魏书十八 · 李通传
李通字文达，江夏平春人也。以侠闻于江、汝之间。与其郡人陈恭共起兵于朗陵，众多归之。
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：通小字万亿。
The Weilüe / Brief History of Wei states: Tong's childhood name was Wanyi.
时有周直者，众二千余家，与恭、通外和内违。通欲图杀直而恭难之。通知恭无断，乃独定策，与直克会，酒酣杀直。众人大扰，通率恭诛其党帅，尽并其营。后恭妻弟陈郃，杀恭而据其众。通攻破郃军，斩郃首以祭恭墓。又生禽黄巾大帅吴霸而降其属。遭岁大饥，通倾家振施，与士分糟糠，皆争为用，由是盗贼不敢犯。
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，通举众诣太祖于许。拜通振威中郎将，屯汝南西界。太祖讨张绣，刘表遣兵以助绣，太祖军不利。通将兵夜诣太祖，太祖得以复战，通为先登，大破绣军。拜裨将军，封建功侯。分汝南二县，以通为阳安都尉。
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，朗陵长赵俨收治，致之大辟。是时杀生之柄，决于牧守，通妻子号泣以请其命。通曰：「方与曹公勠力，义不以私废公。」嘉俨执宪不阿，与为亲交。太祖与袁绍相拒于官渡。绍遣使拜通征南将军，刘表亦阴招之，通皆拒焉。通亲戚部曲流涕曰：「今孤危独守，以失大援，亡可立而待也，不如亟从绍。」通按剑以叱之曰：「曹公明哲，必定天下。绍虽强盛，而任使无方，终为之虏耳。吾以死不贰。」即斩绍使，送印绶诣太祖。又击郡贼瞿恭、江宫、沈成等，皆破残其众，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 .
时贼张赤等五千余家聚桃山，通攻破之。刘备与周瑜围曹仁于江陵，别遣关羽绝北道。通率众击之，下马拔鹿角入围，且战且前，以迎仁军，勇冠诸将。通道得病薨，时年四十二。追增邑二百户，并前四百户。文帝践阼，谥曰刚侯。诏曰：「昔袁绍之难，自许、蔡以南，人怀异心。通秉义不顾，使携贰率服，朕甚嘉之。不幸早薨，子基虽已袭爵，未足酬其庸勋。基兄绪，前屯樊城，又有功。世笃其劳，以基为奉义中郎将，绪平虏中郎将，以宠异焉。」
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."
《晋书》曰：绪子秉，字玄胄，有儁才，为时所贵，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.
秉尝荅司马文王问，因以为家诫曰：「昔侍坐于先帝，时有三长吏俱见。临辞出，上曰：『 为官长当清，当慎，当勤，修此三者，何患不治乎？』并受诏。旣出，上顾谓吾等曰：『 相诫勑正当尔不？』侍坐衆贤，莫不赞善。上又问曰：『 必不得已，于斯三者何先？』或对曰：『 清固为本。』次复问吾，对曰：『 清慎之道，相须而成，必不得已，慎乃为大。夫清者不必慎，慎者必自清，亦由仁者必有勇，勇者不必有仁，是以易称括囊无咎1，藉用白茅2，皆慎之至也。』上曰：『 卿言得之尔。可举近世能慎者谁乎？』诸人各未知所对，吾乃举故太尉荀景倩、尚书董仲连、仆射王公仲并可谓为慎。
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：『 此诸人者，温恭朝夕，执事有恪，亦各其慎也。然天下之至慎，其惟阮嗣宗乎！每与之言，言及玄远，而未曾评论时事，臧否人物，真可谓至慎矣。』吾每思此言，亦足以为明诫。凡人行事，年少立身，不可不慎，勿轻论人，勿轻说事，如此则悔吝何由而生，患祸无从而至矣。」
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.
《晋诸公赞》曰：重以清尚称。相国赵王伦以重望取为右司马。重以伦将为乱，辞疾不就。伦逼之不已，重遂不复自活，至于困篤，扶曳受拜，数日卒，赠散骑常侍。
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，矩字茂约，永嘉中并典郡；矩至江州刺史。重子式，字景则，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.