Cheng Pu

Historical Record

Cheng Pu, styled Demou, was a native of Tuyin in Youbeiping. He served early in the provincial and commandery offices and was known for his outstanding looks, his strategic counsel, and his capacity in handling affairs. He followed Sun Jian on campaign, putting down the Yellow Turban Army in the Wan and Deng region, defeating Dong Zhuo at Yangren, and was wounded many times in storming cities and fighting in the field. ^c:2931 After Sun Jian died, Cheng Pu continued to assist Sun Ce, following him to take Lujiang in Huainan and crossing the Yangtze eastward together with him. In the battles to take Hengjiang, Dangli, Moling, Hushu, Jurong, Qu'e, and other places, Cheng Pu repeatedly distinguished himself, and his forces were accordingly expanded—two thousand more troops and fifty cavalry horses. He then made outstanding contributions in the campaigns to capture Wucheng, Shimu, Bomen, Lingchuan, Yuhang, and other places. ^c:2932

After Sun Ce entered Kuaiji, he appointed Cheng Pu Commandant of Wu Commandery, garrisoning Qiantang. Later he was transferred to be Commandant of Danyang, stationed at Shicheng. During this time he pacified the rebellions at Xuancheng, Jing, Anwu, Lingyang, Chungu, and other places. Sun Ce was once surrounded by Zu Lang; Cheng Pu, with a single horseman, shielded Sun Ce, galloping and shouting, and charged into the enemy ranks with his spear, scattering them so that Sun Ce escaped danger. Afterward Cheng Pu was appointed General of the Household Who Smashes Bandits, concurrently Administrator of Lingling. He followed the army to campaign against Liu Xun at Xunyang and to attack Huang Zu at Shaxian, returning after the battle to garrison Shicheng. ^c:2932

After Sun Ce died, Cheng Pu, together with Zhang Zhao and others, jointly assisted Sun Quan and pacified the unsubmissive forces within the three commanderies. He took part in the campaign against Jiangxia and, passing through Yuzhang on the way back, separately pacified Le'an. After Le'an was pacified, he took over from Taishi Ci in garrisoning Haihun. At the Battle of Red Cliffs, he and Zhou Yu together served as left and right commanders, routing Cao Cao's army at Wulin. ^c:2933 After the battle, they then attacked Nan Commandery and repulsed Cao Ren. Cheng Pu was accordingly appointed Assistant General, concurrently Administrator of Jiangxia, stationed at Shaxian, with the revenue of four counties. ^c:2933

Among Sun Quan's generals, Cheng Pu was the eldest, and people of the time all called him "Lord Cheng." He was generous and open-handed by nature and loved to associate with men of standing. ^c:6033 After Zhou Yu died, Cheng Pu succeeded him as Administrator of Nan Commandery. Later, when Sun Quan ceded Jing Province to Liu Bei, Cheng Pu returned to office in Jiangxia, was promoted to General Who Smashes Bandits, and died not long after. ^c:6033 After Sun Quan proclaimed himself emperor, he reckoned up Cheng Pu's merits and posthumously enfeoffed his son Cheng Zi as a village marquis.

In the Novel

In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the figure of Cheng Pu is further developed, especially in his early years following Sun Jian and Sun Ce, where he often appears as a veteran general of the Sun camp. In the allied campaign against Dong Zhuo, Cheng Pu, as one of Sun Jian's four generals, made his first appearance wielding a serpent spear with an iron spine. ^c:2935 When Sun Jian unexpectedly obtained the Imperial Hereditary Seal, Cheng Pu urged him to return swiftly to the Southland and plan a greater enterprise, giving a detailed account of the seal's origins and showing his far-sighted side. ^c:2936 This episode, however, has no clear basis in the histories.

