Introduction
Ling Tong (凌統), courtesy name Gongji (公績), was an Eastern Wu general from Wu Commandery and one of the “Tiger Generals of Jiangbiao.” His father Ling Cao was a pioneer under Sun Ce and was killed at Jiangxia when Sun Quan attacked Huang Zu (the Wu shu says Gan Ning shot him). Ling Tong was fifteen; Sun Quan made him Separate Commander and Chief Commandant Who Breaks the Caitiffs and let him lead his father’s troops. He took part in the attack on the Shanyue at Matun; after killing the bullying overseer Chen Qin in a quarrel he led the assault on the fort to atone, was victorious, and was allowed to offset the crime with merit. He bore a grudge against Gan Ning; Sun Quan ordered him not to seek revenge and kept them apart (Gan Ning garrisoned at Banzhou). In 208 he was vanguard with Dong Xi against Jiangxia, killed Huang Zu’s general Zhang Shuo, and was made Chief Commandant Who Inherits the Glorious; he fought at Chibi and in the attack on Nan Commandery—when Gan Ning was besieged at Yiling, Lü Meng had Ling Tong hold the main camp while he went to relieve Gan Ning. Ling Tong was made Colonel, then General of the Household Who Pacifies the Caitiffs and Chancellor of Pei. He took part in the capture of Wan and in Lü Meng’s seizure of the three commanderies; at Hefei (215) he was Right Commander. When Sun Quan withdrew from Hefei, Zhang Liao struck at Xiaoyao Ford; Ling Tong and three hundred men protected Sun Quan and got him out; Ling Tong turned back to fight, his men were all killed, he was badly wounded, and he escaped by swimming in armour. Sun Quan promoted him to General of the Side and doubled his troops. He recommended talents such as Sheng Xian and Liu Zan. He persuaded Sun Quan to let him recruit in the hills and gathered over ten thousand men; while passing through his home county he fell ill and died, aged twenty-nine. Sun Quan mourned deeply and had Zhang Cheng write a eulogy. His young sons Ling Lie and Ling Feng were raised in the palace; Sun Quan called them “my tiger sons.” Chen Shou wrote that he had “the bearing of a man of state” and “though in the army, drew close to the worthy and treated gentlemen well, was light on wealth and valued duty.”
Biography
Father’s death and succession
Ling Tong was from Yuhang (餘杭), Wu Commandery (吳郡). His father Ling Cao (凌操) was bold and chivalrous; when Sun Ce first raised troops Ling Cao often went on campaign as vanguard. He was Magistrate of Yongping, pacified the Shanyue, and was promoted to Chief Commandant Who Breaks the Caitiffs (破賊校尉). When Sun Quan attacked Jiangxia, Ling Cao was first to enter Xiakou and killed Huang Zu’s vanguard; he pressed ahead alone in a light boat and was hit by an arrow and died. The Wu shu says Gan Ning was a skilled archer and shot Ling Cao. Ling Tong was fifteen. Those around him praised him; because Ling Cao had died in the ruler’s service, Sun Quan made Ling Tong Separate Commander (別部司馬) and Chief Commandant Who Breaks the Caitiffs (行破賊都尉) and let him lead his father’s troops.
Matun and Chen Qin
Ling Tong later took part in the attack on the Shanyue. Sun Quan took Baotun and returned first, leaving ten thousand men at Matun. Ling Tong and the supervising officer Zhang Yi were to besiege the fort and take it by a set date. Before the attack, Ling Tong and the supervising officer Chen Qin drank together. Chen Qin was stubborn and overbearing; during the libation he bullied the others and imposed penalty drinks arbitrarily. Ling Tong disliked his arrogance and rebuked him; Chen Qin cursed Ling Tong and his father Ling Cao. Ling Tong wept and did not reply, then left. Chen Qin, drunk and violent, went on insulting Ling Tong on the road. Ling Tong could bear it no longer and struck Chen Qin with his sword; Chen Qin died a few days later. On the day of the attack on Matun, Ling Tong said: “If I do not die I cannot atone.” He encouraged his men, exposed himself to arrows and stones, and the section he attacked soon gave way; the other units followed and they routed the enemy. When the army returned, Ling Tong bound himself and went to the army judge. Sun Quan considered his resolve and determination and allowed him to offset the crime with his merit.
