Hú Zhì appellation Wéndé was a Chǔguó Shòuchūn man. When young he with Jiǎng Jì, Zhū Jì all were famed between the Jiāng and Huái, and served in the province and prefecture. Jiǎng Jì became Aide-de-Camp, and was sent to meet Tàizǔ. Tàizǔ asked him: “Hú Tōngdá is a senior, does he have descendants or not?” Jì said: “He has a son called Zhì, his regulation and great planning does not reach his father, as for his excellence in managing affairs he surpasses him. (1) Tàizǔ at once summoned Zhì as Dùnqiū Magistrate. The county’s commoner Guō Zhèng had relations with his younger cousin, killing her husband Chéng Tā, the prefecture official Féng Liàng was bound and imprisoned as certification. [Guō] Zhèng and his cousin each endured the tortures to keep the secrecy, [Féng] Liàng could not bear the pains, and falsely accused himself, and reversed their punishments. When Zhì reached office, he investigated their feelings and expressions, and all the more comprehended the matter, and in investigating all confessed.

胡質字文德，楚國壽春人也。少與蔣濟、朱績俱知名於江、淮間，仕州郡。蔣濟為別駕，使見太祖。太祖問曰：「胡通達，長者也，寧有子孫不？」濟曰：「有子曰質，規模大略不及於父，至於精良綜事過之。」〔一〕太祖即召質為頓丘令。縣民郭政通於從妹，殺其夫程他，郡吏馮諒繫獄為證。政與妹皆耐掠隱抵，諒不勝痛，自誣，當反其罪。質至官，察其情色，更詳其事，檢驗具服。

• (1) Citing Hú Shìpǔ: Tōngdá named Mǐn, as Upright candidate was summoned.

〔一〕　案胡氏譜：通達名敏，以方正徵。

He entered as Chancellor’s East Department Consultant Director Scribe, the province requested him as Internal Manager. General Zhāng Liáo with his Protector of the Army Wǔ Zhōu had discord. [Zhāng] Liáo saw the Inspector Wēn Huī request for Zhì, Zhì declined claiming illness. [Zhāng] Liáo went out and spoke to Zhì saying: “I entrust intentions on you, who do you offend me like this?” Zhì said: “The ancients in their friendships, when seeking many knew it was not greed, when fleeing and defeated knew it was not cowardice, heard rumor but did not trust it, and therefore could last to the end. Wǔ Bónán himself is an elegant scholar, previously you General praised him without end from your mouth, now you glare with hatred, and have become enemies. Moreover I Zhì have meager talent, how can I to the end stay friendly? Therefore I am not willing.” [Zhāng] Liáo was moved by the words, and again with [Wǔ] Zhōu was at peace. (1)

入為丞相東曹議令史，州請為治中。將軍張遼與其護軍武周有隙。遼見刺史溫恢求請質，質辭以疾。遼出謂質曰：「僕委意於君，何以相辜如此？」質曰：「古人之交也，取多知其不貪，奔北知其不怯，聞流言而不信，故可終也。武伯南身為雅士，往者將軍稱之不容於口，今以睚眥之恨，乃成嫌隙。睚，五賣反。眥，士賣反。況質才薄，豈能終好？是以不願也。」遼感言，復與周平。〔一〕

• (1) Yú Yù’s Jìnshū states: [Wǔ] Zhōu appellation Bónán was a Pèiguó Zhúyì man. His rank reached Merit Grandee. His son Gāi, appellation Yuánxià. Gāi and his two younger brothers Sháo and Mào, all while young met with praise, all had ability and reputation, and even their fellow townsmen of various elders, were not able to determine a ranking. At the time the same prefecture’s Liú Gōngróng, famed for knowing men, and once encountered Zhōu. Zhōu said to him: “You have wisdom to know men, I wish to have my three sons meet you, and you to observe their rankings, to imitate Guō [Tài] and Xǔ [Shào] in their hearing?” Gōngróng then himself visited Gāi and his brothers, with them together talked, observed their actions. He went out and said to Zhōu: “Your three sons all can be a state’s elites. Yuánxià’s tolerance is most exceptional, has an assistant aide’s manner, exhibits strength to serve as an official, and can right after the Excellencies. Shūxià and Jìxià, would not be lower than Regular Senior and Accepting Speech.” Gāi when young was sent out to serve in office, successively held duties inside and outside, at Tàishǐ’s beginning became Personnel Division Secretariat, promoted to Lefty Deputy-Director, Right Merit Grandee, Opening Office with Rites Equal to the Three Excellencies, died in office. Gāi for Wèi was already a great minister, and originally was not counting to aide the Mandate, harbored intention to yield and resign, but could not but occupy position, and therefore was in office, was without responsibility in appointment, morning and night thinking of respect and nothing more. End and beginning he preserved cleanliness, and that age believed it a good anecdote. Sháo successively served as Two offices Personnel Division Cadet. Shān Tāo Qǐ shì appraised Sháo as pure and sincere, ended as Cavalier Regular Attendent. Mào reached Attendant Internal, Secretariat. Yǐngchuān’s Xún Kǎi, was Xuān-dì [Sīmǎ Yì]’s daughter’s son, Shìzǔ [Sīmǎ Yán]’s aunt’s son, believed himself a noble in-law, and wanted to with Mào interact. Mào refused and did not answer, and because of this met with anger. Yuánkāng Inaugural Year [291], Yáng Jùn was executed. [Xún] Kǎi at the time was Secretariat Deputy-Director, and because Mào was Jùn’s mother’s sister’s younger brother, entrapped him as of Jùn’s faction, and therefore he was unjustly killed, the masses all due to the injustice was pained for him.

