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Mi Zhu, styled Zizhong, was from Ju in Donghai. For generations his family engaged in commerce, and amassed more than ten thousand servants and retainers, and a fortune measured in hundreds of millions (1). At some point in time, Governor Tiao Qian of Xuzhou raised him from a commoner to being an Aide-de-Camp. When Tiao Qian died, Mi Zhu followed his last wish and took the First Ruler [Liu Bei] in [as the new governor]. In the first year of Jian’an (AD 196), Lü Bu took advantage of Liu Bei being out at war with Yuan Shu, and sneak attacked Xiapi, taking the First Ruler’s family captive. And so the First Ruler had to turn to go to Haixi in Guangling. At that time, Mi Zhu gave his younger sister in marriage to the First Ruler, and presented two thousand servants and various amounts of gold and money to help support [Liu Bei’s] army. Liu Bei could not have recovered from his losses were it not for Mi Zhu’s help. Some time after that, the Lord Cao Cao memorialized to have Mi Zhu made Grand Administrator of Yin Commandery (2), and Mi Zhu’s younger brother, Mi Fang, made prefect of Pangcheng. However, both of them declined the positions, but followed the First Ruler around instead. Right before the First Ruler went to take refuge in Jingzhou, he sent Mi Zhu in first to make an introduction to Liu Biao. Mi Zhu was then made Aide to the General of the Left. Once Yizhou was conquered, [Liu Bei] bestowed upon Mi Zhu the title “General of the Peace of Han”, and a rank second only to the General Master of the Army. Mi Zhu was graceful, poised, and eloquent, but to propose strategy or deal with the affairs of the kingdom was not his specialty. That is why although he was treated with the utmost respect and honour, he was never put in command of anything. Nonetheless, none could compare to the lavish favours that were bestowed on him. (1) Shoushen Ji: Once, Mi Zhu was coming
home from Luoyang, and was several tens of li away from home, when he saw
a woman standing by the road asking for a lift. After traveling for some
li together, the woman thanked Mi Zhu and said to Zhu before leaving, “I
am a messenger from Heaven, sent to burn down the home of Mi Zhu of Dong
Hai. Since you have been so kind to give me a lift, I let you know about
it.” Mi Zhu then pleaded with her. “I can’t but burn it,” she said.
“Alright, why don’t we do this: You sir, speed along home. I will walk
slowly there, but at midday the fire shall start.” And so Mi Zhu hurried
home, and took his possessions to a safe place. At midday, indeed, the
house was set ablaze. <return> © Copyright Lady Sun 2002 |