Before the Battle of Red Cliffs, when Cao Cao's great army bore down and the generals of Eastern Wu argued endlessly over whether to fight or surrender, Cheng Pu, together with Huang Gai and other generals, firmly favored war and voiced their resolve to die rather than yield—consistent with his image in the histories as an important general of Sun Quan. ^c:2942 When Zhou Yu was appointed grand commander and Cheng Pu deputy commander, the novel depicts Cheng Pu, being older than Zhou Yu, at first displeased and even feigning illness to stay away. But once he learned how skillfully Zhou Yu deployed the troops, he went in person to the camp to apologize, praising Zhou Yu as "a true general's talent," displaying a character able to correct his faults and admire the worthy. ^c:2944 This episode is not recorded in the histories, but the Records of the Three Kingdoms notes that Cheng Pu and Zhou Yu were "on poor terms" and that Cheng Pu later "came of himself to respect and submit to him and held him in close regard," upon which the novel elaborated artistically. ^c:2930

When attacking Nan Commandery, Zhou Yu was wounded by an arrow, and Cheng Pu discussed with the generals withdrawing the troops; but Zhou Yu used the ruse of feigning illness to lure Cao Ren into raiding the camp, and Cheng Pu greatly praised this stratagem. ^c:12981 At the critical moment when Sun Quan was pursued by Yue Jin, Cheng Pu arrived in time, cut down Yue Jin, and saved Sun Quan's life, once more highlighting his image of loyal valor in protecting his lord. ^c:2947

Key Relationships

* Sun Jian's Camp: Cheng Pu was one of Sun Jian's early followers and core generals, from putting down the Yellow Turbans to defeating Dong Zhuo, battle-hardened and repeatedly winning extraordinary merit—a right arm to Sun Jian. ^c:2931
* Sun Ce's Camp: After Sun Jian died, Cheng Pu continued to assist Sun Ce, playing an important role in Sun Ce's founding of the Southland enterprise, especially in storming cities and taking land and at key moments such as rescuing Sun Ce from danger. ^c:2932
* Sun Quan's Camp / Eastern Wu: After Sun Ce died, Cheng Pu, together with veterans like Zhang Zhao, jointly assisted Sun Quan and was one of the important founders of the Eastern Wu regime. He long held key posts and guarded the frontiers, a trusted pillar of Sun Quan. ^c:2933
* Zhou Yu: The histories record that Cheng Pu and Zhou Yu were at first on poor terms, but Zhou Yu "bent himself in humility and never quarreled," and Cheng Pu later "came of himself to respect and hold him in close regard," praising that "to associate with Zhou Gongjin is like drinking fine wine—one grows drunk without realizing it." ^c:2930 The novel concretely depicts how Cheng Pu, resenting that the younger Zhou Yu ranked above him, was later won over by Zhou Yu's ability. ^c:2944 (novel only)
* Cao Cao: As one of Eastern Wu's chief generals at the Battle of Red Cliffs, Cheng Pu, together with Zhou Yu, heavily defeated Cao Cao's army, making him an important adversary of Cao Cao. ^c:2933
* Liu Bei: After the Battle of Red Cliffs, Cheng Pu and Zhou Yu together repulsed Cao Ren, creating conditions for Liu Bei's development in Jing Province. In the novel, Cheng Pu once dissuaded Sun Quan from pursuing and killing Liu Bei, holding that with the commandery princess (Sun Shangxiang) aiding him it would be hard to succeed. ^c:2948 (novel only)

Signature Scenes

* Defeating Dong Zhuo at Yangren: Following Sun Jian, Cheng Pu defeated Dong Zhuo's army at Yangren and was wounded in body, displaying his valor and loyalty. ^c:2931
* Rescuing Sun Ce from Danger: When Sun Ce was surrounded while attacking Zu Lang, Cheng Pu, with a single horseman, fought his way out and rescued Sun Ce from peril, showing his composure and adaptability in danger and his loyalty to his lord. ^c:2932
* The Battle of Red Cliffs: Cheng Pu and Zhou Yu together served as left and right commanders, leading the navy to rout Cao Cao at Wulin and laying the foundation of the Eastern Wu regime—the peak of his military career. ^c:2933
* Resolving the Rift with Zhou Yu: The histories record that Cheng Pu at first slighted Zhou Yu on account of his own seniority, but Zhou Yu won him over by virtue, until at last Cheng Pu came to respect him and sighed, "to associate with Zhou Gongjin is like drinking fine wine—one grows drunk without realizing it." ^c:2930 The novel concretely depicts how Cheng Pu, convinced by Zhou Yu's skillful troop deployment, gladly submitted and went in person to apologize to Zhou Yu. ^c:2944 (novel only)
* Saving Sun Quan at Hefei: At the Battle of Hefei, when Sun Quan was pursued by Yue Jin, Cheng Pu arrived at the critical moment, cut down Yue Jin, and saved Sun Quan's life, once more highlighting his merit in protecting his lord at the crucial juncture. ^c:2947 (novel only)