Records of Wei 18: Biographies of Li Dian, Li Tong, Zang Ba, Wen Pin, Lü Qian, Xu Chu, Dian Wei, Pang De, Pang Yu and Yan Wen

Records of Wei 18: Biographies of Li Dian, Li Tong, Zang Ba, Wen Pin, Lü Qian, Xu Chu, Dian Wei, Pang De, Pang Yu and Yan Wen

Li Dian

李典

Li Dian, courtesy name Mancheng, was a man of Juye County in Shanyang Commandery. His uncle Li Qian had a heroic spirit and gathered several thousand households of retainers at Chengshi. During the Chuping era he followed Taizu with his followers and defeated the Yellow Turbans at Shouzhang; he also followed him in attacking Yuan Shu and in the campaign against Xu Province. When Lü Bu's rebellion broke out, Taizu sent Li Qian back to Chengshi to reassure the counties. Lü Bu's Attendant Officer with Separate Carriage, Xue Lan, and his Headquarters Officer, Li Feng, called on Li Qian to rebel with them; when Li Qian refused, they killed him.

李典字曼成，山陽鉅野人也。典從父乾，有雄氣，合賓客數千家在乘氏。初平中，以眾隨太祖，破黃巾於壽張，又從擊袁術，征徐州。呂布之亂，太祖遣乾還乘氏，慰勞諸縣。布別駕薛蘭、治中李封招乾，欲俱叛，乾不聽，遂殺乾。

Taizu had Li Qian's son Li Zheng take command of Li Qian's troops and attack Xue Lan and Li Feng together with the other generals. After Xue Lan and Li Feng were defeated, Li Zheng took part in pacifying the counties of Yan Province with merit and was gradually promoted to Inspector of Qing Province. When Li Zheng died, Li Dian was transferred to be Magistrate of Yingyin, then became General of the Household in command of Li Zheng's army, and was promoted to Prefect of Lihu.

太祖使乾子整將乾兵，與諸將擊蘭、封。蘭、封破，從平兗州諸縣有功，稍遷青州刺史。整卒，典徙潁陰令，為中郎將，將整軍，¹遷離狐太守。

At that time Taizu was holding out against Yuan Shao at Guandu, and Li Dian led his clan and retainers in transporting grain and silk to supply the army. After Yuan Shao was defeated, Li Dian was made Lieutenant General and stationed at Anmin. When Taizu attacked Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang at Liyang, he had Li Dian, Cheng Yu, and others carry the army's provisions by boat. It happened that Yuan Shang sent Gao Fan, Prefect of Wei Commandery, to lead troops and camp on the Yellow River, cutting the waterway. Taizu ordered Li Dian and Cheng Yu, “If the boats cannot get through, go ashore and take the land route.”

時太祖與袁紹相拒官渡，典率宗族及部曲輸穀帛供軍。紹破，以典為裨將軍，屯安民。太祖擊譚、尚於黎陽，使典與程昱等以船運軍糧。會尚遣魏郡太守高蕃將兵屯河上，絕水道，太祖敕典、昱：「若船不得過，下從陸道。」

Li Dian discussed it with the other generals, saying, “Gao Fan's army has little armor and relies on the water; they have grown slack, and if we attack them we are sure to win. An army in the field is not controlled from within the court; if something truly benefits the state, one may act on one's own authority. We should attack them at once.” Cheng Yu also agreed. So they crossed the river northward, attacked Gao Fan, and defeated him, and the waterway was opened. Liu Biao sent Liu Bei to invade the north, and he reached Ye; Taizu sent Li Dian to follow Xiahou Dun in resisting him. One morning Liu Bei burned his camp and left, and Xiahou Dun led the armies in pursuit. Li Dian said, “The enemy is withdrawing for no reason; I suspect there must be an ambush.

典與諸將議曰：「蕃軍少甲而恃水，有懈怠之心，擊之必克。軍不內御；苟利國家，專之可也，宜亟擊之。」昱亦以為然。遂北渡河，攻蕃，破之，水道得通。劉表使劉備北侵，至葉，太祖遣典從夏侯惇拒之。備一旦燒屯去，惇率諸軍追擊之，典曰：「賊無故退，疑必有伏。

The southern road is narrow and the vegetation is thick; we must not pursue.” Xiahou Dun did not listen and pursued with Yu Jin, while Li Dian stayed behind to guard the camp. Xiahou Dun and the others did indeed run into the enemy's ambush and the fighting went against them. Li Dian went to their rescue, and when Liu Bei saw the relief force coming, he scattered and withdrew. Li Dian took part in the siege of Ye; after Ye was taken, he and Yue Jin besieged Gao Gan at Huguan and attacked Guan Cheng at Changguang, defeating both. He was promoted to General Who Captures Caitiffs and enfeoffed as Marquis of a Chief Village. Li Dian's clan and retainers, more than three thousand households, lived at Chengshi, and he asked of his own accord to move them to Wei Commandery.

南道狹窄，草木深，不可追也。」惇不聽，與于禁追之，典留守。惇等果入賊伏里，戰不利，典往救，備望見救至，乃散退。從圍鄴，鄴定，與樂進圍高幹於壺關，擊管承於長廣，皆破之。遷捕虜將軍，封都亭侯。典宗族部曲三千餘家，居乘氏，自請願徙詣魏郡。

Taizu laughed and said, “Do you wish to emulate Geng Chun?” Li Dian apologized and said, “I am dull and timid and my merit is slight, yet the rank and favor I have received are exceedingly generous; truly I ought to bring my whole clan to exert their strength. Moreover, the campaigns have not yet ceased, and the lands around the capital should be filled so as to control the four quarters. It is not that I wish to emulate Geng Chun.” He then moved more than thirteen thousand people of his retainers and clan to live at Ye. Taizu commended him and promoted him to General Who Smashes Caitiffs. He was stationed at Hefei with Zhang Liao and Yue Jin. When Sun Quan led his host to besiege it, Zhang Liao wished to follow his instructions and go out to fight.

太祖笑曰：「卿欲慕耿純邪？」典謝曰：「典駑怯功微，而爵寵過厚，誠宜舉宗陳力；加以征伐未息，宜實郊遂之內，以制四方，非慕純也。」遂徙部曲宗族萬三千餘口居鄴。太祖嘉之，遷破虜將軍。與張遼、樂進屯合肥，孫權率眾圍之，遼欲奉教出戰。

Yue Jin, Li Dian, and Zhang Liao had never been on good terms, and Zhang Liao feared they would not follow him. Li Dian said with feeling, “This is a great affair of the state; all that matters is what your plan is. How could I let a private grudge make me forget the public good?” He then led his troops and, together with Zhang Liao, defeated Sun Quan and put him to flight. His fief was increased by a hundred households, making three hundred with what he had before.

進、典、遼皆素不睦，遼恐其不從，典慨然曰：「此國家大事，顧君計何如耳，吾可以私憾而忘公義乎！」乃率眾與遼破走權。增邑百戶，並前三百戶。

Li Dian loved learning and valued scholarly refinement, and did not compete with the other generals for credit. He respected worthy gentlemen and was so modest and careful that it was as if he could never measure up to them; in the army he was called a man of true worth. He died at thirty-six, and his son Li Zhen succeeded him. When Emperor Wen ascended the throne, remembering the merit at Hefei, he increased Li Zhen's fief by a hundred households, granted one of Li Dian's sons the rank of Marquis Within the Pass with a fief of a hundred households, and gave Li Dian the posthumous title Marquis Min.

典好學問，貴儒雅，不與諸將爭功。敬賢士大夫，恂恂若不及，軍中稱其長者。年三十六薨，子禎嗣。文帝踐阼，追念合肥之功，增禎邑百戶，賜典一子爵關內侯，邑百戶；謚典曰愍侯。

Li Tong

李通

Li Tong, courtesy name Wenda, was a man of Pingchun County in Jiangxia Commandery. He was known for his chivalry between the Yangtze and the Ru. Together with Chen Gong, a man of the same commandery, he raised troops at Langling, and many people joined him. At that time there was a man named Zhou Zhi with a following of more than two thousand households, who was outwardly friendly with Chen Gong and Li Tong but at heart at odds with them. Li Tong wanted to plot Zhou Zhi's death, but Chen Gong balked at it. Knowing that Chen Gong lacked resolve, Li Tong settled on the plan by himself; he arranged a meeting with Zhou Zhi and killed him when the drinking was at its height. Zhou Zhi's people were thrown into great confusion, but Li Tong, leading Chen Gong, executed the leaders of his faction and absorbed all his camps.