Enmity with Gan Ning
Ling Tong’s father’s killer Gan Ning had by then joined Sun Quan. Ling Tong bore a grudge against Gan Ning and Gan Ning was on his guard; they tried to avoid each other. Sun Quan ordered Ling Tong not to feud with Gan Ning. Once at a feast at Lü Meng’s, when the wine was flowing, Ling Tong performed a sword dance; Gan Ning said he could dance with double halberds. Lü Meng said: “You can, but mine is more skilful.” He took a blade and shield and separated them. Sun Quan knew Ling Tong’s feelings and kept the two apart, sending Gan Ning to garrison Banzhou (半州).
Jiangxia, Chibi, and Nan Commandery
In 208 Sun Quan again attacked Jiangxia. Ling Tong and Dong Xi were the vanguard. Ling Tong and several dozen picked men in double armour shared one boat and often went dozens of li ahead. They reached the right branch of the river, killed Huang Zu’s general Zhang Shuo (張碩), and captured his boat and soldiers. They returned to report to Sun Quan and then led the army forward by forced march, advancing by water and land. Lü Meng defeated Huang Zu’s navy and Ling Tong was first to take the city; the victory was complete. Sun Quan made him Chief Commandant Who Inherits the Glorious (承烈都尉). He followed Zhou Yu and others and defeated Cao Cao at Wulin (Chibi); he was made Colonel (校尉). He followed Zhou Yu in the attack on Cao Ren in Nan Commandery. When Gan Ning was besieged at Yiling, the generals feared that splitting the force would weaken the siege of Jiangling. Lü Meng told Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu: “Leave Gongji [Ling Tong]; I will go with you to relieve him. It should not take long, and I guarantee Gongji can hold for ten days.” Zhou Yu agreed and left Ling Tong to hold the main camp; Ling Tong did his duty and repeatedly repelled Cao Ren’s attacks so that Gan Ning could be relieved. Although in the army, Ling Tong “drew close to the worthy, received gentlemen, was light on wealth and valued duty”—he had the bearing of a man of state. He followed Lü Meng in the capture of Wan and was made General of the Household Who Pacifies the Caitiffs (蕩寇中郎將) and Chancellor of Pei (沛相).
Hefei and Xiaoyao Ford
In 215 Ling Tong followed Lü Meng in taking the three commanderies (Changsha, Lingling, Guiyang) from Liu Bei. After the army returned from Yiyang they went straight to Hefei. Ling Tong was Right Commander (右部督). When Sun Quan decided to withdraw from Hefei, the vanguard had already left. The Wei generals Zhang Liao and others appeared north of Xiaoyao Ford (逍遙津) and attacked. Sun Quan ordered the vanguard to turn back but they were too far away. Ling Tong and three hundred of his personal troops were surrounded; they fought to get Sun Quan out. Sun Quan and Gan Ning spurred to the ford, but the enemy had broken the bridge and only two planks remained. Thanks to Gu Li’s whip Sun Quan’s horse leapt across. Ling Tong turned back to fight; his three hundred were all killed and he was severely wounded. He killed several dozen of the enemy and only withdrew when he judged Sun Quan was safe. The bridge was gone; he swam in his armour (submerged so the enemy could not shoot) and reached the south bank. He wept at the ford, grieving that his father’s personal troops had all been lost. When Sun Quan saw him return he was overjoyed, but Ling Tong was distraught. Sun Quan used his sleeve to wipe Ling Tong’s tears and said: “Gongji, the dead are dead. As long as you are here, why worry about having no troops?” Ling Tong’s wounds were serious; Sun Quan had him stay on the boat and changed his clothes. He survived thanks to good medicine (the Lady Zhuo’s). He was made General of the Side (偏將軍) and given double the troops.
