Cao Shen vs Zhuge Jin

After Xiao He's death, Cao Shen succeeded him as chancellor of the Han dynasty. He continued Xiao He's policies without alteration, following the principle of 'non-action' (wu wei) in governance.

Cao Shen maintained the legal and administrative framework established by Xiao He, avoiding new initiatives. He selected officials who were simple and honest, and dismissed those who were overly ambitious. This policy of non-interference allowed the Han economy to recover from war.

Cao Shen was known for his daily drinking and apparent lack of activity as chancellor. When criticized, he argued that he was simply following the superior precedents set by Xiao He, and that any changes would be harmful. This approach became a famous example of Daoist-inspired governance.

Zhuge Jin served as a diplomat for Sun Quan, traveling to Shu to negotiate the division of Jing Province after Liu Bei's conquest. His efforts helped maintain the fragile Wu-Shu alliance, though tensions over territory persisted.

Zhuge Jin used his family connection to Zhuge Liang to mediate disputes between Sun Quan and Liu Bei. He exchanged letters with his brother to ease tensions over Jing Province, though the conflict eventually led to war.

Zhuge Jin was appointed General of the Left (Zuo Jiangjun) in Wu, a high military rank. He commanded troops in border regions and participated in campaigns against Wei, though his primary role remained diplomatic.