He Hui (simplified: 贺惠, traditional: 賀惠, pinyin: Hè Huì) was a minor official of Eastern Wu who served as Magistrate of Wanling (宛陵令). He was the son of He Jing (賀景, courtesy name Gongmiao 公苗), a respected Wu official known for his integrity, and the brother of He Shao (賀邵, courtesy name Gongli 公理), who also served as a prominent Wu official. In 272 CE, He Hui was the victim of a false accusation by Xi Xi (戲熙), was arrested, and was later released when an amnesty was declared. His story is preserved in the Sanguozhi as part of the biographical account of his brother He Shao.
Biography
Family background
He Hui was born into the He (賀) clan of Shanyin (山陰) in Kuaiji Commandery (會稽郡), in present-day Shaoxing, Zhejiang. The He clan was one of the most prominent families in the Jiangdong region and produced several generations of officials who served the Sun family from the time of Sun Ce through the fall of Wu in 280 CE.
His father He Jing was a notable Wu official who served with distinction and was known for his integrity and honesty. He Jing’s reputation for uprightness was such that it enhanced the standing of the entire He family within Wu society. The family’s moral prestige was a significant asset in the Jiangdong political world, where elite families competed for influence through both military power and cultural reputation.
He Hui had a brother, He Shao, who rose to become one of the most prominent officials in late Eastern Wu. He Shao served in several important positions and was known for his frank remonstrations to the Wu court. He was particularly noted for his memorial criticising the corruption and extravagance of Sun Hao’s court, a document that was preserved in the Sanguozhi and is considered an important historical source for the final years of Wu.
Service as Magistrate of Wanling
He Hui served as Magistrate of Wanling (宛陵令). Wanling was the administrative centre of Danyang Commandery (丹陽郡), in present-day Xuancheng, Anhui Province. The position of county magistrate was a mid-level administrative post, responsible for local governance, tax collection, judicial matters, and maintaining order within the county.
The exact timing of He Hui’s appointment as Magistrate of Wanling is not recorded. Given that he was still in this position in 272 CE, he likely held the post for some years prior to that date. As a member of the He clan, one of the most prestigious families in Wu, He Hui would have had relatively easy access to official appointments through the recommendation system that governed Wu bureaucratic recruitment.
The false accusation (272 CE)
In 272 CE, He Hui was the victim of a false accusation. Xi Xi (戲熙), whose identity and position are not specified in the surviving sources, slandered He Hui, leading to his arrest. The nature of the accusation is not recorded, but it was serious enough to warrant He Hui’s imprisonment.
This incident is mentioned in the Sanguozhi in the context of He Shao’s biography. He Shao, upon learning of his brother’s arrest, is said to have been deeply distressed. The false accusation against He Hui was one of several incidents of corruption and injustice that He Shao would later address in his famous memorial to the Wu court.
He Hui was eventually released, though the circumstances of his release are not entirely clear. The sources mention that he was released on amnesty (會赦), suggesting that a general amnesty was declared—possibly by the Wu court—and that He Hui benefited from it. Whether the amnesty was related to his specific case or was a broader declaration covering multiple prisoners is unknown.
Aftermath
After his release, He Hui’s subsequent career and fate are not recorded in the surviving sources. Given that the incident occurred in 272 CE, just eight years before the fall of Wu in 280 CE, he may have lived through the Jin conquest and continued his life under the new regime. Alternatively, he may have died during the final turbulent years of the Wu state.
The He clan as a whole survived the fall of Wu. Members of the family continued to serve in official capacities under the Jin dynasty, and the clan maintained its prominence in the Jiangdong region for generations. The He family’s ability to navigate the transition from Wu to Jin speaks to their political adaptability and the broad-based nature of their social capital.
The He family of Kuaiji
The He (賀) clan of Shanyin was one of the most enduring and distinguished families of the Jiangdong region. The family’s service to the Sun regime began during Sun Ce’s conquest of the region and continued through the fall of Wu. Key members of the family included:
- He Qi (賀齊), the founding figure of the family’s political prominence. He Qi was a military commander who served Sun Ce and Sun Quan with distinction. He participated in numerous campaigns and was one of the most important early Wu generals.
- He Jing (賀景), He Qi’s son, who served as a civilian official and was known for his integrity.
- He Shao (賀邵), He Jing’s son, who became one of the most prominent officials in late Wu and was known for his frank remonstrations.
- He Hui (賀惠), He Shao’s brother, the subject of this article.
- He Xun (賀循), a later descendant who served under the Eastern Jin dynasty and became one of the most important scholars and officials of the early Jin period.
The He family’s longevity and continued prominence demonstrate the importance of family networks in the political culture of the Three Kingdoms period and the subsequent Jin dynasty.
See also
References
- Chen Shou. Sanguozhi (三国志), ‘He Shao biography’ (賀邵傳). 3rd century.
- de Crespigny, Rafe. A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms. Leiden: Brill, 2007.