李通字文達，江夏平春人也。¹以俠聞於江、汝之間。與其郡人陳恭共起兵於朗陵，眾多歸之。時有周直者，眾二千餘家，與恭、通外和內違。通欲圖殺直而恭難之。通知恭無斷，乃獨定策，與直克會，酒酣殺直。眾人大擾，通率恭誅其黨帥，盡並其營。

Later Chen Gong's wife's younger brother, Chen He, killed Chen Gong and took over his followers. Li Tong attacked and routed Chen He's army and cut off Chen He's head as a sacrifice at Chen Gong's tomb. He also captured alive Wu Ba, a great leader of the Yellow Turbans, and made his followers surrender. In a year of great famine Li Tong gave away all his family's wealth in relief and shared dregs and husks with his soldiers, so they all vied to serve him, and for this reason bandits did not dare to trouble him.

後恭妻弟陳郃，殺恭而據其眾。通攻破郃軍，斬郃首以祭恭墓。又生禽黃巾大帥吳霸而降其屬。遭歲大飢，通傾家振施，與士分糟糠，皆爭為用，由是盜賊不敢犯。

Early in the Jian'an era, Li Tong brought his whole following to Taizu at Xu. He was appointed General of the Household Who Shakes with Might and stationed on the western border of Runan. When Taizu campaigned against Zhang Xiu, Liu Biao sent troops to help Zhang Xiu, and Taizu's army was in difficulty. Li Tong led his troops to Taizu by night, which allowed Taizu to fight again; Li Tong was the first to storm the enemy, and Zhang Xiu's army was crushed. He was appointed Lieutenant General and enfeoffed as Marquis Who Establishes Merit. Two counties were split off from Runan, and Li Tong was made Chief Commandant of Yangan.

建安初，通舉眾詣太祖於許。拜通振威中郎將，屯汝南西界。太祖討張繡，劉表遣兵以助繡，太祖軍不利。通將兵夜詣太祖，太祖得以復戰，通為先登，大破繡軍。拜裨將軍，封建功侯。分汝南二縣，以通為陽安都尉。

The elder uncle of Li Tong's wife broke the law, and Zhao Yan, the Chief of Langling, arrested and tried him and had him sentenced to death. At that time the power over life and death lay with the governors and prefects, and Li Tong's wife and children wept and wailed, begging for the man's life. Li Tong said, “We are just now joining our strength with Lord Cao; by right I cannot set aside the public good for private reasons.” He commended Zhao Yan for upholding the law without partiality and became his close friend. Taizu was holding out against Yuan Shao at Guandu. Yuan Shao sent an envoy to appoint Li Tong General Who Conquers the South, and Liu Biao also secretly tried to win him over, but Li Tong refused them both.

通妻伯父犯法，朗陵長趙儼收治，致之大辟。是時殺生之柄，決於牧守，通妻子號泣以請其命。通曰：「方與曹公戮力，義不以私廢公。」嘉儼執憲不阿，與為親交。太祖與袁紹相拒於官渡。紹遣使拜通征南將軍，劉表亦陰招之，通皆拒焉。

Li Tong's relatives and retainers wept and said, “Now we stand guard alone, isolated and in danger, cut off from any great support; our destruction could come at any moment. It would be better to go over to Yuan Shao at once.” Li Tong put his hand on his sword and rebuked them, saying, “Lord Cao is wise and discerning and will surely settle the realm. Yuan Shao, though strong and flourishing, has no method in employing men and will end up as his captive. I will not waver even unto death.” He immediately beheaded Yuan Shao's envoy and sent the seal and ribbon to Taizu. He also attacked the commandery's bandits Qu Gong, Jiang Gong, Shen Cheng, and others, crushed and destroyed their followings, and sent their heads.

通親戚部曲流涕曰：「今孤危獨守，以失大援，亡可立而待也，不如亟從紹。」通按劍以叱之曰：「曹公明哲，必定天下。紹雖強盛，而任使無方，終為之虜耳。吾以死不貳。」即斬紹使，送印綬詣太祖。又擊郡賊瞿恭、江宮、沈成等，皆破殘其眾，送其首。

He thus pacified the lands of the Huai and the Ru. His fief was changed to Marquis of a Chief Village, and he was appointed Prefect of Runan. At that time the bandit Zhang Chi and others, more than five thousand households, gathered at Mount Tao, and Li Tong attacked and defeated them.

遂定淮、汝之地。改封都亭侯，拜汝南太守。時賊張赤等五千餘家聚桃山，通攻破之。

Liu Bei and Zhou Yu besieged Cao Ren at Jiangling and separately sent Guan Yu to cut the northern road. Li Tong led his troops to attack him; he dismounted, pulled up the abatis, and broke into the encirclement, fighting as he advanced to meet Cao Ren's army, and his courage surpassed all the other generals. On the way Li Tong fell ill and died, at the age of forty-two. His fief was posthumously increased by two hundred households, making four hundred with what he had before. When Emperor Wen ascended the throne, he was given the posthumous title Marquis Gang. The edict said, “In the past, during the troubles with Yuan Shao, south of Xu and Cai people harbored disloyal thoughts.

劉備與周瑜圍曹仁於江陵，別遣關羽絕北道。通率眾擊之，下馬拔鹿角入圍，且戰且前，以迎仁軍，勇冠諸將。通道得病薨，時年四十二。追增邑二百戶，並前四百戶。文帝踐阼，謚曰剛侯。詔曰：「昔袁紹之難，自許、蔡以南，人懷異心。

Li Tong held fast to righteousness without regard for himself and brought the wavering to submission; We commend him greatly. Unfortunately he died early, and though his son Li Ji has already inherited his rank, this is not enough to repay his meritorious service. Li Ji's elder brother Li Xu was formerly stationed at Fancheng and also has merit. Generation after generation they have been devoted in their labors. Let Li Ji be made General of the Household Who Upholds Righteousness and Li Xu General of the Household Who Pacifies Caitiffs, as a mark of special favor.”

通秉義不顧，使攜貳率服，朕甚嘉之。不幸早薨，子基雖已襲爵，未足酬其庸勳。基兄緒，前屯樊城，又有功。世篤其勞，其以基為奉義中郎將，緒平虜中郎將，以寵異焉。」¹²

Zang Ba

臧霸

Zang Ba, courtesy name Xuangao, was a man of Hua County in Taishan Commandery. His father, Zang Jie, was the prison officer of the county; holding to the law, he refused to go along when the Prefect wanted to put a man to death for private reasons. The Prefect was furious and ordered Zang Jie arrested and brought to his headquarters, with more than a hundred men escorting him. Zang Ba, then eighteen, led several dozen retainers straight into the hills west of Fei, waylaid the escort, and seized his father; none of the escort dared to move. He then fled with his father into hiding in Donghai, and from this he became known for his courage and strength. When the Yellow Turbans rose, Zang Ba followed Tao Qian and defeated them, and was appointed Chief Commandant of Cavalry.

臧霸字宣高，泰山華人也。父戒，為縣獄掾，據法不聽太守欲所私殺。太守大怒，令收戒詣府，時送者百餘人。霸年十八，將客數十人徑於費西山中要奪之，送者莫敢動，因與父俱亡命東海，由是以勇壯聞。黃巾起，霸從陶謙擊破之，拜騎都尉。

He then gathered troops in Xu Province and, together with Sun Guan, Wu Dun, Yin Li, and others, assembled a following; Zang Ba became their leader and was stationed at Kaiyang. When Taizu campaigned against Lü Bu, Zang Ba and the others led troops to help Lü Bu. After Lü Bu was captured, Zang Ba went into hiding. Taizu offered a reward, searched for him, and found him; when he met him he was pleased with him and had him summon Wu Dun, Yin Li, Sun Guan, Sun Guan's elder brother Sun Kang, and others, all of whom came to Taizu. Taizu made Zang Ba Chancellor of Langya, and made Wu Dun, Yin Li, Sun Guan, and Sun Kang Prefects of Licheng, Dongguan, Beihai, and Chengyang respectively; he carved out the two provinces of Qing and Xu and entrusted them to Zang Ba.

遂收兵於徐州，與孫觀、吳敦、尹禮等並聚眾，霸為帥，屯於開陽。太祖之討呂布也，霸等將兵助布。既禽布，霸自匿。太祖募索得霸，見而悅之，使霸招吳敦、尹禮、孫觀、觀兄康等，皆詣太祖。太祖以霸為琅邪相，敦利城、禮東莞、觀北海、康城陽太守，割青、徐二州，委之於霸。

When Taizu was in Yan Province, he had made Xu Xi and Mao Hui his generals. When Yan Province fell into disorder, Xu Xi and Mao Hui both rebelled. Later, after Yan Province was pacified, they fled and took refuge with Zang Ba. Taizu spoke to Liu Bei and had him tell Zang Ba to send the two men's heads. Zang Ba said to Liu Bei, “The reason I have been able to stand on my own is that I do not do such things. I have received from Lord Cao the kindness of having my life spared, and I dare not disobey his command. But a ruler who would be a true king or hegemon can be addressed in terms of righteousness; I beg you, General, to speak on my behalf.”

