It is said that this person is named Yi, with the courtesy name Ziyu, and his hometown is Yingling in Beihai. Originally, his surname was Shi; he began his career as a minor official in the county and later rose to become an official in the commandery. The governor of the commandery, Kong Rong, who was quite fond of making jokes, teased Yi about his surname, saying that the character "氏" has the character "民" below it but not above it, implying that the surname was a bit odd, and suggested he change it to "Shi." Yi thought it made sense and changed his surname to Shi. Later, he followed Liu Yao to escape the chaos of war and fled to Jiangdong. After Liu Yao was defeated, he moved to Kuaiji.
After Sun Quan took power, he recognized Yi's talent and thought highly of him, bringing him to work by his side. Sun Quan valued him greatly, put him in charge of confidential matters, and even appointed him as a Cavalry Commandant.
One time, when Lu Meng planned to attack Guan Yu, Sun Quan, feeling indecisive, sought Yi's advice. Yi believed Lu Meng's plan was sound and advised Sun Quan to adopt it. Later, Sun Quan led the troops to attack Guan Yu, and Yi joined him as well, being appointed as a Colonel of Loyalty and Righteousness. Yi humbly expressed his gratitude to Sun Quan, but Sun Quan said, "Although I am not Zhao Jianzi, why do you need to humble yourself like Zhou She?" This demonstrates how much Sun Quan valued and trusted Yi.
After they captured Jingzhou, Sun Quan relocated the capital to Wuchang, and Yi was promoted to Deputy General, later being appointed as Marquis of Duting and was allowed to serve by Sun Quan's side. Sun Quan wanted to offer him even higher positions, even military authority, but Yi believed his abilities were insufficient and firmly declined. Later, during the Huangwu era, Sun Quan sent Yi to Wancheng to meet with General Liu Shao to set up an ambush to lure Cao Xiu. Cao Xiu fell into the trap and was soundly defeated. As a result, Yi received a promotion to Adjunct General and was tasked with handling the Imperial Secretariat's affairs in the palace, overseeing officials at all levels, handling lawsuits, and teaching the young princes how to read and study.
When Sun Quan's main army moved east, the crown prince stayed behind to guard Wuchang, and Sun Quan appointed Shi Yi as the prince's assistant. The crown prince respected Shi Yi very much and always consulted him before making decisions. As a result, Shi Yi was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Duxiang by Sun Quan. Later, when the crown prince returned to Jianye, Shi Yi also returned with him and was once again appointed as the Chamberlain and Chief Legal Officer, responsible for handling official affairs and litigation cases, just as before.
During this time, the Ceremonial Officer, Lv Yi, falsely accused the former Jiangxia Prefect Diao Jia of slandering the government. Sun Quan was furious and had Diao Jia arrested for interrogation. At that time, officials who had served with Diao Jia were afraid of Lv Yi and all claimed to have heard Diao Jia speak ill of the government. Only Shi Yi said he had not heard anything. Therefore, Sun Quan relentlessly interrogated Shi Yi for several days, with his orders growing more severe, leaving the courtiers too scared to speak. However, Shi Yi said, "Now the knife is at my throat; how could I dare to hide the truth for Diao Jia, risking my life to become a traitor? I just feel that the details of the matter should be clarified." He answered truthfully, with a resolute attitude, and never changed his statement. Sun Quan eventually believed him, and Diao Jia was acquitted as a result.
After the death of the Prime Minister of Shu, Zhuge Liang, Sun Quan was always concerned about the Western Shu. He sent Shi Yi to Shu Han to consolidate the alliance between the two countries. Shi Yi successfully completed his mission in Shu Han and was later appointed as the Minister of Documents.
When Duke Lu and Nangong Gang were first established, Yitong served as Duke Lu's teacher. Yitong felt that the two palaces were too close together, which was rather inappropriate, so he wrote to Duke Lu saying, "I believe that Duke Lu is naturally endowed with noble character, both civil and martial, and the most important thing now is to assign him to various posts across the country and become the backbone of the nation. Only in this way can his virtues be better promoted and his authority showcased, which serves the nation's greater good and is what the people hope for. However, my ability to express myself is limited, and I cannot fully convey my thoughts. I believe that the two palaces should have different levels to reflect the hierarchy of respect and to underscore the essence of education." He wrote several times. He diligently taught Duke Lu and regularly offered him advice, showed respect and diligence to his superiors, and was humble and polite to his subordinates.
