He Shao 賀邵 Xingbo 興伯

Contents

Introduction

He Shao (賀邵), courtesy name Xingbo (興伯), was an Eastern Wu minister from Shanyin in Kuaiji, grandson of the general He Qi (贺齐) and son of He Jing (贺景). He studied under Fan Ping of Qiantang. He served as General of the Household (中郎), then under Sun Xiu was made Cavalier Attendant in Regular Attendance (散騎中常侍) with the title Cavalier Attendant (駙馬都尉) together with Wang Fan, Xue Ying, and Yu Si. Under Sun Hao he was Administrator of Wu Commandery. The powerful families of Wu scorned him and wrote on the prefectural gate: “The Kuaiji cock cannot crow.” He Shao went out, turned back, took a brush, and added: “Cannot crow—then kill the Wu boys.” He then inspected the manors of the Gu and Lu families for misuse of troops and harbouring fugitives and reported to the throne; many were punished. Lu Kang, then at Jiangling, had to appeal to Sun Hao before the matter was resolved. He Shao was later recalled as Commandant of the Left Army (左典軍), then promoted to Director of the Secretariat (中書令) and Grand Tutor to the Heir (太子太傅). Sun Hao was cruel and arrogant and government deteriorated. He Shao submitted a frank memorial criticising Sun Hao’s conduct; Sun Hao hated him. He was then accused together with Lou Xuan of “slandering state affairs” and both were reprimanded. In 275 he suffered a stroke and lost the power of speech; he left office for several months. Sun Hao suspected he was feigning illness, had him arrested and sent to the wine storehouse (酒藏), and tortured him repeatedly. He Shao never spoke and was put to death. His family was exiled to Linhai. He was forty-nine. The Shishuo xinyu says Sun Hao had him killed by “burning a saw and severing a He’s head”—possibly confused with the fate of Chen Sheng (陳聲), or both suffered such torture. Lu Kai and Chen Shou praised him as “clear and loyal” and “firm in purpose, pure and essential.” The Huiji dianlu says he was dignified in bearing and always wore socks, so that even those close to him rarely saw his bare feet.

Biography

Early career and Sun Xiu

He Shao was from Shanyin (山陰), Kuaiji. He was the grandson of He Qi (贺齐) and son of He Jing (贺景), who was Chief Commandant Who Destroys Bandits (滅賊校尉), strict and caring to his troops, and whose weapons were said to be the finest of the time; he died early. He Shao studied under Fan Ping (范平) of Qiantang. He first served as General of the Household (中郎). When Sun Xiu became emperor (258), He Shao was made Cavalier Attendant in Regular Attendance (散騎中常侍) and Cavalier Attendant (駙馬都尉) together with Wang Fan, Xue Ying, and Yu Si.

Administrator of Wu and the Gu–Lu affair

Under Sun Hao, He Shao was Administrator of Wu Commandery (吳郡太守). He was not cowed by the great families. The powerful clans of Wu looked down on him and wrote on the prefectural gate: “會稽雞，不能啼” (The Kuaiji cock cannot crow). He Shao heard of it, went out, turned back, asked for a brush, and added: “不可啼，殺吳兒” (If it cannot crow—kill the Wu boys). He then went to the manors of the various families, checked the Gu and Lu houses for misuse of government troops and for harbouring fugitives, and reported everything to the throne. Many were punished. Lu Kang was then at Jiangling and was implicated; he went to see Sun Hao and only then obtained a resolution.

Director of the Secretariat and remonstrance

He Shao was later recalled as Commandant of the Left Army (左典軍) and then promoted to Director of the Secretariat (中書令) and Grand Tutor to the Heir (太子太傅). Sun Hao was cruel and violent, arrogant and self-willed, and government deteriorated. He Shao submitted a memorial bluntly criticising Sun Hao’s faults since taking the throne. Sun Hao read it and deeply resented him. He Shao was “upright in public service and those close to the ruler feared him.” They then joined in accusing He Shao and Lou Xuan (樓玄) of “slandering state affairs”; both were questioned and blamed.

Stroke, torture, and death (275)

Later He Shao suffered a stroke (中惡風) and lost the power of speech. He left office. After he had been absent for several months, Sun Hao suspected he was feigning illness. He had He Shao arrested and sent to the wine storehouse (酒藏), where he was tortured a thousand times. He Shao never said a word and was in the end put to death. His family was exiled to Linhai. That year was Tiance 1 (275). He Shao was forty-nine. Sun Hao also ordered the execution of Lou Xuan’s sons and grandsons.

