Chen Ying

史载（Historical Record）

As for Chen Ying, there is no mention of him whatsoever in official histories such as the Records of the Three Kingdoms. The sources record no general or figure named Chen Ying having any dealings with the Shu Han camp of Liu Bei, Zhao Yun, and the like, nor any record of him holding office in Guiyang Commandery or taking part in any military action. Therefore, judging from the historical sources, Chen Ying is not a real historical figure.

演中（In the Novel）

In Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Chen Ying appears as a colonel under Zhao Fan, the Grand Administrator of Guiyang. He and another colonel, Bao Long, were both hunters by origin from the mountain township of Guiyang, and both prided themselves on their martial valor. Chen Ying was especially skilled with the flying trident, while Bao Long was famed for once having shot dead a pair of tigers.^[1]

When Zhao Yun led his army to press on Guiyang, Zhao Fan at first intended to surrender, but Chen Ying and Bao Long volunteered and asked to give battle. Chen Ying told Zhao Fan that if they failed to capture Zhao Yun, it would not be too late to surrender then.^[1] Unable to dissuade the two, Zhao Fan could only consent. Chen Ying then led three thousand men out of the city to meet the enemy. Crossing blades with Zhao Yun, within a few bouts he felt he was no match and turned his horse to flee. During his flight, Chen Ying tried to ambush Zhao Yun with his flying trident, but Zhao Yun easily caught it and hurled it back. In the end, Chen Ying was taken alive by Zhao Yun.^[2]

After his capture, Zhao Yun did not kill him but released him instead, sending him back to persuade Zhao Fan to surrender. However, after returning to the city, Chen Ying, far from being cowed, instead conspired with Bao Long on a feigned-surrender scheme. Their plan was for Chen Ying and Bao Long to pretend to surrender into Zhao Yun's army, after which Zhao Fan would lead troops to provoke battle, and the two would seize the chance to capture Zhao Yun on the field. Chen Ying even proposed taking along some troops, while Bao Long reckoned five hundred horsemen would suffice.^[3] This scheme ultimately failed; Bao Long was seen through and shot dead by Zhao Yun in the course of carrying it out, and although Chen Ying's fate is not detailed further, one may infer that his scheme failed along with it.

关键关系

* Zhao Fan (commands_in): Chen Ying was a colonel under Zhao Fan, the Grand Administrator of Guiyang.^[1] When Zhao Yun's army arrived at the city, Chen Ying, as Zhao Fan's subordinate, volunteered to give battle and took part in the maneuvering between Zhao Fan and Zhao Yun. Together with Bao Long, he offered Zhao Fan a plan, attempting to capture Zhao Yun through feigned surrender.^[3] (novel only)
* Bao Long (colleague): Chen Ying and Bao Long were both colonels of Guiyang, both hunters by origin who prided themselves on their strength.^[1] Facing Zhao Yun, the two jointly deliberated on countermeasures and together carried out the feigned-surrender scheme—comrades fighting side by side in the novel.^[3] (novel only)
* Zhao Yun (opponent): Chen Ying crossed blades directly with Zhao Yun on the battlefield. He once tried to ambush Zhao Yun with his flying trident, but Zhao Yun easily neutralized it and took him alive.^[2] Zhao Yun was Chen Ying's most important opponent in the novel and the key figure who caused his scheme to fail. (novel only)

标志性场景

Chen Ying's emblematic scene is undoubtedly his first clash with Zhao Yun. When Zhao Yun led his army to the foot of Guiyang's walls, Chen Ying volunteered to give battle. He rode out brandishing his trident and faced off against Zhao Yun. After four or five bouts, knowing he was no match, Chen Ying turned his horse to flee. During his flight, he tried to deploy his special skill—the flying trident—hurling it at the pursuing Zhao Yun. However, this move was easily caught by Zhao Yun and hurled back. In the end, Chen Ying was taken alive by Zhao Yun and ordered bound and carried back to camp.^[2] This scene fully displays Chen Ying's martial valor as well as the vast gap in martial prowess between him and Zhao Yun, and lays the groundwork for the subsequent feigned-surrender episode. (novel only)