1
张辽字文远，雁门马邑人也。 本聂壹之后，以避怨变姓。 少为郡吏。 汉末，并州刺史丁原以辽武力过人，召为从事，使将兵诣京都。 何进遣诣河北募兵，得千餘人。 还，进败，以兵属董卓。 卓败，以兵属吕布，迁骑都尉。 布为李傕所败，从布东奔徐州，领鲁相，时年二十八。 太祖破吕布於下邳，辽将其众降，拜中郎将，赐爵关内侯。 数有战功，迁裨将军。 袁绍破，别遣辽定鲁国诸县。 与夏侯渊围昌豨於东海，数月粮尽，议引军还，辽谓渊曰：“数日已来，每行诸围，豨辄属目视辽。 又其射矢更稀，此必豨计犹豫，故不力战。 辽欲挑与语，傥可诱也？” 乃使谓豨曰：“公有命，使辽传之。” 豨果下与辽语，辽为说“太祖神武，方以德怀四方，先附者受大赏”。 豨乃许降。 辽遂单身上三公山，入豨家，拜妻子。 豨欢喜，随诣太祖。 太祖遣豨还，责辽曰：“此非大将法也。” 辽谢曰：“以明公威信著於四海，辽奉圣旨，豨必不敢害故也。” 从讨袁谭、袁尚於黎阳，有功，行中坚将军。 从攻尚於鄴，尚坚守不下。 太祖还许，使辽与乐进拔阴安，徙其民河南。 复从攻鄴，鄴破，辽别徇赵国、常山，招降缘山诸贼及黑山孙轻等。 从攻袁谭，谭破，别将徇海滨，破辽东贼柳毅等。 还鄴，太祖自出迎辽，引共载，以辽为荡寇将军。 复别击荆州，定江夏诸县，还屯临颍，封都亭侯。 从征袁尚於柳城，卒与虏遇，辽劝太祖战，气甚奋，太祖壮之，自以所持麾授辽。 遂击，大破之，斩单于蹋顿。 〈《傅子》曰：太祖将征柳城，辽谏曰：“夫许，天子之会也。 今天子在许，公远北征，若刘表遣刘备袭许，据之以号令四方，公之势去矣。” 太祖策表必不能任备，遂行也。〉
Zhang Liao, whose courtesy name was Wenyuan, came from Mayi in Yanmen commandery. He was descended from Nie Yi but had changed his family name to escape a blood feud. As a young man he served as a commandery clerk. Late in the Han, Ding Yuan, inspector of Bingzhou, impressed by Zhang Liao's exceptional fighting ability, appointed him as an aide-de-camp and sent him at the head of troops to the capital. He Jin sent him north of the river to raise troops, and he returned with over a thousand recruits. By the time he came back, He Jin had already fallen, and Zhang Liao placed his command under Dong Zhuo. After Dong Zhuo's downfall he joined Lü Bu's forces and was promoted to colonel of cavalry. When Lü Bu was routed by Li Jue, Zhang Liao followed him east into Xu Province, became administrator of Lu, and was twenty-eight at the time. After Cao Cao took Xiapi and broke Lü Bu, Zhang Liao brought his men over in submission and was named a general of the household and enfeoffed as a secondary marquis at court. He won distinction again and again in the field and rose to the rank of major general. Once Yuan Shao had been crushed, Cao Cao detached Zhang Liao to secure every county in the state of Lu. He joined Xiahou Yuan in besieging Chang Xi in Donghai; when months of campaigning had emptied the granaries and the generals talked of pulling back, Zhang Liao told Xiahou Yuan, Lately, whenever I tour the perimeter, Chang Xi keeps his gaze fixed on me. His archery has slackened as well; he must be torn about what to do next, which is why he will not commit to a full fight. I would like to draw him into conversation—there may be a way to coax him out. He then sent a messenger to Chang Xi: Our lord has issued orders, and he has asked me to relay them to you. Chang Xi did come down to parley, and Zhang Liao told him that Cao Cao was a formidable leader who was winning the realm by moral authority and that those who submitted early would be richly rewarded. Chang Xi agreed to yield. Zhang Liao then went alone up Mount Sangong, walked into Chang Xi's home, and paid his respects to the man's wife and children. Delighted, Chang Xi accompanied him to Cao Cao's headquarters. Cao Cao sent Chang Xi back to his post and rebuked Zhang Liao: That is not how a senior commander should behave. Zhang Liao bowed and replied, I knew your authority reaches every corner of the land and that I bore your written order, so Chang Xi would never have dared harm me. He took part in the campaign against Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang at Liyang, distinguished himself, and was given acting rank as general of the central corps. He joined the assault on Ye, where Yuan Shang held the walls and could not be dislodged. When Cao Cao withdrew to Xu, he sent Zhang Liao and Yue Jin to take Yin'an and resettle its population south of the river. He returned for the siege of Ye, and after the city fell he swept Zhao and Changshan on a separate line, bringing the mountain outlaws and Black Mountain leaders such as Sun Qing to terms. He fought in the final campaign against Yuan Tan, then led a detached column along the coast and smashed coastal raiders from Liaodong led by Liu Yi. Back in Ye, Cao Cao rode out in person to greet him, had him share his carriage, and named him general who sweeps away bandits. He campaigned again into Jingzhou, secured the Jiangxia counties, took station at Linying on his return, and received a village marquisate at the capital. During the expedition against Yuan Shang at Liucheng they ran straight into the nomad host; Zhang Liao pressed Cao Cao to give battle, and his fervor so impressed Cao Cao that he passed him his own command banner. They attacked at once, shattered the enemy, and killed the chanyu Tadun. 〈The Fu zi records that when Cao Cao was preparing the Liucheng expedition, Zhang Liao urged him to reconsider: Xu is where the emperor resides. The sovereign is at Xu while you march deep into the north; if Liu Biao sent Liu Bei to strike the capital, seize it, and issue orders from there, your position would collapse. Cao Cao judged that Liu Biao would never give Liu Bei real authority, and went ahead with the campaign anyway.
