Zhao Xi
Zhao Xi (
Early life
Zhao Xi was born in Wan, Nanyang Commandery (present-day Nanyang, Henan). At a young age, he was known for his integrity. When Zhao Xi was 15, his elder cousin, who had no son, was murdered. Zhao Xi harboured the thought of avenging his cousin, so he brought a group of people with him to confront his cousin's killer. The murderer was ill, and Zhao Xi felt that it was inhumane to kill him at that time, so he spared him. When the killer had recovered, he bound himself and came to plead with Zhao Xi. However, Zhao Xi refused to meet him and had him killed.
Service under Gengshi Emperor
In 9 CE,
Zhao Xi was injured when he fought in the
Service under Emperor Guangwu
Gengshi Emperor was succeeded by Liu Xiu, who became known as
In 41 CE, when Zhao Xi was in office as Prefect of Huai County (懷縣), he punished a wealthy landlord Li Zichun and his two grandsons for violating the law. Not long later, he was reassigned to be the Administrator of Pingyuan (平原). In 50 CE, the women whom Zhao Xi saved at Wu Pass 25 years ago praised him, so Emperor Guangwu summoned him to the imperial court and commissioned him as Minister Coachman (太僕). A year later, Zhao Xi was promoted to Grand Commandant (太尉), received the title of a "Secondary Marquis" (關內侯), and was tasked with inspecting the border. In 56 CE, he accompanied Emperor Guangwu to attend a fengshan (封禪) ceremony at Mount Tai.
Service under Emperor Ming
Emperor Guangwu died in 57 CE. In his final edict, he ordered Zhao Xi to assist his successor, Emperor Ming. In 58 CE, Emperor Ming named Zhao Xi "Marquis of Jiexiang" (節鄉侯). In the spring of 60 CE, Zhao Xi was stripped of his post of Grand Commandant for making an erroneous report on Xue Xiu (薛脩), the chancellor of Zhongshan (中山). In winter that year he replaced Dou Rong (竇融) as Minister of the Guards (衛尉). In 65 CE, he took over Yu Yan (虞延) and served as acting-Grand Commandant. When his mother died of illness, Zhao Xi returned home to mourn, and Emperor Ming attempted to persuade him to remain in court.
Service under Emperor Zhang
During the reign of Emperor Ming's successor Emperor Zhang, Zhao Xi was promoted to Grand Tutor (太傅) and oversaw affairs in the imperial secretariat.
Death
Zhao Xi died of illness in 80 CE, during Emperor Zhang's reign, at the age of 84. He was granted a posthumous title, "Marquis Zheng" (正侯).
References
- Fan Ye. Book of the Later Han, Volume 26, Biography of Zhao Xi.