Historical Record
Miao Ze has no record in the historical books. In the official histories such as the Records of the Three Kingdoms, no figure named Miao Ze is mentioned, nor is there any similar record related to the affair of Huang Kui's plot to assassinate Cao Cao. Therefore, the figure of Miao Ze and the events in which he took part are all literary creation, not historical fact.
In the Novel
In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Miao Ze is a negative character who, out of private desire, betrayed his own brother-in-law. He had an illicit affair with Li Chunxiang, Huang Kui's concubine, and in order to be united with Li Chunxiang forever, he did not hesitate to sell out Huang Kui. When Huang Kui, resentful over the plan to assassinate Cao Cao, was nursing his indignation, Li Chunxiang, at Miao Ze's instigation, used insinuating words to draw out of Huang Kui's mouth the detailed plan to assassinate Cao Cao. After learning of this, Miao Ze immediately informed on him to Cao Cao. His informing directly led to the arrest of Huang Kui and his whole family, who were ultimately executed. However, Miao Ze's betrayal did not bring him the happiness he had expected. After learning of Miao Ze's motive for informing, Cao Cao regarded him as an unrighteous man who would not hesitate to sell out his own brother-in-law for private passion, and felt deep contempt for his conduct. Therefore, Cao Cao did not grant Miao Ze's request to take Li Chunxiang as his wife, but instead had Miao Ze, Li Chunxiang, and Huang Kui's entire household beheaded together in the marketplace. Miao Ze's end embodies Cao Cao's loathing of traitors and serves as a warning to the world of the fate of those who break faith and betray righteousness.
Key Relationships
* Huang Kui: Miao Ze's brother-in-law, and the object of his betrayal. For the sake of private desire, Miao Ze informed Cao Cao of Huang Kui's plan to assassinate Cao Cao, directly leading to the killing of Huang Kui and his whole family (novel only).
* Li Chunxiang: Huang Kui's concubine, who had an illicit affair with Miao Ze. She was the key figure in Miao Ze's informing affair, responsible for drawing out from Huang Kui the details of the plan to assassinate Cao Cao (novel only).
* Cao Cao: The object of Miao Ze's informing. Cao Cao made use of Miao Ze's information to successfully foil Huang Kui's assassination plan, but in the end also had him executed because of his unrighteous conduct (novel only).
Signature Scene
Miao Ze's signature scene is concentrated in Chapter 57 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms. In this chapter, Miao Ze conspired with Li Chunxiang, using Li Chunxiang's position to draw out of Huang Kui's mouth the detailed plan to assassinate Cao Cao. When Huang Kui, after drinking, confided to Li Chunxiang his intent and specific arrangements for assassinating Cao Cao, Li Chunxiang at once informed Miao Ze. Upon obtaining this important intelligence, Miao Ze unhesitatingly reported it to Cao Cao. This act of informing directly led to the tragic end of Huang Kui and his family. However, Miao Ze's own fate thereby came to an end as well. When he put to Cao Cao the request to take Li Chunxiang as his wife, Cao Cao, on the grounds that "for the sake of a woman you have ruined your brother-in-law's whole family—what use is keeping such an unrighteous man!", had Miao Ze and Li Chunxiang executed together. This scene not only displays Miao Ze's baseness and short-sightedness but also profoundly reveals Cao Cao's attitude toward traitors: even one who has rendered meritorious service by informing, if his character is corrupt, can hardly escape punishment. This series of Miao Ze's actions and his final end constitute his only and most influential chapter in Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Relationships
1 relationships
Other1
Lines
- 演 ch.57 §55→ Li Chunxiang📍 Xuchang
「汝可以言挑之曰：『人皆說劉皇叔仁德，曹操奸雄，何也？』看他說甚言語。」
- 演 ch.57 §63→ Cao Cao📍 Xuchang
「不願加賞，只求李春香為妻。」
Chapters1 回 ▸
- 演ch.57
Inner monologues · AI-generated1 段 ▸
- My name is Miao Ze; my courtesy name is unknown. Now, with execution looming, I look back on what I did today and find n