He Qia 和洽

He Qia, courtesy name Yangshi, was a man of Xiping County in Runan Commandery. He was nominated as Filial and Incorrupt and was also summoned by the General-in-Chief, but declined both. When Yuan Shao, in Ji Province, sent envoys to invite the gentry of Runan, He Qia alone reasoned as follows: Ji Province had flat land and strong people and was coveted by heroes, a land open to war on all sides; Benchu (Yuan Shao) might grow strong, but with powerful men just now rising, nothing could be guaranteed. Liu Biao of Jing Province, on the other hand, had no further far-reaching ambitions, cherished people and delighted in scholars, and his land was rugged, so he would be easy to rely on. Records, Wei 23 §2

He Qia went south with his relatives and old friends to follow Liu Biao, who treated him as an honoured guest. But He Qia said that he had not followed Benchu in order to avoid a contested land, and that the ruler of a benighted age should not be approached too closely, for in time one would be in danger and there would surely be slanderers who would sow discord; he then crossed south to Wuling. Records, Wei 23 §3

When the Grand Progenitor pacified Jing Province, he summoned him and made him a member of the Chancellor's staff. At that time Mao Jie and Cui Yan put frugality and restraint first in selecting officials. He Qia said that the great vessels of the realm could not be judged by a single standard of conduct. Frugality beyond the proper measure was acceptable as one's own personal conduct, but if others were measured by it, gentlemen would deliberately soil their clothes and hide their carriages and robes, and falsehood was bound to hide in extreme and eccentric conduct. Records, Wei 23 §4–5

When the state of Wei was founded he became Palace Attendant. Later someone reported that Mao Jie had slandered the Grand Progenitor, and when the Grand Progenitor was furious, He Qia stated that Mao Jie's conduct had always had a sound foundation and asked that the matter be investigated to establish the facts. When the Grand Progenitor said that he would not investigate because he wished to keep both Mao Jie and the informer whole, He Qia replied that if Mao Jie had truly slandered the sovereign he should be executed in the marketplace and at court, and if not, the informer had falsely accused a high minister, and that he would feel uneasy if neither were investigated. The Grand Progenitor said that with military affairs in hand he could not open an investigation merely on someone's word. According to the Biography of Mao Jie, Huan Jie and He Qia spoke up to save Mao Jie, but Mao Jie was in the end dismissed and died at home. Records, Wei 23 §6–9Records, Wei 12 §34

According to the Biography of Du Xi, when the state of Wei was founded, Du Xi was employed as Palace Attendant together with Wang Can and He Qia. Wang Can often rode in the Grand Progenitor's carriage, but the respect shown him did not match that shown to He Qia and Du Xi. When Du Xi once had an audience alone with the Grand Progenitor until midnight, Wang Can fretted that he did not know what they were talking about, and He Qia said with a laugh, 'How could the affairs of the realm ever come to an end? It should be enough for you to attend him by day — do you want the nights as well!' Records, Wei 23 §38–39

When the Grand Progenitor defeated Zhang Lu, He Qia proposed that the army be withdrawn and the people moved in good time, which would save the cost of keeping a garrison. The Grand Progenitor did not accept this, but afterwards he did in the end move the people and abandon Hanzhong. He Qia went out to become Prefect of the Palace Gentlemen; when Emperor Wen (Cao Pi) ascended the throne he became Superintendent of the Imperial Household and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Ancheng Village, and when Emperor Ming (Cao Rui) ascended the throne he was advanced to Marquis of Xiling District with a fief of 200 households. Records, Wei 23 §10

During the Taihe era, when the Cavalier Regular Attendant Gaotang Long memorialized that the seasonable winds did not blow because officials were not diligent in their duties, Emperor Ming issued an edict widely soliciting opinions. He Qia said that the people were few and the farmers fewer while those who ate without working were many, and that since spring and summer the people had been exhausted by labour service and farming had been neglected, which might be the cause. Nothing was greater than economy and frugality for averting calamity, so burdensome labour service should be halted, and for the defence of the frontiers plans should be fixed in advance and troops should not be raised again and again out of contempt for a petty enemy. Records, Wei 23 §11–13

He was transferred to Minister of Ceremonies, and kept so honest, poor and frugal that he came to sell his fields and house to support himself. When Emperor Ming heard of this, he granted him additional grain and silk. When he died he was given the posthumous name Marquis Jian, and his son He Li succeeded him. He Li's younger brother He You rose to Commandant of Justice and Master of Writing for Personnel. Records, Wei 23 §14

In his assessment Chen Shou said that He Qia was pure and mild and had a talent for managing affairs, and that together with Chang Lin, Yang Jun, Du Xi, Zhao Yan and Pei Qian he was one of the fine gentlemen of his age. Records, Wei 23 §75