Yuan Huan 袁渙

Yuan Huan, courtesy name Yaoqing, was a man of Fule County in Chen Commandery. His father Yuan Pang was Minister over the Masses of the Han. At that time most sons of high officials overstepped the bounds of propriety, but Yuan Huan was pure and tranquil and always conducted himself according to the rites. When the commandery appointed him Officer of Merit, the corrupt clerks of the commandery all withdrew of their own accord. Records, Wei 11 §2–3

Later he was summoned to the office of an Excellency, was recommended in the highest grade and was transferred to Attendant Imperial Clerk. He was appointed Prefect of Qiao but did not take up the post. When Liu Bei governed Yu Province, he recommended Yuan Huan as Flourishing Talent. Later Yuan Huan took refuge between the Yangtze and Huai rivers and was given office by Yuan Shu. Whenever Yuan Shu consulted him, Yuan Huan always offered upright counsel; Yuan Shu could not counter it, but respected him and did not dare to fail in courtesy toward him. Records, Wei 11 §3

Soon afterward, when Lü Bu attacked Yuan Shu at Fuling, Yuan Huan went with Yuan Shu and was then captured and detained by Lü Bu. Lü Bu had at first been on friendly terms with Liu Bei but later fell out with him, and he wanted Yuan Huan to write a letter reviling and insulting Liu Bei. When Yuan Huan would not comply though pressed two and three times, Lü Bu flew into a rage and threatened him with soldiers, saying, 'Write it and you live; refuse and you die.' Records, Wei 11 §4

Without the slightest change of expression, Yuan Huan smiled and answered that he had heard that one could shame others only with virtue, never with abuse. If the man was truly a gentleman, he would not be shamed by the general's words, and if he was truly a petty man, he would simply send the general's insult back, so the shame would fall on this side; and he said, 'My serving General Liu in the past is like my serving you today. If one day I left here and reviled you in turn, would that be acceptable?' Lü Bu was ashamed and gave up. Records, Wei 11 §4–5

When Lü Bu was executed, Yuan Huan was at last able to submit to Cao Cao. Yuan Huan said that weapons are instruments of ill omen, to be used only when there is no other choice, and that one should encourage people with the Way and virtue and campaign with benevolence and righteousness; and that if, more than ten years after the great disorder began, violent disorder had still not ceased, perhaps it was because government had lost its Way. He went on to say that even when disorder is quelled by force, completing the task with virtue is the way that a hundred kings have not changed, and that now, while the people did not yet know righteousness, if the Duke were to instruct them, it would be a great blessing for the realm. Cao Cao took his words deeply to heart and appointed Yuan Huan Commandant of the Southern Division of Pei. Records, Wei 11 §6–7

At this time new settlers were being recruited to open military farms, but the people disliked it and many fled. Yuan Huan told Cao Cao that people are content on their own land and reluctant to move, so they could not be changed suddenly, and proposed that only those willing should be taken and those unwilling should not be forced. Cao Cao followed his advice, and the people were greatly pleased. Records, Wei 11 §8

After he was transferred to Chancellor of Liang, he always instructed the counties to take good care of widowers, widows and the aged and to honor filial sons and chaste wives, saying that although the times were in turmoil and it was hard to transform people through the rites, it still depended on what they themselves did. In government he valued teaching, acted only after considering others' circumstances, and was gentle and mild outwardly but decisive within. When he left office because of illness, the people missed him. Records, Wei 11 §8–9

Later he was summoned to become Grandee Remonstrant and Libationer of the Army to the Chancellor. The gifts he received over the years were very numerous, but he gave them all away so that nothing was stored in his house; to the end he paid no attention to property, and when he ran short he obtained what he needed from others. He did not make an ostentatious show of his integrity, but the people of the time admired his purity. Records, Wei 11 §9

When the state of Wei was first established, he became Prefect of the Palace Gentlemen and acted in the post of Imperial Counselor. Yuan Huan said that since the great troubles of the realm had already been removed, using civil and military means together was the way to endure, and proposed that books be collected on a large scale to make clear the teachings of the former sages; Cao Cao approved his words. At that time someone reported that Liu Bei had died and all the officials offered congratulations, but Yuan Huan alone did not, because he had once been an official recommended by Liu Bei. Records, Wei 11 §10

When he died after a few years in office, Cao Cao shed tears for him and granted 2,000 hu of grain. One directive gave 1,000 hu of grain from the Great Granary to the household of the Prefect of the Palace Gentlemen, and the other gave 1,000 hu of grain from beneath the wall to the household of Yaoqing; Cao Cao explained that the grain from the Great Granary was by official rule, and the grain from beneath the wall was as a close old friend. Records, Wei 11 §11

Further, the emperor, hearing of how Yuan Huan had once refused Lü Bu, asked Yuan Huan's cousin Yuan Min whether Yuan Huan had been brave or timid. Yuan Min answered that although Yuan Huan appeared gentle and mild, when it came to upholding a great principle or facing danger and hardship, even Meng Ben and Xia Yu could not have surpassed him. His son Yuan Kan was also pure, refined, calm and simple, with his father's manner, and served as a commandery Administrator and as a Master of Writing. Records, Wei 11 §11–12

The Biography of Xu Jing in the Records of Shu states that Xu Jing had been close to Yuan Huan of Chen, Hua Xin of Pingyuan, Wang Lang of Donghai and others. Records, Shu 8 §19

In his assessment, Chen Shou said that Yuan Huan, Bing Yuan and Zhang Fan walked the path of purity themselves and advanced and withdrew according to the Way, and were perhaps the peers of Gong Yu and the two Gongs. Records, Wei 11 §111