Biography
Early life
Li Dian was born in Juye, Shanyang Commandery (present-day Juye County, Shandong).
His courtesy name was Mancheng.
He was originally a local magnate in Shanyang Commandery.
Family background
Li Dian’s uncle Li Qian had heroic qualities and gathered several thousand retainers in Chengshi County, Jiyin Commandery.
During the Chuping era (190-193), when Cao Cao, Acting General Who Spreads Martial Might, joined the Guandong lords in an alliance to campaign against Dong Zhuo, Li Qian led his followers to join Cao Cao.
He participated in defeating the Yellow Turban rebels east of Shouzhang and attacking Yuan Shu.
The death of Li Qian
In 193 CE, Li Qian followed Cao Cao on campaign.
While Cao Cao was attacking Xuzhou, Zhang Miao and Chen Gong, who were left to guard Yanzhou, rebelled and welcomed Lü Bu to take control of Yanzhou.
Cao Cao sent Li Qian back to Chengshi to pacify the people of the various counties.
Xue Lan, Assistant Officer under Lü Bu, and Li Feng, Director of the Central Office, tried to persuade Li Qian to surrender and rebel.
Li Qian refused to listen, so they killed him.
Service under Li Zheng
In 194 CE, the first year of Xingping, Cao Cao fought Lü Bu at Puyang.
Due to famine, he returned to Juancheng.
Lü Bu reached Chengshi County but was defeated by Li Jin, a member of Li Dian’s clan.
Lü Bu then moved east and stationed troops in Shanyang Commandery.
Later, Cao Cao sent Li Zheng, Li Qian’s son, to lead Li Qian’s troops and join other generals in attacking Xue Lan and Li Feng.
They defeated them.
Later, because Li Zheng followed Cao Cao in pacifying the various counties of Yanzhou and achieved merit, he was promoted to Inspector of Qing Province.
Early career
Li Dian was young and loved learning.
He disliked military affairs and therefore studied under a teacher, reading the Zuo Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals and extensively reading various books.
Succession to command
In 200 CE, the fifth year of Jian’an, Li Zheng died.
At that time, Yuan Shao and Cao Cao were facing each other at Guandu.
Li Dian served as Magistrate of Yingyin and General of the Household and led Li Zheng’s troops.
Because Li Dian had extensively read various books and had broad knowledge, Cao Cao felt that Li Dian was promising material.
He had Li Dian try managing the people and promoted him to Administrator of Lihu.
Supply duties at Guandu
At that time, Li Dian, Administrator of Lihu, led his followers to transport grain and cloth to supply the army.
In the tenth month, after Yuan Shao was defeated, Li Dian was appointed General of the Rear and stationed at Anmin County.
Campaign at Liyang
Later, when Cao Cao attacked Yuan Tan, General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Yuan Shang at Liyang, he sent Li Dian and other generals, including Cheng Yu, to transport military grain by boat.
At that time, Yuan Shang sent Gao Fan, Administrator of Wei Commandery, to lead troops and station them on the river, cutting off the water route.
Cao Cao ordered: “If the boats cannot pass, take the land route.”
Li Dian discussed with the various generals: “Gao Fan’s troops lack armour and only rely on water. The soldiers have a mind of underestimating the enemy. If we attack them, we will certainly be able to win. The army can disobey orders from the court. If it benefits the state, we can decide for ourselves. We should attack immediately.”
Cheng Yu agreed.
They therefore crossed the Yellow River north and attacked Gao Fan, achieving a great victory.
The water route was finally secured.
The Battle of Bowang
In 202 CE, the seventh year of Jian’an, Liu Bei attached himself to Liu Biao.
Liu Biao attempted to take advantage of Cao Cao going north to attack Yuan Shang and seize Xuchang.
He therefore sent Liu Bei to lead troops and attack.
Liu Bei therefore sent troops on a northern expedition, advancing all the way to Ye County, already close to Xuchang, seriously threatening the safety of the Central Plains.
