Chen Biao 陳表

Chen Biao, courtesy name Wen'ao, was the son of Chen Wu by a concubine. Known from youth, he attended the Eastern Palace together with Zhuge Ke, Gu Tan, Zhang Xiu and others, and they all became close friends. According to the Biography of Sun Deng, in the 2nd year of Huangchu of Wei (221), when Sun Quan made his eldest son Sun Deng heir and selected outstanding scholars as his guests and friends, Zhuge Ke, Zhang Xiu, Gu Tan, Chen Biao and others were chosen to join him, lecturing on the Book of Songs and the Book of Documents and, when they went out, accompanying him in riding and archery. Records, Wu 10 §38Records, Wu 14 §2

When the Grand Tutor Zhang Wen said that the Palace Cadets held the post closest to the prince for questions and answers and should be men of outstanding virtue, Chen Biao and others were made Palace Cadets. When Sun Quan proclaimed himself emperor in the 1st year of Huanglong (229) and Sun Deng became Imperial Crown Prince, Zhuge Ke was made Left Supporter, Zhang Xiu Right Assistant, Gu Tan Corrector and Chen Biao Commandant Who Aids Rectitude, and these were called the four friends. Chen Biao's own biography also records that he was transferred to Palace Cadet to the Crown Prince and appointed Commandant Who Aids Rectitude. Records, Wu 14 §3Records, Wu 10 §38

The Master of Writing Ji Yan was also on good terms with Chen Biao. Later, when Ji Yan was charged with a crime, the people of the time all hastened to protect themselves and spoke coldly even of those they had trusted deeply, but Chen Biao alone did not, and for this the gentlemen esteemed him. Records, Wu 10 §38

After his elder brother Chen Xiu died in the 1st year of Huanglong (229), Chen Biao's mother would not serve Chen Xiu's mother, and Chen Biao told his mother that since his brother had died young and he now managed the family's affairs, he ought to honour his father's principal wife. If his mother could bend her feelings and defer to the principal wife, that would be his dearest wish; if she could not, he would simply have to go out and live apart. Moved by this, the two mothers came to their senses and lived in harmony. Records, Wu 10 §36 · 38–39

Because his father had died on the battlefield, Chen Biao asked to be employed as a general and commanded 500 soldiers. Wishing to have the full strength of his fighting men, he treated them with all his heart, and the soldiers all loved and followed him and gladly risked their lives for him. At that time someone stole government property and Shi Ming, a soldier of the Wunan corps, was suspected, but Shi Ming would rather die than confess even under the cruellest torture. When the Commandant of Justice reported this, Sun Quan, considering that Chen Biao was good at winning the hearts of stalwart men, handed Shi Ming over to Chen Biao to find out the truth in his own way. Records, Wu 10 §39–40

Chen Biao at once broke off his fetters, had him bathed and changed his clothes, and set out a generous feast of wine and food to win him over with good cheer. Shi Ming at last confessed and named all his accomplices. Sun Quan thought this remarkable, and wishing to preserve Chen Biao's good name, he specially pardoned Shi Ming and executed his gang. He transferred Chen Biao to Right Commander of the Wunan Corps and enfeoffed him as Marquis of a Chief Village to continue the old rank, but Chen Biao declined everything and asked that the rank be passed to Chen Xiu's son Chen Yan, which Sun Quan did not allow. Records, Wu 10 §40–41

In the 3rd year of Jiahe (234), when Zhuge Ke, concurrently Administrator of Danyang, was subduing the Shanyue, Chen Biao was made concurrently Commandant of Xin'an to act in concert with Zhuge Ke. The 200 exempted households granted to Chen Biao were in Xin'an County in Kuaiji Commandery, and judging that they could all make good soldiers, he submitted a memorial asking to return them to the government to fill out the picked troops. When an edict asked why he should decline what the state gave in return for the late general's service, Chen Biao replied that in eliminating the enemies of the state and avenging his father men were the foundation, and that to waste such strong and nimble men as servants was not his wish, and he selected them all to fill his ranks. Sun Quan greatly commended him and ordered the commanderies and counties to choose weak people from the registered households to take their place. Records, Wu 10 §41–42

In his three years in office Chen Biao widely took in those who surrendered and gained more than 10,000 soldiers. When his task was done and he was due to leave, Wu Ju and others among the people of Poyang happened to rise in revolt and take the city walls, and the subordinate counties were shaken. Chen Biao at once crossed the border and hurried to put them down, and Wu Ju was defeated and finally surrendered. The Biography of Lu Xun places the revolt of Wu Ju and others in the 6th year of Jiahe (237). Lu Xun appointed Chen Biao Lieutenant General and raised his fief to Marquis of a Chief District, and Chen Biao garrisoned Zhangkeng in the north. Records, Wu 10 §42–43Records, Wu 13 §48

Chen Biao died at the age of thirty-four. Because he had spent all his family's wealth on supporting his soldiers, on the day he died his wife and children were left standing in the open, and the crown prince Sun Deng built a house for them. His son Chen Ao became Major of a Separate Command at seventeen and was given 400 soldiers, and when Chen Ao died, Chen Xiu's son Chen Yan again became major in his place. Shi Ming, who had first been won over by Chen Biao, reformed his conduct and became a good man, and in the end became a stalwart commander, rising to the rank of general. Records, Wu 10 §43–44

The assessment at the end of the volume called the generals of this volume all tiger-like servants of Jiangbiao, and said that Chen Biao, though the son of a concubine in a military family, flew wing to wing and stood shoulder to shoulder with the sons of nobles and men of renown and stood out from the crowd: was this not admirable? Records, Wu 10 §109