Bu Zhi 步骘 Zishan 子山

Contents

Introduction

Bu Zhi (步骘), courtesy name Zishan (子山), was an Eastern Wu chancellor and general from Linhuai. He fled to Jiangdong in his youth and studied while farming with Wei Jing; after serving as Sun Quan’s Master of Records he toured Wu with Zhuge Jin and Yan Jun and was known as one of the age’s “handsome talents.” As Inspector of Jiao Province (210) he killed the recalcitrant Administrator of Cangwu Wu Ju, received the submission of Shi Xie, pacified the south, and was enfeoffed Marquis of Guangxin. After Lü Dai took over Jiao Province he led ten thousand men north, defended Yiyang during Liu Bei’s invasion, and later pacified Lingling and Guiyang. He was Right General and Marquis of Linxiang (223), then General of Agile Cavalry and Governor of Xiling (229), where he remained for twenty years and was respected by Wei and Shu. He repeatedly memorialised against the abuses of the Inspector of the Secretariat Lü Yi and was later criticised by Sun Quan for not speaking out as a general. In the Two Palaces conflict he supported Sun Ba. He succeeded Lu Xun as Chancellor (246) and died in 247. Chen Shou described him as broad and dignified, with emotions that did not show, and noted that he still taught students and lived like a scholar, though his wives’ luxury drew criticism.

Biography

Early life and entry into service

Bu Zhi was from Huaiyin (淮阴), Linhuai (临淮). His ancestors were said to be descended from the Jin grandee Yang Shi; the Bu lineage took its surname from the fief of Bu. He fled the turmoil to Jiangdong and lived in poverty. He became friends with Wei Jing (卫旌) of Guangling; the two farmed for a living and studied at night. Bu Zhi read widely in the classics and arts. He was broad and dignified in character and could humble himself when needed.

The powerful local magnate Jiao Zhengqiang (焦征羌) was overbearing. Bu Zhi and Wei Jing, who made their living on his land, brought name-cards and melons to pay their respects. They were kept waiting outside; Jiao had them seated in the courtyard while he remained inside. Wei Jing was humiliated, but Bu Zhi said: “We are poor and lowly; that our host treats us as poor and lowly is only right—what is there to be ashamed of?”

When Sun Quan was made General Who Attacks the Caitiffs (200), Bu Zhi became Master of Records (主記). He later left office and travelled through Wu with Zhuge Jin, Yan Jun, and Zhang Cheng; the group became famous and were called the outstanding talents of the day. He served as Magistrate of Haiyan (海鹽長), then Army Libationer to the General of Chariots and Cavalry and Director of Xu Province (車騎將軍東曹掾、徐州治中), and was recommended as茂才 (209).

Pacifying Jiao Province

In 210 Bu Zhi was appointed Administrator of Poyang (鄱陽太守). The same year he was transferred to Inspector of Jiao Province (交州刺史) and General of the Household Establishing Martial Might (立武中郎將), with a thousand武射吏, and sent south. In 211 he was granted staff and commission as General Who Conquers the South (使持節、征南中郎將). The Administrator of Cangwu Wu Ju (吳巨), appointed by Liu Biao, was secretly disloyal. Bu Zhi feigned goodwill, invited him to a meeting, had him executed, and displayed his head—his prestige shook the south. Shi Xie and his brothers submitted; the southern lands began to send tribute. Former subordinates of the late Inspector Zhang Jin—Yi Liao, Qian Bo, and others—still held out in the hills; Bu Zhi attacked and subdued them one by one, and order and law were gradually restored. When the Yizhou magnate Yong Kai (雍闿) killed the Shu-appointed Administrator Zheng Ang and sought to submit to Wu through Shi Xie, Bu Zhi received him by authority and sent envoys to comfort and accept him. He was promoted General Who Pacifies the Rong (平戎將軍) and enfeoffed Marquis of Guangxin (廣信侯).

After Jiao Province: Yiyang and the south

In 220 Sun Quan appointed Lü Dai to replace Bu Zhi as Inspector of Jiao Province. Bu Zhi led ten thousand volunteers from Jiao Province north. When he reached Changsha, Liu Bei’s eastern campaign had begun and the武陵 barbarians had responded to Shu. Sun Quan ordered Bu Zhi to garrison Yiyang (益陽). After Liu Bei was defeated at Yiling (222), Lingling and Guiyang remained unstable; Bu Zhi led troops to pacify the commanderies.

