Lu Zhi (died 312 or 315), courtesy name Zidao, was a Chinese politician of the Jin dynasty (266–420) and Han-Zhao dynasty during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. He was a close confidant of the Prince of Chengdu, Sima Ying, who, throughout War of the Eight Princes, provided him with vital advice. He was praised by traditional historians for encouraging his prince towards righteous decisions and remaining by his side even after his fall from power and until his death in 306. After the war, he continued to serve the Jin government until his capture by the Xiongnu-led Han-Zhao state, where he briefly served before he was executed for treason.
Lu Zhi | |
|---|---|
| 盧志 | |
| Chief of the Palace Secretariat (中書監) | |
| Monarch | Emperor Hui of Jin |
| In office 304–305 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Unknown Zhuozhou, Hebei |
| Died | 312 or 315 Linfen, Shanxi |
| Spouse | Lady of the Cui clan of Qinghe |
| Relations | Lu Zhi (great-grandfather) |
| Children | Lu Chen Lu Mi Lu Shen |
| Parent | Lu Ting (father) |
| Courtesy name | Zidao (子道) |
| Peerage | Marquis of Wuqiang (武強侯) |
Background edit
Lu Zhi was a native of Zhuo County, Fanyang Commandery and was the great-grandson of the Han dynasty military general, Lu Zhi (盧植; note the different character from his great-grandson's name). His grandfather, Lu Yu, and his father Lu Ting (盧珽), were both officials for the Cao Wei dynasty, with the latter going on the serve under Wei's successor, Western Jin. Early in his career, Lu Zhi served as an official in the government and Prefect of the Masters of Writing before leaving the capital, Luoyang to serve as the Prefect of Ye.
When the Prince of Chengdu, Sima Ying, was assigned to defend Ye, he met with Lu Zhi and was deeply impressed by his talents. The two men trusted each other, and eventually, Lu Zhi became a key advisor for the prince.[1]
War of the Eight Princes edit
Coalition against Sima Lun edit
In 301, the Prince of Zhao, Sima Lun, usurped the throne from Emperor Hui of Jin. In response, the Prince of Qi, Sima Jiong, began a coalition to depose Lun and urged Sima Ying to join him. Sima Ying consulted Lu Zhi for a strategy, and he opined, "The Prince of Zhao [Sima Lun] is unjust, acting with tyranny and rebellion. He has aroused the anger of the people and spirits within the Four Seas. Currently, Your Highness commands the three armies, and should we react quickly at the right time, the people will flock to you without being summoned. As we will be sweeping away the wicked and treacherous, conquest can be achieved without a battle. However, military affairs are of the utmost importance and therefore should be cautiously handled by the sages. It is best that we appoint and promote talented individuals to win the support and respect of the people."[2] Sima Ying agreed and made Lu Zhi his Consultant Advisor and Chief Clerk of the Left. He was also placed in charge of handling official documents.
As Sima Ying marched to Luoyang, he and his soldiers were met by Sima Lun's army at Huangqiao (黃橋, around present-day Wen County, Henan). Ying's vanguard was badly defeated at first, causing him to consider retreating to defend Zhaoge. However, Lu Zhi insisted that they surprise their enemies by advancing quickly with their best soldiers during the early morning, believing that they had become overconfident from their recent victory.[3] Sima Ying agreed and sent his general, Zhao Xiang (趙驤), with 80,000 to advance with Wang Yan (王彥). As predicted, the enemy commander, Shi Yi (士猗) underestimated their momentum, allowing Ying's forces to win a great victory and cross the Yellow River.
Regency of Sima Jiong edit
Before the coalition could arrive, Sima Lun was overthrown and killed in a coup in Luoyang. Sima Ying's forces were the first to arrive at the capital, but as leader of the coalition, Sima Jiong took power as regent following Emperor Hui's restoration. Lu Zhi warned Sima Ying, "The Prince of Qi [Sima Jiong] commanded a million soldiers, yet he could not defeat Zhang Hong (張泓) and the like. Meanwhile, you, Great Prince, crossed the Yellow River and achieved exceptional merits. Now, the Prince of Qi wishes to share power over the court with you. However, it is said that two heroes cannot coexist, and their deeds cannot be equal. Thus, you should cite your mother's illness and request to return to your base. Honour the Prince of Qi and gradually win the support of the people within the Four Seas. This is the best strategy to take."[4]
Sima Ying accepted his suggestion and handed over all major responsibilities to Sima Jiong before returning to Ye. His actions garnered much praise and support from the people. For his contribution in the war, Lu Zhi was awarded the title of Marquis of Wuqiang and promoted to Cavalier in Regular Attendance. While in Ye, Ying entrusted all affairs to Lu Zhi and through his guidance become increasingly popular among the people while Jiong lost favour due to his arrogant personality.[5]
On one occasion, as summer was approaching, Lu Zhi reminded Ying of the more than 8,000 men who were killed at the Battle of Huangqiao. Not wanting the bodies to go to waste, he advised the prince to carry out burials for them, citing King Wen of Zhou who once ordered the burial of the skeletal remains of an unknown person he found in the wild. Ying commissioned for more than 8,000 coffins built and used funds from his fief to acquire clothing. The bodies were buried north of Huangqiao, and a stele was erected to commemorate the soldiers' deeds. Meanwhile, families of the fallen soldiers were honoured and ordered to perform seasonal sacrifices for them. Ying also submitted a petition concerning family matters and posthumously promoted the soldiers by two ranks. Additionally, he had more than 14,000 troops who died fighting for Sima Lun buried in Wen County.[6]
In 302, the Prince of Hejian, Sima Yong, was raising troops to campaign against Sima Jiong and informed Ying about it. Lu Zhi attempted to dissuade Ying from joining the plot, but the prince refused to heed his advice.[7] However, before they could launch their campaign, Jiong was killed in Luoyang by the Prince of Changsha, Sima Ai, and the latter began holding considerable power over the imperial government.
