Zhuge Ke
Encyclopedia
Zhuge Ke style name
Yuanxun (元遜), was a military general and regent of Eastern Wu
during the Three Kingdoms
era of Chinese history
. He was the son of Zhuge Jin
and nephew of Zhuge Liang
. He succeeded Lu Xun
after the latter's death. After the death of the founding emperor Sun Quan
, Zhuge served as regent for his son Sun Liang
, but the regency proved to be militarily disastrous due to Zhuge's overaggressiveness against Cao Wei
. In 253, Zhuge was killed, along with his family, in a coup d'état.
as crown prince in 221, he set up a staff for the crown prince consisting of the sons of the key officials or other well-known young members of the administration. The four most prominent ones were Zhuge, Zhang Zhao
's son Zhang Xiu (張休), Gu Yong
's grandson Gu Tan
, and Chen Wu's son Chen Biao
. Sun Deng treated them as friends, not as subordinates, and they grew up together and served as Sun Deng's advisors. When Sun Deng had his secretary Hu Zong (胡綜) write a commentary about his advisors in 229, Hu wrote that Zhuge was the most intelligent and skillful of his generation. While this was true, he also quickly developed a reputation for being reckless, a characteristic that both his father Zhuge Jin and his uncle Zhuge Liang repeatedly rebuked him about. On one occasion, Zhuge Jin observed, "This child will either bring great honor to my household or destroy it."
By 234, Zhuge Ke was serving as a commander of the capital guards, and he submitted a plan to Sun Quan to suppress the indigenous Baiyue people of the important Danyang Commandery (in present-day Xuancheng
, Anhui
), who had not submitted to Eastern Wu authorities and were pillaging the Han people -- a plan that most senior officials, including Zhuge Jin, considered reckless and costly. Zhuge Ke, however, insisted that his plan would be successful, so Sun Quan commissioned him as the governor of Danyang and gave him full powers to implement his plan. Once he arrived, he requested the four neighboring commanderies to seal their borders and did not combat the Yue; then, when the rice became ready for harvest, he had the rice harvested quickly and then gathered up, away from the pillaging Yue. The Yue were starved into submission, and as soon as they submitted, he treated them with kindness. By 237, Danyang was entirely under Eastern Wu authorities' control and became a productive commandery for manpower and supplies. Sun Quan was impressed and granted Zhuge Ke the title of a marquess.
In 243, Zhuge planned a major attack on the Cao Wei city of Shouchun, and he put his army in an attack posture. However, when the prominent Cao Wei general Sima Yi
arrived and prepared to attack Zhuge, rather than allowing Zhuge to face the much more experienced Sima in battle, Sun Quan ordered that Zhuge withdraw. Still, among the people, Zhuge became renowned for being willing to stand against Sima. Lu Xun
, however, became concerned about Zhuge's recklessness and wrote him in rebuke. Knowing that he had to submit to the senior Lu Xun, Zhuge wrote back and apologized. After Lu's death in 245, Sun commissioned Zhuge to take over Lu's key post at Wuchang (in present-day Ezhou
, Hubei
).
In 251, as Sun Quan neared death, he sought a regent for his young son and heir, Sun Liang
. His personal assistant Sun Jun recommended Zhuge, and it was also the sentiment of the people that Zhuge was the most capable. Sun Quan was concerned about Zhuge's arrogance and overly high opinion of himself, but at Sun Jun's urging commissioned him to be regent, summoning him back from Wuchang. As Zhuge departed Wuchang, the senior general Lü Dai
, knowing Zhuge's recklessness, told him, "What you will be doing is difficult. Before you do anything, think ten times." Zhuge, rather than showing his earlier submission to Lu Xun, responded irreverently to Lü, "When Ji Wenzi (季文子, a student of Confucius
) thought three times before acting, Confucius told him, 'Only think twice.' Now you, sir, told me to think ten times. Is it not that you are calling me stupid?" Lü was unable to respond, and the people at the time thought that Lü did speak inappropriately, but later historians pointed to this incident as a sign of Zhuge's ever growing arrogance and recklessness. Indeed, after Sun named him regent and ordered that all important matters be decided by Zhuge first (except matters of life and death) and made all other officials bow to Zhuge, Zhuge became even more arrogant.
