advantage of this situation to launch an attack, which could become a major problem." Indeed, the Battle of Fancheng later occurred. The court issued an edict summoning Pei Qian and Lu Gong, the Governor of Yuzhou, along with others, but Pei Qian and the others acted slowly. Wen Hui secretly said to Pei Qian, "This must be an emergency from Xiangyang; they want you to hurry to support. The reason they are not urgently summoning you is to avoid alarming distant troops. Within one or two days, there will definitely be urgent messages urging you to speed up your journey, and Zhang Liao and others will also be summoned soon. Zhang Liao and the others always understand the intentions of the lord; they will arrive after being summoned, and then the responsibility will be on you!" Pei Qian followed his words, abandoned the heavy baggage, changed to light equipment, and quickly set off. Indeed, he soon received the urgent order. Zhang Liao and others were also summoned later, just as Wen Hui had predicted.
After Emperor Cao Pi ascended the throne, he appointed Wen Hui as a Palace Attendant, and later transferred him to be the Prefect of Wei County. Several years later, he was promoted to the Inspector of Liangzhou and concurrently served as the Protector of the Qiang, acting with full authority. He died of illness on his way to Liangzhou at the age of forty-five. The court issued a decree saying, "Wen Hui possessed the steadfast qualities of a pillar, served the late emperor faithfully, and made remarkable contributions. He served us loyally and faithfully, which is why we entrusted him with such significant responsibilities. It is a great pity that he passed away at a young age; we are deeply saddened!" The court granted the title of Marquis of Guannei to Wen Hui's son, Wen Sheng. Unfortunately, Wen Sheng died early, and the title died out. After Wen Hui's death, Meng Jian from Runan succeeded him as the Inspector of Liangzhou. He was very capable and eventually rose to the rank of General of the Eastern Campaign.
Jia Kui, courtesy name Liangdao, was from Xiangling in Hedong. Since childhood, he enjoyed playing pretend and often arranged military formations. His grandfather found it strange and said, "You will definitely become a general leading troops in the future." He even taught him thousands of military strategies by word of mouth. Initially, Jia Kui held a small official position as the magistrate of Jiangyi County. Later, Guo Yuan attacked Hedong, and all the cities along the way surrendered except for Jiangyi, which Jia Kui held out to the bitter end. Guo Yuan couldn't capture it, so he summoned the Chanyu of the Xiongnu and launched a fierce attack together. As the city was on the verge of falling, the elders of Jiangyi begged Guo Yuan to spare Jia Kui's life.
After the fall of Jiangyi, Guo Yuan heard of Jia Kui's reputation and wanted him to be his general, using force to coerce him. However, Jia Kui stood his ground. Guo Yuan's men hauled Jia Kui in an attempt to force him to kowtow, but he rebuked them, saying, "There is no reason for a state official to kowtow to traitors!" Guo Yuan was furious and wanted to execute him. When the officials and citizens of Jiangyi learned Jia Kui was to be executed, they rushed to the city walls and cried out, "We'd rather die together than see our good official killed!" Many people pleaded for Jia Kui, and he was able to save his life. Previously, while passing through Pishi, he had said, "In the struggle for territory, the one who takes it first will prevail." As the city faced imminent danger, Jia Kui knew he could not escape death, so he sent his official seal back to the county and ordered, "Take Pishi at once!"
After Guo Yuan captured Jiangyi, he was gearing up to press onward. Jia Kui was worried that Guo Yuan would occupy Pishi first, so he employed a ruse to mislead Guo Yuan and suspect his advisor Zhu Ao, causing Guo Yuan to stay for seven days. The county accepted Jia Kui's advice, which ultimately helped them avoid disaster.
Speaking of Mr. Jia Kui, he was later selected by the court as an outstanding talent and became the county magistrate of Minchi. At that time, Gao Gan had rebelled, and Zhang Yan was planning to join him. Jia Kui, unaware of Zhang Yan's plan, went to see him. Upon hearing the news of Zhang Yan's rebellion, he wanted to leave but was afraid of being captured. In a moment of quick thinking, he pretended to support Zhang Yan while offering him advice. Zhang Yan believed him. At that time, the county government had temporarily relocated to Licheng, and the city defenses were poorly fortified. Jia Kui asked Zhang Yan for soldiers to repair the city walls. Since the rebels did not conceal their plans from Jia Kui, he arrested them all. He then fortified the city walls to defend against Zhang Yan. Zhang Yan ultimately failed, and Jia Kui seized the opportunity presented by his grandfather's death to resign and return home. Later, Lord Situ summoned him to serve as his aide and appointed him to participate in military affairs under the Inspector of the Imperial Guard.
