Ren Jun was an official who followed Cao Cao at the end of the Eastern Han. Chapter sixteen of the Records of the Three Kingdoms opens with the words that Ren Jun, courtesy name Boda, was a man of Zhongmu in Henan, and Wikidata's name is also Ren Jun, so the title stays the personal name. This entry records his death as 204, with no birth year.[1][3]
Joining Cao Cao
When the Han fell into disorder, Yang Yuan, magistrate of Zhongmu, grew frightened and wanted to abandon his post. Ren Jun told him that Dong Zhuo had begun the chaos, that the whole realm watched him with anger, and that nobody had yet dared to move first. If the magistrate would lead, others would answer. He proposed that Yang Yuan act provisionally as governor of Henan and combine the men fit for service in the dozen or so counties east of the pass. Yang Yuan followed the plan and made him registrar. Ren Jun drafted the memorial for Yang Yuan to act as governor, had the counties hold fast, and raised troops. Cao Cao then rose in the east and entered Zhongmu. While others did not know whom to follow, Ren Jun alone discussed it with Zhang Fen of the same commandery, and they brought the whole commandery over to Cao Cao. Ren Jun also gathered several hundred household soldiers from his kin and retainers and followed Cao Cao. Cao Cao was delighted, recommended him as cavalry commandant, gave him a cousin in marriage, and held him in close trust.[3]
Colonies and army grain
Whenever Cao Cao went on campaign, Ren Jun usually stayed behind and supplied the army. In a year of famine and drought the army's grain ran short. The Forest of Feathers Commandant Zao Zhi proposed military farming colonies, and Cao Cao made Ren Jun director of agricultural colonies. He recruited commoners to farm at Xu and obtained a million hu of grain. Farm officials were set up in every commandery and kingdom, and within a few years grain was stored everywhere and the granaries were full. At Guandu, Cao Cao put him in charge of arms and grain transport. The enemy raided and cut the supply route again and again, so Ren Jun grouped a thousand carts into one unit, moved ten columns side by side, and made a layered formation to guard them. The enemy did not dare come near. The Records say the abundance of the state began with Zao Zhi and was completed by Ren Jun. Because his merit was great, Cao Cao recommended him as Marquis of Duting with three hundred households and promoted him to colonel of the Changshui cavalry.[3]
Character and afterwards
The Records describe him as generous and measured, and clear about the principles of affairs. Cao Cao usually approved what he proposed. In the famine he took in and supported the orphans of his friends and poor kin inside and outside the family, and he was praised for his good faith. He died in the ninth year of Jian'an, and Cao Cao wept for a long time. His son Ren Xian inherited the title. When Ren Xian died without a son, the fief was abolished. Emperor Wen later recorded the merits of the old officials, gave Ren Jun the posthumous title Marquis Cheng, and made his middle son Ren Lan a marquis within the passes.[3]