After Sun Quan's death in 252, Sun Liang succeeded him, and Zhuge served as regent, as Sun Quan willed.
Later in 252, Zhuge rebuilt the Dongxing Dam (東興隄, in present-day Chaohu, Anhui
), which Sun Quan had initially built in 230 but which was destroyed in 241, to create a reservoir near the Chao Lake, with the dual purpose of using it as a defense against potential Cao Wei attacks and, with two castles built nearby, as forward attack mechanism for Eastern Wu ships. In response, Cao Wei's regent Sima Shi
made a major three-pronged attack against Eastern Wu, with the main forces attacking Dongxing Dam. Zhuge and his general Ding Feng were able to catch Cao Wei forces unprepared by pretending to be unprepared themselves, and then inflicted a major loss on the Cao Wei forces, forcing their withdrawal.
Encouraged by his success at Dongxing, Zhuge prepared for a major attack against Cao Wei—citing, as his reason, that Sima Shi (then 45) was "young and inexperienced." He carried out a plan he had for a while—to gather up nearly all service-eligible young men of Eastern Wu to make a major attack against Cao Wei—despite opposition by a number of other officials. He further coordinated his attack with ally Shu Han's regent Jiang Wei
. However, his strategy turned out to be faulty—as he was initially targeting Shouchun but, on his way, changed his mind and attacked Hefei
instead, despite the fact that Hefei's defenses were strong and intended to withstand major Eastern Wu attacks. Zhuge's forces became worn out by the long-term siege and suffered plagues—which Zhuge ignored. He eventually withdrew after Cao Wei reinforcements arrived, but instead of returning to the capital Jianye
and apologize for his erroneous strategies, he remained from the capital for some time and never apologized to the people for the heavy losses suffered.
When Zhuge eventually did return to Jianye, he further sternly tried to wipe out all dissent, punishing all those who disagreed with him. He further planned another attack against Cao Wei, disregarding the recent heavy losses the people had suffered and their resentment. Sun Jun decided that he had to kill Zhuge. He told Sun Liang that Zhuge was planning to seize the throne, and he set up a trap at the imperial feast for Zhuge. (How much the young emperor knew of Sun Jun's plans and whether he concurred is unclear; traditional historians implied that Sun Liang knew and concurred, but he was just 10 years old at this point.) During the middle of the feast, assassins that Sun Jun had arranged for killed Zhuge, and Sun Jun's forces then wiped out the Zhuge clan.
After the death of Sun Jun and his successor, his cousin Sun Lin
, the emperor Sun Xiu, in 258, reburied Zhuge with honors, but when someone suggested that a monument be built for Zhuge, Sun Xiu refused—observing correctly that both the military losses and the reckless way in which he put his own life in danger showed that Zhuge was unworthy of a monument.
At another banquet, Sun Quan asked Zhuge Ke, "Is your father superior, or is your uncle Zhuge Liang superior?" Zhuge Ke quickly responded, "My father is." When asked why, Zhuge Ke responded, "My father knows the right emperor to serve, while my uncle does not, and therefore my father is superior." Sun Quan was impressed by the subtle flattery and told Zhuge Ke to offer wine to all the senior officials present (considered a high honor for the junior officials). Upon reaching Zhang Zhao, Zhang Zhao refused the alcohol offered by Zhuge Ke, saying, "This is not the proper form for the ceremony of nourishing an elder." After learning of his refusal, Sun Quan quite simply said to Zhuge Ke, "Get Zhang Zhao to drink for me."
Wine in hand, Zhuge Ke ventured back to Zhang Zhao's seat and said, "Long, long ago the great counsellor Jiang Ziya
— at the age of 90 — grasped the signal banner, steadied the battle axe, and never once called himself 'old'. On days of trial by arms, you are always in the rear; on days of banqueting, you are always in the front. What do you mean, 'I have failed to nourish an elder?'"
At a loss for words, Zhang Zhao consented and accepted the wine offered by Zhuge Ke. After this incident, Sun Quan prized Zhuge Ke more than ever and consequently made him the guide to his heir apparent, Sun Deng
.
