Cheng Pu

Biography & Historical Record

Cheng Pu (程普, Trình Phổ), courtesy name Demou (德谋, Đức Mưu) (d. c. 210 AD), was the eldest of the Sun house’s founding captains—called “Elder Cheng” (程公, Trình Công) by the army. A native of Tuyin in Youbeiping Commandery (右北平郡土垠县; huyện Thổ Ngân, quận Hữu Bắc Bình; present-day Fengrun, Tangshan, Hebei), he began as a commandery clerk noted for presence, planning, and quick replies, then followed Sun Jian (孙坚, Tôn Kiên) against the Yellow Turbans at Wan and Deng and against Dong Zhuo (董卓, Đổng Trác) at Yangren, taking wounds in the assaults. After Sun Jian’s death he stayed with Sun Ce (孙策, Tôn Sách) in Huainan, helped take Lujiang, and once charged alone with a spear to cut Sun Ce out of Zu Lang (祖郎, Tổ Lang)’s encirclement. Sun Ce made him Leader of the Court Gentlemen Who Destroys Bandits (荡寇中郎将) and Administrator of Lingling.

When Sun Ce died (200), Cheng Pu joined Zhang Zhao (张昭, Trương Chiêu) in backing Sun Quan (孙权, Tôn Quyền), toured the commanderies to crush holdouts, fought at Jiangxia, pacified Le’an on the return through Yuzhang, and replaced Taishi Ci (太史慈, Thái Sử Từ) at the Haihun garrison. At Red Cliffs (208) he and Zhou Yu (周瑜, Chu Du) were Left and Right Commanders; they broke Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo) at Wulin and drove Cao Ren (曹仁, Tào Nhân) from Nanjun. Cheng Pu became General of the Interior (裨将军) and Administrator of Jiangxia at Shaxian, drawing supplies from four counties. He was the oldest of the first officers, generous to scholar-officials, and—after early friction—came to admire Zhou Yu: “To associate with Zhou Gongjin is like drinking fine wine; one becomes drunk unawares.” When Zhou Yu died (210) Cheng Pu succeeded as Administrator of Nan Commandery; after Sun Quan lent Jing to Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị) he returned to Jiangxia as General Who Destroys Bandits (荡寇将军) and died soon after. The Wu Shu says he fell ill after having executed rebels burned, and died some hundred days later. His son Cheng Zi (程咨, Trình Tư) later received a precinct marquisate when Sun Quan took the imperial title, and served as Right Division Commander of the Crown Prince.

The novel gives him the iron-poled serpent spear (铁脊蛇矛) and three signature deeds: slaying Hu Zhen (胡轸, Hồ Chẩn) at Sishui, naming the Imperial Jade Seal drawn from a Luoyang well, and spearing Lu Gong (吕公, Lã Công) to avenge Sun Jian—then swallowing his pride as Zhou Yu’s vice-commander at Red Cliffs.

Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 5 (Sun Jian Crosses the River; Cao Cao Joins the Lords): As Sun Jian’s senior spear, Cheng Pu rides with Huang Gai (黄盖, Hoàng Cái), Han Dang (韩当, Hàn Đương), and Zu Mao (祖茂, Tổ Mậu) in the eighteen-lord coalition. When Dong Zhuo’s general Hu Zhen, courtesy Wencai (文才, Văn Tài), comes out at Sishui, Cheng Pu meets him and kills him with the iron-poled serpent spear—Wu’s first named trophy of the pass war, before Hua Xiong (华雄, Hoa Hùng) overawes the other camps.

Chapter 6 (Burning the Capital; Sun Jian Conceals the Seal): In ruined Luoyang a soldier draws the Imperial Jade Seal from a well. Cheng Pu recognizes the object and urges Sun Jian to quit the quarreling coalition and return east with the treasure. The same chapter’s aftermath sends Sun Jian into Liu Biao (刘表, Lưu Biểu)’s interception on the road home—the crisis that leads to Xiangyang.

Chapter 7 (Sun Jian Dies Beneath Mount Xian): After Han Dang slays Zhang Hu (张虎, Trương Hổ) and Huang Gai captures Huang Zu (黄祖, Hoàng Tổ), Sun Jian resumes the attack and falls to Lu Gong’s stone-and-arrow ambush. Cheng Pu hunts the killer and spears Lu Gong to death, then helps Sun Ben (孙贲, Tôn Bí) and the household carry Sun Ce’s succession out of Jing.

Chapter 15 (Sun Ce Conquers the Six Commanderies): Cheng Pu is a foremost pillar of the eastward war against Liu Yao (刘繇, Lưu Dao), Yan Baihu (严白虎, Nghiêm Bạch Hổ), and Wang Lang (王朗, Vương Lang)—including the fights around Qu’e and Moling where Zhang Ying (张英, Trương Anh) and other Liu Yao officers give way.

Chapter 29 (The Little Conqueror Bequeaths Jiangdong): With Zhang Zhao and the old captains, Cheng Pu accepts young Sun Quan after Sun Ce’s assassination and keeps the army from splintering.

Chapter 38 (Sun Quan Attacks Jiangxia): He joins the naval invasion that finally destroys Huang Zu—the old Jing enemy of Sun Jian’s death—sailing with Han Dang, Huang Gai, Gan Ning (甘宁, Cam Ninh), and Ling Tong (凌统, Lăng Thống).

Chapters 44–45 (Zhou Yu Is Appointed; the Veteran Swallows Pride): Sun Quan names Zhou Yu Commander-in-Chief and Cheng Pu Vice-Commander for the war against Cao Cao. Cheng Pu, oldest of the officers, at first resents taking orders from a man young enough to be a nephew. After watching Zhou Yu unmask Cao Cao’s spies and hold the allied council, he sets the slight aside and defers—the novel’s version of the historical wine-praise.