2
时荆州未定，复遣辽屯长社。 临发，军中有谋反者，夜惊乱起火，一军尽扰。 辽谓左右曰：“勿动。 是不一营尽反，必有造变者，欲以动乱人耳。” 乃令军中，其不反者安坐。 辽将亲兵数十人，中陈而立。 有顷定，即得首谋者杀之。 陈兰、梅成以氐六县叛，太祖遣于禁、臧霸等讨成，辽督张郃、牛盖等讨兰。 成伪降禁，禁还。 成遂将其众就兰，转入灊山。 灊中有天柱山，高峻二十餘里，道险狭，步径裁通，兰等壁其上。 辽欲进，诸将曰：“兵少道险，难用深入。” 辽曰：“此所谓一与一，勇者得前耳。” 遂进到山下安营，攻之，斩兰、成首，尽虏其众。 太祖论诸将功，曰：“登天山，履峻险，以取兰、成，荡寇功也。” 增邑，假节。
Because Jingzhou was still unsettled, Cao Cao again posted Zhang Liao at Changshe. On the night before the march, mutineers set fires and panic spread until the entire camp was in chaos. Zhang Liao told his attendants, Stay where you are. This cannot be a general mutiny; someone has started trouble on purpose to stampede the ranks. He ordered every loyal soldier to sit quietly in place. He took several dozen bodyguards and planted himself in the middle of the formation. Order returned quickly; the ringleaders were seized and executed at once. When Chen Lan and Mei Cheng revolted with six Di counties, Cao Cao sent Yu Jin and Zang Ba against Mei Cheng while Zhang Liao, directing Zhang He and Niu Gai, moved against Chen Lan. Mei Cheng tricked Yu Jin with a false surrender, and Yu Jin withdrew. Mei Cheng then marched his men to Chen Lan's side, and both withdrew into the Qian range. Inside the range rises Mount Tianzhu, more than twenty li of sheer height along trails so treacherous and narrow that men could barely edge through; Chen Lan's men held the crest. Zhang Liao wanted to push on, but his officers said, We are outnumbered and the defiles are deadly; a deep thrust would be reckless. Zhang Liao replied, They call it even odds: courage decides who breaks through. He camped at the foot of the mountain, stormed the heights, beheaded Chen Lan and Mei Cheng, and took their entire force prisoner. Cao Cao summed up the campaign: Scaling Tianzhu and forcing those cliffs to bring down Chen Lan and Mei Cheng is exactly the work expected of the general who sweeps away bandits. His fief was enlarged and he received the imperial baton of authority.
3
太祖既征孙权还，使辽与乐进、李典等将七千餘人屯合肥。 太祖征张鲁，教与护军薛悌，署函边曰“贼至乃发”。 俄而权率十万众围合肥，乃共发教，教曰：“若孙权至者，张、李将军出战； 乐将军守护军，勿得与战。” 诸将皆疑。 辽曰：“公远征在外，比救至，彼破我必矣。 是以教指及其未合逆击之，折其盛势，以安众心，然后可守也。 成败之机，在此一战，诸君何疑？” 李典亦与辽同。 於是辽夜募敢从之士，得八百人，椎牛飨将士，明日大战。 平旦，辽被甲持戟，先登陷陈，杀数十人，斩二将，大呼自名，冲垒入，至权麾下。 权大惊，众不知所为，走登高冢，以长戟自守。 辽叱权下战，权不敢动，望见辽所将众少，乃聚围辽数重。 辽左右麾围，直前急击，围开，辽将麾下数十人得出，餘众号呼曰：“将军弃我乎！” 辽复还突围，拔出餘众。 权人马皆披靡，无敢当者。 自旦战至日中，吴人夺气，还修守备，众心乃安，诸将咸服。 权守合肥十餘日，城不可拔，乃引退。 辽率诸军追击，几复获权。 太祖大壮辽，拜征东将军。 〈孙盛曰； 夫兵固诡道，奇正相资，若乃命将出征，推毂委权，或赖率然之形，或凭掎角之势，群帅不和，则弃师之道也。 至於合肥之守，县弱无援，专任勇者则好战生患，专任怯者则惧心难保。 且彼众我寡，必怀贪墯； 以致命之兵，击贪墯之卒，其势必胜； 胜而后守，守则必固。 是以魏武推选方员，参以同异，为之密教，节宣其用； 事至而应，若合符契，妙矣夫！〉 建安二十一年，太祖复征孙权，到合肥，循行辽战处，叹息者良久。 乃增辽兵，多留诸军，徙屯居巢。
When Cao Cao returned from his expedition against Sun Quan, he left Zhang Liao, Yue Jin, and Li Dian in Hefei with a garrison of more than seven thousand men. On setting out against Zhang Lu, Cao Cao handed sealed orders to the army protector Xue Ti with the note on the envelope, Break the seal only when the enemy appears. Soon Sun Quan arrived with a host of one hundred thousand to invest Hefei; the defenders opened the letter together. It read, If Sun Quan comes in person, Generals Zhang and Li shall sortie; General Yue is to stay with the army protector and must not engage. The commanders were baffled. Zhang Liao said, Our lord is far away; if we wait for reinforcements, the enemy will have crushed us long before help arrives. The orders tell us to hit them before their siege lines close, blunt their momentum, steady the troops, and only then think about holding the walls. Victory or ruin turns on this single fight—why hesitate? Li Dian sided with Zhang Liao. That night Zhang Liao enlisted eight hundred volunteers, slaughtered oxen for a feast, and at dawn led them into a major attack. At first light he armored himself, seized a halberd, spearheaded the charge, cut down dozens of men and two enemy commanders, roared his own name, burst through the stockade, and drove straight to Sun Quan's command post. Sun Quan was terrified; his men froze, then fled to a burial mound and tried to shield him with long halberds. Zhang Liao bellowed for Sun Quan to come down and fight; Sun Quan stayed frozen on the knoll, but when he saw how few Zhang Liao's men were he ordered ring after ring of troops to close around them. Zhang Liao wheeled his men and slammed forward until the ring broke; he broke out with several dozen followers, while those left inside screamed, General, are you leaving us behind? He wheeled back, tore through the encirclement again, and led the rest of his men out. Sun Quan's army broke and scattered; no one dared stand in his way. The fighting ran from dawn until noon, shattering Wu's morale; when the defenders withdrew behind the walls and shored up the defenses, the army's nerve returned and every general acknowledged Zhang Liao's leadership. Sun Quan kept Hefei under siege for ten-odd days but could not storm it and finally drew off. Zhang Liao pursued with the garrison troops and nearly took Sun Quan himself. Cao Cao was deeply impressed and promoted him to general who campaigns east. 〈Sun Sheng remarks: War is the art of deception, where surprise and straight fighting support each other. When a ruler sends a general forth, hands him full authority, and counts on either lightning opportunism or coordinated pincers, discord among the commanders is the surest way to lose an army. Hefei's garrison was isolated, outnumbered, and without relief: put only daredevils in charge and reckless fighting becomes a liability; put only timid men in charge and fear will undo the defense. The enemy outnumbers us, which invites complacency and greed; pit troops ready to die against an overconfident horde, and the odds favor victory; win that first clash, then fall back on the walls, and the defense will hold. That is why Cao Cao matched bold commanders with cautious ones, blended divergent temperaments, and issued sealed instructions that timed each man's role to perfection; when the crisis came each piece of the plan snapped into place like matching halves of a tally—masterful!〉 In Jian'an 21 Cao Cao marched against Sun Quan again; when he reached Hefei he walked the ground of Zhang Liao's battle and stood there sighing for a long while. He enlarged Zhang Liao's command, kept substantial forces in the area, and shifted the main camp to Juhao.
