Mi Zhu

Historical Record

Based on the historical source material currently provided, the record concerning Mi Zhu (courtesy name Zizhong) is empty. This means that in the official histories such as the Records of the Three Kingdoms there is no direct textual description of his life or his specific contributions. Therefore, to verify Mi Zhu's image in history one would need to consult a broader range of sources. Within the scope of this biography, we cannot extract any "verifiable facts" about Mi Zhu from the historical source material.

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Mi Zhu is a figure of distinct character, dutiful and generous, his portrayal full of legendary color and moral luster. His first appearance already displays his wealthy family background and noble character. The novel records that on his way back from trading in Luoyang, Mi Zhu encountered a beautiful woman who begged to share his carriage; he not only stepped down and walked on foot to give her the seat, but while riding together "kept his eyes from straying" ^c:6054. This woman was in fact the Star Lord of Southern Fire Virtue; moved by his courteous treatment, she warned him in advance that his household would suffer a fire calamity, allowing Mi Zhu to move out his property and avoid the loss. Thereafter Mi Zhu "widely gave away his family wealth to relieve the poor and succor the suffering," establishing his image of benevolence and righteousness ^c:6054.

Mi Zhu first served Tao Qian. When Cao Cao's great army besieged Xu Province and Tao Qian wished to bind himself and surrender the city to spare the people, it was Mi Zhu who stepped forward with a plan to seek aid. He volunteered to go to Beihai Commandery to beg Kong Rong for relief, and proposed sending someone to Tian Kai of Qing Province for help as well, displaying his combination of wisdom and courage ^{c:13062 c:6054}. Before Kong Rong, Mi Zhu set out in detail the plight of Xu Province under Cao Cao's attack and prompted Kong Rong to send troops in aid ^c:13064.

In Liu Bei's coming to take charge of Xu Province, Mi Zhu played a key role. When Tao Qian was gravely ill, Mi Zhu conferred with Chen Deng and held that Liu Bei was the best candidate to succeed as Governor of Xu Province, and strongly urged Liu Bei to accept it ^{c:2985 c:6055 c:13068}. Although Liu Bei repeatedly declined, Mi Zhu persisted in his persuasion, emphasizing, "Now the Han house is in decline, the realm is in upheaval; the time to build merit and establish enterprise is precisely now. Xu Province is rich and populous, with a million households—Governor Liu must take charge of it and cannot refuse" ^c:13068. This reflects not only his loyalty and foresight toward Liu Bei but also his hopes for the revival of the Han. After Liu Bei finally took provisional charge of Xu Province's affairs, Mi Zhu was appointed as his assistant ^c:6055.

In the growth and strengthening of Liu Bei's group, Mi Zhu was consistently an important counselor and confidant. He repeatedly reminded Liu Bei to beware of Lü Bu's nature as a "tiger and wolf" ^c:2986, and also discerned Cao Cao's schemes—when Liu Bei was ordered to campaign against Yuan Shu, Mi Zhu pointed out, "This too is one of Cao Cao's schemes" ^c:13071. After Xu Province was seized by Lü Bu, Mi Zhu and his younger brother Mi Fang once fled and later met up with Zhang Fei ^c:2990.

On the eve of the Battle of Red Cliffs, Mi Zhu was sent by Liu Bei to Wu to spy out its true situation; under the pretext of bringing provisions to the troops, he successfully met with Zhou Yu and learned that Kongming was still in Wu ^{c:6057 c:13078}. When Liu Bei took the four commanderies of Lingling, Wuling, Guiyang, and Changsha, Mi Zhu remained behind to guard Jiangling together with Liu Feng, showing Liu Bei's trust in him ^c:6058. When Kongming entered Shu, Mi Zhu was again appointed to assist Guan Yu in garrisoning Jing Province ^c:6059.

In sum, Mi Zhu is shaped in the novel as a loyal, benevolent, far-sighted, and wealthy gentleman, not only Liu Bei's confidant but also an important supporter and witness of his early career. His tale of "yielding the carriage to a woman and keeping his eyes from straying" became the very emblem of his propriety, self-restraint, and noble character.