On yet another occasion, a Shu Han ambassador arrived with a gift of horses for Sun Quan. Sun Quan knew that Zhuge Ke was a good rider, and summoned him with intent to award him one of the horses. When Zhuge Ke arrived, he immediately knelt and thanked the bestowment. Sun Quan was surprised at how he knew what he was summoned for, and Zhuge Ke's response was, "Shu Han only serves as your imperial majesty's stable, and it is certain that the ambassador has offered a tribute of horses." This remark deprecated Shu Han and flattered Sun Quan, and Sun was again impressed.
Chinese style name
A Chinese style name, sometimes also known as a courtesy name , is a given name to be used later in life. After 20 years of age, the zì is assigned in place of one's given name as a symbol of adulthood and respect...
Yuanxun (元遜), was a military general and regent of Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu, also known as Sun Wu, was one the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period after the fall of the Han Dynasty. It was based in the Jiangnan region of China...
during the Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
era of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
. He was the son of Zhuge Jin
Zhuge Jin
Zhuge Jin , style name Ziyu , was a military general and politician of Eastern Wu during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history.-Early life:...
and nephew of Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang was a chancellor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He is often recognised as the greatest and most accomplished strategist of his era....
. He succeeded Lu Xun
Lu Xun (Three Kingdoms)
Lu Xun was a military general and politician of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He is best known for defeating Liu Bei's forces at the Battle of Xiaoting in 222.-Early life:...
after the latter's death. After the death of the founding emperor Sun Quan
Sun Quan
Sun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....
, Zhuge served as regent for his son Sun Liang
Sun Liang
Sun Liang was the second emperor of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was the founding emperor Sun Quan's youngest son and heir...
, but the regency proved to be militarily disastrous due to Zhuge's overaggressiveness against Cao Wei
Cao Wei
Cao Wei was one of the states that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period. With the capital at Luoyang, the state was established by Cao Pi in 220, based upon the foundations that his father Cao Cao laid...
. In 253, Zhuge was killed, along with his family, in a coup d'état.
Career during Sun Quan's reign
After Eastern Wu's founding emperor Sun Quan created his son Sun DengSun Deng
Sun Deng , style name Zigao , was a crown prince of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was the oldest son of Sun Quan, founding emperor of Eastern Wu. It is known that Sun Deng was both wise and virtuous, having all the makings of a great man...
as crown prince in 221, he set up a staff for the crown prince consisting of the sons of the key officials or other well-known young members of the administration. The four most prominent ones were Zhuge, Zhang Zhao
Zhang Zhao
Zhang Zhao was an official of Eastern Wu during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of China.-Biography:Zhang was born in present-day Jiangsu. A brilliant scholar, he devoted his life mainly to the study of Chinese classic texts...
's son Zhang Xiu (張休), Gu Yong
Gu Yong
Gu Yong was a minister of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He learned the classics and calligraphy from Cai Yong when the latter came to Wu briefly as a refugee. His family is one of the four illustrious houses of Wu . He became a governor of several prefectures...
's grandson Gu Tan
Gu Tan
Gu Tan, style name Zimo , was a minister of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history.-Biography:Gu Tan was from Wu Commandery. He was the son of Gu Shao and grandson of Gu Yong, a chancellor of Wu. When he was a youth, he was one of the four close friends of the crown prince...
, and Chen Wu's son Chen Biao
Chen Biao
Chen Biao , style name Wen'ao , was a politician of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was the son of Chen Wu. Chen Biao was a schoolmate of Sun Deng, Zhuge Ke, Gu Tan and Zhang Xiu...
. Sun Deng treated them as friends, not as subordinates, and they grew up together and served as Sun Deng's advisors. When Sun Deng had his secretary Hu Zong (胡綜) write a commentary about his advisors in 229, Hu wrote that Zhuge was the most intelligent and skillful of his generation. While this was true, he also quickly developed a reputation for being reckless, a characteristic that both his father Zhuge Jin and his uncle Zhuge Liang repeatedly rebuked him about. On one occasion, Zhuge Jin observed, "This child will either bring great honor to my household or destroy it."
By 234, Zhuge Ke was serving as a commander of the capital guards, and he submitted a plan to Sun Quan to suppress the indigenous Baiyue people of the important Danyang Commandery (in present-day Xuancheng
Xuancheng
Xuancheng is a prefecture-level city in southeastern Anhui province of Eastern China. It borders Wuhu to the northwest, Chizhou to the west, Huangshan to the southwest, and the provinces of Zhejiang and Jiangsu to the southeast and northeast respectively....