Recommending talent and death
When someone recommended Sheng Xian (盛暹) of Ling Tong’s commandery as having greater integrity than Ling Tong, Sun Quan said: “To be as good as Ling Tong is enough.” He summoned Sheng Xian at night; Ling Tong was already in bed but got up, dressed, went out, and took Sheng Xian by the hand to bring him in. Ling Tong also memorialised to employ Liu Zan (留贊), who later rose to Colonel of Garrison Cavalry and eventually Left General.
Ling Tong proposed that the mountain people were strong and could be recruited by prestige and favour. Sun Quan sent him east and ordered the various towns to give him whatever he needed and report afterwards. He recruited over ten thousand picked troops. On the way he passed through his home county (祖縣), entered the local office, and paid his respects to the elders and old friends with full ceremony. When his business was done and he was about to leave, he fell ill and died. He was twenty-nine (some texts say forty-nine; twenty-nine is generally preferred). Sun Quan rose from his bed in grief and could not contain himself; for days he ate little and wept whenever he spoke. He had Zhang Cheng write a eulogy (銘誄). Ling Tong’s two sons Ling Lie (凌烈) and Ling Feng (凌封) were still young; Sun Quan raised them in the palace like his own. When guests came he would call them and say: “These are my tiger sons.” When they were eight or nine he had Ge Guang teach them to read and had them learn riding every ten days. He enfeoffed Ling Lie as Marquis of a Ting and gave him Ling Tong’s troops. Later Ling Lie committed a crime and was stripped; Ling Feng succeeded to the rank and troops.
Personality and traits
Ling Tong was devoted to his lord and put public duty before private enmity: at Nan Commandery he held the camp so that Lü Meng could relieve Gan Ning. He “drew close to the worthy, received gentlemen, was light on wealth and valued duty” and had “the bearing of a man of state.” He welcomed Sheng Xian at night and recommended Liu Zan; the Records says “his loving the good and not harming others was like this.”
Political achievements
Under Sun Quan: Separate Commander and Chief Commandant Who Breaks the Caitiffs (leading father’s troops); attack on Shanyue at Matun (killed Chen Qin, then atoned by taking the fort); 208 Jiangxia vanguard with Dong Xi (killed Zhang Shuo); Chief Commandant Who Inherits the Glorious; Chibi; Colonel; Nan Commandery (held camp during relief of Gan Ning); General of the Household Who Pacifies the Caitiffs and Chancellor of Pei; capture of Wan; seizure of three commanderies; 215 Hefei Right Commander, Xiaoyao Ford (protected Sun Quan, three hundred lost, severely wounded); General of the Side; recruitment of over ten thousand in the hills.
Relationships
Ling Cao
Ling Tong’s father was killed at Jiangxia (by Gan Ning per Wu shu); Ling Tong succeeded to his troops at fifteen.
Gan Ning
Ling Tong bore a grudge against Gan Ning for his father’s death; Sun Quan forbade feud and kept them apart. At Xiaoyao Ford both protected Sun Quan. In Romance they later become friends after Gan Ning saves Ling Tong.
Lü Meng
At Nan Commandery, Lü Meng had Ling Tong hold the camp while he and Zhou Yu relieved Gan Ning. Ling Tong followed Lü Meng at Wan and in the three-commandery campaign.
Sun Quan
Sun Quan gave Ling Tong his father’s troops, allowed him to atone for killing Chen Qin, kept him and Gan Ning apart, and after Xiaoyao Ford doubled his troops and raised his sons.
Anecdotes and allusions
Killing Chen Qin and taking Matun
Ling Tong killed the bullying overseer Chen Qin after being insulted; to atone he led the assault on Matun, was first to break the wall, and was allowed to offset the crime with merit.
