Biography & Historical Record
Cui Yi (崔毅, Thôi Nghị) is a fictional character in Luo Guanzhong’s Romance of the Three Kingdoms, brother of the historical minister Cui Lie (崔烈). Disgusted by the Ten Attendants’ corruption, he retired to farm in the countryside. When Zhang Rang and Duan Gui abduct the young emperors during the eunuch purge, Cui Yi becomes the humble hero who shelters and feeds them before returning them safely to the rescuers.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Chapter 3 (Dong Zhuo Denounces Ding Yuan in the Phoenix Pavilion): After Zhang Rang drowns himself and Min Gong kills Duan Gui, the young Emperor Bian and Prince Xie (later Emperor Xian) are separated in the chaos. They wander to Cui Yi’s farm. Learning their identity, the retired farmer shelters and feeds them until Min Gong arrives. Satisfied with Min Gong’s intentions, Cui Yi releases the imperial youths, gives Emperor Bian his only horse, and sends them back toward Luoyang — one of the novel’s classic acts of loyal commoner virtue amid court catastrophe.
Cui Yi (崔毅) — Historical & Literary Timeline
Retired farmer
Introduced as Cui Lie’s brother who quit office because of Ten Attendants corruption — contrast to his brother’s high ministerial career.
Shelters the young emperors
Emperor Bian and Prince Xie reach his farm after Zhang Rang’s death; Cui Yi feeds them, confirms Min Gong’s loyalty, gives his horse to the emperor, and restores them to the rescuers.
For detailed historical records, archives, and official chronicles, explore fictional ROTK characters on Wikipedia.
Key Relationships
Family
- Brother Cui Lie (崔烈, Thôi Liệt), styled Weikao — Emperor Ling’s Minister of the Interior.
- Nephew Cui Jun (崔钧, Thôi Quân), styled Zhouping — son of Cui Lie who joined Yuan Shao against Dong Zhuo.
Friends
- Min Gong (闵贡, Mẫn Cống): Officer who rescues the young emperors; Cui Yi entrusts them to him after verifying his loyalty.
Enemies
- Zhang Rang (张让, Trương Nhượng) and Duan Gui (段珪, Đoạn Quy): Ten Attendants who abducted the emperors — the crisis that drives them to Cui Yi’s farm.
Other
- Emperor Xian (汉献帝, Hán Hiến Đế) (as Prince Xie) and Emperor Bian: The imperial youths Cui Yi shelters and sends back to safety with his only horse.
In Novel
Chapter 3
- Cui Yi (崔毅, Thôi Nghị): Retired brother of Minister Cui Lie; shelters Emperor Bian and Prince Xie on his farm after the eunuch abduction, feeds them, gives his horse to the emperor, and entrusts them to Min Gong.
In History
Summary
- Cui Yi (崔毅, Thôi Nghị) is a novelist's creation with no independent biography in Sanguozhi; the sheltering of the young emperors is a literary episode in Chapter 3.
Historical Record
- Classified as fictional in en.wikipedia List of fictional people of the Three Kingdoms; brother relationship to historical Cui Lie is novel lore.
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