The Shishuo xinyu (世說新語) says that when Emperor Yuan of Jin (元帝) once asked He Xun (He Shao’s son) about “Sun Hao burning a saw and cutting off one He’s head,” He Xun wept and said his father had met with the unrighteous ruler; the Jin shu (賀循傳) gives the same story. The Sanguo zhi account of Sun Hao’s reign says that the official Chen Sheng (陳聲) was executed by Sun Hao using a red-hot saw to sever his head; Pei Songzhi does not mention He Shao suffering that punishment. The attribution of “burning saw” to He Shao may be a conflation with Chen Sheng, or both may have been so executed.

Personality and traits

He Shao was “upright in public service and those close to the ruler feared him.” The Huiji dianlu (會稽典錄) says he “was good at bearing and demeanour, corrected his cap and robes, maintained a dignified gaze, and was constant in movement and rest; the longer people associated with him the more they respected him. In the office, those around him rarely saw him sit barefoot; he often wore socks and seldom showed his feet.” Lu Kai grouped him with those who were “clear and loyal or of outstanding talent—all pillars of the state.” Chen Shou: “He Shao was firm in purpose and pure, clear and essential” (厲志高潔，機理清要).

Political achievements

Under Sun Xiu: Cavalier Attendant in Regular Attendance, Cavalier Attendant (258). Under Sun Hao: Administrator of Wu (defied Gu and Lu; “cannot crow—kill the Wu boys”; reported abuses; Lu Kang appealed to Sun Hao); Commandant of the Left Army; Director of the Secretariat, Grand Tutor to the Heir; memorial criticising Sun Hao; accused with Lou Xuan of slandering state affairs; 275 stroke, left office, suspected of feigning illness, tortured and killed; family exiled to Linhai.

Relationships

Sun Hao

He Shao remonstrated with Sun Hao; Sun Hao hated him. After He Shao was accused with Lou Xuan, Sun Hao later had him tortured and killed on suspicion of feigning illness.

Lu Kang

When He Shao as Administrator of Wu prosecuted the Gu and Lu families, Lu Kang (then at Jiangling) was implicated and had to ask Sun Hao for help before the matter was resolved.

He Qi and He Xun

He Shao was He Qi’s grandson. His son He Xun (贺循) became a leading Jin scholar and minister (Grand Master of Ceremonies, Grand Tutor to the Heir) and was asked by Emperor Yuan about “Sun Hao burning a saw and cutting off one He’s head.”

Anecdotes and allusions

“Cannot crow—then kill the Wu boys”

When the Wu clans wrote “The Kuaiji cock cannot crow” on the gate, He Shao added: “不可啼，殺吳兒.” He then investigated the Gu and Lu manors and reported their abuses.

Source: Shishuo xinyu (世說新語·政事), Sanguo zhi
Type: Historical

“Burning saw” and death

The Shishuo xinyu and Jin shu say Sun Hao killed He Shao by “burning a saw and severing a He’s head.” The Sanguo zhi narrative of Sun Hao’s reign attributes that method to the execution of Chen Sheng; the attribution to He Shao may be conflation or both may have been so executed.

Source: Shishuo xinyu, Jin shu, Sanguo zhi
Type: Historical (disputed)

Achievements

Documented achievements include: General of the Household; Cavalier Attendant in Regular Attendance (258); Administrator of Wu (defied Gu–Lu, reported abuses); Commandant of the Left Army; Director of the Secretariat, Grand Tutor to the Heir; remonstrance with Sun Hao; death under torture (275).

Behind the scenes

Historical sources

He Shao’s biography is in the Records of the Three Kingdoms (三國志), “Biographies of Wang Fan, Lou Xuan, He Shao, Wei Zhao, and Hua He” (吳書·王樓賀韋華傳), scroll 65. His grandfather He Qi has a biography in scroll 60. Lu Kai’s memorial (in the Lu Kai biography) lists He Shao among “clear and loyal” and “outstanding talent” officials. Hu Chong (胡沖) ranked Lou Xuan, He Shao, and Wang Fan as “for a time pure and excellent, with hardly any distinction; if one must choose, Xuan first, Shao next.”

Chen Shou’s evaluation

“賀邵厲志高潔，機理清要.”

Historical evaluations

Lu Kai

“姚信、樓玄、賀邵、張悌、郭逴、薛瑩、滕修及族弟喜、抗，或清白忠勤，或姿才卓茂，皆社稷之楨幹，國家之良輔.”

Chen Shou