Language

Eastern Wu · General of the Vanguard; Granted Imperial Authority and Administrator of Wuling

Zhongli Mu

courtesy name 子干

Portrait of Zhongli Mu
In frame with others →

Zhongli Mu, an Eastern Wu general known for yielding rice, led troops to pacify Wuxi.

History Records, vol. 60 · Not in the Romance

In the sources

Where the books name Zhongli Mu

  • History · vol. 60Records of the Three Kingdoms

    鍾離牧字子幹,會稽山陰人,漢魯相意七世孫也。〈会稽典录曰:牧父绪,楼船都尉,兄骃,上计吏,少与同郡谢赞、吴郡顾谭齐名。…
    Read the whole paragraph

    鍾離牧字子幹,會稽山陰人,漢魯相意七世孫也。〈会稽典录曰:牧父绪,楼船都尉,兄骃,上计吏,少与同郡谢赞、吴郡顾谭齐名。牧童龀时号为迟讷,骃常谓人曰:“牧必胜我,不可轻也。”时人皆以为不然。〉少爰居永興,躬自墾田,種稻二十餘畝。臨熟,縣民有識認之。牧曰:“本以田荒,故墾之耳。”遂以稻與縣人。縣長聞之,召民繋獄,欲繩以法,牧為之請。長曰:“君慕承宮,自行義事,〈《续汉书》曰:宫字少子,琅邪人,尝在蒙阴山中耕种禾黍,临熟,人就认之,宫便推与而去,由是发名,位至左中郎将、侍中。〉僕為民主,當以法率下,何得寢公憲而從君邪?”牧曰:“此是郡界,緣君意顧,故來蹔住。今以少稻而殺此民,何心復留?”遂出裝,還山陰,長自往止之,為釋繋民。民慚懼,率妻子舂所取稻得六十斛米,送還牧,牧閉門不受。民輸置道旁,莫有取者。牧由此發名。〈徐众评曰:牧蹈长者之规。问者曰:“如牧所行,犯而不校,又从而救之,直而不有,又还而不受,可不谓之仁让乎哉?”答曰:“异乎吾所闻。原宪之问於孔子曰:‘克伐怨欲不行焉,可以为仁乎?’孔子曰:‘可以为难矣,仁则吾不知也。’‘恶不仁者,其为仁矣。’今小民不展四体,而认人之稻,不仁甚矣,而牧推而与之,又救其罪,斯为让非其义,所救非人,非所谓恶不仁者。苟不恶不仁,安得为仁哉!苍梧浇娶妻而美,让於其兄;尾生笃信,水至不去而死;直躬好直,证父攘羊;申鸣奉法,尽忠於君而执其父。忠信直让,此四行者,圣贤之所贵也。然不贵苍梧之让,非让道也;不取尾生之信,非信所也;不许直躬之直,非直体也;不嘉申鸣之忠,非忠意也。今牧犯而不校,还而不取,可以为难矣,未得为仁让也。夫圣人以德报德,以直报怨,而牧欲以德报怨,非也。必不得已,二者何从?吾从孔子也。”〉

  • History · vol. 60Records of the Three Kingdoms

    …始兴太守羊衜与太常滕胤书曰:“锺离子幹吾昔知之不熟,定见其在南海,威恩部伍,智勇分明,加操行清纯,有古人之风。”…
    Read the whole paragraph

    赤烏五年,從郎中補太子輔義都尉,遷南海太守。〈会稽典录曰:高凉贼率仍弩等破略百姓,残害吏民,牧越界扑讨,旬日降服。又揭阳县贼率曾夏等众数千人,历十馀年,以侯爵杂缯千匹,下书购募,绝不可得。牧遣使慰譬,登皆首服,自改为良民。始兴太守羊衜与太常滕胤书曰:“锺离子幹吾昔知之不熟,定见其在南海,威恩部伍,智勇分明,加操行清纯,有古人之风。”其见贵如此。在郡四年,以疾去职。〉還為丞相長史,轉司直,遷中書令。會建安、鄱陽、新都三郡山民作亂,出牧為監軍使者,討平之。賊帥黃亂、常俱籌出其部伍,以充兵役。封秦亭侯,拜越騎校尉。

