Zhong Hui

Zhong Hui
Zhong Hui
鍾會
	A Qing dynasty illustration of Zhong Hui
Minister over the Masses (司徒)
	In office; 8 February 264 – 3 March 264
Monarch	Cao Huan
Preceded by	Zheng Chong
Succeeded by	He Zeng
General Who Guards the West (鎮西將軍)
	In office; 263 – 8 February 264
Monarch	Cao Huan
Colonel-Director of Retainers (司隷校尉)
	In office; 258–263
Monarch	Cao Mao
Personal details
Born	225
Died	3 March 264 (aged 39); Chengdu, Sichuan
Relations	Zhong Yu (half-brother); Zhong Shao (half-brother); Xun Xu (nephew)
Children	Zhong Yi (nephew, adopted son)
Parents	Zhong Yao (father); Zhang Changpu (mother);
Occupation	Calligrapher, essayist, general, politician
Courtesy name	Shiji (士季)
Peerage	County Marquis (縣侯)

Zhong Hui (225 – 3 March 264),^[a] courtesy name Shiji, was a Chinese calligrapher, essayist, military general, and politician of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was the younger son of Zhang Changpu with Zhong Yao, who served as the Grand Tutor in the Wei imperial court. He was already known for being insightful, intelligent and knowledgeable since he was young. Zhong Hui rose to prominence in the 250s when he became a close aide to Sima Zhao, the regent and de facto ruler of Wei. He advised Sima Zhao on how to deal with the Third Rebellion in Shouchun from 257 to 258 and was highly regarded by the latter. With Sima Zhao's help, Zhong Hui steadily moved up the ranks and became one of the key figures in the Wei government.

In 263, the Wei imperial court ordered Zhong Hui, Deng Ai and Zhuge Xu to lead separate armies to attack and conquer Wei's rival state, Shu Han. During and after the campaign against Shu, Zhong Hui framed Zhuge Xu and Deng Ai for cowardice and treason respectively, and seized command of their troops. By the time Shu surrendered to Wei in 263, Zhong Hui was in full control of all the Wei military forces in Shu territory. In 264, with backing from Jiang Wei, a former Shu general, Zhong Hui started a rebellion against Sima Zhao. However, the revolt failed when Zhong Hui's plan to purge several Wei officers – because he was worried that they would not support him – was leaked out. The officers escaped from custody, regrouped with their men, mutinied against Zhong Hui, and killed him and Jiang Wei.
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