太祖之在兗州，以徐翕、毛暉為將。兗州亂，翕、暉皆叛。後兗州定，翕、暉亡命投霸。太祖語劉備，令語霸送二人首。霸謂備曰：「霸所以能自立者，以不為此也。霸受公生全之恩，不敢違命。然王霸之君可以義告，願將軍為之辭。」

Liu Bei reported Zang Ba's words to Taizu. Taizu sighed and said to Zang Ba, “This is the conduct of the ancients, and you are able to practice it; it is just what I would wish.” He then made both Xu Xi and Mao Hui prefects of commanderies.

備以霸言白太祖，太祖嘆息，謂霸曰：「此古人之事而君能行之，孤之願也。」乃皆以翕、暉為郡守。

At that time Taizu was holding out against Yuan Shao, and because Zang Ba repeatedly led crack troops into Qing Province, Taizu could devote himself entirely to Yuan Shao without worrying about the east. When Taizu defeated Yuan Tan at Nanpi, Zang Ba and the others gathered to congratulate him. Zang Ba took the opportunity to ask that his sons and younger brothers, and the fathers, elder brothers, and families of the generals, be sent to Ye. Taizu said, “How could your loyalty and filial devotion depend on this? In the past, when Xiao He sent his sons and brothers to serve at court, Gaozu did not refuse them, and when Geng Chun burned his houses and followed with coffins on carts, Guangwu did not turn him away. How could I change such precedents?”

時太祖方與袁紹相拒，而霸數以精兵入青州，故太祖得專事紹，不以東方為念。太祖破袁譚於南皮，霸等會賀。霸因求遣子弟及諸將父兄家屬詣鄴，太祖曰：「諸君忠孝，豈復在是！昔蕭何遣子弟入侍，而高祖不拒，耿純焚室輿櫬以從，而光武不逆，吾將何以易之哉！」

When the eastern provinces were in turmoil, Zang Ba and the others held to righteousness and punished the violent, cleansing and pacifying the land between the sea and Mount Tai; no merit was greater, and they were all enfeoffed as full marquises. Zang Ba became Marquis of a Chief Village and was given the additional title General Who Awes Caitiffs. He also campaigned with Yu Jin against Chang Xi and with Xiahou Yuan against Xu He and other remnant Yellow Turban bandits, and for his merit he was promoted to Inspector of Xu Province. Wu Zhou of Pei became Magistrate of Xiapi; Zang Ba respected him as exceptional and went in person to the magistrate's residence. The Assistant Officer in charge of the district was reckless and lawless; Wu Zhou uncovered his crimes, arrested him at once, and interrogated him until the case was closed, and Zang Ba thought all the better of Wu Zhou.

東州擾攘，霸等執義征暴，清定海岱，功莫大焉，皆封列侯。霸為都亭侯，加威虜將軍。又與于禁討昌豨，與夏侯淵討黃巾餘賊徐和等，有功，遷徐州刺史。沛國武周為下邳令，霸敬異周，身詣令舍。部從事謥詷不法，周得其罪，便收考竟，霸益以善周。

He followed the campaign against Sun Quan and was first to storm the walls; he entered Chao Lake a second time and attacked and took Juchao. When Zhang Liao campaigned against Chen Lan, Zang Ba was sent separately to Wan to attack the Wu general Han Dang, so that Sun Quan could not rescue Chen Lan. Han Dang sent troops to meet Zang Ba, and Zang Ba fought them at Fenglong; Han Dang again sent troops to intercept Zang Ba at Jiashi, and Zang Ba fought and defeated them, then returned to garrison Shu. Sun Quan sent tens of thousands of men by boat to camp at Shukou, dividing his forces to rescue Chen Lan, but when they heard that Zang Ba's army was at Shu they fled back.

從討孫權，先登，再入巢湖，攻居巢，破之。張遼之討陳蘭，霸別遣至皖，討吳將韓當，使權不得救蘭。當遣兵逆霸，霸與戰於逢龍，當復遣兵邀霸於夾石，與戰破之，還屯舒。權遣數萬人乘船屯舒口，分兵救蘭，聞霸軍在舒，遁還。

Zang Ba pursued them by night and by dawn had covered more than a hundred li; he blocked the enemy front and rear and attacked them. The enemy, hard-pressed, could not get onto their boats, and very many threw themselves into the water. Because of this the enemy could not rescue Chen Lan, and Zhang Liao went on to defeat him. Zang Ba followed the campaign against Sun Quan at Ruxukou and formed the vanguard with Zhang Liao. On the march they met with prolonged rains; the main army had arrived first, the waters then rose, and the enemy boats gradually advanced, so that the officers and men all grew uneasy. Zhang Liao wished to withdraw, but Zang Ba stopped him, saying, “Lord Cao clearly understands advantage and disadvantage. How would he be willing to abandon us?”

霸夜追之，比明，行百餘里，邀賊前後擊之。賊窘急，不得上船，赴水者甚眾。由是賊不得救蘭，遼遂破之。霸從討孫權於濡須口，與張遼為前鋒，行遇霖雨，大軍先及，水遂長，賊船稍進，將士皆不安。遼欲去，霸止之曰：「公明於利鈍，寧肯捐吾等邪？」

The next day an order did indeed arrive. When Zhang Liao reached Taizu, he told him about this. Taizu approved, appointed Zang Ba General Who Spreads Might, and granted him credentials. Later, when Sun Quan asked to submit, Taizu returned and left Zang Ba with Xiahou Dun and others to garrison Juchao.

明日果有令。遼至，以語太祖。太祖善之，拜揚威將軍，假節。後權乞降，太祖還，留霸與夏侯惇等屯居巢。

When Emperor Wen became King, Zang Ba was promoted to General Who Guards the East, his rank was raised to Marquis of Wu'an District, and he was made Commander of the Military Affairs of Qing Province. When Emperor Wen ascended the throne, Zang Ba was advanced to Marquis of Kaiyang and then transferred to Marquis of Liangcheng. With Cao Xiu he campaigned against the Wu bandits and defeated Lü Fan at Dongpu; he was then summoned to be Bearer of the Golden Mace, with the rank of Specially Advanced. Whenever there was a military matter, the Emperor always consulted him. When Emperor Ming took the throne, his fief was increased by five hundred households, making three thousand five hundred with what he had before.

文帝即王位，遷鎮東將軍，進爵武安鄉侯，都督青州諸軍事。及踐阼，進封開陽侯，徙封良成侯。與曹休討吳賊，破呂範於洞浦，徵為執金吾，位特進。每有軍事，帝常咨訪焉。¹明帝即位，增邑五百，並前三千五百戶。

When he died he was given the posthumous title Marquis Wei. His son Zang Ai succeeded him. Zang Ai rose in office to Inspector of Qing Province and Privy Treasurer. When Zang Ai died he was given the posthumous title Marquis Gong. His son Zang Quan succeeded him. Because of Zang Ba's merits over the years, three of his sons were enfeoffed as full marquises and one was granted the rank of Marquis Within the Pass.

薨，謚曰威侯。子艾嗣。¹艾官至青州刺史、少府。艾薨，謚曰恭侯。子權嗣。霸前後有功，封子三人列侯，賜一人爵關內侯。²

Sun Guan

孫觀

Sun Guan, too, rose to be Inspector of Qing Province and was granted credentials. He followed Taizu on the campaign against Sun Quan, was wounded in battle, and died. His son Sun Yu succeeded him and also rose to be Inspector of Qing Province.

而孫觀亦至青州刺史，假節，從太祖討孫權，戰被創，薨。子毓嗣，亦至青州刺史。¹

Wen Pin

文聘

Wen Pin, courtesy name Zhongye, was a man of Wan County in Nanyang Commandery. He was a senior general under Liu Biao, who had him guard the north. When Liu Biao died, his son Liu Cong succeeded him. When Taizu campaigned against Jing Province, Liu Cong surrendered the whole province and called Wen Pin to go with him, but Wen Pin said, “I was unable to preserve the province; I should only await punishment.” After Taizu crossed the Han, Wen Pin at last went to Taizu. Taizu asked him, “Why did you come so late?” Wen Pin said, “Earlier I was unable to assist Liu of Jing Province in serving the state. Though he has passed away, I always wished to hold the Han River region and keep its territory intact, so that in life I would not betray the orphaned and weak, and in death I would have nothing to be ashamed of beneath the earth. But I had no choice, and so it has come to this.

文聘字仲業，南陽宛人也，為劉表大將，使御北方。表死，其子琮立。太祖征荊州，琮舉州降，呼聘欲與俱，聘曰：「聘不能全州，當待罪而已。」太祖濟漢，聘乃詣太祖，太祖問曰：「來何遲邪？」聘曰：「先日不能輔弼劉荊州以奉國家，荊州雖沒，常願據守漢川，保全土境，生不負於孤弱，死無愧於地下，而計不得已，以至於此。

Truly I am full of grief and shame, and had no face to come and see you sooner.” Then he sobbed and wept. Taizu was moved to sorrow for him and said, “Zhongye, you are truly a loyal subject.” He treated him with generous courtesy. He gave Wen Pin troops and sent him with Cao Chun to pursue Liu Bei at Changban. When Taizu first pacified Jing Province, since Jiangxia bordered on Wu and the people were uneasy, he made Wen Pin Prefect of Jiangxia, put him in charge of the northern troops, entrusted him with the frontier, and granted him the rank of Marquis Within the Pass.