4
乐进字文谦，阳平卫国人也。 容貌短小，以胆烈从太祖，为帐下吏。 遣还本郡募兵，得千餘人，还为军假司马、陷陈都尉。 从击吕布於濮阳，张超於雍丘，桥昽於苦，皆先登有功，封广昌亭侯。 从征张绣於安众，围吕布於下邳，破别将，击眭固於射犬，攻刘备於沛，皆破之，拜讨寇校尉。 渡河攻获嘉，还，从击袁绍於官渡，力战，斩绍将淳于琼。 从击谭、尚於黎阳，斩其大将严敬，行游击将军。 别击黄巾，破之，定乐安郡。 从围鄴，鄴定，从击袁谭於南皮，先登，入谭东门。 谭败，别攻雍奴，破之。 建安十一年，太祖表汉帝，称进及于禁、张辽曰：“武力既弘，计略周备，质忠性一，守执节义，每临战攻，常为督率，奋强突固，无坚不陷，自援枹鼓，手不知倦。 又遣别征，统御师旅，抚众则和，奉令无犯，当敌制决，靡有遗失。 论功纪用，宜各显宠。” 於是禁为虎威； 进，折冲； 辽，荡寇将军。
Yue Jin, courtesy name Wenqian, was a native of Wei county in Yangping. He was short of stature but fierce in spirit; he joined Cao Cao's staff as a brave attendant. Sent home to raise troops, he brought back more than a thousand men and was promoted to acting major and colonel of the assault corps. He fought Lü Bu at Puyang, Zhang Chao at Yongqiu, and Qiao Rong at Ku, earning distinction as first on the wall each time, and received a village marquisate at Guangchang. He served in the Anzhong campaign against Zhang Xiu, the Xiapi siege of Lü Bu, a separate action that routed an enemy column, the Shequan fight against Sui Gu, and the Pei assault on Liu Bei, winning every engagement and gaining the rank of colonel who attacks bandits. He crossed the river to storm Huojia, then fought Yuan Shao at Guandu, where he killed the general Chunyu Qiong in heavy combat. At Liyang he helped crush Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang, slew their champion Yan Jing, and received acting appointment as general of mobile strike. On a separate mission he broke the Yellow Turbans and secured Le'an commandery. He joined the siege of Ye, then fought Yuan Tan at Nanpi, where he was first through the east gate. After Yuan Tan's defeat he took Yongnu in a separate attack. In Jian'an 11 Cao Cao memorialized the Han throne, commending Yue Jin with Yu Jin and Zhang Liao: These officers combine great martial prowess with careful planning, unwavering loyalty, and steadfast honor. In every action they lead from the front, shatter the toughest defenses, beat the war drums themselves, and never tire. Detached commands find them able to control large forces, keep the ranks steady, obey orders to the letter, and make the right call under fire without fault. Their records of service merit explicit rewards. Yu Jin was therefore named general of tiger might; Yue Jin, general who breaks the charge; Zhang Liao was named general who sweeps away bandits.
5
进别征高幹，从北道入上党，回出其后。 幹等还守壶关，连战斩首。 幹坚守未下，会太祖自征之，乃拔。 太祖征管承，军淳于，遣进与李典击之。 承破走，逃入海岛，海滨平，荆州未服，遣屯阳翟。 后从平荆州，留屯襄阳，击关羽、苏非等，皆走之，南郡诸郡山谷蛮夷诣进降。 又讨刘备临沮长杜普、旌阳长梁大，皆大破之。 后从征孙权，假进节。 太祖还，留进与张辽、李典屯合肥，增邑五百，并前凡千二百户。 以进数有功，分五百户，封一子列侯； 进迁右将军。 建安二十三年薨，谥曰威侯。 子綝嗣。 綝果毅有父风，官至扬州刺史。 诸葛诞反，掩袭杀綝，诏悼惜之，追赠卫尉，谥曰愍侯。 子肇嗣。
Yue Jin campaigned separately against Gao Gan, entered Shangdang by the northern road, and swung around onto his rear. Gao Gan fell back on Huguan, where Yue Jin fought a series of actions and piled up beheadings. Gao Gan held out until Cao Cao arrived in person and the fortress finally fell. During the Chunyu campaign against Guan Cheng, Cao Cao sent Yue Jin and Li Dian against him. Guan Cheng was routed and fled to offshore islands; with the coast quiet but Jingzhou still defiant, Yue Jin was posted to Yangzhai. He then helped subdue Jingzhou and was left to hold Xiangyang, where he drove off Guan Yu and Su Fei and brought the hill tribes of Nan commandery in to surrender to him. He also campaigned against Liu Bei's district magistrates Du Pu of Linju and Liang Da of Jingyang and crushed both. On a later expedition against Sun Quan he was granted the imperial baton. When Cao Cao withdrew, he left Yue Jin with Zhang Liao and Li Dian at Hefei, adding five hundred households to his fief for a total of twelve hundred. For his repeated victories he was awarded another five hundred households and a full marquisate for one of his sons; Yue Jin was promoted to general of the right. He died in Jian'an 23 and was posthumously titled Marquis Wei, "the Formidable." His son Yue Chen inherited the title. Yue Chen was as resolute as his father and rose to inspector of Yangzhou. When Zhuge Dan revolted he ambushed and killed Yue Chen; the court issued an edict of regret, posthumously named him minister of the guards, and gave him the posthumous title Marquis Min, "the Pitiable." His son Yue Zhao succeeded him.
