Zhou Bi 周毖

When Emperor Ling died and Dong Zhuo took charge of the government, he made Zhou Bi of Hanyang Master of Writing for Personnel. Zhou Bi deliberated together with Xu Jing, who as a Gentleman of the Masters of Writing was in charge of selecting officials, and they admitted and dismissed the scholars of the realm, weeding out the corrupt and bringing to light and promoting men of talent who had been overlooked. Records, Shu 8 §2

When Dong Zhuo discussed with Yuan Shao his plan to depose the emperor and set up the Prince of Chenliu, Yuan Shao, holding his sword crosswise, made a long bow and left, and fled to Ji Province. Chen Shou recorded that the Palace Attendant Zhou Bi, the Colonel of the City Gates Wu Qiong, the Court Gentleman for Consultation He Yong and others were all men of renown who enjoyed Dong Zhuo's trust but secretly took Yuan Shao's side. They persuaded Dong Zhuo that Yuan Shao, not understanding the larger picture, had simply fled out of fear and had no other intention; that if a bounty were pressed on him, he would surely cause an uprising; and that since the Yuan family had bestowed favours for four generations and their disciples and former subordinates were spread across the realm, it would be better to pardon him and make him administrator of a commandery. Dong Zhuo agreed, made Yuan Shao Administrator of Bohai and enfeoffed him as Marquis of Kang Village. Records, Wei 6 §37–38

At this time Xun Shuang, Han Rong, Chen Ji and others of Yingchuan were promoted to be Excellencies, ministers and commandery administrators; the Master of Writing Han Fu became Governor of Ji Province, the Palace Attendant Liu Dai Inspector of Yan Province, Zhang Zi of Yingchuan Administrator of Nanyang, Kong Zhou of Chenliu Inspector of Yu Province, and Zhang Miao of Dong Commandery Administrator of Chenliu. Records of Wei 6 states that Dong Zhuo trusted and relied on the Master of Writing Zhou Bi, the Colonel of the City Gates Wu Qiong and others, and sent out Han Fu, Liu Dai, Kong Zhou, Zhang Zi, Zhang Miao and others whom they recommended to govern provinces and commanderies. Records, Shu 8 §3Records, Wei 6 §10

In the 1st month of spring in the 1st year of Chuping (190), Han Fu, Liu Dai, Kong Zhou, Zhang Miao and others raised troops all at once together with others. When Han Fu and the others reached their posts and each raised troops and headed for the capital intending to kill Dong Zhuo, Dong Zhuo raged at Zhou Bi: 'You said that good scholars should be promoted and employed, and I followed your plan, not wishing to go against the hearts of the people of the realm. Yet the men you employed have come to plot against me on the very day they reached their posts. Why should I be betrayed like this?' He rebuked Zhou Bi, sent him out and had him beheaded outside. Records of Wei 6 states that Dong Zhuo, believing that Zhou Bi, Wu Qiong and others had colluded with them and sold him out, had them all beheaded. Records, Wei 1 §7Records, Shu 8 §3–4Records, Wei 6 §10

Chen Shou's main text does not record Zhou Bi's courtesy name or the years of his birth and death. In his assessment in volume 6 Chen Shou appraised Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shu, Yuan Shao and Liu Biao, and in his assessment in volume 8 Xu Jing and others, but he said nothing separately about Zhou Bi. Records, Wei 6 §96Records, Shu 8 §59