RNo direct record — estimated from his career as a general of Yuan ShuWei 7 §16
NFought Guan Yu to a draw over thirty bouts with a fifty-jin three-pointed blade, but was killed by Zhang Fei within ten boutsCh. 14 §49Ch. 21 §35
Ji Ling 紀靈
| Occupation | RNGeneral | Faction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | |
| Born | N? Unverified | Native place | |
| Died | N199 Unverified | Place of death | |
| Cause of death | NKilled in battle Unverified | ||
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R2 |
Profile
Ji Ling was a general of Yuan Shu. He has no biography of his own in the Records and appears once in the biography of Lü Bu. Yuan Shu gave Ji Ling and others 30,000 foot and horse and had them attack Liu Bei at Xiaopei, but when Lü Bu, who had come to rescue Liu Bei, hit the small side-blade of a halberd set up at the camp gate with a single arrow, they withdrew their troops the next day and went home. Records, Wei 7 §16–18
Chen Shou's main text does not record his later deeds or his death. In the Romance he first appears in Chapter 14 as Yuan Shu's senior general and appears in 5 of its 120 chapters; his name is in no chapter title. He fights Lord Guan for thirty bouts at Xuyi, sits together with Liu Bei at the halberd-shooting at the camp gate in Chapter 16, and in Chapter 21 he sets out as the vanguard of Yuan Shu, who is heading north, and is run through by Zhang Fei's spear and dies. Records, Wei 7 §16–18Romance, Ch. 14 §48 · 50Romance, Ch. 16 §9Romance, Ch. 21 §35
In the Records
According to the biography of Lü Bu, while Liu Bei had gone east to attack Yuan Shu, Lü Bu attacked and seized Xiapi, and Liu Bei on his return submitted to Lü Bu and was stationed at Xiaopei. When Yuan Shu gave his general Ji Ling and others 30,000 foot and horse and had them attack Liu Bei, Liu Bei asked Lü Bu for help. Lü Bu's generals urged him to kill Liu Bei by Yuan Shu's hand, but Lü Bu set out to rescue him, saying that if Yuan Shu broke Liu Bei, he would link up to the north with the generals of Mount Tai and Lü Bu himself would be caught inside Yuan Shu's encirclement. Records, Wei 7 §16
When Lü Bu came riding with a thousand foot soldiers and two hundred horsemen in readiness, Ji Ling and the others, hearing of it, all drew back their troops and did not dare attack again. Lü Bu encamped one li southwest of Pei and sent his attendants to invite Ji Ling and the others, and Ji Ling and the others in turn invited Lü Bu, and they ate and drank together. Lü Bu said to Ji Ling and the others, 'Xuande is my younger brother. My brother is being hard pressed by you gentlemen, so I have come to rescue him,' and added that it was not his nature to like starting fights, only to like stopping them. Records, Wei 7 §17
Lü Bu had his gate officer set up a halberd inside the camp gate, and said that if he hit the small side-blade of the halberd with a single shot, they should break off and withdraw, and if he missed they could stay and fight it out. When Lü Bu raised his bow and shot, the arrow struck the small side-blade squarely, and the generals were all astonished and said, 'General, you have the majesty of Heaven.' The next day they gathered again in good cheer, and then each withdrew his troops and went home. Records, Wei 7 §17–18
This is the only passage in Chen Shou's main text in which Ji Ling appears, and his later deeds and death are not recorded. The biography of Lü Bu goes on to record Yuan Shu's asking for Lü Bu's daughter as a bride for his son, and Yuan Shu's joining forces with Han Xian and Yang Feng and sending his senior general Zhang Xun to attack Lü Bu, only for Zhang Xun to be heavily defeated, but Ji Ling does not appear here either. Records, Wei 7 §16–18 · 19 · 24
In the Romance
