Cheng Ji (Shu Han)

Cheng Ji
程畿
Statue of Cheng Ji in the Zhuge Liang Memorial Temple in Chengdu, Sichuan
Personal details
BornUnknown
Langzhong, Sichuan
Died222
Yidu County or Changyang County, Hubei
Children
  • Cheng Yu
  • Cheng Qi
OccupationMilitary officer
Courtesy nameJiran (季然)
In this Chinese name, the family name is Cheng.

Cheng Ji (died 222), courtesy name Jiran, was a military officer of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He previously served under the warlord Liu Zhang during the late Eastern Han dynasty.

Service under Liu Zhang

Cheng Ji was from Langzhong County (閬中縣), Baxi Commandery (巴西郡), which is in present-day Langzhong, Sichuan. He served as the Chief of Hanchang County (漢昌縣; in present-day Bazhong, Sichuan) under the warlord Liu Zhang, who controlled Yi Province (covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing) during the late Eastern Han dynasty. An ethnic minority group, the Cong (賨), lived in Hanchang County. They were known for being fierce and warlike; Emperor Gao, the founding emperor of the Han dynasty, recruited Cong warriors to serve in his army when he conquered the Three Qins in 206–205 BCE.[1] Cheng Ji's immediate superior was Pang Xi, the Administrator of Baxi Commandery, because Hanchang County was under Baxi Commandery's jurisdiction, and Baxi Commandery was administered by Yi Province.

As chaos broke out throughout China towards the end of the Eastern Han dynasty, Pang Xi wanted to improve security within Baxi Commandery, so he recruited more men to serve as soldiers. Around the time, Liu Zhang heard rumours that Pang Xi was planning to rebel against him and became more suspicious of Pang Xi. When Pang Xi heard about it, he became fearful and started making preparations to increase the strength of his military forces. He also sent Cheng Yu (程郁), Cheng Ji's son, who was serving in the commandery office, to persuade Cheng Ji to support him in rebelling against Liu Zhang. Cheng Ji wrote to Pang Xi: "Your original intention in recruiting more soldiers was not to start a rebellion. There might have been some misunderstanding, but what is more important is you are performing your duties. If you are fearful and start thinking of rebelling, I will not listen to you." He also wrote to Cheng Yu: "I received grace from the provincial government, so I am obliged to do my best to serve the Governor. You are serving in the commandery office, so you should do your best to serve the Administrator. You should not be thinking of rebelling."[2]

Pang Xi sent a message to Cheng Ji: "Your son is serving in the commandery office. Your family will be in trouble if you do not obey the Administrator!" Cheng Ji replied: "Yue Yang (樂羊) ate his son's flesh not because he did not love his son, but because he was doing so for the sake of upholding righteousness. If you were to make me do the same thing, I will do it." Pang Xi realised that Cheng Ji would never support him, so he abandoned the idea of rebelling against Liu Zhang; instead, he apologised to Liu Zhang and was pardoned. When Liu Zhang heard about Cheng Ji's loyalty towards him, he promoted Cheng Ji to serve as the Administrator of Jiangyang Commandery (江陽郡; around present-day Luzhou, Sichuan).[3]

Service under Liu Bei

See also: Battle of Xiaoting § Heroics of Fu Rong and Cheng Ji

Cheng Ji came to serve under the warlord Liu Bei in around 215 after Liu Bei seized control of Yi Province from Liu Zhang. Liu Bei appointed him as an Assistant Officer and Libationer (從事祭酒).[4]

In 221, Liu Bei declared himself emperor and established the state of Shu Han. In the same year, he launched a military campaign against the warlord Sun Quan, his former ally, and started the Battle of Xiaoting. After about six months of stalemate since the beginning of 222, Sun Quan's forces, led by Lu Xun, suddenly launched a counterattack, burnt down several Shu camps in a fire attack, and forced the remaining Shu forces to retreat. Cheng Ji remained behind to cover the retreat. As the enemy approached, someone urged him to abandon his boat and escape, but he replied: "I have never fled from battle throughout my career. Besides, the Emperor is currently in a dangerous situation." When the enemy showed up, Cheng Ji wielded a ji, fought fiercely and managed to sink some enemy boats before he was eventually overwhelmed by the enemy and killed.[5]

Family

Apart from Cheng Yu (程郁), Cheng Ji had another son, Cheng Qi (程祁), whose courtesy name was Gonghong (公弘).[6] Cheng Qi was noted for his brilliance, but he died at the age of 19.[7]

Appraisal

In his Ji Han Fuchen Zan, the Shu official Yang Xi praised Cheng Ji for displaying steadfast loyalty and exemplary courage during the Battle of Xiaoting.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ (季然名畿，巴西閬中人也。劉璋時為漢昌長。縣有賨人，種類剛猛，昔高祖以定關中。) Sanguozhi vol. 45.
  2. ^ (巴西太守龐羲以天下擾亂，郡宜有武衞，頗招合部曲。有讒於璋，說羲欲叛者，璋陰疑之。羲聞，甚懼，將謀自守，遣畿子郁宣旨，索兵自助。畿報曰：「郡合部曲，本不為叛，雖有交搆，要在盡誠；若必以懼，遂懷異志，非畿之所聞。」并敕郁曰：「我受州恩，當為州牧盡節。汝為郡吏，當為太守効力，不得以吾故有異志也。」) Sanguozhi vol. 45.
  3. ^ (羲使人告畿曰：「爾子在郡，不從太守，家將及禍！」畿曰：「昔樂羊為將，飲子之羹，非父子無恩，大義然也。今雖復羹子，吾必飲之。」羲知畿必不為己，厚陳謝於璋以致無咎。璋聞之，遷畿江陽太守。) Sanguozhi vol. 45.
  4. ^ (先主領益州牧，辟為從事祭酒。) Sanguozhi vol. 45.
  5. ^ (後隨先主征吳，遇大軍敗績，泝江而還，或告之曰：「後追已至，解船輕去，乃可以免。」畿曰：「吾在軍，未曾為敵走，況從天子而見危哉！」追人遂及畿船，畿身執戟戰，敵船有覆者。衆大至，共擊之，乃死。) Sanguozhi vol. 45.
  6. ^ (公弘，名祁，季然之子也。) Sanguozhi vol. 45.
  7. ^ (公弘後生，卓爾奇精，夭命二十，悼恨未呈) Sanguozhi vol. 45.
  8. ^ (江陽剛烈，立節明君，兵合遇寇，不屈其身，單夫隻役，隕命於軍。) Sanguozhi vol. 45.