He Ping

Historical Record

He Ping was a general of the Shu Han period. His life is sparsely recorded in the histories, appearing mainly in the internal power struggle of Shu Han following the death of Zhuge Liang. According to the Records of the Three Kingdoms, when Zhuge Liang lay gravely ill at the Wuzhang Plains, he secretly arranged the disposition for the army's withdrawal, designating the chief clerk Yang Yi, the marshal Fei Yi, and the protector of the army Jiang Wei to take charge, with explicit instructions that Wei Yan cover the rear and Jiang Wei follow next; if Wei Yan would not obey the order, the army was to withdraw on its own.^[1]

After Zhuge Liang died, his death was kept secret, and Yang Yi sent Fei Yi to sound out Wei Yan's intentions. Wei Yan declared that, though the Chancellor had passed, he himself was still alive; he held that Yang Yi and the others could escort the coffin back for burial, while he should lead the army onward to strike the enemy, and that the affairs of the realm should not be abandoned for the death of one man. He also questioned why he should be placed under Yang Yi's command and made to cover the rear. Wei Yan deliberated with Fei Yi over the marching arrangements and had Fei Yi co-sign a written notice to the various commanders in both their names. Fei Yi feigned agreement, saying he would explain matters to Chief Clerk Yang on Wei Yan's behalf, and that Yang Yi, being a civil officer with little knowledge of military affairs, would surely not go against Wei Yan's wishes. Fei Yi then rode off, and Wei Yan came to regret letting him go too late.^[1]

Wei Yan sent scouts to observe Yang Yi and the others, and found that they were withdrawing camp by camp in order, following Zhuge Liang's established plan. Enraged, Wei Yan did not wait for Yang Yi to move his troops but led his own forces straight to the south, burning the plank roads along the way. Wei Yan and Yang Yi each submitted memorials accusing the other of treason, and within a single day urgent dispatches crossed back and forth. When the Latter Sovereign Liu Shan asked the palace attendant Dong Yun and the chief clerk of the resident office Jiang Wan about the matter, both vouched for Yang Yi and harbored suspicion of Wei Yan. Yang Yi and his men cut through the mountains to open a path, traveling day and night in close pursuit of Wei Yan. Wei Yan reached the mouth of the Southern Valley first and sent troops to attack Yang Yi's force head-on. At this critical moment, Yang Yi ordered He Ping to resist Wei Yan at the front line. He Ping rebuked Wei Yan to his face: "The Chancellor has only just died, his body not yet cold — how dare you behave so!" Wei Yan's troops, knowing that Wei Yan was in the wrong, were unwilling to fight for him, and his army promptly scattered. Wei Yan could only flee toward Hanzhong with a few followers. Yang Yi sent Ma Dai to pursue and kill Wei Yan and bring back his head. Yang Yi trampled Wei Yan's head underfoot and exterminated his three branches of kin.^[1]

In the Novel

In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, He Ping's character is further developed, playing an even more active and pivotal role in the conflict with Wei Yan after Zhuge Liang's death. The novel depicts He Ping leading his troops straight to the Southern Valley, where he beat the drums and shouted. When Wei Yan learned that Yang Yi had sent the vanguard He Ping with troops by a small path over Cha Mountain to challenge him, he donned his armor in a rage, mounted, took up his blade, and led his men out to do battle. After the two armies had formed up, He Ping rode forward and loudly cursed Wei Yan as a "traitor," while Wei Yan in turn cursed He Ping for helping Yang Yi rebel.^[2]

He Ping loudly rebuked Wei Yan before the ranks: "The Chancellor has newly died, his flesh and bones not yet cold — how dare you rebel!" He then pointed his whip at Wei Yan's Riverlands troops and admonished them: "Soldiers, you are all men of the Western Riverlands. Many of you have parents, wives, brothers, and kin back home. While the Chancellor lived, he never treated you ill. Now you must not aid a traitor — go each of you back to your homes and await your rewards." This speech was deeply rousing, and many of Wei Yan's troops, hearing it, gave a great shout and dispersed by more than half. Enraged at the sight, Wei Yan flourished his blade and galloped straight at He Ping. He Ping leveled his spear to meet him, but after a few bouts feigned defeat and fled, with Wei Yan in close pursuit. At this point He Ping's troops loosed their bows and crossbows together, and Wei Yan was forced to turn his horse and retreat. He found his own army breaking apart and, turning his fury to pursuit, killed several men, yet still could not halt the rout. At that moment only the three hundred troops led by Ma Dai stood firm. Wei Yan said to Ma Dai: "You truly aid me with all your heart; once this is accomplished, I shall never fail you." Wei Yan and Ma Dai then pursued and attacked He Ping together. He Ping led his troops swiftly away. Wei Yan gathered his remaining troops and discussed with Ma Dai the matter of surrendering to Cao Wei, but Ma Dai urged him instead to seek hegemony for himself, and declared his willingness to first take Hanzhong with Wei Yan and then advance on the two Riverlands provinces. (unique to the novel)^[2]

Key Relationships

* He Ping and Yang Yi: He Ping was a subordinate general of Yang Yi. In the power struggle after Zhuge Liang's death, He Ping stood firmly on Yang Yi's side and was ordered to resist Wei Yan at the front. In the historical record, He Ping's rebuke of Wei Yan directly caused Wei Yan's troops to scatter.^[1] In the novel, He Ping serves as Yang Yi's vanguard, engaging Wei Yan in direct military and verbal confrontation, his verbal assault breaking the morale of Wei Yan's army.^[2]
* He Ping and Wei Yan: The two stood in direct military opposition. In the histories, He Ping was the key figure in Yang Yi's camp who confronted Wei Yan head-on; his single line, "[The Chancellor] is dead, his body not yet cold — how dare you and your men behave so!" directly caused Wei Yan's troops to disperse.^[1] In the novel, the conflict between He Ping and Wei Yan is fiercer still, involving not only verbal rebuke but also hand-to-hand combat; through feigned defeat and massed crossbow fire, He Ping further weakened Wei Yan and ultimately drove him to flee in defeat.^[2]

Signature Scenes

* Rebuking Wei Yan at the mouth of the Southern Valley: This is He Ping's best-known scene in the histories. In the conflict between Wei Yan and Yang Yi, He Ping, on Yang Yi's orders, faced Wei Yan at the mouth of the Southern Valley. He loudly rebuked Wei Yan: "Though the Chancellor is dead, his body is not yet cold — how dare you and your men behave so!" At these words, Wei Yan's troops, well aware that Wei Yan was in the wrong, lost heart and dispersed, directly bringing about Wei Yan's downfall.^[1]
* Breaking Wei Yan's morale before the ranks: In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, when He Ping faced off against Wei Yan at the Southern Valley, he not only directly denounced Wei Yan as a "traitor" but also laid out the stakes to Wei Yan's Riverlands troops, pointing out that their homes lay in the Western Riverlands and that the Chancellor had never wronged them while alive, and that they should not aid a traitor. This rousing speech caused more than half of Wei Yan's troops to disperse, greatly weakening Wei Yan's military strength — a signature scene of his in the novel. (unique to the novel)^[2]
* Feigned defeat to lure the enemy: In the novel, after a few bouts with Wei Yan, He Ping feigned defeat and fled, luring Wei Yan into pursuit. His troops then loosed their bows and crossbows together, forcing Wei Yan to turn back and further damaging his morale and forces. (unique to the novel)^[2]