, Anhui
Anhui
Anhui is a province in the People's Republic of China. Located in eastern China across the basins of the Yangtze River and the Huai River, it borders Jiangsu to the east, Zhejiang to the southeast, Jiangxi to the south, Hubei to the southwest, Henan to the northwest, and Shandong for a tiny...
), who had not submitted to Eastern Wu authorities and were pillaging the Han people -- a plan that most senior officials, including Zhuge Jin, considered reckless and costly. Zhuge Ke, however, insisted that his plan would be successful, so Sun Quan commissioned him as the governor of Danyang and gave him full powers to implement his plan. Once he arrived, he requested the four neighboring commanderies to seal their borders and did not combat the Yue; then, when the rice became ready for harvest, he had the rice harvested quickly and then gathered up, away from the pillaging Yue. The Yue were starved into submission, and as soon as they submitted, he treated them with kindness. By 237, Danyang was entirely under Eastern Wu authorities' control and became a productive commandery for manpower and supplies. Sun Quan was impressed and granted Zhuge Ke the title of a marquess.
In 243, Zhuge planned a major attack on the Cao Wei city of Shouchun, and he put his army in an attack posture. However, when the prominent Cao Wei general Sima Yi
Sima Yi
Sima Yi was a general and politician of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He is perhaps best known for defending Wei from Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions...
arrived and prepared to attack Zhuge, rather than allowing Zhuge to face the much more experienced Sima in battle, Sun Quan ordered that Zhuge withdraw. Still, among the people, Zhuge became renowned for being willing to stand against Sima. Lu Xun
Lu Xun (Three Kingdoms)
Lu Xun was a military general and politician of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He is best known for defeating Liu Bei's forces at the Battle of Xiaoting in 222.-Early life:...
, however, became concerned about Zhuge's recklessness and wrote him in rebuke. Knowing that he had to submit to the senior Lu Xun, Zhuge wrote back and apologized. After Lu's death in 245, Sun commissioned Zhuge to take over Lu's key post at Wuchang (in present-day Ezhou
Ezhou
-Geography and climate:Ezhou is located in southeastern Hubei province, on the southern bank of the Yangtze River east of Wuchang , and across the river from the city of Huanggang, to which it is connected by the Ehuang Bridge...
, Hubei
Hubei
' Hupeh) is a province in Central China. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Lake Dongting...
).
In 251, as Sun Quan neared death, he sought a regent for his young son and heir, Sun Liang
Sun Liang
Sun Liang was the second emperor of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was the founding emperor Sun Quan's youngest son and heir...
. His personal assistant Sun Jun recommended Zhuge, and it was also the sentiment of the people that Zhuge was the most capable. Sun Quan was concerned about Zhuge's arrogance and overly high opinion of himself, but at Sun Jun's urging commissioned him to be regent, summoning him back from Wuchang. As Zhuge departed Wuchang, the senior general Lü Dai
Lu Dai
Lü Dai , style name Dinggong , was a military general of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period. Following the death of Sun Quan, Zhuge Ke and Lü Dai were entrusted to govern the state. However, according to history, Lü Dai served during Sun Quan's reign as Senior General-in-Chief...
, knowing Zhuge's recklessness, told him, "What you will be doing is difficult. Before you do anything, think ten times." Zhuge, rather than showing his earlier submission to Lu Xun, responded irreverently to Lü, "When Ji Wenzi (季文子, a student of Confucius
Confucius
Confucius , literally "Master Kong", was a Chinese thinker and social philosopher of the Spring and Autumn Period....
) thought three times before acting, Confucius told him, 'Only think twice.' Now you, sir, told me to think ten times. Is it not that you are calling me stupid?" Lü was unable to respond, and the people at the time thought that Lü did speak inappropriately, but later historians pointed to this incident as a sign of Zhuge's ever growing arrogance and recklessness. Indeed, after Sun named him regent and ordered that all important matters be decided by Zhuge first (except matters of life and death) and made all other officials bow to Zhuge, Zhuge became even more arrogant.
After Sun Quan's death in 252, Sun Liang succeeded him, and Zhuge served as regent, as Sun Quan willed.
