Cheng Pu
Encyclopedia
Cheng Pu was a military general serving under the warlord Sun family of Eastern Wu
for three generations during the late Han Dynasty
period of Chinese history
.
's Records of Three Kingdoms
described Cheng Pu as a good looking gentleman who was brilliant at speech. He was originally a local official at his hometown of Right Beiping. When Sun Jian
was recruiting volunteers to fight the Yellow Turban rebels
, Cheng Pu joined him, and participated in the subjugation of the cities of Wan and Deng. After the alliance
against Dong Zhuo
was formed, he continued following Sun Jian to fight Dong's forces, and was seriously injured at the battle of Yangren. However, Cheng Pu survived the wound as he received treatment after Sun Jian's ultimate victory at Yangren.
, only to find out the once prosperous paradise had been burnt down to ashes. After driving out Lü Bu
from the imperial graveyard outside Luoyang, Sun retrieved the imperial seal from one of the graves (or inside a dried well inside the palace). Distrusting Yuan Shao
, the leader of the coalition who proposed replacing the emperor with one of the royal relatives, Sun did not give out the imperial seal when he was requested to do so. Thus, Yuan Shao allied himself with Liu Biao
, while Yuan Shu
formed alliance with Sun to resist. In 191, Yuan Shu urged Sun Jian to attack Liu Biao of Jing Province, and Sun Jian was killed by Liu Biao's ally Huang Zu
at the Battle of Xiangyang
. Cheng Pu, along with Sun Jian's other old acquaintances, were merged into Yuan Shu's forces. But one year later, he would follow Sun Jian's son, Sun Ce
, to start a new journey on pacifying Jiangdong.
Cheng Pu's assistance on Sun Ce's conquest of Jiangdong was tremendous, as he was credited most on taking four cities and five commanderies. He also aided in subduing local bandits around the area, in one occasion, Sun Ce was surrounded by the bandits under the leadership of Zu Lang, Cheng Pu charged in with one of his horseman and led Sun Ce out of the thick of bandits. Thus, he was trusted by his young lord, and was referred by other younger comrades as "Master Cheng".
defeated Huang Zu
at the Battle of Xiakou
, he faced yet another bigger threat, Cao Cao
, from the north. Even they were drastically disadvantaged, Cheng Pu along several military generals advocated the defense of Jiangdong. Therefore, he served as second in command to Zhou Yu
at the Battle of Red Cliffs
and defeated Cao Cao
's navy on the river. He was appointed as the Governor of Jiangxia thereafter, and was charged with the task to reinforce Zhou Yu to take over Nan Commandery.
on terms, Cheng Pu returned to his post. One day he decided to carry out the execution of several hundred betrayers by burning them to death, probably because of the smoke, Cheng got seriously ill right after the execution, and after a hundred days or so, he died on his deathbed, he was succeeded by his son, Cheng Zi (程咨).
Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu, also known as Sun Wu, was one the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period after the fall of the Han Dynasty. It was based in the Jiangnan region of China...
for three generations during the late Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
period of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
.
Early service under Sun Jian
Chen ShouChen Shou
Chen Shou was a historian during the Jin Dynasty period of Chinese history. He is best known as the author of Records of Three Kingdoms, a historical account of the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period.-Biography:...
's Records of Three Kingdoms
Records of Three Kingdoms
Records of Three Kingdoms , is regarded as the official and authoritative historical text on the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history covering the years 184-280 CE. Written by Chen Shou in the 3rd century, the work combines the smaller histories of the rival states of Cao Wei , Shu Han and...
described Cheng Pu as a good looking gentleman who was brilliant at speech. He was originally a local official at his hometown of Right Beiping. When Sun Jian
Sun Jian
Sun Jian was a military general and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He allied himself with Yuan Shu in 190 when warlords from eastern China formed a coalition to oust Dong Zhuo, a tyrannical warlord who held the puppet Emperor Xian in his power...
was recruiting volunteers to fight the Yellow Turban rebels
Yellow Turban Rebellion
The Yellow Turban Rebellion, also translated as Yellow Scarves Rebellion, was a peasant revolt that broke out in 184 AD in China during the reign of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty...
, Cheng Pu joined him, and participated in the subjugation of the cities of Wan and Deng. After the alliance
Campaign against Dong Zhuo
The Campaign against Dong Zhuo was a punitive expedition initiated by a coalition of regional officials and warlords against Dong Zhuo, Chancellor of State, in 190 during the late Han Dynasty of Chinese history...
against Dong Zhuo
Dong Zhuo
Dong Zhuo was a politician and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He seized control of the capital city Luoyang in 189 when it was in a state of turmoil following the death of Emperor Ling and a clash between the eunuch faction and some court officials led by...
was formed, he continued following Sun Jian to fight Dong's forces, and was seriously injured at the battle of Yangren. However, Cheng Pu survived the wound as he received treatment after Sun Jian's ultimate victory at Yangren.