實懷悲慚，無顏早見耳。」遂欷歔流涕。太祖為之愴然曰：「仲業，卿真忠臣也。」厚禮待之。授聘兵，使與曹純追討劉備於長阪。太祖先定荊州，江夏與吳接，民心不安，乃以聘為江夏太守，使典北兵，委以邊事，賜爵關內侯。¹

With Yue Jin he campaigned against Guan Yu at Xunkou and won merit; he was advanced to Marquis of Yanshou Village and given the additional title General Who Attacks Rebels. He also attacked Guan Yu's baggage train at Hanjin and burned his boats at Jingcheng.

與樂進討關羽於尋口，有功，進封延壽亭侯，加討逆將軍。又攻羽輜重於漢津，燒其船於荊城。

When Emperor Wen ascended the throne, Wen Pin's rank was raised to Marquis of Chang'an District and he was granted credentials. When he joined Xiahou Shang in besieging Jiangling, he was sent separately to garrison Miankou; he halted at Shifan, took charge of a unit of his own, and won merit in holding off the enemy. He was promoted to General of the Rear and enfeoffed as Marquis of Xinye. Sun Quan in person besieged Wen Pin at Shiyang with fifty thousand men and pressed him hard, but Wen Pin held firm and did not move; after staying more than twenty days, Sun Quan lifted the siege and left. Wen Pin pursued and defeated him. His fief was increased by five hundred households, making one thousand nine hundred with what he had before.

文帝踐阼，進爵長安鄉侯，假節。與夏侯尚圍江陵，使聘別屯沔口，止石梵，自當一隊，御賊有功，遷後將軍，封新野侯。孫權以五萬眾自圍聘於石陽，甚急，聘堅守不動，權住二十餘日乃解去。聘追擊破之。¹增邑五百戶，並前千九百戶。

Wen Pin was in Jiangxia for several decades, commanding both awe and gratitude; his name struck fear into the enemy state, and the enemy did not dare to invade. Part of Wen Pin's fief was split off to enfeoff his son Wen Dai as a full marquis, and Wen Pin's nephew Wen Hou was also granted the rank of Marquis Within the Pass. When Wen Pin died he was given the posthumous title Marquis Zhuang. Since Wen Dai had also died before him, Wen Pin's adopted son Wen Xiu succeeded him. When Wen Xiu died, his son Wen Wu succeeded him.

聘在江夏數十年，有威恩，名震敵國，賊不敢侵。分聘戶邑封聘子岱為列侯，又賜聘從子厚爵關內侯。聘薨，謚曰壯侯。岱又先亡，聘養子休嗣。卒，子武嗣。

During the Jiaping era, Huan Yu of Qiao Commandery became Prefect of Jiangxia; he was upright and frugal, commanding both awe and gratitude, and his reputation was second only to Wen Pin's.

嘉平中，譙郡桓禺為江夏太守，清儉有威惠，名亞於聘。

Lü Qian

呂虔

Lü Qian, courtesy name Zike, was a man of Rencheng. When Taizu was in Yan Province, he heard that Lü Qian had courage and resourcefulness, so he made him an Assistant Officer and had him lead his family troops to guard Hulu. Jiong Mu and others among the people under Du Song, Colonel of Xiangben, rose in revolt and made contact with Chang Xi. Taizu had Lü Qian replace Du Song. On arriving, Lü Qian invited Jiong Mu's ringleaders and several dozen of their fellow evildoers and treated them to wine and food. He chose strong men and hid them nearby, and when he saw that Jiong Mu and the others were all drunk, he had the hidden troops strike them all dead.

呂虔字子恪，任城人也。太祖在兗州，聞虔有膽策，以為從事，將家兵守湖陸。襄賁校尉杜松部民炅母等作亂，與昌豨通。太祖以虔代松。虔到，招誘炅母渠率及同惡數十人，賜酒食。簡壯士伏其側，虔察炅母等皆醉，使伏兵盡格殺之。

He comforted the rest of their followers, and the bandits were at last pacified. Taizu had Lü Qian serve as acting Prefect of Taishan. The commandery bordered on mountains and the sea, and in those troubled times it was said that many of the people had gone into hiding. Guo Zu, Gongsun Du, and several dozen others, who had been appointed Generals of the Household by Yuan Shao, held the mountains as bandits, and the common people suffered from them. Lü Qian came to the commandery with his family troops and extended kindness and good faith; Guo Zu's followers all surrendered, and those who had fled and hidden in the mountains all came out and settled down to their livelihoods.

撫其餘眾，群賊乃平。太祖以虔領泰山太守。郡接山海，世亂，聞民人多藏竄。袁紹所置中郎將郭祖、公孫犢等數十輩，保山為寇，百姓苦之。虔將家兵到郡，開恩信，祖等黨屬皆降服，諸山中亡匿者盡出安土業。

He selected the strongest of them to fill the ranks of his soldiers, and so Taishan came to have crack troops whose fame was foremost among the provinces and commanderies. Xu He and other Yellow Turbans of Jinan were abducting senior officials and attacking cities wherever they went. Lü Qian led troops to join Xiahou Yuan in attacking them; in several dozen battles in all, they beheaded or captured several thousand men. Taizu had him oversee the troops of the commanderies of Qing Province to campaign against Li Tiao and other bandits of Donglai, and he won merit. Taizu issued an order saying, “Where there is the will, the deed will surely be accomplished; this is what men of valor give their lives for.

簡其強者補戰士，泰山由是遂有精兵，冠名州郡。濟南黃巾徐和等，所在劫長吏，攻城邑。虔引兵與夏侯淵會擊之，前後數十戰，斬首獲生數千人。太祖使督青州諸郡兵以討東萊群賊李條等，有功。太祖令曰：「夫有其志，必成其事，蓋烈士之所徇也。

Since you took charge of the commandery, you have seized the wicked and punished the violent, and the common people have found peace; you have braved arrows and stones in person, and wherever you have campaigned you have prevailed. In the past Kou Xun made his name in Ru and Ying, and Geng Yan laid his plans in Qing and Yan; past and present are one.” He was recommended as Flourishing Talent and given the additional post of Chief Commandant of Cavalry, while governing the commandery as before. Lü Qian was in Taishan for more than ten years and commanded great awe and gratitude.

卿在郡以來，禽奸討暴，百姓獲安，躬蹈矢石，所征輒克。昔寇恂立名於汝、潁，耿弇建策於青、兗，古今一也。」舉茂才，加騎都尉，典郡如故。虔在泰山十數年，甚有威惠。

Wang Xiang

王祥

When Emperor Wen became King, Lü Qian was given the additional title Lieutenant General and enfeoffed as Marquis of Yishou Village; he was promoted to Inspector of Xu Province and given the additional title General Who Awes Caitiffs. He invited Wang Xiang of Langya to be his Attendant Officer with Separate Carriage and entrusted all civil affairs to him, and his contemporaries praised him for being able to employ the worthy. He campaigned against the rebels of Licheng and won merit by beheading and capturing them. When Emperor Ming took the throne, his fief was transferred and he became Marquis of Wannian Village, and it was increased by two hundred households, making six hundred with what he had before. When Lü Qian died, his son Lü Fan succeeded him. When Lü Fan died, his son Lü Gui succeeded him.

文帝即王位，加裨將軍，封益壽亭侯，遷徐州刺史，加威虜將軍。請琅邪王祥為別駕，民事一以委之，世多其能任賢。¹討利城叛賊，斬獲有功。明帝即位，徙封萬年亭侯，增邑二百，並前六百戶。虔薨，子翻嗣。翻薨，子桂嗣。

Xu Chu

許褚

Xu Chu, courtesy name Zhongkang, was a man of Qiao County in Qiao Commandery. He was more than eight chi tall, with a waist ten spans around; his appearance was imposing and resolute, and his courage and strength surpassed other men's. At the end of the Han he gathered young men and his clan, several thousand households in all, and together they fortified a stronghold to defend against bandits. At that time more than ten thousand bandits from Gepi in Runan attacked Xu Chu's stronghold. Xu Chu's followers were too few to match them, and they fought with all their strength until they were utterly exhausted. When their weapons and arrows were gone, he had the men and women in the stronghold gather and shape stones the size of bowls and pecks and set them at the four corners.

