Yuan Huan

史载（Historical Record）

Yuan Huan, styled Gongxi, was renowned for his pure, plain, and undesiring character, and for never speaking of others' faults. Amid the turbulent power struggles of the late Han, he was able to keep himself untainted, unburdened by likes and hatreds. At a time when many young nobles behaved with excess, Yuan Huan was able to keep himself quiet and self-possessed, his conduct conforming to propriety^[1]. After he was appointed Merit Officer by the commandery office, all the corrupt officials of the commandery withdrew of their own accord. Later he was summoned to the office of a duke, ranked in the highest grade, promoted to Attending Censor, and appointed Magistrate of Qiao, though he did not take up the post. When Liu Bei served as Governor of Yu Province, he recommended Yuan Huan as a Flourishing Talent.

When the late Han fell into great chaos, Yuan Huan took refuge in the Jianghuai region and was summoned by Yuan Shu. Whenever Yuan Shu consulted him on government affairs, Yuan Huan always offered fair opinions; though Yuan Shu could not refute him, he still respected him and dared not fail to treat him with courtesy^[1]. Soon afterward, Lü Bu attacked Yuan Shu at Fuling, and Yuan Huan, who had accompanied Yuan Shu, was detained by Lü Bu. Lü Bu had at first been on good terms with Liu Bei, but later the relationship broke down. Lü Bu wanted Yuan Huan to write a letter reviling Liu Bei, but Yuan Huan firmly refused. Lü Bu pressed him again and again, but Yuan Huan still would not consent. Enraged, Lü Bu threatened Yuan Huan with a weapon, saying, "Write it and you live; refuse and you die." Yuan Huan's expression did not change; he laughed and answered, "I have heard that only virtue can shame a man; I have never heard of shaming a man by cursing. If Liu Bei is truly a gentleman, he will pay no heed to the General's words; if he is truly a base man, he will repay the General's intent in kind, and then the shame will fall upon the General, not upon him. Moreover, I once served General Liu just as I serve you, General, today; if one day I were to leave here and then turn back to curse you, General, would that be acceptable?" Hearing this, Lü Bu felt ashamed and ceased to press him^[1].

After Lü Bu was executed, Yuan Huan was able to submit to Cao Cao. At that time, Chen Qun and his father were also in Lü Bu's army, and on seeing Cao Cao they all bowed low; only Yuan Huan made a high bow and did not kneel, for which Cao Cao held him in great awe^[2]. Cao Cao then gave each of his officers several carts and let them freely take goods from Lü Bu's army. The others vied to load up and return, but Yuan Huan alone took only a few hundred scrolls of books and some grain. When the others learned of this, they were all deeply ashamed. Yuan Huan said to those close to him, "If I can use these things to wage war, then they are marching provisions, not my private property. Yet because of this my name has been exalted, which I deeply regret." Cao Cao therefore esteemed him all the more^[2].

Yuan Huan advised Cao Cao, pointing out that weapons are instruments of ill omen, to be used only when there is no alternative. He stressed that one should transform people through virtue, campaign through benevolence and righteousness, and both comfort the people and remove their afflictions. He held that, in the more than ten years since the great chaos, the people longed for stability, yet violence had not ceased—perhaps because the government had lost the Way. He advised Cao Cao to quell disorder with righteousness and suppress falsehood with simplicity, stressing that while institutions may be increased or diminished according to the times, the principle of loving all under Heaven and aiding force with virtue is the unchanging Way of a hundred kings. Cao Cao deeply accepted his words^[2]. Yuan Huan was appointed Commandant of the Southern Section of Pei. At that time Cao Cao had newly recruited the people to open up agricultural colonies, but the people were unwilling and many fled. Yuan Huan advised Cao Cao that the people cling to their land and are loath to move, and that one should not change things abruptly but follow their wishes—taking only those willing and not forcing the unwilling. Cao Cao followed his advice, and the people rejoiced greatly^[3].

