[ Eccentric minister, held a variety of civil posts and was respected for his talent.
Officer Details
Wade-Giles: Shih Mao
Simplified Chinese: Undefined
Birthplace: Julu
Rank and Titles
Officer of Imperial Chancellor; County Magistrate of Shouchun; Court Provisioner; Impartial and Just; Commissioner for Agriculture
Biography
Known for his good conduct, though not always liked for it, Cao Cao appointed him to the Imperial Chancellor’s offices, and later a magistrate of Shouchun. When he arrived, he made a courtesy call to Jiang Ji, but Jiang Ji was drunk. Angry, he carved a wooden image of Jiang Ji, labeled it “The Drunkard Jiang Ji”, and shot arrows at it all day. Everyone recognized his conduct was wrong, but since Shi Miao excelled at his other duties, he wasn’t punished. His cart at first was pulled by a yellow female ox. She would later give birth to a calf, and Shi Miao left the calf behind, because he felt it belonged in its home country rather than with its mother, who Shi Miao took with him. Everyone thought he was crazy. He was later appointed to a new position by Cao Cao to identify new talent, in which he sought out men of spirit, and disqualified those without sensitivity. Jiang Ji later became Grand Commandant of Wei, and didn’t hold Shi Miao’s insults against him, but Shi Miao didn’t treat him any differently from before. No news if he continued his archery training. He became a commissioner of Agriculture with responsibility over Agricultural colonies, and died around 240. (1)
1) From Biographical Dictionary of the Later Han AD 23–220, posted up by Tarrot.