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Zhong Hui, courtesy name Shiji, was a native of Changsha County, Yingchuan Prefecture (now Gaoguan Geshi, Henan Province).

Zhong Hui was a writer, mystic, and calligrapher during the Wei and Jin Dynasties. He was a general of the Wei State during the Three Kingdoms period. Together with Deng Ai, he led an army to conquer the Shu State. He was promoted to the position of Si Tu and was killed for treason.

Zhong Hui was the youngest son of Taifu Zhong Yao, and was famous for his extensive knowledge.

During the Zhengshi period, Zhong Hui was appointed as Secretary and later promoted to Shangshu Shilang and Zhongshu Shilang.

Cao Mao, Duke of Gaogui, inherited the throne, and Zhong Hui was granted the title of Marquis of Guannei.

When Sima Shi came to power, Zhong Hui followed him and participated in suppressing Guanqiu Jian's rebellion;
"When Sima Zhao came to power, Zhong Hui was promoted to the position of Huangmen Shilang, and was given the title of Dongwuting Hou. He participated in the suppression of Zhuge Dan's rebellion and became Sima Zhao's confidant."

"Soon after, Zhong Hui was promoted to the position of Inspector of the Imperial Guards, and he plotted to kill Ji Kang and others."

"In the third year of Jingyuan (262 AD), Zhong Hui was promoted to General Zhenxi, given temporary authority, and commanded the Guanzhong army."

"In the fourth year of Jingyuan (263 AD), Sima Zhao decided to launch an attack on Shu. He sent Deng Ai and Zhuge Xu to lead troops each to contain the Shu general Jiang Wei, while Zhong Hui led a main force of more than troops to invade Shu from the south."

"Zhong Hui led a large army into Hanzhong. Shu general Jiang Wei joined forces with Zhang Yi, Liao Hua and others to defend Jiange to resist Zhong Hui."

"When the two armies were at a stalemate, Deng Ai sneaked across Yinping and marched to Chengdu. The last emperor Liu Chan surrendered, and the Shu Kingdom was destroyed;"

"Jiang Wei and his men surrendered to Zhong Hui. In December of the same year, the imperial court issued an edict to promote Zhong Hui to the position of Minister of Education and to the title of Marquis of County."

"Zhong Hui and Wei Guan falsely accused Deng Ai of treason, and Deng Ai was imprisoned. In the first month of the following year, Zhong Hui led his army into Chengdu;"

"Zhong Hui occupied Chengdu at the instigation of Jiang Wei, intending to rebel. The plot was exposed, leading to a mutiny among the soldiers. Zhong Hui and Jiang Wei died in the chaos. He was only forty years old."

"Zhong Hui wrote Dao Lun (On Taoism) and Laozi Notes (Commentary on Laozi), which are now lost. His verse-style fu (Fu on Chrysanthemum) was compiled by a Ming Dynasty scholar, Zhong Situ Ji (Collected Works of Zhong Hui). People at that time praised Zhong Hui's talent, such as Jiang Ji and Sima Shi (Master Sima Shi), who praised Zhong Hui as a talent who could assist the king. "

"Zhong Hui wrote the three-volume book "Yi Wu Hu Ti", which had a great influence in the theoretical academic community."

"Emperor Cao Mao of Wei praised Zhong Hui for his extraordinary strategy and his ability to defeat the enemy; Jiang Wei praised him for his meticulous planning and his ability to stabilize the country and quell rebellions."

"But Sima Zhao's wife Wang Yuanji and Western Jin minister Xun Xu believed that Zhong Hui was greedy for profit and had a complicated nature, so they had to be on guard."

"Modern scholar Lu Simian believes that Zhong Hui eventually rebelled because he was loyal to Cao Wei."

"Zhong Hui was born into the Zhong family, a noble family in Yingchuan County. His father, Zhong Yao, served as the Grand Tutor of Cao Wei."

"Zhong Hui was Zhong Yao's youngest son. When he was just five years old, Zhong Yao took him to visit the Central Guard General Jiang Ji. After Jiang Ji saw Zhong Hui, he thought highly of him."

"As an adult, Zhong Hui was versatile and skilled in many arts, and was known for his extensive knowledge."

"During the Zhengshi period, Zhong Hui was summoned by the imperial court to serve as a secretary, and was later promoted to the position of Shangshu Shilang and Zhongshu Shilang."

"In the sixth year of Jiaping (254 AD), General Sima Shi deposed Emperor Shao Cao Fang and enthroned Cao Mao, Duke of Gaogui, as emperor. Zhong Hui was granted the title of Marquis of Guannei."

