Lu Zhi

Historical Record

As for Lu Zhi (courtesy name Zigan), his life and deeds are not presented in detail in the historical biographical materials provided. On the basis of the available materials, then, no specific account of him can be given on the level of historical fact.

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Lu Zhi appears as an upright and outspoken figure, a representative of the few men of pure principle in the chaotic age at the end of the Han. He first came to prominence in the Yellow Turban rebellion, when, as a general of the court, he led troops to besiege Zhang Jue at Guangzong.^[1] At the time he had fifty thousand soldiers under him, locked in stalemate with Zhang Jue's host of one hundred fifty thousand rebels. Lu Zhi once directed Liu Bei to lead troops to Yingchuan to assist Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun against Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao, reinforcing Liu Bei with one thousand of the court's soldiers.^[1]

Yet just as he was on the point of crushing Zhang Jue, Lu Zhi was framed for refusing to bribe the eunuch Zuo Feng. Having failed to obtain a bribe from Lu Zhi, Zuo Feng falsely accused him before the court of "keeping behind high ramparts and refusing to fight, slackening the army's morale."^[2] In its fury the court dispatched Dong Zhuo to replace Lu Zhi in command and had him sent back to the capital in a prison cart to answer for it. As Liu Bei was returning after pacifying the Yellow Turbans at Yingchuan, he happened upon Lu Zhi being escorted in the prison cart, and was deeply shocked and indignant at his plight.^[2]

After Dong Zhuo entered the capital and sought to depose the young emperor and set up another, Lu Zhi once more stepped forth and frankly remonstrated. He pointed out that Dong Zhuo's act was no different from usurpation, and citing the precedents of Yi Yin and Huo Guang in deposing and installing rulers, stressed that such deposing and installing required great ability and a public-minded heart, and was not something to be done by a man like Dong Zhuo—"an inspector of an outer commandery who has never taken part in the governance of the state."^[3] Enraged at his words, Dong Zhuo wished to draw his sword and slay Lu Zhi, but thanks to the dissuasion of the Counsellor Peng Bo and the Minister over the Masses Wang Yun, Lu Zhi was spared death.^[3]

Moreover, on the decision of He Jin to summon Dong Zhuo into the capital, Lu Zhi, together with the Attending Censor Zheng Tai, had also remonstrated, strongly urging He Jin not to invite a wolf into the house, pointing out that Dong Zhuo was "kindly of face but cruel of heart; once he enters the palace precincts, he will surely breed calamity."^[4] He Jin, however, could not heed this loyal counsel, and so Lu Zhi and Zheng Tai both abandoned their offices and departed. When He Jin was killed and the palace fell into chaos, Lu Zhi, though he had already left office, still donned armor, took up weapons, and within the palace rescued Empress Dowager He, who had been seized by Duan Gui^[5], displaying his loyalty and valor.

Key Relationships

* He Jin (advises_in): Lu Zhi remonstrated with He Jin, strongly urging him not to summon Dong Zhuo into the capital, foreseeing that Dong Zhuo's coming would surely breed calamity.^[4] He Jin, however, failed to heed his loyal advice, which in the end led to the chaos at court and his own destruction.
* Duan Gui (enemy_of): During the chaos in the palace, Lu Zhi clashed with the eunuch Duan Gui. When Duan Gui seized Empress Dowager He, Lu Zhi stepped forth and cried out, "Duan Gui, rebellious traitor, how dare you seize the Empress Dowager!" and successfully rescued her.^[5] (novel only).
* Dong Zhuo (rival_of): There was clear opposition between Lu Zhi and Dong Zhuo. Dong Zhuo once replaced Lu Zhi in command and had him escorted back to the capital to answer for it.^[2] Later, when Dong Zhuo sought to depose the young emperor and set up another, Lu Zhi again upbraided his usurping conduct to his face, and was nearly killed by Dong Zhuo for it.^[3]

Iconic Scenes

* Framed by a eunuch during the Yellow Turban rebellion: During the Yellow Turban rebellion, when Lu Zhi led troops to besiege Zhang Jue and was on the point of victory, he was falsely accused of "keeping behind high ramparts and refusing to fight" for refusing to bribe the eunuch Zuo Feng, and was in the end replaced in command by Dong Zhuo and escorted back to the capital in a prison cart to answer for it.^[2] This affair highlighted the corruption of late-Han politics and the helplessness of loyal and worthy men.
* Strongly remonstrating against Dong Zhuo's deposing of the young emperor: After Dong Zhuo entered the capital and wished to depose the young emperor, Lu Zhi, in the court hall and facing Dong Zhuo's intimidation, fearlessly declared his conduct to be usurpation and refuted Dong Zhuo with historical precedents, nearly losing his life for it.^[3] This scene displays Lu Zhi's uprightness and his awe-inspiring integrity.
* Rescuing Empress Dowager He in the palace: When He Jin was killed and the palace fell into chaos, Lu Zhi, though he had already left office, still donned armor and amid the confusion rescued Empress Dowager He, who had been seized by the eunuch Duan Gui.^[5] This scene reveals Lu Zhi's loyalty and valor and his deep attachment to the Han house (novel only).