Huo Yi (died 271), courtesy name Shaoxian, was a military general of the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period of China. His father, Huo Jun, served under Liu Bei, the founding emperor of Shu. During his service under the Shu emperor Liu Shan, Huo Yi suppressed tribal rebellions in the restive Nanzhong region and maintained peace in the area. After Shu was conquered by its rival state Cao Wei in 263, Huo Yi surrendered to the Wei regime and was permitted to remain in charge of keeping the peace in Nanzhong. In return, Huo Yi became a Wei subject and continued serving under the Jin dynasty, which replaced the Wei regime in 266.
Huo Yi | |
|---|---|
| 霍弋 | |
| Inspector of Jiaozhi Province (交州刺史) (nominal) | |
| In office 263–271 | |
| Monarch | Cao Huan / Sima Yan |
| Area Commander of Nanzhong (南中都督) | |
| In office 263–271 | |
| Monarch | Cao Huan / Sima Yan |
| General Who Stabilises the South (安南將軍) | |
| In office 263–? | |
| Monarch | Liu Shan / Cao Huan |
| Preceded by | Yan Yu |
| Administrator of Jianning (建寧太守) | |
| In office ?–? | |
| Monarch | Liu Shan |
| General Who Inspects the Army (監軍將軍) | |
| In office ?–? | |
| Monarch | Liu Shan |
| Gentleman of the Yellow Gate (黃門侍郎) | |
| In office 234–? | |
| Monarch | Liu Shan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Unknown Zhijiang, Hubei |
| Died | 271 |
| Children | Huo Zai |
| Parent |
|
| Relatives | Huo Du (uncle) |
| Occupation | General |
| Courtesy name | Shaoxian (紹先) |
Early life and career edit
Huo Yi was born in Zhijiang, Nan Commandery (南郡), which is present-day Zhijiang, Hubei.[1] His father was Huo Jun, a general who served under the warlord Liu Bei in the late Eastern Han dynasty and died in 217. In 221, Liu Bei declared himself emperor and established the state of Shu Han, after which he appointed Huo Yi as a taizi sheren (太子舍人; an attendant to the crown prince). Liu Bei died in 223 and was succeeded by his son Liu Shan, who appointed Huo Yi as an Internuncio (謁者) after his enthronement.[2]
Between 227 and 234, when Shu's chancellor-regent Zhuge Liang was stationed in Hanzhong Commandery during the launching of a series of military campaigns against Shu's rival state Cao Wei, he requested for Huo Yi to be transferred to his office. Huo Yi worked together with Zhuge Liang's adoptive son Zhuge Qiao during this period of time. They would travel in the same chariot and sleep in the same residence.[3]
Huo Yi was appointed as a Gentleman of the Yellow Gate (黃門侍郎) after Zhuge Liang died in 234. Later, when Liu Shan designated his son Liu Xuan as his heir apparent, he appointed Huo Yi as a zhongshuzi (中庶子; an aide) to Liu Xuan. Liu Xuan enjoyed horse-riding and archery and used to behave recklessly, but Huo Yi managed to use teachings from ancient classics to persuade Liu Xuan to improve his behaviour therefore succeeded in providing him proper guidance.[4]
Service in the South edit
He was later transferred to assist with the military affairs in the Laixiang region in the southern part of Shu and appointed as Chief Controller (都督), was also assigned as Protector of the Army (護軍) while managing military affairs as before . When the tribal peoples in Yongchang Commandery (永昌郡) caused trouble using steep terrain to protect themselves while pillaging and razing nearby settlements, Huo Yi was appointed as the Administrator of Yongchang Commandery (永昌太守) and was ordered to lead troops to attack the tribes. Huo Yi achieved victory as he killed the tribal chiefs, destroyed their bases and restored peace at the borders of Yongchang. For his contributions, he was promoted to General Who Inspects the Army (監軍將軍) and appointed as the Administrator of Jianning Commandery (建寧郡), effectively being in charge of affairs in Nanzhong.[5]
Formerly, Huo Yi was a subordinate of Yan Yu (閻宇), born from the same Nan commmandery as him. As Yan Yu succeeded Zhang Biao as Area Commander of Laixiang (庲降都督). To help him, Huo Yi served under him as his deputy. As his assistant, Huo Yi demonstrated exceptional aptitude therefore he would succeed Yan Yu as General Who Stabilises the South (安南將軍).[6]
In 257, Yan Yu led troops to assist Shi Ji in case of internal problem in Wu.[7] The following year, Yan Yu was reassigned as Area Commander of Badong (巴東都督) near the Wu–Shu border.[8] Although not recorded to have succeeded or appointed by the Shu Han court as Area Commander of Laixiang (庲降都督). Huo Yi was the highest authority in the region. During his tenure, Huo Yi worked to pacify foreign customs, promoted fair legislation and educated the common people. Under his rule, minor and severe offenses were resolved with according sanctions, the foreigners and Han citizens safe from danger.[9]