許褚字仲康，譙國譙人也。長八尺餘，腰大十圍，容貌雄毅，勇力絕人。漢末，聚少年及宗族數千家，共堅壁以御寇。時汝南葛陂賊萬餘人攻褚壁，褚眾少不敵，力戰疲極。兵矢盡，乃令壁中男女，聚治石如杅斗者置四隅。

Xu Chu hurled the stones at them, and everything they struck was smashed to pieces. The bandits did not dare to advance. When food ran short, he pretended to make peace with the bandits and arranged to trade oxen for food; but when the bandits came to take the oxen, the oxen kept running back. Xu Chu then went out in front of the line and, with one hand, dragged an ox backward by its tail for more than a hundred paces. The bandits were astonished; in the end they did not dare take the oxen and fled. From then on, throughout the lands of the Huai, the Ru, Chen, and Liang, all who heard of him feared and dreaded him.

褚飛石擲之，所值皆摧碎。賊不敢進。糧乏，偽與賊和，以牛與賊易食，賊來取牛，牛輒奔還。褚乃出陳前，一手逆曳牛尾，行百餘步。賊眾驚，遂不敢取牛而走。由是淮、汝、陳、梁間，聞皆畏憚之。

When Taizu brought the region of the Huai and Ru rivers under control, Xu Chu came over to him with his followers. Taizu saw him, admired his heroic bearing, and said, “This is my Fan Kuai.” That same day he appointed him Commandant and brought him into the palace guard. The knights-errant who had followed Xu Chu were all made Tiger Warriors. He followed Taizu on the campaign against Zhang Xiu, was first onto the walls, and cut off heads numbering in the tens of thousands, for which he was promoted to Colonel. He also followed Taizu in the campaign against Yuan Shao at Guandu. At that time Xu Ta and others among the soldiers who regularly attended Taizu plotted treason, but because Xu Chu was always at Taizu’s side, they feared him and did not dare to act.

太祖徇淮、汝，褚以眾歸太祖。太祖見而壯之曰：「此吾樊噲也。」即日拜都尉，引入宿衛。諸從褚俠客，皆以為虎士。從征張繡，先登，斬首萬計，遷校尉。從討袁紹於官渡。時常從士徐他等謀為逆，以褚常侍左右，憚之不敢發。

Waiting for a day when Xu Chu was off duty, Xu Ta and the others came in with knives hidden in their clothes. Xu Chu had reached his quarters when he felt uneasy and at once returned to his post. Not knowing this, Xu Ta and the others entered the tent, saw Xu Chu, and were greatly startled. Xu Ta’s face changed color; Xu Chu noticed it and immediately struck down and killed Xu Ta and his companions. Taizu trusted him all the more closely and had him go in and out with him, never leaving his side. He followed Taizu in the siege of Ye, fought hard and with merit, and was granted the rank of Marquis Within the Passes. He also followed Taizu in the campaign against Han Sui and Ma Chao at the Tong Pass. When Taizu was about to cross to the north, he came to the ford of the Yellow River and sent his troops across first, remaining on the south bank with only Xu Chu and a hundred or so Tiger Warriors to guard the rear.

伺褚休下日，他等懷刀入。褚至下舍心動，即還侍。他等不知，入帳見褚，大驚愕。他色變，褚覺之，即擊殺他等。太祖益親信之，出入同行，不離左右。從圍鄴，力戰有功，賜爵關內侯。從討韓遂、馬超於潼關。太祖將北渡，臨濟河，先渡兵，獨與褚及虎士百餘人留南岸斷後。

Ma Chao, leading more than ten thousand infantry and cavalry, charged toward Taizu’s army, and arrows fell like rain. Xu Chu told Taizu that the enemy was coming in great numbers and that, since the troops had now all crossed, they should leave; then he helped Taizu into a boat. The enemy pressed their attack hard, and the soldiers fought one another to cross, so that the boat grew heavy and was about to sink. Xu Chu cut down those clinging to the boat and, with his left hand, held up a saddle to shield Taizu. When the boatman was struck and killed by a stray arrow, Xu Chu rowed the boat upstream with his right hand as well, and only just managed to get across. That day, had it not been for Xu Chu, Taizu would have been in grave danger.

超將步騎萬餘人，來奔太祖軍，矢下如雨。褚白太祖，賊來多，今兵渡已盡，宜去，乃扶太祖上船。賊戰急，軍爭濟，船重欲沒。褚斬攀船者，左手舉馬鞍蔽太祖。船工為流矢所中死，褚右手並溯船，僅乃得渡。是日，微褚幾危。

Later, Taizu met Han Sui, Ma Chao, and the others to talk, each riding alone. None of his attendants were allowed to accompany him except Xu Chu. Ma Chao, trusting in his own strength, secretly meant to rush forward and strike at Taizu, but having long heard of Xu Chu’s valor, he suspected that the horseman in attendance was Xu Chu. So he asked Taizu, “Lord Cao, where is this Tiger Marquis of yours?” Taizu turned and pointed to Xu Chu, who glared at Ma Chao with blazing eyes. Ma Chao did not dare to move, and they each withdrew. A few days later they fought a pitched battle and routed Ma Chao and the others; Xu Chu personally took enemy heads, and he was promoted to General of the Household of the Martial Guard.

其後太祖與遂、超等單馬會語，左右皆不得從，唯將褚。超負其力，陰欲前突太祖，素聞褚勇，疑從騎是褚。乃問太祖曰：「公有虎侯者安在？」太祖顧指褚，褚瞋目盼之。超不敢動，乃各罷。後數日會戰，大破超等，褚身斬首級，遷武衛中郎將。

The title “Martial Guard” began at this time. In the army, because Xu Chu had the strength of a tiger but was simple-minded, they called him the Tiger Fool; that is why Ma Chao asked about the “Tiger Marquis.” To this day the whole realm calls him by that name, and everyone takes it for his real name.

武衛之號，自此始也。軍中以褚力如虎而癡，故號曰虎癡；是以超問虎侯，至今天下稱焉，皆謂其姓名也。

Xu Chu was cautious by nature and upheld the law; he was steady and spoke little. When Cao Ren came from Jing Province to pay court, Taizu had not yet come out, so Cao Ren went in and met Xu Chu outside the hall. He called Xu Chu to come into a side room and sit and talk, but Xu Chu said, “The King is about to come out,” and went straight back into the hall. Cao Ren resented this. Someone reproached Xu Chu, saying, “The General Who Conquers the South is a senior minister of the imperial clan. He lowered himself to call you, so why did you refuse?” Xu Chu said, “Though he is a close kinsman and a senior minister, he is a guardian of the outer frontier. I serve as a minister of the inner palace. Talking together in company is quite enough; what private business could we have in a room of our own?”

褚性謹慎奉法，質重少言。曹仁自荊州來朝謁，太祖未出，入與褚相見於殿外。仁呼褚入便坐語，褚曰：「王將出。」便還入殿，仁意恨之。或以責褚曰：「征南宗室重臣，降意呼君，君何故辭？」褚曰：「彼雖親重，外籓也。褚備內臣，眾談足矣，入室何私乎？」

When Taizu heard of this, he loved him and treated him even more generously, and promoted him to General of the Central Fortifications. When Taizu passed away, Xu Chu wailed and wept until he vomited blood. When Emperor Wen ascended the throne, he advanced his fief to Marquis of Wansui Neighborhood, promoted him to General of the Martial Guard, and gave him command of the palace guard troops of the Central Army, keeping him very close. Earlier, when the Tiger Warriors under Xu Chu followed Taizu on campaign, Taizu considered them all men of valor and appointed them officers on the same day. Afterward, several dozen of them became generals and were enfeoffed as marquises for their merit, and more than a hundred became Commandants and Colonels; all of them had been swordsmen.

太祖聞，愈愛待之，遷中堅將軍。太祖崩，褚號泣歐血。文帝踐阼，進封萬歲亭侯，遷武衛將軍，都督中軍宿衛禁兵，甚親近焉。初，褚所將為虎士者從征伐，太祖以為皆壯士也，同日拜為將，其後以功為將軍封侯者數十人，都尉、校尉百餘人，皆劍客也。

When Emperor Ming came to the throne, he advanced him to Marquis of Mou District with a fief of seven hundred households, and granted one of his sons the rank of Marquis Within the Passes. When Xu Chu died, he was given the posthumous title Marquis Zhuang. His son Xu Yi succeeded him. Xu Chu’s elder brother Xu Ding also, for his military merit, became General Who Spreads Awe and commanded the Rapid as Tigers guarding the patrol roads. In the Taihe era the Emperor, remembering Xu Chu’s loyalty and filial piety, issued an edict praising him and again granted two of his sons and grandsons the rank of Marquis Within the Passes. Xu Yi was killed by Zhong Hui. At the beginning of Taishi, his son Xu Zong succeeded him.

