Zhu Ling

Historical Record

Zhu Ling, styled Wenbo, was a native of the Qinghe Kingdom. At first he served under Yuan Shao. When Cao Cao campaigned against Tao Qian, Yuan Shao sent Zhu Ling to lead three battalions to assist Cao Cao in battle, and Zhu Ling performed outstandingly on the field, earning battle merit. ^c:5661 After the fighting ended, the various generals Yuan Shao had sent returned one after another, but Zhu Ling alone chose to remain. He reckoned: "I have observed many men, and none can compare with Lord Cao; this is truly an enlightened lord. Having met him already, why should I go elsewhere?" Zhu Ling therefore decided to stay under Cao Cao. The soldiers he led, deeply moved by him, also chose to remain together with Zhu Ling. ^c:5661

Thereafter Zhu Ling became a fine general under Cao Cao, his renown on a par with men such as Xu Huang. He eventually rose to General of the Rear and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Gaotang Village. ^c:5661 According to the Spring and Autumn of the Nine Provinces, when Zhu Ling was attacking Shu County, Gongsun Zan placed Zhu Ling's mother and younger brother atop the city wall, trying thereby to induce Zhu Ling to surrender. Zhu Ling gazed at the city and wept, but firmly declared: "Once a true man has given himself to another's service, how can he still consider his family!" He then attacked the city with all his might, finally taking Shu County and capturing Ji Yong alive, while Zhu Ling's family were all killed. ^c:5661

The Book of Wei adds that after Cao Cao pacified Jizhou, he once sent Zhu Ling to lead five thousand new recruits and a thousand cavalry to guard the region south of Xu Chang. Cao Cao warned Zhu Ling that the new Jizhou recruits were habitually undisciplined and that abruptly reorganizing them might cause trouble, hoping Zhu Ling could combine sternness with leniency. After Zhu Ling reached Yangzhai, the Internuncio General Cheng Ang and others indeed rebelled, and Zhu Ling decisively executed them and reported the matter. Cao Cao expressed approval, deeming that Zhu Ling had handled it properly. ^c:5661

In the third year of Jian'an (198 CE), after Liu Bei was defeated by Lü Bu at Xiaopei and took refuge with Cao Cao, Cao Cao treated him very generously and appointed him Governor of Yu Province. When Yuan Shu wished to go north to join Yuan Shao, Cao Cao sent Liu Bei to lead Zhu Ling, Lu Zhao, and others to intercept Yuan Shu. ^c:5663 However, before they arrived, Yuan Shu had already died of illness.

After Cao Pi ascended the throne, he enfeoffed Zhu Ling as Marquis of Shu and increased his fief. In his edict Cao Pi greatly praised Zhu Ling for aiding the former emperor in his mandate, commanding troops for many years, his renown surpassing Fang and Shao and his merit exceeding Jiang and Guan—truly a minister of the altars of state. When Cao Pi asked Zhu Ling what he wished for, Zhu Ling declined the title Marquis of Shu, saying his long-held wish was Gaotang. Cao Pi therefore re-enfeoffed Zhu Ling as Marquis of Gaotang. After Zhu Ling died, his posthumous title was Marquis Wei. ^c:5661

In the Novel

In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhu Ling's image is relatively thin, appearing mainly as one of Cao Cao's generals, with his character and deeds depicted far less richly and fully than in the historical record. He first appears in Chapter 21, when together with Lu Zhao he obeys Cao Cao's order to follow Liu Bei in intercepting Yuan Shu—a plot largely matching the historical fact. ^c:5663

Zhu Ling's more prominent showing in the novel is concentrated in Chapters 58 and 59. In the Battle of Tong Pass between Cao Cao and Ma Chao and Han Sui, facing Ma Chao's powerful assault, Cao Cao adopted Xu Huang's suggestion and decided to send troops to secretly cross the Puban Ford and cut off Ma Chao's line of retreat. ^c:2397 At this point, Zhu Ling was assigned by Cao Cao together with Xu Huang to lead four thousand troops, secretly proceeding to Hexi to lie in ambush in the valleys, so that when Cao Cao crossed the river northward, they could attack Ma Chao from both sides. ^c:2397

In the novel, Cao Cao reckoned that Ma Chao could be defeated by stratagem, and so secretly ordered Xu Huang and Zhu Ling to cross entirely to Hexi, set up camp, and form a posture of pincering front and rear. ^c:2398 However, the novel does not describe in detail Zhu Ling's specific battle merit or personal performance in this operation; he appears more as Xu Huang's deputy, jointly carrying out Cao Cao's strategic deployment. Compared with the historical record where Zhu Ling's "renown was second only to Xu Huang and the like," in the novel Zhu Ling's independent luster is overshadowed by Xu Huang, and his fame as a "fine general" is not fully displayed.

