Teng Yin

Historical Record

Teng Yin, styled Chengsi, was a native of Ju in Beihai. His uncle Teng Dan and his father Teng Zhou were hereditary friends and fellow townsmen of Liu Yao, and because of the disorder of the times they crossed the river to take refuge with Liu Yao. When Sun Quan served as General of Chariots and Cavalry, Teng Dan was appointed Right Major; renowned for his magnanimity, he sadly died early without an heir. Teng Zhou excelled in literary composition, and Sun Quan treated him with the courtesy due a guest, often having him polish the dispatches and memorials of military and state affairs; he too unfortunately died young.^[1]

After Sun Quan became King of Wu, he remembered the old kindness and enfeoffed Teng Yin as Marquis of Duting. Teng Yin from childhood had moral integrity and a handsome appearance. According to the *Book of Wu*, at the age of twelve he was already on his own, able to discipline himself strictly and to conduct himself uprightly. His complexion was fair and his bearing impressive; at every New Year's audience of congratulation, none of the ministers in attendance failed to admire and esteem him.^[1] At the age of capping, Teng Yin married a princess. At thirty, he began his career as Administrator of Danyang, and was later transferred to be Administrator of Wu Commandery and of Kuaiji, winning praise wherever he went. According to the *Book of Wu*, Teng Yin often submitted memorials setting forth what was timely and proper, and the merits and faults among the common people, with much correcting and remonstrating counsel. Sun Quan thereupon esteemed the princess all the more, and repeatedly visited and consoled Teng Yin. When trying cases, Teng Yin observed expressions and manner, striving to exhaust the truth and reason of the matter; meeting those who were wronged or grieving, he often wept for them.^[1]

In the first year of Taiyuan (251), Sun Quan fell gravely ill and summoned Teng Yin to the capital, retaining him as Chamberlain for Ceremonials. Together with the General-in-Chief Zhuge Ke and others, he received the testamentary edict to assist the crown prince Sun Liang.^[2] In the fourth month of the following year, Sun Quan passed away; the crown prince Sun Liang ascended the throne, proclaimed a general amnesty, and changed the era name. After Sun Liang took the throne, Teng Yin was additionally appointed General of the Guard.^[1]

When Zhuge Ke planned a large-scale campaign against Wei, Teng Yin remonstrated to dissuade him. He pointed out that Zhuge Ke, in the wake of national mourning, had received a trust like that of Yi Yin and Huo Guang; within he stabilized the court, and without he frustrated a strong enemy, his fame spreading far, with all the people looking to him to bring the state to peace. However, if at this time he again raised an army to campaign after such heavy labor, the people would be exhausted and the distant enemy would also be prepared. If he could not take the cities and gained nothing in field battles, he might lose his former merit and incur subsequent blame. He advised Zhuge Ke that it would be better to rest his troops and recover, and act when the opportunity came. Teng Yin stressed that military affairs were a great matter of state, requiring the combined strength of the multitude, and that if the multitude were displeased, how could Zhuge Ke alone bring peace? However, Zhuge Ke regarded those who opposed him as short-sighted men content with momentary ease, did not heed Teng Yin's words, and persisted in his campaign against Wei. He appointed Teng Yin as Commandant of the Capital, in overall charge of affairs left behind. By day Teng Yin received guests, by night he reviewed documents, sometimes not sleeping the whole night through.^[3] According to the *Book of Wu*, as Teng Yin's favor and responsibility grew daily, he received gentlemen all the more diligently; he attended personally to all memorials, dispatches, and documents, never delegating to subordinates.^[3]

