Cai Mo

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Cai Mo
蔡謨
Household Counsellor of the Left (左光祿大夫)
In office
340 (340)–348 (348)
MonarchEmperor Cheng of Jin/Emperor Kang of Jin/Emperor Mu of Jin
Personal details
Born281
Died356
ChildrenCai Shao
Cai Xi
Parent(s)
  • Cai Ke (father)
OccupationPolitician
Courtesy nameDaoming (道明)
Posthumous nameWenmu (文穆)
In this Chinese name, the family name is Cai.

Cai Mo, courtesy name Daoming, was a Chinese politician during the Jin dynasty (266–420). He was an amorous opposer to the dynasty's attempts to reclaim the north from the barbarians that had overrun it during the start of the 4th century. He continued to argue against the northern expeditions made by Jin even as Later Zhao's descended into self-destruction in 349 but in 350, he found himself in trouble for refusing an office issued by the emperor. As a result, he was banished from office as punishment and spent the rest of his life in retirement.

Early career[]

Cai Mo was initially from Chenliu Commandery (陳留郡; around present-day Kaifeng, Henan). When he had reached adulthood, he was nominated as a Xiaolian and Xiucai. The Prince of Donghai, Sima Yue, wanted him to serve his government, but Cai Mo declined his offer. When the Disaster of Yongjia broke out in 311, Cai Mo migrated south to Sima Rui's domain. In the south, he became the future Emperor Ming of Jin's Army Advisor. After the establishment of Eastern Jin in 318, Cai Mo successively held several posts under Emperor Yuan of Jin and his successors.[1]

In 328, the rebel Su Jun seized the Eastern Jin capital of Jiankang. He appointed Cai Mo as the Interior Minister of Wu after Su Jun drove out the old one, Yu Bing into hiding. Despite this, Cai Mo later joined Wen Jiao's loyalist coalition against Su Jun and gave Yu Bing his position back. After the rebellion was put down in 329, Cai Mo was awarded the title of 'Jiyang Nan' for his contributions.[2]

Opposing the northern expeditions[]

For the next ten years, Cai Mo rose to the rank of Minister of Ceremonies by 339. That same year, the regent, Yu Liang, proposed to hold an expedition north to reclaim Jin's former territories from Later Zhao. Yu Liang's equal, Chi Jian was against this, and Cai Mo would side with Chi Jian. Cai Mo presented lengthy reasoning on why the expedition should not be carried out. He pointed out Zhao's ruler, Shi Hu was a superior administrator and general compared to Yu Liang. He also brought up the past failings of Zu Ti's northern expeditions and the difficulties of crossing the rivers dividing Jin and Zhao. The ministers were convinced with Cai Mo's words, so Yu Liang was unable to carry out his plans. When Yu Liang attempted his expedition later that year following Prime Minister Wang Dao's death, he was soundly defeated by Zhao, just as Cai Mo expected.[3]

Later in 339, Chi Jian passed away. Before he died, Chi Jian asked Cai Mo to be promoted, and after he died, be given Chi's positions to him. The Jin court promoted him to Military-Director to the Grand Commandant and Palace Attendant and after Chi Jian died, Cai Mo succeeded to Chi Jian's titles.[4]

Shortly after Chi Jian's death, another commander, Chen Guang (陳光), wanted to campaign against Later Zhao, so the court sent him to attack Shouyang. Once again, Cai Mo weighed in to voice his opposition. He said that Shouyang's defences were too strong, that the Zhao army would be quick enough to respond to any intrusion, and that it would be wasteful to use the state's elite soldiers to take an area that would bring little benefit. The court once again sided with Cai Mo and the plan was called off.[5]

In 346, Cai Mo was made acting Minister of the Masses and in 348, the Jin court wanted him to take up the post for real. However, Cai Mo sent petitions declining it. He said to his peers, "If I were to become Minister Over The Masses, posterity would despise me, so I dare not accept the post."[6]

The stalemate between the north and the south came to an end in 349, as Zhao was experiencing political unrest between its princes. After Shi Hu died, civil war between his family members followed his death. By the middle of 349, demands for an expedition became prevalent among Jin officials. Cai Mo remained sceptical at the thought of an expedition, even as he quickly became a minority in the court. When asked why, Cai Mo explained that he did not think that Jin had a capable figure to lead the state to overcome Zhao and that the expeditions would only end up depleting Jin's resources and demoralizing the people. The court remained in favour of the expeditions, first by sending Chu Pou north in 349, and would continue to do so for the next decade with minimal success.[7]

Downfall and commoner life[]

