Chen Biao

Historical Record

Chen Biao, courtesy name Wen'ao, was the son of a concubine of the general Chen Wu. From a young age he was already renowned, and together with Zhuge Ke, Gu Tan, Zhang Xiu, and others he attended the heir-apparent Sun Deng, with whom they had deep friendships^[1]. The Master of Writing Zan Yan was also on good terms with Chen Biao; later, when Zan Yan was found guilty, most people of the time sought to protect themselves and spoke of him slightingly, but Chen Biao alone did not change his old friendship, and the gentry esteemed him all the more for it^[1]. He was first promoted to Attendant Gentleman of the Heir-Apparent, and later appointed to the post of Commandant Assisting the Upright^[1].

After his elder brother Chen Xiu died, Chen Biao's birth mother was unwilling to serve Chen Xiu's mother, and Chen Biao was deeply troubled by this. He admonished his mother, saying: "My elder brother died young and unfortunate, and as the man now in charge of the household, I ought to support our principal mother. If you, mother, can suffer the slight to your feelings and comply with our principal mother, that would be my greatest wish; if you cannot, then there is no choice but to go out and live separately." So firm was Chen Biao in matters of great righteousness and fairness. His words and conduct moved both mothers and made them live in harmony^[1].

Because his father Chen Wu had died in battle, Chen Biao requested to lead troops as a general like his father, and was granted a force of five hundred men^[1]. To win the loyalty of his officers and men, he received his soldiers with all his heart, and the soldiers all loved and attached themselves to him, glad to serve him to the death^[1]. At the time there was a suspect named Shi Ming, accused of stealing government property, who was by nature strong and brave; after being arrested and subjected to harsh torture, he would rather die than yield. The Commandant of Justice reported the matter to Sun Quan. Sun Quan, who well knew that Chen Biao could win the hearts of valiant men, issued an edict handing Shi Ming over to Chen Biao to find out the truth himself^[1]. Upon receiving Shi Ming, Chen Biao at once removed his fetters, arranged for him to bathe and change his clothes, set out a lavish feast, and induced him to confess through good cheer. In the end Shi Ming confessed his crime and gave up his accomplices. Chen Biao reported the truth, and Sun Quan, marveling at this and wishing to preserve Chen Biao's reputation, specially pardoned Shi Ming and executed only his accomplices^[1].

Thereafter, Chen Biao was appointed Commander of the Right Division of the Invincibles and enfeoffed as Marquis of the Duting Precinct, to inherit his father's rank. Chen Biao, however, repeatedly declined, requesting that the rank be passed to Chen Xiu's son Chen Yan, but Sun Quan did not consent^[1]. In the third year of Jiahe (234 CE), when Zhuge Ke took charge as Administrator of Danyang and subdued the Shanyue, Chen Biao was appointed Commandant of Xin'an, jointly handling military affairs with Zhuge Ke^[1].

At first, Chen Biao had been granted two hundred households of exempt persons, settled in Xin'an County of Kuaiji. He examined them carefully and found that they were all fit to serve as elite soldiers, so he submitted a memorial requesting to return them to the government to strengthen the elite troops. Sun Quan issued an edict saying: "The former general (Chen Wu) rendered merit to the state, and the state repays it thus—why do you decline?" Chen Biao replied: "Now that we are to wipe out the state's foes and avenge my father, men are the foundation. To waste these elite men as household servants is not my aspiration." He thereupon enrolled them all into his own troops. The various offices reported this matter, and Sun Quan greatly praised it, ordering the commanderies and counties to conscript the weaker among the common people to make up Chen Biao's original quota of exempt persons^[1].