In Chapter 14 of the Romance, on hearing that Liu Bei has submitted a memorial seeking to swallow up his provinces and counties, Yuan Shu gives his senior general Ji Ling 100,000 troops and has him invade Xu Province. The Romance portrays Ji Ling as a man of Shandong who wields a three-pointed blade weighing fifty jin. At Xuyi, when Ji Ling charges at Liu Bei, Lord Guan comes out and fights him for thirty bouts without either winning; Ji Ling calls for a short rest and sends out his lieutenant Xun Zheng in his place, and Xun Zheng is cut down by Lord Guan in a single bout. Ji Ling is badly defeated and falls back to hold the river mouth at Huaiyin. Romance, Ch. 14 §48–51
In Chapter 15, when Lü Bu takes Xu Province, Yuan Shu promises him supplies and has him attack Liu Bei from the other side. By the time Gao Shun arrives Liu Bei has already gone, and when Gao Shun asks for the promised goods, Ji Ling sends him back, saying that he will see his lord and consider the matter. Romance, Ch. 15 §3–4
In Chapter 16, Yuan Shu makes Ji Ling his commander, with Lei Bo and Chen Lan as his lieutenants, and has him attack Xiaopei with tens of thousands of troops. When Ji Ling sets up camp southeast of Pei County, Lü Bu sets up camp one li to the southwest, and Ji Ling sends a letter reproaching Lü Bu for his bad faith. Arriving at Lü Bu's banquet, Ji Ling is startled to see Liu Bei seated in the tent and tries to leave, but Lü Bu drags him back in like a small child; when told to withdraw his troops, he says that on his lord's orders he has come with 100,000 troops solely to capture Liu Bei. Romance, Ch. 16 §2 · 5 · 8–10
When Lü Bu says that if he hits the small side-blade of a painted halberd 150 paces from the camp gate both sides must withdraw their troops, Ji Ling agrees, thinking that he cannot possibly hit it. When Lü Bu hits the small side-blade with a single arrow, Ji Ling asks whether his master will believe him when he returns, and goes back first carrying a letter from Lü Bu. In Huainan, when Yuan Shu angrily declares that he will attack Liu Bei and Lü Bu himself, Ji Ling proposes the stratagem that 'a distant party cannot come between close kin', saying that if Yuan Shu asks for Lü Bu's daughter as a bride for his son, Lü Bu will surely kill Liu Bei, and Yuan Shu sends Han Yin as a go-between. Romance, Ch. 16 §12 · 16–19
In Chapter 17, when Yuan Shu raises seven columns of troops, Ji Ling becomes Chief Relief Commander of the Seven Columns. When Zhang Xun is defeated through the collusion of Han Xian and Yang Feng with the enemy, Ji Ling comes to the rescue and runs into Lü Bu, but when Han Xian and Yang Feng attack from two directions he is badly defeated and flees. Romance, Ch. 17 §4 · 13
In Chapter 21, as his position weakens, Yuan Shu yields the imperial title to Yuan Shao and tries to go to Yuan Shao by way of Xu Province. Liu Bei, setting out with 50,000 troops together with Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao, runs into the vanguard under Ji Ling, and Zhang Fei charges straight at him and, before they have fought ten bouts, spears Ji Ling from his horse. Yuan Shu is defeated and, as he flees, vomits blood and dies; the Romance dates this to the 6th month of the 4th year of Jian'an (199). Romance, Ch. 21 §34–38
Where the Romance differs
The battle of Xuyi: In Chapter 14 of the Romance, Ji Ling comes to Xuyi with 100,000 troops, fights Lord Guan for thirty bouts and loses his lieutenant Xun Zheng. The Biography of the First Sovereign in the Records says only that when Yuan Shu attacked, Liu Bei resisted him at Xuyi and Huaiyin; it names none of Yuan Shu's generals, and neither Ji Ling nor Xun Zheng appears. Romance, Ch. 14 §48–50Records, Shu 2 §11–12
The troops sent against Xiaopei: In Chapter 16 of the Romance, Ji Ling says he has come at the head of '100,000 troops'. In the biography of Lü Bu in the Records, the troops Yuan Shu gave Ji Ling and the others were 30,000 foot and horse. Romance, Ch. 16 §10Records, Wei 7 §16
Where the halberd was shot: In Chapter 16 of the Romance, Lü Bu invites Ji Ling and Liu Bei to a banquet together, seats them on his left and right, and shoots at a painted halberd planted 150 paces outside the camp gate. In the Records, Lü Bu sent his attendants to invite Ji Ling and the others, Ji Ling and the others in turn invited Lü Bu and they ate and drank together, and he had his gate officer set up a halberd inside the camp gate. Nothing is said of Liu Bei being present, nor of the distance to the halberd. Romance, Ch. 16 §9 · 12Records, Wei 7 §17