Coalition against Sima Ai edit
Unsatisfied with the outcome, Yong and Ying started another coalition in 303, this time to overthrow Sima Ai. Lu Zhi tried again to persuade him from joining, stating, "Lord, previously you had achieved great merits, willingly relinquished your power and refused honours, all which earned you immense respect and admiration. Right now, you should be stationing your armies outside the passes and entering the court in ceremonial robes. This is the act of a hegemon."[8] However, Ying ignored him and proceeded with Sima Yong's forces to lay siege on Sima Ai in Luoyang. After Ai's defeat in 304, Ying returned to Ye and became Prime Minister. He also appointed Lu Zhi as Chief of the Palace Secretariat, providing him with advice for his duty as Prime Minister.
Sima Ying as Crown Younger Brother edit
Later in 304, Sima Ying was appointed Crown Younger Brother, allowing him to inherit the throne after Emperor Hui dies. Afterwards, he was said to have grown more arrogant and corrupt, losing some support from the people. Soon, the Prince of Donghai, Sima Yue, started a coalition from Luoyang to depose him but was defeated. Emperor Hui, who was following Sima Yue's forces, was captured by Ying's men, so the prince sent Lu Zhi to escort him to Ye.[9]
Not long after, the Inspector of Youzhou, Wang Jun, and the Inspector of Bingzhou, Sima Teng, also started their campaign against Ying. Wang Jun was victorious in every bout on the way to Ye, and when he reached the city, many of Ying's officials, generals and soldiers fled. Lu Zhi urged the prince to fall back to Luoyang with Emperor Hui, and he agreed. However, Ying's mother, Grand Consort Cheng (程太妃), was fond of the city and refused to leave, causing Ying to hesitate with his decision. Soon, many of the remaining soldiers also fled, leaving only Lu Zhi, his son Lu Mi (盧謐), his nephew Lu Chen (盧綝) and a thousand palace troops.[10]
Lu Zhi urged Ying to carry out the plan, but it was only after the departure Taoist diviner surnamed Huang (黃), whom the Grand Consort deeply trusted, that they could finally leave. With no horses and porters, Lu Zhi had to acquire ropes and deer carts from the barracks to escape on calf-drawn carts. On the way to Luoyang, Ying's party was joined by the general, Hao Chang (郝昌), and his soldiers at Ji Commandery (汲郡; around present-day Weihui, Henan). With the party rejuvenated, Lu Zhi suggested to Emperor Hui that he issue a letter of amnesty so that the emperor would be received and assisted by the common people. The party reached Luoyang, where they were placed under the authority of Sima Yong's general, Zhang Fang. Lu Zhi recommended that Man Fen (滿奮) be appointed the Colonel-Director of Retainers as many of Ying's followers who had fled earlier returned to restore some function to the government. Emperor Hui was pleased and greatly rewarded Lu Zhi.[11]
As Zhang Fang controlled the military in Luoyang, he dominated Emperor Hui and Sima Ying was powerless to stop him. After staying at the capital for so long, Zhang Fang's men were becoming restless and planned to move the emperor to Yong's base in Chang'an. In December 304, Zhang Fang ordered Emperor Hui out of the city to stay at the ramparts. The emperor was reluctant at first, but Lu Zhi persuaded him to follow Zhang Fang's command. At this point, many of the ministers had fled and gone into hiding, but only Lu Zhi stayed by the emperor's side. While Emperor Hui was away, Zhang Fang's men began pillaging Luoyang. Zhang Fang even planned to burn down the Ancestral Temple, but Lu Zhi intervened and said, "In the past, Dong Zhuo was a tyrant who burned down Luoyang, and the resentment towards him has lasted for a hundred years. Why would you want to imitate that?" Thus, Zhang Fang decided against it.[12] After three days, Zhang Fang brought Emperor Hui to Chang'an, and Lu Zhi followed them. There, Sima Ying was demoted from his position as Crown Younger Prince, while Lu Zhi was stripped of his position.
