Huo Yi, courtesy nameShaoxian, was a military general of the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period of China. His father, Huo Jun, served under Liu Bei, the founding emperor of Shu. During his service under the Shu emperor Liu Shan, Huo Yi suppressed tribal rebellions in the restive Nanzhong region and maintained peace in the area. After Shu was conquered by its rival state Cao Wei in 263, Huo Yi surrendered to the Wei regime and was permitted to remain in charge of keeping the peace in Nanzhong. In return, Huo Yi became a Wei subject and presumably continued serving under the Jin dynasty, which replaced the Wei regime in 265.
Life
Huo Yi's father was Huo Jun, a general who served under the warlord Liu Bei in the late Eastern Han dynasty and died sometime in the late 210s. In 221, Liu Bei declared himself emperor and established the state of Shu Han, after which he appointed Huo Yi as a taizi sheren. Liu Bei died in 223 and was succeeded by his son Liu Shan, who appointed Huo Yi as an Internuncio after his enthronement. Between 227 and 234, when Shu's chancellor-regent Zhuge Liang was stationed in HanzhongCommandery during the launching of a series of military campaigns against Shu's rival state Cao Wei, he requested for Huo Yi to be transferred to his office. Huo Yi worked together with Zhuge Liang's adoptive son Zhuge Qiao during this period of time. Huo Yi was appointed as a Gentleman of the Yellow Gate after Zhuge Liang died in 234. Later, when Liu Shan designated his son Liu Xuan as his heir apparent, he appointed Huo Yi as a zhongshuzi to Liu Xuan. Liu Xuan enjoyed horse-riding and archery and used to behave recklessly, but Huo Yi managed to use teachings from ancient classics to persuade Liu Xuan to improve his behaviour and he succeeded in doing so. He was later reassigned to be in charge of military affairs in the Nanzhong region in the southern part of Shu. When the tribal peoples in Yongchang Commandery caused trouble, Huo Yi was appointed as the Administrator of Yongchang and was ordered to lead troops to attack the tribes. Huo Yi achieved victory as he killed the tribal chiefs, destroyed their bases and restored peace at the borders of Yongchang. For his contributions, he was promoted to General Who Inspects the Army and appointed as the Administrator of Jianning Commandery, effectively being in charge of affairs in Nanzhong. In 263, Huo Yi was promoted to the position of General Who Stabilises the South. Later that year, the state of Cao Wei launched a campaign against Shu with the aim of vanquishing its rival state. When Huo Yi received news of the invasion, he wanted to lead troops from Nanzhong to assist in the defence of the Shu capital Chengdu, but Liu Shan rejected Huo Yi's suggestion and surrendered to the Wei general Deng Ai, bringing an end to the Shu regime. Huo Yi donned mourning garments and lamented the fall of Shu for three days, after which his subordinates urged him to follow in his lord's footsteps by surrendering to Wei as well. Huo Yi refused to surrender and stated that he would fight to the death unless he was assured that Liu Shan was safe and was treated well after submitting to Wei. Upon receiving news that Liu Shan was not harmed and had moved from Chengdu to the Wei capital Luoyang, he officially surrendered to Wei. The Wei regent Sima Zhao was very pleased so he appointed Huo Yi as the Area Commander of Nanzhong and allowed the latter to remain in charge of Nanzhong. Huo Yi later sent troops to assist Lü Xing in pacifying the three commanderies of Jiaozhi, Rinan and Jiuzhen. For his contributions, he received a marquis title and other rewards from the Wei imperial court. Huo Yi's grandson, Huo Biao, served as the Administrator of Yuexi/Yuesui Commandery during the Jin dynasty.
