Kong Rong

Historical Record

Kong Rong, styled Wenju, was a man of Beihai Commandery. His early deeds are little recorded in the histories, but it is known that he was renowned for his high talent. According to the Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chen Qun's grandfather Chen Shi and his father Chen Ji both enjoyed great fame, while Kong Rong, of high talent and haughty, was of an age between Chen Ji and Chen Qun. He first became close with Chen Ji, and later associated with Chen Qun, and even visited Chen Qun on Chen Ji's behalf, thereby bringing Chen Qun fame^[1]. This shows Kong Rong's standing and influence among the scholars of the time, as well as his character in gladly promoting younger men.

When all under heaven fell into chaos, Kong Rong was appointed Chancellor of Beihai. He once summoned Wang Xiu, a man of Yingling in Beihai, to be his registrar, and ordered him to serve as Magistrate of Gaomi. The local Sun clan of Gaomi, men of strength and daring, had long been overbearing, and their retainers repeatedly broke the law. When some commoners had been robbed and the bandits hid in the Sun household, the officials dared not arrest them. Wang Xiu led clerks and commoners to surround the Suns, who held out in resistance. Wang Xiu sternly ordered: "Whoever dares not to attack shall share the same crime." Fearful, the Suns then handed over the bandits, and thereby the local strongmen were cowed^[2]. This reflects both Kong Rong's eye for men and Wang Xiu's resolve.

Kong Rong once recommended Wang Xiu as a Filial and Incorrupt candidate, but Wang Xiu declined, holding that Bing Yuan was worthier. Kong Rong replied in writing: "As for Yuan's worthiness, I have long known it. Of old, the Gaoyang clan had eight talented sons whom Yao could not employ, but Shun did indeed raise them up. Yuan may be called a man who need not worry about lacking a post. To leave him for a later worthy—is that not also acceptable!" Wang Xiu declined again, and Kong Rong wrote once more, praising Wang Xiu as one who "kept his person pure and himself clean, was tested through many hardships, planned with few errors, and instructed kindly without weariness," and insisted on recommending him^[2]. This embodies Kong Rong's cherishing of talent and his persistence.

During the Chuping era, all under heaven was in chaos, and Wang Xiu was therefore unable to take up his post. Soon afterward, a rebellion broke out in the commandery. Hearing that Kong Rong was in danger, Wang Xiu hurried through the night to come to his aid. Kong Rong once said: "The only one able to brave danger and come is Wang Xiu!" No sooner had he spoken than Wang Xiu arrived. Kong Rong again appointed him as Merit Officer. At that time the Jiaodong region had many bandits, and Kong Rong again ordered Wang Xiu to serve as Magistrate of Jiaodong. Gongsha Lu, a man of Jiaodong, had a powerful clan that built its own stockade and would not respond to levies or conscription. Wang Xiu, with only a few horsemen, rode straight into their gate, beheaded the Gongsha brothers, and the Gongsha clansmen, all astonished, dared not stir. Wang Xiu pacified the rest of the clan, and thereafter the local banditry gradually subsided. Whenever Kong Rong met with danger, Wang Xiu, even while on leave at home, would surely come to his aid, and Kong Rong often relied on Wang Xiu to escape calamity^[2]. This further displays the deep bond between lord and subject that Kong Rong and Wang Xiu shared.

When Tao Qian, Governor of Xu Province, was gravely ill, he said to his Attendant Officer Mi Zhu: "None but Liu Bei can bring peace to this province." After Tao Qian died, Mi Zhu led the men of the province to welcome Liu Bei. Liu Bei at first dared not accept; Chen Deng of Xiapi urged Liu Bei on, pointing out that Yuan Shu was "arrogant and overbearing, no lord to govern a troubled age." Kong Rong, Chancellor of Beihai, also said to Liu Bei: "Is Yuan Gonglu one to be anxious for the state and forget his own house? Withered bones in a tomb—why give them any heed? In today's affair, the people side with the capable; what Heaven gives and you do not take, you will regret beyond recall." Liu Bei thereupon took charge of Xu Province^[3]. This shows that Kong Rong enjoyed a certain prestige among the scholars of the time, and that his words influenced Liu Bei's decision.