〔一〕　虞預晉書曰：周字伯南，沛國竹邑人。位至光祿大夫。子陔，字元夏。陔及二弟韶、茂，皆總角見稱，並有器望，雖鄉人諸父，未能覺其多少。時同郡劉公榮，名知人，嘗造周。周謂曰：「卿有知人之明，欲使三兒見卿，卿為目高下，以效郭、許之聽可乎？」公榮乃自詣陔兄弟，與共言語，觀其舉動。出語周曰：「君三子皆國士也。元夏器量最優，有輔佐之風，展力仕宦，可為亞公。叔夏、季夏，不減常伯、納言也。」陔少出仕宦，歷職內外，泰始初為吏部尚書，遷左僕射、右光祿大夫、開府儀同三司，卒於官。陔以在魏已為大臣，本非佐命之數，懷遜讓，不得已而居位，故在官職，無所荷任，夙夜思恭而已。終始全潔，當世以為美談。韶歷二官吏部郎。山濤啟事稱韶清白有誠，終於散騎常侍。茂至侍中、尚書。潁川荀愷，宣帝外孫，世祖姑子，自負貴戚，要與茂交。茂拒而不答，由是見怒。元康元年，楊駿被誅。愷時為尚書僕射，以茂駿之姨弟，陷為駿黨，遂枉見殺，眾咸冤痛之。

Tàizǔ recruited him as Chancellor’s associate. During Huángchū, he was moved to Personnel Division Cadet, became Chángshān Administrator, moved appointment to Dōngguǎn. Soldier Lú Xiǎn was by someone killed, Zhì said: “This soldier was without enemy but had a young wife, so he died!” He met all in residence that were young, documents official Lǐ Ruò when met and asked had expression move, and therefore was thoroughly interrogated about the situation. [Lǐ] Ruò at once confessed, and the criminal was thus obtained. Every time the army had achievement and reward was bestowed, he scattered it to the army, nothing entering his house. He was in the prefecture for nine years, the officials and people at ease and secure, the officers and soldiers devoted their lives.

太祖辟為丞相屬。黃初中，徙吏部郎，為常山太守，遷任東莞。士盧顯為人所殺，質曰：「此士無讎而有少妻，所以死乎！」悉見其比居年少，書吏李若見問而色動，遂窮詰情狀。若即自首，罪人斯得。每軍功賞賜，皆散之於眾，無入家者。在郡九年，吏民便安，將士用命。

He was promoted to Jīng Province Inspector, added Shaking Authority General, bestowed rank as Marquis Within the Passes. Wú chief officer Zhū Rán besieged Fánchéng, Zhì with light army went. Commentators all believed the rebels were flourishing and could not be pressured, Zhì said: “Fánchéng is low, the troops few, and therefore we should advance army to be outside support; if not, it would be dangerous.” Therefore he led troops to overlook the siege, inside the city then was calm. He was promoted to Campaigning East General, Acting Staff as Regional Commander of Qīng and Xú’s various military affairs. He expanded agriculture and accumulated grain, having double years of stores, installed Campaigning East terrace, both farming and defending. He also connected canals in the various prefectures, increased boats and oars, rigorously making preparations to wait for the enemy. The sea’s shore were without problems.