  • History · vol. 60Records of the Three Kingdoms

    永安六年,蜀併於魏,武陵五谿夷與蜀接界。時論懼叛亂,乃以牧為平魏將軍,領武陵太守,往之郡。…
    Read the whole paragraph

    永安六年,蜀併於魏,武陵五谿夷與蜀接界。時論懼叛亂,乃以牧為平魏將軍,領武陵太守,往之郡。魏遣漢葭縣長郭純試守武陵太守,率涪陵民入蜀遷陵界,屯於赤沙,誘致諸夷邑君,或起應純,又進攻酉陽縣,郡中震懼。牧問朝吏曰:「西蜀傾覆,邊境見侵,何以禦之?」皆對曰:「今二縣山險,諸夷阻兵,不可以軍驚擾,驚擾則諸夷盤結。宜以漸安,可遣恩信吏宣教慰勞。」牧曰:「不然。外境內侵,誑誘人民,當及其根柢未深而撲取之,此救火貴速之勢也。」敕外趣嚴,掾史沮儀者便行軍法。撫夷將軍高尚說牧曰:「昔潘太常督兵五萬,然後以討五谿夷耳。是時劉氏連和,諸夷率化,今既無往日之援,而郭純已據遷陵,而明府以三千兵深入,尚未見其利也。」牧曰:「非常之事,何得循舊?」即率所領,晨夜進道,緣山險行,垂二千里,從塞上,斬惡民懷異心者魁帥百餘人及其支黨凡於余級,純等散,五谿平。遷公安督、揚武將軍,封都鄉侯,徙濡須督。〈会稽典录曰:牧之在濡须,深以进取可图,而不敢陈其策,与侍中东观令硃育宴,慨然叹息。育谓牧恨於策爵未副,因谓牧曰:「朝廷诸君,以际会坐取高官,亭侯功无与比,不肯在人下,见顾者犹以於邑,况於侯也!」牧笑而答曰:「卿之所言,未获我心也。马援有言,人当功多而赏薄。吾功不足录,而见宠已过当,岂以为恨?国家不深相知,而见害朝人,是以默默不敢有所陈。若其不然,当建进取之计,以报所受之恩,不徒自守而已,愤叹以此也。」育复曰:「国家已自知侯,以侯之才,无为不成。愚谓自可陈所怀。」牧曰:「武安君谓秦王云:『非成业难,得贤难;非得贤难,用之难;非用之难,任之难。』武安君欲为秦王并兼六国,恐授事而不见任,故先陈此言。秦王既许而不能,卒陨将成之业,赐剑杜邮。今国家知吾,不如秦王之知武安,而害吾者有过范睢。大皇帝时,陆丞相讨鄱阳,以二千人授吾,潘太常讨武陵,吾又有三千人,而朝廷下议,弃吾於彼,使江渚诸督,不复发兵相继。蒙国威灵自济,今日何为常。向使吾不料时度宜,苟有所陈,至见委以事,不足兵势,终有败绩之患,何无不成之有?」〉復以前將軍假節,領武陵太守。

On the boards

Where this person ranks on each board.

5 more boards

Zhongli Mu, courtesy name Zigan, was from Shanyin, Kuaiji, and served as a general of Eastern Wu. He does not appear in Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Deeds

  • In his youth, he lived in Yongxing and personally reclaimed and planted more than twenty mu of rice fields. When the rice was nearly ripe, county residents claimed it as theirs. Zhongli Mu yielded the rice to them and pleaded on behalf of residents detained by the county magistrate. Later, he shut his doors and refused the rice they sent him, and thus became known. (According to historical records)
  • In the fifth year of Chiwu, he was appointed from the post of Gentleman of the Palace to Assistant Commandant for the Heir Apparent, then promoted to Administrator of Nanhai. After serving in the commandery for four years, he left office due to illness. He later served as Chief Clerk to the Chancellor, Director of Justice, and Director of the Secretariat. When mountain residents in the three commanderies of Jian'an, Poyang, and Xindu rebelled, he was appointed Inspector-General and put down the revolt. He was enfeoffed as Marquis of Qinting and appointed Colonel of the Yue Cavalry. (According to historical records)
  • In the sixth year of Yongan, he was appointed General Who Pacifies Wei and Administrator of Wuling. The Wei general Guo Chun enticed the Wuxi tribesmen to join him and attacked Youyang. Zhongli Mu led three thousand troops on a day-and-night march, killing the chieftain and more than a thousand of his followers. Guo Chun and the others were routed, and Wuxi was pacified. Thereafter, Zhongli Mu was promoted to Commander of Gong’an and General Who Displays Martial Might, and enfeoffed as Marquis of Duxiang. He was later transferred to command Ruxu, then once again appointed General of the Front, granted a tally, and made Administrator of Wuling. (According to historical records)
  • He died in office, leaving no surplus wealth at home. Officials and commoners mourned him. (According to historical records)

Relationships

  • Seventh-generation descendant of Zhongli Yi, Chancellor of Lu in the Han
  • His son, Zhongli Hui, inherited his title and took command of the troops in his stead

Lines

  • 史 ch.60 §60

    本以田荒,故墾之耳。

  • 史 ch.60 §62

    「西蜀傾覆,邊境見侵,何以禦之?」

Relationships

5 relationships

Relation graph of Zhongli MuZhongli HuiChang JuGuo ChunHuang LuanGao ShangZhongli Mu
  • Family
  • Enemies
  • Other
Sectors group relations by type; the inner ring holds the 5 closest ties. Hover or focus a node for details.

Show all 5

Zhongli Hui

Continue

Zhongli Hui

Child

Go to Zhongli Hui →
Relationship timeline2 entries ▸

History · vol. 60

  • Enemy

    led his forces onward day and night, killing more than 100 leaders of wicked locals and their followers; Chun and the others dispersed, and Wuxi was pacified

  • Child

    Son of Zhongli Mu; inherited the title and took over command of the troops