Yuan Huan was later promoted to Chancellor of Liang. He admonished the officials of every county to be sure to show care for widowers, widows, and the aged, and to commend filial sons and chaste women. He held that "in an orderly age ritual is detailed; in a chaotic age ritual is simplified," and that the key lay in weighing the circumstances. In governance he prized moral transformation, deliberating thoroughly before acting, gentle in outward appearance yet resolute within^[3]. He once handled a case in which Lü Qi, the Chief of the Liang state, had arbitrarily killed Zhu Yuan and Yuan Jin. Lü Qi had had Zhu Yuan and Yuan Jin beaten to death for refusing office, which provoked controversy. Yuan Huan argued against impeaching Lü Qi, holding that although Zhu Yuan and the others had not committed capital crimes, a chief official's exercise of execution was not without warrant. He pointed out that a ruler establishes offices of teacher and friend in order to honor his ministers, while crimes are dealt with according to the law of the state, and the two must not be confused. He stressed that the sage and wise govern the world by observing the times and acting accordingly, without rigidly adhering to fixed law. After Yuan Huan left office due to illness, the people sorely missed him. Later he was summoned to be Grand Counselor and Libationer of the Chancellor's Army. Over time he received many rewards, but he gave them all away, keeping no savings at home and never acquiring property; when in want, he simply asked others for it. He did not pursue a reputation for incorruptibility, yet the people of his time all admired his lofty integrity^[3].

演中（In the Novel）

Romance of the Three Kingdoms does not give Yuan Huan an independent characterization; his deeds and image largely follow the historical record, without significant literary embellishment or departure from the facts. Thus in the novel, Yuan Huan's image is essentially consistent with the quiet, courteous, upright, and resolute figure of the histories, with no added dramatic episodes or dialogue. For example, the scene of his refusing under Lü Bu's threat to revile Liu Bei, though not directly depicted in the novel, accords with the historical record of his being "gentle in outward appearance yet resolute within"^[3], embodying his side of holding fast to principle. The novel likewise does not mention his exchanges with Cao Cao as lord and minister, nor such details as his counsel on the agricultural-colony policy; but these historical facts do not conflict with the novel's main storyline, nor are they contradicted by it.

关键关系

* Yuan Shu's Faction (serves): While taking refuge in the Jianghuai region, Yuan Huan was summoned by Yuan Shu. He often offered Yuan Shu fair opinions, and though Yuan Shu could not resist his upright arguments, he still respected him and treated him with courtesy^[1].
* Lü Bu's faction (serves): Yuan Huan was detained by Lü Bu when the latter attacked Yuan Shu, and was forced into Lü Bu's service. During this time he displayed his upright and unyielding character^[1].
* Lü Bu (rival_of): Although Yuan Huan was within Lü Bu's camp, the two were in fundamental conflict in values and conduct. Lü Bu forced him to revile Liu Bei, but Yuan Huan firmly refused, even staking his life on it, embodying the opposition between them^[1].
* Liu Bei (friend_of): When Liu Bei served as Governor of Yu Province, he recommended Yuan Huan as a Flourishing Talent. Under Lü Bu's threats, Yuan Huan would rather die than revile Liu Bei, showing his respect and friendship for him^[1].
* Cao Cao (serves): After Lü Bu's execution, Yuan Huan submitted to Cao Cao. Cao Cao greatly esteemed his character and ability, adopted his advice, and appointed him to important offices. Yuan Huan also offered Cao Cao much beneficial counsel on governance^[2].

标志性场景

* Refusing under Lü Bu's coercion to revile Liu Bei: After Lü Bu fell out with Liu Bei, he forced Yuan Huan to write a letter reviling him. Yuan Huan would rather die than comply; facing Lü Bu's threat of a weapon, his expression did not change, and he refuted Lü Bu with the words "only virtue can shame a man; I have never heard of it done by cursing," at last making Lü Bu ashamed and causing him to desist. This scene fully displays Yuan Huan's upright, unbending character and his fidelity to principle^[1].
* Taking only books when submitting to Cao Cao: After Lü Bu's execution, Yuan Huan submitted to Cao Cao. While the others vied to haul away goods, he took only a few hundred scrolls of books and some grain, declaring these were for marching, not private property. This act shamed the others and led Cao Cao to esteem him all the more, manifesting his lofty detachment and indifference to wealth^[2].
* Advising on the agricultural colonies to comfort the people: When Cao Cao promoted the agricultural-colony policy, many of the people fled. Yuan Huan advised Cao Cao that the people cling to their land and are loath to move, and should not be forced but allowed to follow their wishes. After Cao Cao adopted his advice, the people rejoiced greatly. This embodies Yuan Huan's compassion for the people's circumstances and his benevolent approach to governance^[3].