Pang Shigu (龐師古) | 24 Histories

Overview

Pang Shigu was a general.

PeriodSui and Tang

IdentityHistorical · Male

Roles

Found in

Life and dates

Death

Killed in flood defeat at Qingkou
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 21, passage 123

Attested activity

AD 897 清口見殺
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 21, passages 120, 123

Events and relationships

Refused to move camp without Taizu's order; drowned army
Military · Commander
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 21, passages 120, 123

References in the histories

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 21Volume 21 Later Liang Biographies 1: Jing Xiang, Zhu Zhen, Pang Shigu, Ge Congzhou, Huo Cun, Zhang Cunjing, Fu Daozhao, Liu Han, Kou Yangqing · 6 passages

Open chapter

太祖已下兗、鄆，乃遣師古與葛從周攻楊行密於淮南，師古出清口，從周出安豐。 Once Yan and Yun had fallen, Taizu sent Shigu and Ge Congzhou against Yang Xingmi in Huainan—Shigu from Qingkou, Congzhou from Anfeng.

師古自其微時事太祖，為人謹甚，未嘗離左右，及為將出兵，必受方略以行，軍中非太祖命，不妄動。 Shigu had served Taizu from the beginning, careful and close, never far from his side. As a field commander he moved only on orders; without Taizu’s word the army did not stir.

師古營清口，地勢卑，或請就高為柵，師古以非太祖命不聽。 At Qingkou Shigu camped on low ground. Some urged him to fortify higher ground; he refused—Taizu had not ordered it.

師古以為搖動士卒，立斬之。 Shigu judged it would panic the ranks and had him cut down at once.

已而水至，兵不能戰，遂見殺。 The water came; the army could not fight, and Shigu was killed.

梁兵強於天下，而吳人號為輕弱，然師古再舉擊吳，輒再敗以死。 Liang’s armies were the strongest under heaven; Wu was counted weak—yet Shigu struck twice, and twice died in defeat.