Book of Wei, Chapter 18 · Biography of Li Tong
李通字文達，江夏平春人也。以俠聞於江、汝之間。與其郡人陳恭共起兵於朗陵，衆多歸之。
Li Tong, courtesy name Wenda, was from Pingchun, Jiangxia. He was renowned throughout the region between the Yangtze and Ru Rivers for his chivalrous character. Together with Chen Gong, a fellow native of his commandery, he raised troops at Langling, and many people rallied to their cause.
《魏略》曰：通小字萬億。
The Weilüe / Brief History of Wei states: Tong's childhood name was Wanyi.
時有周直者，衆二千餘家，與恭、通外和內違。通欲圖殺直而恭難之。通知恭無斷，乃獨定策，與直克會，酒酣殺直。衆人大擾，通率恭誅其黨帥，盡并其營。後恭妻弟陳郃，殺恭而據其衆。通攻破郃軍，斬郃首以祭恭墓。又生禽黃巾大帥吳霸而降其屬。遭歲大饑，通傾家振施，與士分糟糠，皆爭為用，由是盜賊不敢犯。
At that time there was a man named Zhou Zhi who commanded more than two thousand households. Although he appeared to be on friendly terms with Chen Gong and Li Tong, they were secretly at odds. Li Tong wished to have Zhou Zhi killed, but Chen Gong refused to agree. Realising that Chen Gong lacked the resolve to act, Li Tong therefore made the plan himself. He invited Zhou Zhi to meet with him and, after Zhou Zhi had become drunk, killed him. Zhou Zhi's followers were thrown into confusion, and Li Tong led Chen Gong in killing their leaders before absorbing the entire force. Later, Chen Gong's brother-in-law, Chen He, murdered Chen Gong and took command of his followers. Li Tong attacked and defeated Chen He's army, cut off Chen He's head, and offered it in sacrifice at Chen Gong's tomb. He also captured alive Wu Ba, a leading commander of the Yellow Turbans, and persuaded his followers to surrender. A severe famine then struck. Li Tong exhausted his family's wealth to provide relief, sharing whatever provisions he had with his men. All were eager to serve him, and as a result even the bandits did not dare trouble them.
建安初，通舉衆詣太祖于許。拜通振威中郎將，屯汝南西界。太祖討張繡，劉表遣兵以助繡，太祖軍不利。通將兵夜詣太祖，太祖得以復戰，通為先登，大破繡軍。拜裨將軍，封建功侯。分汝南二縣，以通為陽安都尉。
At the beginning of the Jian'an Era, Li Tong led his followers to Xuchang to join Cao Cao (posthumously honoured as Taizu, the Grand Progenitor). Cao Cao appointed him Gentleman-General Who Rallies Might and stationed him on the western frontier of Runan Commandery. When Cao Cao campaigned against Zhang Xiu, Liu Biao sent troops to reinforce Zhang Xiu, and Cao Cao's army suffered a setback. Li Tong marched through the night to join Cao Cao, allowing Cao Cao to continue the campaign. Li Tong led the attack from the front, and swiftly defeated Zhang Xiu's army. He was promoted to Assistant General and enfeoffed as Marquis Jianggong, the Marquis of Establishing Merit. Two counties were separated from Runan Commandery and placed under Li Tong's governance, with Li Tong appointed Commandant of Yang'an.
