Book of Wei, Chapter 18 · Biography of Dian Wei
典韋，陳留己吾人也。形貌魁梧，旅力過人，有志節任俠。
Dian Wei was from Jiwu, Chenliu. Stout and imposing, with extraordinary strength, he was driven and principled, often displaying a chivalrous spirit.
襄邑劉氏與睢陽李永為讎，韋為報之。永故富春長，備衞甚謹。韋乘車載雞酒，偽為候者，門開，懷匕首入殺永，并殺其妻，徐出，取車上刀戟，步出。永居近巿，一巿盡駭。追者數百，莫敢近。行四五里，遇其伴，轉戰得脫。由是為豪傑所識。
The Liu family of Xiangyi had a feud with Li Yong of Suiyang, and Dian Wei took revenge on their behalf. Li Yong, formerly Chief of Fuchun, kept himself under close guard. Dian Wei drove a cart filled with chicken and wine, feigning to be a visitor. Once the gate was opened, he entered with a dagger concealed and slew Li Yong and his wife. He then strolled out, retrieved a sword and halberd from the cart, and continued on foot. As Li Yong's house was near the market, the entire area was alarmed. Several hundred pursuers came, but none dared approach. After walking four or five li, he met his companions, fought off the pursuit, and escaped. Thereafter, Dian Wei became known among heroes and men of eminence.
初平中，張邈舉義兵，韋為士，屬司馬趙寵。牙門旗長大，人莫能勝，韋一手建之，寵異其才力。後屬夏侯惇，數斬首有功，拜司馬。
During the Chuping era, when Zhang Miao raised righteous troops, Dian Wei served as a soldier under Major Zhao Chong. The towering gate banner at headquarters was heavy, and none could lift it. Dian Wei raised it with a single hand, and Zhao Chong was astounded by his strength. Later, under Xiahou Dun, Dian Wei beheaded numerous enemies and for his merit, was appointed Major.
太祖討呂布於濮陽。布有別屯在濮陽西四五十里，太祖夜襲，比明破之。未及還，會布救兵至，三面掉戰。時布身自搏戰，自旦至日昳數十合，相持急。太祖募陷陣，韋先占，將應募者數十人，皆重衣兩鎧，棄楯，但持長矛撩戟。
Later, Cao Cao (posthumously honoured as Taizu, the Grand Progenitor) launched an attack against Lü Bu at Puyang. Lü Bu had stationed a separate camp forty or fifty li to the west of Puyang. Cao Cao launched a night raid and broke the camp by dawn. Before they could return, Lü Bu's relief forces arrived, and a three-sided battle ensued. Lü Bu himself took to the field, and from dawn till late afternoon, they engaged in numerous fierce clashes. Cao Cao called for volunteers to charge into the enemy's formation. Dian Wei was the first to respond. He led several dozen volunteers, each clad in two layers of armour and armed only with long spears and halberds, without shields.
時西面又急，韋進當之，賊弓弩亂發，矢至如雨，韋不視，謂等人曰：「虜來十步，乃白之。」等人曰：「十步矣。」又曰：「五步乃白。」等人懼，疾言「虜至矣」！韋手持十餘戟，大呼起，所抵無不應手倒者。布衆退。會日暮，太祖乃得引去。
At that moment, the situation on the western flank became dire. Dian Wei went forward to meet the enemy. The bandits unleashed a chaotic volley of arrows, the shafts falling like rain, but Dian Wei remained unfazed. He told his comrades, "Let me know when the enemy is ten paces away." They informed him, "It is ten paces now." He then said, "Tell me when it is five paces." His comrades, growing anxious, cried out urgently, "The enemy is upon us!" Wei, grasping a dozen halberds, let out a tremendous shout and rose, felling each adversary he struck. Lü Bu's forces retreated. As dusk fell, Cao Cao was able to withdraw.