In his three years in office, Chen Biao widely opened the way for surrender and submission, recruiting more than ten thousand soldiers^[1]. When he was about to set out on campaign, it happened that Wu Ju and others, common folk of Poyang, rose in revolt, storming cities and throwing the subordinate counties into turmoil. Chen Biao immediately crossed the boundary to suppress them, and after being defeated, Wu Ju surrendered^[1]. Lu Xun appointed Chen Biao General of the Auxiliary, advanced him to Marquis of the Duxiang, and stationed him to the north at Zhangkeng. He died at the age of only thirty-four^[1]. Chen Biao had spent his whole family fortune supporting his soldiers, and when he died, his wife and children lived in poverty, so the heir-apparent Sun Deng specially built a house for them. His son Chen Ao, at the age of seventeen, was appointed Major of a Separate Detachment, commanding four hundred soldiers. After Chen Ao died, Chen Xiu's son Chen Yan was again appointed Major to succeed Chen Ao's post. Chen Yan's younger brother Chen Yong later also became a general and was enfeoffed as a marquis^[1]. The Shi Ming who had originally received Chen Biao's kindness, grateful for the recognition Chen Biao had shown him, thereafter reformed himself and ultimately became a brave general, rising to the rank of General^[1].

In the Novel

Romance of the Three Kingdoms has no independent chapter or notable episode about Chen Biao; his image and deeds are not specially developed in the novel. Therefore, no literary depiction diverging from the historical biography can be provided.

Key Relationships

* Zhuge Ke: Chen Biao knew Zhuge Ke from childhood; together they attended the heir-apparent Sun Deng and were close friends^[1]. When Zhuge Ke took charge as Administrator of Danyang and subdued the Shanyue, Chen Biao was appointed Commandant of Xin'an, jointly handling military affairs with Zhuge Ke, showing that the two also once cooperated in military matters^[1].
* Eastern Wu: Chen Biao was loyal to the Eastern Wu regime throughout his life, serving the state as a general. He requested to lead troops, suppressed rebellions, widely opened the way for surrender and submission, and recruited large numbers of soldiers for Eastern Wu^[1]. Sun Quan also greatly praised and valued Chen Biao's ability and character—for example, handing Shi Ming over to him and commending his act of converting the exempt persons into elite troops^[1].
* Shi Ming: Shi Ming was originally a suspect accused of stealing government property; moved by Chen Biao's generous treatment, he ultimately reformed himself and became a brave general^[1]. Chen Biao's handling of Shi Ming reflects his trait of being able to "win the hearts of valiant men"^[1].

Iconic Scenes

* Admonishing his mother toward harmony: After Chen Biao's elder brother died, his birth mother was unwilling to serve their principal mother. Chen Biao admonished his birth mother by appeal to great righteousness, saying that if she could not live in harmony, they would have no choice but to live separately. This act ultimately moved both mothers and made them live in harmony, displaying Chen Biao's fairness and firmness in the face of great righteousness^[1].
* Winning over Shi Ming: Sun Quan handed the obstinate theft suspect Shi Ming over to Chen Biao to deal with. Rather than torturing him harshly, Chen Biao removed his fetters, let him bathe, set out a lavish feast, and induced him with good cheer, in the end making Shi Ming confess. This event reflects not only Chen Biao's ability to win men's hearts but also made Sun Quan look upon him with new respect^[1].
* Returning the exempt persons: When Chen Biao found that the two hundred households of exempt persons granted to him were all robust men, he submitted a memorial requesting to return them to the government as elite troops rather than keep them for private use. He stated plainly, "To waste these elite men as household servants is not my aspiration," displaying his noble character of putting the public before the private and the affairs of state foremost, which won great praise from Sun Quan^[1].
* Widely opening the way for surrender and submission: During his tenure as Commandant of Xin'an, Chen Biao widely opened the way for surrender and submission, successfully recruiting more than ten thousand soldiers and strengthening Eastern Wu's military forces. When Wu Ju and others revolted, he even crossed the boundary to put down the rebellion, displaying his outstanding military talent and loyalty to the state^[1].
* Spending his whole fortune on supporting his soldiers: Chen Biao died at the age of only thirty-four, having spent his whole family fortune supporting his soldiers, so that his wife and children lived in poverty and the heir-apparent Sun Deng had to build a house for them. This profoundly reflects his character of "receiving his soldiers with all his heart" so that "the soldiers all loved and attached themselves to him, glad to serve him," as well as his spirit of loyal devotion to the state without seeking private gain^[1].