Book of Wei, Chapter 18 · Biography of Wen Pin
文聘字仲業，南陽宛人也，為劉表大將，使禦北方。表死，其子琮立。太祖征荊州，琮舉州降，呼聘欲與俱，聘曰：「聘不能全州，當待罪而已。」
Wen Pin, courtesy name Zhongye, was from Wan, Nanyang, and served as a general under Liu Biao, guarding his northern front. When Liu Biao died, his son Liu Cong succeeded him. When Cao Cao (posthumously honoured as Taizu, the Grand Progenitor) campaigned against Jing Province, Liu Cong surrendered the province in its entirety, and summoned Wen Pin to come with him. Wen Pin declined, "I was unable to preserve the province intact. I can only await punishment for my failure."
太祖濟漢，聘乃詣太祖，太祖問曰：「來何遲邪？」聘曰：「先日不能輔弼劉荊州以奉國家，荊州雖沒，常願據守漢川，保全土境，生不負於孤弱，死無愧於地下，而計不得已，以至於此。實懷悲慙，無顏早見耳。」遂欷歔流涕。太祖為之愴然曰：「仲業，卿真忠臣也。」厚禮待之。
When Cao Cao crossed the Han River, Wen Pin then came to see him. Cao Cao asked, "Why have you come so late?" Wen Pin replied, "Previously, I was unable to assist Governor Liu in serving the state. Although Jing Province has now fallen, I had still hoped to hold the Han River region and preserve its territory. In life, I would not betray the young and the weak entrusted to my care; in death, I would bring no shame before those below. Yet circumstances left me no choice, and it has come to this. I am filled with grief and shame, and could not bear to come before you sooner." He then sighed and wept. Cao Cao was deeply moved and said, "Zhongye, you are truly a loyal servant of the state." Cao Cao thereafter treated Wen Pin with the utmost courtesy.
授聘兵，使與曹純追討劉備於長阪。太祖先定荊州，江夏與吳接，民心不安，乃以聘為江夏太守，使典北兵，委以邊事，賜爵關內侯。
Cao Cao gave Wen Pin troops, and had him join Cao Chun in pursuing and attacking Liu Bei at Changban. As Cao Cao had only recently taken Jing Province, and Jiangxia Commandery bordered Wu, the people remained unsettled. Cao Cao therefore made Wen Pin Grand Administrator of Jiangxia Commandery, placed him in command of the northern forces, entrusted him with frontier matters, and enfeoffed him as Marquis Within the Pass.
孫盛曰：資父事君，忠孝道一。臧霸少有孝烈之稱，文聘著垂泣之誠，是以魏武一面，委之以二方之任，豈直壯武見知於倉卒之間哉！
Sun Sheng states: In serving one's father and serving one's lord, loyalty and filial piety are one and the same. Zang Ba was renowned in his youth for his filial devotion, while Wen Pin displayed the sincerity of his grief in tears. It was for this reason that, after but a single meeting, Cao Cao entrusted them with the defence of two regions. Surely this was not merely because he had come to appreciate their valor and martial prowess during those brief encounters!
與樂進討關羽於尋口1，有功，進封延壽亭侯，加討逆將軍。又攻羽輜重於漢津1，燒其船於荊城。文帝踐阼，進爵長安鄉侯，假節。與夏侯尚圍江陵，使聘別屯沔口，止石梵2，自當一隊，禦賊有功，遷後將軍，封新野侯。
Together with Yue Jin, Wen Pin campaigned against Guan Yu at Xunkou1, and for his achievements was advanced to Yanshou Neighbourhood Marquis, and General Who Suppresses the Rebels. Wen Pin later attacked Guan Yu's supply train at Hanjin1, and burned his ships at Jingcheng. When Cao Pi (posthumously honoured as Emperor Wen, the Civil Emperor) ascended the throne, Wen Pin was advanced in rank to Chang'an Township Marquis, and made Provisional Bearer of the Tally. Together with Xiahou Shang, Wen Pin besieged Jiangling. He was then detached and temporarily stationed at Miankou, where he held Shifan 2 and commanded an independent force to resist the enemy. For his merits, he was promoted to General of the Rear, and enfeoffed as Marquis of Xinye.
孫權以五萬衆自圍聘於石陽，甚急，聘堅守不動，權住二十餘日乃解去。聘追擊破之。增邑五百戶，并前千九百戶。
Later, Sun Quan personally led fifty thousand troops to besiege Wen Pin at Shiyang. The situation was extremely dire, yet Wen Pin held firm and did not retreat. After more than twenty days, Sun Quan withdrew. Wen Pin pursued and defeated the Wu troops. His fief was increased by five hundred households, bringing his total to one thousand nine hundred.
魏略曰：孫權嘗自將數萬衆卒至。時大雨，城柵崩壞，人民散在田野，未及補治。聘聞權到，不知所施，乃思惟莫若潛默可以疑之。乃勑城中人使不得見，又自卧舍中不起。權果疑之，語其部黨曰：「北方以此人忠臣也，故委之以此郡，今我至而不動，此不有密圖，必當有外救。」遂不敢攻而去。
The Weilüe / Brief History of Wei states: Sun Quan once personally led several tens of thousands of troops in a sudden attack. At the time, there were heavy rains, and the city's stockade walls collapsed. The residents were dispersed across the countryside, and there is no time to repair the damaged walls. When Wen Pin learned of Sun Quan's arrival, he was uncertain how best to respond. He concluded that nothing would serve better than to remain perfectly still and let the enemy fall into doubt. He therefore ordered that no one within the city was to show themselves, then withdrew to his quarters and remained there without emerging. Sun Quan indeed grew suspicious and said to his officers, "The northern court regards this man as a loyal servant of the state, and for that reason entrusted him with this commandery. Now that I have arrived and he remains inactive, he must either have made secret preparations, or reinforcements are surely on their way." Sun Quan therefore dared not attack and withdrew.
魏略此語，與本傳反。
This account in the Weilüe contradicts the main biography.
聘在江夏數十年，有威恩，名震敵國，賊不敢侵。分聘戶邑封聘子岱為列侯，又賜聘從子厚爵關內侯。聘薨，謚曰壯侯。岱又先亡，聘養子休嗣。卒，子武嗣。
Wen Pin remained in Jiangxia Commandery for several decades. He was held in both awe and affection, and his reputation resounded throughout the enemy state, such that no one dared invade. Part of Wen Pin's fief was divided off to enfeoff his son, Wen Dai, as a Marquis, and his nephew Wen Hou was also granted the rank of Marquis Within the Pass. When Wen Pin died, he was posthumously honoured as Marquis Zhuang, the Valiant Marquis. Wen Dai had already died before him, so Wen Pin's adopted son Wen Xiu succeeded him. When Wen Xiu died, his son Wen Wu succeeded him.