Li Dian: Difference between revisions

| office = General Who Destroys Barbarians<br>(破虜將軍)<br><small>(under [[Cao Cao]])</small>

| office1 = General Who Captures Barbarians<br>(捕虜將軍)<br><small>(under [[Cao Cao]])</small>

{{chinese-family name hatnote|[[Li (李)|Li]]|lang=Chinese}}

'''Li Dian''' ({{fl.circa}} 180s~215180 – {{circa}} 217),{{sfn|de Crespigny|2007|p=409}} [[courtesy name]] '''Mancheng''', was a Chinese military general and politician serving under the warlord [[Cao Cao]] induring the late [[Eastern Han dynasty]] of China. He participated in the [[Battle of Guandu]] in 200 between Cao Cao and [[Yuan Shao]]. He also played a significant role in the defence of [[Hefei]] during the [[Battle of Xiaoyao Ford]] of 214–215 against the forces of [[Sun Quan]].

Li Dian was from Juye County ({{lang|zh-hant|鉅野縣}}), Shanyang [[CommanderyShanyang (China)|Commandery]] ({{lang|zh|山陽郡}}), which is in present-day [[Juye County]], [[Shandong]]. His uncle, Li Qian ({{lang|zh|李乾}}), was an influential man in the region and had thousands of [[Retainers in early China (social group)|retainers]] working under him in Chengshi County (乘氏縣; east of present-day [[Heze]], Shandong).<ref>(李典字曼成，山陽鉅野人也。典從父乾，有雄氣，合賔客數千家在乘氏。) ''Sanguozhi'' vol. 18.</ref>

During the Chuping era (190–193) in the reign of [[Emperor Xian of Han|Emperor Xian]] of the [[Eastern Han dynasty]], Li Qian and Li Dian led their followers to assist the warlord [[Cao Cao]] in suppressing the [[Yellow Turban Rebellion]] and they defeated the rebels at Shouzhang County (壽張縣; south of present-day [[Dongping County]], Shandong). Li Dian and his uncle later followed Cao Cao in his campaigns against rival warlords such as [[Yuan Shu]] and [[Tao Qian (Han dynasty)|Tao Qian]].<ref>(初平中，以衆隨太祖，破黃巾於壽張，又從擊袁術，征徐州。) ''Sanguozhi'' vol. 18.</ref> When [[Battle of Yan Province|conflict broke out]] between Cao Cao and [[Lü Bu]] in 194, Cao sent Li Qian back to Chengshi County to reaffirm the support of the locals towards him. Lü Bu's subordinates Xue Lan ({{lang|zh|薛蘭}}) and Li Feng ({{lang|zh|李封}}) tried to persuade Li Qian to defect to their side but Li Qian refused so they killed him. Cao Cao then gave command of Li Qian's troops to Li Qian's son, Li Zheng ({{lang|zh|李整}}), and sent some of his men to assist Li Zheng to attack Xue Lan and Li Feng. Li Zheng achieved victory over Xue Lan and Li Feng, and later helped to pacify the various counties in [[Yan Province]]. He was appointed as the Inspector ({{lang|zh|刺史}}) of [[Qing Province]].<ref>(呂布之亂，太祖遣乾還乘氏，慰勞諸縣。布別駕薛蘭、治中李封招乾，欲俱叛，乾不聽，遂殺乾。太祖使乾子整將乾兵，與諸將擊蘭、封。蘭、封破，從平兖州諸縣有功，稍遷青州刺史。) ''Sanguozhi'' vol. 18.</ref>

