Zhu Ling 朱靈

Zhu Ling was a man of Qinghe and a general under Yuan Shao. When Cao Cao campaigned against Tao Qian, Yuan Shao had Zhu Ling supervise three camps to assist Cao Cao, and Zhu Ling won merit in battle. The various generals Yuan Shao had sent were each dismissed and went home, but Zhu Ling stayed and would not leave, saying, 'I have seen many men, but none like Lord Cao. He is truly an enlightened lord. Now that I have met him, where else would I go?' The soldiers he led admired him and all stayed with Zhu Ling. Records, Wei 17 §72

In the 4th year of Jian'an (199), when Yuan Shu tried to pass through Xu Province and go north to Yuan Shao, Cao Cao sent Liu Bei and Zhu Ling to intercept him. The Biography of the First Sovereign records that Cao Cao had Liu Bei lead Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao (路招) to intercept Yuan Shu. Before they arrived, Yuan Shu died of illness. Liu Bei occupied Xiapi, and when Zhu Ling and the others went back, he killed Che Zhou, the Inspector of Xu Province. Records, Wei 1 §56Records, Shu 2 §14 · 16

When Cao Cao campaigned against Jing Province, Zhao Yan became Commander and Protector of the Army and supervised the seven armies of Yu Jin, Zhang Liao, Zhang He, Zhu Ling, Li Dian, Lu Zhao and Feng Kai. Records, Wei 23 §51

In the 7th month of the 16th year of Jian'an (211), while Cao Cao faced Ma Chao and others across Tong Pass, he secretly sent Xu Huang, Zhu Ling and others to cross the Puban Ford by night and set up camp in Hexi. Xiahou Yuan followed the campaign against Han Sui and others and fought at Weinan, and he also led Zhu Ling to pacify the Di of Yumi and Qian. In the 17th year (212), when Cao Cao returned to Ye, he made Xiahou Yuan acting General Who Protects the Army and had him lead Zhu Ling, Lu Zhao and others to garrison Chang'an. Records, Wei 1 §110Records, Wei 9 §16–17

In the 3rd month of the 20th year of Jian'an (215), Cao Cao set out west to attack Zhang Lu and, reaching Chencang, intended to enter the land of the Di from Wudu. When the Di blocked the road, he first sent Zhang He, Zhu Ling and others to attack and defeat them. Records, Wei 1 §146

According to the Biography of Yu Jin, Cao Cao always resented Zhu Ling and wished to take away his camp. He had Yu Jin, a man of awe and gravity, lead several dozen horsemen bearing a written order straight to Zhu Ling's camp and take his troops, and neither Zhu Ling nor his men dared to move. Zhu Ling was then made a commander under Yu Jin. The Records does not say when this happened. Records, Wei 17 §37

Chen Shou wrote that Zhu Ling later became a fine general whose fame was second only to Xu Huang and others, that he rose to General of the Rear, and that he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Gaotang. Records, Wei 17 §72

After Emperor Ming took the throne, Cao Xiu advanced south from Lujiang and went deep into enemy territory, and the enemy cut off Jiashi at the Wuqiang Pass to block his way back. As Cao Xiu, faring badly in battle, withdrew and fled, Zhu Ling and others happened to arrive from behind to cut off the road and ran into the enemy. The enemy fled in alarm, and only then could Cao Xiu's army return. The Biography of Man Chong records that Cao Xiu died that year. Records, Wei 26 §10–11

In the 7th month of the 4th year of Zhengshi (243), an edict had 'the late General of the Rear Zhu Ling' honored with sacrifices in the ancestral temple of Taizu together with Cao Zhen, Cao Xiu, Zhang He, Xu Huang, Zhang Liao and others. The Records does not give the year or cause of his death. Records, Wei 4 §14

In his assessment for Volume 17, in which Zhu Ling is recorded, Chen Shou ranked the five men Yu Jin, Zhang He, Yue Jin, Zhang Liao and Xu Huang foremost among the fine generals of the time, but said nothing separately about Zhu Ling. Records, Wei 17 §74