魏书十八 · 典韦传
典韦，陈留己吾人也。形貌魁梧，旅力过人，有志节任侠。
Dian Wei was from Jiwu, Chenliu. Stout and imposing, with extraordinary strength, he was driven and principled, often displaying a chivalrous spirit.
襄邑刘氏与睢阳李永为雠，韦为报之。永故富春长，备衞甚谨。韦乘车载鸡酒，伪为候者，门开，怀匕首入杀永，并杀其妻，徐出，取车上刀戟，步出。永居近巿，一巿尽骇。追者数百，莫敢近。行四五里，遇其伴，转战得脱。由是为豪杰所识。
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，张邈举义兵，韦为士，属司马赵宠。牙门旗长大，人莫能胜，韦一手建之，宠异其才力。后属夏侯惇，数斩首有功，拜司马。
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.
太祖讨吕布于濮阳。布有别屯在濮阳西四五十里，太祖夜袭，比明破之。未及还，会布救兵至，三面掉战。时布身自搏战，自旦至日昳数十合，相持急。太祖募陷阵，韦先占，将应募者数十人，皆重衣两铠，弃楯，但持长矛撩戟。
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.
时西面又急，韦进当之，贼弓弩乱发，矢至如雨，韦不视，谓等人曰：「虏来十步，乃白之。」等人曰：「十步矣。」又曰：「五步乃白。」等人惧，疾言「虏至矣」！韦手持十余戟，大呼起，所抵无不应手倒者。布众退。会日暮，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.
拜韦都尉，引置左右，将亲兵数百人，常绕大帐。韦既壮武，其所将皆选卒，每战鬬，常先登陷阵。迁为校尉。性忠至谨重，常昼立侍终日，夜宿帐左右，稀归私寝。好酒食，饮噉兼人，每赐食于前，大饮长歠，左右相属，数人益乃供，太祖壮之。韦好持大双戟与长刀等，军中为之语曰：「帐下壮士有典君，提一双戟八十斤。」
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."
太祖征荆州，至宛，张绣迎降。太祖甚恱，延绣及其将帅，置酒高会。太祖行酒，韦持大斧立后，刃径尺，太祖所至之前，韦辄举斧目之。竟酒，绣及其将帅莫敢仰视。后十余日，绣反，袭太祖营，太祖出战不利，轻骑引去。韦战于门中，贼不得入。兵遂散从他门并入。时韦校尚有十余人，皆殊死战，无不一当十。贼前后至稍多，韦以长戟左右击之，一叉入，辄十余矛摧。左右死伤者略尽。
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.
韦被数十创，短兵接战，贼前搏之。韦双挟两贼击杀之，余贼不敢前。韦复前突贼，杀数人，创重发，瞋目大骂而死。贼乃敢前，取其头，传观之，覆军就视其躯。太祖退住舞阴，闻韦死，为流涕，募闲取其丧，亲自临哭之，遣归葬襄邑，拜子满为郎中。车驾每过，常祠以中牢。太祖思韦，拜满为司马，引自近。文帝即王位，以满为都尉，赐爵关内侯。
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.