Product Code Database
Hu Zong (183–243), courtesy name Weize, was a Chinese military general, poet, politician of the state of Eastern Wu in the Three Kingdoms period of China.
In 196, after the warlord Sun Ce appointed himself as the Administrator of Kuaiji Commandery, he recruited a 13-year-old Hu Zong as a household attendant and ordered him to remain in Wu Commandery (around present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu) and serve as a reading mate to his younger brother, Sun Quan.(孫策領會稽太守，綜年十四，為門下循行，留吳與孫權共讀書。) Sanguozhi vol. 62.
In 208, Hu Zong accompanied Sun Quan on a campaign against Huang Zu, a general under a rival warlord Liu Biao. After defeating Huang Zu and conquering Jiangxia Commandery (江夏郡; around present-day Wuhan, Hubei), Sun Quan appointed Hu Zong as the Chief of E County (鄂縣; present-day Ezhou, Hubei).(... 從討黃祖，拜鄂長。) Sanguozhi vol. 62.
Around early 210, after Sun Quan was appointed General of Chariots and Cavalry (車騎將軍) by the Han central government, he designated Jing (京; present-day Zhenjiang, Jiangsu) as the capital of his territories and recalled Hu Zong back from E County to serve in Jing. Along with Shi Yi and Xu Xiang (徐詳), Hu Zong was privy to classified information as they were in charge of Sun Quan's secretariat.(權為車騎將軍，都京，召綜還，為書部，與是儀、徐詳俱典軍國密事。) Sanguozhi vol. 62.
In November 222, although Sun Quan broke ties with Cao Pi and proclaimed himself the independent ruler of his Eastern Wu state by adopting "Huangwu" (黃武) as the era name of his reign. However, he did not declare himself emperor yet and continued to rule under the title "King of Wu".
When Wu's ally state Shu Han learnt that Sun Quan had declared himself emperor, they sent an emissary to congratulate him and reaffirm the Wu–Shu alliance against Wei. Under Sun Quan's instruction, Hu Zong produced an elegantly-written oath of covenant for the Wu–Shu alliance.(蜀聞權踐阼，遣使重申前好。綜為盟文，文義甚美，語在權傳。) Sanguozhi vol. 62.
In October 229, after Sun Quan relocated the Wu imperial capital from Wuchang (武昌; present-day Ezhou, Hubei) to Jiankang (present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu), he appointed Hu Zong and Xu Xiang as and as the Right and Left Commandants of the Army (左右領軍) respectively. He also increased the rank of their peerages from village marquis (亭侯) to district marquis (鄉侯).(權下都建業，詳、綜並為侍中，進封鄉侯，兼左右領軍。) Sanguozhi vol. 62.
When Sun Quan asked Hu Zong what job was suitable for Yin Fan, Hu Zong said: "He isn't capable of governing the people. We can try giving him a low-level position in the Imperial Capital."(權又問可堪何官，綜對曰：「未可以治民，且試以都輦小職。」) Sanguozhi vol. 62. Sun Quan considered that Yin Fan seemed knowledgeable about criminal law so he appointed him as a judicial officer. When Yin Fan was serving in Wu, the general Zhu Ju and justice minister Hao Pu (郝普) told Sun Quan that he was capable of holding greater responsibilities. Hao Pu, in particular, got along very well with Yin Fan and often complained that Yin Fan's talent was not put to good use.(權以蕃盛論刑獄，用為廷尉監。左將軍朱據、廷尉郝普稱蕃有王佐之才，普尤與之親善，常怨歎其屈。) Sanguozhi vol. 62.
In late 230, it turned out that Yin Fan was actually a spy planted in Wu by the Wei emperor Cao Rui, who wanted him to become Wu's justice minister and use his powers to stir up internal conflict in Wu. Yin Fan had, in fact, been plotting against Sun Quan. He was arrested and executed after his plot was uncovered.(吳錄曰：蕃有口才，魏明帝使詐叛如吳，令求作廷尉職，重案大臣以離間之。 ... 遂閉口而死。) Wu Lu annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 62. Sun Quan blamed Hao Pu for Yin Fan's betrayal and forced him to commit suicide;(吳歷曰：權問普：「卿前盛稱蕃，又為之怨望朝廷，使蕃反叛，皆卿之由。」) Wu Li annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 62. Zhu Ju, who also sang praises of Yin Fan, was implicated in the case and imprisoned for a long time.(後蕃謀叛，事覺伏誅，普見責自殺。據禁止，歷時乃解。) Sanguozhi vol. 62.
When the Wu regime was first established, the government was so overwhelmed by its workload that it had to enact special laws to prevent officials from leaving their posts without approval, even when they needed to perform filial mourning. However, there were still many officials who disregarded the laws.(初以內外多事，特立科，長吏遭喪，皆不得去，而數有犯者。) Sanguozhi vol. 62. Sun Quan felt that this issue was a cause for concern so he held a discussion with his subjects on how to deal with such offenders. Hu Zong suggested that they make it a capital offence for officials to leave their posts without approval; only the offender would be punished. After this new law was enacted, the Wu government no longer faced the problem of officials leaving their posts without approval, even when they had to perform filial mourning.(權患之，使朝臣下議。綜議以為宜定科文，示以大辟，行之一人，其後必絕。遂用綜言，由是奔喪乃斷。) Sanguozhi vol. 62.
In 233, the Liaodong-based warlord Gongsun Yuan pledged allegiance to Sun Quan and expressed willingness to become a vassal of Wu. Sun Quan was delighted as he saw Gongsun Yuan as a potential ally against Wu's rival state, Wei. When Sun Quan wanted to agree to the alliance, his senior adviser Zhang Zhao strongly objected and had a bitter quarrel with him over this issue. With help from Hu Zong and others, Sun Quan managed to resolve his conflict with Zhang Zhao and be on good terms with him again.(遼東之事，輔吳將軍張昭以諫權言辭切至，權亦大怒，其和協彼此，使之無隙，綜有力焉。) Sanguozhi vol. 62.
Hu Zong was known for being an alcoholic throughout his life. Whenever he got drunk, he became noisy, rowdy and sometimes violent towards his subordinates. Sun Quan appreciated Hu Zong for his talent so he did not reprimand Hu Zong for his behaviour.(性嗜酒，酒後歡呼極意，或推引杯觴，搏擊左右。權愛其才，弗之責也。) Sanguozhi vol. 62.
Hu Zong died in 243. His son, Hu Chong (胡冲), inherited his peerage as a Marquis of a Chief District (都鄉侯).(赤烏六年卒，子冲嗣。) Sanguozhi vol. 62.
|
|