Later, when Cao Cao campaigned against Ma Chao and arrived in Hongnong, he remarked, "This is a vital chokepoint on the western route!" and appointed Jia Kui as the Prefect of Hongnong. Cao Cao was delighted during their meeting to discuss matters, and he said to those around him, "If all the 2,000 stone officials in the world were like Jia Kui, what could I possibly worry about?" During the war, Jia Kui suspected that the officer responsible for the farming operations was hiding fleeing civilians. The officer, feeling that he was not under the Prefect's jurisdiction, responded disrespectfully. In anger, Jia Kui arrested him, listed his crimes, had his legs broken, and ultimately dismissed him from his position. Nevertheless, Cao Cao continued to hold Jia Kui in high regard and appointed him as the chief scribe in the Prime Minister's office.
Cao Cao set out to confront Liu Bei and first sent Jia Kui to check the terrain in Xie Valley. On the way, they encountered a convoy of dozens of carts carrying prisoners. Given the urgency of the military situation, Jia Kui only killed one serious offender and released the others. Cao Cao was very pleased to hear this and promoted him to the position of counselor, appointing him to share military responsibilities with Xiahou Shang. After Cao Cao's death in Luoyang, Jia Kui took charge of the funeral arrangements. At that time, Marquis Zhang Zhang of Yanling, who was the General of Cavalry, rushed from Chang'an and asked Jia Kui, "Where are the late emperor's imperial seal and insignia?" Jia Kui replied sternly, "The prince is now in Ye City, and the country has an heir. The late emperor's imperial seal and insignia is not a matter you should inquire about!" He then escorted Cao Cao's coffin back to Ye City.
After Emperor Wen of Han ascended the throne, he discovered that Ye County had a large population, but many residents disregarded the law. He appointed Jia Kui as the magistrate of Ye County. Within a month, Jia Kui was promoted to governor of Wei County. Later, when the imperial army went on an expedition, he was appointed to the position of chief scribe in the Prime Minister's Office. Once, Jia Kui found himself implicated due to another's mistake, and Emperor Wen said, "During the Spring and Autumn Period, Shuxiang of the state of Jin was forgiven by later generations for ten generations, not to mention that Jia Kui's merits and virtues are well-known."
The army arrived at Liyang Ferry, where the situation was chaotic. Jia Kui immediately executed several instigators on the spot, restoring order. When they reached Qiao County, Emperor Wen appointed Jia Kui as the Governor of Yuzhou. At that time, the country had only recently returned to peace, and many states and counties were in chaos. Jia Kui believed, "The Governor of a state was originally appointed by the Imperial Censorate, responsible for supervising all counties, using six edicts to inspect all officials from the rank of 2000 stones and below. Therefore, the criteria for selecting state governors emphasize that they must be strict and formidable, but they are never advised to be gentle, kind, or approachable. Now, many local officials violate the laws, and bandits are rampant. The state governors turn a blind eye to these issues and fail to take corrective action. How can the country be stable?" At that time, the military department used the seal of the former Governor, and a few months after Jia Kui took office, he arrested this military department official, investigated all officials below the rank of 2000 stones for misconduct, submitted detailed reports to the court, and dismissed them. Emperor Wen remarked with satisfaction, "Jia Kui is indeed a qualified Governor!" Therefore, Emperor Wen ordered the country to announce that the governance of Yuzhou should serve as a model, and also conferred the title of Marquis of Guannei upon Jia Kui.