In 223 he was promoted Right General and Left Protector of the Army (右將軍、左護軍) and his fief was changed to Marquis of Linxiang (臨湘侯). In 226 he was granted the tally and stationed at Oukou (沤口). In 229, when Sun Quan declared himself emperor, Bu Zhi was made General of Agile Cavalry (驃騎將軍) and Governor of Ji Province (冀州牧). That year he was made Governor of Xiling (都督西陵), replacing Lu Xun in stabilising the border with Shu. When Wu and Shu agreed to divide the realm, Ji Province was assigned to Shu, so Bu Zhi’s nominal governorship of Ji was removed.

Sun Quan moved the capital to Jianye and left the heir Sun Deng and the Senior General Lu Xun at Wuchang. Sun Deng wrote to Bu Zhi asking for guidance. Bu Zhi listed eleven officials then serving in Jing Province—Zhuge Jin, Lu Xun, Zhu Ran, Cheng Pu (or Lü Dai), Pan Jun, Pei Xuan, Xiahou Cheng, Wei Jing, Li Su, Zhou Tiao, Shi Gan—and gave a brief assessment of each, urging Sun Deng to trust and employ them.

Lü Yi and remonstrance

Sun Quan later trusted the harsh Inspector of the Secretariat Lü Yi (呂壹), who scrutinised documents, trumped up charges, and had many officials imprisoned or punished; even the Left General Zhu Ju and the Chancellor Gu Yong were implicated. When the Army Officer Liu Zhu provided evidence that Zhu Ju was innocent and exposed Lü Yi’s false cases, Sun Quan awoke to the truth and had Lü Yi executed. He had previously received many memorials from Bu Zhi on the校事 system, though Bu Zhi had not named Lü Yi and some memorials came after Lü Yi’s death. After the execution Sun Quan blamed himself but also issued an edict criticising Bu Zhi, Zhuge Jin, Lü Dai, and Zhu Ran for staying out of the matter as military men. Bu Zhi had submitted dozens of memorials; Sun Quan did not accept every point but often followed his advice. In 238 he and Zhuge Jin jointly requested that Sun Quan show leniency to Zhou Yu’s son Zhou Yin; Sun Quan eventually agreed (Zhou Yin died soon after).

Military action and Two Palaces

In 241 Bu Zhi joined Zhuge Jin in attacking Zhazhong (柤中); Sima Yi led Wei forces and drove them back.

In the Two Palaces conflict (heir Sun He vs. Lu King Sun Ba), Bu Zhi sided with Sun Ba, along with Lü Dai, Quan Cong, and others; Lu Xun, Zhuge Ke, Zhu Ju, Teng Yin, and others supported Sun He. In 244, hearing that the Shu General of the Army Jiang Wan had moved to Fu and that Shu had built ships and repaired walls, Bu Zhi and Zhu Ran memorialised that Wu should guard against a Shu attack. Sun Quan thought a Shu invasion unlikely and that Bu Zhi was overreacting; events proved Sun Quan right.

Chancellor and death

In 246 the Chancellor Lu Xun died. Bu Zhi succeeded him as Chancellor (丞相). He died in 247. His son Bu Xie (步协) succeeded to his marquisate and was made General Who Comforts the Army (撫軍將軍). Bu Zhi had governed Xiling for twenty years; Wei and Shu both respected his prestige. His second son Bu Chan (步阐) later became Governor of Xiling; under Sun Hao he rebelled and surrendered to Jin. Lu Kang attacked Xiling, captured it, and had Bu Chan executed; the Bu clan was nearly wiped out, and only Bu Xuan (步璿), who was in Luoyang as a hostage, survived.

Personality and traits

Bu Zhi was broad and dignified and won the support of many; he did not show joy or anger in his expression, and both inside and outside his domain there was order. He continued to teach disciples, never putting down his books, and his dress and dwelling were like a scholar’s; however, his wives and concubines dressed lavishly, for which he was criticised. Wei Zhao’s Wu shu said he was “broad and dignified, able to lower his will and suffer disgrace.” The anecdote with Jiao Zhengqiang and the melons illustrates his composure under humiliation.

“Table on blocking the river”

Bu Zhi once submitted a memorial suggesting blocking the Yangtze with sandbags. Lü Fan and Zhuge Ke said that whenever they read it they could not help laughing: “This river has existed since creation—how can it be stopped with sandbags?”

Political achievements

Bu Zhi served as Administrator of Poyang, Inspector of Jiao Province, and General Who Pacifies the Rong; killed Wu Ju and received Shi Xie; pacified Yi Liao, Qian Bo, and Yong Kai’s submission; led troops north from Jiao Province; defended Yiyang during Liu Bei’s invasion; pacified Lingling and Guiyang; served as Right General and Marquis of Linxiang; General of Agile Cavalry and Governor of Xiling for twenty years; repeatedly memorialised on校事 and other matters; attacked Zhazhong (241); succeeded Lu Xun as Chancellor (246). Fu Xuan wrote that with “Lu Yi, Zhuge Jin, and Bu Zhi as limbs,” Sun Quan “did not move troops recklessly, so he was rarely defeated and Jiangnan was secure.”

