Zhao Yu

Historical Record

Zhao Yu, courtesy name unknown, a native of Langya, was a renowned gentleman of the Xu Province region in the late Eastern Han. According to Xie Cheng's Book of Han, Zhao Yu displayed filial piety and diligent study from childhood. When he was thirteen, his mother fell gravely ill for three months, and Zhao Yu was so anxious that he could not sleep day or night, even casting grain in divination and praying until he wept blood; his filial conduct was praised throughout the village. He studied the Gongyang Commentary under the retired scholar Qiwu Jun of Dongguan, and also mastered the classics broadly. During his studies he immersed himself in reading, never concerning himself with gardens and orchards, and relatives and friends rarely saw his face; only when his parents needed attending did he briefly return home. Zhao Yu was a man of lofty purity and uprightness, who scrupulously kept to propriety, was pure and rigorous, and was not moved by worldly convention; he extolled good deeds to teach the world and denounced evil to correct customs^[1].

The provinces and commanderies repeatedly summoned Zhao Yu, but he always declined on grounds of illness. Even when the chancellors Tan Mo and Chen Zun summoned him repeatedly, and grew greatly angry over it, Zhao Yu remained unmoved throughout. Later he was recommended as a man of filial piety and integrity and appointed Chief of Ju. In that post he promoted the five teachings, and his administrative achievements became a model for the state. However, when the Yellow Turban rebels ran rampant across five commanderies and the commanderies and counties raised troops to suppress them, Zhao Yu was credited with the foremost merit. Ba Zhi, Inspector of Xu Province, thereupon memorialized to commend his achievement, but Zhao Yu took deep shame in it and resigned his office to return home^[1].

Tao Qian, Governor of Xu Province, first appointed Zhao Yu as Attendant Officer of the Separate Carriage, and Zhao Yu again declined on grounds of illness. Unwilling to give up, Tao Qian sent the Yangzhou attendant officer Wu Fan of Kuaiji to convey his order, but Zhao Yu still held firm to his resolve and refused to take office. Only when Tao Qian even threatened him with punishment did Zhao Yu finally answer the summons. Thereafter Zhao Yu was recommended as a man of outstanding talent and was promoted to Grand Administrator of Guangling. Later, when the rebel general Ze Rong was attacked in the Linhuai region and fled into the territory of Guangling Commandery, Zhao Yu led troops to resist him but was defeated in battle and ultimately met his death^[1].

The Records of the Three Kingdoms relates that after Dong Zhuo's Coup, the provinces and commanderies raised troops, the Son of Heaven moved the capital to Chang'an, and communications in all directions were cut off. Tao Qian sent envoys by byways to pay tribute to the court and was appointed General Who Pacifies the East and Governor of Xu Province, and enfeoffed as Marquis of Liyang. At that time the people of Xu Province were prosperous, grain was abundant, and many displaced refugees came to take refuge. Yet Tao Qian departed from the right path and acted on his whims: he estranged himself from such renowned gentlemen of Xu Province as Zhao Yu of Langya, Grand Administrator of Guangling, because Zhao Yu was loyal and forthright^[1]. Instead, Tao Qian drew close to slanderous petty men like Cao Hong, leading to discord in punishment and governance, so that many good people suffered harm and Xu Province gradually fell into chaos. Que Xuan of Xiapi proclaimed himself Son of Heaven, and Tao Qian at first joined him in plunder, but later killed Que Xuan and absorbed his followers^[1].

In the Novel

The Romance of the Three Kingdoms does not portray Zhao Yu as an independent figure or describe him in detail. Within the narrative framework of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhao Yu does not appear as a major character, nor does any plot directly involve his life and deeds. Therefore the novel contains no literary portrayal of Zhao Yu, and his image and experiences depend entirely on the historical record. Although the novel's depiction of Tao Qian mentions that he "had no compassion for the people's feelings" and "harmed the loyal and good," it does not specifically point out the episode of Zhao Yu being estranged by him and ultimately meeting his death; this contrasts with the historical record that "Tao Qian departed from the right path and acted on his whims: Zhao Yu of Langya, Grand Administrator of Guangling, a renowned gentleman of the Xu region, was estranged for his loyalty and forthrightness," and represents the novel's simplification or omission of the source material^[1].

Key Relationships

* Tao Qian (Rival_of): Zhao Yu's relationship with Tao Qian is a key chapter in his life. The historical record clearly states that Zhao Yu was a "renowned gentleman of the Xu region," famed for his loyalty and forthrightness, yet was estranged by Tao Qian for exactly that reason^[1]. During his tenure as Governor of Xu Province, Tao Qian departed from the right path and employed crafty flatterers, leading to discord in punishment and governance, and Zhao Yu was one of the victims of his "departing from the path to act on his whims." Although Tao Qian once forcibly summoned Zhao Yu to office, in the end he cast him aside for his loyalty and forthrightness, and even indirectly brought about Zhao Yu's tragic end. This relationship reflects the conflict between an upright man and a muddled, tyrannical ruler in an age of chaos.

Iconic Scenes

* Resigning office to return home, and being forced back into service: During his tenure as Chief of Ju, Zhao Yu was credited with merit for suppressing the Yellow Turban rebels, yet took deep shame in it and resolutely resigned to return home. This reflects his lofty character and his aspiration not to covet fame and merit. However, Tao Qian, Governor of Xu Province, summoned him again with heavy orders, even threatening punishment, so that Zhao Yu was finally forced into service as Grand Administrator of Guangling^[1]. This scene displays Zhao Yu's determination to hold to his principles, as well as the helplessness of an individual's fate in an age of chaos.

* Resisting Ze Rong at Guangling Commandery and meeting his death: During his tenure as Grand Administrator of Guangling, Zhao Yu, facing the rebel general Ze Rong who had fled into the commandery's territory, led troops to resist him, but was ultimately defeated in battle and killed^[1]. This was the final scene of Zhao Yu's life and an expression of his loyal, courageous fulfillment of duty. Although the historical record does not describe the battle in detail, this event marks the tragic end of this loyal and forthright gentleman, and also reflects, from the side, the turbulent and unsettled state of the regions in the late Eastern Han.