Zhong Yu

Historical Record

Zhong Yu, styled Zhishu, was a native of Changshe in Yingchuan, his father being the Grand Tutor Zhong Yao. At the age of only fourteen he was appointed Cavalier Attendant Gentleman, and through his quick wit, ready repartee, and easy conversation displayed something of his father's manner^[1]. In the Taihe era, when the Shu Han Chancellor Zhuge Liang besieged Mount Qi and Emperor Ming of Wei wished to lead a personal campaign, Zhong Yu submitted a memorial of remonstrance, pointing out that "in strategy what is prized is victory won in the temple, and in merit what is esteemed is success won within the tent; one need not descend from the hall to decide victory a thousand li away," advising the emperor to garrison the central lands so as to serve as a backing for his might in all directions, and emphasizing that to march in the height of summer was not a wise course^[1]. Thereafter he was promoted to Gentleman of the Yellow Gate. At that time the palaces of Luoyang were under great construction, and the emperor toured to Xu Chang; because the city of Xu Chang was small and cramped, a hall was put up of felt south of the city, taxing the people's strength. Zhong Yu again remonstrated, holding that in a time of untimely floods and droughts and an empty treasury, one should wait for a year of abundance before undertaking such things, and recommending the opening of the wastelands within the passes and the encouragement of the people to farm^[1]. These suggestions were all adopted and carried out.

In the Zhengshi era, Zhong Yu was promoted to Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary. The Grand General Cao Shuang raised troops to campaign against Shu in the height of summer, but because the Shu army held firm he could not advance. When Cao Shuang wished to send reinforcements, Zhong Yu wrote to dissuade him, pointing out that "to advance when one sees it is feasible and withdraw when one knows it is difficult is the policy of antiquity," hinting that Cao Shuang should withdraw in good time^[1]. However, Cao Shuang did not heed him and finally returned without success. Zhong Yu thereby lost favor with Cao Shuang and was demoted to Attendant-in-Ordinary, later sent out as Administrator of Wei commandery. After Cao Shuang was executed, Zhong Yu was able to return to the court, serving as Palace Aide to the Censor-in-Chief, Attendant-in-Ordinary, and Commandant of Justice. He proposed allowing subjects to vindicate their deceased lords or fathers, and the rule that a gentleman's wife need not remarry after he had been enfeoffed as a marquis—these were all institutions he created^[1].

In the Zhengyuan era, when Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin rebelled, Zhong Yu went with the staff of authority to Yang Province and Yu Province to proclaim amnesty and instruct the people, and on returning to court served as Secretariat official. When Zhuge Dan rebelled and the Grand General Sima the Prince of Wen (Sima Zhao) wished to lead a personal campaign against Shouchun, some held that, since the Wu general Sun Yi had led his followers to surrender, Wu would not again send out troops for some time. Zhong Yu held that "in assessing affairs and gauging the enemy, one ought to measure others by oneself," pointing out that the troops Sun Yi led were very few and Wu's loss not great, and that if the siege of Shouchun were not lifted, Wu still might send out troops^[2]. Sima Zhao adopted his view and took him along. After the pacification of Huainan, Zhong Yu successively served as Inspector of Qing Province, was additionally made General of the Rear, Commander of the Armies of Xu Province with authority of the staff, and later transferred to Commander of Jing Province. In the fourth year of Jingyuan, Zhong Yu died, and was posthumously granted General of Chariots and Cavalry, with the posthumous title Marquis Hui. His son Zhong Jun inherited the rank^[2].

It is worth mentioning that Zhong Yu once discussed the study of the Changes with Guan Lu, who was able to predict accurately the month of his birth, leaving Zhong Yu greatly astonished; but Zhong Yu said, "Death I entrust to Heaven, not to you," and would not have it predicted further^[3]. According to another record, Zhong Yu once secretly advised Sima the Prince of Wen that his younger brother Zhong Hui "harbors craft and is hard to vouch for; he must not be given sole charge"^[4].

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhong Yu's image is mentioned chiefly through a childhood episode involving his younger brother Zhong Hui, related by the mouth of the Shu Han Grand General Jiang Wei^[5]. In chapter 107 of the novel, Jiang Wei asked the surrendered Xiahou Ba whether Sima Yi and his sons harbored designs upon Shu Han. Xiahou Ba replied that Sima Yi and his sons were indeed plotting treason, but that there were two newcomers in Wei who warranted vigilance, one of whom was Zhong Hui, and mentioned that in his childhood Zhong Hui had once gone with his elder brother Zhong Yu to have an audience with Sima Yi (mistakenly given in the novel as Emperor Wen)^[5].

