Chu Pou

Chu Pou was from Yangdi County (陽翟, modern Yuzhou, Henan) in Henan Commandery. His grandfather was Chu Lüe (褚䂮) was a reputable man who served as General Who Maintains the East while Pou's father Chu Qia (褚洽) served as Prefect of Wuchang. When Chu Pou first entered the government, he served in the staffs of the Prince of Xiyang, Sima Yang (司馬羕) and the Prince of Wu, Sima Yue (later known as Emperor Kang of Jin). Chu was Chi Jian's Army Advisor during Su Jun's rebellion in 328, and after the rebellion was settled the next year, Chu was made Marquis of the Capital District. He grew to become Attendant Officer of the Household Gentlemen to the Minister Over The Masses and was later transferred to Attendant Gentleman of the Yellow Gate.[1]

Chu Pou had a simple but noble lifestyle, and shared similar fame with his contemporaries Yin Hao and Du Yi (杜乂) in the southlands. He was called a "Chunqiu critic" by Huan Yi, as he does not openly pass judgement on others but would appraise them inwardly. The future Prime Minister of Jin, Xie An was a great admirer and praised him by saying, "Although Chu Pou doesn't speak, the working of the four seasons is nonetheless complete." When Sima Yue was still the Prince of Langya, he married with Pou's daughter, Chu Suanzi, and so became the Prefect of Yuzhang (豫章郡; around present-day Nanchang, Jiangxi).[2]

Emperor Cheng died in 342, and Sima Yue ascended the throne. The now Emperor Kang made Chu Suanzi his empress and summoned her father to Jiankang to make him Palace Attendant and Master of Writing. However, Chu Pou was not keen in accepting his positions in the capital, as he fear he would hold too much power for being the empress's father. Instead, he requested to be assigned away from the capital, so Emperor Kang had him positioned in Banzhou where he was General Who Establishes Valour and Inspector of Jiangzhou. During his farewell banquet at Banqiao, an assassination attempt was made by Sima Wuji (司馬無忌) on a guest, Wang Qizhi (王耆之), but Chu Pou ordered the guards to restrain him and saved Qizhi.[3]

Despite his insistence to remain away from the court, he was eventually summoned back to Jiankang to serve in the capital in 343. He refused to further take anymore offices in Jiankang, so in 344, he was made General of the Left and Inspector of Yanzhou and set out for Jincheng (金城, in modern-day Yongji, Shaanxi). Emperor Kang died that same year and was succeeded by his son Sima Dan (Emperor Mu of Jin). As the new emperor was still young, He Chong believed that being the empress's father, Chu Pou should involve himself more in the court, so He sent a petition recalling Pou to assist him in the affairs of the Masters of Writing. Chu Pou was showered with many offices and allowed to retain his old ones, but Pou feared that this would only result in criticism among the ministers. He asked to be given a border post instead, so the court sent him to Jingkou where he held command over Xuzhou, Yanzhou, and Qingzhou and two commandaries in Yangzhou.[4]

Chu Pou was once again summoned to Jiankang to be made Inspector of Yangzhou and chief of affairs of the Masters of Writing. However, he refused to take them and returned to his post after the ministers Liu Xia (劉遐) and Wang Huzhi (王胡之) told him to do so in order to give Sima Yu more responsibility in the state's affair. In 346, Chu Pou recommended both Gu He (顧和) and Yin Hao to office. Gu He refused but Yin Hao, initially refusing as well, was persuaded to take up his new post.[5]

In 349, a military expedition to the north was ripe as Later Zhao descended into civil war between Shi Hu's family after his death. As news reached the south, Chu Pou submitted a petition asking to lead a campaign against Zhao. With readied troops, he marched to Sikou (泗口, located at Xuzhou, Jiangsu) where he planned his next move. There were doubts cast about Chu Pou being the one to lead the campaign as he was holding high positions at the time, and it would be better if someone else were to take his place. However, his general Wang Yizhi (王頤之) was already on his way to Pengcheng, and he planned to continue on into Xiapi. Chu was made Grand Commander, and as his men captured Pengcheng, many of the Chinese came out and surrender to him.[6]

The people of Lu Commandery rose up against Zhao and asked Chu Pou to help them. Chu sent Wang Kan (王龕) and Li Mai (李邁) with their elite troops to welcome them. The de facto leader of Zhao, Li Nong, who was sharing power with Shi Min over the Zhao emperor, personally led his army and attacked Wang Kan at Dai Slope. Wang's army was decimated and he himself was killed in the battle. Chu Pou panicked and retreated to Guangling. The commander in Shouchun, Chen Kui (陳逵), upon hearing Chu's defeat, burnt down the city and fled.[7]

The defeat at Dai Slope was an embarrassing loss for Chu Pou. He asked himself to be demoted but he was only ordered to return to Jingkou and removed from his position as commander. Many Chinese had openly fled in thousands to the south after hearing Chu Pou had led troops to help them, but after he was defeated, many of them fled unprotected and were slaughtered as a result.[8] Chu arrived at Jingkou and saw many people in mourning. After asking for inquiry, he found out that most them their relatives had died at Dai Slope. Chu felt shame and grew ill because of this. He passed away on the 1st of January, 350, and was posthumously named Marquis Yuanmu of Duxiang.[9]