明帝即位，進牟鄉侯，邑七百戶，賜子爵一人關內侯。褚薨，謚曰壯侯。子儀嗣。褚兄定，亦以軍功為振威將軍，都督徼道虎賁。太和中，帝思褚忠孝，下詔褒贊，復賜褚子孫二人爵關內侯。儀為鍾會所殺。泰始初，子綜嗣。

Dian Wei

典韋

Dian Wei was a man of Jiwu in Chenliu. He was tall and burly, surpassed others in physical strength, had resolve and principle, and loved the ways of the knight-errant. When the Liu family of Xiangyi became bitter enemies of Li Yong of Suiyang, Dian Wei took revenge on their behalf. Li Yong had formerly been Chief of Fuchun, and his guard was very strict. Dian Wei loaded a carriage with chicken and wine and pretended to be a caller paying his respects. When the gate opened, he went in with a dagger hidden in his clothes, killed Li Yong, and killed his wife as well. Then he calmly came out, took the sword and halberd from the carriage, and left on foot. Li Yong lived near the market, and the whole market was terrified.

典韋，陳留己吾人也。形貌魁梧，旅力過人，有志節任俠。襄邑劉氏與睢陽李永為讎，韋為報之。永故富春長，備衛甚謹。韋乘車載雞酒，偽為候者，門開，懷匕首入殺永，並殺其妻，徐出，取車上刀戟，步出。永居近巿，一巿盡駭。

Several hundred men pursued him, but none dared come near. After four or five li he met his companions, fought his way through, and escaped. From this he became known to the local men of mark. In the Chuping era, when Zhang Miao raised a righteous army, Dian Wei became a soldier and served under the Major Zhao Chong. The banner at the army gate was so long and large that no one could manage it, but Dian Wei raised it with one hand, and Zhao Chong marveled at his ability and strength. Later he served under Xiahou Dun, took enemy heads with merit many times, and was appointed Major. Taizu attacked Lü Bu at Puyang.

追者數百，莫敢近。行四五里，遇其伴，轉戰得脫。由是為豪傑所識。初平中，張邈舉義兵，韋為士，屬司馬趙寵。牙門旗長大，人莫能勝，韋一手建之，寵異其才力。後屬夏侯惇，數斬首有功，拜司馬。太祖討呂布於濮陽。

Lü Bu had a separate camp forty or fifty li west of Puyang. Taizu made a night raid on it and broke it by dawn. Before he could return, Lü Bu’s relief force arrived and attacked on three sides. Lü Bu himself fought hand to hand, and from morning until the sun began to sink they clashed dozens of times in a hard-fought struggle. Taizu called for volunteers to break into the enemy lines. Dian Wei was the first to come forward and led several dozen volunteers, all wearing double layers of clothing and two suits of armor; they threw away their shields and carried only long spears and hooked halberds. Then the west side was also hard pressed, and Dian Wei advanced to meet the attack. The enemy’s bows and crossbows shot wildly and the arrows came like rain, but Dian Wei did not look up. He said to his companions, “When the enemy are ten paces away, tell me.”

布有別屯在濮陽西四五十里，太祖夜襲，比明破之。未及還，會布救兵至，三面掉戰。時布身自搏戰，自旦至日昳數十合，相持急。太祖募陷陳，韋先占，將應募者數十人，皆重衣兩鎧，棄楯，但持長矛撩戟。時西面又急，韋進當之，賊弓弩亂發，矢至如雨，韋不視，謂等人曰：「虜來十步，乃白之。」

His companions said, “Ten paces!” He said again, “Tell me at five paces.” His companions, terrified, cried out quickly, “The enemy are here!” Dian Wei, holding a dozen or more halberds in his hands, rose with a great shout, and everyone he struck went down at his hand. Lü Bu’s troops fell back. As night was falling, Taizu was at last able to withdraw. He appointed Dian Wei Commandant and brought him to his side, giving him several hundred personal guards to command, who always patrolled around the great tent. Dian Wei was strong and warlike, and all the men he led were picked soldiers; in every battle they were always first onto the walls and first to break the enemy lines.

等人曰：「十步矣。」又曰：「五步乃白。」等人懼，疾言「虜至矣」！韋手持十餘戟，大呼起，所抵無不應手倒者。布眾退。會日暮，太祖乃得引去。拜韋都尉，引置左右，將親兵數百人，常繞大帳。韋既壯武，其所將皆選卒，每戰鬥，常先登陷陳。

He was promoted to Colonel. He was loyal by nature and extremely careful and steady. By day he would stand in attendance the whole day long, and at night he slept beside the tent, rarely going back to his own quarters. He loved wine and food and ate and drank as much as two men. Whenever food was bestowed on him in Taizu’s presence, he drank deeply and gulped at length, and though the attendants brought dishes one after another, it took several extra men to keep him supplied; Taizu admired this. Dian Wei liked to carry a great pair of halberds and a long sword, and in the army they had a saying about him: “Beneath the tent stands the stalwart Lord Dian, with a pair of halberds weighing eighty jin.”

遷為校尉。性忠至謹重，常晝立侍終日，夜宿帳左右，稀歸私寢。好酒食，飲啖兼人，每賜食於前，大飲長歠，左右相屬，數人益乃供，太祖壯之。韋好持大雙戟與長刀等，軍中為之語曰：「帳下壯士有典君，提一雙戟八十斤。」

When Taizu went to campaign in Jing Province and reached Wan, Zhang Xiu came out to surrender. Taizu was delighted and invited Zhang Xiu and his officers to a grand banquet. As Taizu went around pouring wine, Dian Wei stood behind him holding a great axe whose blade was a foot across. Before each person Taizu approached, Dian Wei raised the axe and fixed his eyes on him. To the end of the banquet, neither Zhang Xiu nor any of his officers dared to raise their eyes. Some ten days later Zhang Xiu rebelled and attacked Taizu’s camp. Taizu went out to fight but was worsted, and withdrew with his light cavalry.

太祖征荊州，至宛，張繡迎降。太祖甚悅，延繡及其將帥，置酒高會。太祖行酒，韋持大斧立後，刃徑尺，太祖所至之前，韋輒舉斧目之。竟酒，繡及其將帥莫敢仰視。後十餘日，繡反，襲太祖營，太祖出戰不利，輕騎引去。

Dian Wei fought at the camp gate, and the enemy could not get in. The attackers then scattered and poured in through other gates. At that time Dian Wei still had a dozen or so men under him, and all fought to the death, each of them a match for ten. As more and more of the enemy came at them from front and rear, Dian Wei struck left and right with his long halberd, and with every thrust a dozen or more of their spears snapped. His men around him were nearly all killed or wounded. Dian Wei, with dozens of wounds, fought on at close quarters with short weapons, and the enemy pressed forward to grapple with him. Dian Wei clamped two of them under his arms and killed them, and the rest did not dare to come forward.

韋戰於門中，賊不得入。兵遂散從他門併入。時韋校尚有十餘人，皆殊死戰，無不一當十。賊前後至稍多，韋以長戟左右擊之，一叉入，輒十餘矛摧。左右死傷者略盡。韋被數十創，短兵接戰，賊前搏之。韋雙挾兩賊擊殺之，餘賊不敢前。

Dian Wei charged forward at the enemy again and killed several men, but his wounds broke open, and he died glaring and cursing loudly. Only then did the enemy dare to come near. They took his head and passed it around to look at, and the whole army came to view his body. Taizu fell back to Wuyin; when he heard that Dian Wei had died, he wept for him. He sought men to steal back Dian Wei’s remains, mourned over them in person, and sent them home to Xiangyi for burial, and he appointed Dian Wei’s son Dian Man a Gentleman-Cadet. Whenever his carriage passed that way, he always offered a sacrifice of a sheep and a pig. Remembering Dian Wei, Taizu appointed Dian Man a Major and kept him close. When Emperor Wen took the throne as King, he made Dian Man a Commandant and granted him the rank of Marquis Within the Passes.

韋復前突賊，殺數人，創重發，瞋目大罵而死。賊乃敢前，取其頭，傳觀之，覆軍就視其軀。太祖退住舞陰，聞韋死，為流涕，募間取其喪，親自臨哭之，遣歸葬襄邑，拜子滿為郎中。車駕每過，常祠以中牢。太祖思韋，拜滿為司馬，引自近。文帝即王位，以滿為都尉，賜爵關內侯。

Pang De

龐德

Pang De, courtesy name Lingming, was a man of Huandao in Nanan. In his youth he served as a commandery clerk and as an Assistant Officer of the province. In the Chuping era he followed Ma Teng in attacking the rebellious Qiang and Di. He won merit many times and gradually rose to Colonel. In the Jian’an era, when Taizu was attacking Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang at Liyang, Yuan Tan sent Guo Yuan, Gao Gan, and others to seize Hedong, and Taizu had Zhong Yao lead the generals of Guanzhong against them. Pang De followed Ma Teng’s son Ma Chao to resist Guo Yuan and Gao Gan at Pingyang. Pang De led the vanguard, attacked Guo Yuan and Gao Gan, routed them, and personally cut off Guo Yuan’s head.