At the end of the year 263, the state of Cao Wei launched a campaign against Shu. Huo Yi recently promoted as General Who Stabilises the South (安南將軍) along with the Commander (領軍) of the Badong Commandery (巴東郡) Luo Xian managed to keep their respective regions secure during those turbulent times and led their officials to yield when they learned that Liu Shan surrendered. Due to their reasonable conduct, both of them remained in their previous positions and received gifts and high praises from the capital.[10]
Previously, when he received news of the invasion, Huo Yi wanted to lead troops from Nanzhong to assist in the defence of the Shu capital Chengdu, but as Liu Shan already decided the arrangements for the defence of the city, he rejected Huo Yi's offer. Thereafter, as Chengdu could not be defended, Liu Shan surrendered to the Wei general Deng Ai, bringing an end to the Shu regime. When he learned of the fall of Shu, Huo Yi wore mourning garments and lamented greatly for three days, after which his subordinates urged him to follow in his lord's footsteps by surrendering to Wei as well. Huo Yi refused to surrender and stated that he would fight to the death unless he was assured that Liu Shan was safe and was treated well after submitting to Wei.[11]
To his subordinates, he said :“Now that the situation reached such a critical point. And that we don't know for certain if our ruler is safe or in danger, we cannot be nonchalant in our actions. If our ruler finds an agreement with Wei to reach peace and is treated with respect then we would keep our territory safe and surrender at the right time. However, if our ruler risk danger and is treated with contempt then to the death I would resist them. In that case, all there would be to discuss would be the preparation to make!”[12]
Upon receiving news that Liu Shan was not harmed and had moved from Chengdu to the Wei capital Luoyang, he officially surrendered to Wei, leading all the defenders of the six commanderies to dispatch a memorial :"I your servant, long I have head that the occurrences of the State take prominence over a man's life. That when a difficulty arose a loyal man should offer his life. However now that the State of your servant is overwhelmed and his ruler submitted. I believe that a defence to the death would be pointless therefore we entrust and pledge to the new State to commit to his service with full resolution."[13]
The Wei regent Sima Zhao was very pleased so he appointed Huo Yi as the Area Commander (都督) of Nanzhong and allowed the latter to remain in charge of Nanzhong.[14] Furthermore, the province of Jiaozhi was not yet conquered however Huo Yi was appointed as Inspector of Jiaozhi Province (交州刺史) to administrate it from afar and could nominate and appoint his own chief officials.[15]
Huo Yi later sent troops to assist Lü Xing (呂興) during his revolt against the Wu government and successfully pacified the three commanderies of Jiaozhi (交阯), Rinan (日南) and Jiuzhen (九真). Annexing a significant portion of the Jiao province. For his contributions, he received a marquis title and other rewards from the Jin imperial court. [16]
According to the Han Jin Chunqiu and the Jin Shu. Early on, Huo Yi alongside Yang Ji (楊稷), Mao Jiong (毛炅) and other of his subordinates swore an oath that if they were besieged by an enemy then they would resist for 100 days otherwise their families would be executed. However, If after more than 100 days, reinforcement didn't come. Then, Huo Yi would take the responsibility. In 271, while he besieged Jiaozhi's stronghold, Tao Huang heard of this pact and provided food to the city when there was famine. His subordinates remonstrated him against such a charitable act, however Tao Huang reassured them that with Huo Yi's death, Jin wouldn't be able to dispatch reinforcement to the city.[17][18]
Legacy edit
Chang Qu, who wrote extensively about the history of the Sichuan region in the Chronicles of Huayang (Huayang Guo Zhi), recorded that at the time he is writing (between 348 and 354). The local officials when they treat with the foreign tribes are respectful of their traditions and merciful when judging them. All of this while following Huo Yi's precepts.[19] After Huo Yi's death, his son Huo Zai (霍在) inherited the command of his soldiers and led them to establish peace with the leading clans of the south.[20] Moreover, Huo Yi's grandson, Huo Biao (霍彪), served as the Administrator of Yuexi/Yuesui Commandery (越嶲郡) during the Jin dynasty.[21]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ (南郡霍弋為參軍。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 4.