He never acquired property or accepted gifts from others, only built a house enough for himself to live in, and his family was quite well-off. When his neighbor constructed an impressively large house, Yitong saw it from afar and asked whose house it was. People around him answered, "It seems to be Yitong's house." Yitong said, "Yitong is very frugal; it couldn't be his house." It was only after asking that he found out it belonged to someone else. This demonstrates that Duke Lu had a deep understanding and trust in him.
He wore plain clothes and ate modest meals, often helped the poor, and had hardly any savings. When Duke Lu heard about this, he personally visited Yitong's house, checked his meals, tasted them himself, and was taken aback. He then increased his salary and rewards and also gave him more land and property. Yitong repeatedly declined, viewing the Duke's kindness as a heavy burden.
He often made suggestions to Duke Lu, yet he never spoke ill of anyone. Duke Lu often chided Yitong for his silence and lack of commentary on matters of right and wrong. Yitong replied, "With a wise and enlightened monarch above, I, as a subject, must focus on fulfilling my duties; I would not dare to trouble His Majesty's ears with my ignorant and shallow remarks."
He served the country for decades without a single mistake. Lv Yi had reported the crimes of many ministers to the King of Lu several times; sometimes a person would be reported three or four times, yet he never reported Yitong. The King of Lu sighed and said, "If everyone were like Yitong, what need would there be for laws and regulations?"
When he passed away, his will requested a simple burial in a plain coffin, wearing everyday clothes, keeping everything simple, and he lived to the age of eighty-one.
Hu Zong, courtesy name Weize, was from Gushi County in Runan Commandery. He lost his father at a young age, and his mother took him to escape to Jiangdong. When Sun Ce was appointed the Administrator of Kuaiji, Hu Zong was fourteen years old and served as a minor official under Sun Ce, in charge of inspections. He later stayed in Wu and studied alongside Sun Quan. After Sun Ce's death, Sun Quan became the General Who Conquers the Caitiffs and promoted Hu Zong to be an official in the Jincao office, fighting alongside Sun Quan against Huang Zu, and later appointed as the County Magistrate of E County. When Sun Quan was appointed General of Chariots and Cavalry and moved his base to the capital, he summoned Hu Zong back to oversee the documents and archives, together with Zhang Zhao and Xu Xiang, tasked with military and state affairs, which was a highly important and confidential task.
After Liu Bei withdrew his troops from Baidi City, Sun Quan felt that his forces were insufficient and sent Hu Zong to recruit soldiers from various places, resulting in the recruitment of six thousand people. He immediately formed two armies, with Zhang Zhao leading the left and Hu Zong leading the right, tasked with overseeing the battles. The general of Wu, Jin Zong, defected to Wei and was appointed as the Administrator of Qichun by Wei, several hundred miles away from Jiangdong, often troubling the border. Sun Quan then sent Hu Zong and He Qi on a light and quick mission and successfully captured Jin Zong alive! Afterward, Hu Zong was promoted to General of Jianwu. Wei appointed Sun Quan as King of Wu and also appointed Hu Zong, Zhang Zhao, and Xu Xiang as marquises, thus elevating them to the ranks of nobles and ministers.
In the summer of the eighth year of the Huang Wu reign, the Yellow Dragon appeared in Xiakou. Sun Quan took this opportunity to proclaim himself emperor and changed the era name to a new one. He specifically created a large Yellow Dragon flag, which was prominently displayed at the center of the army. The army would advance and retreat according to the direction of this flag. Sun Quan also had Hu Zong write a poem to praise this event; the poem states:
When heaven and earth were first formed, all things began to grow. The image of a wolf appeared in the starry sky, symbolizing an elite army. The sage observed the celestial phenomena, imitated and utilized them, began to manufacture weapons, and sought their perfection. The Yellow Emperor and Yan Emperor founded an era, laid the foundation of the country, followed the will of heaven above, and brought comfort to the people in times of disaster. Gao Xin executed Gong Gong, Shun campaigned against the Miao clan, Qi fought against Gan, and Tang fought against Mingtiao. The Battle of Muye in the Zhou Dynasty and the Battle of Gaixia in the Han Dynasty—none of these victories would have established the dynasty's rule without the strength of the army.
