RNo direct record — appears only as Zheng Tai's young son, whom Zheng Hun took with him when fleeing the turmoilWei 16 §81
NPointed out the weaknesses of Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin and proposed raising high ramparts to blunt their edgeCh. 110 §7
Zheng Mao 鄭袤
| Occupation | ROfficial · Grandee of Splendid Happiness NOfficial · Superintendent of the Imperial Household | Faction | Wei |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | |
| Born | Native place | Henan Commandery Kaifeng County Unverified | |
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R2 |
Profile
Zheng Mao was the young son of Zheng Tai, who plotted with Xun You and others to kill Dong Zhuo and died after becoming Inspector of Yang Province. He has no biography of his own in the Records; a single line in the Biography of Zheng Hun in Records of Wei 16 says that his uncle Zheng Hun took him to Huainan to escape the turmoil and that Yuan Shu treated them very generously with the courtesy due to guests. Chen Shou's main text does not record his courtesy name, offices or death. Records, Wei 16 §80–81
In the Romance he appears only in Chapter 110, and no chapter has his name in its title. When Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin raise troops in Huainan and Sima Shi sets out in person to suppress them, Zheng Mao appears at the council in Sima Shi's tent as the Superintendent of the Imperial Household who proposes digging deep moats and raising high ramparts to blunt the enemy's edge. Romance, Ch. 110 §4 · 6–7
In the Records
Zheng Hun was a man of Kaifeng County in Henan, and his great-great-grandfather Zheng Zhong and Zheng Zhong's father Zheng Xing were both renowned Confucian scholars. Zheng Hun's elder brother Zheng Tai plotted with Xun You and others to kill Dong Zhuo, and died after becoming Inspector of Yang Province. Records, Wei 16 §80
Zheng Hun took Zheng Tai's young son Zheng Mao to Huainan to escape the turmoil, and Yuan Shu treated them very generously with the courtesy due to guests. Zheng Hun knew that Yuan Shu was bound to fail. At that time Hua Xin was Administrator of Yuzhang and had always been on good terms with Zheng Tai, so Zheng Hun crossed the Yangtze and entrusted himself to Hua Xin. Records, Wei 16 §81
This is the only place in Chen Shou's main text where Zheng Mao's name appears; his courtesy name, offices, deeds and death are not recorded. The assessment in Records of Wei 16 says that Zheng Hun and Cang Ci had sound methods in caring for and governing the people, but says nothing of Zheng Mao. Records, Wei 16 §81 · 98
In the Romance
In Chapter 110 of the Romance, Guanqiu Jian leads 60,000 troops and is stationed at Xiangcheng, while Wen Qin, with 20,000 troops, acts as a roving force outside to support him. Sima Shi, who has had the tumor by his left eye cut out and is recuperating in his residence, hears the urgent report from Huainan and consults the Grand Commandant Wang Su; then, heeding the words of Zhong Hui, Gentleman of the Palace Secretariat, he decides to go in person, leaves his younger brother Sima Zhao to guard Luoyang, and travels east in a soft litter. He also has Zhuge Dan, General Who Guards the East, Hu Zun, General Who Conquers the East, and Wang Ji (王基), Inspector of Jing Province and Army Supervisor, advance along separate routes. Romance, Ch. 110 §4–6
When Sima Shi leads the main army to be stationed at Xiangyang and assembles his civil and military officials in his tent for council, the Superintendent of the Imperial Household Zheng Mao speaks. Guanqiu Jian, he says, likes to scheme but lacks decisiveness, and Wen Qin has courage but lacks wisdom; yet although the main army has come out unexpectedly, the troops of the Yangtze and Huai are at the height of their keen spirit and must not be taken lightly, so they should dig deep moats and raise high ramparts to blunt that edge. Zheng Mao adds that this is the excellent strategy of Yafu. Romance, Ch. 110 §7
The Army Supervisor Wang Ji opposes this, saying that the rebellion in Huainan is not because the soldiers and people desire turmoil but because they are forced by Guanqiu Jian's power to follow him against their will, so it will collapse as soon as the main army arrives. Sima Shi calls these words most excellent, advances to the Yin River, and has Wang Ji lead the vanguard troops to take Nandun. This scene is the only place Zheng Mao appears in the Romance. Romance, Ch. 110 §7–8
Where the Romance differs
Family: Chapter 110 of the Romance presents Zheng Mao only as Superintendent of the Imperial Household and says nothing of his family. Chen Shou's main text records him as the young son of Zheng Tai, who had plotted to kill Dong Zhuo, and says that his uncle Zheng Hun took him to Huainan to escape the turmoil. Romance, Ch. 110 §7Records, Wei 16 §80–81
Office: In Chapter 110 of the Romance, Zheng Mao attends Sima Shi's council as Superintendent of the Imperial Household. Chen Shou's main text does not record his offices. Romance, Ch. 110 §7Records, Wei 16 §81
The plan for the campaign in Huainan: In Chapter 110 of the Romance, Zheng Mao proposes a strategy of holding fast in Sima Shi's campaign against Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin, but because of the objection of Wang Ji (王基) Sima Shi chooses to advance. In Chen Shou's main text Zheng Mao appears only in a single line of the Biography of Zheng Hun, and his name is not in the Biography of Guanqiu Jian. Romance, Ch. 110 §7–8Records, Wei 16 §81Records, Wei 28 §11–25
Written by 3KDEX (not yet reviewed) — The tags at the end of each paragraph link to the exact passage in the Records volume or Romance chapter it is based on.