As regent to Sun Liang
Upon becoming regent, Zhuge relaxed some of the strict laws that Sun Quan had put in place in his late reign and cut the tax rates. The people were happy, and wherever he went, there would be large crowds wanting to catch a glimpse of him.Later in 252, Zhuge rebuilt the Dongxing Dam (東興隄, in present-day Chaohu, Anhui
Anhui
Anhui is a province in the People's Republic of China. Located in eastern China across the basins of the Yangtze River and the Huai River, it borders Jiangsu to the east, Zhejiang to the southeast, Jiangxi to the south, Hubei to the southwest, Henan to the northwest, and Shandong for a tiny...
), which Sun Quan had initially built in 230 but which was destroyed in 241, to create a reservoir near the Chao Lake, with the dual purpose of using it as a defense against potential Cao Wei attacks and, with two castles built nearby, as forward attack mechanism for Eastern Wu ships. In response, Cao Wei's regent Sima Shi
Sima Shi
Sima Shi , style name Ziyuan , was a military general and regent of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. In 249, he assisted his father Sima Yi in overthrowing the emperor Cao Fang's regent Cao Shuang, allowing the Sima family to become paramount authority in the state, and he...
made a major three-pronged attack against Eastern Wu, with the main forces attacking Dongxing Dam. Zhuge and his general Ding Feng were able to catch Cao Wei forces unprepared by pretending to be unprepared themselves, and then inflicted a major loss on the Cao Wei forces, forcing their withdrawal.
Encouraged by his success at Dongxing, Zhuge prepared for a major attack against Cao Wei—citing, as his reason, that Sima Shi (then 45) was "young and inexperienced." He carried out a plan he had for a while—to gather up nearly all service-eligible young men of Eastern Wu to make a major attack against Cao Wei—despite opposition by a number of other officials. He further coordinated his attack with ally Shu Han's regent Jiang Wei
Jiang Wei
Jiang Wei was a military general and regent of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He originally served Shu's rival state, Cao Wei, as a middle-level military officer, but defected to the Shu strategist Zhuge Liang, leaving his mother in Wei. After that, Jiang...
. However, his strategy turned out to be faulty—as he was initially targeting Shouchun but, on his way, changed his mind and attacked Hefei
Hefei
Hefei is the capital and largest city of Anhui Province in Eastern China. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, and cultural centre of Anhui...
instead, despite the fact that Hefei's defenses were strong and intended to withstand major Eastern Wu attacks. Zhuge's forces became worn out by the long-term siege and suffered plagues—which Zhuge ignored. He eventually withdrew after Cao Wei reinforcements arrived, but instead of returning to the capital Jianye
Jianye
Jianye may refer to:*Jianye District, in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China*Jiankang, also known as Jianye, ancient city in China*Henan Jianye, Chinese football club...
and apologize for his erroneous strategies, he remained from the capital for some time and never apologized to the people for the heavy losses suffered.
When Zhuge eventually did return to Jianye, he further sternly tried to wipe out all dissent, punishing all those who disagreed with him. He further planned another attack against Cao Wei, disregarding the recent heavy losses the people had suffered and their resentment. Sun Jun decided that he had to kill Zhuge. He told Sun Liang that Zhuge was planning to seize the throne, and he set up a trap at the imperial feast for Zhuge. (How much the young emperor knew of Sun Jun's plans and whether he concurred is unclear; traditional historians implied that Sun Liang knew and concurred, but he was just 10 years old at this point.) During the middle of the feast, assassins that Sun Jun had arranged for killed Zhuge, and Sun Jun's forces then wiped out the Zhuge clan.
After the death of Sun Jun and his successor, his cousin Sun Lin
Sun Lin
Sun Lin , style name Zitong , was a regent of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled as regent during the reigns of the emperors Sun Liang and Sun Xiu. His conflict with Sun Liang eventually led him to depose the emperor in favor of Sun Xiu...
, the emperor Sun Xiu, in 258, reburied Zhuge with honors, but when someone suggested that a monument be built for Zhuge, Sun Xiu refused—observing correctly that both the military losses and the reckless way in which he put his own life in danger showed that Zhuge was unworthy of a monument.
