He Qia

He Qia was born in Xiping County (), Runan Commandery (汝南郡), Yu Province, which is present-day Xiping County, Henan. In the 190s, the warlord Yuan Shao sent ambassadors to Runan Commandery inviting the gentry and nobility to join his cause. Yu Province was an area of contention between Yuan Shao and his half-brother Yuan Shu, so He Qia feared staying, but he did not want to serve under a man such as Yuan Shao, whose ambition He Qia felt exceeded his capability. Instead, He Qia brought his family south to Jing Province to serve the provincial governor Liu Biao, whom He Qia considered to be a kind lord without higher ambition. Crossing the Yangtze river, he settled in at Wuling Commandery (武陵郡) in present-day Changde, Hunan. ==Service under Cao Cao==

In the late 190s, Cao Cao gained control over parts of Jing Province, and He Qia found employment in his administration. In 213, after Emperor Xian enfeoffed Cao Cao as the Duke of Wei (), He Qia served as a Palace Attendant in Cao Cao's court. He unsuccessfully defended Mao Jie against rumours that Mao slandered Cao Cao. Correspondence on the matter between He Qia and Cao Cao has survived and has been preserved in the Records of the Three Kingdoms. Due to the rumours, Mao Jie was forced to commit suicide in 216. ==Later career==

He Qia received successive promotions under Cao Cao and Cao Pi, rising to the position of Minister of the Household (), the most important personnel manager of the Wei court. Under Cao Rui, he was granted 200 taxable households in his marquisate as the Marquis of Xiling District (). Late in life, He Qia reversed his position on asceticism and began living a greatly curtailed lifestyle. After he was promoted to the prestigious position of Minister of Ceremonies () under Cao Rui, he gave so freely of his salary that he was forced to liquidate his real estate in order to support himself. Cao Rui granted him grain and silk so He Qia could avoid total insolvency. His modest lifestyle is reflected in his posthumous name, Marquis Jian (簡侯; "modest marquis"). ==Family==

• He Li (), He Qia's elder son and successor • He You (), He Qia's younger son, served as Minister of Justice () and Secretary of Personnel () in Wei • He Qiao (和嶠; died 292), He You's son, served as Junior Protector of the Crown Prince () for Sima Yu of the Western Jin dynasty; nephew of Xiahou Xuan • He Yu (和郁; died 311), He You's son, served as Director of the Imperial Secretariat () under the Western Jin dynasty • He Ji (), He Yu's son, served as a Palace Writer Attendant () under the Western Jin dynasty ==References==