Abilities
The Records score (Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms, main text) is the baseline. Each ability compares how the Romance redrew the same person, and the evidence from both sources explains the difference.
Records total391 / 1000Rank 669 of 996 · Top 68%Romance total438 / 1000Rank 292 of 1,113 · Top 27%
Romance adaptation index+47Romance total − Records total
- LEA3538+3
- STR3131±0
- INT4062+22
- POL4245+3
- CHA4040±0
- VIR4545±0
- ADP4042+2
- SCH4245+3
- DIP3845+7
- DIS3845+7
Abilities shaped by the Romance — where it differs from the Records Differences of 10 or more
9 similar abilities — show evidence
RNo direct record — appears only as Zheng Tai's young son, whom Zheng Hun took with him when fleeing the turmoilWei 16 §81
NNo direct record — estimated from his office as Superintendent of the Imperial HouseholdCh. 110 §7
RNo direct record — appears only as Zheng Tai's young son, whom Zheng Hun took with him when fleeing the turmoilWei 16 §81
NNo direct record — estimated from his office as Superintendent of the Imperial HouseholdCh. 110 §7
RNo direct record — appears only as Zheng Tai's young son, whom Zheng Hun took with him when fleeing the turmoilWei 16 §81
NNo direct record — estimated from his office as Superintendent of the Imperial HouseholdCh. 110 §7
RNo direct record — appears only as Zheng Tai's young son, whom Zheng Hun took with him when fleeing the turmoilWei 16 §81
NNo direct record — estimated from his office as Superintendent of the Imperial HouseholdCh. 110 §7
RNo direct record — appears only as Zheng Tai's young son, whom Zheng Hun took with him when fleeing the turmoilWei 16 §81
NNo direct record — estimated from his office as Superintendent of the Imperial HouseholdCh. 110 §7
RNo direct record — appears only as Zheng Tai's young son, whom Zheng Hun took with him when fleeing the turmoilWei 16 §81
NNo direct record — estimated from his office as Superintendent of the Imperial HouseholdCh. 110 §7
RNo direct record — appears only as Zheng Tai's young son, whom Zheng Hun took with him when fleeing the turmoilWei 16 §81
NNo direct record — estimated from his office as Superintendent of the Imperial HouseholdCh. 110 §7
RNo direct record — appears only as Zheng Tai's young son, whom Zheng Hun took with him when fleeing the turmoilWei 16 §81
NNo direct record — estimated from his office as Superintendent of the Imperial HouseholdCh. 110 §7
RNo direct record — appears only as Zheng Tai's young son, whom Zheng Hun took with him when fleeing the turmoilWei 16 §81
NNo direct record — estimated from his office as Superintendent of the Imperial HouseholdCh. 110 §7
Records Romance Unverified No direct record; scored from their actions (evidence grade C)
3KDEX scoring — the Records use the main text of Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms; the Romance uses the 120-chapter Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Click a source tag to open that passage in the reader.
Romance chapters (1)
AppearsNot present Chapter list →
Allegiance history
- Wei · Records · Records vol. 16 「初爲臨菑侯文學」
Family
| Parents | Zheng Tai Records |
|---|
Based on Wikidata items for the historical and Romance figures. Relations without the Unverified badge were also confirmed in the Records.