Cai Mo's decision to reject his position as Minister of the Masses would eventually cause his downfall. For three years, he continuously declined the position, even after Empress Dowager Chu sent her messengers to order him. In 350, Emperor Mu sent his officials to call him to court again, but this time he feigned illness and refused to meet the emperor. Emperor Mu sent another ten messengers to call him between morning to late in the afternoon, but Cai Mo persisted. The empress dowager was about to dismiss the court when Sima Yu, angered by Cai Mo's attitude, started a petition calling for his punishment.[8]

Many of the ministers signed the petition, which sent Cai Mo into panic. Cai Mo brought his sons and brothers in plain clothings to present themselves to the emperor. He admitted to his faults and turned himself in to the Minister of Justice. The general, Yin Hao, who the court had appointed to command the military expeditions, initially pushed for Cai Mo's execution, but Yin Hao's friend, Xun Xian, successfully changed his mind, fearing Cai Mo's potential to rebel. In the end, the emperor only reduced Cai Mo to a commoner.[8]

Cai Mo spent the rest of his days at home teaching his children. Years after his removal, the Empress Dowager offered him to return to the government as Household Counsellor with the privilege of a Separate Office with equal ceremonial to the Three Excellencies. Cai Mo expressed gratitude, but refused, as he was now genuinely ill. This time, the court tolerated him. Cai Mo died in 356 at the age of 76. He was posthumously appointed Palace Attendant and Minister of Works and posthumously named 'Wenmu'.[9]

References[]

