Fu She (傅燮, ? – 187) was a statesman of late Eastern Han, whose courtesy name was Nanrong (南容). He was a native of Lingzhou County (靈州縣), Beidi Commandery (北地郡), Liangzhou (凉州).
Life
Career at court
He was eight chi (尺) in height, and his appearance was dignified. His original courtesy name was Youqi (幼起), but he changed it after being moved by the fact that Nanrong (南容), a disciple of Confucius, read the "White Gem" (白圭) passage of the Classic of Poetry (詩經) three times a day.
In his youth he received instruction from Liu Kuan (劉寬), Grand Commandant (太尉). He was twice recommended as a Xiaolian (孝廉), but when he heard of the death of the prefect who had recommended him, he gave up his office and put on mourning clothes.
Later he became a Military Supervisor (護軍司馬), and together with Left Central Chamberlain (左中郞將) Huangfu Song (皇甫嵩), he subdued Zhang Jue (張角).
Fu She had long detested Eunuchs and memorialized the Emperor about them.
Fu She made a great contribution to defeating Zhang Jue, and it was such that he should have been enfeoffed as a marquis, but the eunuch Zhao Chong (趙忠), having seen his memorial and hating him, slandered him to Emperor Ling (靈帝). Emperor Ling remembered what Fu She had said and did not punish him, but he did not enfeoff him as a marquis either, and transferred him to be Commandant (都尉) of Anding Commandery (安定郡).1 Afterward, Fu She fell ill and resigned, and was then transferred again to be a Gentleman of the Palace (議郞).
When the western Qiang (羌) rebelled and Bian Zhang (邊章) and Han Sui (韓遂) raised disorder, Liangzhou had gathered military strength and supplies from across the realm. Therefore, Minister of Works Cui Lie (崔烈), at a meeting convened by the nobles and officials of all ranks, argued that Liangzhou should be abandoned. Fu She then raised his voice and said that Cui Lie should be executed to stabilize the realm. Because the Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat (尙書郞) Yang Zan (楊贊) memorialized that Fu She had insulted a senior minister, Emperor Ling summoned Fu She and called him to account. Fu She gave his reply.
Emperor Ling considered Fu She's words to be correct, and afterward he respected him.
Leaving the court
Later, Zhao Chong became General of Chariots and Cavalry (車騎將軍), and by imperial edict he conducted the awarding of merit for the suppression of the Yellow Turbans. Jinwu Commandant (執金吾) Jian Ju (堅擧) and others told Zhao Chong: "Fu Nanrong (傅南容; Fu She) has achieved merit, but he has not been enfeoffed afterward, and the whole realm is disappointed. It would be good to employ a worthy man and follow the hearts of the people." Zhao Chong followed these words and sent his younger brother, City Gate Colonel (城門校尉) Zhao Yan (趙延), as an envoy, and his manner was extremely courteous. Fu She corrected his expression and refused, saying: "How could this Fu She seek a reward for private favors?" Zhao Chong hated him even more, but feared his reputation and could not harm him. Many nobles and powerful men also hated him, so Fu She could not remain at court, and he left the court to become Grand Administrator of Hanyang (漢陽太守).
Grand Administrator of Hanyang Fan Jin (范津) had an eye for people, and since he was the one who had originally recommended Fu She as a Xiaolian, he knew that Fu She would come as his successor. People of his native place considered this an honor. Because Fu She loved the common people, even the Qiang who had rebelled were moved by his kindness and came to surrender. He also reclaimed land and used an encampment of more than forty li (里) as garrison farms.
At that time, Liangzhou Provincial Inspector (凉州刺史) Geng Bi (耿鄙) had entrusted the administration to Chief Clerk Cheng Qiu (程球), who was taking bribes and incurring the resentment of the people. In the fourth year of the Zhongping (中平) era (187), Geng Bi led troops from the six commanderies of Liangzhou to attack Wang Guo (王國) and Han Sui of Jincheng (金城). Fu She, thinking that he would certainly be defeated, spoke to Geng Bi.
Geng Bi did not listen, and in the end led his army as far as Diaodao (狄道).2 However, a rebellion broke out on the way; first Cheng Qiu was killed, and then Geng Bi also lost his life.
Death
In the fourth month of the same year, Han Sui and others advanced and surrounded the city of Hanyang. The soldiers inside the city were few, and the military provisions had run out, but Fu She defended the city firmly. Several thousand Hu cavalry (胡騎)3 from Beidi had been seduced by the rebels and were attacking the garrison, but since they had all previously been moved by Fu She's kindness, they prostrated themselves on the ground outside the city and earnestly requested that Fu She be sent back to his home.
Fu She's son Fu Gan (傅幹) was thirteen years old at that time and was with his father in the official residence. Fu Gan knew that his father's character was unyielding and his integrity lofty, so, worried for his father, he spoke:
Before Fu Gan had finished speaking, Fu She became angry and shouted "Biecheng (別成)4!" and said:
Fu Gan could not say anything, and those around him all shed tears.
Wang Guo sent the former Grand Administrator of Jiuquan (酒泉太守) Huang Yan (黃衍) as an envoy to convey a message to Fu She:
"The outcome is already decided. The realm was not the possession of the Han. Will you not become my general?"
Fu She, fingering his sword, scolded Huang Yan.
In the end, Fu She led his attendants and advanced, and when he reached the camp he died in battle.
Posthumously he was granted the title Marquis Zhuangjie (壯節侯).
Family relations
Related persons
Fu Gan Fu Sun
Notes