6
于禁字文则，泰山钜平人也。 黄巾起，鲍信招合徒众，禁附从焉。 及太祖领兗州，禁与其党俱诣为都伯，属将军王朗。 朗异之，荐禁才任大将军。 太祖召见与语，拜军司马，使将兵诣徐州，攻广威，拔之，拜陷陈都尉。 从讨吕布於濮阳，别破布二营於城南，又别将破高雅於须昌。 从攻寿张、定陶、离狐，围张超於雍丘，皆拔之。 从征黄巾刘辟、黄邵等，屯版梁，邵等夜袭太祖营，禁帅麾下击破之，斩 （辟） 邵等，尽降其众。 迁平虏校尉。 从围桥蕤於苦，斩蕤等四将。 从至宛，降张绣。 绣复叛，太祖与战不利，军败，还舞阴。 是时军乱，各间行求太祖，禁独勒所将数百人，且战且引，虽有死伤不相离。 虏追稍缓，禁徐整行队，鸣鼓而还。 未至太祖所，道见十餘人被创裸走，禁问其故，曰：“为青州兵所劫。” 初，黄巾降，号青州兵，太祖宽之，故敢因缘为略。 禁怒，令其众曰：“青州兵同属曹公，而还为贼乎！” 乃讨之，数之以罪。 青州兵遽走诣太祖自诉。 禁既至，先立营垒，不时谒太祖。 或谓禁：“青州兵已诉君矣，宜促诣公辨之。” 禁曰：“今贼在后，追至无时，不先为备，何以待敌？ 且公聪明，谮诉何缘！” 徐凿堑安营讫，乃入谒，具陈其状。 太祖悦，谓禁曰：“淯水之难，吾其急也，将军在乱能整，讨暴坚垒，有不可动之节，虽古名将，何以加之！” 於是录禁前后功，封益寿亭侯。 复从攻张绣於穰，禽吕布於下邳，别与史涣、曹仁攻眭固於射犬，破斩之。
Yu Jin, courtesy name Wenze, was a native of Juping in Taishan commandery. When the Yellow Turban rebellion broke out, he joined the force that Bao Xin raised. After Cao Cao took Yanzhou, Yu Jin and his comrades enlisted as company commanders under General Wang Lang. Wang Lang was impressed and recommended him as material for high command. Cao Cao received him in audience, named him army major, sent him to Xu Province, where he took Guangwei by storm, then promoted him to colonel of the assault corps. He fought Lü Bu at Puyang, destroyed two of Lü Bu's camps south of the walls on a separate thrust, and later routed Gao Ya at Xuchang as detached commander. He joined the attacks on Shouzhang, Dingtao, and Lihu and the siege of Zhang Chao at Yongqiu, capturing every objective. While campaigning against the Yellow Turban leaders Liu Pi and Huang Shao, he was at Banliang when Huang Shao raided Cao Cao's camp by night; Yu Jin led his men to repulse the attack and struck down (The character the cited text is inserted here in the text as a gloss on the cited text.) Huang Shao and the rest of the band, then accepted the surrender of their entire following. He was promoted to colonel who pacifies barbarians. At the siege of Qiao Rui at Ku he killed Rui and four other enemy generals. He accompanied the army to Wan, where Zhang Xiu submitted. When Zhang Xiu rebelled again, Cao Cao was beaten in the field and fell back to Wuyin. In the rout men scattered to find Cao Cao, but Yu Jin alone held several hundred troops together, fighting a steady retreat so that even under casualties no one broke ranks. When the pursuit slackened he re-formed the column, beat the drums, and marched back in good order. Before he reached Cao Cao he met a dozen wounded men fleeing naked; they told him the Qingzhou soldiers had robbed them. Former Yellow Turbans had been enrolled as the Qingzhou corps, and Cao Cao's leniency had emboldened them to loot. Yu Jin angrily told his men, Those Qingzhou troops serve the same lord—will they play bandit among their own? He attacked them and denounced their crimes. The Qingzhou troops raced ahead to Cao Cao to lodge their complaint. When Yu Jin arrived he threw up entrenchments first instead of hurrying in to see Cao Cao. Someone urged him, The Qingzhou men have already denounced you—you should go to the duke at once and clear yourself. Yu Jin replied, The enemy is still on our heels and could strike at any moment. Without a secure camp how can we face them? Besides, our lord is too astute to be swayed by malicious tales! Only after he had dug ditches and completed his camp did he go in to report the whole affair. Cao Cao was pleased and told him, At the Yu River I was in desperate straits; you kept order in chaos, punished marauders, and threw up a defensible camp—such steadfastness would honor any general in history. He thereupon registered Yu Jin's cumulative service and enfeoffed him as marquis of Yishou village. He again served against Zhang Xiu at Rang, helped capture Lü Bu at Xiapi, and with Shi Huan and Cao Ren stormed Shequan, where he killed Sui Gu.
7
太祖初征袁绍，绍兵盛，禁原为先登。 太祖壮之，乃遣步卒二千人，使禁将，守延津以拒绍，太祖引军还官渡。 刘备以徐州叛，太祖东征之。 绍攻禁，禁坚守，绍不能拔。 复与乐进等将步骑五千，击绍别营，从延津西南缘河至汲、获嘉二县，焚烧保聚三十餘屯，斩首获生各数千，降绍将何茂、王摩等二十餘人。 太祖复使禁别将屯原武，击绍别营於杜氏津，破之。 迁裨将军，后从还官渡。 太祖与绍连营，起土山相对。 绍射营中，士卒多死伤，军中惧。 禁督守土山，力战，气益奋。 绍破，迁偏将军。 冀州平。 昌豨复叛，遣禁征之。 禁急进攻豨； 豨与禁有旧，诣禁降。 诸将皆以为豨已降，当送诣太祖，禁曰：“诸君不知公常令乎！ 围而后降者不赦。 夫奉法行令，事上之节也。 豨虽旧友，禁可失节乎！” 自临与豨决，陨涕而斩之。 是时太祖军淳于，闻而叹曰：“豨降不诣吾而归禁，岂非命耶！” 益重禁。 〈臣松之以为围而后降，法虽不赦； 囚而送之，未为违命。 禁曾不为旧交希冀万一，而肆其好杀之心，以戾众人之议，所以卒为降虏，死加恶谥，宜哉。〉 东海平，拜禁虎威将军。 后与臧霸等攻梅成，张辽、张郃等讨陈兰。 禁到，成举众三千餘人降。 既降复叛，其众奔兰。 辽等与兰相持，军食少，禁运粮前后相属，辽遂斩兰、成。 增邑二百户，并前千二百户。 是时，禁与张辽、乐进、张郃、徐晃俱为名将，太祖每征伐，咸递行为军锋，还为后拒； 而禁持军严整，得贼财物，无所私入，由是赏赐特重。 然以法御下，不甚得士众心。 太祖常恨硃灵，欲夺其营。 以禁有威重，遣禁将数十骑，赍令书，径诣灵营夺其军，灵及其部众莫敢动； 乃以灵为禁部下督，众皆震服，其见惮如此。 迁左将军，假节钺，分邑五百户，封一子列侯。
At the opening of the Yuan Shao campaign, when Shao's army was strongest, Yu Jin volunteered for the assault echelon. Cao Cao approved and gave him two thousand foot to hold Yanjin against Yuan Shao while the main body drew back to Guandu. When Liu Bei seized Xu Province in revolt, Cao Cao marched east against him. Yuan Shao attacked Yu Jin's position but could not break his defense. With Yue Jin he took five thousand mixed troops against Yuan Shao's detached camps, followed the river southwest from Yanjin through Ji and Huojia, burned over thirty fortified hamlets, took thousands of heads and prisoners, and brought more than twenty of Shao's officers including He Mao and Wang Mo to surrender. Cao Cao also sent him to garrison Yuanwu and destroy a Yuan Shao outpost at Du's Ford. He was promoted to major general and rejoined the main army at Guandu. Cao Cao and Yuan Shao