Pang Tong (pronunciationⓘ) (179–214),[a] courtesy name Shiyuan, was a Chinese politician who served as a key adviser to the warlord Liu Bei in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China.
Pang Tong studied under Sima Hui along with Zhuge Liang, Xu Shu and Xiang Lang, and he was given the nickname "Fledgling Phoenix".
Through the recommendation of Lu Su and Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong was appointed by Liu Bei as an Assistant Officer and subsequently promoted to Military Adviser General of the Household.
Pang Tong advised Liu Bei to take over Yi Province (covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing) and accompanied him on his campaign against the warlord Liu Zhang, but was killed by a stray arrow during a battle at Luo County (north of present-day Guanghan, Sichuan) in 214.
When he reached adulthood (around 19 years old), he visited the hermit scholar Sima Hui, who was famous for spotting and recommending men of talent.
They came to a mulberry tree, where Sima Hui climbed up to get the fruit while Pang Tong sat below, and they chatted for a whole day until nightfall.
After Zhou Yu was appointed as the Administrator (太守) of Nan Commandery, Pang Tong served as an Officer of Merit (功曹) under him.
When Zhou Yu died in 210, Pang Tong escorted his coffin back to Jiangdong and attended his funeral.
He also appraised each of them separately and described Lu Ji as "a horse that cannot run fast but has strong willpower", and Gu Shao as "an ox that is physically weak but capable of bearing burdens over great distances".
[Sanguozhi 5] He also compared Quan Cong to Fan Zizhao (樊子昭) of Runan describing him as someone generous who admire respectable men.
[Sanguozhi zhu 3] Before Pang Tong left, Lu Ji and Gu Shao told him: "When peace is restored in the Empire, we want to have a good discussion with you about famous people."
Sun Quan's general Lu Su wrote to Liu Bei, recommending Pang Tong as a great talent that should be employed to important tasks and not managing a small territory.
[Sanguozhi 8] While making merry during a feast, Liu Bei asked Pang Tong: "You once worked as Zhou Gongjin’s Officer of Merit.
Liu Bei then sighed and said: "At this moment, I was in danger and they rescued me hence I could not refuse their invitation and almost failed to escape Zhou Yu's grasp!
Now Yi Province is wealthy and his people are strong, his population in the million along with many troops and horses present in all the region; all of this can be obtained and from then on would serve as the foundation for the future.
Therefore, I won't do it.”[Sanguozhi zhu 6] Pang Tong replied :“This is a period of perpetual changement where one must shown himself flexible and cannot be settled by a single principle.
Pang Tong returned to his seat and did not say anything, acting as usual, so Liu Bei asked, "When that quarrel happened just now, whose fault do you think it was?"
[Sanguozhi 14] Xi Zuochi commented on this event and said :“When one is acting as a warlord, he must first observe benevolence and righteousness in each of his actions, consider faith and justice as his model; if one of those is not respected than the way isn't the right one.
If one tries to change his faults while he doesn't focus his attention on his qualities, understand his faults, will itself be honest and loyal, those would be able to complete great entreprise and achieve their affairs, there has never been such before.”[Sanguozhi zhu 8]Pei Songzhi added :“Although the plan to attack Liu Zhang came from Pang Tong, it violated righteousness to accomplish the desired goal and so was at his root deceptive knowing this Pang Tong felt guilty and restrained himself from happy feelings.
Liu Bei at this feast drank too much and was happy at another's misfortune comparing himself to King Wu of Zhou without any shame.
In this discussion though Mister Xi Zuochi's purpose isn't wrong, the implication of those words have digressed.”[Sanguozhi zhu 9]Pang Tong later participated in a battle against Liu Zhang's forces at Luo County (雒縣; north of present-day Guanghan, Sichuan).
Pang Tong was posthumously made a Second Class Marquess (關內侯) after Liu Bei became emperor and established the state of Shu Han in 221.
He participated in the Battle of Xiaoting in 221–222 alongside the general Huang Quan and was in charge of defending the northern flank from possible attacks by Shu's rival state, Wei.
Pang Lin served as the Administrator (太守) of Julu Commandery (鉅鹿郡) in Wei and received a marquis title.
His son, Pang Huan (龐渙), whose courtesy name was Shiwen (世文), served as the Administrator of Zangke Commandery (牂牁太守) during the Jin dynasty between 280 and 289.
In comparison with officials from (Cao) Wei, Pang Tong would be similar to Xun Yu like a brother while Fa Zheng would be of the same nefarious kind as Cheng and Guo.
241), a collection of praises of notable persons who served in the Shu Han state, appraised him as follows: "Military Adviser General of the Household (軍師中郎將; Pang Tong) showed brightly, both extreme elegance and virtue.
Sima Hui recommends Pang Tong and Zhuge Liang as talents to aid Liu Bei by saying, "Hidden Dragon and Young Phoenix.
However, Dilu is believed to bring bad luck to its rider despite having saved Liu Bei's life earlier.
Pang Tong is the sixth of the eight genius students of Master Water Mirror in The Ravages of Time manhua.