Chang Xi 昌豨

According to the Annals of Emperor Wu, when Cao Cao captured and killed Lü Bu and Chen Gong at Xiapi in the 3rd year of Jian'an (198), Zang Ba, Sun Guan, Wu Dun, Yin Li and Chang Xi of Taishan had each gathered a following. When Lü Bu defeated Liu Bei, Zang Ba and the others had all followed Lü Bu. When Lü Bu was defeated, Cao Cao captured Zang Ba and the others, treated them generously, and carved out the coastal areas of the two provinces of Qing and Xu and entrusted them to these men. Records, Wei 1 §48–49

The Biography of the First Sovereign records him under the name Chang Ba. When Liu Bei killed Che Zhou, Inspector of Xu Province, left Guan Yu to hold Xiapi and returned to Xiaopei, Chang Ba of Donghai rebelled. Many commanderies and counties turned against Cao Cao and sided with Liu Bei, so that their followers numbered tens of thousands, and Liu Bei sent Sun Qian to ally with Yuan Shao. Cao Cao sent Liu Dai and Wang Zhong to attack Liu Bei, but they could not win. Records, Shu 2 §16

In the 1st month, in spring, of the 5th year of Jian'an (200), Cao Cao personally went east to attack Liu Bei and defeated him. Liu Bei fled to Yuan Shao, and Guan Yu, who was stationed at Xiapi, also surrendered. The Annals of Emperor Wu records that because Chang Xi had rebelled and sided with Liu Bei, Cao Cao also attacked and crushed him. Records, Wei 1 §58–59

According to the biography of Lü Qian, Jiong Mu and others, people under Du Song, Colonel of Xiangben, rose in revolt and made contact with Chang Xi. Cao Cao had Lü Qian replace Du Song, and Lü Qian lured Jiong Mu's ringleaders and several dozen of their partners in crime, gave them wine and food, and when they were drunk had the strong men he had hidden kill them all. When he pacified the remaining followers, the bandits were at last subdued. This biography does not say when this took place. Records, Wei 18 §41–42

According to the biography of Zhang Liao, after Yuan Shao was defeated, Zhang Liao and Xiahou Yuan besieged Chang Xi at Donghai. When several months had passed, their provisions had run out and there was talk of withdrawing, Zhang Liao told Xiahou Yuan that whenever he made his rounds of the siege lines Chang Xi watched him closely, and that the arrows shot from that side had also grown fewer, which meant Chang Xi was wavering over his plans; he proposed to draw him into conversation. When Zhang Liao sent word that he would convey the Duke's orders, Chang Xi did come down and talk with him, and at Zhang Liao's words that Cao Cao possessed divine martial prowess and was embracing the four quarters with virtue, so that those who submitted first would receive great rewards, he agreed to surrender. Records, Wei 17 §3–4

Zhang Liao went alone up Mount Sangong, entered Chang Xi's house and bowed to his wife and children. Chang Xi, greatly pleased, followed Zhang Liao to Cao Cao. Cao Cao sent Chang Xi back and reproached Zhang Liao: 'This is not the way of a great general.' Zhang Liao apologized, saying that since the illustrious lord's majesty and good faith were known throughout the four seas and he had gone bearing his lord's intentions, he had judged that Chang Xi would not dare harm him. Records, Wei 17 §4–5

The biography of Xiahou Yuan records that when Chang Xi rebelled, Yu Jin was sent to attack him but could not take his positions, so Xiahou Yuan was sent to join forces with Yu Jin; they forced more than ten of Chang Xi's camps to surrender, and Chang Xi went to Yu Jin and surrendered. The biography of Zang Ba also records that Zang Ba campaigned with Yu Jin against Chang Xi. Records, Wei 9 §15Records, Wei 18 §25

According to the biography of Yu Jin, when Chang Xi rebelled again after Ji Province was pacified, Yu Jin was sent to campaign against him. As Yu Jin advanced swiftly and attacked, Chang Xi, who had an old friendship with Yu Jin, came to him and surrendered. The generals thought that since Chang Xi had already surrendered he should be sent to Cao Cao, but Yu Jin, citing the Duke's standing order that those who surrendered after being besieged were not to be pardoned, said, 'Though Chang Xi is an old friend, can I lose my integrity?' Yu Jin went out in person to bid Chang Xi farewell and, shedding tears, beheaded him. Records, Wei 17 §34–35

At this time Cao Cao was encamped at Chunyu; hearing of this, he sighed, 'Chang Xi surrendered not by coming to me but by submitting to Yu Jin; how is this not fate?', and from then on he valued Yu Jin all the more. When Donghai was pacified, Yu Jin became General of Tiger Might. The Annals of Emperor Wu records that Cao Cao reached Chunyu in the 8th month, in autumn, of the 11th year of Jian'an (206) to attack the pirate Guan Cheng, and returned from Chunyu to Ye in the 2nd month, in spring, of the following year. Chen Shou's main text does not state the year of Chang Xi's death. Records, Wei 17 §35–36Records, Wei 1 §95 · 97