Peng He

Biography & Historical Record

Peng He (彭和, Bành Hoà) is a literary Shu-Han officer created for Luo Guanzhong’s novel. He has no notice in Chen Shou’s Sanguozhi and no Pei Songzhi annotation. The catalog that placed him in “Chapter 7” is wrong: Chapter 7 is Yuan Shao versus Gongsun Zan and Sun Jian versus Liu Biao, a generation before Shu-Han exists. Peng He’s only scene is the collapse of Shu in 263, when Deng Ai (邓艾, Đặng Ngải) has already come through Yinping and stands before Mianzhu (绵竹).

At Mianzhu, Zhuge Zhan (诸葛瞻, Gia Cát Chiêm), courtesy Siyuan (思远, Tư Viễn), son of Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng), holds the pass and blocks Deng Ai’s first rush. Deng Ai then uses an ambush and rings the town so tightly that the Shu army cannot break the siege. Seeing the city about to fall, Zhuge Zhan gives Peng He a letter and orders him to cut his way out and ride to Eastern Wu for help. Peng He reaches the Wu court, presents the appeal to Sun Xiu (孙休, Tôn Hưu), and the Wu emperor answers that he will not sit idle while Shu is in danger. Sun Xiu names the veteran Ding Feng (丁奉, Đinh Phụng) commander, with Ding Feng (丁封, Đinh Phong) and Sun Yi (孙异, Tôn Dị) as lieutenants, and sends fifty thousand men in two directions — toward Mianzhong and toward Shouchun — a gesture of alliance that arrives too late to save Chengdu.

The novel does not bring Peng He back after the embassy. Zhuge Zhan and his son Zhuge Shang (诸葛尚, Gia Cát Thượng) die at Mianzhu; Liu Shan (刘禅, Lưu Thiện) surrenders. Peng He is the named courier who makes the last Shu-to-Wu appeal visible on the page. History records Wu discussion of aid in 263, but not this officer. Treat him as fiction standing in for the diplomatic traffic of the final weeks.

Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 117 (Deng Ai Crosses Yinping; Zhuge Zhan Dies at Mianzhu — standard 120-chapter numbering): Deng Ai (邓艾, Đặng Ngải) invests Mianzhu after the Yinping crossing. Zhuge Zhan (诸葛瞻, Gia Cát Chiêm), the situation already desperate, orders Peng He (彭和, Bành Hoà) to break out with a letter for Eastern Wu. Peng He reaches Sun Xiu (孙休, Tôn Hưu), who convenes his ministers and refuses to watch Shu fall unaided. Ding Feng (丁奉, Đinh Phụng) is made commander of fifty thousand; Ding Feng (丁封) and Sun Yi (孙异) take twenty thousand toward Mianzhong while Ding Feng himself moves on Shouchun. The relief does not change Mianzhu’s fate. Catalog “Chapter 7” is a mis-tag of this late-Shu embassy.

Peng He (彭和, Bành Hoà) — Historical & Literary Timeline

Key Relationships

Family

• The novel and the histories name no father, mother, spouse, or child for Peng He (彭和, Bành Hoà). He is a one-scene fictional aide; do not invent a Peng clan tie to Peng Yang (彭羕, Bành Dương) of Guanghan — different 汉字, different generation.

Friends

• Zhuge Zhan (诸葛瞻, Gia Cát Chiêm): Peng He’s commander at Mianzhu; the man who trusts him with the last letter to Wu.
• Sun Xiu (孙休, Tôn Hưu): Wu emperor who receives the letter and orders a relief army.
• Ding Feng (丁奉, Đinh Phụng): Veteran named to lead the Wu columns toward Mianzhong and Shouchun.

Enemies

• Deng Ai (邓艾, Đặng Ngải), courtesy Shizai (士载, Sĩ Tái): the Wei commander whose investment of Mianzhu creates the embassy. Peng He never faces him in combat in the text.

Other

• Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Zhuge Zhan’s father; the reason Mianzhu’s defence is written as a last stand of the Zhuge house.
• Zhuge Shang (诸葛尚, Gia Cát Thượng): Zhuge Zhan’s son, who dies with his father after the letter has gone (novel).
• Ding Feng (丁封, Đinh Phong) and Sun Yi (孙异, Tôn Dị): Wu lieutenants in the same relief order. No dedicated posts — keep as plain tri-lingual text.
• Liu Shan (刘禅, Lưu Thiện): Shu emperor whose surrender follows Mianzhu; Peng He is already on the road to Wu when the capital falls.