faced each other in linked camps with opposing siege mounds. Yuan Shao's archers raked the camp, inflicting heavy casualties and spreading panic. Yu Jin directed the defense of the mound and fought so fiercely that his men's morale rose. After Yuan Shao's defeat he became lieutenant general. Ji Province was pacified. When Chang Xi rebelled again, Cao Cao sent Yu Jin against him. Yu Jin pressed the attack hard; Chang Xi, an old acquaintance, came to Yu Jin's camp to yield. The other generals wanted to send Chang Xi to Cao Cao, but Yu Jin said, Have you forgotten the standing order? Those who surrender only after we have them surrounded are not spared. To enforce the law and obey orders is how a subordinate serves his lord. Chang Xi may be an old friend, but am I to break discipline for his sake? He went in person to say farewell, wept, and had Chang Xi executed. Cao Cao was at Chunyu when he heard the news and sighed, Chang Xi surrendered to Yu Jin instead of to me—was that not his fate? He respected Yu Jin all the more for it. 〈Pei Songzhi observes that although the law does not pardon those who yield only after encirclement; to take him prisoner and send him in chains would not have violated orders. Yu Jin never showed his old friend the slightest mercy but indulged his appetite for killing and defied common opinion—small wonder he ended a prisoner of war and earned a shameful posthumous name.〉 After Donghai was pacified he was named general of tiger might. Later he joined Zang Ba against Mei Cheng while Zhang Liao and Zhang He dealt with Chen Lan. When Yu Jin arrived, Mei Cheng brought more than three thousand men to surrender. He surrendered, then rebelled again, and his followers fled to Chen Lan. Zhang Liao's force was locked with Chen Lan and short of supplies; Yu Jin kept grain convoys moving until Zhang Liao could behead both Chen Lan and Mei Cheng. Two hundred more households were added to his fief, for twelve hundred in all. Yu Jin, Zhang Liao, Yue Jin, Zhang He, and Xu Huang were counted among the finest commanders of the day; on each expedition they took turns leading the van or covering the retreat; but Yu Jin ran the tightest ship and never pocketed booty, for which he received unusually rich rewards. His strict legalism won him little affection from the ranks. Cao Cao had long resented Zhu Ling and wished to strip him of his command. Because Yu Jin commanded respect, Cao Cao sent him with a few dozen horsemen and written orders straight into Zhu Ling's camp to take over the troops; Zhu Ling and his men dared not resist; Zhu Ling was made a subordinate under Yu Jin, and the army stood in awe of the latter's authority. He rose to general of the left with axe-and-baton authority, received another five hundred households, and a son was enfeoffed as a full marquis.
8
张郃字雋乂，河间鄚人也。 汉末应募讨黄巾，为军司马，属韩馥。 馥败，以兵归袁绍。 绍以郃为校尉，使拒公孙瓚。 瓚破，郃功多，迁宁国中郎将。 太祖与袁绍相拒於官渡， 〈《汉晋春秋曰：郃说绍曰：“公虽连胜，然勿与曹公战也，密遣轻骑钞绝其南，则兵自败矣。” 绍不从之。〉 绍遣将淳于琼等督运屯乌巢，太祖自将急击之。 郃说绍曰：“曹公兵精，往必破琼等； 琼等破，则将军事去矣，宜急引兵救之。” 郭图曰：“郃计非也。 不如攻其本营，势必还，此为不救而自解也。” 郃曰：“曹公营固，攻之必不拔，若琼等见禽，吾属尽为虏矣。” 绍但遣轻骑救琼，而以重兵攻太祖营，不能下。 太祖果破琼等，绍军溃。 图惭，又更谮郃曰：“郃快军败，出言不逊。” 郃惧，乃归太祖。 〈臣松之案《武纪》及《袁绍传》并云袁绍使张郃、高览攻太祖营，郃等闻淳于琼破，遂来降，绍众於是大溃。 是则缘郃等降而后绍军坏也。 至如此传，为绍军先溃，惧郭图之谮，然后归太祖，为参错不同矣。〉
Zhang He, courtesy name Junyi, came from Mo county in Hejian. Late in the Han he enlisted against the Yellow Turbans, became an army major under Han Fu. When Han Fu fell he brought his troops over to Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao made him a colonel and sent him against Gongsun Zan. After Gongsun Zan's defeat his services earned him promotion to general of the household who pacifies the state. When Cao Cao and Yuan Shao confronted each other at Guandu, 〈The Han Jin chunqiu records Zhang He urging Yuan Shao: Even after your victories, do not meet Cao Cao in pitched battle; send light cavalry secretly to raid his southern lines and his army will collapse of itself. Yuan Shao refused to listen. Yuan Shao posted Chunyu Qiong and others to guard the supply depot at Wuchao, and Cao Cao led a lightning strike against them in person. Zhang He warned Yuan Shao, Cao Cao's troops are elite; if he goes he will crush Chunyu Qiong; once that depot falls your cause is lost—you must march relief to Wuchao at once. Guo Tu said, Zhang He's strategy is wrong. Better to strike his main camp; he will be forced to pull back—that ends the crisis without a relief column. Zhang He replied, Cao Cao's fortifications will not fall to a hasty assault; if Chunyu Qiong is taken we are all prisoners. Yuan Shao sent only light horse to relieve Wuchao while his main force hammered Cao Cao's camp without success. Cao Cao destroyed Chunyu Qiong as predicted, and Yuan Shao's army collapsed. Ashamed, Guo Tu slandered Zhang He, claiming he had gloated over the defeat and spoken disrespectfully. Fearing Guo Tu's malice, Zhang He went over to Cao Cao. 〈Pei Songzhi notes that the Wu ji and Yuan Shao's biography both say Yuan Shao ordered Zhang He and Gao Lan to assault Cao Cao's camp, that they surrendered when they heard Chunyu Qiong had fallen, and that Yuan Shao's host then disintegrated. That version makes the collapse of Yuan Shao's army a consequence of Zhang He's defection. This biography, by contrast, has the army rout first and Zhang He defect to Cao Cao for fear of Guo Tu—the two accounts do not agree.〉
