Cai Mo

In 339, the regent, Yu Liang, proposed to hold an expedition north to reclaim Jin's former territories from Later Zhao. Yu Liang's equal, Xi Jian, was against this, and Cai Mo sided with Xi Jian. Cai Mo presented lengthy reasoning for his stance. He pointed out that 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. Cai Mo convinced the court, so Yu Liang postponed 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.^[11]

Later in 339, Xi Jian died. Before he died, Xi Jian requested the court to promote Cai Mo and, after his death, allow Cai Mo to inherit his position. The Jin court elevated Cai Mo to Military Director of the Grand Commandant and Palace Attendant and, after Xi Jian died, Cai Mo inherited the position of General who Conquers the North and Inspector of Xuzhou.^[12]

Shortly after Xi 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.^[13] The court once again sided with Cai Mo, so the court recalled Chen Guang.

Shi Hu built many ships in Qingzhou that he used to raid Jin's borders, killing many people of Jin. The issue troubled the court, which prompted Cai Mo to have the general, Xu Xuan (徐玄) and others guard the Central Plains. Cai Mo also established a reward system which awarded each person for every enemy boat they captured.^[14] At the time, Cai Mo commanded 7,000 troops, and he stationed them in Tushan (土山; northeast of present-day Suizhou, Hubei) in the east and Jiangcheng (江乘; in present-day Xianlin University City, Jiangsu) in the west. Altogether, they had eight frontier towns, eleven fortress cities and thirty beacon towers.^[15] Before his death, Xi Jian had compiled a list of around 180 subordinates whom he wanted to reward for their services. The rewards stopped because of his death, and many did not receive them. These subordinates had served meritoriously and fought in many battles, so Cai Mo requested the court to complete the list, to which the court agreed.

The stalemate between the north and the south ended in 349, as Zhao was experiencing political unrest between its princes. After Shi Hu died, a civil war between his family members followed. By mid 349, demands for an expedition became prevalent among Jin officials. Cai Mo remained sceptical at the thought, even as he quickly became a minority in the court. When asked, Cai Mo explained that Jin did not have a capable figure to lead the state to overcome Zhao. He also added that expeditions would only deplete Jin's resources and demoralise the people. The court sent their first general, Chu Pou, north in 349 and would continue to do so for the next decade with minimal success.^[16]

Previously, in 346, Cai Mo became acting Minister of the Masses, and in 348, the Jin court wanted him to take up the post officially. However, Cai Mo sent petitions declining it. He said to his peers, "If I were to become Minister of the Masses, posterity would despise me, so I dare not accept the post."^[17] He continuously declined the office for three years, 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, petitioned to have him punished.^[18]

Many ministers signed the petition, which sent Cai Mo into a panic. Cai Mo brought his sons and brothers in plain clothing to present themselves to the emperor. He admitted to his faults and turned himself into the Minister of Justice. The general, Yin Hao, whom the court had appointed to command the military expeditions, initially pushed for Cai Mo's execution. However, 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.^[18]

Cai Mo spent the rest of his days at home teaching his children.^[19] 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 by East Asian reckoning. He was posthumously appointed Palace Attendant and Minister of Works and posthumously named Wenmu.^[20]

• Fang Xuanling (ed.) (648). Book of Jin (Jin Shu).
• Liu Yiqing (ed.) (c. 5th century). A New Account of the Tales of the World (Shishuo Xinyu / Shiyu).
• Sima Guang (1084). Zizhi Tongjian.