Novel scene
Sun Quan Battles Zhang Liao 孫仲謀大戰張文遠
About this event
"Sun Quan Battles Zhang Liao" is the latter scene of the title of Chapter 53 of the Romance, "Guan Yunchang Out of Righteousness Releases Huang Hansheng; Sun Zhongmou Fights a Great Battle with Zhang Wenyuan," and is the first fight of the battles at Hefei after the Battle of Red Cliffs. Sun Quan goes out in person but is pushed back by Zhang Liao, Li Dian and Yue Jin and loses Song Qian, and Taishi Ci, trusting in Ge Ding's help from inside, enters the city of Hefei, is hit by arrows and in the end dies. Romance, Ch. 53 §28–45
In Chen Shou's text, the Biography of the Lord of Wu records only that around the same time Sun Quan attacked Hefei for more than a month but could not take it and withdrew. Records, Wu 2 §14
In the Romance
In Chapter 53 of the Romance, Sun Quan has long been at Hefei since Red Cliffs, fighting Cao Cao's troops more than ten times without reaching a decision. When Cheng Pu's troops and Lu Su arrive, Sun Quan dismounts to greet Lu Su, and Lu Su replies that his name will only be made illustrious when Sun Quan has achieved the imperial enterprise that unites the realm. When Zhang Liao challenges him to battle, Sun Quan goes out in person without using the newly arrived troops. Romance, Ch. 53 §28–31
While Taishi Ci fights Zhang Liao for seventy or eighty bouts, Yue Jin charges at Sun Quan and breaks the painted halberds of Song Qian and Jia Hua, and Song Qian falls to an arrow shot by Li Dian. When Zhang Liao gives chase, Cheng Pu blocks him and saves Sun Quan. When Sun Quan weeps over Song Qian's death, Zhang Hong remonstrates that a general's work is not for the lord to do, and Sun Quan admits his error. Romance, Ch. 53 §32–36
Taishi Ci sends Ge Ding, a man from his home district, into the city of Hefei to set fires and supports him from outside with 5,000 troops, but Zhang Liao, who did not take off his armor even on the day of victory, beheads Ge Ding and opens the city gate as a ruse to lure Taishi Ci in. Taishi Ci, hit by several arrows, is rescued by Lu Xun and Dong Xi, but after Sun Quan withdraws his army and returns to Nanxu, he dies at the age of forty-one. Romance, Ch. 53 §36–45
Where the Romance differs
The opposing generals: In Chapter 53 of the Romance, right after Red Cliffs, Zhang Liao, Li Dian and Yue Jin fight Sun Quan. In the Biography of the Lord of Wu in the Records, Sun Quan at this time had Zhang Zhao attack Dangtu and attacked Hefei for more than a month, but withdrew when Cao Cao sent Zhang Xi. Zhang Liao and the others fighting Sun Quan at Hefei is a later event, recorded in the Biography of Zhang Liao. Romance, Ch. 53 §28–32Records, Wu 2 §14Records, Wei 17 §10
Who died: In Chapter 53 of the Romance, Song Qian is killed in this battle and Taishi Ci also dies of his wounds. The Biography of Taishi Ci in the Records says that Taishi Ci died in the 11th year of Jian'an at the age of forty-one, and Song Qian still appears as a general under Lu Xun in the 1st year of Huangwu. Romance, Ch. 53 §34–43Records, Wu 4 §33Records, Wu 2 §41
The same passages: The exchange in which Sun Quan dismounts to greet Lu Su is almost word for word as in the Biography of Lu Su, and Zhang Hong's remonstrance as in the Biography of Zhang Hong. In the Biography of Zhang Hong, however, the remonstrance comes when Sun Quan is about to charge with light cavalry. Romance, Ch. 53 §29–36Records, Wu 9 §45–46Records, Wu 8 §4–5
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.