Chen Zhen 陳震

Chen Zhen, courtesy name Xiaoqi, was a man of Nanyang. When the First Sovereign (Liu Bei) held the post of Governor of Jing Province, he summoned him to be an Assistant Officer in charge of several commanderies, and Chen Zhen followed Liu Bei into Shu. When Shu was pacified he became Chief Commandant of the Northern Region of Shu Commandery; when the commandery was renamed he became Administrator of Wenshan, and he was then transferred to Qianwei. Records, Shu 9 §20

In the 3rd year of Jianxing (225) he entered the court as Master of Writing, was promoted to Director of the Imperial Secretariat and was sent as an envoy to Wu by command. In the 7th year of Jianxing (229), when Sun Quan took the title of emperor, the court made Chen Zhen Minister of the Guards to congratulate Sun Quan on his accession. Zhuge Liang wrote to his elder brother Zhuge Jin: 'Xiaoqi's loyal and pure nature has grown ever more steadfast with age, and in praising both east and west and bringing them into joyful harmony he has qualities to be valued.' Records, Shu 9 §20

On entering the borders of Wu, Chen Zhen sent a document to the officials guarding the passes. It said that envoys were passing back and forth between east and west without cease, reaffirming the original friendship by covenant, and that the honoured one of the east had responded to Heaven's mandate and ascended the throne; if at this time they attacked the rebels with one heart, what bandit could not be destroyed? Citing how Xianzi, on going to Lu, violated the taboo on its mountain names and was criticized in the Spring and Autumn Annals, he also asked to be taught what was proper, since the laws of the two states differed and he feared he might transgress them. Records, Shu 9 §21–22

When Chen Zhen reached Wuchang, Sun Quan mounted an altar with him, smeared their lips with blood to swear a covenant and divided the realm: Xu, Yu, You (幽州) and Qing provinces were to belong to Wu, and Bing, Liang (涼州), Ji and Yan provinces to Shu, while the land of Si Province was to be divided at Hangu Pass. The Biography of the Lord of Wu dates this to the 6th month of the 1st year of Huanglong (229). On his return Chen Zhen was enfeoffed as Marquis of Chengyang Village. Records, Shu 9 §23Records, Wu 2 §61–62

In the 9th year of Jianxing (231), when the Protector-General Li Ping was dismissed for deceit and false accusations, Zhuge Liang wrote to the Chief Clerk Jiang Wan and the Palace Attendant Dong Yun. He said that when Xiaoqi was about to go to Wu earlier, he had told him that 'Zhengfang has scales and armour in his belly, and even the people of his home district think he cannot be approached'; he himself had thought that scales and armour need only be left untouched, but unexpectedly something like the affairs of Su Qin and Zhang Yi had arisen, and Xiaoqi should be informed of this. Zhengfang was Li Yan's courtesy name, and Li Yan later changed his name to Ping. Records, Shu 9 §24Records, Shu 10 §41 · 45

Chen Zhen died in the 13th year of Jianxing (235), and his son Chen Ji succeeded him. Records, Shu 9 §24

In his assessment Chen Shou named him together with Dong He, Liu Ba, Ma Liang and Dong Yun, saying that Chen Zhen was loyal and respectful and grew ever more steadfast with age, and that all of them were among the finest ministers of Shu. Records, Shu 9 §45