| NAME | |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 崔烈, 崔烈, Cuī Liè |
| Nickname | Minister over the Masses (司徒); nicknamed for buying office ('stink of copper') |
| Other name | Thôi Liệt |
| Courtesy name | 威考, 威考, Wēi Kǎo, Wei Kao, tự Uy Khảo |
| INFORMATION | |
| Birth Place | Anping, Boling (present-day Anping County, Hebei) |
| Died | 192 |
| Death Reason | Killed when Li Jue and Guo Si's troops overran Luoyang |
| FAMILY | |
| Father | |
| Children | |
| Relatives | |
| CAREER | |
| Allegiance | Han Dynasty |
| Battles |
|
Biography & Historical Record
Cui Lie (崔烈, Thôi Liệt), courtesy name Weikao (威考, tự Uy Khảo), was an Eastern Han minister from Anping/Boling (Hebei). Infamously nicknamed for the “stink of copper” after buying high office, he rose to Minister over the Masses and Grand Commandant under Dong Zhuo. He publicly scolded Dong Zhuo for tardiness at court — one of the few open rebukes — but was killed in 192 when Li Jue and Guo Si‘s troops overran Luoyang.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Chapter 3 (Dong Zhuo Denounces Ding Yuan in the Phoenix Pavilion) introduces the Cui family: Cui Lie is the late Emperor Ling’s Minister of the Interior, while his brother Cui Yi has retired to a farm disgusted by the Ten Attendants’ corruption. Chapter 9 (Wang Yun Sets the Linked Stratagem) places Cui Lie among Luoyang ministers during the crisis ending in Dong Zhuo’s assassination — the same political world in which he historically perished when Li Jue and Guo Si seized the capital.
Cui Lie (崔烈) — Historical & Literary Timeline
Cui family introduced
Named as Emperor Ling’s Minister of the Interior; his brother Cui Yi farms in retirement while Zhang Rang and Duan Gui abduct the young emperors — setting up Cui Yi’s shelter of Emperor Bian and Prince Xie.
Luoyang minister
Listed among Han ministers at court during Wang Yun and Lu Bu’s assassination of Dong Zhuo.
Killed at Luoyang
Slain when Li Jue and Guo Si’s troops overrun the capital after Dong Zhuo’s death.
For detailed historical records, archives, and official chronicles, explore Cui Lie on Wikipedia.
Key Relationships
Family
- Father Cui Ban (崔瑨, Thôi Ban) — Eastern Han official.
- Brother Cui Yi (崔毅, Thôi Nghị) — retired farmer who shelters the young emperors in Chapter 3.
- Son Cui Jun (崔钧, Thôi Quân), styled Zhouping — joined Yuan Shao against Dong Zhuo despite his father’s service.
Friends
- Served at Dong Zhuo (董卓, Đổng Trác)‘s court as Minister over the Masses — though he once publicly scolded Dong Zhuo for lateness.
Enemies
- Li Jue (李傕, Lý Quắc) and Guo Si (郭汜, Quách Từ): Warlords whose troops killed him at Luoyang in 192.
Other
- Yuan Shao (袁绍, Viên Thiệu): His son Cui Jun joined Yuan Shao’s anti-Dong Zhuo coalition — a family split the novel’s Chapter 3–9 arc dramatizes.
In Novel
Chapter 3
- Cui Lie (崔烈, Thôi Liệt): Named as Emperor Ling's Minister of the Interior; his brother Cui Yi has retired from corrupt court life — the family background for Cui Yi's shelter of the young emperors.
Chapter 9
- Cui Lie (崔烈, Thôi Liệt): Listed among Luoyang ministers during the Dong Zhuo assassination crisis.
In History
Summary
- Cui Lie (崔烈, Thôi Liệt), styled Weikao, was a corrupt but high-ranking Han minister who bought office, served Dong Zhuo, scolded him once for tardiness, and was killed at Luoyang in 192.
Year: 192 AD
- Killed when Li Jue and Guo Si's troops overran Luoyang.
Historical Record
- Hou Hanshu vols. 8, 9, 58, 74; Sanguozhi Wei 1, Wei 6; Zizhi tongjian vols. 58, 60.
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