After Li Zheng's death, Li Dian was appointed as the Prefect ({{lang|zh|令}}) of Yingyin County (潁陰縣; in present-day [[Xuchang]], [[Henan]]) and General of the Household ({{lang|zh|中郎將}}), and took over command of his cousin's troops. Li Dian was known to be very studious since he was a youth, and he showed little interest in military affairs. He read classics such as the ''[[Spring and Autumn Annals]]'' and the ''[[Zuo Zhuan]]''. Cao Cao was pleased with Li Dian and wanted to test his abilities.<ref>(魏書曰：典少好學，不樂兵事，乃就師讀春秋左氏傳，博觀羣書。太祖善之，故試以治民之政。) ''Wei Shu'' annotation in ''Sanguozhi'' vol. 18.</ref> He reassigned Li Dian to be the Administrator ({{lang|zh|太守}}) of Lihu Commandery (離狐郡; southeast of present-day [[Dongming]], [[Shandong]]), where Li was primarily in charge of managing civil affairs.<ref>(整卒，典徙潁陰令，為中郎將，將整軍，遷離狐太守。) ''Sanguozhi'' vol. 18.</ref>

In 200, when the forces of Cao Cao and [[Yuan Shao]] clashed at the [[Battle of Guandu]], Li Dian, along with his clansmen and subordinates, took charge of supplying Cao's forces at the frontline with food and equipment. After Yuan Shao was defeated, Cao Cao appointed Li Dian as a Major-General ({{lang|zh-hant|裨將軍}}) and ordered him to garrison at Anmin ({{lang|zh|安民}}).<ref>(時太祖與袁紹相拒官渡，典率宗族及部曲輸穀帛供軍。紹破，以典為裨將軍，屯安民。) ''Sanguozhi'' vol. 18.</ref>

Yuan Shao died in 202, after which his sons [[Yuan Tan]] and [[Yuan Shang]] started fighting over their father's territories. During the [[Battle of Liyang]] of 202–203 against the Yuan brothers, Cao Cao put Li Dian and [[Cheng Yu]] in charge of escorting food supplies to the frontline by crossing the [[Yellow River]]. Yuan Shang sent his subordinate Gao Fan ({{lang|zh|高蕃}}) to station near the river bank to block Cao Cao's supply route. Cao Cao had instructed Li Dian and Cheng Yu to send the supplies by land if they could not cross the river. However, Li Dian gathered his men and told them, "Gao Fan's troops are lightly armoured and they block the water route. This shows that they are lax, so they can be overcome easily. The military does not act against orders, but they can make their own decisions if they feel they are doing something beneficial to the country. Let's take them out quickly." Cheng Yu agreed with Li Dian, so they led their forces across the river to attack Gao Fan and defeated the enemy, thus securing the supply route across the river.<ref>(太祖擊譚、尚於黎陽，使典與程昱等以船運軍糧。會尚遣魏郡太守高蕃將兵屯河上，絕水道，太祖勑典、昱：「若船不得過，下從陸道。」典與諸將議曰：「蕃軍少甲而恃水，有懈怠之心，擊之必克。軍不內禦；苟利國家，專之可也，宜亟擊之。」昱亦以為然。遂北渡河，攻蕃，破之，水道得通。) ''Sanguozhi'' vol. 18.</ref>

In 204, after the [[Battle of Ye]] against [[Yuan Shang]]'s forces, Cao Cao sent Li Dian and [[Yue Jin]] to attack Yuan Shang's cousin and ally, [[Gao Gan]], at Hu Pass (壺關; present-day [[Huguan County]], [[Shanxi]]). Li Dian defeated Guan Cheng ({{lang|zh|管承}}) at Changguang County (長廣縣; east of present-day [[Laiyang]], [[Shandong]]), and was promoted to General Who Captures Barbarians ({{lang|zh-hant|捕虜將軍}}) and made a Marquis of a Chief Village ({{lang|zh|都亭侯}}) for his achievements.<ref>(從圍鄴，鄴定，與樂進圍高幹於壺關，擊管承於長廣，皆破之。遷捕虜將軍，封都亭侯。) ''Sanguozhi'' vol. 18.</ref>

