Mi Zhu 麋竺

Mi Zhu, courtesy name Zizhong, was a native of Qu County in Donghai Commandery. His family had multiplied its wealth for generations, so that its servants and retainers numbered as many as ten thousand and its fortune ran to hundreds of millions. Later Tao Qian, Governor of Xu Province, summoned him and made him his Aide-de-camp (biejia congshi). Records, Shu 8 §21

When Tao Qian fell gravely ill, he told his Aide-de-camp Mi Zhu, "Without Liu Bei this province cannot be kept secure." After Tao Qian died, Mi Zhu carried out his dying wish and led the people of the province to welcome Liu Bei at Xiaopei. Records, Shu 2 §9Records, Shu 8 §21

In the 1st year of Jian'an (196), while Liu Bei was away resisting Yuan Shu, Lü Bu raided Xiapi and captured Liu Bei's wife and children. When Liu Bei moved his army to Haixi in Guangling, Mi Zhu presented his younger sister to Liu Bei to be his wife and gave two thousand slaves and retainers, along with gold, silver, and goods, to help fund the army. Liu Bei was then in dire straits, but thanks to this he was able to rise again. Records, Shu 8 §21

Later Cao Cao memorialized the throne to have Mi Zhu serve as Administrator of Ying Commandery and made his younger brother Mi Fang Chancellor of Pengcheng, but both abandoned their posts and followed Liu Bei in his wanderings. When Cao Cao defeated Yuan Shao and struck south at Liu Bei, Liu Bei, intending to go to Jing Province, first sent Mi Zhu and Sun Qian to Liu Biao to open communications. Liu Bei made Mi Zhu Attendant Officer of the Household (congshi zhonglang) to the General of the Left. Records, Shu 8 §22Records, Shu 2 §19

After Yi Province was pacified he was appointed General Who Pacifies the Han, ranking above the Military Adviser General. The Biography of the First Sovereign records that after taking Chengdu, Liu Bei made Xu Jing, Mi Zhu, and Jian Yong his guests and friends, and in the memorial in which his officials urged Liu Bei to take the imperial throne, the name of Mi Zhu, General Who Pacifies the Han, comes after that of the Grand Tutor Xu Jing and before that of the Military Adviser General Zhuge Liang. Records, Shu 8 §22Records, Shu 2 §33 · 60

Chen Shou wrote that Mi Zhu was gracious, sincere, and refined, but that practical administration was not his strength. He was therefore treated with the courtesy due to an honored guest and never put in command of troops, but in rewards and favor no one could compare with him. Records, Shu 8 §22

Mi Fang, Administrator of Nan Commandery, worked alongside Guan Yu but was on bad terms with him; harboring divided loyalties, he turned traitor and welcomed Sun Quan in, and Guan Yu was destroyed as a result. Mi Zhu bound himself and begged to be punished, but Liu Bei consoled him, saying that the crimes of brothers do not extend to one another, and treated him with the same high regard as before. Mi Zhu fell ill from shame and anger and died a little over a year later. His son Mi Wei rose to General of the Household Rapid as Tigers, and Mi Wei's son Mi Zhao to Inspector of Tiger Cavalry; it is said that from Mi Zhu down to Mi Zhao, all were skilled at archery and horsemanship. Records, Shu 8 §23

The Encomia on the Supporting Ministers of Ji Han, written by Yang Xi in the 4th year of Yanxi (241), praised Mi Zhu, General Who Pacifies the Han, as "gracious and dignified, bound by marriage and received as a guest, honored in his day — a minister who followed the proper way." Records, Shu 15 §33 · 48

In his assessment, Chen Shou said that Mi Zhu, Sun Qian, Jian Yong, and Yi Ji all won the courtesy of their age through their gracious manner and elegant conversation. Records, Shu 8 §59