Taishi Ci
|
|
Taishi Ci (太史慈), courtesy name Ziyi, was a famous Wu general, famous for never fleeing from a fight. He and Sun Ce duelled to a tie, then was recruited by Sun Quan. He died fighting Zhang Liao, the guardian of Hefei. He had a son named Taishi Heng. Ci was recruited by Sun Ce when he found out about his prowess in battle. Although he was already recruited Ci thought that he would repay his kindness by travelling to Hefei and gathering troops as a thank you to Sun.
Note: In the official histories, Taishi Ci died before Hefei and was not slain there by Zhang Liao as the novel depicts.
Taishi Ci was also known to be an extremely filial son. When Kong Rong, Governor of Beihai, was under siege in his city by hordes of Yellow Turbans under the rebel champion Guan Hai, Taishi rode to his rescue at the behest of his mother, who had been generously treated by Kong Rong. Kong Rong then sent Taishi Ci to call for help, which later came in the form of the three brothers Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, and their forces. With these reinforcements Taishi Ci was able to lift the siege of Beihai and fulfill his mother's wish by freeing Kong Rong from danger.