After Sima Ying's removal edit
In 305, using the pretext of the emperor's forced relocation to Chang'an, Sima Yue began a coalition against Sima Yong. At the same time, a general of Sima Ying, Gongshi Fan, also rebelled in Hebei in protest of the prince's removal from power. Faced with multiple threats from the east, Sima Yong assigned Ying to Ye to appease Gongshi Fan's rebels. Lu Zhi was also brought back as Administrator of Wei Commandery and then promoted to General of the Left to follow Ying to his post.[13] However, after the two left for Ye, they were blocked by the Duke of Pingchang, Sima Mo's forces at Luoyang, so they returned to Chang'an.
Before they could arrive, there were news that Sima Yong was suing for peace with Sima Yue, so Ying went to Huayin (華陰; in modern Weinan, Shaanxi) instead. Lu Zhi continued to Chang'an, where he explained his actions and apologized to the court before returning to Ying at Wuguan.[14] From Wuguan, they fled to Nanyang but were attacked by the general, Liu Tao (劉陶), so they planned to go to Hebei to join Gongshi Fan. However, Ying was caught and placed under house arrest by the Prince of Fanyang, Sima Xiao in Ye. After Xiao died at the end of 306, his Chief Clerk, Liu Yu, had Ying killed during the night. By the time of Ying's death, all of his subordinates had already left him, but Lu Zhi remained with him until the end. He personally carried out the prince's funeral and subsequently became a subject of praise at the time.[15]
Final years and death edit
After the death of Sima Ying, Lu Zhi was appointed by Sima Yue as an Army Libationer-Consultant. He was then transferred to Commandant of the Guards, and by 311, he was serving as the Master of Writing.
In 311, Luoyang fell to Han-Zhao forces and Emperor Huai of Jin was captured in an event known as the Disaster of Yongjia. Lu Zhi brought his wife and sons north to join the Inspector of Bingzhou, Liu Kun, who was resisting the growing Han threat. However, they were captured by Han-Zhao forces at Yangyi (陽邑; in present-day Handan, Hebei) and sent to the Han capital, Pingyang. There are two accounts of Lu Zhi's death. According to the entry of his eldest son, Lu Chen (盧諶; note the different character from his cousin) in the Book of Jin, after Liu Kun recaptured his base, Jinyang in 312, Lu Chen fled Han-Zhao to join him. As a result, Lu Zhi and his two other sons, Lu Mi and Lu Shen (盧詵), were executed.[16][17]