After Sun Jun died, his cousin Sun Chen succeeded to his position and took overall charge of the court. Lü Ju was deeply uneasy about this, and together with the various commanders jointly submitted a memorial recommending Teng Yin as Chancellor. Sun Chen, however, appointed Teng Yin as Grand Marshal, to replace Lü Dai in garrisoning Wuchang. Lü Ju led his troops back and sent word to Teng Yin, intending together to depose Sun Chen. On hearing this, Sun Chen sent his cousin Sun Lü to lead troops to intercept Lü Ju at Jiangdu, and ordered Wen Qin, Liu Zuan, Tang Zi, and others to join forces in attacking Lü Ju. At the same time, Sun Chen sent the Palace Attendant and General of the Left Hua Rong, and the Secretariat Assistant Ding Yan, to inform Teng Yin of the matter of Lü Ju, hinting that Teng Yin should hasten to take up his post. Knowing that disaster was imminent, Teng Yin detained Hua Rong and Ding Yan, mustered his troops in self-defense, and summoned the Army Inspector Yang Chong and the General Sun Zi, telling them that Sun Chen was causing rebellion, and forcing Hua Rong and the others to write a letter rebutting Sun Chen. Sun Chen did not heed it, submitted a memorial declaring that Teng Yin was plotting rebellion, and promised the general Liu Cheng a marquisate, ordering him to lead troops to attack Teng Yin with all speed. Teng Yin again seized Hua Rong and the others, wishing to use a forged edict to raise troops. Hua Rong and the others refused to comply, and Teng Yin thereupon killed them all.^[4]

Facing the crisis, Teng Yin remained unchanged in expression, talking and laughing as usual. Someone advised him to lead his troops to the Canglong Gate, holding that when the officers and men saw him come out of the city, they would surely abandon Sun Chen and rally to him. It was already midnight; Teng Yin pinned his hopes on his pact with Lü Ju, and also balked at raising troops to attack Fuchun. He kept his troops under restraint, claiming that Lü Ju was nearby, and so the troops were all willing to die for Teng Yin, none scattering. However, at that time there was a great wind, and right up to dawn Lü Ju still had not arrived. Sun Chen's army assaulted in full force and finally killed Teng Yin and several dozen of his officers and men, exterminating his three kindred.^[4]

In the Novel

In *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Teng Yin's image differs from historical fact, especially in the matter of Zhuge Ke's death, where the novel makes notable literary invention. In the novel, Sun Jun harbored resentment over Zhuge Ke's seizure of his command of the imperial guards.^[5] At this point, the Chamberlain for Ceremonials Teng Yin is portrayed as a man who had long had a grudge against Zhuge Ke; he seized the chance to advise Sun Jun, pointing out that Zhuge Ke monopolized power and was tyrannical, killing nobles and ministers, and that he feared he harbored disloyal intentions, urging Sun Jun to make plans early.^[5]

Subsequently, Sun Jun and Teng Yin together went in to see the ruler of Wu, Sun Liang, and secretly memorialized Zhuge Ke's crimes. Sun Liang said that he too feared Zhuge Ke but lacked the opportunity to remove him. Teng Yin then offered a plan, advising Sun Liang to hold a banquet and summon Zhuge Ke into the palace, with armed men secretly hidden behind the curtains, using the throwing down of a cup as the signal to kill him at the banquet and so eliminate future trouble.^[5] This episode has no clear basis in the histories; in historical fact, Sun Jun alone planned and carried out the killing of Zhuge Ke, and Teng Yin took no part in it—on the contrary, he was a close associate of Zhuge Ke and had even advised him to be cautious before his death.^[6]

In the novel, before Zhuge Ke went to the banquet, first a yellow dog tugged at his clothes, and then a white rainbow shot up to the heavens before his carriage—all ill omens. His trusted general Zhang Yue had also secretly reported that the palace banquet might hold some treachery, advising him not to enter lightly. Hearing this, Zhuge Ke wished to turn his carriage back, but was overtaken by Sun Jun and Teng Yin. Teng Yin feignedly persuaded Zhuge Ke, saying that the ruler of Wu, because Zhuge Ke had returned with his army without yet having an audience, had specially held a banquet to summon him and discuss great affairs, and that even if he were unwell he should force himself to go.^[7] This detail further shapes Teng Yin's image in the novel as an accomplice of Sun Jun, in contrast to his close relationship with Zhuge Ke in historical fact.

At the banquet, Zhuge Ke, harboring doubts, declined to drink. Sun Jun then said that Zhuge Ke often drank medicinal wine at his residence and could send for it to drink. Zhuge Ke thereupon ordered a man to fetch the medicinal wine from his residence, and only then drank with peace of mind.^[7] This is greatly at variance with the historical episode in which, at the banquet, Zhuge Ke was suddenly attacked by Sun Jun and killed before he could draw his sword.^[6] Through these details, the novel shapes Teng Yin into a sinister figure who took part in plotting and luring Zhuge Ke, rather than the upright, loyal, tragic figure of historical fact who was ultimately killed because he would not join Sun Chen in his evil.