  1. ^ (謨弱冠察孝廉，州辟從事，舉秀才，東海王越召為掾，皆不就。避亂渡江。時明帝為東中郎將，引為參軍。元帝拜丞相，復辟為掾，轉參軍，後為中書侍郎，曆義興太守、大將軍王敦從事中郎、司徒左長史，遷侍中。) Book of Jin, Volume 77
  2. ^ (會稽內史王舒以庾冰行奮武將軍，使將兵一萬，西渡浙江；於是吳興太守虞潭、吳國內史蔡謨、前義興太守顧衆等皆舉兵應之。潭母孫氏謂潭曰：「汝當捨生取義，勿以吾老爲累！」盡遣其家僮從軍，鬻其環珮以爲軍資。謨以庾冰當還舊任，卽去郡以讓冰。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 94
  3. ^ (太常蔡謨議，以為：「時有否泰，道有屈伸，苟不計強弱而輕動，則亡不終日，何功之有！為今之計，莫若養威以俟時。時之可否系胡之強弱，胡之強弱系石虎之能否。自石勒舉事，虎常為爪牙，百戰百勝，遂定中原，所據之地，同於魏世。勒死之後，虎挾嗣君，誅將相；內難既平，剪削外寇，一舉而拔金墉，再戰而擒石生，誅石聰如拾遺，取郭權如振槁，四境之內，不失尺土。以是觀之，虎為能乎，將不能也？論者以胡前攻襄陽不能拔，謂之無能為。夫百戰百勝之強而以不拔一城為劣，譬諸射擊百發百中而一失，可以謂之拙乎？且石遇，偏師也，桓平北，邊將也，所爭者疆場之土，利則進，否則退，非所急也。今征西以重鎮名賢，自將大軍欲席捲河南，虎必自帥一國之眾來決勝負，豈得以襄陽為比哉！今征西欲與之戰，何如石生？若欲城守，何如金墉？欲阻沔水，何如大江？欲拒石虎，何如蘇峻？凡此數者，宜詳校之。石生猛將，關中精兵，征西之戰殆不能勝也。金墉險固，劉曜十萬眾不能拔，征西之守殆不能勝也。又當是時，洛陽、關中皆舉兵擊虎，今此三鎮反為其用；方之於前，倍半之勢也。石生不能敵其半，而征西欲當其倍，愚所疑也。蘇峻之強不及石虎，沔水之險不及大江；大江不能御蘇峻，而欲以沔水御石虎，又所疑也。昔祖士稚在譙，佃於城北界，胡來攻，豫置軍屯以御其外。谷將熟，胡果至，丁夫戰於外，老弱獲於內，多持炬火，急則燒谷而走。如此數年，竟不得其利。當是時，胡唯據河北，方之於今，四分之一耳；士稚不能捍其一，而征西欲以御其四，又所疑也。然此但論征西既至之後耳，尚未論道路之慮也。自沔以西，水急岸高，魚貫溯流，首尾百里。若胡無宋襄之義，及我未陣而擊之，將若之何？今王土與胡，水陸異勢，便習不同；胡若送死，則敵之有餘，若棄江遠進，以我所短擊彼所長，懼非廟勝之算也。」朝議多與謨同。乃詔亮不聽移鎮。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 96
  4. ^ (南昌文成公郗鑒疾篤，以府事付長史劉遐，上疏乞骸骨，且曰：「臣所統錯雜，率多北人，或逼遷徙，或是新附，百姓懷土，皆有歸本之心；臣宣國恩，示以好惡，處與田宅，漸得少安。聞臣疾篤，眾情駭動，若當北渡，必啟寇心。太常臣謨，平簡貞正，素望所歸，謂可以為都督、徐州刺史。」詔以蔡謨為太尉軍司，加侍中、辛酉，鑒薨，即以謨為征北將軍、都督徐、兗、青三州諸軍事、徐州刺史，假節。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 96
  5. ^ (初，太尉郗鑒疾篤，出謨為太尉軍司，加侍中。鑒卒，即拜謨為征北將軍、都督徐兗青三州揚州之晉陵豫州之沛郡諸軍事、領徐州刺史、假節。時左衛將軍陳光上疏請伐胡，詔令攻壽陽，謨上疏曰： 　　今壽陽城小而固。自幫陽至琅邪，城壁相望，其間遠者裁百餘里，一城見攻，眾城必救。且王師在路五十餘日，劉仕一軍早已入淮，又遣數部北取堅壁，大軍未至，聲息久聞。而賊之郵驛，一日千里，河北之騎足以來赴，非惟鄰城相救而已。夫以白起、韓信、項籍之勇，猶發梁焚舟，背水而陣。今欲停船水渚，引兵造城，前對堅敵，顧臨歸路，此兵法之所誡也。若進攻未拔，胡騎卒至，懼桓子不知所為，而舟中之指可掬。今征軍五千，皆王都精銳之眾，又光為左衛，遠近聞之，名為殿中之軍，宜令所向有征無戰。而頓之堅城之下，勝之不武，不勝為笑。今以國之上駟擊寇之下邑，得之則利薄而不足損敵，失之則害重而足以益寇，懼非策之長者。臣愚以為聞寇而致討，賊退而振旅，於事無失。不勝管見，謹冒陳聞。) Book of Jin, Volume 77
  6. ^ (十二月，以左光祿大夫、領司徒、錄尚書事蔡謨爲侍中、司徒。謨上疏固讓，謂所親曰：「我若爲司徒，將爲後代所曬，義不敢拜也。」) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 98
  7. ^ (朝野皆以爲中原指期可複，光祿大夫蔡謨獨謂所親曰：「胡滅誠爲大慶，然恐更貽朝廷之憂。」其人曰：「何謂也？」謨曰：「夫能順天乘時，濟群生于艱難者，非上聖與英雄不能爲也，自餘則莫若度德量力。觀今日之事，殆非時賢所及，必將經營分表，疲民以逞；既而材略疏短，不能副心，財殫力竭，智勇俱困，安得不憂及朝 廷乎！」) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 98
  8. ^ a b (蔡謨除司徒，三年不就職；詔書屢下，太后遣使諭意，謨終不受。于是帝臨軒，遣侍中紀據、黃門郎丁纂征謨；謨陳疾篤，使主簿謝攸陳讓。自旦至申，使者���餘返， 而謨不至。時帝方八歲，甚倦，問左右曰：「所召人何以至今不來？臨軒何時當竟？」太后以君臣俱疲，乃詔：「必不來者，宜罷朝。」中軍將軍殷浩奏免吏部尚書江虨官。 會稽王昱令曹曰：「蔡公傲違上命，無人臣之禮。若人主卑屈于上，大義不行于下，亦不知所以爲政矣。」公卿乃奏：「謨悖慢傲上，罪同不臣，請送廷尉以正刑書。」謨懼，帥子弟素服詣闕稽顙，自到廷尉待罪。殷浩欲加謨大辟。會徐州刺史荀羨入朝，浩以問羨，羨曰：「蔡公今日事危，明日必有桓、文之舉。」浩乃止。 下詔免謨爲庶人。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 98
  9. ^ (謨既被廢，杜門不出，終日講誦，教授子弟。數年，皇太后詔曰：「前司徒謨以道素著稱，軌行成名，故曆事先朝，致位台輔，以往年之失，用致黜責。自爾已來，闔門思愆，誠合大臣罪己之義。以謨為光祿大夫、開府儀同三司。」於是遣謁者僕射孟洪就加冊命。謨上疏陳謝曰：「臣以頑薄，皆忝殊寵，屍素累紀，加違慢詔命，當肆市朝。幸蒙寬宥，不悟天施復加光飾，非臣隕越所能上報。臣寢疾未損，不任詣闕。不勝仰感聖恩，謹遣拜章。」遂以疾篤，不復朝見。詔賜几杖，門施行馬。十二年，卒，時年七十六。賵贈之禮，一依太尉陸玩故事。詔贈侍中、司空，諡曰文穆。) Book of Jin, Volume 77
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