Cao Cao dispatched the great generals Xiahou Dun, Yu Jin, and Li Dian to counterattack Liu Bei.
Liu Bei withdrew his battle line and chose Bowang to face the Cao army.
Li Dian’s warning
One morning, Liu Bei burned his camp and withdrew.
Xiahou Dun led troops to pursue Liu Bei.
Li Dian said: “The enemy withdrew without reason. I suspect there must be an ambush. The southern road is narrow, and the grass and trees are dense. We cannot pursue.”
Xiahou Dun did not adopt his opinion and led troops with Yu Jin to pursue.
Li Dian remained behind to guard.
The rescue
Xiahou Dun and others indeed fell into the enemy’s ambush.
The battle situation was unfavourable to them.
Li Dian commanded his own troops to go and provide support.
He rescued Xiahou Dun.
When Liu Bei saw that reinforcements had arrived, he withdrew.
Campaigns in the north
In 204 CE, the ninth year of Jian’an, Li Dian followed Cao Cao in besieging Yecheng.
Yecheng was pacified.
In 206 CE, the eleventh year of Jian’an, Li Dian joined forces with Yue Jin to besiege Gao Gan, Inspector of Bing Province, at Huguan and attack Guan Cheng at Changguang.
Both achieved victory.
Li Dian was promoted to General Who Captures Bandits and enfeoffed as Marquis of Duting.
Migration to Wei Commandery
Li Dian’s clan members and followers, more than three thousand households, lived in Chengshi.
Li Dian voluntarily requested to move his fief to Wei Commandery.
Cao Cao laughed and said: “Do you want to imitate Geng Chun?”
Li Dian apologized and said: “My nature is weak and my merit is slight, but the rank granted is too great. It is indeed appropriate for the entire clan to serve together. Moreover, the realm is not yet pacified. We should move to the outskirts of Wei Commandery to defend against disturbances from the four directions. It is not imitating Geng Chun.”
They therefore moved more than thirteen thousand members of the clan and followers to Ye County.
Cao Cao praised him and promoted him to General Who Attacks Barbarians.
Campaign against Jing Province
In 208 CE, the thirteenth year of Jian’an, Li Dian participated in the campaign against Jing Province.
During the Battle of Chibi, Cao Cao transferred Zhao Yan to serve as Commander of the Protector of the Army, supervising Yu Jin, Zhang Liao, Zhang He, Zhu Ling, Li Dian, Lu Zhao, and Feng Kai in seven armies.
Campaign in Guanzhong
In 211 CE, the sixteenth year of Jian’an, in autumn, Li Dian followed Cao Cao in campaigning against Han Sui and Ma Chao.
They advanced to the west bank of the Ji River and camped on the plain east of the road.
Stationed at Hefei
In the tenth month of 214 CE, the nineteenth year of Jian’an, Cao Cao returned from Hefei.
Li Dian, Zhang Liao, and Yue Jin led seven thousand men and stationed at Hefei.
The Battle of Hefei
In 215 CE, the twentieth year of Jian’an, in the eighth month, Cao Cao led a great army on a western expedition to Hanzhong.
Sun Quan commanded one hundred thousand troops and besieged Hefei.
When the Eastern Wu great army surrounded the city, the various generals at Hefei opened Cao Cao’s letter.
It said: “If Sun Quan’s army arrives, Generals Zhang and Li will go out of the city to engage in battle. General Yue will guard the city. Protector of the Army Xue Ti must not engage the enemy in battle.”
Because the difference in strength between the two sides was great, Li Dian, Yue Jin, and the various generals all felt puzzled about this instruction.
Zhang Liao’s plan
Zhang Liao said: “Duke Cao is leading an army on an expedition far away. By the time his reinforcements arrive, Sun Quan’s army will certainly have already captured us. Therefore, this is telling us to attack them before the enemy has assembled completely. We first blunt the enemy’s edge to stabilize the army’s morale. Then we can successfully guard the city. The opportunity for success or failure lies in this one battle. What doubts do you all still have?”
