Dong Xi
Dong Xi, stylename Yuandai, was a man of Yuyao, Kuaiji. He was eight feet (chi) tall and his warrior skills surpassed many. Xie Cheng’s Hou Han Shu describes Dong Xi as very generous and liberal with the very striking martial attributes as a hero. When Sun Ce entered the prefecture, Dong Xi welcomed him at Gaoqian village. At the time, in Shanyin, there were bandits like Huanglong Luo and Zhou Bo who gathered a few thousand men. Sun Ce personally went out to attack them while Dong Xi beheaded both Luo and Bo. When he returned, he was promoted as Senior Majors with a Separate Command (biebu sima), with command over several thousand troops. Later he was made Chief Commandant Who Manifests Firmness (yangwu duwei). Together with Sun Ce, they attacked Wan and then Liu Xun at Xunyang.
Sun Ce died and Sun Quan was young. Initially when he start to handle affairs, the Grand Concubine (taifei) was worried and met with Zhang Zhao and Dong Xi, asking if the lands East of the Yangzi were able to be protected. Dong Xi replied, “Jiangdong's terrain, has mountains and rivers as its security, and in taking punitive actions against the disobedient you bring glory to your residence, with kindness and virtue in the people. (1) After dealing with bandits, one should employ people, great or small. Zhang Zhao can handle a myriad of affairs while others like Xi can act as the claws and teeth. This is the land to get public support so there is no need to be extremely worried.”
In Poyang, there was a bandit named Peng Hu who had a tens of thousands of followers. Dong Xi along with Ling Tong, Bu Zhi, and Jiang Qin went on separate divisions on an expedition against them. Dong Xi was known to always defeat his enemies. When Hu and others went and saw the flags and banners, they scattered and fled. In ten days, the region was pacified. He was promoted as Colonel Who Awes the Yue (weiyue jiaowei) and Lieutenant-General (pian jiangjun).
In the thirteenth year of Jianan [CE 208], Sun Quan led a punitive expedition against Huang Zu. Huang Zu set two ships covered with ox-hide to guard the channel across Miankou, and he had a great rope of coir-palm fibre, with stones attached as anchors. Above all this were a thousand crossbow men to give covering fire. The arrows poured down like rain and the army could not get forward. Dong Xi along with Ling Tong were together in the Van, each in command of a hundred volunteers in double armour. They boarded a great barge, charged the covered ships, and Dong Xi cut the two ropes with his sword. (RdeC) The main body of the army then advanced. Huang Zu escaped through a gate but was pursued and beheaded by enemy troops. At a great gathering the next day, Sun Quan raised his goblet to Dong Xi saying, “Today’s gathering is to celebrate the achievement of the one who cut the two ropes!”
Lord Cao came to Ruxu and Dong Xi went there with Sun Quan. Sun Quan sent Dong Xi to command the “five-storied ship” and station at the mouth of Ruxu. During the night, there was a large storm and the “five storied ship” was about to overturn. His subordinates scattered and fled and pleaded for Dong Xi to come out. Dong Xi replied sternly, “As generals who have received responsibility to get ready to face the rebels, how can anyone flee? Anyone who dares utter this will be beheaded!” And so no one dared to disobey. But during the night, their ship was defeated and Dong Xi was killed. Sun Quan dressed in clothes of mourning to oversee the funeral and made a large amount of sacrificial offerings.
Translator's Notes
(RdeC) This passage came from R. de Crespigny, To Establish Peace, Vol 2, ANU, 1996.
(1) Many thanks to Franz Wong for his assistance in translation here.