9
太祖得郃甚喜，谓曰：“昔子胥不早寤，自使身危，岂若微子去殷、韩信归汉邪？” 拜郃偏将军，封都亭侯。 授以众，从攻鄴，拔之。 又从击袁谭於渤海，别将军围雍奴，大破之。 从讨柳城，与张辽俱为军锋，以功迁平狄将军。 别征东莱，讨管承，又与张辽讨陈兰、梅成等，破之。 从破马超、韩遂於渭南。 围安定，降杨秋。 与夏侯渊讨鄜贼梁兴及武都氐。 又破马超，平宋建。 太祖征张鲁，先遣郃督诸军讨兴和氐王窦茂。 太祖从散关入汉中，又先遣郃督步卒五千於前通路。 至阳平，鲁降，太祖还，留郃与夏侯渊等守汉中，拒刘备。 郃别督诸军，降巴东、巴西二郡，徙其民於汉中。 进军宕渠，为备将张飞所拒，引还南郑。 拜荡寇将军。 刘备屯阳平，郃屯广石。 备以精卒万餘，分为十部，夜急攻郃。 郃率亲兵搏战，备不能克。 其后备於走马谷烧都围，渊救火，从他道与备相遇，交战，短兵接刃。 渊遂没，郃还阳平。 〈《魏略曰：渊虽为都督，刘备惮郃而易渊。 及杀渊，备曰：“当得其魁，用此何为邪！”〉 当是时，新失元帅，恐为备所乘，三军皆失色。 渊司马郭淮乃令众曰：“张将军，国家名将，刘备所惮； 今日事急，非张将军不能安也。” 遂推郃为军主。 郃出，勒兵安陈，诸将皆受郃节度，众心乃定。 太祖在长安，遣使假郃节。 太祖遂自至汉中，刘备保高山不敢战。 太祖乃引出汉中诸军，郃还屯陈仓。
Cao Cao was delighted to gain Zhang He and told him, Wu Zixu woke too late and perished for it; would you not rather be like Weizi leaving the Shang or Han Xin coming over to the Han? He named Zhang He lieutenant general and enfeoffed him as marquis of a village at the capital. Cao Cao gave him a command, and he took part in the storming of Ye. He fought Yuan Tan in Bohai, then led a separate column to invest Yongnu and shattered the defenders. On the Liucheng expedition he and Zhang Liao spearheaded the army and he was promoted to general who pacifies the barbarians. He campaigned separately in Donglai against Guan Cheng and joined Zhang Liao in defeating Chen Lan and Mei Cheng. He took part in breaking Ma Chao and Han Sui on the south bank of the Wei. They besieged Anding until Yang Qiu submitted. With Xiahou Yuan he campaigned against the Fu bandit Liang Xing and the Wudu Di. He defeated Ma Chao again and put down Song Jian. During the Zhang Lu campaign Cao Cao first sent Zhang He to lead the forces against the Di king Dou Mao at Xinghe. As Cao Cao entered Hanzhong from Sanguan, he again sent Zhang He ahead with five thousand foot to clear the route. At Yangping, Zhang Lu surrendered; Cao Cao withdrew but left Zhang He with Xiahou Yuan to hold Hanzhong against Liu Bei. Zhang He commanded a separate force that brought Badong and Baxi to terms and resettled their people in Hanzhong. He advanced on Dangqu but was blocked by Liu Bei's general Zhang Fei and fell back to Nanzheng. He was named general who sweeps away bandits. Liu Bei held Yangping while Zhang He held Guangshi. Liu Bei threw more than ten thousand elite troops in ten columns against Zhang He in a night assault. Zhang He led his bodyguard in a stand-up fight and Liu Bei could not break him. Later Liu Bei fired the stockade at Zouma Valley; Xiahou Yuan rode out to fight the blaze, met Liu Bei by another route, and the two forces clashed hand-to-hand. Xiahou Yuan fell in the fighting, and Zhang He withdrew to Yangping. 〈The Wei lüe notes that although Xiahou Yuan held supreme command, Liu Bei feared Zhang He more than he did Xiahou Yuan. When Xiahou Yuan died, Liu Bei said, We should have taken their real leader—what good was killing him? With their commander just slain and Liu Bei ready to exploit the gap, the whole army went pale with dread. Xiahou Yuan's chief of staff Guo Huai told the troops, General Zhang is one of the empire's foremost commanders and the man Liu Bei dreads; in this crisis only General Zhang can steady us. They thereupon acclaimed Zhang He as commander. Zhang He took command, drew up the battle line, brought every general under his orders, and restored the army's confidence. From Chang'an Cao Cao sent an envoy to invest Zhang He with the baton of authority. Cao Cao then came to Hanzhong in person, while Liu Bei held the heights and refused battle. Cao Cao then withdrew the Hanzhong armies and posted Zhang He at Chencang.
10
郃识变数，善处营陈，料战势地形，无不如计，自诸葛亮皆惮之。 郃虽武将而爱乐儒士，尝荐同乡卑湛经明行修，诏曰：“昔祭遵为将，奏置五经大夫，居军中，与诸生雅歌投壶。 今将军外勒戎旅，内存国朝。 朕嘉将军之意，今擢湛为博士。”
Zhang He read the shifting odds, handled encampments and deployments with skill, and judged terrain and battle flow so shrewdly that his plans never failed—even Zhuge Liang respected him. Though a soldier, Zhang He delighted in scholars; he once recommended his townsman Bei Zhan for classical learning and upright conduct, and an edict replied, When Ji Zun was a general he had doctors of the Five Classics in camp who sang and played pitch-pot with the students. You lead armies in the field yet hold the court in your heart. We commend your intent and hereby promote Bei Zhan to erudite.
11
诸葛亮复出祁山，诏郃督诸将西至略阳，亮还保祁山，郃追至木门，与亮军交战，飞矢中郃右膝，薨， 〈《魏略》曰：亮军退，司马宣王使郃追之，郃曰：“军法，围城必开出路，归军勿追。” 宣王不听。 郃不得已，遂进。 蜀军乘高布伏，弓弩乱发，矢中郃髀。〉 谥曰壮侯。 子雄嗣。 郃前后征伐有功，明帝分郃户，封郃四子列侯。 赐小子爵关内侯。
When Zhuge Liang again drove toward Qishan, an edict sent Zhang He west to Lueyang; as Zhuge Liang fell back on Qishan, Zhang He pursued to Mumen, where in the fighting an arrow struck his right knee and he died, 〈The Wei lüe records that when Zhuge Liang withdrew, Sima Yi ordered Zhang He to pursue; Zhang He said, The art of war says to leave a way out of a siege and never to chase a retreating host. Sima Yi would not hear of it. Zhang He had no choice but to advance. The Shu troops held the heights in ambush and raked him with bolts; an arrow struck him in the thigh.〉 He was posthumously titled Marquis Zhuang, "the Stalwart." His son Zhang Xiong inherited the title. For his long record of service Emperor Ming divided his fief and enfeoffed four of Zhang He's sons as full marquises. His youngest son received a secondary marquisate at court.
