Xi Zheng

Historical Record

Xi Zheng, courtesy name Lingxian, was a native of Yanshi in Henan. His grandfather Xi Jian had once served as Inspector of Yi Province but was killed by bandits in the last years of Emperor Ling. Amid the chaos that engulfed the realm, Xi Zheng's father Xi Yi therefore remained in the land of Shu. Xi Yi later became a commander under the general Meng Da and surrendered to Wei together with Meng Da, serving as a Clerk in the Central Secretariat (zhongshu lingshi). Xi Zheng was originally named Zuan; orphaned of both parents in childhood, his mother remarried, and he was left alone, yet he was able to find contentment in poverty and delight in the Way, studying diligently and reading widely. By the age of capping he could compose essays, and on first entering office he served as a Clerk of the Secretariat (bishu li), later transferring to Clerk (lingshi) and finally rising to Gentleman (lang) and Director (ling)^[1].

Xi Zheng was by nature indifferent to fame and gain, and especially devoted to literature and learning. He ranged widely over the surviving writings and rhapsodies of masters such as Sima Qian, Wang Bao, Yang Xiong, Ban Gu, Fu Yi, Zhang Heng, and Cai Yong, as well as the fine prose and excellent discourses then current; whatever classics Yi Province possessed, he would study deeply, reading almost everything. During his service in inner posts, he lived as a neighbor of the eunuch Huang Hao for thirty years. Huang Hao rose from lowly station to honor, gaining and wielding power, but Xi Zheng neither won Huang Hao's favor nor incurred his hatred. As a result, his office never exceeded six hundred *shi*, yet he was thereby spared misfortune^[1].

In the sixth year of Jingyao, the Later Sovereign Liu Shan, adopting the advice of Qiao Zhou, sent envoys to offer surrender to Deng Ai, and the letter of surrender was composed by Xi Zheng. In the first month of the following year, Zhong Hui raised a revolt at Chengdu, and the Later Sovereign Liu Shan moved east to Luoyang. At that time, amid the confusion and haste, few among the great ministers of Shu Han were willing to accompany him; only Xi Zheng and the Palace Supervisor Zhang Tong of Runan abandoned their wives and children to attend him alone. The Later Sovereign Liu Shan, relying on Xi Zheng's guidance and careful arrangements, conducted himself properly throughout the journey without error. Liu Shan sighed with feeling over this, regretting that he had not come to know Xi Zheng earlier, and the opinion of the day greatly praised it. Xi Zheng was therefore granted the rank of Marquis Within the Passes (guannei hou). During the Taishi era, he was appointed Magistrate of Anyang and later promoted to Administrator of Baxi. In the eighth year of Taishi, Emperor Wu of Jin issued an edict praising Xi Zheng: "Formerly at Chengdu, Zheng held to righteousness through adversity and did not betray his loyal duty; once employed, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to his duties and achieved results in governance. Let Zheng be made Administrator of Baxi." In the fourth year of Xianning, Xi Zheng died. He was prolific throughout his life, his poems, discourses, rhapsodies, and other works amounting to as many as a hundred pieces^[2].

Xi Zheng had once studied under Meng Guang. Meng Guang once asked Xi Zheng about the heir apparent Liu Shan's studies, temperament, and preferences. Xi Zheng replied: "The heir apparent serves his parents with reverence, is diligent from dawn to night, and has the bearing of the ancient heirs apparent; in receiving his officials, his conduct springs from benevolence and forbearance." But Meng Guang said: "What you describe are the merits of an ordinary household; what I asked was to know how he stands in expedient strategy and ingenuity." Xi Zheng explained: "The way of the heir apparent lies in conforming to and complying with his father's will, in exerting himself fully to give pleasure; he can neither act at his own discretion, and moreover ingenuity is kept within the breast and expedient strategy issues forth as the moment demands—whether he has these, how can it be settled in advance?" Meng Guang, understanding Xi Zheng's caution and unwillingness to speak rashly, said: "I am fond of speaking bluntly and shrinking from nothing, often pricking the ills of the times, and am often resented by the world. I suppose you too may not much care for my words, but words have their own reason. Now the realm is not yet settled, and ingenuity comes first; ingenuity, though inborn, cannot be forced. As for the studies of the heir apparent—must they, like ours, exert every effort at broad learning in order to await inquiry, like erudites examining policy questions and lecturing to seek rank? One must attend to what is urgent." Xi Zheng deeply agreed^[3].