Li Dian had over 3,000 families in his clansmen and close followers, all of whom lived in Chengshi County (乘氏縣; east of present-day [[Heze]], [[Shandong]]). He proposed to Cao Cao to have them relocated to Wei [[CommanderyWei (China)|Commandery]] (魏郡; north of present-day [[Ci County]], [[Hebei]]), Cao Cao's base of operations during his campaigns in northern China. Cao Cao laughed and asked Li Dian, "You admire [[Geng Chun]]{{efn|[[Geng Chun]] (耿純) was one of the [[Yuntai 28 generals]] (雲台二十八將) who served under [[Emperor Guangwu of Han|Liu Xiu (Emperor Guangwu)]], who restored the [[Han dynasty]] (as the Eastern Han dynasty) after [[Wang Mang]]'s usurpation. In 23 CE, Geng Chun led over 2,000 families, comprising his clansmen and close associates, to join Liu Xiu in [[Handan]], [[Hebei]].}} and wish to emulate him, don't you?" Li Dian replied, "I'm humble and timid and my contributions are lowly, but the rewards I've received are too high, so I should have my entire clan join me in service so that I'll feel more deserving of the rewards. Besides, the chaos haven't ended yet, so it's better to keep them close to better control the Empire. I'm not emulating Geng Chun." Li Dian's clansmen and close followers were then relocated to [[Ye (ancient China)|Ye]] (鄴; in present-day [[Handan]], Hebei). Cao Cao was pleased and he promoted Li Dian to General Who Destroys Barbarians ({{lang|zh-hant|破虜將軍}}).<ref>(典宗族部曲三千餘家，居乘氏，自請願徙詣魏郡。太祖笑曰：「卿欲慕耿純邪？」典謝曰：「典駑怯功微，而爵寵過厚，誠宜舉宗陳力；加以征伐未息，宜實郊遂之內，以制四方，非慕純也。」遂徙部曲宗族萬三千餘口居鄴。太祖嘉之，遷破虜將軍。) ''Sanguozhi'' vol. 18.</ref>

Li Dian's biography in the ''Sanguozhi'' did not state when and how he died, but it is known that he died at the age of 36 (by [[East Asian age reckoning]]).<ref>(年三十六薨， ...) ''Sanguozhi'' vol. 18.</ref> His titles were inherited by his son, Li Zhen ({{lang|zh|李禎}}).

In 220, after [[Cao Pi]] (Cao Cao's son and successor) forced [[Emperor Xian of Han|Emperor Xian]] to abdicate the throne to him and became the emperor of the state of [[Cao Wei]], he awarded Li Dian the [[Posthumous name|posthumous title]] "Marquis Min" ({{lang|zh|愍侯}}), which literally means "sympathetic marquis", in recognition of Li's merits at the [[Battle of Xiaoyao Ford]].{{efn|According to the "Rules of assigning posthumous names" chapter in the ''[[Yizhoushu]]'', an official would receive the posthumous name "Min" for either one of the following criteria: being killed while serving the country; letting civilians be harmed; being belittled (or sick) for a long time; being involved in a coup d'etat (or rebellion). Li Dian's cause of death remains unknown but he was probably fatally wounded in battle as deduced from his posthumous name. Another of Cao Cao's generals, [[Xiahou Yuan]], who was killed in action during the [[Hanzhong Campaign]], also shared this posthumous name.<ref>(在國逢難曰愍。使民折傷曰愍。在國連憂曰愍。禍亂方作曰愍。) ''Yizhoushu'' vol. 6. ch. 54.</ref>}} Li Zhen was awarded another 100 taxable households in his marquisate, while another of Li Dian's sons received the title of a Secondary Marquis and 100 taxable households.<ref>(子禎嗣。文帝踐阼，追念合肥之功，增禎邑百戶，賜典一子爵關內侯，邑百戶；謚典曰愍侯。) ''Sanguozhi'' vol. 18.</ref>

* [[ListLists of people of the Three Kingdoms]]

* [[Pei Songzhi|Pei, Songzhi]] (5th century). ''[[Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms]]'' (''Sanguozhi zhu'').