Sun Ben 孫賁

Sun Ben's courtesy name was Boyang. His father, Sun Qiang, courtesy name Shengtai, was the elder full brother of Sun Jian. Sun Ben lost both parents early, and his younger brother Sun Fu was still an infant; Sun Ben raised him himself, and the affection between them was very deep. While serving as Investigator of his commandery he acted as a county chief, and when Sun Jian raised a loyalist army at Changsha, Sun Ben gave up his post and followed him on his campaigns. Records, Wu 6 §25

In the 3rd year of Chuping (192), when Sun Jian was killed by arrows shot by Huang Zu's soldiers while attacking Jing Province, Sun Ben gathered and took command of the remaining troops and escorted the coffin. The Biography of Sun Jian records that he led the officers and men to Yuan Shu. Later, when Yuan Shu moved to Shouchun, Sun Ben again attached himself to him. Yuan Shu's elder cousin Yuan Shao had made Zhou Ang of Kuaiji Administrator of Jiujiang, and as Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu were at odds, Yuan Shu sent Sun Ben to attack Zhou Ang, and he defeated him at Yinling. Records, Wu 1 §21Records, Wu 6 §25

Yuan Shu memorialized that Sun Ben should serve concurrently as Inspector of Yu Province (the Biography of Sun Jian records that Yuan Shu again memorialized to make him Inspector of Yu Province), and Sun Ben was transferred to Chief Commandant of Danyang, acted as General Who Subdues Barbarians, and subdued the Shanyue. When Liu Yao, Inspector of Yang Province, wished to cross the Yangtze, Wu Jing and Sun Ben welcomed him and settled him at Qu'e. But Liu Yao, regarding the two as men appointed by Yuan Shu, pressed them and drove them out, and Sun Ben withdrew to Liyang with his officers and men. Records, Wu 6 §26Records, Wu 1 §21 · 28Records, Wu 4 §4–5

Soon afterwards Yuan Shu again sent Sun Ben with Wu Jing to attack Fan Neng, Zhang Ying and others on the banks of the Yangtze, but they could not take their positions for more than a year. The Biography of Wu Jing records that Wu Jing, together with Sun Ben, attacked Fan Neng and Yu Mi at Hengjiang, and also struck Ze Rong and Xue Li at Moling. When Sun Ce crossed the river eastward, he helped Sun Ben and Wu Jing defeat Zhang Ying, Fan Neng and the others and then advanced to attack Liu Yao, who fled to Yuzhang. Records, Wu 6 §26Records, Wu 1 §28Records, Wu 5 §3Records, Wu 4 §5

Sun Ce sent Sun Ben and Wu Jing back to Shouchun to report to Yuan Shu, just as Yuan Shu presumptuously proclaimed himself emperor and set up a full array of officials. Yuan Shu appointed Sun Ben Administrator of Jiujiang, but Sun Ben did not take up the post; abandoning his wife and children, he returned south of the Yangtze. Records, Wu 6 §26–27

By this time Sun Ce had already pacified the two commanderies of Wu and Kuaiji, so Sun Ben joined Sun Ce in campaigning against Liu Xun, Administrator of Lujiang, and Huang Zu, Administrator of Jiangxia. On the army's return they heard that Liu Yao had died of illness and pacified Yuzhang; Sun Ce petitioned the court to have Sun Ben serve concurrently as Administrator of Yuzhang, and Sun Ben was later enfeoffed as Marquis of a Chief Village. The Biography of Sun Ce records that when Sun Ce took Kuaiji and replaced all the senior officials, he made Sun Ben Administrator of Yuzhang and Sun Ben's younger brother Sun Fu Administrator of Luling. Records, Wu 6 §27Records, Wu 1 §31

When Yuan Shao was at the height of his power, Cao Cao, seeking to placate Sun Ce, who had united the region east of the Yangtze, married his younger brother's daughter to Sun Ce's youngest brother Sun Kuang and took Sun Ben's daughter as a wife for his son Cao Zhang. Later, when Cao Cao crushed Jing Province and his might shook the south, Sun Ben grew afraid and wished to send his son as a hostage. Zhu Zhi went to see Sun Ben and explained where safety and danger lay, and Sun Ben gave up the idea. Records, Wu 1 §35Records, Wu 11 §7

In the 13th year of Jian'an (208), the envoy Liu Yin came bearing an edict appointing Sun Ben General Who Subdues Barbarians and having him govern the commandery as before. Sun Ben died after eleven years in office, and his son Sun Lin succeeded him. At the age of nine Sun Lin governed Yuzhang in his father's place, and during nearly twenty years in the commandery he suppressed rebel bandits. Records, Wu 6 §27–28

In the assessment of the Biographies of the Ruling House, Chen Shou said that the bond of kindness and duty in cherishing one's kin is a constant principle in ancient and modern times, and that he had recorded these various Suns in detail because some helped lay the first foundations of the state and others held and guarded the frontiers, proved fully equal to their charge, and did not disgrace their honor. Records, Wu 6 §52