The second account comes from the biography of the Han emperor, Liu Cong in the Book of Jin. After his capture, Lu Zhi was appointed by Liu Cong as the Grand Instructor of the Crown Yonger Brother, Liu Ai (劉乂). In 315, Lu Zhi and his fellow former Jin officials, Xu Xia (許遐) and Cui Wei (崔瑋), plotted to get Liu Ai to rebel against Liu Cong. Liu Ai was losing favour as he was constantly slandered by Liu Cong's eldest son, Liu Can and his supporters, but he refused to go along with the conspirators' plans. After the official, Xun Yu (荀裕), revealed their plot, Lu Zhi, Xu Xia and Cui Wei were arrested, interrogated and executed.[18]
References edit
- ^ (志字子道，初辟公府掾、尚書郎，出為鄴令。成都王穎之鎮鄴也，愛其才量，委以心膂，遂為謀主。) Jin Shu, vol.44
- ^ (穎召志計事，志曰：「趙王無道，肆行篡逆，四海人神，莫不憤怒。今殿下總率三軍，應期電發，子來之眾，不召自至。掃夷凶逆，必有征無戰。然兵事至重，聖人所慎。宜旌賢任才，以收時望。」穎深然之，改選上佐，高辟掾屬，以志為諮議參軍，仍補左長史，專掌文翰。) Jin Shu, vol.44
- ^ (穎欲退保朝歌，盧志、王彥曰：「今我軍失利，敵新得志，有輕我之心。我若退縮，士氣沮衂，不可復用。且戰何能無勝負！不若更選精兵，星行倍道，出敵不意，此用兵之奇也。」) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.84
- ^ (及倫敗，志勸穎曰：「齊王眾號百萬，與張泓等相持不能決，大王逕得濟河，此之大勳，莫之與比，而齊王今當與大王共輔朝政。志聞兩雄不俱處，功名不並立，今宜因太妃微疾，求還定省，推崇齊王，徐結四海之心，此計之上也。」) Jin Shu, vol.44
- ^ (穎形美而神昏，不知書，然器性敦厚，委事於志，故得成其美焉。及齊王冏驕侈無禮，於是眾望歸之。) Jin Shu, vol.59
- ^ (盧志言於穎曰：「黃橋戰亡者有八千餘人，既經夏暑，露骨中野，可為傷惻。昔周王葬枯骨，故《詩》云'行有死人，尚或墐之'。況此等致死王事乎！」穎乃造棺八千餘枚，以成都國秩為衣服，斂祭，葬于黃橋北，樹枳籬為之塋域。又立都祭堂，刊石立碑，紀其赴義之功，使亡者之家四時祭祀有所。仍表其門閭，加常戰亡二等。又命河內溫縣埋藏趙倫戰死士卒萬四千餘人。) Jin Shu, vol.59
- ^ (及河間王顒納李含之說，欲內除二王，樹穎儲副，遣報穎，穎將應之，志正諫，不從。) Jin Shu, vol.44
- ^ (盧志諫曰：「公前有大功而委權辭寵，時望美矣。今若頓軍關外，文服入朝，此霸主之事也。」) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.85
- ^ (乘與敗于蕩陰，穎遣志督兵迎帝。) Jin Shu, vol.44
- ^ (及王浚攻鄴，志勸穎奉天子還洛陽。時甲士尚萬五千人，志夜部分，至曉，眾皆成列，而程太妃戀鄴不欲去，穎未能決。俄而眾潰，唯志與子謐、兄子綝、殿中武賁千人而已，志復勸穎早發。) Jin Shu, vol.44
- ^ (時有道士姓黃，號曰聖人，太妃信之。及使呼人，道士求兩杯酒，飲訖，拋杯而去，於是志計始決。而人馬復散，志于營陣間尋索，得數乘鹿車，司馬督韓玄收集黃門，得百餘人...於是禦犢車便發。屯騎校尉郝昌先領兵八千守洛陽，帝召之，至汲郡而昌至，兵仗甚盛。志喜於復振，啟天子宜下赦書，與百姓同其休慶。既達洛陽，志啟以滿奮為司隸校尉。奔散者多還，百官粗備，帝悅，賜志絹二百匹、綿百斤、衣一襲、鶴綾袍一領。) Jin Shu, vol.44
- ^ (時羣臣皆逃匿，唯中書監盧志侍側，曰：「陛下今日之事，當一從右將軍。」帝遂幸方壘，令方具車載宮人、寶物... 方將焚宗廟、宮室以絕人返顧之心，盧志曰：「董卓無道，焚燒洛陽，怨毒之聲，百年猶存，何爲襲之！」乃止。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.85
- ^ (及東海王越奉迎大駕，顒啟帝復穎還鄴，以志為魏郡太守。) Jin Shu, vol.44
- ^ (加左將軍，隨穎北鎮。行達洛陽，而平昌公模遣前鋒督護馮嵩距穎。穎還長安，未至而聞顒斬張方，求和於越。穎住華陰，志進長安，詣闕陳謝，即還就穎于武關。) Jin Shu, vol.44
- ^ (及穎薨，官屬奔散，唯志親自殯送，時人嘉之。越命志為軍諮祭酒，遷衛尉，永嘉末，轉尚書。) Jin Shu, vol.44
- ^ (至陽邑，為劉粲所虜，與次子謐、詵等俱遇害於平陽。) Jin Shu, vol.44
- ^ (粲敗走，諶得赴琨，先父母兄弟在平陽者，悉為劉聰所害。) Jin Shu, vol.44
- ^ (雨血於其東宮延明殿，徹瓦在地者深五寸。劉乂惡之，以訪其太師盧志、太傅崔瑋、太保許遐。志等曰：「主上往以殿下為太弟者，蓋以安眾望也，志在晉王久矣，王公已下莫不希旨歸之。相國之位，自魏武已來，非復人臣之官，主上本發明詔，置之為贈官，今忽以晉王居之，羽儀威尊逾于東宮，萬機之事無不由之，置太宰、大將軍及諸王之營以為羽翼，此事勢去矣，殿下不得立明也。然非止不得立而已，不測之危厄在於旦夕，宜早為之所。四衛精兵不減五千，余營諸王皆年齒尚幼，可奪而取之。相國輕佻，正可煩一刺客耳。大將軍無日不出，其營可襲而得也。殿下但當有意，二萬精兵立便可得，鼓行向雲龍門，宿衛之士孰不倒戈奉迎，大司馬不慮為異也。」乂弗從，乃止... 東宮舍人荀裕告盧志等勸乂謀反，乂不從之狀。聰於是收志、瑋、遐於詔獄，假以他事殺之。) Jin Shu, vol.102
- Fang, Xuanling (ed.) (648). Book of Jin (Jin Shu).
- Sima, Guang (1084). Zizhi Tongjian.