Anecdotal stories or legends about Zhuge Ke
An anecdotal story regarding Zhuge Ke's fame during his childhood or adolescence involved a banquet. Among top Eastern Wu officials, a running joke was that Zhuge Jin's face resembled that of a donkey. To tease Zhuge Ke, Sun Quan brought in a donkey; it bore a sign reading "Zhuge Ziyu" (Ziyu being Zhuge Jin's courtesy name). Sun Quan then turned to Zhuge Ke and told him to add any two characters that he wanted to the sign. Zhuge Ke added quickly "The donkey of" (zhi lü, 之驢) and requested that the donkey be given to his father, and this quick wit impressed Sun Quan.At another banquet, Sun Quan asked Zhuge Ke, "Is your father superior, or is your uncle Zhuge Liang superior?" Zhuge Ke quickly responded, "My father is." When asked why, Zhuge Ke responded, "My father knows the right emperor to serve, while my uncle does not, and therefore my father is superior." Sun Quan was impressed by the subtle flattery and told Zhuge Ke to offer wine to all the senior officials present (considered a high honor for the junior officials). Upon reaching Zhang Zhao, Zhang Zhao refused the alcohol offered by Zhuge Ke, saying, "This is not the proper form for the ceremony of nourishing an elder." After learning of his refusal, Sun Quan quite simply said to Zhuge Ke, "Get Zhang Zhao to drink for me."
Wine in hand, Zhuge Ke ventured back to Zhang Zhao's seat and said, "Long, long ago the great counsellor Jiang Ziya
Jiang Ziya
Jiang Ziya was a Chinese historical and legendary figure who resided next to the Weishui River about 3,000 years ago. A sage and military strategist, Jiang Ziya was called upon by King Wen of Zhou to serve as prime minister...
— at the age of 90 — grasped the signal banner, steadied the battle axe, and never once called himself 'old'. On days of trial by arms, you are always in the rear; on days of banqueting, you are always in the front. What do you mean, 'I have failed to nourish an elder?'"
At a loss for words, Zhang Zhao consented and accepted the wine offered by Zhuge Ke. After this incident, Sun Quan prized Zhuge Ke more than ever and consequently made him the guide to his heir apparent, Sun Deng
Sun Deng
Sun Deng , style name Zigao , was a crown prince of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was the oldest son of Sun Quan, founding emperor of Eastern Wu. It is known that Sun Deng was both wise and virtuous, having all the makings of a great man...
.
On yet another occasion, a Shu Han ambassador arrived with a gift of horses for Sun Quan. Sun Quan knew that Zhuge Ke was a good rider, and summoned him with intent to award him one of the horses. When Zhuge Ke arrived, he immediately knelt and thanked the bestowment. Sun Quan was surprised at how he knew what he was summoned for, and Zhuge Ke's response was, "Shu Han only serves as your imperial majesty's stable, and it is certain that the ambassador has offered a tribute of horses." This remark deprecated Shu Han and flattered Sun Quan, and Sun was again impressed.
Family
- Father: Zhuge JinZhuge JinZhuge Jin , style name Ziyu , was a military general and politician of Eastern Wu during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history.-Early life:...
- Children:
- Zhuge Chuo (諸葛綽), oldest son, served as a Cavalry Commandant, poisoned to death by Zhuge Ke for befriending Sun Ba
- Zhuge Song (諸葛竦), served as Changshui Colonel, killed by Sun Jun's follower Liu Cheng after Zhuge Ke's downfall
- Zhuge Jian (諸葛建), served as an Infantry Colonel, attempted to escape to Cao Wei after Zhuge Ke's downfall but was captured and killed
- Descendants:
- Zhuge Pan (諸葛攀), son of Zhuge QiaoZhuge QiaoZhuge Qiao , style name Bosong , originally styled Zhongshen , was the second son of Zhuge Jin, an official of Eastern Wu during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Zhuge Qiao was adopted by his uncle, Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Qiao was considered as a possible heir to Zhuge...
, returned from Shu HanShu HanShu Han was one of the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period, after the fall of the Han Dynasty. The state was based on areas around Sichuan, which was then known as Shu...
to Eastern Wu to continue the Zhuge family line after Zhuge Ke's death
- Zhuge Pan (諸葛攀), son of Zhuge Qiao
See also
- List of people of the Three Kingdoms