He Chong (Jin dynasty)

He Chong hailed from Qian County (灊) in Lujiang Commandery (廬江郡; around present-day Lu'an, Anhui) and was renowned for his writings and virtue. He was an officer of Sima Rui's general, Wang Dun and served as his secretary. Dun had a brother named Wang Han (王含), who was the Prefect of Lujiang. He was notoriously corrupted and unruly, but Wang Dun once praised him in front of his officials, "My brother is an official of this commandery. He is surely incorruptible, and the people of Lujiang praise him for this." He Chong openly told him, "I am from Lujiang myself, and what I have heard is different." Wang Dun was silent but held resentment. He was demoted to the Instructor to the Prince of Donghai because of this. Wang Dun died in 324 and his rebellion was quelled in the same year. With Wang Dun gone, He Chong was promoted as Imperial Secretariat.[1]

He Chong was on good terms with Wang Dun's cousin, Wang Dao, who was also his uncle through Dao's sister. He was also friends with Emperor Ming of Jin who was his brother-in-law as He Chong married one of his sisters. After Emperor Cheng of Jin ascended the throne in 325, he became Attendant Gentleman of the Yellow Gate. He sided with the loyalists during Su Jun's rebellion after Su seized Jiankang in 328 and was made Marquis of Dunxiang and Cavalier In Regular Attendance for his participation.[2]

He Chong successively serve as Prefect of Dongyang, General Who Establishes Might and Prefect of Kuaiji. In Kuaiji, He Chong was reputed among the people for his virtuous administration and recommended talents such as Wei Yi to serve as assistant officials. Both Wang Dao and Yu Liang were impressed with his performance, and the two urged the emperor to promote him. He Chong rose to Minister of Personnel and Champion General, holding command of the army in Kuaiji. Wang Dao died in 339. Before his death, Dao told the emperor that he could trust He Chong as his advisor, so the emperor made him his General Who Protects the Army and Manager of the Affairs of the Masters of Writing.[3]

Emperor Cheng was deathly ill in 342, and there were talks regarding who would succeed him. His sons, Sima Pi and Sima Yi, were both still infants and not fit to lead. The influential ministers, Yu Yi and Yu Bing, in particular were worried that a child emperor would pave way for someone else to take control of and remove the Yu family from power. Yi and Bing pushed for the emperor's brother, Sima Yue (who was related to the Yu family as Yi and Bing's sister, Yu Wenjun, was married to Emperor Ming, making Sima Yue their nephew), to succeed him but He Chong opposed this. He remonstrated to Yu Bing that the role of the emperor should be passed down to the emperor's son if possible, but Bing ignored him.[4]

Sima Yue ascended the throne and became Emperor Kang of Jin with He Chong and Yu Bing serving as his advisors. The emperor thanked He Chong for allowing him to succeed his late brother but He Chong replied, "Your Majesty is only able to soar like a dragon thanks to Yu Bing. If I had been listened to, you would never have reached such heights." The emperor grew ashamed because of this. The emperor later made Chong General of Agile Cavalry, Commander of military affairs for Xuzhou and Jinling in Yangzhou, and Inspector of Xuzhou. Chong based himself in Jingkou to avoid confronting with the Yu brothers.[5] He was eventually called back to the capital in 343 to take up a few new offices and administer the state while his old offices were given to Huan Wen.

A familiar scene arose as Emperor Kang grew ill in 344. Yu Yi and Yu Bing suggested that the Prince of Kuaji, Sima Yu and another brother Emperor Ming to take the throne, as the emperor's son, Sima Dan was still a child. However, He Chong once again pushed for the emperor's son and was successful this time as Emperor Kang heeded his suggestion. The emperor died shortly after and Sima Dan ascended the throne and would be known as Emperor Mu. Thus, the Yu brothers hated He Chong for this. After the emperor's ascension, He Chong was offered to hold power over the Masters of Writing. However, He Chong felt there were better candidates for the role, so he was made Palace Attendant instead. He also attempted to bring the Empress Chu Suanzi's father, Chu Pou, back to the court but Pou preferred to serve outside the capital.[6]

A series of unfortunate events struck the Yu clan between 344 and 346. Yu Bing passed away in 344 while Yu Yi died in 345. Yi had been in command of Jin's western borders in Jingzhou for some time and was supposed to be succeeded by his son Yu Yuanzhi (庾爰之). The court was in favour of this but He Chong thought that Yu Yuanzhi was too young and inexperience to defend an important place such as Jingzhou. He instead recommended a more caliber commander, Huan Wen, to take his position. When asked if Yuanzhi would submit, He Chong placed confidence in him. Indeed, as Huan Wen arrived in Jingzhou, Yuanzhi surrendered without a fight, and was relocated with his brother Yu Fangzhi (庾方之) to Yuzhang (豫章郡; around present-day Nanchang, Jiangxi). Three years later, Huan Wen would conquer the state of Cheng Han, unifying southern China.[7]

He Chong was a subject of both praise and criticism. Although Chong was a prominent minister, he had no actual power to carry out reforms and sort out the government. However, he was dedicated in his work and refuse to bend the knee to nepotism. He often chose capable officials over him and his family members to carry out offices, such as in the case of Huan Wen, but was known for surrounding himself with untrustworthy people. Chong was a Buddhist and loved giving a huge portion of his wealth to monks and temples. However, his friends and family were all financially broke, and He Chong refused to help any of them. This attracted criticism and mockery from his Confucianist peers. He was also infatuated with alcohol, although this was met with praise at the time, particularly from Liu Tan.[8]

He Chong passed away at the age of 55 in 346. The court posthumously appointed him Minister of Works and named him Duke of Wenmu. As he had no children, his nephew He Fang (何放) succeeded him.[9]