The powerful state of Wu is indeed bestowed with virtue by heaven; its martial prowess is fundamental, and it is the ultimate of emperors. Starting from the ancient Yellow Emperor and Yu Shun, it has gone through five dynasties and has been handed down to this day. The state of Wu rose in accordance with heavenly will, emerging from the south, and is poised to restore its former glory and revitalize our nation. Therefore, based on celestial phenomena, an elite army was established, modeled after Taiyi, with five generals and three gates; moving quickly like lightning, slowly like clouds, with a proper balance of advance and retreat, simple yet not cumbersome.
The four spiritual flags have been set up, with the Yellow Dragon flag in the center. According to the system of the Zhou Dynasty and the laws of the movement of the sun, moon, and stars, in fact, it is the duty of the Taichang. The Yellow Dragon flag stands alone, the focal point of the entire army. The immortals observe the four directions in the sky, and the spirits are indeed aiding the state of Wu, granting the nation peace. When the army needs to change direction, the Yellow Dragon flag moves first, the golden drums do not sound, silently changing formation, mysterious and unpredictable in its movements, which can be described as truly magical.
In ancient times, during the Zhou Dynasty, there was a Red Crow that carried a message; now in Wu State, the Yellow Dragon spits out a token. All of this aligns with the hexagrams of the He Luo, actions in line with the will of heaven, with heavenly assistance and harmony among the people; everyone agrees that this is an auspicious omen.
Shu heard that Sun Quan had taken the throne, so they sent envoys to reaffirm their previous friendly relations. Both sides jointly drafted an alliance, and the alliance text was beautifully written, with the details recorded in the "Biography of Sun Quan." After Sun Quan moved the capital to Jianye, Zhang Zhao and Zhuge Jin both served as attendants-in-chief and were appointed as marquis of their respective counties, also serving as commanders of the left and right armies. At that time, some surrendered individuals from the state of Wei expressed doubts about the surrender of General Wu Zhi of Hebei Zhenwei. Zhuge Jin then forged three surrender letters from Wu Zhi:
First paragraph:
Ah, the current state of affairs is in chaos! The principles of heaven are in disarray, the world is divided, the common people are suffering, scholars are fleeing everywhere, and there is war everywhere. There is no one left in the cities, and everywhere there are the smoke and flames of war. Since the three dynasties of Xia, Shang, and Zhou, there has never been such chaos! I, with limited abilities and no special talents, am like a plant bound by the land, unable to fly. I can only fight for the Cao family, sent to the distant Hexi region, completely cut off from the court. Although I wish to follow a wise lord and serve the country, I am frustrated by not having the chance to fulfill my ambitions. Whenever I travel, I secretly inquire about the news. I know Your Majesty's virtue is as boundless as the sky, as radiant as the sun and moon, and your heroic aura is innate. You implement benevolent governance, and your kindness reaches far and wide, providing protection to the common people south of the Yangtze River. Those with talent and ambition, those aspiring scholars, admire you in secret and hope to serve you!
At the end of June this year, I heard that you ascended to the throne on a lucky day, initiated large-scale reforms, set things right in the world, and gave hope to the displaced common people! Back in the day, when King Wu overthrew King Zhou, the people of the Yin Dynasty turned on their rulers; when Liu Bang defeated Xiang Yu, the Chu army was surrounded. Compared to now, that was nothing! I really hope for peace everywhere! That's why I sent my fellow villager, Mr. Huang Dinggong, to bring you my seal, taking a big risk to share my thoughts with you. I've included all my specific thoughts in the memorial.
In the past, Yi Yin moved from the Xia Dynasty to the Shang Dynasty, and Chen Ping moved from the Chu State to the Han Dynasty. They both recorded their achievements in history books, becoming famous throughout history. Later rulers didn't see them as traitors, but believed they were following the will of heaven. I used to have a close relationship with the Cao family. Although we appeared to be lord and subject on the surface, in reality, we were like brothers, deeply bonded and inseparable. That's why I accepted the responsibility of leading the army in Hebei, a remote region. At that time, I had great ambitions, planning to live and die with the Cao family, only worrying that I would not be able to make great achievements.
