Puyang Xing

Historical Record

Puyang Xing, styled Ziyuan, was a native of Chenliu. His father Puyang Yi moved to the Southland late in the Han to escape the wars and rose to be Grand Administrator of Changsha^[1]. Puyang Xing was known from his youth for his talent and learning. During Sun Quan's reign, he was appointed magistrate of Shangyu County, then gradually promoted to Left Division Master of Writing, and went as envoy to Shu Han in the capacity of General of the Household Gentlemen of the Five Offices. After completing his mission and returning, he was appointed Grand Administrator of Kuaiji^[1].

During his tenure in Kuaiji, the Prince of Langya, Sun Xiu, also resided there. Puyang Xing formed a deep personal bond with Sun Xiu^[1]. In 258 CE, after Sun Xiu took the throne, he summoned Puyang Xing to court, conferring on him the offices of Grand Master of Ceremonies and General of the Guards, entrusting him with the heavy responsibility of administering military and state affairs, and at the same time enfeoffing him as Marquis of Waihuang^[1].

In the third year of Yongan (260 CE), the Commandant Yan Mi proposed opening up farmland at Danyang Lake and building the Puli embankment. The officials of the court debated this fiercely, most holding that the project would cost enormously and could hardly guarantee a harvest. Puyang Xing, however, overrode the objections, holding the project feasible^[2]. Thereupon Sun Xiu issued an edict to gather soldiers and commoners for the construction. The project consumed incalculable labor, leading to the deaths of soldiers and even cases of men killing one another, and the people grumbled bitterly about it^[2].

Thereafter Puyang Xing was appointed Chancellor. He colluded with Sun Xiu's favorite, the General of the Left Zhang Bu, the two acting in concert within and without, making the government of Wu a disappointment^[2].

In the seventh month of the seventh year of Yongan (264 CE), Sun Xiu passed away. The Director of the Myriad Troops, Wan Yu, had long been on good terms with Sun Hao, Marquis of Wucheng; he persuaded Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu to depose Sun Xiu's legitimate son and instead enthrone Sun Hao as emperor^[2]. After Sun Hao took the throne, he additionally appointed Puyang Xing as Palace Attendant and had him concurrently serve as Governor of Qing Province^[2].

Yet the good times did not last. Soon afterward, Wan Yu slandered Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu before Sun Hao, falsely accusing them of regretting having enthroned Sun Hao^[2]. On the first day of the eleventh month of the same year, Puyang Xing came to court for an audience, whereupon Sun Hao ordered the arrest of him and Zhang Bu and had them banished to Guangzhou. On the road into exile, Sun Hao again sent men to pursue and kill them, ultimately exterminating Puyang Xing's three branches of kin^[2].

In the Novel

In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Puyang Xing's appearance is mainly concentrated in Chapter 120^[3], and his deeds basically accord with the historical facts, without notable literary embellishment or divergence. The novel does not describe in detail Puyang Xing's early official career, but places him directly in the late Sun Wu period, especially in the key event of enthroning Sun Hao after Sun Xiu's death. The Romance's portrayal of Puyang Xing is more that of an instrumental figure driving the plot, rather than a focused depiction of his personal character or strategy. He enthroned Sun Hao together with Zhang Bu and was killed together with Zhang Bu because of Sun Hao's suspicion; this plot in the Romance is identical to the historical record, with no added fictional element. Therefore, in the Romance, Puyang Xing's image is more a faithful reproduction of the historical event than a literary figure exaggerated or fabricated by art. The historical record of the Puli embankment project provoking popular resentment, and the description of his "acting in concert" with Zhang Bu, are not specially emphasized or elaborated in the Romance, but only mentioned as part of his political career.

Key Relationships

* Eastern Wu (serves): Puyang Xing served the Eastern Wu regime all his life, entering officialdom from Sun Quan's time, passing through Sun Xiu, and ultimately being killed in Sun Hao's time^[1].
* Sun Xiu (serves): While serving as Grand Administrator of Kuaiji, Puyang Xing formed a deep bond with the Prince of Langya, Sun Xiu, who was then residing in Kuaiji. After Sun Xiu took the throne, Puyang Xing was given important responsibilities, appointed Chancellor, and put in charge of military and state affairs^[1][3]. Sun Xiu trusted him greatly, even mentioning his trust in Puyang Xing in his conversation with Zhang Bu^[3].
* Sun Hao (betrayed_by): After Sun Xiu died, Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu, at Wan Yu's persuasion, enthroned Sun Hao as emperor. Yet soon after taking the throne, Sun Hao believed the slanders, suspected that Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu harbored disloyalty, and ultimately had them arrested and their three branches of kin exterminated^[2].
* Zhang Bu (ally/co-conspirator): Puyang Xing was close to the General of the Left Zhang Bu during Sun Xiu's time; the two "acted in concert," jointly controlling the government^[2]. In the process of enthroning Sun Hao, the two also acted together^[2]. In the end, the two were also killed together by Sun Hao^[2].
* Wan Yu (accuser): Wan Yu was Director of the Myriad Troops; he was on good terms with Sun Hao and, after Sun Xiu's death, persuaded Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu to enthrone Sun Hao. Yet it was Wan Yu who later slandered them before Sun Hao, bringing about the tragic end of Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu^[2].

Signature Scenes

* Befriending Sun Xiu in Kuaiji: While serving as Grand Administrator of Kuaiji, Puyang Xing formed a deep personal friendship with Sun Xiu, then still the Prince of Langya. This laid the foundation for his later being given important responsibilities after Sun Xiu took the throne^[1].
* Championing the Puli embankment project: In the third year of Yongan, the Commandant Yan Mi proposed building the Puli embankment. With the officials generally opposed, Puyang Xing overrode the objections, holding the project feasible. Although the project ultimately led to seething popular resentment, this event displayed Puyang Xing's influence in the government and his decision-making style^[2].
* Enthroning Sun Hao: After Sun Xiu passed away, Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu, at the persuasion of the Director of the Myriad Troops, Wan Yu, deposed Sun Xiu's legitimate son and instead enthroned Sun Hao, Marquis of Wucheng, as emperor. This act directly altered the political configuration of Eastern Wu and also sowed the seeds of his own tragedy^[2].
* Exterminated by Sun Hao: After Sun Hao took the throne, he believed Wan Yu's slanders and suspected that Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu harbored regret. At an audience, Sun Hao suddenly ordered Puyang Xing's arrest and banished him. In the end, Puyang Xing was pursued and killed on the road into exile, his three branches of kin exterminated, bringing an end to his eventful life^[2].