Shi Yi, styled Ziyu, was a man of Yingling in Beihai, originally surnamed Shi (氏). He was at first a county clerk, and later held office in the commandery. The Commandery Chancellor Kong Rong once mocked Shi Yi, saying that the character "shi" (氏) was "min" (民) without a top, and could be changed to "shi" (是), whereupon Shi Yi changed his surname to "Shi" (是)^[4]. Though a trifling matter, this likewise reflects Kong Rong's wit and a somewhat jesting side to his character.

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Kong Rong's image is rendered more fully and with a more legendary cast. He is described as a twentieth-generation descendant of Confucius and the son of Kong Zhou, Commandant of Mount Tai, clever from boyhood. The book records that at the age of ten he visited Li Ying, Intendant of Henan, and with the words "Confucius once asked about ritual from Laozi; are Rong and you, sir, not households long connected through the generations?" astonished Li Ying greatly. When the Grand Palace Grandee Chen Wei doubted, saying "one clever in youth is not necessarily clever when grown," Kong Rong at once retorted, "By what you say, sir, you must have been clever in your youth," making Chen Wei and the others all laugh and say, "When this child is grown, he will surely be a vessel of his age," whereby he won renown^[5]. This accords with the historical record's description of Kong Rong's talent, though the specific episode is unique to the novel.

The novel also emphasizes Kong Rong's character of being "exceedingly fond of guests," and quotes his famous saying: "Let the seats be ever full of guests, and the cups never empty of wine—this is my wish"^[5]. This saying is not clearly recorded in the histories, but it accords with his hospitable and guest-loving character.

When Beihai was besieged by the Yellow Turban bandit Guan Hai, Kong Rong sent Mi Zhu to seek aid from Tao Qian, Governor of Xu Province; but Guan Hai's force was strong, Kong Rong's general Zong Bao was killed in battle, and Kong Rong was forced to withdraw into the city^[6]. At this point Taishi Ci volunteered, offering to take a thousand elite troops out of the city to slay the bandits, but Kong Rong felt the bandits' force was too strong and that he should not lightly sally forth. Kong Rong proposed that Liu Bei was a hero of the age, and that if he could be invited to come, the siege would lift of itself. Taishi Ci then braved death to break through the siege and go to Pingyuan to seek aid from Liu Bei^[7]. This episode is unrecorded in the histories and was devised by the novel to highlight Liu Bei's benevolence and heroic image. After Liu Bei led troops to lift the siege, Kong Rong welcomed Xuande into the city, told him of Cao Cao's attack on Xu Province, and asked Liu Bei to go with him to its relief^[8]. When urging Liu Bei to take charge of Xu Province, Kong Rong again stressed, "Yuan Gonglu is but withered bones in a tomb—why mention him? In today's affair, what Heaven gives and you do not take, you will regret beyond recall"^[9], which is largely consistent with the urging recorded in the histories, though more impassioned in tone.

After Cao Cao came to "hold the Son of Heaven to command the lords," Kong Rong remonstrated frankly on many occasions. He once pleaded for Yang Biao, pointing out, "The house of Yang has been of pure virtue for four generations—how can he be condemned on account of the Yuan clan?"^[10]. When Cao Cao wished to behead Liu Dai and Wang Zhong, Kong Rong likewise remonstrated, "These two were never a match for Liu Bei; if you behead them, I fear you will lose the hearts of the officers"^[11]. When Cao Cao wished to campaign against Yuan Shao, Kong Rong strongly advocated peace negotiations and analyzed in detail the many strategists and famous generals under Yuan Shao's command, but Xun Yu rebutted him, saying Yuan Shao's subordinates were "incompatible by nature and would surely fall into internal upheaval"^[12]. These episodes all display Kong Rong's frankness and foresight as a loyal subject of the Han, but also highlight the clash between his political ideals and Cao Cao's.

Kong Rong also recommended his friend Mi Heng to Cao Cao, declaring him "ten times more talented than I"^[13]. Mi Heng was wildly arrogant before Cao Cao, even publicly reviling Cao Cao and his civil and military officers. Fearing that Mi Heng would be killed, Kong Rong calmly counseled, "Mi Heng's offense is like that of a bound convict; he is not worth disturbing the dream of an enlightened king"^[14], trying to clear Mi Heng. These episodes further portray Kong Rong's character of loving and cherishing talent and valuing old friendship.

