Cheng Ji 成濟

In the 4th month, in summer, of the 5th year of Ganlu (260), an edict was again issued making the General-in-Chief Sima Zhao Chancellor of State, enfeoffing him as Duke of Jin and granting him the Nine Bestowments. On the jichou day of the 5th month the Duke of Gaogui Village died, at the age of twenty. Records, Wei 4 §97–98

According to the Empress Dowager's decree, the Duke of Gaogui Village, intending to harm the Empress Dowager and seize the General-in-Chief, summoned the Palace Attendant Wang Chen, the Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary Wang Ye and the Master of Writing Wang Jing and showed them an edict from his bosom, but Wang Chen and Wang Ye at once ran to inform the General-in-Chief. The Duke led his attendants out through the Yunlong Gate, beat the drums, drew his sword himself and entered among the troops, where he was struck down by the vanguard. Records, Wei 4 §100–101

On the wushen day of the same month, the General-in-Chief Sima Zhao submitted a memorial. When the Duke of Gaogui Village, leading his attendants and soldiers, came toward his quarters with swords drawn, sounding gongs and drums, he wrote, he had feared that blades would clash and had ordered his officers and men to do no harm, warning that anyone who disobeyed would be dealt with under military law. But the Retainer of the Crown Prince Cheng Ji, younger brother of the Cavalry Commander Cheng Cui, had wilfully plunged into the ranks and struck the Duke, finally causing his death, and so he had at once seized Cheng Ji and carried out military law. Records, Wei 4 §107

Sima Zhao said that he had issued order after order that no one approach the imperial carriage, but that Cheng Ji had suddenly rushed into the ranks and brought about the great calamity. Then, stating that under the law those guilty of great treason and depravity are beheaded together with their parents, wives, children and siblings, and that Cheng Ji, vicious and rebellious, had offended against the state and thrown its order into confusion so that even death could not expiate his crime, he reported that he had ordered the Attending Censor to arrest Cheng Ji's family and hand them over to the Commandant of Justice for judgement of their crime. Records, Wei 4 §108–109

In her edict the Empress Dowager said that, being a woman and unversed in the great principles, she had thought Cheng Ji could not simply be treated as guilty of great treason, but that since the General-in-Chief's intent was earnest and his words were moving, she granted what he had memorialized. She also ordered that this be proclaimed far and near so that everyone would know the whole story. Chen Shou's main text records nothing else about Cheng Ji. Records, Wei 4 §109–110