Xiang Zhong Sui 襄仲遂

Zhong Sui 仲遂 "Middle Brother Sui" (died 601 BCE), personal name Ji Sui 姬遂, was a high minister in the state of Lu 魯 during the Spring and Autumn period 春秋 (770-5th cent. BCE) as a son of Duke Zhuang 魯昭公 (r. 542-510). Because Xiang 襄 was his posthumous honorific title, he is also known as Xiang Zhong 襄仲 or Xiang Zhong Sui 襄仲遂. He was also called "Ducal Son" Gongzi Sui 公子遂.

His original profession was to guard the eastern city gate of the capital of Lu. Zhong Sui is therefore also known with the epithets Dongmen Sui 東門遂 "Master East Gate" 東門氏, or Dongmen Xiang Zhong 東門襄仲.

In 634, he was sent to the state of Chu 楚 to seek support against the state of Qi 齊 that had already several times attacked Lu. Zhong Sui was married to a princess of the statelet of Ju 莒 that was recommended to him by Gongsun Ao 公孫敖. When Gongsun Ao saw the beautiful girl, he planned to take her for himself, yet Zhong Sui defended his bride against the senior prince.

When Prince E 惡 mounted the throne of Lu (r. 609), Zhong Sui began an affair with late Duke Wen's 魯文公 (r. 627-609) secondary wife, Jing Ying 敬贏. He supported Jing Ying in the plan to bring her son, Prince Nei 餒 (or Sui 俀 or Wo 倭) to the throne. Grand master Shusun Huibo 叔孫惠伯, a son of Gongsun Ao, warned Zhong Sui that enthroning a minor son was not a rightous affair, but Zhong Sui established contacts to the duke of of the mighty state of Qi. When the duke of Qi agreed, Zhong Sui killed Duke E of Lu, Prince Shi 視 and Huibo and enthroned Prince Sui (known as Duke Xuan 魯宣公, r. 609-591).

This is the turning point in the history of the state of Lu, when the Three Huan families 三桓 Mengsun 孟孫, Shusun 叔孫 and Jisun 季孫 took over power.