After the fall of the Cao family, the successor took over at a young age, and rumors and gossip spread. Colleagues were at odds with each other, and those who disagreed with me took the opportunity to slander me. I am straightforward and never flatter others. Seeing those descendants of the Cao family, I did look down on them, which was my mistake. As a result, I was framed and suspected of treason. Even though some who knew the truth tried to defend me, in times of chaos, rumors outweighed facts, and my suspicion still existed. I always feared that one day I would be unjustly killed, constantly anxious.
Yue Yi, back in the day, achieved great feats for King Zhao of Yan in the state of Qi. But when King Hui took the throne, he grew suspicious of him and stripped him of his military command. Yue Yi then left Yan and sought refuge in Zhao, where he still had a stellar reputation. He did this not to please both sides, but out of fear that his successes might threaten the ruler and bring disaster upon him. I had previously sent Zhou Guang from Wei County under the guise of conducting business to secretly make his way south and deliver my plans. The situation was urgent at the time, and there was no time to report in writing, so I had Zhou Guang deliver the message verbally. I believe that the fate of the world is already set, and it is destined for Wu to rule. The folks there are eager to join us and are hoping the army arrives soon.
If Your Majesty could trust me just a bit, I can lead the army from Hebei to meet the royal forces. My loyalty is as clear as day. However, Zhou Guang has been gone for so many years without any news. I have no idea if my plan got through. I look up at the sky and sigh longingly. As the days drag on, how can I even express my anxiety like Gaozi from Lu? Right now, Your Majesty seems a bit distant towards me, and rumors are rampant. I'm bound to face trouble; it’s just a matter of time. I speculate privately that the reason Your Majesty hasn’t comforted me might be because he thinks I’m too principled to do such things, or he thinks the messages Zhou Guang brought back are mostly false, or he suspects there’s something else going on, not knowing I’m being set up and am in real danger.
If I am truly guilty, I would certainly face the consequences and accept my punishment, as this is the duty of a loyal subject. But now I am innocent, yet I am falsely accused and will meet the same fate as Shang Yang and Bai Qi. Considering the pros and cons, it is only natural for me to leave. Dying without honor is not an option, but what else can I do if I do not leave? Le Yi left, Wu Qi fled, gentlemen sympathized with their plight, but no one blamed them. I hope Your Majesty can refer to history and not doubt me. I also know that if a subject is guilty, they should offer their services like Wu Zixu did, instead of seeking opportunism. But the current situation is different from that of ancient times, with vast distances separating the north and south, rivers blocking the way. If I do not take action, how can I hope to avoid disaster? Therefore, I have abandoned the integrity of a great man and wish to make contributions to the country.
Furthermore, the descendants of the Cao family lack both virtue and ability, and their rule is not heaven-ordained. The political situation is weak, the laws are in disarray, power is in my hands, various generals act independently outside, without unity. The soldiers are exhausted, the treasury is nearly empty, discipline is deteriorating, the rulers are inept. I trust Your Majesty is aware of the recent rebellions. When the weak rise against the incompetent ruler, this presents Your Majesty with a significant opportunity to take action. Therefore, I boldly present my strategy. If we deploy troops between the Huai River and the Si River, occupy Xia Pi, the provinces of Jingzhou and Yangzhou will rally to our cause, and as I move south from the north, the situation will be unified and stable. The western armies are bogged down at Hangu Pass; Qingzhou and Xuzhou dare not defend with full force, and the remnants of Xuchang and Luoyang are less than ten thousand men. Who can come east to challenge Your Majesty for control of the realm? This is indeed a rare opportunity; shouldn't Your Majesty give it serious consideration?
I have many war horses here. When the grass is lush in March and April, the Qiang and Xiongnu people will drive out their horses. I estimate that there are currently over 3,000 horses. Your Majesty, when sending troops, you should choose this time and bring more cavalry to capture the horses. These are all situations I have previously investigated. In battles, it is often difficult to understand the enemy's true intentions. The enemy is weak now and easy to conquer. When Your Majesty takes action, there will definitely be many people responding. If you can achieve great accomplishments and unify the world, I can also accomplish great deeds. This is fate. If my strategies are not taken up, that too is fate. I hope Your Majesty will give this serious thought. I will not say more.