"In the second year of Zhengyuan (255 AD), Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin raised troops in Huainan to rebel."

"General Sima Shi personally led the army to the east to quell the rebellion; Zhong Hui accompanied the army and was responsible for handling confidential documents;"

"General Sima Zhao led the army as a backup for the main army. After the rebellion was quelled, Sima Shi died suddenly in Xuchang on his way back to the army. Sima Zhao took over his command of the six armies, and Zhong Hui helped him with strategies."

"Emperor Cao Mao of Wei issued an edict to the Secretary of State Fu Gu, stating that the rebellion in the southeast had just been quelled, and ordered General Sima Zhao to station troops in Xuchang to protect the capital, and ordered Fu Gu to lead the various armies back to Luoyang."

"Zhong Hui conspired with Fu Gu, who reported to the emperor that Zhong Hui had taken the initiative to return to the capital with General Sima Zhao."

"The army arrived at the southern suburbs of Luoyang and set up camp on the south bank of the Luo River. Emperor Cao Mao of Wei had no choice but to appoint Sima Zhao as the general to assist in government affairs."

"Zhong Hui's planning was meritorious, so he was promoted by Sima Zhao to be the Yellow Gate Minister, and was given the title of Marquis of Dongwuting and a fief of 300 households."

"In the second year of Ganlu (257 AD), the imperial court summoned General Zhuge Dan, who was stationed in Shouchun (now Shou County, Huainan, Anhui), to serve as Sikong."

Li Bai: At that time, Zhong Hui was at home mourning for his mother. He guessed that Zhuge Dan would definitely not obey, so he rode a horse to report to Sima Zhao.

Sima Zhao thought that the matter had already been implemented and it was inconvenient to change it. After Zhuge Dan received the imperial edict, he indeed rebelled.

In June of the same year, Sima Zhao personally led a large army to attack Zhuge Dan, and Zhong Hui followed.

Wu general Quan Cong led his son Quan Yi and others to rescue Zhuge Dan. Quan Cong's grandsons Quan Hui and Quan Yi stayed in Jianye, the capital of Wu (now Nanjing, Jiangsu). Because of a quarrel with their family, the two brothers led dozens of private soldiers across the river to surrender to Sima Zhao.

Zhong Hui suggested to Sima Zhao that he secretly write a letter for Quan Hui and Quan Yi, and send their trusted confidants to sneak into Shouchun City and deliver the letter to Quan Yi and others.
He falsely claimed that the Wu court was very dissatisfied with Quan Yi and others for failing to rescue Zhuge Dan, and was preparing to execute all the family members of the generals who participated in the war.

Quan Yi and others believed it to be true and were very scared, so they led their subordinates to open the city and surrender.

In February of the following year, the Wei army captured Shouchun, and Zhuge Dan was defeated and killed. Zhong Hui made the most suggestions, so he was more valued by Sima Zhao, and people at that time even compared him to Zhang Liang.

When the army returned to the capital, Zhong Hui was promoted to the position of Grand Coachman, but he firmly declined. The court then promoted him to the title of Marquis of Chen, but Zhong Hui also declined again and again.

Soon, Zhong Hui was promoted to the position of Inspector of the Imperial Capital, and participated in the assessment and appointment of officials, deciding their appointment and deprivation of official positions and titles.

Zhong Hui heard that Ji Kang was famous, so he went to visit him. Ji Kang was rude to him, so Zhong Hui held a grudge against him.

Zhong Hui again slandered Ji Kang to Sima Zhao, claiming that Ji Kang had intended to assist Guanqiu Jian in a rebellion, and that his words and deeds were dissolute and corrupt. Sima Zhao then executed Ji Kang and others.

The Shu general Jiang Wei repeatedly harassed the western border of Wei. Sima Zhao believed that Shu's land was small, its people were tired, and its material and human resources were about to be exhausted, so he planned to send a large army to attack Shu.

The court officials were against it, but Zhong Hui was the only one who believed that Shu could be conquered, so he studied the terrain and analyzed the situation with Sima Zhao in advance.

In the winter of the third year of Jingyuan (262 AD), the court appointed Zhong Hui as the General Zhenxi, with the power of the emperor, to command all the troops in Guanzhong.

Sima Zhao ordered Qingzhou, Xuzhou, Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Jingzhou, Yangzhou and other places to build warships, and ordered Tang Zi to build large ships for navigation. He announced to the outside world that he planned to attack Wu, causing Shu to relax its vigilance.