拜韋都尉，引置左右，將親兵數百人，常繞大帳。韋旣壯武，其所將皆選卒，每戰鬬，常先登陷陣。遷為校尉。性忠至謹重，常晝立侍終日，夜宿帳左右，稀歸私寢。好酒食，飲噉兼人，每賜食於前，大飲長歠，左右相屬，數人益乃供，太祖壯之。韋好持大雙戟與長刀等，軍中為之語曰：「帳下壯士有典君，提一雙戟八十斤。」
Dian Wei was appointed Commandant and stationed near Cao Cao. He commanded several hundred personal guards who kept constant watch over the main tent. Dian Wei was himself strong and valiant, and the men under his command were all picked soldiers. Whenever battle was joined, he was always among the first to break into the enemy ranks. He was later promoted to Colonel. He was innately loyal, cautious, and solemn. By day, he stood in constant attendance, and at night, he slept near the tent, rarely returning to his private quarters. He delighted in wine and food, with a capacity for drinking and eating that surpassed ordinary men. Whenever Cao Cao bestowed food before him, he would drink and eat heartily. Attendants had to succeed one another at his side, and several men were needed to keep him supplied. The Grand Progenitor marvelled at his prowess. Dian Wei was fond of wielding a large pair of halberds as well as a long sabre, and the troops had a saying: "Lord Dian stands beneath the tent, eighty-jin halberds in his hands."
太祖征荊州，至宛，張繡迎降。太祖甚恱，延繡及其將帥，置酒高會。太祖行酒，韋持大斧立後，刃徑尺，太祖所至之前，韋輒舉斧目之。竟酒，繡及其將帥莫敢仰視。後十餘日，繡反，襲太祖營，太祖出戰不利，輕騎引去。韋戰於門中，賊不得入。兵遂散從他門並入。時韋校尚有十餘人，皆殊死戰，無不一當十。賊前後至稍多，韋以長戟左右擊之，一叉入，輒十餘矛摧。左右死傷者略盡。
When Cao Cao campaigned in the Jing Province and reached Wan, Zhang Xiu came out to surrender, greatly pleasing Cao Cao. Cao Cao invited Zhang Xiu and his officers to a lavish banquet. At the feast, as Cao Cao went around toasting the guests, Dian Wei stood behind him, holding a great axe with a blade one chi wide. Whenever Cao Cao approached someone, Dian Wei would raise the axe and fix them with a glare. Until the end of the banquet, Zhang Xiu and his officers dared not look up at Dian Wei. Over ten days later, Zhang Xiu rebelled and attacked Cao Cao's camp. Cao Cao went out to fight but was unsuccessful and fled. Dian Wei held his ground at the gate, preventing the rebels from entering. The soldiers then dispersed and entered through other gates. By this time, Dian Wei's group had dwindled to about ten men, but all fought bravely, each holding his own against ten foes. As more rebels advanced from all sides, Dian Wei wielded his long halberd, striking left and right. With each thrust, he shattered a dozen or more spears. His men were nearly all dead or wounded.
韋被數十創，短兵接戰，賊前搏之。韋雙挾兩賊擊殺之，餘賊不敢前。韋復前突賊，殺數人，創重發，瞋目大罵而死。賊乃敢前，取其頭，傳觀之，覆軍就視其軀。太祖退住舞陰，聞韋死，為流涕，募閒取其喪，親自臨哭之，遣歸葬襄邑，拜子滿為郎中。車駕每過，常祠以中牢。太祖思韋，拜滿為司馬，引自近。文帝即王位，以滿為都尉，賜爵關內侯。
Dian Wei himself was severely wounded in numerous places. As the fighting closed to hand-to-hand combat, the rebels rushed forward to grapple with him. Dian Wei seized two of them, one under each arm, and killed them. The remaining rebels dared not advance. He charged forward once more, killing several enemies, but his wounds worsened. Glaring fiercely, he cursed loudly and died. Only then did the enemy dare to approach, cut off his head, and pass it around. They then covered his body to examine it. Cao Cao retreated successfully to Wuyin. Upon hearing of Dian Wei's death, he wept and secretly hired men to retrieve his remains. He personally mourned over Dian Wei, and sent the body back for burial at Xiangyi. Cao Cao appointed Dian Wei's son, Dian Man, as a Court Gentleman. Whenever the imperial carriage passed by his tomb, Cao Cao would offer a sacrifice of middle-grade livestock. Remembering Dian Wei, Cao Cao promoted Dian Man to Major and kept him close. When Emperor Wen (posthumously honoured as the Civil Emperor) ascended the throne, he made Dian Man a Commandant and Marquis Within the Pass.