魏书十八 · 李典传

李典字曼成，山阳钜野人也。典从父乾，有雄气，合賔客数千家在乘氏。初平中，以衆随太祖，破黄巾于寿张，又从击袁术，征徐州。吕布之乱，太祖遣乾还乘氏，慰劳诸县。布别驾薛兰、治中李封招乾，欲俱叛，乾不听，遂杀乾。

Li Dian, courtesy name Mancheng, was from Juye, Shanyang. Li Dian's uncle Li Qian, who had a valiant spirit, gathered several thousand retainers at Chengshi. Qian used the amassed to follow Cao Cao (posthumously honoured as the Grand Progenitor) in defeating the Yellow Turbans at Shouzhang, and later accompanied him on the campaign against Yuan Shu and the expedition against Xu Province. During Lü Bu's rebellion, Cao Cao had Qian return to Chengshi as to conciliate the counties. Lü Bu's Deputy Aide, Xue Lan, and Administrative Aide, Li Feng, summoned Qian, and wanted him to defect. Qian did not obey, so they thereupon killed him.

太祖使乾子整将乾兵，与诸将击兰、封。兰、封破，从平兖州诸县有功，稍迁青州刺史。整卒，典徙颍阴令，为中郎将，将整军，迁离狐太守。

Cao Cao sent Li Qian's son, Li Zheng, to lead Li Qian's army, and with various generals attacked Xue Lan and Li Feng. Xue Lan and Li Feng were defeated, and for his merits in pacifying Yan Province and its counties, Zheng was promoted to Inspector of Qing Province. When Li Zheng died, Li Dian was shifted to Magistrate of Yingyin, Gentleman-General, and led Li Zheng's army, later relocated to became Grand Administrator of Lihu.

时太祖与袁绍相拒官渡，典率宗族及部曲输谷帛供军。绍破，以典为裨将军，屯安民。太祖击谭、尚于黎阳，使典与程昱等以船运军粮。会尚遣魏郡太守高蕃将兵屯河上，绝水道，太祖勑典、昱：「若船不得过，下从陆道。」典与诸将议曰：「蕃军少甲而恃水，有懈怠之心，击之必克。军不内御；苟利国家，专之可也，宜亟击之。」昱亦以为然。遂北渡河，攻蕃，破之，水道得通。

At the time, Cao Cao and Yuan Shao opposed each other at Guandu. Li Dian led his clansmen and retainers to provide grain and clothing to Cao Cao's army. When Yuan Shao was defeated, Cao Cao had Li Dian become Assistant General, stationed at Anmin. When Cao Cao attacked Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang at Liyang, he sent Li Dian and Cheng Yu to transport military supplies by ship. It happened that Yuan Shang sent the Grand Adminstrator of Wei Commandery Gao Fan to lead troops and garrison north of the river, blocking the water route. Cao Cao ordered Li Dian and Cheng Yu, "If your ships cannot cross, disembark and march by land." Li Dian discussed with the other generals, "Gao Fan's army is poorly equipped and reliant on the waterways, and has grown complacent. If we attack, we will prevail. An army in the field need not always heed the court's instructions. If it is for the good of the state, then it is acceptable to act first. We should attack them now!" Cheng Yu also agreed with such. Therefore, they crossed the river, attacked Gao Fan, and defeated him. The water routes were reestablished.

刘表使刘备北侵，至叶，太祖遣典从夏侯敦拒之。备一旦烧屯去，敦率诸军追击之，典曰：「贼无故退，疑必有伏。南道窄狭，草木深，不可追也。」敦不听，与于禁追之，典留守。敦等果入贼伏里，战不利，典往救，备望见救至，军散退。从围邺，邺定，与乐进围高干于壶关，击管承于长广，皆破之。迁捕虏将军，封都亭侯。

Liu Biao sent Liu Bei north to invade, and when he reached Ye County, Cao Cao sent Li Dian to assist Xiahou Dun in repelling him. One morning, Liu Bei burned his camp and left, so Xiahou Dun led his men to chase after him. Li Dian said, "Our enemy has retreated for no reason. I suspect there is an ambush. The southern road is very narrow and the vegetation is thick. We should not pursue." Xiahou ignored his advice and, together with Yu Jin, gave chase. Li Dian remained to guard. Xiahou Dun and the others indeed fell into the enemy's ambush. The battle was not favorable, and Li Dian went to rescue them. Seeing the reinforcements arrive, Liu Bei retreated. Li Dian then accompanied Cao Cao in the siege of Ye and Ye was pacified. Later, together with Yue Jin, he besieged Gao Gan at Huguan and attacked Guan Cheng at Changguang, defeating them both. He was promoted to General who Captures the Enemies and enfeoffed as a Capital Neighbourhood Marquis.

典宗族部曲三千馀家，居乘氏，自请愿徙诣魏郡。太祖笑曰：「卿欲慕耿纯邪？」典谢曰：「典驽怯功微，而爵宠过厚，诚宜举宗陈力；加以征伐未息，宜实郊遂之内，以制四方，非慕纯也。」遂徙部曲宗族万三千馀口居邺。

Li Dian's clansmen and retainers were over 3000 families and resided at Chengshi, but he petitioned to relocate to Wei Commandery. Cao Cao laughed, "Do you wish to emulate Geng Chun?" Li Dian replied, "I am untalented and timid, with but little merit, yet the honours and favour I have received have been excessive. It is only fitting that I lead my entire clan in rendering service. Moreover, the campaigns have not yet ceased. We should consolidate the interior so as to command the four quarters. My request is not born of any desire to emulate Geng Chun." He thus relocated his retainers and clansmen, numbering more than 13000, to Ye.

太祖嘉之，迁破虏将军。与张辽、乐进屯合肥，孙权率衆围之，辽欲奉教出战。进、典、辽皆素不睦，辽恐其不从，典慨然曰：“此国家大事，顾君计何如耳，吾不可以私憾而忘公义乎！”乃率衆与辽破走权。增邑百户，并前三百户。

Cao Cao praised him and made him General Who Defeats the Enemies. Later, Li Dian, together with Zhang Liao and Yue Jin garrisoned at Hefei. When Sun Quan led an army to besiege the city, Zhang Liao had received orders to go out and engage the enemy. Yue Jin, Li Dian, and Zhang Liao were not on good terms, and Zhang Liao feared they would refuse to cooperate. Li Dian sternly said, "This is of great importance to the state. All that matters is whether your plan is sound. How could I allow personal grievances to override the greater good?" He then led his troops alongside Zhang Liao and routed Sun Quan. Thereafer, Li Dian an additional fief of one hundred households, bringing his total to three hundred.

典好学问，贵儒雅，不与诸将争功。敬贤士大夫，恂恂若不及，军中称其长者。年三十六薨，子祯嗣。文帝践阼，追念合肥之功，增祯邑百户，赐典一子爵关内侯，邑百户；谥典曰愍侯。

Li Dian was fond of learning and valued scholarly refinement. He did not compete with the other generals for merit. He respected virtuous scholars and officials, and was always humble and unassuming, as though he were always falling short. Within the army, he was regarded as a gentleman of great virtue. He died at the age of thirty-six, and his son, Li Zhen, succeeded him. When Cao Pi (posthumously honoured as Emperor Wen, the Civil Emperor) ascended the throne, he recalled Li Dian's merits at Hefei and increased Li Zhen's fief by one hundred households. He also enfeoffed another of Li Dian's sons as a Marquis Within the Passes with a fief of one hundred households. Li Dian was posthumously honoured as Marquis Min, the Lamentable Marquis.