Zhang Liao intended to follow the instruction and go out of the city to engage in battle together with Li Dian.
Li Dian’s response
Yue Jin, Li Dian, and Zhang Liao usually did not get along well with each other.
Zhang Liao was worried that Li Dian would not follow.
Li Dian said generously: “This is a matter of state. We should look at whether your strategy is good. If the strategy is feasible, how can I fail to consider the greater good because of personal grudges?”
He therefore led his followers and joined Zhang Liao in defeating Sun Quan.
Rewards
Li Dian’s fief was increased by one hundred households, making a total of three hundred households together with the previous fief.
Death
Soon after, Li Dian died at the age of thirty-six.
His son Li Zhen succeeded to his marquis title.
Posthumous honours
After Cao Pi, Emperor Wen of Wei, succeeded to the Han throne and established Wei, he remembered Li Dian’s merit in the Battle of Hefei.
He increased the fief of Li Zhen, Li Dian’s heir, by one hundred households.
Together with Li Dian’s three hundred households during his lifetime, Li Zhen had a total of four hundred households.
In 225 CE, the sixth year of Huangchu, Cao Pi remembered Zhang Liao and Li Dian’s merit at Hefei and issued an edict: “In the Battle of Hefei, Zhang Liao and Li Dian used only eight hundred infantry to defeat one hundred thousand enemy troops. Since ancient times, there has never been such a use of troops. They made the enemy troops lose their spirit to this day. They can truly be called the claws and teeth of the state.”
He therefore enfeoffed another son of Li Dian (not Li Zhen) as Marquis Within the Passes and granted him one hundred households.
Later, Li Dian was posthumously titled Marquis Min.
However, Li Dian was neither a ruler who started chaos in a state nor a person who died for a cause.
Therefore, the method of posthumously titling Li Dian should be “being worried about the state continuously is called Min.”
Famous Eastern Han generals such as Geng Yan and Zang Gong, and famous Northern Song minister Kou Zhun, all received the posthumous title “Min” according to the meaning of being worried about the state continuously, expressing people’s sympathy for Li Dian’s life experience.
Enshrinement
In 243 CE, the fourth year of Zhengshi, Li Dian was honoured to be enshrined in Cao Cao’s temple.
Personality
Li Dian was described as “valuing elegance and forgetting personal grudges for righteousness.”
He loved learning and valued elegance.
He never competed for merit with other generals.
He respected learned scholar-officials and was cautious as if he could not catch up.
The officers and soldiers in the army called him a man of honour.
Military achievements
Battle of Bowang
Li Dian recognized Liu Bei’s feigned retreat and warned Xiahou Dun not to pursue.
He rescued Xiahou Dun when he fell into an ambush.
Campaign at Liyang
Li Dian attacked Gao Fan despite Cao Cao’s order to take the land route, securing the water route.
Battle of Hefei
Li Dian joined Zhang Liao in defeating Sun Quan’s one hundred thousand troops with only eight hundred men.
Relationships
With Zhang Liao and Yue Jin
Li Dian usually did not get along well with Zhang Liao and Yue Jin.
However, at the Battle of Hefei, he put aside personal grudges and joined Zhang Liao in battle.
With Cao Cao
Li Dian served under Cao Cao and was praised by him.
Cao Cao allowed him to move his clan to Wei Commandery.
Anecdotes
The warning at Bowang
Li Dian warned Xiahou Dun not to pursue Liu Bei, saying: “The enemy withdrew without reason. I suspect there must be an ambush.”
The attack on Gao Fan
Despite Cao Cao’s order to take the land route, Li Dian attacked Gao Fan and secured the water route.
Putting aside personal grudges
At the Battle of Hefei, Li Dian put aside his personal grudge with Zhang Liao and joined him in battle, saying: “This is a matter of state. How can I fail to consider the greater good because of personal grudges?”
The migration
Li Dian voluntarily requested to move his clan to Wei Commandery to better serve the state.
