Romance of the Three Kingdoms Pang Tong

Pang Tong (龐統), courtesy name Shiyuan (士元), was a renowned strategist and adviser during the late Eastern Han dynasty, serving the warlord Liu Bei in the Three Kingdoms period. Hailing from Xiangyang, he was a brilliant but eccentric intellect, often compared to Zhuge Liang in strategic acumen. Due to his unassuming appearance and unconventional demeanor, he was initially overlooked by Sun Quan’s court but later recognized for his talents by Liu Bei. His deep understanding of military tactics and political strategy earned him the nickname "Fledgling Phoenix" (鳳雛), a counterpart to Zhuge Liang’s "Sleeping Dragon" (臥龍).

Pang Tong played a crucial role in Liu Bei’s conquest of Yi Province, devising strategies that facilitated the rapid takeover of the region from Liu Zhang. One of his most famous proposals was the "Linked Boats Strategy," an ambitious but ultimately disastrous plan to chain Liu Bei’s fleet together, which was later abandoned. Despite his brilliance, his life was tragically cut short in 213 CE when he was ambushed and killed at the Battle of Luo County. His untimely death was a significant loss to Liu Bei’s administration, as he had been designated to help consolidate control over newly conquered territories. Though overshadowed by Zhuge Liang in historical records, Pang Tong’s contributions were vital in shaping the early success of Liu Bei’s campaign.