12
徐晃字公明，河东杨人也。 为郡吏，从车骑将军杨奉讨贼有功，拜骑都尉。 李傕、郭汜之乱长安也，晃说奉，令与天子还洛阳，奉从其计。 天子渡河至安邑，封晃都亭侯。 及到洛阳，韩暹、董承日争斗，晃说奉令归太祖； 奉欲从之，后悔。 太祖讨奉於梁，晃遂归太祖。
Xu Huang, courtesy name Gongming, came from Yang in Hedong commandery. A commandery clerk, he followed the general of chariots and cavalry Yang Feng against bandits, distinguished himself, and was named colonel of cavalry. During Li Jue and Guo Si's rampage in Chang'an, Xu Huang persuaded Yang Feng to escort the emperor back to Luoyang, and Yang Feng agreed. When the emperor crossed the river to Anyi, Xu Huang was enfeoffed as marquis of a village at the capital. At Luoyang, where Han Xian and Dong Cheng quarreled daily, Xu Huang urged Yang Feng to submit to Cao Cao; Yang Feng meant to agree, then thought better of it. When Cao Cao attacked Yang Feng at Liang, Xu Huang went over to Cao Cao.
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太祖授晃兵，使击卷、 〈卷音墟权反。〉 原武贼，破之，拜裨将军。 从征吕布，别降布将赵庶、李邹等。 与史涣斩眭固於河内。 从破刘备，又从破颜良，拔白马，进至延津，破文丑，拜偏将军。 与曹洪击氵隐强贼祝臂，破之，又与史涣击袁绍运车於故市，功最多，封都亭侯。 太祖既围鄴，破邯郸，易阳令韩范伪以城降而拒守，太祖遣晃攻之。 晃至，飞矢城中，为陈成败。 范悔，晃辄降之。 既而言於太祖曰：“二袁未破，诸城未下者倾耳而听，今日灭易阳，明日皆以死守，恐河北无定时也。 原公降易阳以示诸城，则莫不望风。” 太祖善之。 别讨毛城，设伏兵掩击，破三屯。 从破袁谭於南皮，讨平原叛贼，克之。 从征蹋顿，拜横野将军。 从征荆州，别屯樊，讨中庐、临沮、宜城贼。 又与满宠讨关羽於汉津，与曹仁击周瑜於江陵。 十五年，讨太原反者，围大陵，拔之，斩贼帅商曜。 韩遂、马超等反关右，遣晃屯汾阴以抚河东，赐牛酒，令上先人墓。 太祖至潼关，恐不得渡，召问晃。 晃曰：“公盛兵於此，而贼不复别守蒲阪，知其无谋也。 今假臣精兵 〈臣松之云：案晃于时未应称臣，传写者误也。〉 渡蒲坂津，为军先置，以截其里，贼可擒也。” 太祖曰：“善。” 使晃以步骑四千人渡津。 作堑栅未成，贼梁兴夜将步骑五千餘人攻晃，晃击走之，太祖军得渡。 遂破超等，使晃与夏侯渊平隃麋、汧诸氐，与太祖会安定。 太祖还鄴，使晃与夏侯渊平鄜、夏阳餘贼，斩梁兴，降三千餘户。 从征张鲁。 别遣晃讨攻椟、仇夷诸山氐，皆降之。 迁平寇将军。 解将军张顺围。 击贼陈福等三十餘屯，皆破之。
Cao Cao gave Xu Huang troops and ordered him to attack the bandits at Juan (see following gloss) and 〈Editorial note: the character in the place name is read by the fanqie formula given in the Chinese margin.〉 those at Yuanwu; he crushed them and was promoted to major general. He joined the campaign against Lü Bu and separately induced generals such as Zhao Shu and Li Zou to surrender. With Shi Huan he executed Sui Gu in Henei. He helped defeat Liu Bei, then Yan Liang, took Baima, advanced to Yanjin, killed Wen Chou, and was made lieutenant general. With Cao Hong he crushed the bandit Zhu Bi from the Yinqiang district in Runan, then with Shi Huan burned Yuan Shao's supply train at Gushi, a feat that won him the greatest credit and a village marquisate at the capital. After Ye was besieged and Handan taken, the magistrate Han Fan of Yiyang feigned surrender then shut the gates; Cao Cao sent Xu Huang against him. Xu Huang shot letters into the town explaining the consequences of resistance or submission. Han Fan reconsidered and Xu Huang accepted his surrender. He then told Cao Cao, The two Yuans still stand, and every city still holding out is listening; if you wipe out Yiyang now, the rest will fight to the last man and the north may never be settled. Accept this surrender as an example and the other towns will yield without a fight. Cao Cao approved the advice. On a separate mission against Maocheng he ambushed and overran three enemy camps. He helped defeat Yuan Tan at Nanpi and crushed the rebels in Pingyuan. He joined the campaign against Tadun and was named general who sweeps the wilderness. He joined the Jingzhou expedition, held Fan on a detached posting, and campaigned against bandits in Zhonglu, Linju, and Yicheng. With Man Chong he fought Guan Yu at Han Ford, and with Cao Ren he fought Zhou Yu at Jiangling. In the fifteenth year he put down the Taiyuan revolt, stormed Daling, and executed the rebel leader Shang Yao. When Han Sui and Ma Chao revolted in the west, Cao Cao posted Xu Huang at Fenyin to steady Hedong, gave him oxen and wine for sacrifice, and had him visit his ancestors' graves. At Tong Pass, fearing he could not force the crossing, Cao Cao called Xu Huang in for counsel. Xu Huang said, You have massed the army here while the enemy leaves Puban unguarded—they have no strategy. Lend me picked troops 〈Pei Songzhi notes that Xu Huang would not have said "your servant" here—the text is corrupt.〉 to cross at Puban, seize the bridgehead, and cut them off—we can take them. Cao Cao said, Good. He ordered Xu Huang to take four thousand mixed troops across the ford. Before his trenches and stockade were complete, Liang Xing attacked by night with five thousand men; Xu Huang drove him off and opened the crossing for Cao Cao. After Ma Chao's defeat he sent Xu Huang with Xiahou Yuan to pacify the Di of Yumi and Qian and join Cao Cao at Anding. Back in Ye he sent Xu Huang with Xiahou Yuan to mop up bandits in Fu and Xiayang, beheaded Liang Xing, and brought in more than three thousand households. He joined the expedition against Zhang Lu. He detached Xu Huang to subdue the mountain Di around the Gongdu and Qiuyi ranges (as named in the text), all of whom submitted. He was promoted to general who pacifies bandits. He lifted the siege of General Zhang Shun. He stormed more than thirty camps of bandits led by Chen Fu and the like.
