Leng Bao

Historical Record

Leng Bao was a general of Yi Province who served under Liu Zhang. In the eighteenth year of Jian'an (213), after Liu Bei broke with Liu Zhang, he led troops to attack Yi Province. Liu Bei first executed Yang Huai, the commander of the Baishui army, then sent Huang Zhong, Zhuo Ying, and others to lead troops against Liu Zhang, and personally led an army to reach Fucheng, holding the place^[1]. Facing Liu Bei's offensive, Liu Zhang sent generals including Leng Bao, Liu Gui, Zhang Ren, and Deng Xian to lead their forces to Fucheng to resist Liu Bei^[1]. However, Leng Bao and the others failed to halt Liu Bei's army, were finally defeated, and were forced to fall back and hold Mianzhu^[1]. After this, the histories no longer record in detail Leng Bao's whereabouts or end.

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Leng Bao, as a leading general under Liu Zhang, has his image and experience given more literary color. After Liu Bei captured Fushui Pass, Liu Zhang was greatly alarmed, and Huang Quan advised sending troops to garrison Luocheng to block Liu Bei^[2]. Liu Zhang therefore ordered Liu Gui, Leng Bao, Zhang Ren, and Deng Xian to lead an army of fifty thousand, traveling day and night, to defend Luocheng and resist Liu Bei's advance^[2].

In battle with Liu Bei's army, Leng Bao was once captured alive by Wei Yan. However, Liu Bei, upholding benevolence and righteousness, untied Leng Bao's bonds, gave him wine to calm his nerves, and asked whether he was willing to surrender. Leng Bao expressed his willingness to surrender and proposed that, if released to return, he would persuade Liu Gui and Zhang Ren to submit together and hand over Luocheng^[3]. Liu Bei was delighted to hear this and bestowed on Leng Bao clothing, a saddle, and a horse, releasing him to return to Luocheng. Wei Yan voiced his concern, believing that once Leng Bao escaped he would not return, but Liu Bei firmly trusted in his own way of benevolence and righteousness^[3].

However, Leng Bao did not keep his promise. Exploiting Liu Bei's trust, on a night of raging wind and rain he led five thousand soldiers along the riverbank, attempting to break open the river to flood Liu Bei's army^[4]. But his scheme was seen through by Wei Yan, who led troops in pursuit, and Leng Bao was again captured alive by Wei Yan while fleeing. When Leng Bao was escorted to Fu Pass, Liu Bei rebuked him for forsaking benevolence and righteousness, and finally ordered him beheaded, richly rewarding Wei Yan^[4].

Key Relationships

* Liu Zhang's faction (serves): Leng Bao was an important general under Liu Zhang who, when Liu Bei attacked Yi Province, was charged with resisting Liu Bei's advance together with Liu Gui, Zhang Ren, and Deng Xian^[1].
* Liu Bei (betrayed_by): After being captured alive by Liu Bei, Leng Bao feigned surrender and promised to persuade his colleagues to submit, but in fact betrayed Liu Bei's trust, attempting to break open the river to flood Liu Bei's army, and was finally executed by Liu Bei^[4] (unique to the novel).

Iconic Scenes

* The Battle of Fucheng: As one of the four generals dispatched by Liu Zhang, Leng Bao fought Liu Bei's army at Fucheng, but was finally defeated and forced to fall back and hold Mianzhu^[1]. This is the only important military action clearly recorded for him in the histories.
* Feigned surrender and execution: In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, after being captured alive by Wei Yan, Leng Bao was treated with benevolence by Liu Bei and released to go persuade others to surrender. Yet Leng Bao broke faith, attempting to break open the river to flood Liu Bei's army, was again captured by Wei Yan, and was beheaded by Liu Bei^[4] (unique to the novel). This episode vividly shapes Leng Bao's image in the novel as cunning and treacherous, and highlights Liu Bei's benevolence and Wei Yan's valor. It also foreshadows later developments in the war—for instance, Zhuge Liang's prediction, by observing the stars at night, that Luocheng's commanders would suffer much ill fortune and little good^[4].