In February of the fourth year of Jingyuan (263 AD), the imperial court issued an edict to raise troops to attack Shu. General Deng Ai and Governor of Yongzhou Zhuge Xu were dispatched to lead troops each in two groups.

Deng Ai marched towards Gansong, Dazhong (now northwest of Zhouqu County, Gansu) and other places to contain the main force of Jiang Wei's army, while Zhuge Xu marched towards Wujie, Qiaotou and other places to cut off Jiang Wei's retreat.

Zhong Hui led a main force of 100,000 troops to march into Hanzhong from Xiegu and Luogu. In August of the same year, the army set out from Luoyang. Zhong Hui first sent the guard general Xu Yi to repair the road in front, and he led the army to follow. When the army was crossing the bridge, the bridge plank broke and the horses' hooves sank into it. Zhong Hui immediately beheaded Xu Yi.

Xu Yi was the son of Xu Chu, who had made great contributions to the Wei Dynasty; Zhong Hui did not forgive him. When the armies heard the news, they were all terrified.

When the Shu Kingdom heard that the Wei army had arrived, it ordered the troops defending the camps not to go out into the battle and to retreat to Hancheng and Lecheng to defend themselves.

Liu Qin, the prefect of Weixing County, marched his troops from Ziwu Valley, and the various armies advanced in unison, crossing the Qinling Mountains and entering Hanzhong.

The Shu Kingdom's military supervisor Wang Han guarded Lecheng, and the guard general Jiang Bin guarded Hancheng, each leading 5,000 troops.

Zhong Hui sent General Xun Kai with 10,000 troops to besiege Hancheng, and General Li Fu with 10,000 troops to besiege Lecheng.

"He led the army forward and arrived at Yang'ankou. Zhong Hui also sent people to pay homage to Zhuge Liang's tomb."

"Zhong Hui sent his guard Hu Lie and others as the vanguard to break through the city gate and obtain countless food and supplies."

"Jiang Wei led his army to retreat from Dazhong and arrived at Yinping. He gathered his soldiers and planned to rush to the Guancheng to defend it;"

"Before Jiang Wei arrived, he heard that the Guancheng had been lost, so he retreated to Baishui, joined up with Shu generals Zhang Yi and Liao Hua, and then held Jiange to resist Zhong Hui."

"Zhong Hui marched to Jiange and issued a proclamation, 'An Edict to the Generals, Officials, Soldiers and People of Shu', publicly persuading the generals, officials and people of Shu to surrender."

"In October of the same year, Deng Ai led his army to pursue Jiang Wei to Yinping, selected elite soldiers, and planned to bypass Jiange from the Yinping trail, reach Mianzhu, and head straight to Chengdu."

"Deng Ai and Zhuge Xu marched together. Zhuge Xu believed that he was originally ordered to intercept Jiang Wei and that marching westward was not an imperial decree, so he separated from Deng Ai and marched to Baishui to join Zhong Hui's army."

"Zhong Hui sent General Tian Zhang and others to lead the army from the west of Jiange straight to Jiangyou (now Nanba Town, Pingwu County, Sichuan), and successively defeated the three ambushes of Shu."

"Deng Ai led his troops to sneak across Yinping and arrived at Jiangyou. Deng Ai ordered Tian Zhang to serve as the vanguard and march straight into the city."

"Zhong Hui and Zhuge Xu's army arrived at Jiange. Zhong Hui intended to take over the military power, so he secretly reported to the court and falsely accused Zhuge Xu of shrinking back. The court ordered Zhuge Xu to be escorted back to the capital in a prisoner cart."

"The entire army was under the command of Zhong Hui. Zhong Hui ordered an attack on Jiange, but failed to capture it and had to retreat. The Shu army continued to hold on by relying on the dangerous terrain."

"At this time, Deng Ai's army had already arrived at Mianzhu Pass (now Huangxu Town, east of Mianzhu, Sichuan), and was blocked by the army led by Zhuge Zhan, a general of Shu. The two armies fought fiercely, and Deng Ai killed Zhuge Zhan."

"When Jiang Wei and his men heard that Zhuge Zhan had been defeated, they had no choice but to abandon Jiange and move eastward to Baxi County."

"Zhong Hui took the opportunity to command his army to march south and arrived at Fucheng (today's east of Mianyang City, Sichuan); at the same time, he sent generals such as Hu Lie, Tian Xu, and Pang Hui to pursue Jiang Wei."

"When Deng Ai's army arrived at Chengdu, Liu Chan led his ministers to surrender, and sent messengers to order Jiang Wei and others to surrender to Zhong Hui."