Relationships

Sun Quan

Bu Zhi served Sun Quan from 200 until his death in 247. Sun Quan employed him as Inspector of Jiao Province, then in Jing Province and at Xiling, and finally as Chancellor. After Lü Yi’s fall Sun Quan reproached Bu Zhi (and others) for not speaking up.

Zhuge Jin, Yan Jun, Zhang Cheng

With Zhuge Jin and Yan Jun, Bu Zhi toured Wu and gained renown as one of the “handsome talents” of the age.

Lu Xun

Bu Zhi took over the Xiling governorship from Lu Xun in 229 and succeeded him as Chancellor in 246.

Bu Lian Shi

The consort Bu Lian Shi (步練師), Sun Quan’s favourite and posthumous empress, was of the same clan as Bu Zhi.

Anecdotes and allusions

Melons for Jiao Zhengqiang

Bu Zhi and Wei Jing brought melons to the powerful Jiao Zhengqiang and were kept waiting and then seated outside while Jiao ate inside. Wei Jing was furious; Bu Zhi said that as poor men they could expect to be treated as such and there was no shame in it.

Source: Wu shu (Wei Zhao)
Type: Historical

List of eleven for Sun Deng

Sun Deng asked Bu Zhi for instruction. Bu Zhi listed eleven officials in Jing Province with short assessments and urged Sun Deng to trust and employ them.

Source: Records of the Three Kingdoms
Type: Historical

Romance of the Three Kingdoms

In the novel, before the Battle of Red Cliffs, Bu Zhi is among those who advocate surrendering to Cao Cao; he is refuted when Zhuge Liang debates the scholars. Later, when Liu Bei attacks, Bu Zhi proposes sending the heads of Fan Jiang and Zhang Da (Zhang Fei’s killers) and Zhang Fei’s head to Liu Bei to sue for peace; Sun Quan agrees but Liu Bei refuses.

Achievements

Documented achievements include: pacifying Jiao Province and killing Wu Ju; receiving Shi Xie and pacifying the south; Marquis of Guangxin; defending Yiyang (222); pacifying Lingling and Guiyang; Right General and Marquis of Linxiang; General of Agile Cavalry and Governor of Xiling for twenty years; memorials on校事 and personnel; attack on Zhazhong (241); Chancellor (246–247).

Behind the scenes

Historical sources

Bu Zhi’s biography is in the Records of the Three Kingdoms (三国志), “Biographies of Zhang Zhao, Gu Yong, Zhuge Jin, and Bu Zhi” (吳書·張顧諸葛步傳). The Wu shu (Wei Zhao) and Jiangbiao zhuan provide additional detail. His “Table on blocking the river” and memorials on preparing for Shu and on the校事 are cited by Pei Songzhi.

Chen Shou’s evaluation

“He still instructed his disciples and never put down his books; in dress and dwelling he was like a scholar. Yet within his gates his wives and concubines wore luxurious clothes, and he was somewhat criticised for it. At Xiling for twenty years, neighbouring enemies respected his prestige and good faith. His nature was broad and winning; joy and anger did not show in his face, and both internally and externally there was reverence.” “Zhuge Jin and Bu Zhi were both valued in their time for their virtue, restraint, and conduct.”

Historical evaluations

Fu Xuan

“With Lu Yi, Zhuge Jin, and Bu Zhi as limbs … dividing duties and watching for chances, the army did not move recklessly, so there were few defeats and Jiangnan was at peace.”

Sun Deng

“Bu Zhi is loyal to the state and understands governance.”

Pei Songzhi

Pei criticised Bu Zhi for supporting Sun Ba in the Two Palaces conflict, arguing that it was inconsistent with his usual conduct and enough to overshadow his achievements.

Legacy

Bu Zhi is remembered as the Eastern Wu Chancellor who pacified Jiao Province, governed Xiling for two decades with broad and dignified conduct, and succeeded Lu Xun. The later rebellion and destruction of his son Bu Chan at Xiling ended the Bu line except for the hostage Bu Xuan.

References

Chen Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms (三国志), “Biographies of Zhang Zhao, Gu Yong, Zhuge Jin, and Bu Zhi” (吳書·張顧諸葛步傳).
Wei Zhao. Wu shu (吳書), cited in Pei Songzhi’s commentary.
Luo Guanzhong. Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三國演義), chapters on Red Cliffs and Liu Bei’s invasion.