Key Relationships

* Eastern Wu (serves): From childhood Teng Yin was esteemed by Sun Quan, enfeoffed as Marquis of Duting and later married to a princess. When Sun Quan fell gravely ill, he, together with Zhuge Ke, received the testamentary edict to assist the crown prince Sun Liang, and after Sun Liang took the throne he was additionally appointed General of the Guard—an important regent minister of the Eastern Wu regime.^[1]
* Zhuge Ke (friend_of): In historical fact, Teng Yin was on close terms with Zhuge Ke. Before Zhuge Ke's campaign against Wei, Teng Yin remonstrated to dissuade him, showing his concern for his friend and his worry over affairs of state.^[3] Before Zhuge Ke's death, the Cavalier Attendant Zhang Yue and Zhu En had secretly written to inform Zhuge Ke of abnormalities in the palace, and Zhuge Ke showed this letter to Teng Yin, revealing how close the two were. Teng Yin at the time advised Zhuge Ke to turn back, but Zhuge Ke did not heed him.^[6] However, in *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Teng Yin is depicted as having a grudge against Zhuge Ke and as an accomplice who plotted with Sun Jun to kill Zhuge Ke.^[5] (unique to the novel)
* Sun Jun (enemy_of): In *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Teng Yin plotted with Sun Jun to kill Zhuge Ke, an ally of Sun Jun.^[5] (unique to the novel) But in historical fact, Teng Yin had no direct conflict with Sun Jun; his main conflict was with Sun Chen.
* Sun Chen (enemy_of): After Sun Chen succeeded Sun Jun in power, Teng Yin, because he was recommended by Lü Ju and others as Chancellor and was unwilling to comply with Sun Chen's arrangements, ultimately came into conflict with Sun Chen. Teng Yin refused Sun Chen's reassignment and attempted to ally with Lü Ju to depose Sun Chen, but was ultimately attacked and killed by Sun Chen, his three kindred exterminated.^[4]

Iconic Scenes

* Receiving the testamentary edict to assist the government: In the first year of Taiyuan (251), Sun Quan fell gravely ill and summoned Teng Yin to the capital, retaining him as Chamberlain for Ceremonials; together with Zhuge Ke and others he received the testamentary edict to assist the crown prince Sun Liang. This event marked Teng Yin's formal entry into the core of power of the Eastern Wu regime as a minister entrusted with the testament.^[2]
* Remonstrating to dissuade Zhuge Ke from campaigning against Wei: When Zhuge Ke planned a large-scale campaign against Wei, Teng Yin frankly remonstrated, pointing out the risks and drawbacks of the campaign and advising him to rest his troops and recover. Although Zhuge Ke did not heed him, this scene displayed Teng Yin's far-sighted vision and his loyalty and uprightness as a regent minister.^[3]
* Receiving gentlemen diligently and attending personally to memorials: During his time as regent, although Teng Yin's favor and responsibility grew daily, he was all the more diligent in receiving gentlemen, personally examining and handling all memorials and documents, never delegating to others. This reflects his diligent, conscientious governing style of attending personally to every matter.^[3]
* Refusing to comply with Sun Chen and being killed in defeat: After Sun Chen took power, he wished to send Teng Yin out of the capital. Knowing disaster was upon him, Teng Yin was unwilling to comply and attempted to ally with Lü Ju to depose Sun Chen. He detained Sun Chen's envoys and mustered his troops in self-defense, still talking and laughing in the face of crisis. In the end, because Lü Ju failed to arrive in time, he was attacked and killed by Sun Chen, his three kindred exterminated. This scene is the concentrated embodiment of Teng Yin's loyal and steadfast integrity, and the endpoint of his tragic fate.^[4]
* Taking part in plotting the killing of Zhuge Ke: In *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Teng Yin is depicted as a key figure who, together with Sun Jun, plotted and offered Sun Liang the plan of holding a banquet to kill Zhuge Ke. He even, before Zhuge Ke went to the banquet, joined Sun Jun in persuading Zhuge Ke to enter the palace, bringing about Zhuge Ke's death.^[5] (unique to the novel)