"Jiang Wei led his army to retreat to Guanghan County, and then ordered his soldiers to lay down their weapons and surrender to Zhong Hui."

"After Zhong Hui accepted Jiang Wei's surrender, he reported to the court the course of the attack on Shu and the results of the battle;"

"At the same time, he ordered his soldiers to stop looting; when accepting the surrender of the Shu officials, Zhong Hui humbly advised them, and his relationship with Jiang Wei became closer day by day."

"In December of the same year, the imperial court issued an edict commending Zhong Hui for pacifying Shu. Zhong Hui was promoted to Minister of Education, and was granted the title of Marquis of County, with an additional fief of 10,000 households;"

"His two sons were also granted the title of Marquis of Ting, with fiefs of one thousand households each."

"Zhong Hui secretly harbored ambitions of rebellion; at that time Deng Ai was in Chengdu, arbitrarily rewarding the ruler and ministers of Shu in the name of the emperor, so Zhong Hui secretly reported Deng Ai for showing signs of rebellion."

"In the first month of the first year of the Xianxi reign (264 AD), the imperial court issued an edict to bring Deng Ai back to the capital in a prisoner cart."

"Sima Zhao was worried that Deng Ai would not obey, so he ordered Zhong Hui to march to Chengdu. Zhong Hui sent Wei Guan to Chengdu first to imprison Deng Ai;"

"After Wei Guan arrived in Chengdu, he first took out the imperial edict to calm the soldiers under Deng Ai's command; then he led his troops directly into Deng Ai's residence and arrested Deng Ai and his son and imprisoned them."

"The only person Zhong Hui feared was Deng Ai. After Deng Ai was captured, Zhong Hui led the army alone and terrorized Shu."

Su Shi: Zhong Hui thought he had unrivaled achievements and was unwilling to be inferior to others. In addition, he controlled all the powerful generals and elite troops, so he plotted a rebellion.

Zhong Hui planned to send Jiang Wei and others to lead the surrendered Shu army into Guanzhong from Xiegu, while he himself would lead the main army to follow behind.

After arriving in Chang'an, he ordered the cavalry to travel by land and the infantry to travel by water, going east along the Wei River into the Yellow River. It was estimated that they could reach Mengjin in five days, join the cavalry in Luoyang, and seize the world in one fell swoop.

At this time, Zhong Hui received a letter from Sima Zhao, in which Sima Zhao stated that Deng Ai might disobey orders, and the court had sent the Central Guard General Jia Chong to lead 10,000 infantry and cavalry into Xiegu and station troops in Lecheng, while he himself led an army of 100,000 to station in Chang'an.

Zhong Hui was shocked after reading the letter. He told his trusted generals that he could arrest Deng Ai by himself. Now Sima Zhao led a large army and must have noticed something was wrong.

The plan for now is to act quickly. If we succeed, we can seize the world; if we fail, we can retreat to Shu and hold on, and establish our own regime like Liu Bei.

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month in the fifth year of Jingyuan (264 AD), Zhong Hui led a large army to Chengdu.

The next day, Zhong Hui summoned all the guards, county governors, guards, cavalry commanders and above, as well as officials who surrendered from Shu, to hold a funeral for the newly deceased Queen Mother Guo in the court of Shu.

He also forged the Empress Dowager's will, saying that she had ordered him to raise an army to depose Sima Zhao, and circulated the edict to everyone, forcing them to sign their names to agree to the uprising.

At the same time, he wrote notices and appointment letters, appointing his confidants to lead various troops.

The officials invited by Zhong Hui were placed under house arrest in rooms of various official offices in Yizhou. The city gates and palace gates were all closed and soldiers were sent to guard them strictly.

The military officer Qiu Jian who followed Zhong Hui was originally a subordinate of General Hu Lie, and Zhong Hui trusted him very much.

Qiu Jian felt sorry for Hu Lie being imprisoned alone, so he persuaded Zhong Hui to agree to send a personal soldier to bring food to Hu Lie, and the other guards were also equipped with a personal soldier each.

Hu Lie fabricated a rumor and told it to his personal soldiers and asked them to pass it on to his son outside, claiming that he had learned from Qiu Jian that Zhong Hui had dug a big pit and was preparing to beat all the northern soldiers to death and bury them in the pit.

The personal soldiers of other guards also spread the story, and the whole army knew about it overnight.

Someone suggested that Zhong Hui kill all the soldiers and officials under house arrest, but Zhong Hui hesitated. (End of this chapter)