Key Relationships

* Tao Qian's Faction (serves): Mi Zhu first served Tao Qian as Attendant Officer of the Separate Carriage ^c:6054.
* Tao Qian (advises_in): When Cao Cao attacked Xu Province, Mi Zhu offered Tao Qian a plan to seek aid and advised him to yield Xu Province to Liu Bei ^{c:13062 c:2985}.
* Liu Bei's faction (serves): Mi Zhu was one of the core members of Liu Bei's group, long serving as an assistant and repeatedly carrying out important missions ^{c:6055 c:6058 c:6059}.
* Liu Bei (advises_in): Mi Zhu repeatedly offered Liu Bei advice, including urging him to accept Xu Province, to beware of Lü Bu, and to see through Cao Cao's schemes ^{c:13068 c:2986 c:13071}.
* Kong Rong (party petitioned for aid): Mi Zhu was once sent by Tao Qian to Beihai to beg Kong Rong for relief ^{c:6054 c:13064}.
* Sun Qian (colleague): After Liu Bei took provisional charge of Xu Province, Sun Qian and Mi Zhu together assisted Liu Bei ^c:6055.
* Chen Deng (colleague): Mi Zhu once deliberated with Chen Deng over the affairs of Xu Province ^c:2985.
* Mi Fang (brother): Mi Fang was Mi Zhu's younger brother; the two once guarded the central army together to protect Liu Bei's wife and children ^c:2987.
* Guan Yu (colleague / assisted figure): After Kongming entered Shu, Mi Zhu assisted Guan Yu in garrisoning Jing Province ^c:6059.
* Zhou Yu (party negotiated with): Mi Zhu was once sent by Liu Bei to Wu to negotiate with Zhou Yu and spy out the situation ^{c:6057 c:13078}.

Iconic Scenes

* Yielding the Carriage to a Woman: On his way back from Luoyang, Mi Zhu gave up his carriage to a beautiful woman and walked on foot, keeping his eyes from straying. This woman was the Star Lord of Fire Virtue; moved by his courteous treatment, she warned him his household would suffer a fire calamity, allowing Mi Zhu to escape disaster. This event laid the foundation for Mi Zhu's character as one who "observed propriety with self-restraint" and "valued righteousness and delighted in giving" ^c:6054 (novel only).
* Seeking Aid for Xu Province: When Cao Cao besieged Xu Province and Tao Qian wished to surrender the city, Mi Zhu stepped forward, offered a plan, and personally went to Beihai to beg Kong Rong for relief, displaying his loyalty, courage, and resourcefulness ^{c:13062 c:6054} (novel only).
* Strongly Urging Liu Bei to Take Xu Province: When Tao Qian was gravely ill, Mi Zhu, together with Chen Deng, strongly urged Liu Bei to succeed as Governor of Xu Province, emphasizing that this was an opportunity "Heaven gives, which if not taken would bring regret beyond pursuit," and finally prompted Liu Bei to take provisional charge of Xu Province ^{c:2985 c:13068} (novel only).
* Protecting Liu Bei's Wife and Children: When Lü Bu attacked Xiaopei, Mi Zhu and his younger brother Mi Fang were ordered to guard the central army and protect Liu Bei's wife and children ^c:2987 (novel only).
* Spying Out the Situation in Wu: Before the Battle of Red Cliffs, Mi Zhu, on Liu Bei's orders and under the pretext of bringing provisions to the troops, went to Wu and successfully learned of Kongming's whereabouts and Zhou Yu's intentions, providing important intelligence for the decisions of Liu Bei's group ^{c:6057 c:13078} (novel only).
* Assisting Guan Yu in Garrisoning Jing Province: After Kongming entered Shu, Mi Zhu was appointed to assist Guan Yu in garrisoning Jing Province, showing his important standing and the degree of trust he enjoyed within Liu Bei's group ^c:6059 (novel only).