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太祖还鄴，留晃与夏侯渊拒刘备於阳平。 备遣陈式等十餘营绝马鸣阁道，晃别征破之，贼自投山谷，多死者。 太祖闻，甚喜，假晃节，令曰：“此阁道，汉中之险要咽喉也。 刘备欲断绝外内，以取汉中。 将军一举，克夺贼计，善之善者也。” 太祖遂自至阳平，引出汉中诸军。 复遣晃助曹仁讨关羽，屯宛。 会汉水暴隘，于禁等没。 羽围仁於樊，又围将军吕常於襄阳。 晃所将多新卒，以羽难与争锋，遂前至阳陵陂屯。 太祖复还，遣将军徐商、吕建等诣晃，令曰：“须兵马集至，乃俱前。” 贼屯偃城。 晃到，诡道作都堑，示欲截其后，贼烧屯走。 晃得偃城，两面连营，稍前，去贼围三丈所。 未攻，太祖前后遣殷署、硃盖等凡十二营诣晃。 贼围头有屯，又别屯四冢。 晃扬声当攻围头屯，而密攻四冢。 羽见四冢欲坏，自将步骑五千出战，晃击之，退走，遂追陷与俱入围，破之，或自投沔水死。 太祖令曰：“贼围堑鹿角十重，将军致战全胜，遂陷贼围，多斩首虏。 吾用兵三十餘年，及所闻古之善用兵者，未有长驱径入敌围者也。 且樊、襄阳之在围，过於莒、即墨，将军之功，逾孙武、穰苴。” 晃振旅还摩陂，太祖迎晃七里，置酒大会。 太祖举卮酒劝晃，且劳之曰：“全樊、襄阳，将军之功也。” 时诸军皆集，太祖案行诸营，士卒咸离陈观，而晃军营整齐，将士驻陈不动。 太祖叹曰：“徐将军可谓有周亚夫之风矣。”
When Cao Cao returned to Ye he left Xu Huang with Xiahou Yuan to hold Liu Bei at Yangping. Liu Bei sent Chen Shi with a dozen camps to sever the Mamming defile; Xu Huang attacked on a separate axis, routed them, and many of the enemy plunged to their deaths in the gorges. Delighted, Cao Cao gave Xu Huang the baton and wrote, This defile is the throat of Hanzhong. Liu Bei means to cut the interior off from the outside and seize Hanzhong. In one stroke you have spoiled their design—excellent in the highest degree. Cao Cao then came to Yangping in person and withdrew the Hanzhong armies. He again sent Xu Huang to aid Cao Ren against Guan Yu, with headquarters at Wan. Then the Han River burst its banks in a sudden flood and Yu Jin's entire command was swallowed. Guan Yu besieged Cao Ren at Fan and General Lü Chang at Xiangyang. Xu Huang's men were largely raw levies, and Guan Yu was too formidable to meet head-on, so he halted first at Yangling Slope. When Cao Cao returned he sent Xu Shang, Lü Jian, and others to Xu Huang with orders to wait until all forces had joined before advancing together. The enemy held Yancheng. Xu Huang arrived and dug long trenches as if to cut off the enemy's retreat; they burned their camps and fled. Xu Huang took Yancheng, linked camps on both flanks, edged forward until he stood within a few yards of Guan Yu's siege lines. Before he struck, Cao Cao sent twelve reinforcement camps under Yin Shu, Zhu Gai, and others to join Xu Huang. The enemy held Weitou and had a separate force at the Four Mounds. Xu Huang feinted toward Weitou but struck the Four Mounds in secret. Seeing the Four Mounds about to fall, Guan Yu led five thousand men out; Xu Huang drove them back, pursued them into the siege ring, broke their formation, and many drowned themselves in the Han River. Cao Cao issued an order: The foe had ten rings of ditch and abatis; you fought through to total victory, broke into their siege, and took a heavy toll of heads and prisoners. In more than thirty years of campaigning, and in everything I have read of the masters of war, I have never seen a long drive straight through an enemy cordon like yours. The sieges of Fan and Xiangyang were graver than those of Ju and Jimo; your achievement outshines Sun Wu and Tian Rangju. Xu Huang marched back to Mopi; Cao Cao rode seven li to meet him and gave a great banquet. He raised a cup to Xu Huang and said, The relief of Fan and Xiangyang is your doing. When the hosts had gathered and Cao Cao toured the camps, men everywhere broke ranks to stare—only Xu Huang's formation stood motionless in perfect order. Cao Cao sighed, General Xu has the stamp of Zhou Yafu.
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文帝即王位，以晃为右将军，进封逯乡侯。 及践阼，进封杨侯。 与夏侯尚讨刘备於上庸，破之。 以晃镇阳平，徙封阳平侯。 明帝即位，拒吴将诸葛瑾於襄阳。 增邑二百，并前三千一百户。 病笃，遗令敛以时服。
When Cao Pi assumed the kingship he named Xu Huang general of the right and raised his fief to marquis of Luxiang township. At his accession he promoted the fief to marquis of Yang. With Xiahou Shang he defeated Liu Bei at Shangyong. He stationed Xu Huang at Yangping and transferred his title to marquis of Yangping. Under Emperor Ming he held Zhuge Jin of Wu at bay at Xiangyang. Two hundred more households were added, for three thousand one hundred in all. On his deathbed he ordered a plain burial in everyday clothes.
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性俭约畏慎，将军常远斥候，先为不可胜，然后战，追奔争利，士不暇食。 常叹曰：“古人患不遭明君，今幸遇之，常以功自效，何用私誉为！” 终不广交援。 太和元年薨，谥曰壮侯。 子盖嗣。 盖薨，子霸嗣。 明帝分晃户，封晃子孙二人列侯。
Frugal and watchful by nature, he habitually pushed scouts far ahead, secured an unassailable position before he would fight, and in hot pursuit for advantage drove his men until they had no time to eat. He would say, The ancients feared they would never find a worthy lord; I have found one, and I mean to repay him with deeds—what need have I of empty fame? He never courted a wide circle of patrons. He died in Taihe 1 and was posthumously titled Marquis Zhuang, "the Stalwart." His son Xu Gai inherited the title. When Xu Gai died, his son Xu Ba succeeded. Emperor Ming divided Xu Huang's fief and enfeoffed two of his descendants as full marquises.
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【評】
Appraisal.
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评曰：太祖建兹武功，而时之良将，五子为先。 于禁最号毅重，然弗克其终。 张郃以巧变为称，乐进以骁果显名，而鉴其行事，未副所闻。 或注记有遗漏，未如张辽、徐晃之备详也。
The historian's appraisal runs: In the martial enterprise that Cao Cao raised, the foremost commanders of the age were these five. Yu Jin bore the reputation of stern steadfastness, yet he could not bring his career to an honorable close. Zhang He was famed for resourceful adaptation, Yue Jin for fierce daring, yet their recorded deeds fall somewhat short of their reputations. Perhaps the compilers omitted material; at any rate the accounts are not as full as those for Zhang Liao and Xu Huang.