Zhong Yu (?) –263), courtesy name Zhishu, was a native of Yingchuan Changshe (颍川長社; present-day Changge, Xuchang, Henan). During the Three Kingdoms period, he was a minister of the State of Wei, the son of Taifu Zhongxuan, and the brother of Situ Zhonghui. Therefore, for Zhong Yu, his father Zhong Yu, as the eunuch of the State of Wei, could naturally be called a courtier. For example, in the late Cao Wei period, Sima Yi held the official position of Taifu. As for Zhong Yu's younger brother Zhong Hui, he led an army to participate in the Battle of Wei to destroy Shu and became a hero in the elimination of Shu Han. Because of the fame of Zhong Xuan and Zhong Hui, Zhong Yu is often ignored by people.
However, in the author's opinion, in the history of Cao Wei, Zhong Yu assisted Cao Rui and other emperors, and assisted Sima Zhao in quelling the rebellion, and was also a minister who could not be ignored. Below, let's talk about Zhong Yu, a historical figure.
One
First of all, according to the records of historical materials such as the Chronicle of the Three Kingdoms, Zhong Yu (钟毓), the son of Zhong Xuan (仲繇), the Prince of Wei during the Three Kingdoms period, began his career as a samurai at the age of fourteen. Talking and laughing is quick and agile, and has the legacy of his father. Therefore, for Zhong Yu, it can be called young fame. Of course, for Zhong Yu's younger brother Zhong Hui, he was also very intelligent when he was young.
In the second year of Taihe (228), Zhuge Liang, the chancellor of the Shu Han Dynasty, made his first northern expedition to the Central Plains. Upon hearing this news, Emperor Cao Rui of Wei planned to personally lead an army to fight, that is, the Imperial Conquest. In this regard, Zhong Yu expressed his opposition. In this context, although Cao Rui came to Chang'an, he did not personally visit the frontline battlefield. Soon after, because Zhang Gao defeated Ma Chen at the street pavilion, this prompted Zhuge Liang to choose to retreat. On this basis, Zhong Yu was promoted to The Yellow Gate Attendant by the Wei Ming Emperor Cao Rui.
Huangmen Shilang (黄門侍郎), also known as Huangmen Lang (黄門郎), was a Lang official who was given to the emperor within the palace gate at the beginning of the Qin Dynasty, and was a courtier of the emperor's close attendants, who could convey edicts, and this official position was used after the Han Dynasty, and during the Ming and Qing dynasties, he was a consort official who was responsible for assisting the emperor in handling the affairs of the imperial court. In this regard, in the author's opinion, serving as an official position of Huangmen Shilang means that Zhong Yu has gained the trust and respect of The Wei Ming Emperor Cao Rui.
During the Taihe period (227-232), because the Luoyang Palace was in full swing, the Wei Ming Emperor Cao Rui and his courtiers temporarily lived in Xuchang. Xuchang was small, and Emperor Wei Ming used felt as a temple in the south of the city, and feasted on a large banquet, and the people were miserable. After learning of this situation, Zhong Yu advised: "Now that the Wei treasury is empty, it is time to go to Guannei to reclaim wasteland and let the people cultivate it." "These recommendations have been adopted and implemented. During the reign of Cao Fang (240-249), Zhong Yu was promoted to the rank of Scattered Horseman. Scattered Riding Changshi is an ancient official name. Enter the rules and regulations for negligence, prepare the emperor's advisers, and go out on horseback to scatter. In this regard, in the author's opinion, for a long time, Zhong Yu mainly held official positions in the imperial palace. However, Zhong Yu's talent is obviously not limited to this.
Two
According to historical records such as the Chronicle of the Three Kingdoms, in the fifth year of the first year (244), the great general Cao Shuang raised an army to cut down Shu in the hot summer. In the face of more than 100,000 troops led by Cao Shuang, the Shu Han generals held on to the danger, which caused Cao Wei's army to advance. Faced with this situation, Cao Shuang could actually retreat in time. However, Cao Shuang wanted to continue to increase his troops, and this time the clock Yu sent an envoy to write: "I think the clever way to win should be to move the sword; the invincible army in the world, although they all carry out conquest, do not necessarily have to fight to win." Therefore, you should march at the right time, and be able to retreat when encountering difficulties, which is the truth of conquest since ancient times. Hopefully, you'll be able to think it through. ”
In this regard, Cao Shuang did not heed the advice of Zhong Yu and others, and insisted on fighting against Shu Han. Later, Cao Shuang returned without success. In this context, Zhong Yu was demoted to a servant because he made Cao Shuang unhappy, and left the capital of Cao Wei, Luoyang, to pay homage to Wei County. In this regard, in the author's opinion, Cao Shuang's move naturally disappointed Zhong Yu, which prompted Zhong Yu to fall to Sima Yi's father and son. In other words, Sima Yi could launch the Gaopingling Rebellion, apparently because Cao Shuang at that time had already rebelled against him and was unpopular.
