Puyang Xing 濮陽興 Ziyuan 子元

Eastern Wu Chancellor; 字子元; 陈留外黄; 孙休时太常卫将军平军国事、浦里塘、丞相外黄侯; 与张布迎立孙皓; 264 万彧谮、流广州道杀夷三族.

Character Eastern Wu 東吳
Contents

Introduction

Puyang Xing (濮陽興), courtesy name Ziyuan (子元), was an Eastern Wu minister from Waihuang (外黃), Chenliu. His father, Puyang Yi (濮阳逸), fled to Jiangdong in the late Han and was helped by Lu Mao; he later served as Administrator of Changsha. Puyang Xing held office under Sun Quan (Magistrate of Shangyu, Master of Writing Left Section, Gentleman of the Five Offices, envoy to Shu, Administrator of Kuaiji) and formed a close bond with Sun Xiu when the latter was Prince of Langye in Kuaiji. When Sun Xiu became emperor (258), Puyang Xing was recalled as Grand Master of Ceremonies, General of the Guard, given authority over military and state affairs, and enfeoffed Marquis of Waihuang. He supported the construction of Puli Pond (浦里塘) in Danyang; the project was costly and caused many deaths and popular resentment. In 262 he was promoted to Chancellor; he and the Left General Zhang Bu dominated affairs—Zhang Bu in the palace, Puyang Xing in military and state matters—and “the realm was disappointed.” In 263 he proposed drafting ten thousand garrison troops from the agricultural colonies to strengthen the army. When Sun Xiu lay dying (264), he entrusted his heir Sun Wan (孫𩅦) to Puyang Xing; but after Sun Xiu’s death, the Left Commandant (左典軍) Wan Yu recommended Sun Hao, and Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu persuaded Empress Zhu to accept Sun Hao. Sun Hao enthroned, Puyang Xing was made Palace Attendant and nominal Governor of Qing Province. Soon Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu regretted the choice; Wan Yu secretly reported this. In the eleventh month of 264 they were arrested at court, exiled to Guangzhou, and killed on the road; their families were exterminated. Chen Shou: “Puyang Xing as chief minister gave no thought to the state, joined Zhang Bu in evil, accepted Wan Yu’s words—their execution was fitting.”

Biography

Early career and Kuaiji

Puyang Xing was from Waihuang, Chenliu. His father Puyang Yi had fled to Jiangdong in the late Han and was aided by Lu Mao; he rose to Administrator of Changsha. Puyang Xing had a reputation in youth. Under Sun Quan he served as Magistrate of Shangyu (上虞令), then Master of Writing Left Section (尚書左曹) and Gentleman of the Five Offices (五官中郎將); as the latter he was sent as envoy to Shu. On his return he became Administrator of Kuaiji (會稽太守). While in Kuaiji he became close to Sun Xiu, then Prince of Langye residing there.

Sun Xiu’s reign: rise and Puli Pond

In Taiping 3 (258), Sun Lin deposed Sun Liang and set up Sun Xiu. Two months later Sun Xiu had Sun Lin killed and summoned Puyang Xing as Grand Master of Ceremonies (太常), General of the Guard (衛將軍), with authority over military and state affairs (平軍國事), and enfeoffed him Marquis of Waihuang (外黃侯).

In Yongan 3 (260), the Commandant Yan Mi proposed building Puli Pond (浦里塘) in Danyang to reclaim land from the lake. The court debated; most thought the project too costly and unlikely to succeed. Only Puyang Xing argued it could be done. Troops and civilians were mustered; the cost was enormous, many soldiers died or killed themselves, and the people resented Puyang Xing.

Chancellor and succession (262–264)

In Yongan 5 (262) winter, Puyang Xing was made Chancellor (丞相). With Sun Xiu’s favourite, the Left General Zhang Bu, he held power: Zhang Bu managed the palace, Puyang Xing military and state affairs. The two “echoed each other”; “the realm was disappointed.” In Yongan 6 (263), with Shu under attack and Jiao Province in revolt, Sun Xiu sent three armies against Wei to relieve Shu, but it was too late. Chancellor Puyang Xing proposed taking ten thousand men from the agricultural colonies to supplement the army.