The marriage scheme: In Chapter 16 of the Romance, Ji Ling advises Yuan Shu to ask for Lü Bu's daughter as a bride for his son. The biography of Lü Bu in the Records says only that Yuan Shu, wishing to ally with Lü Bu as a source of support, asked for Lü Bu's daughter for his son, and Ji Ling's proposal does not appear. Romance, Ch. 16 §19Records, Wei 7 §19
The battle lost to Lü Bu: In Chapter 17 of the Romance, Ji Ling takes the field as Chief Relief Commander of the Seven Columns and is badly defeated by Lü Bu, Han Xian and Yang Feng. In the biography of Lü Bu in the Records, Yuan Shu allied with Han Xian and Yang Feng and sent his senior general Zhang Xun, but Lü Bu, using Chen Gui's plan, drew Han Xian and Yang Feng over to his side, and Zhang Xun was heavily defeated. Ji Ling does not appear in this battle. Romance, Ch. 17 §4 · 13Records, Wei 7 §24
His death: In Chapter 21 of the Romance, Ji Ling sets out as Yuan Shu's vanguard and is speared to death by Zhang Fei. In the Biography of the First Sovereign in the Records, when Yuan Shu tried to go north to Yuan Shao by way of Xu Province, Lord Cao had Liu Bei lead Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao (路招) to intercept him, but Yuan Shu died of illness before they arrived, and the Annals of Emperor Wu also records that Liu Bei and Zhu Ling were sent to block him. Ji Ling does not appear in this passage, and Zhu Ling was a general sent by Lord Cao, a different person from Ji Ling. Romance, Ch. 21 §35Records, Shu 2 §14Records, Wei 1 §56
Written by 3KDEX (not yet reviewed) — The tags at the end of each paragraph link to the exact passage in the Records volume or Romance chapter it is based on.
Abilities
The Records score (Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms, main text) is the baseline. Each ability compares how the Romance redrew the same person, and the evidence from both sources explains the difference.
Records total399 / 1000Rank 621 of 996 · Top 63%Romance total445 / 1000Rank 254 of 1,113 · Top 23%
Romance adaptation index+46Romance total − Records total
- LEA5245−7
- STR4578+33
- INT4058+18
- POL3131±0
- CHA3840+2
- VIR4242±0
- ADP4545±0
- SCH3131±0
- DIP4040±0
- DIS3535±0
Abilities shaped by the Romance — where it differs from the Records Differences of 10 or more
RNo direct record — estimatedWei 7 §17
NDevised the plan of a marriage alliance with Lü Bu to separate him from Liu BeiCh. 16 §19
8 similar abilities — show evidence
RAttacked Liu Bei with 30,000 foot and horse, but halted the attack when Lü Bu arrivedWei 7 §16
NWas badly defeated by Liu Bei and fell back, then was routed again by the pincer attack of Han Xian and Yang FengCh. 14 §51Ch. 17 §13
RNo direct record — estimatedWei 7 §16
NNo direct record — estimatedCh. 16 §19
RNo direct record — estimatedWei 7 §16
NNo direct record — estimated from his command of a great army as senior generalCh. 14 §48
RNo direct record — estimatedWei 7 §17
NNo direct record — estimatedCh. 16 §12
RAccepted Lü Bu's mediation and withdrew his troopsWei 7 §17
NAgreed, thinking Lü Bu would miss, then withdrew his troops according to the resultCh. 16 §12Ch. 16 §17
RNo direct record — estimatedWei 7 §16
NNo direct record — estimatedCh. 14 §49
RNo direct record — estimated from his feasting with Lü Bu and accepting his mediationWei 7 §17
NNo direct record — estimated from his returning home with Lü Bu's letterCh. 16 §17
RNo direct record — estimatedWei 7 §16
NNo direct record — estimatedCh. 14 §50
Records Romance Unverified No direct record; scored from their actions (evidence grade C)
3KDEX scoring — the Records use the main text of Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms; the Romance uses the 120-chapter Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Click a source tag to open that passage in the reader.
Romance chapters (5)
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