Source: Records of the Three Kingdoms
Type: Historical
Sword and halberd at Lü Meng’s
At a feast at Lü Meng’s, Ling Tong danced with a sword and Gan Ning offered to dance with double halberds; Lü Meng took blade and shield and separated them.
Source: Records of the Three Kingdoms
Type: Historical
Xiaoyao Ford
Ling Tong and three hundred men protected Sun Quan from Zhang Liao’s attack; his men all died and he was severely wounded; he swam in armour to the south bank and wept for his lost troops.
Source: Records of the Three Kingdoms
Type: Historical
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
In the novel, Ling Tong’s feud with Gan Ning is prominent; at Ruxu, when Ling Tong fights Yue Jin, Gan Ning shoots Yue Jin to save Ling Tong, and the two become friends. The rest follows history (Jiangxia, Chibi, Nan Commandery, Hefei, Xiaoyao Ford, death at twenty-nine).
Achievements
Documented achievements include: succession to father’s troops (204); Matun (kill Chen Qin, atone by taking fort); 208 Jiangxia vanguard (Zhang Shuo); Chief Commandant Who Inherits the Glorious; Chibi; Colonel; Nan Commandery (hold camp); General of the Household Who Pacifies the Caitiffs and Chancellor of Pei; Wan; three commanderies; 215 Hefei Right Commander, Xiaoyao Ford (protect Sun Quan); General of the Side; recruitment of ten thousand; recommendation of Sheng Xian and Liu Zan.
Behind the scenes
Historical sources
Ling Tong’s biography is in the Records of the Three Kingdoms (三国志), “Biographies of Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, Han Dang, Jiang Qin, Zhou Tai, Chen Wu, Dong Xi, Gan Ning, Ling Tong, and others” (吳書·程黃韓蔣周陳董甘凌徐潘丁傳). The Wu shu (in Pei Songzhi’s commentary) says Gan Ning shot Ling Cao. There is debate whether Ling Tong died at twenty-nine or forty-nine; the Jiankang shilu and Beitang shuchao give twenty-nine, and chronology (Luo Tong taking his troops before 222) favours twenty-nine.
Chen Shou’s evaluation
“Although in the army, he drew close to the worthy and received gentlemen, was light on wealth and valued duty—he had the bearing of a man of state.” “All these generals were tigers of Jiangbiao, and the Sun house treated them with great favour.”
Historical evaluations
Hao Jing
“Ling Tong’s drawing close to the worthy and deferring to gentlemen, being light on wealth and valuing duty … had the quality of a fine general.”
Yuan Shao
“Eyes on Cao the deceiver, thunder sweeping the bristling foe. He shielded Zhongmou and left the tiger’s tail unharmed. Loyal without regard for his person, he had no second thought—could we call him only a soldier? He was a man of state of old.”
Legacy
Ling Tong is remembered as one of the “Tiger Generals of Jiangbiao” who protected Sun Quan at Xiaoyao Ford, put public duty before his grudge against Gan Ning, and was “light on wealth and valued duty” and a “man of state.” His early death at twenty-nine and Sun Quan’s raising of his sons were long recalled.
See also
- Sun Quan — lord; protected at Xiaoyao Ford
- Ling Cao — father; killed at Jiangxia
- Gan Ning — father’s killer; feud and later separation
- Lü Meng — held camp for him at Nan Commandery; Wan and three commanderies
- Zhang Liao — attacked at Xiaoyao Ford
References
- Chen Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms (三国志), “Biographies of Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, Han Dang, Jiang Qin, Zhou Tai, Chen Wu, Dong Xi, Gan Ning, Ling Tong, and others” (吳書·程黃韓蔣周陳董甘凌徐潘丁傳).
- Pei Songzhi. Commentary citing Wu shu.
- Luo Guanzhong. Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三國演義), chapters on Jiangxia, Chibi, Nan Commandery, Ruxu, and Hefei.