通妻伯父犯法，朗陵長趙儼收治，致之大辟。是時殺生之柄，決於牧守，通妻子號泣以請其命。通曰：「方與曹公勠力，義不以私廢公。」嘉儼執憲不阿，與為親交。太祖與袁紹相拒於官渡。紹遣使拜通征南將軍，劉表亦陰招之，通皆拒焉。通親戚部曲流涕曰：「今孤危獨守，以失大援，亡可立而待也，不如亟從紹。」通按劒以叱之曰：「曹公明哲，必定天下。紹雖彊盛，而任使無方，終為之虜耳。吾以死不貳。」即斬紹使，送印綬詣太祖。又擊郡賊瞿恭、江宮、沈成等，皆破殘其衆，送其首。遂定淮、汝之地。改封都亭侯，拜汝南太守。
Li Tong's wife's elder uncle committed an offence, and Zhao Yan, the Chief of Langling, arrested and prosecuted him, sentencing him to death. At that time, the power over life and death rested with the Governor or the Grand Administrator, and Li Tong's wife wept and pleaded for her uncle's life. Li Tong replied, "I am now striving together with Excellency Cao. It would be wrong to set aside the public good for private concerns." He praised Zhao Yan for enforcing the law impartially, and the two became close friends. When Cao Cao opposed Yuan Shao at Guandu, Yuan Shao sent an envoy to appoint Li Tong General Who Conquers the South, while Liu Biao also secretly sought to win him over, but Li Tong rejected them both. His relatives and retainers wept, saying, "Now we stand isolated and in peril. If we lose this great source of support, we can only remain where we are and await destruction. We should submit to Yuan Shao at once." Li Tong rested his hand upon his sword and rebuked them: "Excellency Cao is wise and far-sighted and will surely unite the realm. Yuan Shao may be powerful today, but he has no judgement in the appointment and employment of men. In the end, he will surely become Excellency Cao's captive. I would rather die than betray my allegiance." He immediately executed Yuan Shao's envoy and sent the seal of appointment to Cao Cao. He then attacked the local rebel leaders Qu Gong, Jiang Gong, Shen Cheng, and others, defeating their forces and sending their heads to Cao Cao. He thereby pacified the Huai and Ru regions. His marquisate was changed to Capital Neighbourhood Marquis, and he was appointed Grand Administrator of Runan Commandery .
時賊張赤等五千餘家聚桃山，通攻破之。劉備與周瑜圍曹仁於江陵，別遣關羽絕北道。通率衆擊之，下馬拔鹿角入圍，且戰且前，以迎仁軍，勇冠諸將。通道得病薨，時年四十二。追增邑二百戶，并前四百戶。文帝踐阼，謚曰剛侯。詔曰：「昔袁紹之難，自許、蔡以南，人懷異心。通秉義不顧，使攜貳率服，朕甚嘉之。不幸早薨，子基雖已襲爵，未足醻其庸勳。基兄緒，前屯樊城，又有功。世篤其勞，以基為奉義中郎將，緒平虜中郎將，以寵異焉。」
At that time the rebel Zhang Chi and more than five thousand households had gathered at Taoshan, and Li Tong defeated them. Later, when Liu Bei and Zhou Yu besieged Cao Ren at Jiangling and separately dispatched Guan Yu to cut off the northern route, Li Tong led his troops against him. Dismounting, he pulled up the caltrops and forced his way into the encirclement. Fighting as he advanced, he succeeded in linking up with Cao Ren's army. His courage surpassed that of all the other generals. Li Tong fell ill on the march and died at the age of forty-two. His fief was increased posthumously by two hundred households, bringing his total to four hundred households. When Cao Pi (posthumously honoured as Emperor Wen, the Civil Emperor) ascended the throne, Li Tong was posthumously honoured as Marquis Gang, the Resolute Marquis. An imperial edict declared: "During the crisis brought about by Yuan Shao, from Xuchang southwards to Shangcai, many men entertained divided loyalties. Li Tong upheld righteousness without hesitation, causing those inclined to waver to submit. I greatly commend him for this. It is regrettable that he died so young. Although his son Li Ji has inherited his title, this is still insufficient reward for his distinguished service. Li Ji's elder brother, Li Xu, formerly garrisoned Fancheng, also rendered meritorious service. In recognition of the family's enduring achievements, Li Ji is appointed Gentleman-General Who Upholds Righteousness, and Li Xu Gentleman-General Who Subdues the Enemies, so as to distinguish them with exceptional favour."
《晉書》曰：緒子秉，字玄冑，有儁才，為時所貴，官至秦州刺史。
The Book of Jin states: Li Xu's son was Li Bing, courtesy name Xuanzhou. He was a man of outstanding talent, highly esteemed by his contemporaries, and rose to become Inspector of Qin Province.