遷荊州刺史，加振威將軍，賜爵關內侯。吳大將朱然圍樊城，質輕軍赴之。議者皆以為賊盛不可迫，質曰：「樊城卑下，兵少，故當進軍為之外援；不然，危矣。」遂勒兵臨圍，城中乃安。遷征東將軍，假節都督青、徐諸軍事。廣農積穀，有兼年之儲，置東征臺，且佃且守。又通渠諸郡，利舟楫，嚴設備以待敵。海邊無事。

His nature was profound and true and inside examined, did not for his own integrity restrain others, and wherever he was he met with thought. Jiāpíng Second Year [250] he died, his house was without surplus wealth, only having bestowed clothes and book cases and nothing more. The Master of the Army reported this, and in memorial he was advanced in fief to Yánglíng precinct Marquis, fief of 100 households, posthumous name Zhēn-hóu “Chaste Marquis.” His son Wēi succeeded. Sixth Year, [254], written Imperial Order commended and narrated Zhì’s pure conduct, bestowed on his family cash and grain. The story is in Xú Miǎo’s biography [SGZ 27]. Wēi, during Xiánxī his rank reached Xú Province Inspector, (1) had unique achievement, successively served as three prefecture’s administrator, and wherever he was he had reputation. He died at Āndìng.

性沉實內察，不以其節檢物，所在見思。嘉平二年薨，家無餘財，惟有賜衣書篋而已。軍師以聞，追進封陽陵亭侯，邑百戶，諡曰貞侯。子威嗣。六年，詔書褒述質清行，賜其家錢穀。語在徐邈傳。威，咸熙中官至徐州刺史，〔一〕有殊績，歷三郡守，所在有名。卒於安定。

• (1) Jìn Yángqiū states: Wēi appellation Bóhǔ. When young he had ambition and esteem, strict and pure. When Zhì was at Jīngzhōu, Wēi from the capital visited him. The family was poor, without carriage and horses and servants, Wēi himself drove donkey and alone went, bowing and meeting his father. He stayed in a stable for over ten days, was about to return. At the goodbyes, Zhì bestowed fabric of one shū, to on the road obtain food. Wēi knelt and said: “Elder you are pure, how did you obtain this fabric?” Zhì said: “It is my salary’s remainder, to be your provisions and that is all.” Wēi received it, took leave and returned. Every time he reached guest lodging, he himself released donkey, collected firewood to cook meal, when eating finished, he again followed travelers and advanced on the road, going to return like this. Zhì’s bannermen commander, previously did not know [Hú Wēi], before him had gone, having requested leave to return home, had secretly gathered dress and over a hundred lǐ away stored it, and therefore with him accompanied, in every matter assisted in dealings, and also a little advanced drink and food, traveling several hundred lǐ. Wēi suspected him, secretly enticed and asked, and therefore knew it was the Commander, and therefore gave him the bestowed fabric to express thanks and sent him. Later using another trusted person, reported it all to Zhì. Zhì caned his commander a hundred spokes, stripping his office. The father and son were pure and cautious like this. Therefore their reputation was known and heard, successively holding rank as Governor. Jìn Wǔ-dì [Sīmǎ Yán] bestowed and met, discussing border affairs, talking of his life. The Emperor sighed at at his father’s purity, and said to Wēi: “Does your purity compare to your father’s purity?” Wēi replied: “I your servant do not match.” The Emperor said: “Why do you believe you do not match?” He replied: “I your servant’s father was pure and feared men knowing, I your servant am pure and fear men not knowing, this is I your servant being no match by far.” Hs rank reached Front General, Qīngzhōu Inspector. Tàikāng Inaugural Year [280] he died, posthumously titled Defending East General. Wēi’s younger brother Pí, appellation Jìxiàng, was Campaigning South General. Wēi’s son Yì, appellation Cìsūn, was Pacifying East General; both for clean conduct passed down name.

〔一〕　晉陽秋曰：威字伯虎。少有志尚，厲操清白。質之為荊州也，威自京都省之。家貧，無車馬童僕，威自驅驢單行，拜見父。停廄中十餘日，告歸。臨辭，質賜絹一疋，為道路糧。威跪曰：「大人清白，不審於何得此絹？」質曰：「是吾俸祿之餘，故以為汝糧耳。」威受之，辭歸。每至客舍，自放驢，取樵炊爨，食畢，復隨旅進道，往還如是。質帳下都督，素不相識，先其將歸，請假還家，陰資裝百餘里要之，因與為伴，每事佐助經營之，又少進飲食，行數百里。威疑之，密誘問，乃知其都督也，因取向所賜絹答謝而遣之。後因他信，具以白質。質杖其都督一百，除吏名。其父子清慎如此。於是名譽著聞，歷位宰牧。晉武帝賜見，論邊事，語及平生。帝歎其父清，謂威曰：「卿清孰與父清？」威對曰：「臣不如也。」帝曰：「以何為不如？」對曰：「臣父清恐人知，臣清恐人不知，是臣不如者遠也。」官至前將軍、青州刺史。太康元年卒，追贈鎮東將軍。威弟羆，字季象，征南將軍；威子奕，字次孫，平東將軍；並以潔行垂名。