Overview
Wu Zhi was an official and General.
IdentityHistorical · Male
Life and dates
Attested activity
Places and affiliations
- Polity Cao Wei 魏 · Relation Served
References in the histories
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Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 62Volume 62: Book of Wu 17: Biographies of Shi Yi and Hu Zong · 9 passages
時魏降人或雲魏都督河北振威將軍吳質頗見猜疑，綜乃偽質為作降文三條：
Wei turncoats claimed that Wu Zhi, Wei's Hebei commander and general who awes the foe, had fallen under suspicion; Hu Zong forged three "surrender" pieces in his name:
臣質志薄，處時無方，繫於土壤，不能翻飛，遂為曹氏執事戎役。
I, Wu Zhi, am a man of small ambition, pinned to the north with no way to fly free, and so I serve the Cao house in arms.
臣質不勝吳天至願，謹遣所親同郡黃定恭行奉表，及托降叛，間關求達，其欲所陳，載列於左。”
I cannot contain my longing for your mandate; I send my kinsman Huang Ding with this memorial, threading the border by devious routes—my full plea is set out below."
臣私度陛下未垂明慰者，必以臣質貫穿仁義之道，不行若此之事，謂光所傳，多虛少實，或謂比中有他消息，不知臣質構讒見疑，恐受大害也。
I suppose Your Majesty has not yet reassured me because you take me for a man steeped in righteousness who would never act thus—thinking Guang's tale mostly false, or that some other intrigue is afoot—unaware that I am slandered and in peril.
且臣質著有罪之日，自當奔赴鼎鑊，束身待罪，此蓋人臣之宜也。
And if I were truly guilty I would go bound to the executioner's cauldron—that is a subject's duty.
願陛下推古況今，不疑怪於臣質也。
I beg Your Majesty to weigh antiquity against today and not find me strange.
且臣質又以曹氏之嗣，非天命所在，政弱刑亂，柄奪於臣，諸將專威於外，各自為政，莫或同心，士卒衰耗，帑藏空虛，綱紀毀廢，上下並昏，想前後數得降叛，具聞此問，兼弱攻昧，宜應天時，此實陛下進取之秋。
I also judge the Cao heir not Heaven's choice—weak rule, chaotic law, power held by ministers; generals rule their own domains abroad without unity; troops waste away and coffers stand empty; order is broken and court and country are blind. Your Majesty has heard this from many deserters: strike the weak while fortune favors you—this is your moment to advance.
上定洪業，使普天一統，下令臣質建非常之功，此乃天也。
To settle the great enterprise and unify the realm, and to let me win extraordinary merit—that is Heaven's will.
此文既流行，而質已人為侍中矣。
By the time the forgery spread, the real Wu Zhi had already been appointed palace attendant in Wei.