秉嘗荅司馬文王問，因以為家誡曰：「昔侍坐於先帝，時有三長吏俱見。臨辭出，上曰：『為官長當清，當慎，當勤，脩此三者，何患不治乎？』並受詔。旣出，上顧謂吾等曰：『相誡勑正當爾不？』侍坐衆賢，莫不贊善。上又問曰：『必不得已，於斯三者何先？』或對曰：『清固為本。』次復問吾，對曰：『清慎之道，相須而成，必不得已，慎乃為大。夫清者不必慎，慎者必自清，亦由仁者必有勇，勇者不必有仁，是以易稱括囊無咎1，藉用白茅2，皆慎之至也。』上曰：『卿言得之爾。可舉近世能慎者誰乎？』諸人各未知所對，吾乃舉故太尉荀景倩、尚書董仲連、僕射王公仲並可謂為慎。
Li Bing once recounted an exchange with Sima Zhao (posthumously honoured as King Wen, the Civil King), which he afterwards adopted as a piece of family advice: "When I was attending upon the late Emperor, three senior officials happened to have an audience together. As they were taking their leave, His Majesty said, 'Those who serve as senior officials should be honest, prudent, and diligent. If they cultivate these three qualities, what difficulty can there be in governing well?' They all received his instruction. After they had departed, His Majesty turned to those of us in attendance and asked, 'My words of guidance to them were appropriate, right?' Everyone attending His Majesty voiced their approval. His Majesty then asked again, 'If one were absolutely compelled to choose among these three, which should come first?' Someone replied, 'Honesty must surely be the foundation.' His Majesty then asked me, and I answered, 'Honesty and prudence complement one another and cannot easily be separated. But if one were compelled to choose, prudence is the more important. An honest man is not necessarily prudent, but a prudent man will naturally be honest. It is like the saying that the benevolent are always courageous, whereas the courageous are not always benevolent. Thus the Book of Changes says, "Tie the mouth of the sack, and there will be no blame."1 and "Lay down white thatch as a mat."2 Both illustrate the utmost importance of prudence.' His Majesty said, 'You have reasoned well. Can you name any men of recent times who truly exemplified prudence?' The others did not know how to answer, so I named the former Grand Commandant Xun Jingqian, Secretariat Dong Zhonglian, and Deputy Director Wang Gongzhong, all of whom could rightly be called prudent.
上曰：『此諸人者，溫恭朝夕，執事有恪，亦各其慎也。然天下之至慎，其惟阮嗣宗乎！每與之言，言及玄遠，而未曾評論時事，臧否人物，真可謂至慎矣。』吾每思此言，亦足以為明誡。凡人行事，年少立身，不可不慎，勿輕論人，勿輕說事，如此則悔吝何由而生，患禍無從而至矣。」
His Majesty replied, 'These men are all gentle and respectful in their daily conduct, conscientious in the discharge of their duties, and each displays prudence in his own way. Yet the most prudent man in this realm can only be Ruan Sizong. Whenever I spoke with him, our conversations always turned to profound and abstruse subjects, yet he never once discussed current affairs or passed judgement upon other people. He may truly be called the very model of prudence.' Whenever I reflect upon these words, I find them a most illuminating piece of advice. Whatever a man undertakes, especially while establishing himself in youth, he cannot afford to be imprudent. Do not speak lightly of other people, nor speak lightly of affairs. If one conducts oneself in this way, from where can regret arise? How could calamity or misfortune find a way to reach him?"
Li Bing's son was Li Chong, courtesy name Maozeng. He became well known while still young, and successively served as Personnel Division Gentleman and Grand Administrator of Pingyang.
《晉諸公贊》曰：重以清尚稱。相國趙王倫以重望取為右司馬。重以倫將為亂，辭疾不就。倫逼之不已，重遂不復自活，至於困篤，扶曳受拜，數日卒，贈散騎常侍。
The Jin Zhugong Zan / Appraisal of Officials of Jin states: Li Chong was renowned for his integrity and lofty character. Sima Lun, Prince of Zhao and Chancellor of State, admired Li Chong's reputation and sought to appoint him Major on the Right. Realising that Sima Lun intended to rebel, Li Chong claimed illness and refused the appointment. Sima Lun continued to pressure him without relenting, whereupon Li Chong ceased taking care of himself. His condition eventually became critical, and he had to be supported as he went to receive the appointment. He died only a few days later. He was posthumously granted the office of Cavalier Regular Attendant.
重二弟，尚字茂仲，矩字茂約，永嘉中並典郡；矩至江州刺史。重子式，字景則，官至侍中。
Li Chong had two younger brothers: Li Shang, courtesy name Maozhong, and Li Ju, courtesy name Maoyue. During the Yongjia Era, both served as Administrators of commanderies, while Li Ju eventually rose to become Inspector of Jiangzhou. Li Chong's son was Li Shi, courtesy name Jingze, whose highest office was Palace Attendant.