魏書十八 · 李典傳

李典字曼成，山陽鉅野人也。典從父乾，有雄氣，合賔客數千家在乘氏。初平中，以衆隨太祖，破黃巾於壽張，又從擊袁術，征徐州。呂布之亂，太祖遣乾還乘氏，慰勞諸縣。布別駕薛蘭、治中李封招乾，欲俱叛，乾不聽，遂殺乾。

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.

太祖使乾子整將乾兵，與諸將擊蘭、封。蘭、封破，從平兖州諸縣有功，稍遷青州刺史。整卒，典徙潁陰令，為中郎將，將整軍，遷離狐太守。

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.

時太祖與袁紹相拒官渡，典率宗族及部曲輸穀帛供軍。紹破，以典為裨將軍，屯安民。太祖擊譚、尚於黎陽，使典與程昱等以船運軍糧。會尚遣魏郡太守高蕃將兵屯河上，絕水道，太祖勑典、昱：「若船不得過，下從陸道。」典與諸將議曰：「蕃軍少甲而恃水，有懈怠之心，擊之必克。軍不內禦；苟利國家，專之可也，宜亟擊之。」昱亦以為然。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.

劉表使劉備北侵，至葉，太祖遣典從夏侯惇拒之。備一旦燒屯去，惇率諸軍追擊之，典曰：「賊無故退，疑必有伏。南道窄狹，草木深，不可追也。」惇不聽，與于禁追之，典留守。惇等果入賊伏裏，戰不利，典往救，備望見救至，軍散退。從圍鄴，鄴定，與樂進圍高幹於壺關，擊管承於長廣，皆破之。遷捕虜將軍，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.

典宗族部曲三千餘家，居乘氏，自請願徙詣魏郡。太祖笑曰：「卿欲慕耿純邪？」典謝曰：「典駑怯功微，而爵寵過厚，誠宜舉宗陳力；加以征伐未息，宜實郊遂之內，以制四方，非慕純也。」遂徙部曲宗族萬三千餘口居鄴。

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，遷破虜將軍。與張遼、樂進屯合肥，孫權率衆圍之，遼欲奉教出戰。進、典、遼皆素不睦，遼恐其不從，典慨然曰：「此國家大事，顧君計何如耳，吾不可以私憾而忘公義乎！」乃率衆與遼破走權。增邑百戶，并前三百戶。

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.

典好學問，貴儒雅，不與諸將爭功。敬賢士大夫，恂恂若不及，軍中稱其長者。年三十六薨，子禎嗣。文帝踐阼，追念合肥之功，增禎邑百戶，賜典一子爵關內侯，邑百戶；謚典曰愍侯。

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.