Bao Xun 鮑勛 Shuye 叔業

Contents

Biography

Background and early office

Bao Xun was from Pingyang, Taishan (in present-day Xintai, Shandong). His courtesy name was Shuye. He was a ninth-generation descendant of Bao Xuan, Colonel Director of Retainers under the Western Han. His father Bao Xin had served as Chancellor of Jibei and died in battle in 192 covering Cao Cao’s retreat; his body was not recovered and Cao Cao had a wooden image made and wept before it.

In 212, when Cao Cao was enfeoffed as Duke of Wei, he posthumously honoured Bao Xin’s merit, enfeoffed Bao Xun’s elder brother Bao Shao as Marquis of Xindu, and recruited Bao Xun as a clerk in the Chancellor’s Office.

As Western Commandant: Guo夫人的 brother

In 217, when Cao Pi was established as Heir, Bao Xun became Palace Tutor to the Heir. He was later transferred to Gentleman of the Yellow Gate and then to Commandant of the Western Section of Wei Commandery.

The brother of Cao Pi’s Lady Guo (Guo 夫人) served as a minor official in Quzhou County and was found to have stolen government cloth. By law he should be executed (abandoned in the market). Cao Cao was in Qiao and Cao Pi was in nearby Ye. Cao Pi repeatedly wrote to Bao Xun in his own hand asking for leniency. Bao Xun did not dare indulge the offender and submitted all the evidence to the court. He had already displeased Cao Pi by being unbending as Palace Tutor; this incident deepened Cao Pi’s resentment. Cao Pi took advantage of a report that Wei Commandery had been late in rotating troops to have the Commandant of the Capital memorialise Bao Xun’s dismissal. Bao Xun was demoted to General of the Household. After the court pleaded for him he was later appointed Censor.

Under Cao Pi: remonstrance and demotion

In 220, when Cao Cao died and Cao Pi succeeded as King of Wei, Bao Xun served as Commandant of the Consort with the addition of Palace Attendant. That year Cao Pi took the imperial title. Bao Xun repeatedly memorialised that the Emperor should give weight to the military and to agriculture, be generous to the people, and postpone construction of palaces and gardens.

On one occasion Cao Pi set out to hunt. Bao Xun blocked his carriage and submitted a memorial that during the mourning period he should not ride or hunt. Cao Pi tore up the memorial and went anyway. When the party stopped to rest, Cao Pi asked the attendants whether hunting or music was the better pastime. The Palace Attendant Liu Ye flattered him and said hunting was better. Bao Xun disputed this and memorialised that Liu Ye was “sycophantic and disloyal.” Cao Pi’s expression showed anger. On his return he transferred Bao Xun out to General of the Household.

Palace Aide to the Censor-in-Chief and campaign remonstrance

In 223, the Director of the Masters of Writing Chen Qun and the Director of the Right Section of the Masters of Writing Sima Yi both recommended Bao Xun for Palace Aide to the Censor-in-Chief. Cao Pi had no choice but to appoint him. In office Bao Xun enforced the law strictly and the hundred officials became careful and restrained.

In the autumn of 225, Cao Pi planned to attack Wu and summoned the court to discuss it. Bao Xun remonstrated in person that Wu and Shu were as close as lips and teeth and had natural defences, so they were hard to overcome; the road was long and would waste supplies—he said plainly that the campaign should not go ahead. Cao Pi resented him more and demoted him to Director of the Law.

Sun邕 incident and execution

When Cao Pi led the army by land and water to the Huai and then returned from Shouchun, he passed through Chenliu. The Administrator of Chenliu Sun Yong (孙邕) went to see the Emperor and also called on Bao Xun. The camp had not yet been fully built and only markers were in place. Sun Yong took a side path instead of the main road. The camp Orderly Liu Yao discovered this and wanted to report him. Bao Xun held that the camp and moat were not yet complete and dismissed the report. When the army returned to Luoyang, Liu Yao committed an offence and Bao Xun memorialised to have him punished. Liu Yao then secretly memorialised the matter of Sun Yong. Cao Pi issued an edict: “Bao Xun points at a deer and calls it a horse. Arrest him and send him to the Court of Judicial Review.”

The Court of Judicial Review concluded that the sentence should be five years of penal labour. The three reviewing offices驳正 and set the punishment at a fine of two jin of gold. When Cao Pi heard this he was furious and said Bao Xun did not deserve to live and that the Court was shielding him. He ordered everyone from the three offices down to be arrested and tried together with Bao Xun. The Grand Commandant Zhong Yao, the Minister over the Masses Hua Xin, the General Who Guards the East Chen Qun, the Palace Attendant Xin Pi, the Gentleman of the Masters of Writing Wei Zhen, and the acting Court of Judicial Review Gao Rou all submitted that Bao Xin had had merit under Cao Cao and asked that Bao Xun be spared. Cao Pi refused. He was determined to use the occasion to put Bao Xun to death. Gao Rou refused to accept the edict. Cao Pi had Gao Rou transferred and sent a messenger to instruct the Court of Judicial Review directly. Bao Xun was executed.

Bao Xun had cultivated his conduct and was frugal but gave to those in need, so when he died his household had no surplus wealth. Twenty days after Bao Xun’s execution, Cao Pi died. Everyone sighed for Bao Xun.

Historical evaluations

Wang Shen: “Bao Xun was pure and had high integrity; he was well known in his time.”
Chen Shou: “Bao Xun upheld the right without flaw, yet he did not escape with his life—alas.”

References

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Volume 12, Biography of Bao Xun (under Bao Xin)
Records of the Three Kingdoms, Volume 2, Annals of Emperor Wen