The novel depicts the following scene: Zhong Yao took his two sons to have an audience with Sima Yi; the elder brother Zhong Yu, aged eight, sweated profusely from nervousness. When Sima Yi asked why he was sweating, Zhong Yu answered, "Trembling with fear and dread, the sweat pours forth like broth." But the seven-year-old Zhong Hui answered fluently, "Trembling and quaking, the sweat dares not come forth," and Sima Yi thereby marveled at Zhong Hui alone^[5]. This episode aims to highlight Zhong Hui's early brilliance and surpassing courage and insight, forming a contrast with the historical image of Zhong Yu as "quick-witted, given to conversation and laughter, with his father's manner"; yet the official histories contain no record of this specific scene. Through this contrast, the novel indirectly shapes a relatively mediocre childhood image of Zhong Yu, at variance with the historical fact that he displayed his talents from his youth. The novel devotes very little ink to Zhong Yu, presenting him mainly as a background figure for Zhong Hui; his political achievements and wisdom are never mentioned in the novel, greatly at odds with the historical image of him repeatedly remonstrating and taking part in military and state affairs^[1].

Key Relationships

* Cao Wei (serves): Zhong Yu served the Cao Wei regime all his life, entering office from his youth and successively holding important posts such as Cavalier Attendant Gentleman, Gentleman of the Yellow Gate, Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, Palace Aide to the Censor-in-Chief, and Commandant of Justice, and serving in the provinces as Administrator of Wei commandery, Inspector of Qing Province, Commander of the Armies of Xu Province, and Commander of Jing Province^[1].
* Cao Shuang (rival_of): Zhong Yu once lost favor with Cao Shuang for remonstrating against his campaign against Shu, being demoted to Attendant-in-Ordinary and later sent out as Administrator of Wei commandery^[1]. This shows that he was politically at odds with Cao Shuang, unafraid of power and adhering to his own views.
* Sima Zhao (advises_in): During Zhuge Dan's rebellion, Zhong Yu advised the Grand General Sima Zhao, analyzing the likelihood of Wu sending out troops; his advice was adopted by Sima Zhao, and he accompanied the army on campaign^[2]. This shows Zhong Yu's talent in military strategy and its recognition by Sima Zhao.
* Zhong Hui (kin_of): Zhong Yu was Zhong Hui's elder brother. The official histories record that Zhong Yu once secretly advised Sima Zhao that Zhong Hui "harbors craft and is hard to vouch for; he must not be given sole charge"^[4], reflecting the complex relationship between the two brothers. The novel, through the scene of their childhood audience with Sima Yi, sets off Zhong Hui's early brilliance from the side, while Zhong Yu appears comparatively inferior (novel only)^[5].

Signature Scenes

* Remonstrating against the emperor's personal campaign and great construction: When Emperor Ming of Wei wished to lead a personal campaign against Mount Qi, Zhong Yu submitted a memorial of remonstrance, emphasizing that "in strategy what is prized is victory won in the temple, and in merit what is esteemed is success won within the tent," opposing the emperor's going personally to the front and pointing out that marching in the height of summer was unsuitable^[1]. Thereafter he again objected to the great construction of the palaces of Luoyang and the building of the felt hall at Xu Chang and other measures that taxed the people's strength, recommending waiting for a year of abundance and advocating the opening of wastelands and the encouragement of farming^[1]. These scenes fully display his foresight as a loyal subject and his sympathy for the people's circumstances.
* Writing to Cao Shuang to urge withdrawal from the Shu campaign: When Cao Shuang's summer campaign against Shu was checked and he wished to send reinforcements, Zhong Yu wrote to urge him to "advance when one sees it is feasible and withdraw when one knows it is difficult," pointing out that the troops of a true king "campaign but do not give battle"^[1]. This scene highlights Zhong Yu's clear-sightedness in military judgment and his courage to remonstrate frankly, even though it led to his temporary loss of favor.
* Analyzing Wu's movements to help Sima Zhao suppress the rebellion: During Zhuge Dan's rebellion, faced with the dispute over whether Wu would send out troops, Zhong Yu, with the strategy of "measuring others by oneself," precisely analyzed the likelihood of Wu sending out troops, and his judgment won Sima Zhao's praise and adoption^[2]. This shows that Zhong Yu had achievements not only in internal governance but also unique insight in military strategic analysis.
* Discussing divination with Guan Lu: Zhong Yu once discussed the study of the Changes with the famous diviner Guan Lu, who was able to divine accurately the month of his birth, leaving Zhong Yu astonished^[3]. This scene displays Zhong Yu's interest in metaphysics and the arts of divination, and reflects from the side the attention paid by gentlemen of the time to these fields, as well as Guan Lu's extraordinary powers of prediction.
* Childhood audience with Sima Yi (novel only): In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, in his childhood Zhong Yu, together with his younger brother Zhong Hui, had an audience with Sima Yi and was drenched in sweat from nervousness, forming a contrast with the composed and ready-answering Zhong Hui^[5]. Although this scene is a novel's invention, it successfully shapes, in literary terms, the image of Zhong Hui's early brilliance, and indirectly sets off the comparatively ordinary side of Zhong Yu.