Yuzhou borders the state of Wu to the south. Jia Kui increased vigilance, repaired weapons, and made preparations for defense and combat, so the bandits of Wu dared not invade. Jia Kui strengthened military infrastructure on one hand and governed the people on the other. He built Yanling Embankment, Runan Embankment, and Xiaoyiyang Embankment, and dredged more than two hundred li of canals, which later became known as the Jiahou Canal. During the Huangchu period, Jia Kui and other generals together attacked Wu, defeating Lv Fan in the Battle of Dongpu, was granted the title of Marquis of Yangliting, and was further appointed as the General of Establishing Might. After the accession of Emperor Ming, Jia Kui was granted an additional two hundred households of land, adding up to a total of four hundred households. At that time, Sun Quan was at Dongguan, just south of Yuzhou, over four hundred li from the Yangtze River. Whenever Sun Quan launched his raids, he typically came from Jiangxia or Lujiang. The court's expeditions against Sun Quan also followed the route of the Huai River and Mian River. At that time, the Yuzhou military was stationed in Xiang County, and the counties of Runan and Yiyang were just defending their own territories. Sun Quan did not have to worry about the north, and there were urgent situations on both the east and west flanks. He could quickly mobilize troops for support, so he rarely suffered defeats. Jia Kui believed that a road leading directly to the Yangtze River should be opened. This way, if Sun Quan remained entrenched, then the forces of Wu would not be able to support each other from east and west; if the east and west sides did not receive support, then Dongguan would be easily captured. Therefore, Jia Kui relocated the army to Liaokou, formulated a plan to capture Dongguan, and Emperor Ming highly praised his strategy. According to reports, Wu generals Zhang Ying and Wang Chong surrendered to Wei with their troops. In the second year of Taihe, Emperor Ming of Wei sent Jia Kui to lead the front general Man Chong, the Prefect of Dongguan Hu Zhi, and four large armies to advance directly on Dongguan from Xiyang. Cao Xiu set out from Wandi, and Sima Yi marched from Jiangling. When Jia Kui arrived at Wujiangs Mountain, Cao Xiu reported that the enemy was seeking to surrender and wished to infiltrate the enemy camp to respond. The Emperor ordered Sima Yi to halt his advance, and Jia Kui joined forces with Cao Xiu to attack together.
Jia Kui analyzed that the enemy definitely did not expect us to attack from Dongguan; they would have concentrated their troops in Wandi. If Cao Xiu were to push deep into the enemy camp and engage them, he would certainly be defeated. So, Jia Kui deployed various generals, advancing by land and sea, marched two hundred miles, captured some prisoners, and the prisoners reported that Cao Xiu had already been defeated. Sun Quan sent troops to cut off the Jia Shi passage. The generals were confused, with some wanting to wait for the rear army to act in unison. Jia Kui said, "Cao Xiu's army was defeated on the front line, the road was cut off on the inside line, and we are unable to advance or retreat. This is a critical moment of life and death, and time is running out. The reason the enemy is bold enough to do this is that they think our army has no follow-up support, which is why they have come this far. Now we advance quickly, catching them off guard; this is what we call 'seizing the initiative and catching them off guard.' The enemy will surely flee at the sight of our army. If we wait for the rear army, the enemy will have occupied the dangerous terrain, and even if we have more troops, what's the use?" So, Jia Kui adopted a strategy of advancing on multiple routes, deploying more flags and drums to confuse the enemy. When the enemy saw Jia Kui's forces, they indeed retreated. Jia Kui occupied the Jia Shi passage, sending troops and supplies to support Cao Xiu, and Cao Xiu's army was able to recover.
In fact, Jia Kui and Cao Xiu had a strained relationship. During the Huangchu period, Emperor Wen of Wei wanted Jia Kui to serve as a military inspector, but Cao Xiu remarked, "Jia Kui is upright and often looks down on other generals; he shouldn't be appointed as a military inspector." Emperor Wen of Wei then abandoned this idea. Without Jia Kui, Cao Xiu's army would have been nearly annihilated.
Later, Jia Kui fell seriously ill and said to those around him, "I have received great kindness from the country, but unfortunately, I was not able to repay the late emperor by defeating the generals of the Wu kingdom under Sun Quan. I cannot arrange anything for after my death." After saying this, he passed away and was posthumously titled Marquis Su. His son Jia Chong inherited his title. The officials and people of Yuzhou all remembered him and erected a shrine in his honor. During the Qinglong era, Emperor Ming of Wei traveled east in a royal chariot to visit Jia Kui's shrine, decreeing, "Yesterday, I passed by Xiangcheng and saw Jia Kui's statue, which filled me with deep sorrow. The ancients said that the greatest fear is not having established a reputation, rather than fearing a short life. Jia Kui made loyal achievements during his lifetime and is still remembered after death, which can be seen as a form of immortality. Spread this news to the world to inspire future generations." Jia Chong served as the Central Protector General during the Xianxi era.
It is said that beginning in the late Han Dynasty, provincial governors were in charge of several counties, responsible for local affairs, not just supervisory officials as they were in the past. From the unification by Cao Cao to the downfall of the Wei Dynasty, the provincial governors during this period, those who had both reputation and tangible accomplishments, can be considered as outstanding representatives of this system. They were all astute and capable, balancing kindness and authority, enabling them to effectively govern vast territories, and their achievements were recorded by later generations. In short, starting from the late Han Dynasty, the power of provincial governors changed significantly, no longer just supervising inspections, but directly responsible for local administrative management. From Cao Cao's rise to the downfall of the Wei Dynasty, a group of excellent provincial governors emerged during this period, possessing real talent and prestige, effectively managing the regions, thus receiving great praise from future generations.