- ^ (子弋，字紹先，先主末年為太子舍人。後主踐阼，除謁者。) Sanguozhi vol. 41.
- ^ (丞相諸葛亮北駐漢中，請為記室，使與子喬共周旋游處。) Sanguozhi vol. 41.
- ^ (亮卒，為黃門侍郎。後主立太子璿，以弋為中庶子，璿好騎射，出入無度，弋援引古義，盡言規諫，甚得切磋之體。) Sanguozhi vol. 41.
- ^ (後為參軍庲降屯副貳都督，又轉護軍，統事如前。時永昌郡夷獠恃險不賔，數為寇害，乃以弋領永昌太守，率偏軍討之，遂斬其豪帥，破壞邑落，郡界寧靜。遷監軍將軍，領建寧太守，還統南郡事。) Sanguozhi vol. 41.
- ^ (表後，以南郡閻宇為都督，南郡霍弋為參軍。弋甚善參毗之禮，遂代宇為監軍、安南將軍。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 4.
- ^ (蜀遣右將軍閻宇將兵五千，增白帝守，以須績之後命。) Sanguozhi vol. 56.
- ^ (景耀元年，... 以襄陽羅憲為「鎮」〔領〕軍，督永安事。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 4.
- ^ (撫和異俗，為之立法施教，輕重允當，夷晉安之。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 4.
- ^ (景耀六年，進號安南將軍。是歲，蜀并于魏。弋與巴東領軍襄陽羅憲各保全一方，舉以內附，咸因仍前任，寵待有加。) Sanguozhi vol. 41.
- ^ (漢晉春秋曰：霍弋聞魏軍來，弋欲赴成都，後主以備敵旣定，不聽。及成都不守，弋素服號哭，大臨三日。諸將咸勸宜速降，) Han Jin Chunqiu annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 41.
- ^ (弋曰：「今道路隔塞，未詳主之安危，大故去就，不可苟也。若主上與魏和，見遇以禮，則保境而降，不晚也。若萬一危辱，吾將以死拒之，何論遲速邪！」) Han Jin Chunqiu annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 41.
- ^ (得後主東遷之問，始率六郡將守上表曰：「臣聞人生於三，事之如一，惟難所在，則致其命。今臣國敗主附，守死無所，是以委質，不敢有貳。」) Han Jin Chunqiu annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 41.
- ^ (晉文王善之，又拜南中都督，委以本任) Han Jin Chunqiu annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 41.
- ^ (及晉世，因仍其任。時交趾不附，假弋節遙領交州刺史，得以便宜選用長吏。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 4.
- ^ (後遣將兵救援呂興，平交阯、日南、九真三郡，功封列侯，進號崇賞焉。) Han Jin Chunqiu annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 41.
- ^ (泰始七年，吳復取交趾，初，霍弋使楊稷、毛炅等戍交趾，與之誓曰：「若賊圍城，未百日而降者，家屬誅；若過百日而城沒者，刺史受其罪。」及吳陶璜圍之，稷等日未滿而糧盡，乞降於璜。璜不許，而給糧使守。吳人並諫，璜曰：「霍弋已死，無能來者，) Han Jin Chunqiu vol. 03.
- ^ (初，霍弋之遣稷、炅等，與之誓曰：「若賊圍城未百日而降者，家屬誅；若過百日救兵不至，吾受其罪。」稷等守未百日，糧盡，乞降，璜不許，給其糧使守。諸將並諫，璜曰：「霍弋已死，不能救稷等必矣，) Jin Shu vol. 57.
- ^ (今官和解夷人及適（謫）罰之，皆依弋故事。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 4.
- ^ (弋卒，子在襲領其兵，和諸姓。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 4.
- ^ (弋孫彪，晉越嶲太守。) Han Jin Chunqiu annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 41.
- Chen, Shou (3rd century). Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi).
- Chang Qu (4th century). Chronicles of Huayang (Huayang Guo Zhi).
- Xi Zuochi (4th century). Chronicles of Han and Jin (Han Jin Chunqiu).
- Pei, Songzhi (5th century). Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi zhu).
- Fang, Xuanling (ed.) (648). Book of Jin (Jin Shu).