Historical Record
He Yong, styled Boqiu, in his early years traveled and studied at Luoyang alongside notable men such as Guo Tai and Jia Biao. He won great renown at the Imperial Academy and was held in high regard by eminent court ministers such as the Grand Tutor Chen Fan and the Colonel-Director of Retainers Li Ying. When the proscription of factionists arose, He Yong too was named among them, and so he changed his name and surname and went into hiding in the region of Runan, making the acquaintance of local stalwarts wherever he went. He had long esteemed Cao Cao and had recognized the worth of Xun Yu; Yuan Shao too admired him and befriended him. At that time many gentry-officials of the realm were caught up in the proscription, and He Yong would slip secretly into Luoyang two or three times a year to confer with Yuan Shao, relieving the distress of impoverished gentry and resolving their troubles. Yuan Shu, however, though also a man of chivalrous bent, contended with Yuan Shao for repute, and He Yong never once called upon Yuan Shu, which made Yuan Shu deeply resentful of him. Yuan Shu once enumerated three charges against He Yong before a great assembly, accusing him of keeping the worthy Wang Demi at a distance while drawing near the impure Xu Ziyuan, and of living in extravagance himself while disregarding the poverty of Guo and Jia. To this Tao Qiuhong came to He Yong's defense, pointing out that Wang Demi, though wise, was no good at saving the world, while Xu Ziyuan, though flawed, dared to rush to others' aid, and that He Yong, in commending the good, placed Wang Demi first, and in relieving distress, took Xu Ziyuan as foremost; he also recalled that He Yong had once slain a man with his own hand to avenge Yu Weigao, his reputation for righteousness spreading far, thus refuting Yuan Shu's accusations. Yuan Shu remained aggrieved, and even threatened to kill He Yong, desisting only after Zong Cheng of Nanyang dissuaded him. After the proscription was lifted, He Yong was summoned into the office of the Minister of Works; at every meeting of the subordinate officials of the Three Excellencies' offices, his stratagems far surpassed those of the others, and all who deliberated felt themselves inferior. He was later transferred to commandant of the Northern Army. When Dong Zhuo held power, he appointed He Yong his chief clerk. During Dong Zhuo's misrule, troops rose in the east, and Dong Zhuo moved the capital to Chang'an. He Yong, together with the consultant Zheng Tai, the palace attendant Zhong Ji, the colonel of cavalry Wu Qiong, Xun You, and others, secretly plotted to assassinate Dong Zhuo, holding that Dong Zhuo was a man without principle, no better than a common churl, whom they would assassinate to answer to the realm, then hold the passes of Hangu and Mount Yao to support the royal mandate and command the realm, in the manner of Dukes Huan and Wen. c:4526 However, just as the plot was about to succeed, it was discovered, and He Yong and Xun You were arrested and imprisoned. He Yong, in fear and anxiety, killed himself in prison. Later, when Xun Yu served as Director of the Imperial Secretariat, he sent men to receive the coffin of his uncle, the Minister of Works Xun Shuang, and at the same time saw to He Yong's remains, burying them beside Xun Shuang's grave. c:4526
In the Novel
In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, He Yong's image is reflected mainly in his appreciation of Cao Cao and in his participation in court affairs. The novel mentions early on that He Yong of Nanyang, upon seeing Cao Cao, foretold: "The house of Han is about to fall. The one who shall bring peace to the realm is surely this man." c:130 This judgment greatly elevated Cao Cao's standing and foreshadowed his extraordinary future. After the Yellow Turban disorder was put down and Emperor Ling fell gravely ill, the emperor summoned the Grand General He Jin into the palace to discuss the succession. He Jin wished to destroy all the eunuchs, but the commandant of the Army's Standards Cao Cao held that the eunuchs' power was too deeply rooted to be uprooted entirely and urged caution. At the critical moment when Emperor Ling had died and Jian Shuo and the Ten Attendants kept the death secret and wished to forge an edict to enthrone the imperial son Xie, He Jin gathered the ministers. At this point He Jin, attended by a throng of officials, entered the palace together with He Yong, Xun You, Zheng Tai, and more than thirty other ministers, and before Emperor Ling's coffin set up the crown prince Liu Bian on the imperial throne. c:131 The novel does not describe in detail He Yong's plot to assassinate Dong Zhuo during Dong Zhuo's misrule, nor his end, which differs from the historical record, in which He Yong was arrested for this affair and killed himself. The novel instead lays more stress on his role as a man of discernment, in his appraisal of important figures and his participation in court decisions at critical moments.
Key Relationships
* Dong Zhuo's faction (rival_of): In the histories, He Yong was arrested and killed himself for plotting to assassinate Dong Zhuo, making him an opponent and victim of Dong Zhuo. c:4526 The novel does not directly depict this passage.
* Cao Cao (mentor_of): In the novel, He Yong was an important early supporter and prophet of Cao Cao, calling him "the one who shall bring peace to the realm." c:130 In the histories too, He Yong "marveled at Cao Cao" and showed appreciation of him. c:4526
* He Jin (advises_in): In the novel, He Yong entered the palace together with He Jin and set up the crown prince Liu Bian on the throne, taking part in major court decisions. c:131 In the histories, He Jin, while holding power, once summoned He Yong, though no direct counsel of He Yong to He Jin is mentioned.
* Yuan Shao (friend_of): In the histories, Yuan Shao admired He Yong's reputation and befriended him; He Yong often devised schemes for Yuan Shao and relieved the troubles of the gentry. c:4526
* Xun You (ally_of): In the histories, He Yong, together with Xun You and others, plotted to assassinate Dong Zhuo. c:4526 In the novel, the two also appear together at the setting-up of the new sovereign. c:131
Signature Scenes
* Foretelling Cao Cao's talent: He Yong of Nanyang, upon seeing Cao Cao, said: "The house of Han is about to fall. The one who shall bring peace to the realm is surely this man." c:130 (unique to the novel, though the histories also record that "He Yong marveled at Cao Cao" c:4526)
* Taking part in setting up the new sovereign: He Jin led in He Yong, Xun You, Zheng Tai, and more than thirty other ministers, who entered one after another and, before Emperor Ling's coffin, set up the crown prince Bian on the imperial throne. c:131 (unique to the novel)
* Plotting to assassinate Dong Zhuo: He Yong, together with the consultant Zheng Tai, Xun You, and others, plotted to assassinate Dong Zhuo, holding him to be a man without principle, intending to answer to the realm with his head and to hold the strategic passes in support of the royal mandate. c:4526
* Suicide in prison: When the plot to assassinate Dong Zhuo was discovered, He Yong was arrested and imprisoned, and in fear and anxiety killed himself. c:4526
Relationships
4 relationships
Lines
- 演 ch.1 §25→ Cao Cao
「漢室將亡，安天下者，必此人也。」
Chapters4 回 ▸
- 史ch.1ch.10
- 演ch.1ch.2
Relationship timeline2 条 ▸
Inner monologues · AI-generated1 段 ▸
- In my youth, I studied in Luoyang alongside Guo Tai and Jia Biao, and through them came to associate with many worthy sc