龐德字令明，南安狟道人也。¹少為郡吏州從事。初平中，從馬騰擊反羌叛氐。數有功，稍遷至校尉。建安中，太祖討袁譚、尚於黎陽，譚遣郭援、高幹等略取河東，太祖使鍾繇率關中諸將討之。德隨騰子超拒援、幹於平陽，德為軍鋒，進攻援、幹，大破之，親斬援首。²

He was appointed General of the Household and enfeoffed as Marquis of a Chief Village. Later, when Zhang Baiqi rebelled at Hongnong, Pang De again followed Ma Teng to campaign against him and defeated Zhang Baiqi between the two Xiao hills. In every battle he broke the enemy lines and drove the foe back, and his courage was the foremost in Ma Teng’s army. Later, when Ma Teng was summoned to court to become Commandant of the Guards, Pang De stayed behind under Ma Chao. When Taizu defeated Ma Chao at Weinan, Pang De followed Ma Chao in flight to Hanyang and held Jicheng. Later he again followed Ma Chao in flight to Hanzhong and joined Zhang Lu. When Taizu pacified Hanzhong, Pang De surrendered along with the others.

拜中郎將，封都亭侯。後張白騎叛於弘農，德復隨騰征之，破白騎於兩殽間。每戰，常陷陳卻敵，勇冠騰軍。後騰徵為衛尉，德留屬超。太祖破超於渭南，德隨超亡入漢陽，保冀城。後復隨超奔漢中，從張魯。太祖定漢中，德隨眾降。

Taizu had long heard of his valor, and appointed him General Who Establishes Righteousness and enfeoffed him as Marquis of Guanmen Neighborhood with three hundred households.

太祖素聞其驍勇，拜立義將軍，封關門亭侯，邑三百戶。

When Hou Yin, Wei Kai, and others rebelled and seized Wan, Pang De led his troops together with Cao Ren to attack and take Wan, beheaded Hou Yin and Wei Kai, and then went south to garrison Fan. In the campaign against Guan Yu, the generals at Fan were rather suspicious of Pang De because his elder brother was in Hanzhong. Pang De often said, “I have received the state’s favor, and duty requires me to give my life for it. I mean to attack Guan Yu myself. If I do not kill Guan Yu this year, Guan Yu will kill me.” Later he fought Guan Yu in person and shot him in the forehead. At that time Pang De always rode a white horse, and Guan Yu’s army called him the White Horse General and all feared him.

侯音、衛開等以宛叛，德將所領與曹仁共攻拔宛，斬音、開，遂南屯樊。討關羽，樊下諸將以德兄在漢中，頗疑之。¹德常曰：「我受國恩，義在效死。我欲身自擊羽。今年我不殺羽，羽當殺我。」後親與羽交戰，射羽中額。時德常乘白馬，羽軍謂之白馬將軍，皆憚之。

Cao Ren stationed Pang De ten li north of Fan. It happened that heavy rain fell for more than ten days, and the Han River suddenly overflowed, so that the flat ground below Fan lay under five or six zhang of water. Pang De and the other generals escaped the flood by climbing onto the dikes. Guan Yu attacked in boats, shooting at the dikes from large ships on all sides. Pang De, in armor and with bow in hand, never wasted an arrow. When the general Dong Heng, the retainer commander Dong Chao, and others wanted to surrender, Pang De arrested and beheaded them all. He fought hard from dawn until past midday, but Guan Yu’s attack grew ever fiercer, and when his arrows ran out he fought at close quarters with short weapons.

仁使德屯樊北十里，會天霖雨十餘日，漢水暴溢，樊下平地五六丈，德與諸將避水上堤。羽乘船攻之，以大船四面射堤上。德被甲持弓，箭不虛發。將軍董衡、部曲將董超等欲降，德皆收斬之。自平旦力戰至日過中，羽攻益急，矢盡，短兵接戰。

Pang De said to his supervising officer Cheng He, “I have heard that a good general does not fear death and seek to escape by any means, and that a man of valor does not break his integrity to seek life. Today is the day of my death.” The more he fought, the angrier he grew and the higher his spirit rose, but the water kept rising, and the officers and men all surrendered. With one officer of his command and two runners, Pang De drew his bow with an arrow at the string and took a small boat, meaning to return to Cao Ren’s camp. The current was so strong that the boat capsized; he lost his bow and arrows and was left alone in the water clinging to the overturned boat, and there he was captured by Guan Yu. He stood and would not kneel.

德謂督將成何曰：「吾聞良將不怯死以苟免，烈士不毀節以求生，今日，我死日也。」戰益怒，氣愈壯，而水浸盛，吏士皆降。德與麾下將一人，五伯二人，彎弓傅矢，乘小船欲還仁營。水盛船覆，失弓矢，獨抱船覆水中，為羽所得，立而不跪。

Guan Yu said to him, “Your elder brother is in Hanzhong, and I would like to make you one of my generals. Why not surrender at once?” Pang De cursed Guan Yu: “You brat, what talk is this of surrender? The King of Wei has a million armored troops, and his might shakes the realm. That Liu Bei of yours is a man of mediocre talent; how could he ever match him? I would rather be a ghost of the state than a general of rebels!” And so he was killed by Guan Yu. When Taizu heard of it he grieved and wept for him, and enfeoffed his two sons as full marquises.

羽謂曰：「卿兄在漢中，我欲以卿為將，不早降何為？」德罵羽曰：「竪子，何謂降也！魏王帶甲百萬，威振天下。汝劉備庸才耳，豈能敵邪！我寧為國家鬼，不為賊將也。」遂為羽所殺。太祖聞而悲之，為之流涕，封其二子為列侯。

When Emperor Wen took the throne as King, he sent an envoy to Pang De’s tomb to bestow a posthumous title, with a patent that read: “Of old, Xian Zhen lost his head and Wang Zhu broke his own neck; they sacrificed themselves for their principles, and former ages praised them. You, Marquis, displayed resolute courage for all to see, braved peril and made your name; your fame overflowed in your own day, and your righteousness stands higher than the men of old. We are moved to pity, and grant you the posthumous title Marquis Zhuang.” He also granted his sons Pang Hui and the others, four in all, the rank of Marquis Within the Passes, each with a fief of a hundred households. Pang Hui was brave and fierce with his father’s spirit; he rose to be General of the Capital Guard and was enfeoffed as a full marquis.

文帝即王位，乃遣使就德墓賜謚，策曰：「昔先軫喪元，王蠋絕脰，隕身徇節，前代美之。惟侯式昭果毅，蹈難成名，聲溢當時，義高在昔，寡人愍焉，謚曰壯侯。」又賜子會等四人爵關內侯，邑各百戶。會勇烈有父風，官至中尉將軍，封列侯。¹

Pang Yu

龐淯

Pang Yu, courtesy name Ziyi, was a man of Biaoshi in Jiuquan. At first, as an Assistant Officer of Liang Province, he was acting Chief of Poqiang. It happened that Zhang Meng, Prefect of Wuwei, rebelled and killed the Inspector Handan Shang, and issued an order: “Anyone who dares to mourn Handan Shang will be put to death without pardon.” When Pang Yu heard this, he abandoned his post and hurried day and night to the place of mourning. When he had finished wailing there, he went to Zhang Meng’s gate with a dagger hidden in his clothes, meaning to kill Zhang Meng when he was received. Zhang Meng, knowing him to be a man of principle, ordered him sent away and did not kill him. From this Pang Yu became known for his loyalty and fortitude.

龐淯字子異，酒泉表氏人也。初以涼州從事守破羌長，會武威太守張猛反，殺刺史邯鄲商，猛令曰：「敢有臨商喪，死不赦。」淯聞之，棄官，晝夜奔走，號哭喪所訖，詣猛門，衷匕首，欲因見以殺猛。猛知其義士，敕遣不殺，由是以忠烈聞。¹

The Prefect Xu Yi invited him to be his Registrar. Later, Huang Ang, a man of the commandery, rebelled and besieged the city. Pang Yu left his wife and children behind, climbed over the wall at night, slipped through the siege, and reported the emergency to the two commanderies of Zhangye and Dunhuang. At first they were doubtful and unwilling to send troops, and Pang Yu was about to fall on his sword. Moved by his devotion, the two commanderies raised troops for him. But before the army arrived, the commandery seat had already fallen and Xu Yi was dead. Pang Yu then gathered and shrouded Xu Yi’s body, escorted it back to his home commandery, and observed mourning for three years before returning.

太守徐揖請為主簿。後郡人黃昂反，圍城。淯棄妻子，夜逾城出圍，告急於張掖、敦煌二郡。初疑未肯發兵，淯欲伏劍，二郡感其義，遂為興兵。軍未至而郡城邑已陷，揖死。淯乃收斂揖喪，送還本郡，行服三年乃還。

When Taizu heard of this, he summoned him to serve on his staff. When Emperor Wen ascended the throne, he appointed him Commandant of Escort Cavalry, promoted him to Prefect of Xihai, and granted him the rank of Marquis Within the Passes. Later he was summoned to court and appointed Grandee of the Palace Without Portfolio, and died. His son Pang Zeng succeeded him.