Chapters 49–51 (Fire at Red Cliffs; Nanjun): As vice-commander he helps execute the fire attack (Huang Gai’s ships, Kan Ze (阚泽, Khản Trạch)’s letter, Lu Su (鲁肃, Lỗ Túc)’s diplomacy) and then assists the wounded Zhou Yu against Cao Ren at Nanjun—history’s Wulin-to-Jiangling sequence in novel dress.

Cheng Pu (程普, Trình Phổ) — Historical & Literary Timeline

Further reading: Cheng Pu on Wikipedia.

Key Relationships

Family

• Cheng Zi (程咨, Trình Tư) — Only named son. History: after Cheng Pu’s death Sun Quan, on taking the imperial title, enfeoffed Cheng Zi as a precinct marquis in honor of the father’s service; Cheng Zi later served as Right Division Commander of the Crown Prince. Novel does not develop a separate arc.

Friends

• Sun Jian (孙坚, Tôn Kiên) — First lord; Cheng Pu fought Yellow Turbans and Dong Zhuo under him and, in the novel, recovered his honor by killing Lu Gong.
• Sun Ce (孙策, Tôn Sách) — Second lord; Cheng Pu saved him from Zu Lang (history) and helped take Jiangdong.
• Sun Quan (孙权, Tôn Quyền) — Third lord; Cheng Pu and Zhang Zhao held the succession, then Cheng Pu served as Red Cliffs left commander and Jiangxia governor.
• Huang Gai (黄盖, Hoàng Cái) — Fellow Sun Jian veteran; fire-ship partner at Red Cliffs while Cheng Pu held the vice-command.
• Han Dang (韩当, Hàn Đương) — Lifelong comrade from Sishui through Jiangxia and Nanjun; the third of the “old four” with Zu Mao.
• Zhou Yu (周瑜, Chu Du) — Historical left/right colleague at Wulin; early friction, then deep respect (fine-wine saying). Novel Ch. 44–45: Cheng Pu swallows pride as vice-commander.
• Zhang Zhao (张昭, Trương Chiêu) — Civil partner in backing Sun Quan after 200.
• Taishi Ci (太史慈, Thái Sử Từ) — Cheng Pu succeeded him as garrison commander at Haihun (history).
• Zhu Zhi (朱治, Chu Trị) — Another early Sun household officer of the same founding generation.

Enemies

• Dong Zhuo (董卓, Đổng Trác) — Yangren (history) and Sishui (novel) opponent of Sun Jian’s army.
• Hu Zhen (胡轸, Hồ Chẩn) — Dong Zhuo’s general slain by Cheng Pu at Sishui (novel Ch. 5).
• Lu Gong (吕公, Lã Công) — Ambush-killer of Sun Jian; speared by Cheng Pu (novel Ch. 7).
• Liu Biao (刘表, Lưu Biểu) / Huang Zu (黄祖, Hoàng Tổ) — Jing enemies from the seal-road interception through Jiangxia 208.
• Liu Yao (刘繇, Lưu Dao) / Yan Baihu (严白虎, Nghiêm Bạch Hổ) / Wang Lang (王朗, Vương Lang) — Jiangdong targets of Sun Ce’s conquest (Ch. 15).
• Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo) — Defeated at Wulin / Red Cliffs by the Zhou Yu–Cheng Pu left/right command.
• Cao Ren (曹仁, Tào Nhân) — Driven from Nanjun / Jiangling (history and novel Ch. 51).

Other

• Zu Mao (祖茂, Tổ Mậu) — Fourth of Sun Jian’s novel officer set at Sishui with Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and Han Dang.
• Sun Ben (孙贲, Tôn Bí) — Sun clansman who helps extract the household after Sun Jian’s death (Ch. 7 arc).
• Zhang Ying (张英, Trương Anh) — Liu Yao officer defeated in the Qu’e / Moling fighting of Cheng Pu’s Jiangdong years.
• Zu Lang (祖郎, Tổ Lang) — Hill commander who once surrounded Sun Ce; Cheng Pu’s one-rider spear charge (history; no dedicated post).
• Liu Xun (刘勋, Lưu Huân) of Lujiang — Historical Xunyang target of Sun Ce’s campaign that Cheng Pu joined (not Shu’s Liu Xun 刘循).
• Lu Su (鲁肃, Lỗ Túc) / Kan Ze (阚泽, Khản Trạch) — Red Cliffs colleagues whose coalition and forged letter frame the vice-commander’s war.
• Gan Ning (甘宁, Cam Ninh) / Ling Tong (凌统, Lăng Thống) — Jiangxia 208 shipmates in the novel’s Ch. 38 invasion.
• Hua Xiong (华雄, Hoa Hùng) — Dong Zhuo champion whose Sishui terror follows Cheng Pu’s killing of Hu Zhen in the same opening war.
• Chen Shou (陈寿, Trần Thọ) — Places Cheng Pu first in Sanguozhi Wu 55, the roll of Jiangdong’s tiger-ministers.
• Jiang Qin (蒋钦, Tưởng Khâm) / Zhou Tai (周泰, Chu Thái) / Chen Wu (陈武, Trần Vũ) / Dong Xi (董袭, Đổng Tập) — Fellow early captains in the same SGZ chapter, younger than “Elder Cheng.”
• Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị) — Ally who received Nan Commandery after Zhou Yu’s death, forcing Cheng Pu’s last transfer back to Jiangxia.