In Yongan 7 (264) Sun Xiu fell ill. He could not speak; he wrote and had Puyang Xing brought in and his son Sun Wan (孫𩅦) presented. He took Puyang Xing’s arm and pointed at Sun Wan, entrusting him. After Sun Xiu’s death, Puyang Xing did not install Sun Wan. Shu had fallen and Jiao Province was in rebellion; the court wanted an older ruler. The Left典军 Wan Yu had often recommended the Marquis of Wucheng, Sun Hao, to Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu, comparing him to Sun Ce. Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu persuaded Empress Zhu; she agreed. They joined the Grand General Ding Feng and others in welcoming Sun Hao. Sun Hao made Puyang Xing Palace Attendant (侍中) and nominal Governor of Qing Province (領青州牧).

Fall and death (264)

Sun Hao soon showed himself violent, arrogant, superstitious, and given to drink and women. Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu “secretly regretted” their choice. Wan Yu accused them to Sun Hao. On the first day of the eleventh month (264) they entered court and were seized, sentenced to exile in Guangzhou, and killed on the way; their families were wiped out. Less than four months had passed since Sun Hao’s accession.

Personality and traits

Chen Shou judged that as chief minister Puyang Xing “gave no thought to the state,” “joined Zhang Bu in evil,” and “accepted Wan Yu’s words,” so that “their execution was fitting.”

Political achievements

Under Sun Quan: Magistrate of Shangyu, Master of Writing Left Section, Gentleman of the Five Offices (envoy to Shu), Administrator of Kuaiji. Under Sun Xiu: Grand Master of Ceremonies, General of the Guard, authority over military and state affairs, Marquis of Waihuang (258); Puli Pond project (260); Chancellor (262); proposal to draft colony troops (263). Under Sun Hao: Palace Attendant, Governor of Qing Province; then arrest, exile, and execution (264).

Relationships

Zhang Bu

With Zhang Bu, Puyang Xing dominated Sun Xiu’s court and later agreed to install Sun Hao. Both regretted it and were killed together in 264.

Wan Yu

Wan Yu persuaded Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu to support Sun Hao; after accession he accused them of regretting it, leading to their execution.

Sun Xiu

Sun Xiu befriended Puyang Xing in Kuaiji and on his deathbed entrusted his heir to him; Puyang Xing did not carry out the wish.

Achievements

Documented: rise to Chancellor (262); Puli Pond (260); draft of colony troops (263); role in Sun Hao’s accession and subsequent execution (264).

Behind the scenes

Historical sources

Puyang Xing appears in the Records of the Three Kingdoms (三國志), “Biographies of Zhuge Ke, Teng Yin, Sun Jun, Sun Lin, and Puyang Xing” (吳書·諸葛滕二孫濮陽傳), scroll 64, and in the annals of Sun Xiu and Sun Hao.

Chen Shou’s evaluation

“濮陽興身居宰輔，慮不經國，協張布之邪，納萬彧之說，誅夷其宜矣.”

Legacy

Puyang Xing is remembered as an Eastern Wu Chancellor who backed the costly Puli Pond project, shared power with Zhang Bu under Sun Xiu, and with Zhang Bu supported Sun Hao’s enthronement, then was killed by Sun Hao when they regretted it.

See also

  • Sun Xiu — lord; entrusted heir to Puyang Xing
  • Sun Hao — installed with Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu; had them killed
  • Zhang Bu — co-ruler under Sun Xiu; executed with Puyang Xing

References

  1. Chen Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms (三国志), “Biographies of Zhuge Ke, Teng Yin, Sun Jun, Sun Lin, and Puyang Xing” (吳書·諸葛滕二孫濮陽傳).
  2. Chen Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms, annals of Sun Xiu and Sun Hao.
  3. Pei Songzhi. Commentary citing Jiangbiao zhuan (江表傳).