Sun Cheng (孫晟) | 24 Histories

Overview

Sun Cheng was a statesman and Envoy.

Life and dates

Death

Execution · Authority Zhou Shizong (周世宗)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passages 198-200

Attested activity

AD 956 周世宗征淮
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 185
AD 956 晟臨死
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passages 198-200
AD 958 景已割江北
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 203

Career and standing

Duke of Lu 魯國公
Posthumously granted
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 203
Detained
Detained envoy
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 188
Imprisoned
Imprisoned · Authority Zhou Shizong (周世宗)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 198

Places and affiliations

Southern Tang 南唐
Relation Served
Strongly inferred · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passages 185, 199
At Capital Pavilion 都亭驛 · Relation Lodged at
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 195
At capital 京師 · Relation Lodged at
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 195

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · With Wang Chongzhi (王崇質) · Direct quotation · Mode quotation Speaker Sun Cheng (孫晟)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 193
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · Mode quotation Speaker Sun Cheng (孫晟)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 199

Events and relationships

Executed with followers
AD 956 晟臨死 · Legal · Victim
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passages 198-200
Forecast own death and pledged loyalty
AD 956 周世宗征淮 · Diplomatic · Envoy · With Wang Chongzhi (王崇質)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 193
Honored at Zhou court
AD 956 周世宗征淮 · Diplomatic · Detainee · At Capital Pavilion 都亭驛
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 195
Presented memorial
AD 956 周世宗征淮 · Diplomatic · Chief envoy · With Wang Chongzhi (王崇質)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 185
Refused to answer
AD 956 周世宗征淮 · Political · Prisoner · With Zhou Shizong (周世宗)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passages 196, 199

Assessments and attributes

Assessment loyal · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 202
Calm expression; straightened robes; bowed south 神色怡然，正其衣冠南望而拜
Demeanor at death
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 199

Source notes

More than two hundred followers killed with him 從者二百餘人皆殺之
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 198
Would never betray a handful of soil from Yongling (the royal tomb) 終不負永陵一抷土
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passages 193-194

References in the histories

Search passages

History

11 passages

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 33Volume 33 Biographies of Martyrs to Service 13: Zhang Yuande, Xia Luqi, Yao Hong, Wang Sitong, Zhang Jingda, Di Jinzong, Shen Bin, Wang Qing, Shi Yanchao, Sun Cheng · 11 passages

Open chapter

乃遣禮部尚書王崇質副晟奉表，謨與晟等皆言景願割壽、濠、泗、楚、光、海六州之地，歲貢百萬以佐軍。 Then he sent Minister of Rites Wang Chongzhi as deputy to Cheng with a memorial; Mo, Cheng, and the rest offered six Huai prefectures and a million a year in tribute.

世宗許之，遣供奉官安弘道押德明、崇質南還，而謨與晟皆見留。 Shizong agreed, sent An Hongdao south with Deming and Chongzhi, and kept Mo and Cheng.

初，晟之奉使也，語崇質曰：「吾行必不免，然吾終不負永陵一抷土也。」 When Cheng first went as envoy he told Chongzhi, “I shall surely not return—but I will never betray Yongling’s soil."

及崇質還，而晟與鐘謨俱至京師，館於都亭驛，待之甚厚，每朝會入閣，使班東省官後，召見必飲以醇酒。 When Chongzhi returned, Cheng and Mo reached the capital, lodged at the Capital Pavilion, were honored at court, ranked after eastern officials, and were plied with wine at every audience.

已而周兵數敗，盡失所得諸州，世宗憂之，召晟問江南事，晟不對，世宗怒，未有以發。 Soon Zhou armies lost repeatedly; Shizong worried and asked Cheng about the south; Cheng was silent; Shizong raged but had no cause.

會重進以景蠟丸書來上，多斥周過惡以為言，由是發怒曰：「晟來使我，言景畏吾神武，願得北面稱臣，保無二心，安得此指斥之言乎？」 When Chongjin sent up Jing’s wax letter full of Zhou’s crimes, Shizong exploded: “Cheng told me Jing feared my might and would submit—how is this abuse?"

亟召待衛軍虞候韓通收晟下獄，及其從者二百餘人皆殺之。 He summoned Han Tong, imprisoned Cheng, and killed him and two hundred followers.

晟臨死，世宗猶遣近臣問之，晟終不對，神色怡然，正其衣冠南望而拜曰：「臣惟以死報國爾！」 At execution Shizong still sent an attendant to question him; Cheng was calm, straightened his robes, bowed south, and said, “I repay the state with death alone!"

晟既死，鐘謨亦貶耀州司馬。 After Cheng died, Mo was demoted to military adjutant of Yao.

其後，世宗怒解，憐晟忠，悔殺之，召拜鐘謨衛尉少卿。 Later Shizong’s anger cooled; he pitied Cheng and regretted the killing; he recalled Mo as Vice Director of the Imperial Guard.

景已割江北，遂遣謨還，而景聞晟死，亦贈魯國公。 Jing had ceded land north of the Yangzi and sent Mo back; hearing Cheng was dead, he too posthumously made him Duke of Lu.