Ling Tong 凌統

Ling Tong, courtesy name Gongji, was a man of Yuhang County in Wu Commandery. His father Ling Cao was a bold and daring knight-errant who, from the time Sun Ce first rose, followed him on every campaign and was always first in the army to brave the blades. As acting Chief of Yongping he brought order to the Shanyue, so that the cunning and lawless held back their hands, and he was transferred to Colonel Who Destroys Bandits (pozei xiaowei). When Sun Quan took command of the army, Ling Cao followed him in the attack on Jiangxia, was the first to land at Xiakou and broke the enemy's vanguard, but while advancing alone in a light boat he was struck by a stray arrow and killed. Records, Wu 10 §70

Ling Tong was then fifteen years old. Because Ling Cao had died in the service of the state, Sun Quan made Ling Tong Major of a Separate Command (biebu sima) and acting Commandant Who Destroys Bandits (pozei duwei), and had him command his father's troops. Later, in an attack on mountain bandits, Ling Tong stayed behind with Commander Zhang Yi and others to besiege the ten thousand men of the Ma garrison. Before the day set for the assault he drank with Commander Chen Qin, and when Chen Qin, who presided over the drinking, treated the company with contempt and imposed penalty cups without reason, Ling Tong rebuked him to his face. Chen Qin cursed Ling Tong and even his father, and, emboldened by drink, insulted him again on the road; unable to bear it, Ling Tong cut him with his sword, and Chen Qin died a few days later. Records, Wu 10 §71–72

When the time came to attack the garrison, Ling Tong said, 'Only death can atone for my crime,' and leading and urging on his soldiers he braved arrows and stones in person. The side he was assigned gave way at once, and the other commanders, taking advantage of the victory, routed the enemy. On his return he gave himself up to the military judge (junzheng) to be held in custody, but Sun Quan admired his boldness and resolve and allowed him to redeem his crime with his merit. Records, Wu 10 §72

In the spring of the 13th year of Jian'an (208), when Sun Quan again attacked Huang Zu at Jiangxia, Ling Tong served as vanguard; with a few dozen stalwart soldiers close to him he rode in a single boat, always several dozen li ahead of the main force. Entering the Right River, he beheaded Huang Zu's general Zhang Shuo and captured everyone on his boat. According to the biography of Dong Xi, Ling Tong and Dong Xi formed the front division, each leading a hundred men sworn to die, and broke into the mengchong warships from large boats. When Lü Meng defeated Huang Zu's fleet, Ling Tong was the first to attack his city and won a great victory, and Sun Quan made Ling Tong Commandant Who Carries On Valor (chenglie duwei). Records, Wu 10 §73 · 49Records, Wu 2 §11

Together with Zhou Yu and others, Ling Tong resisted and defeated Cao Cao at Wulin, then went on to attack Cao Ren and was transferred to colonel. At this time, when Gan Ning was surrounded at Yiling by Cao Ren's forces, Lü Meng said to Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu, 'Leave Ling Gongji behind; if I go with you, it will not take long, and I guarantee that Gongji can hold out for ten days,' and Zhou Yu left Ling Tong behind and went to rescue Gan Ning. Chen Shou wrote that even while with the army Ling Tong kept close to worthy men and treated scholars well, made light of wealth and valued righteousness, and had the bearing of a gentleman of the state. Records, Wu 10 §73Records, Wu 9 §17 · 61Records, Wu 2 §14

In the 19th year of Jian'an (214) he took part in the capture of Wan and became General of the Household Who Sweeps Away Bandits (dangkou zhonglangjiang) with the concurrent post of Chancellor of Pei. He went west with Lü Meng and others to take three commanderies, returned from Yiyang, and in the 20th year of Jian'an (215) joined the attack on Hefei as Right Division Commander (you budu). When Sun Quan withdrew the army and the front division had already set out, the Wei general Zhang Liao and others suddenly descended north of the ford. Leading three hundred of his close followers, Ling Tong plunged into the encirclement, held up and shielded Sun Quan and got him out. The enemy had already wrecked the bridge, which was held together by only two planks, and after Sun Quan had whipped his horse and galloped across, Ling Tong turned back to fight again. All those around him were killed and he himself was wounded, but he killed several dozen men, and only when he judged that Sun Quan had escaped did he come back. Records, Wu 10 §74 · 64Records, Wu 2 §19

Since the bridge had collapsed and the road was cut, Ling Tong slipped away in secret still wearing his armor, and Sun Quan, who was already aboard his boat, was startled and overjoyed to see him. When Ling Tong grieved beyond bearing that none of his close followers had returned, Sun Quan drew up his sleeve to wipe away his tears and said, 'Gongji, the dead are gone. So long as you are alive, why should I worry that there are no men?' Sun Quan appointed him Lieutenant General and doubled his original troops. Records, Wu 10 §75

At that time someone recommended Sheng Xian of the same commandery to Sun Quan, saying that his firm spirit and great integrity surpassed Ling Tong's, but Sun Quan said, 'It will be enough for now if he is like Ling Tong.' Later, when Sheng Xian was summoned and arrived at night, Ling Tong, who had already gone to bed, heard of it, straightened his clothes, went out of the gate, and took him by the hand and led him in. Chen Shou wrote that this was how much he loved good men and was free of jealousy. Records, Wu 10 §76

When Ling Tong said that many of the mountain people were still strong and fierce and could be won over with awe and kindness, Sun Quan sent him east to register them and subdue them, and ordered the cities under him to grant everything Ling Tong asked for first and report afterward. Ling Tong obtained more than ten thousand picked troops. When he passed through his home county, he entered the gate of the county office on foot and paid every courtesy to the senior officials, and toward his relatives and old friends he showed ever greater kindness and affection. Just as the task was finished and he was about to leave, he fell ill and died at the age of forty-nine. The Records does not give the year of his death. Records, Wu 10 §77

When Sun Quan heard of it, he struck his couch, sat up and could not stop grieving, and for several days he reduced his meals. He had Zhang Cheng compose an inscription and an elegy. Luo Tong took over command of his troops. His two sons, Ling Lie and Ling Feng, were only a few years old; Sun Quan raised them in the palace just like his own sons, and showing them to his guests he said, 'These are my tiger cubs.' Recording Ling Tong's merits retroactively, he enfeoffed Ling Lie as a village marquis (tinghou) and returned his father's old troops to him, and when Ling Lie was dismissed for a crime, Ling Feng succeeded to the title and commanded the troops. Records, Wu 10 §78–79Records, Wu 12 §54

In his assessment, Chen Shou wrote that the generals of this volume were all tiger-like servants of Jiangbiao whom the Sun family treated generously. Records, Wu 10 §109