Cao Cao praised him and compared him to Geng Chun.
Achievements
- Recognized Liu Bei’s feigned retreat at Bowang
- Secured the water route at Liyang
- Participated in various campaigns
- Joined Zhang Liao in defeating Sun Quan at Hefei
- Known for being scholarly and putting aside personal grudges
Behind the scenes
Historical sources
Li Dian’s biography appears in the Records of the Three Kingdoms by Chen Shou, grouped with Li Tong, Zang Ba, Wen Pin, Lü Qian, Xu Chu, Dian Wei, Pang De, Pang Yu, and Yan Wen.
The posthumous title
Li Dian’s posthumous title “Min” means “being worried about the state continuously,” expressing sympathy for his life experience.
The enshrinement
Li Dian was honoured to be enshrined in Cao Cao’s temple in 243 CE, showing his importance to the Wei dynasty.
Historical evaluations
Contemporary
Cao Pi said: “In the Battle of Hefei, Zhang Liao and Li Dian used only eight hundred infantry to defeat one hundred thousand enemy troops. Since ancient times, there has never been such a use of troops. They made the enemy troops lose their spirit to this day. They can truly be called the claws and teeth of the state.”
Later historians
Chen Shou wrote: “Li Dian valued elegance and forgot personal grudges for righteousness. This is beautiful. Li Dian loved learning and valued elegance. He never competed for merit with other generals. He respected learned scholar-officials and was cautious as if he could not catch up. The army called him a man of honour.”
Sun Sheng wrote: “As for the defence of Hefei, the county was weak and had no reinforcements. If one only used the brave, they would love to fight and create trouble. If one only used the timid, their fearful hearts would be difficult to preserve. Moreover, with the enemy numerous and us few, they would certainly harbour greed and laziness. Using troops determined to die to attack greedy and lazy soldiers, the situation would certainly be victory. After victory, then defend. After defending, it would certainly be solid. Therefore, Cao Wu selected those with different abilities and mixed them together, giving them secret instructions and controlling their use. When matters arose and they responded, it was like matching tallies. How wonderful!”
Legacy
Li Dian is remembered as a scholarly general who put aside personal grudges for the greater good.
His participation in the Battle of Hefei with Zhang Liao and Yue Jin is famous.
His scholarly nature and respect for learned men are praised.
Timeline
- 180 CE: Born in Juye, Shanyang Commandery
- 190-193 CE: Uncle Li Qian joined Cao Cao
- 195 CE: Li Qian killed by Xue Lan and Li Feng
- 200 CE: Li Zheng died; Li Dian succeeded to command; served as Magistrate of Yingyin and General of the Household; promoted to Administrator of Lihu; transported supplies at Guandu; promoted to General of the Rear
- 202 CE: Recognized Liu Bei’s feigned retreat at Bowang; rescued Xiahou Dun
- 204 CE: Participated in siege of Yecheng
- 206 CE: Joined forces with Yue Jin to attack Gao Gan and Guan Cheng; promoted to General Who Captures Bandits; enfeoffed as Marquis of Duting; moved clan to Wei Commandery; promoted to General Who Attacks Barbarians
- 208 CE: Participated in campaign against Jing Province; participated in Battle of Chibi
- 211 CE: Participated in campaign against Han Sui and Ma Chao
- 214 CE: Stationed at Hefei with Zhang Liao and Yue Jin
- 215 CE: Participated in Battle of Hefei; defeated Sun Quan; fief increased to three hundred households; died at age thirty-six
- 220 CE: Posthumously titled Marquis Min by Cao Pi
- 225 CE: Another son enfeoffed as Marquis Within the Passes
- 243 CE: Honoured to be enshrined in Cao Cao’s temple
See also
References
- Chen Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms, Volume 18, Biography of Li, Li, Zang, Wen, Lü, Xu, Dian, Er Pang, Yan.
- Luo Guanzhong. Romance of the Three Kingdoms, various chapters.