Sun Zi 孫資

Sun Zi was a man of Taiyuan. Early on he served as a county prefect and as an adviser on the Chancellor's military affairs. When the state of Wei was founded he became Gentleman of the Palace Library together with Liu Fang. The Records has no separate biography of Sun Zi; his deeds are recorded together with Liu Fang's in the Biography of Liu Fang. Records, Wei 14 §147

When Cao Pi took the throne, Liu Fang and Sun Zi became the Left and Right Assistants of the Palace Library. At the beginning of Huangchu, when the Palace Library was renamed the Palace Secretariat, Liu Fang was made Director of the Palace Secretariat and Sun Zi Prefect of the Palace Secretariat, each with the additional title of Serving Within the Palace, and Sun Zi received the rank of Marquis Within the Pass (guanzhonghou) and from then on handled confidential affairs. In the 3rd year of Huangchu (222) he became Marquis Within the Passes (guanneihou). When Cao Rui took the throne Sun Zi enjoyed even greater favour and trust, received the additional post of Regular Mounted Attendant together with Liu Fang, and his rank was raised to Marquis of Leyang Precinct. Records, Wei 14 §148

At this time the Director of the Palace Secretariat Liu Fang and the Prefect of the Palace Secretariat Sun Zi had the ruler's trust and decided the government affairs of the day, so there was none among the high ministers who did not cultivate their friendship, except Xin Pi, who had no dealings with them. When Bi Gui memorialized proposing that Xin Pi replace Wang Si as Deputy Director of the Imperial Secretariat, Cao Rui consulted Liu Fang and Sun Zi; the two answered that Wang Si was employed for his practical effectiveness, while Xin Pi, though clear-sighted and upright, was stubborn and high-handed by nature, and in the end Xin Pi was not appointed. Records, Wei 25 §16–18

At the end of the Taihe era, when Wu sent the general Zhou He across the sea to Liaodong to entice Gongsun Yuan to its side, Cao Rui wanted to intercept and attack him, but most of the court debate said it could not be done. Sun Zi alone devised a plan to carry it out, and indeed Zhou He was crushed, and Sun Zi's rank was raised to Marquis of Zuoxiang. At the beginning of Qinglong he received the additional titles of Palace Attendant and Grandee of Splendid Happiness together with Liu Fang, and in the 2nd year of Jingchu (238), when Liaodong was pacified, his rank was raised for his merit as an adviser and he was enfeoffed in his home county as Marquis of Zhongdu. Records, Wei 14 §149–150

That year, when Cao Rui took to his sickbed, he intended to make Cao Yu, Prince of Yan, General-in-Chief and have him assist in the government together with Xiahou Xian, General Who Leads the Army, Cao Shuang, General of the Martial Guard, Cao Zhao (曹肇), Colonel of Garrison Cavalry, and Qin Lang, General of Valiant Cavalry, but Cao Yu firmly declined. Cao Rui summoned Liu Fang and Sun Zi into his bedchamber and asked whether the Prince of Yan truly meant it, and the two answered that it was because the Prince of Yan himself knew he could not bear so great a task. When Cao Rui asked whether Cao Shuang could take Cao Yu's place, the two agreed and earnestly urged that the Grand Commandant Sima Yi be summoned at once to hold together the imperial house. Records, Wei 14 §151–152

Cao Rui had Liu Fang write the edict, but after the two had left he changed his mind and ordered that Sima Yi not come. Soon he saw the two again, said that Cao Zhao and the others had instead made him stop the Grand Commandant and had nearly ruined his plans, and had them write the edict again. Cao Rui summoned Cao Shuang alone to receive the edict's command together with Liu Fang and Sun Zi, and dismissed Cao Yu, Xiahou Xian, Cao Zhao and Qin Lang from office; Sima Yi arrived, mounted the bed and received the edict, and then Cao Rui died. Records, Wei 14 §152–153

When Cao Fang took the throne, Liu Fang and Sun Zi each received an additional 300 households of fief for their merit in settling the great plan, bringing Sun Zi to 1,000 households. One son became a precinct marquis, the second a Chief Commandant of Cavalry, and the rest all Gentlemen of the Palace. In the 1st year of Zhengshi (240) he was given the additional title of Right Grandee of Splendid Happiness with a gold seal and purple ribbon and ceremonial status equal to the Three Excellencies, and in the 6th year of Zhengshi (245) he was moved to General of the Guards while continuing as Prefect of the Palace Secretariat. Records, Wei 14 §154Records, Wei 4 §8 · 17

In the 7th year of Zhengshi (246) another son was enfeoffed as a precinct marquis. In the 2nd month of the 9th year of Zhengshi (248) he resigned his post on account of age and retired to his residence as a full marquis with the rank of Specially Advanced. After Cao Shuang was executed he again became Palace Attendant and concurrently Prefect of the Palace Secretariat, then resigned again and went home; in the 10th month of the 2nd year of Jiaping (250) he was appointed General of Agile Cavalry at his home and was moved to Palace Attendant. He died in the 3rd year of Jiaping (251) and was given the posthumous name Upright Marquis, and his son Sun Hong succeeded him. Records, Wei 14 §155Records, Wei 4 §27 · 31 · 33

Chen Shou said that Liu Fang surpassed Sun Zi in talent and planning but fell short of him in self-cultivation. The two were good at obeying and following the ruler's wishes and never openly spoke of right and wrong, and because they held back Xin Pi and helped Wang Si, they incurred the criticism of the world. He wrote, however, that at times, when officials remonstrated, they supported their arguments and also secretly laid out the gains and losses, so they did not lead the ruler by flattery alone. In the Xianxi era, when the five ranks of nobility were newly established, Sun Hong was re-enfeoffed as Viscount of Lishi. Records, Wei 14 §156

In his assessment Chen Shou said that Liu Fang with his writing and Sun Zi with his diligence and caution both held posts that served as the emperor's throat and tongue, and their power resounded in their day, but because they lacked refined and clear dignity, the voices criticizing and maligning them always exceeded the reality. Records, Wei 14 §158