The novel's portrayal of Zhu Ling does not mention his careful reflection, when he first joined Cao Cao, that "I have observed many men, and none is like Lord Cao; this is truly an enlightened lord," nor his heroic choice when attacking Shu County that "once a man has given himself to another's service, how can he still consider his family"—these important details from the historical record that show Zhu Ling's character and loyalty are all absent from the novel. Thus the Zhu Ling of the novel is more an order-executing general than a historical figure of distinct personality.

Key Relationships

* Yuan Shao's Faction (serves): Zhu Ling was in his early days a subordinate general of Yuan Shao, and was sent by Yuan Shao to assist Cao Cao in battle. ^c:5661
* Cao Wei (defected_to): After assisting Cao Cao in the campaign against Tao Qian, Zhu Ling, won over by Cao Cao's talent and character, resolutely chose to break with Yuan Shao and join Cao Cao, serving the Cao Wei regime for life, rising to General of the Rear and being enfeoffed as Marquis of Gaotang. ^c:5661
* Xu Huang (commands_in): In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhu Ling once, by Cao Cao's order, secretly crossed the Puban Ford together with Xu Huang to intercept Ma Chao's retreat. ^c:2397 In the historical record, Zhu Ling's "renown was second only to Xu Huang and the like," showing his standing was close to Xu Huang's. ^c:5661
* Cao Cao (commands_in): Zhu Ling was an important general under Cao Cao, deeply trusted. Not only did he choose to follow Cao Cao early on, but after Cao Cao pacified Jizhou he was charged with guarding a key region and won Cao Cao's approval. ^c:5661 After Cao Pi ascended the throne, he too highly praised Zhu Ling's merit in "aiding the former emperor in his mandate." ^c:5661
* Liu Bei (commands_in): Cao Cao once sent Liu Bei to lead Zhu Ling, Lu Zhao, and others to intercept Yuan Shu. ^c:5663

Signature Scenes

* Joining Cao Cao: After assisting Cao Cao in the campaign against Tao Qian, Zhu Ling, deeply feeling that Cao Cao was a "true enlightened lord," resolutely decided to remain and follow him, and persuaded his subordinates to join Cao Cao together. ^c:5661 This act laid the foundation of his loyalty to Cao Wei.
* Taking Shu County: When attacking Shu County, facing Gongsun Zan's threat of using his mother and brother as hostages, Zhu Ling displayed the firm conviction that "once a man has given himself to another's service, how can he still consider his family," and finally took the city—though his family were killed, he manifested his loyalty, righteousness, and resolve. ^c:5661
* Secretly crossing the Puban Ford at the Battle of Tong Pass (unique to the novel): In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhu Ling together with Xu Huang obeyed Cao Cao's order to lead four thousand elite troops secretly across the Puban Ford, intending to cut off Ma Chao's retreat and form a pincer against him. ^c:2397 This is his more important military action in the novel, reflecting his executive capacity as one of Cao Cao's generals.
* Executing Cheng Ang: After Cao Cao pacified Jizhou, he sent Zhu Ling to guard the region south of Xu Chang. Facing the rebellion of the Internuncio General Cheng Ang and others, Zhu Ling decisively executed them, maintaining local stability and winning Cao Cao's approval. ^c:5661
* Being enfeoffed Marquis of Gaotang: For his outstanding merit and loyalty to Cao Wei, after Cao Pi ascended the throne Zhu Ling was first enfeoffed Marquis of Shu, then, owing to his long-held wish, re-enfeoffed Marquis of Gaotang, and granted the posthumous title "Marquis Wei"—the final affirmation of his life's achievements. ^c:5661