Zhou Fu (Western Jin)

Zhou Fu was born into the Zhou clan of Runan Commandery as the son of Zhou Rui (周蕤), the administrator of Anping; among Zhou Fu's cousins were Zhou Jun (father of Zhou Yi) and Zhou Hui (maternal grandfather of Prince Sima Tan). He was famous in his youth alongside his friend, Chenggong Jian, and the two of them started their careers teaching the Sima princes of the Western Jin dynasty. He was promoted to Left Western Subordinate to the Minister Over the Masses, Wang Hun, who then recommended for him to become a Gentleman of Writing. He then went on to serve a succession of offices including Gentleman of the Secretariat and Inspector of Xu province, the former during which he was praised for his ability to pick out talents. He eventually returned to Luoyang to serve as a minister of justice.^[5]

In 304, the Prince of Donghai, Sima Yue brought Emperor Hui of Jin with him from Luoyang to attack the Prince of Chengdu, Sima Ying at Ye. However, he was defeated at the Battle of Dangyin, and Emperor Hui fell into Sima Ying's care. Yue's generals, Shangguan Si (上官巳) and Chen Zhen (陳眕) fled back to Luoyang with the crown prince, Sima Tan and took control of the capital. They handed out positions to Zhou Fu, but even after Sima Tan ordered him to cooperate, Zhou Fu refused as he believed that Shangguan Si was committing treason. As Shangguan Si became increasingly cruel and violent, Zhou Fu plotted with the minister, Man Fen to overthrow him. However, the plot was discovered, and Man Fen was killed while Zhou Fu barely escaped the city when Shangguan Si's forces attacked them.^[6]

Luoyang soon fell to Zhang Fang, a general of the Prince of Hejian, Sima Yong, allowing Zhou Fu to return to the capital as Intendant of Henan. After Zhang Fang received Emperor Hui and Sima Ying under his custody, they were forcibly moved to Sima Yong's base in Chang'an, but Zhou Fu remained behind and continued running the government in Luoyang with his fellow ministers, Xun Fan and Liu Tun.^[7] There were thus effectively two capitals; Chang'an was referred to as the Western Court while Luoyang was referred to as the Eastern Court. In 305, Zhou Fu, along with Liu Tun and others, opposed Sima Yong’s order to have Empress Yang Xianrong commit suicide, as dissidents in Luoyang were using her name to rebel. Yong had Liu Tun marked for arrest, but spared Zhou Fu and seemingly cancelled his order on the empress.^[8]

In early 306, Zhou Fu welcomed Sima Yue when he recaptured Luoyang and was allowed to serve in his administration. Among other offices he received, Zhou Fu was appointed Chief Controller of the Armies and was stationed at Mianchi. Later that year, Sima Yue and others rescued Emperor Hui from Chang'an and moved him back to Luoyang. Zhou Fu was appointed. Zhou Fu was appointed General Who Pacifies the East and Chief Controller of military affairs in Yang province. He also replaced Liu Zhun (劉準) as General Who Guards the East and was assigned to Shouchun.^[9]