In the Novel

In the *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Xi Zheng's image is, on the basis of the historical record, given greater literary color and plot involvement. He is not only a civil official at the side of the Later Sovereign Liu Shan but also plays an important role at critical moments.

In the autumn of the sixteenth year of Yanxi, Jiang Wei led troops to campaign against Wei and, after consulting with Xiahou Ba, decided to take Nan'an first. Jiang Wei dispatched Xi Zheng as an envoy, bearing gold, pearls, and Shu brocade, to go to the Qiang and form an alliance with the Qiang king Mi Dang. Having received the gifts, Mi Dang raised an army of fifty thousand, with the Qiang general Ehesha'oge as grand vanguard, leading troops toward Nan'an^[4]. This episode is not clearly recorded in the histories and is an addition in the novel to advance the progress of Jiang Wei's Northern Expeditions.

After Jiang Wei returned from campaign, the Later Sovereign Liu Shan held no court for ten days running, and Jiang Wei was puzzled. Xi Zheng met Jiang Wei at the Donghua Gate and disclosed to him the inside story—that Huang Hao wished to have Yan Yu win merit and had therefore recalled Jiang Wei. Hearing this, Jiang Wei flew into a rage and wished to kill Huang Hao, but Xi Zheng dissuaded him, pointing out that the Grand General bore heavy responsibilities and should not act rashly lest it backfire^[5]. Afterward, when Jiang Wei, having an audience with Liu Shan, bitterly denounced Huang Hao's villainy and requested his execution but failed, he sought out Xi Zheng again in indignation. Xi Zheng then offered Jiang Wei a plan, advising him to go garrison-farm at Dazhong, following the precedent of the Martial Marquis, so as to avoid Huang Hao's harm, while taking the chance to plot for the commanderies of Longyou and at the same time holding military power, thereby preserving the state and securing himself. Jiang Wei adopted Xi Zheng's advice and petitioned the Later Sovereign to go garrison-farm at Dazhong^[6]. These episodes are likewise not recorded in detail in the histories and are a further shaping in the novel of Xi Zheng's resourcefulness and loyalty to the state.

When Deng Ai took Jiangyou and his troops bore down on Fucheng, urgent dispatches from across Shu flew into Chengdu like snowflakes. The Later Sovereign Liu Shan gathered his ministers to discuss countermeasures, and the ministers looked at one another, none daring to speak. At this point Xi Zheng stepped forward and petitioned Liu Shan to summon the Martial Marquis's son Zhuge Zhan to discuss a plan to repel the enemy^[7]. This detail highlights Xi Zheng's clear-headedness and sense of responsibility at a moment of crisis.

After Liu Shan surrendered to Jin, he was enfeoffed as Duke of Anle. At Luoyang, Sima Zhao held a banquet for Liu Shan and deliberately arranged a performance of Shu music; the Shu officials all grew grieved and wept, while Liu Shan alone laughed and made merry as if nothing were amiss. When Sima Zhao asked Liu Shan whether he missed Shu, Liu Shan answered, "It is pleasant here; I do not miss Shu." Afterward, Xi Zheng followed Liu Shan to the side chamber and instructed him that, if asked again, he should answer in tears: "My ancestors' graves lie far off in the land of Shu; my heart grieves toward the west, and not a day passes that I do not long for it," in hopes that Sima Zhao might release Liu Shan to return to Shu. When Sima Zhao asked again, Liu Shan answered as Xi Zheng had taught, but, wishing to weep yet having no tears, he closed his eyes. Sima Zhao saw through that the words seemed to come from Xi Zheng; Liu Shan, panic-stricken, admitted that Xi Zheng had taught him. Sima Zhao was therefore deeply pleased at Liu Shan's honesty and no longer harbored suspicion^[8]. This classic episode of "happy and not missing Shu" casts Xi Zheng as a loyal minister who, even after the fall of his state, did not forget to scheme for his former sovereign, although his plan ended in comedy.