Three
In the first year of Jiaping (249), Sima Yi launched the Gaopingling Rebellion. Through the Gaopingling Rebellion, Sima Yi killed Cao Shuang and his henchmen and usurped cao Wei's power. Soon after, Zhong Yu was recalled by Sima Yizheng to the Capital of Cao Wei, Luoyang, and promoted to Yushi Zhongcheng (御史中丞), Shizhong (侍中), and Ting Wei (廷尉). In this regard, in the author's opinion, this is not only because Sima Yi admired Zhong Yu's talents, but also because sima Yi needed the support of Zhong Yu and other family clans in the process of usurping power.
In the second year of the Zhengyuan Dynasty (255), after Yuqiu Jian and Wen Qin rebelled, Zhong Yu went to Yangzhou, Yuzhou and other places to appease the people. After returning, he was promoted to Shangshu. In the second year of Ganlu (257), after Zhuge Zhi raised an army, the general Sima Zhao discussed whether he needed to personally enlist Zhuge Birthday. At that time, the Eastern Wu general Sun Yi led the people to surrender. All the ministers believed that the State of Wu was in civil strife and would not send troops to assist Zhuge Zhi.
However, Zhong Yu expressed a different opinion, in his view: "This issue should be considered from the perspective of the enemy." Now Zhuge Xiang surrendered to the State of Wu in the land of Huainan, and although Sun Yi surrendered, the people he brought with him were less than a thousand, and the soldiers were only three hundred, which was not a big loss for the State of Wu. If Shouchun could not be quickly calmed down, and the civil unrest in Wu had stopped, how could it not send troops to rescue it? It is worth noting that the situation behind it was the same as Zhong Yu expected, and Eastern Wu did indeed send a large army to support Zhuge Shi, which posed a huge threat to Cao Wei.
In this regard, Sima Zhao also agreed with Zhong Yu's point of view, so he personally led a large army to Huainan, and Zhong Yu went with the army to assist Sima Zhao in dealing with Zhuge Birthday. After zhuge birthday rebellion was put down, Zhong Yu was promoted by Sima Zhao to the post of Qingzhou Assassin, later general, governor of Xuzhou, and false festival. Later, he was transferred to the capital Jingzhou Terracotta Army. From this point of view, Zhong Yu can be described as Sima Zhao's confidant. In addition to Zhong Yu, for his younger brother Zhong Hui, he was also trusted by Sima Zhao and became the main general of Cao Wei's army to destroy Shu.
Four
Finally, according to the records of historical materials such as the Chronicle of the Three Kingdoms, Zhong Yu, as the elder brother of Zhong Hui, knew his brother well. On this basis, Zhong Yu privately warned Sima Zhao: "My brother is brilliant and intelligent, but he is good at playing with power, and I am afraid that his ambitions are not small, so he must not be vigilant." After hearing this, Sima Zhao laughed and said, "If this is the case in the future, then I will only cure the sins of the Zhong Hui and not affect the Zhong clan." In this regard, in the author's opinion, Zhong Yu did this, naturally worried that Zhong would rebel in the future, and Sima Zhao would kill the entire Zhong Family. Now, with Sima Zhao's promise, Zhong Yu could at least save some of his family's descendants.
In the winter of the fourth year of Jingyuan (263), before the battle of Wei to destroy Shu began, after Zhong Yu's death, Cao Wei posthumously gave the general Che Riding a horse, with the title of Marquis Hui. In the fifth year of Jing Yuan (264), as Zhong Yu had predicted before, after the destruction of the Shu Han Dynasty, Zhong Hui did indeed rebel. Of course, zhonghui rebelled unsuccessfully, but quickly mutinied and was killed. After Zhong Hui was killed, the Zhong clan followed the law to rebuke the three tribes, but Sima Zhao fulfilled his previous promise to Zhong Yu and turned a blind eye to Zhong Yu, who had died of illness. Therefore, Zhong Yu's sons Zhong Jun and Zhong Yuan not only escaped a disaster, but also the officials were the same, which naturally thanked Zhong Yu's foresight. In other words, Zhong Yu and the Zhong Hui brothers are very intelligent, but when it comes to great wisdom, it is obvious that Zhong Hui's brother Zhong Yu is better.