Kong Rong 孔融

While Chancellor of Beihai, Kong Rong recommended Bing Yuan of Zhuxu County in Beihai State under the category 'Possessing the Way', but Bing Yuan went to Liaodong, saying that the Yellow Turbans were at the height of their power. In the Chuping era he summoned Wang Xiu of Yingling County, made him Registrar and had him act as Prefect of Gaomi. When Wang Xiu was recommended as Filial and Incorrupt and wished to yield the honour to Bing Yuan, Kong Rong would not allow it. He also teased Shi Yi, who served in the commandery, that the character 氏 (shi) was the character 民 (min, 'people') without its top and could well be changed to 是 (shi), and Shi Yi eventually changed his surname. Records, Wei 11 §68 · 54–55Records, Wu 17 §2

Soon afterward a rebellion broke out in the commandery. Just as it erupted, Kong Rong said to those around him, 'The only one who can brave danger to come here is Wang Xiu,' and as he finished speaking, Wang Xiu arrived. Wang Xiu was again made Officer of Merit and acted as Prefect of Jiaodong, which was rife with bandits. Chen Shou wrote that whenever Kong Rong faced danger, Wang Xiu came rushing even if he was at home on leave, and that Kong Rong always relied on Wang Xiu to escape harm. Records, Wei 11 §56–57

Kong Rong heard of Taishi Ci of Donglai and thought him remarkable, and while Taishi Ci was taking refuge in Liaodong, he sent people many times to call on his mother and send her gifts. At that time, when the Yellow Turbans were rampaging, Kong Rong went out to garrison Duchang and was surrounded by the rebel Guan Hai. Taishi Ci, returning from Liaodong and hearing his mother's words, walked alone to Duchang, slipped in by night and met Kong Rong. Taishi Ci asked for troops to go out and attack the rebels, but Kong Rong would not listen and waited for help from outside. Records, Wu 4 §20–22

No help came, and the siege tightened by the day. Kong Rong wanted to tell Liu Bei, Chancellor of Pingyuan, of his peril, but no one could get out of the city, so Taishi Ci asked to go himself. Kong Rong hesitated because everyone said it could not be done, but after hearing Taishi Ci out, he gave permission. Taishi Ci broke through the siege, went to Pingyuan and persuaded Liu Bei, who said, 'So Kong of Beihai knows that there is a Liu Bei in the world!' and sent 3,000 elite troops. Hearing that troops were coming, the rebels lifted the siege and scattered. Kong Rong valued Taishi Ci all the more and said, 'You are my young friend.' Records, Wu 4 §22–26

When Tao Qian died and Mi Zhu led the people of the province to welcome Liu Bei, Liu Bei would not readily accept and said the province should be handed to Yuan Shu at Shouchun. At this time Kong Rong, Chancellor of Beihai, said to Liu Bei, 'Is Yuan Gonglu a man who worries for the state and forgets his own house? He is nothing but dry bones in a tomb,' and added that if one does not take what Heaven gives, later regret cannot undo it. Liu Bei finally took charge of Xu Province. Records, Shu 2 §9–11

Chen Shou wrote that Kong Rong of Lu State was highly talented and arrogant. Kong Rong was in age between Chen Ji and his son Chen Qun; at first he was a friend of Chen Ji, but when he later became acquainted with Chen Qun, he changed his manner and bowed to Chen Ji as his senior, and in this way Chen Qun's name became known. Chen Deng, Administrator of Guangling, said that for broad learning, a strong memory, and extraordinary brilliance, he respected Kong Wenju. Records, Wei 22 §11 · 58

While he was Privy Treasurer, when the former Grand Commandant Yang Biao was arrested and handed over to the prison of Xu County, Kong Rong, together with Xun Yu, Prefect of the Masters of Writing, asked Man Chong, Prefect of Xu, only to take his statement and not to use torture. Man Chong did not answer, interrogated him according to the law, and then told Cao Cao that Yang Biao had given no other statement and that if his guilt was not clear, the people's trust would be lost; Cao Cao pardoned Yang Biao that same day. Xun Yu and Kong Rong were at first angry when they heard that Yang Biao had been tortured, but when the matter was settled this way, they thought all the better of Man Chong. Records, Wei 26 §3–4

In the 3rd year of Jian'an (198), when Cao Cao had captured Lü Bu and came to confront Yuan Shao, Kong Rong said to Xun Yu that Yuan Shao's territory was vast and his troops strong, with Tian Feng and Xu You to plan for him, Shen Pei and Feng Ji to manage his affairs, and Yan Liang and Wen Chou to lead his troops, so would he not be hard to defeat? Xun Yu rebutted him one by one, saying that although Yuan Shao's troops were many, his laws were not in order. Records, Wei 10 §28–30

In the 4th year of Jian'an (199), when Zhang Hong, sent by Sun Ce, stayed in Xu and became Attendant Imperial Clerk, the Privy Treasurer Kong Rong and others all became friendly with him. When Yu Fan sent a letter together with his own Commentary on the Changes, Kong Rong praised his learning in his reply, saying that he now knew that the fine things of the southeast were not only the bamboo arrows of Kuaiji. Records, Wu 8 §3Records, Wu 12 §6

At the end of the biography of Cui Yan, Chen Shou wrote that Taizu was jealous by nature and did not spare those he could not tolerate, and that Kong Rong of Lu State and Xu You and Lou Gui of Nanyang all presumed on old ties, were disrespectful, and were put to death. The main text of the Records does not record the year or circumstances of Kong Rong's death. Later, when Sun Quan wanted to kill Yu Fan at a drinking party, saying, 'Even Cao Mengde killed Kong Wenju,' Liu Ji stopped him, saying, 'Mengde lightly harmed men of learning, and the realm condemned him for it.' The assessment in volume 12 discusses Cui Yan and the others only and does not deal with Kong Rong. Records, Wei 12 §19 · 99Records, Wu 12 §10–11