Key Relationships

* Meng Guang (student_of): Xi Zheng was once a student of Meng Guang and consulted him. In his dialogue with Xi Zheng, Meng Guang displayed his concern for the heir apparent Liu Shan's expedient strategy and ingenuity, while also reflecting Xi Zheng's caution and his loyalty to the sovereign^[3].
* Shu Han (serves): Xi Zheng served Shu Han throughout his life, holding posts as Clerk of the Secretariat, Clerk, Gentleman, and Director, and was still posthumously honored after surrendering to Jin. He composed the letter of surrender for the Later Sovereign Liu Shan, and when Liu Shan moved east to Luoyang, he abandoned his wife and children to attend him, displaying his loyalty to Shu Han^[2].
* Huang Hao (rival_of): For thirty years Xi Zheng worked alongside the eunuch Huang Hao in inner posts, as Huang Hao rose from lowliness to honor and wielded power. Yet Xi Zheng neither won Huang Hao's favor nor incurred his hatred, and so, though his office remained low, he was spared misfortune^[1]. In the novel, when Jiang Wei wished to kill Huang Hao for monopolizing power, Xi Zheng dissuaded him and offered him a plan to avoid harm, indirectly reflecting Huang Hao's negative influence on court affairs and Xi Zheng's way of prudently preserving himself^[5].
* Liu Shan (advises_in): As a close minister of Liu Shan, Xi Zheng once appraised Liu Shan's character to Meng Guang. At the fall of Shu Han, he composed the letter of surrender for Liu Shan and attended him throughout his move east, making careful arrangements for him. Liu Shan therefore sighed with regret that he had come to know Xi Zheng too late^[2]. In the novel, Xi Zheng offered Jiang Wei a plan to avoid Huang Hao's harm, and devised counsel for Liu Shan in the "happy and not missing Shu" affair at the Jin court, trying to give Liu Shan a chance to return to Shu^[8].
* Jiang Wei (advises): In the novel, Xi Zheng once served as an envoy to the Qiang to form an alliance for Jiang Wei, aiding his Northern Expedition^[4]. He also dissuaded Jiang Wei from acting rashly over Huang Hao, and advised him to go garrison-farm at Dazhong in order to avoid harm and seek advancement^[6] (novel-only).

Iconic Scenes

* Composing the letter of surrender and attending the Later Sovereign's move east: In the sixth year of Jingyao, the Later Sovereign Liu Shan, following Qiao Zhou's plan, sent envoys to offer surrender to Deng Ai, and the letter of surrender was composed by Xi Zheng. In the first month of the following year, when Zhong Hui revolted at Chengdu and the Later Sovereign moved east to Luoyang, few of Shu Han's great ministers accompanied him; only Xi Zheng and the Palace Supervisor Zhang Tong of Runan abandoned their wives and children to attend him alone. The Later Sovereign, relying on Xi Zheng's guidance and careful arrangements, conducted himself properly throughout the journey without error. Liu Shan sighed with feeling over this, regretting that he had come to know Xi Zheng too late^[2]. This scene fully displays Xi Zheng's literary talent and his loyalty to his former sovereign.
* Dissuading Jiang Wei and advising garrison-farming at Dazhong: When Jiang Wei wished to kill Huang Hao for monopolizing power, Xi Zheng dissuaded him from acting rashly. Xi Zheng then offered Jiang Wei a plan, advising him to go garrison-farm at Dazhong to avoid Huang Hao's harm, while taking the chance to plot for the commanderies of Longyou and at the same time holding military power, thereby preserving the state and securing himself. Jiang Wei adopted Xi Zheng's advice and petitioned the Later Sovereign to go garrison-farm at Dazhong^[6] (novel-only). This scene highlights Xi Zheng's resourcefulness in an age of chaos and his consideration for the overall interests of the state.
* The "happy and not missing Shu" plan: After Liu Shan surrendered to Jin, Sima Zhao held a banquet, and Liu Shan at the feast displayed the attitude of "It is pleasant here; I do not miss Shu." Afterward, Xi Zheng followed Liu Shan to the side chamber and instructed him that, if asked again whether he missed Shu, he should answer in tears: "My ancestors' graves lie far off in the land of Shu; my heart grieves toward the west, and not a day passes that I do not long for it," in hopes that Sima Zhao might release Liu Shan to return to Shu^[8] (novel-only). This scene is one of Xi Zheng's most widely known episodes in the novel, displaying his loyalty to his former sovereign and his effort to retrieve the situation; though it ended in Liu Shan's "honesty," it gave rise to the everlasting jest of "happy and not missing Shu."
* Working alongside Huang Hao for thirty years yet escaping misfortune: Xi Zheng lived as a neighbor of the eunuch Huang Hao in inner posts for thirty years. Huang Hao rose from lowly station to honor and wielded power, yet Xi Zheng neither won his favor nor incurred his hatred. As a result, his office never exceeded six hundred *shi*, yet he was thereby spared misfortune^[1]. This scene reveals Xi Zheng's character of indifference to fame and gain and prudent self-preservation, by which he kept himself safe in a complex political environment.