Pang De

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Pang De bigraphy, stories - Han Dynasty general

Pang De : biography

Unknown – 219

Pang De (died 219), style name Lingming, was a military general who lived in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. He served various factions throughout his life, including: the Liang Province forces led by Han Sui and Ma Teng; Zhang Lu, a warlord who controlled Hanzhong; Cao Cao, a warlord who became the de facto head of government in China. Although Pang De joined Cao Cao’s forces later than most of Cao’s other notable generals, he was nevertheless known for his steadfast loyalty towards his lord when he refused to surrender to Guan Yu after his defeat at the Battle of Fancheng, which resulted in his execution.

Early life and service under Ma Teng

Pang De was a native of Huandao (狟道), Nan’an (南安), Liang Province, which is located east of present-day Longxi County, Gansu. In his youth, he served as an Assistant Officer (從事) in the local commandery office. During the Chuping era (190-193) in the reign of Emperor Xian, the Liang Province Rebellion broke out. Pang De joined the warlord Ma Teng in suppressing the revolts by the Qiang and Di tribes, and was promoted to Colonel (校尉) for his efforts in battle.(龐德字令明,南安狟道人也。少為郡吏州從事。初平中,從馬騰擊反羌叛氐。數有功,稍遷至校尉。) Sanguozhi vol. 18.

During the mid Jian’an era (196-220) of Emperor Xian’s reign, the warlord Cao Cao (who had become the de facto head of government in China) led a campaign against Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang, leading to the Battle of Liyang of 202-203. When Yuan Tan sent Guo Yuan and Gao Gan with a separate force to attack Hedong, Cao Cao ordered Zhong Yao to lead the armies of Guanzhong to deal with Guo Yuan and Gao Gan. Pang De accompanied Ma Teng’s son Ma Chao (who was under Zhong Yao’s command) to attack Guo Yuan and Gao Gan at Pingyang (平陽). In the ensuing battle, Pang De served as the vanguard, and they scored a major victory over the enemy. Pang De slew Guo Yuan in the midst of battle, but was not aware that the man he killed was Guo Yuan. After the battle, when Zhong Yao’s men searched the battlefield, they saw that Guo Yuan was dead but could not find his head. Shortly later, Pang De went to see Zhong Yao and he threw Guo Yuan’s head in front of the latter. Zhong Yao cried when he recognised Guo Yuan’s head, because Guo was actually his maternal nephew. Pang De immediately apologised to Zhong Yao, but the latter said, "Even though Guo Yuan was my nephew, he was nonetheless an enemy of the state. Why do you apologise?"(魏略曰:德手斬一級,不知是援。戰罷之後,眾人皆言援死而不得其首。援,鍾繇之甥。德晚後於鞬中出一頭,繇見之而哭。德謝繇,繇曰:「援雖我甥,乃國賊也。卿何謝之?」) Weilue annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 18. For his contributions, Pang De was appointed as a General of the Household (中郎將) and received the title of "Marquis of a Chief Village" (都亭侯).(建安中,太祖討袁譚、尚於黎陽,譚遣郭援、高幹等略取河東,太祖使鍾繇率關中諸將討之。德隨騰子超拒援、幹於平陽,德為軍鋒,進攻援、幹,大破之,親斬援首。 … 拜中郎將,封都亭侯。) Sanguozhi vol. 18.

When Zhang Baiqi (張白騎) started a rebellion in Hongnong (弘農), Pang De followed Ma Teng to suppress the revolt and they defeated Zhang at Yao (殽; around present-day Luoning County, Henan). Every time in battle, Pang De would always charge into the enemy formation and his bravery was well known throughout Ma Teng’s army. When Ma Teng was later called to the imperial capital Xu (許; present-day Xuchang, Henan) to serve as "Minister of the Guards" (衛尉), Pang De remained behind in Liang Province with Ma Teng’s son Ma Chao.(後張白騎叛於弘農,德復隨騰征之,破白騎於兩殽間。每戰,常陷陳卻敵,勇冠騰軍。後騰徵為衛尉,德留屬超。) Sanguozhi vol. 18.

Service under Ma Chao and Zhang Lu

Around 211, Ma Chao started a rebellion against the Han imperial court (under Cao Cao’s control) and led a coalition of warlords from northwestern China to attack Cao Cao, leading to the Battle of Tong Pass. However, Ma Chao was defeated but he continued to terrorise the Liang Province region with the help of the Qiang tribes for the next two years before he was eventually forced to seek refuge under Zhang Lu, a warlord who controlled Hanzhong commandery. Pang De followed Ma Chao all this while and he also came to serve Zhang Lu.(太祖破超於渭南,德隨超亡入漢陽,保冀城。後復隨超奔漢中,從張魯。) Sanguozhi vol. 18.