Historical Record
The historical records on Cheng Yi are exceedingly scarce, so much so that the official histories such as the Records of the Three Kingdoms contain almost no explicit independent biography or detailed account of his deeds. This means that at the level of verifiable historical fact, Cheng Yi was not a figure active at the center of the historical stage; his life, native place, offices, and specific deeds were not recorded in any detail. Therefore, we cannot construct from the historical and biographical materials any personal image of Cheng Yi or his role in historical events. This stands in sharp contrast to the many named generals or advisers of the Three Kingdoms period, whose deeds are often scattered through the various biographical chapters. Cheng Yi's state of "namelessness" also reflects, from one angle, that the role he may have played in true history was relatively marginal, or that his contributions did not rise to the level of being specially recorded by the historians. In the vast river of Three Kingdoms history, Cheng Yi is more like a blurred symbol than a historical figure with a clear outline.
In the Novel
In sharp contrast to the dearth of historical sources, Cheng Yi, in the literary work Romance of the Three Kingdoms, though appearing only a few times, is given a clear identity and end. In Chapter 58 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Cheng Yi appears as a general under Ma Chao. Together with Ma Chao, Pang De, Ma Dai, and other generals of the Xiliang Army, he opposed Cao Cao's army in the Battle of Tong Pass. In the novel, Cheng Yi is portrayed as a brave and capable warrior, who campaigned alongside Ma Chao and took part in numerous clashes with the Cao army. His end, however, was quite tragic. In the fighting with Cao Cao, Cheng Yi was ultimately slain by Cao Cao's leading general Xiahou Yuan. This episode is found nowhere in the historical records; it is a literary creation of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, made to enrich the story and shape the ensemble of figures. By depicting Cheng Yi's death in battle, the novel not only displays the savagery of Ma Chao's faction in the Battle of Tong Pass, but also further highlights the valor of Xiahou Yuan. Cheng Yi's appearance in the novel, though brief, gives the reader a concrete image of the body of Xiliang generals, even if that image is a literary fiction.
Key Relationships
* Relationship with Ma Chao: In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Cheng Yi is one of Ma Chao's important subordinate generals, following Ma Chao into battle with unwavering loyalty. Together with Ma Chao he took part in the Battle of Tong Pass, being a member of Ma Chao's military faction. This master-servant relationship is the core of Cheng Yi's identity in the novel. There is no such record in the historical sources (unique to the novel).
* Relationship with Xiahou Yuan: Cheng Yi's final end is closely tied to Xiahou Yuan. In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Xiahou Yuan personally cut down Cheng Yi, making the two men foes on the battlefield. Xiahou Yuan's valor and Cheng Yi's death in battle together form a tragic moment in the Battle of Tong Pass. There is no such record in the historical sources (unique to the novel).
* Relationship with Cao Cao: As a general under Ma Chao, Cheng Yi was on the side opposing Cao Cao in the Battle of Tong Pass. He took part in the fighting to resist Cao Cao's great army, being an obstacle on Cao Cao's road to unifying the north. There is no such record in the historical sources (unique to the novel).
Signature Scene
* Appearance and Death in Battle at Tong Pass: Cheng Yi's most signature scene in Romance of the Three Kingdoms is none other than his appearance and eventual death in battle at the Battle of Tong Pass. As a general under Ma Chao, in the fierce fighting with Cao Cao he was slain by Xiahou Yuan. This scene is not only the terminus of Cheng Yi's character arc, but also adds ink to the savagery of the Battle of Tong Pass, and is an important link in the novel's shaping of the tragic color of Ma Chao's faction. This episode is entirely the literary creation of the novel; there is no related record in the historical sources.
* Image as a General under Ma Chao: Although he has no specific independent deeds, Cheng Yi's very identity as a "general under Ma Chao" in the novel constitutes a signature scene. He represents one of the many brave and capable generals under Ma Chao who ultimately could not withstand Cao Cao's great army, and is an epitome of the overall image of the Xiliang Army. This setting of his identity helps the reader understand the makeup of Ma Chao's military strength and the predicament they faced before Cao Cao. There is no such record in the historical sources (unique to the novel).
Relationships
1 relationships
Enemies1
Chapters1 回 ▸
- 演ch.58
Life events1 ▸
- 0211-01-01 · Tong PassBattle of Tong Pass· Killed in action