Conflicts between warlords
Through hard fought battles, Sun Jian reclaimed the Han Dynasty's capital, LuoyangLuoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
, only to find out the once prosperous paradise had been burnt down to ashes. After driving out Lü Bu
Lü Bu
Lü Bu was a military general and later a minor warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. According to the Records of Three Kingdoms, Lü Bu was highly-skilled in horse-riding and archery, and was thus nicknamed "Flying General"...
from the imperial graveyard outside Luoyang, Sun retrieved the imperial seal from one of the graves (or inside a dried well inside the palace). Distrusting Yuan Shao
Yuan Shao
Yuan Shao was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He occupied the northern territories of China during the civil war that occurred towards the end of the Han Dynasty and the beginning of the Three Kingdoms era...
, the leader of the coalition who proposed replacing the emperor with one of the royal relatives, Sun did not give out the imperial seal when he was requested to do so. Thus, Yuan Shao allied himself with Liu Biao
Liu Biao
Liu Biao , style name Jingsheng , was a warlord and the governor of Jing Province during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was a member of the extended family of the Han Dynasty emperors...
, while Yuan Shu
Yuan Shu
Yuan Shu was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history. He rose to prominence following the collapse of the imperial court in 189. He was said to be a younger cousin of the warlord Yuan Shao, but was actually Yuan Shao's younger half-brother...
formed alliance with Sun to resist. In 191, Yuan Shu urged Sun Jian to attack Liu Biao of Jing Province, and Sun Jian was killed by Liu Biao's ally Huang Zu
Huang Zu
Huang Zu was a military general serving under the warlord Liu Biao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was an experienced naval commander, and was most famous for having skillful warriors like Sun Jian and Ling Cao killed in battle.-Background:Huang was born in an influential...
at the Battle of Xiangyang
Battle of Xiangyang (191)
The Battle of Xiangyang in 191 was a battle fought between Sun Jian and Liu Biao during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Liu Biao emerged victorious against Sun Jian's forces...
. Cheng Pu, along with Sun Jian's other old acquaintances, were merged into Yuan Shu's forces. But one year later, he would follow Sun Jian's son, Sun Ce
Sun Ce
Sun Ce was a military general and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was the oldest of the children of Sun Jian who was killed during the Battle of Xiangyang when Sun Ce was only 16. Sun Ce then broke away from his father's overlord, Yuan Shu, and headed to...
, to start a new journey on pacifying Jiangdong.
Cheng Pu's assistance on Sun Ce's conquest of Jiangdong was tremendous, as he was credited most on taking four cities and five commanderies. He also aided in subduing local bandits around the area, in one occasion, Sun Ce was surrounded by the bandits under the leadership of Zu Lang, Cheng Pu charged in with one of his horseman and led Sun Ce out of the thick of bandits. Thus, he was trusted by his young lord, and was referred by other younger comrades as "Master Cheng".
Battle of Red Cliffs
In 208, just after Sun QuanSun Quan
Sun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....
defeated Huang Zu
Huang Zu
Huang Zu was a military general serving under the warlord Liu Biao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was an experienced naval commander, and was most famous for having skillful warriors like Sun Jian and Ling Cao killed in battle.-Background:Huang was born in an influential...
at the Battle of Xiakou
Battle of Xiakou
The Battle of Xiakou was a battle fought between the warlords Sun Quan and Liu Biao in 203 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Sun Quan's forces attempted to conquer Jiangxia Commandery , which was defended by Liu Biao's general Huang Zu...
, he faced yet another bigger threat, Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
, from the north. Even they were drastically disadvantaged, Cheng Pu along several military generals advocated the defense of Jiangdong. Therefore, he served as second in command to Zhou Yu
Zhou Yu
Zhou Yu was a military general and strategist who served his close friend, the warlord Sun Ce, during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history...
at the Battle of Red Cliffs
Battle of Red Cliffs
The Battle of Red Cliffs, otherwise known as the Battle of Chibi, was a decisive battle at the end of the Han Dynasty, immediately prior to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. It was fought in the winter of 208/9 AD between the allied forces of the southern warlords Liu Bei and Sun Quan...
and defeated Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
's navy on the river. He was appointed as the Governor of Jiangxia thereafter, and was charged with the task to reinforce Zhou Yu to take over Nan Commandery.
Death
After Nan Commandery was acquired, and Jing Province was given to Liu BeiLiu Bei
Liu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...
on terms, Cheng Pu returned to his post. One day he decided to carry out the execution of several hundred betrayers by burning them to death, probably because of the smoke, Cheng got seriously ill right after the execution, and after a hundred days or so, he died on his deathbed, he was succeeded by his son, Cheng Zi (程咨).
Appointments and titles held
- Commandant of Wu Commandery (吳郡都尉)
- Commandant of Danyang (丹陽都尉)
- General of the Household Who Eliminates Bandits (蕩寇中郎將)
- Administrator of Lingling (零陵太守)
- Right Commander (右督)
- Major General (裨將軍)
- Administrator of Jiangxia (江夏太守)
- Administrator of Nan Commandery (南郡太守)
- General Who Eliminates Bandits (蕩寇將軍)