太祖聞之，辟為掾屬。文帝踐阼，拜駙馬都尉，遷西海太守，賜爵關內侯。後徵拜中散大夫，薨。子曾嗣。

His Mother, Zhao E

母　趙娥

Earlier, Pang Yu’s maternal grandfather Zhao An had been killed by Li Shou of the same county. When Pang Yu’s three maternal uncles all died of illness at the same time, Li Shou’s family rejoiced. Pang Yu’s mother, Zhao E, grieved that her father’s murder had gone unavenged. Riding in a curtained carriage with a sword hidden in her sleeve, she stabbed Li Shou in broad daylight in front of the county post station. When it was done, she walked calmly to the county office and said, without any change of expression, “I have avenged my father. I ask to receive my punishment.” Yin Jia, Chief of Lufu, took off his seal and ribbon and was going to let Zhao E go, but she refused to leave, so he forced her into a carriage and sent her home. It happened that an amnesty was declared and she was pardoned. The province and commandery praised and honored her, carving a stone to commemorate her at the gate of her village.

初，淯外祖父趙安為同縣李壽所殺，淯舅兄弟三人同時病死，壽家喜。淯母娥自傷父讎不報，乃幃車袖劍，白日刺壽於都亭前，訖，徐詣縣，顏色不變，曰：「父讎已報，請受戮。」祿福長尹嘉解印綬縱娥，娥不肯去，遂強載還家。會赦得免，州郡嘆貴，刊石表閭。¹

Yan Wen

閻溫

Yan Wen, courtesy name Bojian, was a man of Xicheng in Tianshui. As Attendant Officer with Separate Carriage of Liang Province, he was acting Magistrate of Shanggui. When Ma Chao fled to Shanggui, Ren Yang and others of the commandery led the people out to welcome him. Yan Wen tried to stop them but could not, so he galloped back to the provincial seat. When Ma Chao then besieged the provincial seat at Jicheng very closely, the province sent Yan Wen out in secret to report the emergency to Xiahou Yuan. The enemy encirclement was many layers deep, so Yan Wen slipped out at night through the water. The next day the enemy saw his tracks and sent men to pursue and cut him off; they caught Yan Wen at the border of Xianqin and brought him back to Ma Chao.

閻溫字伯儉，天水西城人也。以涼州別駕守上邽令。馬超走奔上邽，郡人任養等舉眾迎之。溫止之，不能禁，乃馳還州。超復圍州所治冀城甚急，州乃遣溫密出，告急於夏侯淵。賊圍數重，溫夜從水中潛出。明日，賊見其跡，遣人追遮之，於顯親界得溫，執還詣超。

Ma Chao untied his bonds and said to him, “Success and failure are plain to see now. You set out to seek help for an isolated city and have fallen into another’s hands; what use is your loyalty now? If you do as I say and turn and tell the city that no help is coming from the east, this will be the way to turn misfortune into good fortune. Otherwise, you will be put to death right now.” Yan Wen pretended to agree, and Ma Chao took him in a carriage to the foot of the city wall. Yan Wen shouted toward the city, “The main army will be here in no more than three days. Hold on!” Everyone in the city wept and cried, “Long live!”

超解其縛，謂曰：「今成敗可見，足下為孤城請救而執於人手，義何所施？若從吾言，反謂城中，東方無救，此轉禍為福之計也。不然，今為戮矣。」溫偽許之，超乃載溫詣城下。溫向城大呼曰：「大軍不過三日至，勉之！」城中皆泣，稱萬歲。

Ma Chao angrily berated him: “Have you no thought for your life?” Yan Wen made no reply. At that time Ma Chao had been attacking the city for a long time without taking it, so he tried to win Yan Wen over slowly, hoping he would change his mind. He said to Yan Wen again, “Among your old friends in the city, are there any who would like to join me?” Again Yan Wen made no reply. Then Ma Chao rebuked him harshly, and Yan Wen said, “In serving one’s lord there is death, but never a divided heart. Yet you would have an elder speak words of disloyalty. Am I a man who clings to life at any cost?” Ma Chao then killed him.

超怒數之曰：「足下不為命計邪？」溫不應。時超攻城久不下，故徐誘溫，冀其改意。復謂溫曰：「城中故人，有欲與吾同者不？」溫又不應。遂切責之，溫曰：「夫事君有死無貳，而卿乃欲令長者出不義之言，吾豈苟生者乎？」超遂殺之。

Zhang Gong

張恭

Before this, the region west of the Yellow River had fallen into turmoil and was cut off. The Prefect of Dunhuang, Ma Ai, died in office, and his headquarters had no Assistant either. The Officer of Merit Zhang Gong had long been known for his learning and conduct, so the people of the commandery put him forward to act as Chief Clerk, and his kindness and good faith became widely known. He then sent his son Zhang Jiu east to Taizu to request a Prefect. At that time Huang Hua of Jiuquan and Zhang Jin of Zhangye each held their own commanderies and wanted to join forces with Zhang Gong. When Zhang Jiu reached Jiuquan, he was seized by Huang Hua and threatened with a naked blade.

先是，河右擾亂，隔絕不通，敦煌太守馬艾卒官，府又無丞。功曹張恭素有學行，郡人推行長史事，恩信甚著，乃遣子就東詣太祖，請太守。時酒泉黃華、張掖張進各據其郡，欲與恭並勢。就至酒泉，為華所拘執，劫以白刃。

Zhang Jiu never gave in, and he secretly sent a letter to Zhang Gong: “Father, you lead and inspire Dunhuang, and your loyalty and righteousness are plain for all to see. How could you abandon them because I am in danger and distress? Of old, Yue Yang ate the broth made from his son, and Li Tong saw his family destroyed. How can a minister who serves the state be bound by thoughts of wife and children? The main army will soon be here, so only hurry your troops to hold them in check. I beg you, do not let your love for your child cause me to die with regret in the Yellow Springs.” Zhang Gong at once sent his cousin Zhang Hua to attack the two counties of Shatou and Ganqi in Jiuquan.

就終不回，私與恭疏曰：「大人率厲敦煌，忠義顯然，豈以就在困危之中而替之哉？昔樂羊食子，李通覆家，經國之臣，寧懷妻孥邪？今大軍垂至，但當促兵以掎之耳；願不以下流之愛，使就有恨於黃壤也。」恭即遣從弟華攻酒泉沙頭、乾齊二縣。

Zhang Gong also sent more troops to follow behind Zhang Hua so that they could support each other front and rear. Separately, he sent two hundred armored cavalry to meet the officials and staff, going east along the northern frontier of Jiuquan and coming straight out at the Northern River of Zhangye to welcome the Prefect Yin Feng. At this point Zhang Jin needed Huang Hua’s help, and Huang Hua wanted to rescue Zhang Jin; but looking back west at Zhang Gong’s troops, he feared a sudden attack on his rear, and so he went to Su Ze, Prefect of Jincheng, and surrendered. In the end Zhang Jiu came through safely, and Yin Feng was able to take up his post.

恭又連兵尋繼華後，以為首尾之援。別遣鐵騎二百，迎吏官屬，東緣酒泉北塞，徑出張掖北河，逢迎太守尹奉。於是張進須黃華之助；華欲救進，西顧恭兵，恐急擊其後，遂詣金城太守蘇則降。就竟平安。奉得之官。

In the second year of Huangchu, an edict was issued praising him; Zhang Gong was granted the rank of Marquis Within the Passes and appointed Wuji Colonel of the Western Regions. After several years he was summoned back, to be given the post of an attendant official, and his son Zhang Jiu was to replace him. When Zhang Gong reached Dunhuang, he firmly declined on the grounds of grave illness. He died in the Taihe era and was posthumously granted the title of Bearer of the Gilded Mace. Zhang Jiu later became Prefect of Jincheng, and both father and son were renowned in the western provinces.

黃初二年，下詔褒揚，賜恭爵關內侯，拜西域戊己校尉。數歲徵還，將授以侍臣之位，而以子就代焉。恭至敦煌，固辭疾篤。太和中卒，贈執金吾。就後為金城太守，父子著稱於西州。¹

Appraisal

評

Appraisal: Li Dian valued and honored Confucian refinement, and for the sake of righteousness forgot his private grudges; he was admirable. Li Tong, Zang Ba, Wen Pin, and Lü Qian guarded and pacified provinces and commanderies, and all were known for their authority and kindness. Xu Chu and Dian Wei turned back the enemy at their lord’s side; they too were Fan Kuais of the Han. Pang De gave up his life denouncing the enemy, with the integrity of Zhou Ke. Pang Yu was ready to fall on his sword, and his sincerity moved the neighboring commanderies. Yan Wen shouted aloud toward the city, matching the heroism of Xie Yang and the Grand Master Lu.

評曰：李典貴尚儒雅，義忘私隙，美矣。李通、臧霸、文聘、呂虔鎮衛州郡，並著威惠。許褚、典韋折衝左右，抑亦漢之樊噲也。龐德授命叱敵，有周苛之節。龐淯不憚伏劍，而誠感鄰國。閻溫向城大呼，齊解、路之烈焉。