When Cao Cao wished to campaign against Liu Bei, Liu Biao, and Sun Quan, Kong Rong remonstrated again, holding that "Liu Bei and Liu Biao are both kinsmen of the Han house and should not be lightly attacked. Sun Quan crouches like a tiger over six commanderies and has the barrier of the great river; he too is not easily taken. If the Chancellor raises this unrighteous army, I fear he will lose the hopes of all under heaven." Cao Cao was enraged, dismissed Kong Rong with a shout, and ordered that any further remonstrator be beheaded. Kong Rong sighed: "When the utterly inhumane campaign against the utterly humane, how can they not be defeated!"^[15]. This passage pushes Kong Rong's loyalty, righteousness, and defense of the Han house to a climax, and foreshadows his eventual fate.

Key Relationships

* Chen Ji (friend_of): Kong Rong was close with Chen Ji, later associated with Chen Ji's son Chen Qun, and visited Chen Qun on Chen Ji's behalf, bringing Chen Qun fame^[1]. This embodies Kong Rong's influence among scholars and his readiness to promote younger men.
* Chen Qun (friend_of): Kong Rong had a friendship with Chen Qun and once visited him on Chen Ji's behalf, helping him win renown^[1].
* Wang Xiu (mutual understanding of lord and subject): Wang Xiu served Kong Rong as registrar, Magistrate of Gaomi, Merit Officer, and Magistrate of Jiaodong. Wang Xiu repeatedly braved death to aid Kong Rong in his hours of danger, and Kong Rong often relied on Wang Xiu to escape calamity^[2]. The two shared a deep bond of mutual understanding between lord and subject.
* Shi Yi (witnesses): Kong Rong once jested that the character "shi" (氏) in Shi Yi's surname was "min" (民) without a top, suggesting he change his surname to "Shi" (是), which Shi Yi then did^[4].
* Kong Zhou (kin_of): In the novel, Kong Rong is recorded as the son of Kong Zhou, Commandant of Mount Tai^[5] (novel only).
* Liu Bei (ally / recipient of aid): When besieged at Beihai, Kong Rong sought aid from Liu Bei, who brought troops to his rescue. Kong Rong also strongly urged Liu Bei to take charge of Xu Province^[3].
* Taishi Ci (seeker of aid / repayer of kindness): In the novel, Taishi Ci, to repay his mother's kindness, braved death to break through the siege and seek aid from Liu Bei, relieving the siege of Beihai^[7] (novel only).
* Mi Heng (friend / recommended man): Kong Rong recommended Mi Heng to Cao Cao and tried to clear him when Mi Heng arrogantly offended his superiors^[13][14] (novel only).

Iconic Scenes

* Visiting Li Ying at the age of ten (novel only): At ten, Kong Rong visited Li Ying, Intendant of Henan, astonishing him with the words "Confucius once asked about ritual from Laozi; are Rong and you not households long connected through the generations?" and displayed his cleverness by rebutting Chen Wei^[5].
* "Let the seats be ever full of guests, and the cups never empty of wine": Kong Rong's hospitable, guest-loving character is summed up in the novel by this famous saying, expressing his yearning for a household crowded with guests^[5].
* Seeking Liu Bei's aid at Beihai: When besieged at Beihai by the Yellow Turban bandit Guan Hai, Kong Rong sent Taishi Ci to seek aid from Liu Bei, who brought troops to lift the siege. Kong Rong also strongly urged Liu Bei to take charge of Xu Province, calling Yuan Shu "withered bones in a tomb"^[7][3][9].
* Recommending Wang Xiu: Kong Rong persistently recommended Wang Xiu as a Filial and Incorrupt candidate, praising his virtue and ability, embodying his character of loving and cherishing talent^[2].
* Wang Xiu braving danger to aid him: Whenever Kong Rong met with danger, Wang Xiu, even while on leave at home, would surely come to his aid, and Kong Rong often relied on Wang Xiu to escape calamity^[2].
* Remonstrating frankly with Cao Cao: Kong Rong remonstrated frankly with Cao Cao on many occasions—pleading for Yang Biao, urging Cao Cao not to behead Liu Dai and Wang Zhong, strongly advocating peace with Yuan Shao, and opposing Cao Cao's campaigns against Liu Bei, Liu Biao, and Sun Quan—displaying his loyal, righteous, and forthright character^{[10][12][11][15]}.
* Recommending Mi Heng: Kong Rong recommended Mi Heng to Cao Cao, declaring him "ten times more talented than I," and tried to clear him when Mi Heng arrogantly offended his superiors^[13][14] (novel only).