Someone wrote to advise Sun Quan: "In the past, Xu Ziyuan left Yuan Shao and joined Cao Cao. Cao Cao accepted his strategies, defeated Yuan Shao, and established the foundation of Cao Wei. If Cao Cao had not believed in Xu Ziyuan at that time and had hesitated, the world might still be under Yuan Shao's rule! Your Majesty should think about this. I heard that the generals on the frontiers, Yan Fu and Zhao Ji, wanted to surrender, but since you have not responded promptly, they may have defected to the enemy. I sincerely urge you to consider them now. If you continue to hesitate and delay taking action, leaving me isolated and helpless, facing disaster, then those talented and ambitious people in the world may not dare to entrust their lives to you anymore. Your Majesty should also think about this. The heavens and the spirits will hear my words!" Once this memorial was made public, the author was promoted to the position of attendant.
Two years later, a man from Qingzhou named Yin Fan sought refuge with Sun Quan and wrote a letter saying: "I heard that King Zhou of Shang was cruel and unjust, so Duke of Zhou left early; while Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, was kind and wise, so Chen Ping joined him early. I am twenty-two years old this year, I have given up my family's fiefdom, and sought refuge with a wise ruler like you. Thanks to heaven's grace, I was able to survive and make it here. I have been here for some time, but the local officials treat me as an ordinary citizen, without seriously considering my abilities, making it impossible for me to present my thoughts and suggestions to you. I’ve been sighing in the county, unsure of what to do. So I came to the palace gate to write this letter, asking for an audience with you." Sun Quan immediately called for him. Yin Fan expressed his thanks, answered questions, and discussed current affairs with great eloquence. Sun Quan asked his ministers for their opinions on Yin Fan, and they replied: "Yin Fan's memorial is impressive, somewhat like Dongfang Shuo; his words are clever and skilled in debate, somewhat like Mi Heng; but his abilities do not surpass theirs." Sun Quan then asked what position would suit Yin Fan, and they suggested he start as a minor official in the capital. Sun Quan appointed Yin Fan as the head of the judicial system. General Zhu Ju and the judicial officer Hao Pu both believed that Yin Fan had the ability to assist the emperor, especially Hao Pu, who had a close relationship with Yin Fan and regretted his talents being wasted. Later, Yin Fan plotted a rebellion, which was discovered and he was killed. Hao Pu took his own life because he was implicated in the matter. Zhu Ju tried to intervene, but it took a long time to settle down. Sun Quan appointed the minister as a deputy general and also assigned him law enforcement duties, responsible for handling legal cases. After the incident in Liaodong, Assistant General Zhang Zhao earnestly advised Sun Quan, which made him very angry. However, the minister skillfully managed their relationship, preventing any rift.
Hu Zong was known for his fondness for alcohol. After drinking, he often celebrated and frolicked, sometimes toasting and joking with those close to him. Sun Quan admired his talents, so he turned a blind eye to his behavior.
After Sun Quan rose to power, Hu Zong was largely responsible for handling various documents, decrees, and official communications with neighboring countries. At first, due to the numerous internal and external affairs, the court established a rule that officials could not resign even if there was a funeral in their family, and many officials indeed violated this rule. This troubled Sun Quan greatly, so he called a meeting with the ministers to discuss solutions. Hu Zong proposed establishing clear regulations mandating that violators would face the death penalty as a deterrent, so that there would be no more violators in the future. Sun Quan adopted Hu Zong's suggestion, and from then on, the practice of officials resigning for bereavement was completely eradicated.
In the sixth year of the Chiwu era, Hu Zong passed away, and his son Hu Chong succeeded him. Hu Chong was known for his gentle demeanor and eloquence, eventually becoming the Minister of the Central Secretariat during the Tianji era.
Another notable figure, Xu Xiang, whose courtesy name was Ziming, hailed from Wucheng in Wu County. He died before Hu Zong.
The text evaluates: Zhang Zhao, Xu Xiang, and Hu Zong, these three were all prominent figures who made significant contributions during Sun Quan's reign. Zhang Zhao was known for his integrity and high moral character; Xu Xiang completed missions in other countries multiple times; Hu Zong was exceptionally talented and skilled, earning Sun Quan's trust and favor. They were all pillars of Sun Quan's court!
