Yuan Yi 袁遺 was a civil official who was the Grand Administrator of Shanyang commandery. He was a member of the prestigious Yuan clan of Runan. He fought against Dong Zhuo and Yuan Shu. His army eventually killed him.
Biography[]
Yuan Yi came from Ruyin, Runan. He was described as an elder cousin of Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, but Yuan Yi's pedigree was never recorded.[1] His father was not recorded in history. However, his mother was known to be from the He clan of Chen; therefore, Yuan Yi's distant cousin of that side included He Kui.[2] The Bo (伯) in his style name suggests that he was the eldest son, and that he had at least some brothers.
Yuan Yi was renowned for his scholarly and moral behavior. Zhang Chao of Hejian recommended him to Zhu Jun for a post, adding about Yuan Yi, "His virtue is the best among the world; he is tolerant in governing the times. He is loyal and fair as well as brilliant and upright; this was indeed intended by Heaven. As for his innate knowledge of books, he has studied carefully the Hundreds Schools [of Thought]. He has ascended high [to gaze afar] and can recite poetry. To witness such a famous person, if you were to look at this generation, they would be far [from his ability]—incomparable!" It was never recorded what Zhu Jun did, but he presumably recruited Yuan Yi. According to Cao Pi, Cao Cao held Yuan Yi in high esteem. Cao Cao said of him, "Those who have matured yet still study diligently are only me and Yuan Boye, that is all."[1]
He was initially Prefect of Chang'an,[1] but was later was appointed Grand Administrator of Shanyang; it is not known whether Dong Zhuo was the one who did it.[3] Yuan Yi joined the Guandong Coalition against Dong Zhuo along with his cousins, Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu. In the second lunar month of the first year of the Chuping era, Dong Zhuo moved the capital from Luoyang to Chang'an. Yuan Yi and his nominal lord and fellow member, Liu Dai, stationed their armies at Suanzao alongside fellow members Qiao Mao and Zhang Miao.[4]
After the disbanding of the Guandong Coalition, Yuan Yi joined Yuan Shao and presumably left his post. Around Spring 193, Cao Cao was pushing back Yuan Shu down into Yang Province.[5] Coincidentally, the Inspector of Yang Province; Chen Wen died, allegedly either by illness or by Yuan Shu's hand. Yuan Shao soon appointed Yuan Yi as Inspector of Yang Province to fill that vacancy but while Yuan Yi was heading there, he encountered Yuan Shu's army. Yuan Shu refused to recognize Yuan Yi as Inspector, either declaring himself the Inspector or appointing his subordinate, Chen Yu, instead. Yuan Shu promptly defeated Yuan Yi. Yuan Yi and what was remaining of his army fled back to Pei commandery. He was soon killed by his army.[6] The reasons are unknown, but they might have resented a civil official such as Yuan Yi being involved in military affairs.
Notes[]
Fact vs. Fiction[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 SGZ: Biography of Cao Cao 『遺字伯業，紹從兄。為長安令。河間張超甞薦遺於太尉朱儁，稱遺「有冠世之懿，幹時之量。其忠允亮直，固天所縱；若乃包羅載籍，管綜百氏，登高能賦，覩物知名，求之今日，邈焉靡儔。」事在超集。《英雄記》曰：紹後用遺為揚州刺史，為袁術所敗。太祖稱「長大而能勤學者，惟吾與袁伯業耳。」語在文帝《典論》。』
- ↑ SGZ: Biography of He Kui 『術從兄山陽太守遺母，夔從姑也，是以雖恨夔而不加害。』
- ↑ SGZ: Biography of Cao Cao 『山陽太守袁遺…同時俱起兵，』
- ↑ SGZ: Biography of Cao Cao 『二月，卓聞兵起，乃徙天子都長安。卓留屯洛陽，遂焚宮室。是時紹屯河內，邈、岱、瑁、遺屯酸棗，術屯南陽，伷屯潁川，馥在鄴。』
- ↑ SGZ: Biography of Cao Cao 『四年春，軍鄄城。荊州牧劉表斷術糧道，術引軍入陳留，屯封丘，黑山餘賊及於夫羅等佐之。術使將劉詳屯匡亭。太祖擊詳，術救之，與戰，大破之。術退保封丘，遂圍之，未合，術走襄邑，追到太壽，決渠水灌城。走寧陵，又追之，走九江。夏，太祖還軍定陶。』
- ↑ SGZ: Biography of Yuan Shu 『術以餘衆奔九江，殺楊州刺史陳溫，領其州。（臣松之案《英雄記》：「陳溫字元悌，汝南人。先為楊州刺史，自病死。袁紹遣袁遺領州，敗散，奔沛國，為兵所殺。袁術更用陳瑀為楊州。）
Sources[]
- Chen Shou 陳壽 (233–297). Sanguo zhi 三國志 “Records of the Three Kingdoms”, with official commentary compiled by Pei Songzhi 裴松之 (372-451).