Taishi Ci () (166–206), courtesy name Ziyi, was a Chinese military general who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He had served as a minor Han official, before eventually coming to serve warlords Liu Yao, Sun Ce, and Sun Ce's successor Sun Quan.
A native of Donglai Commandery, he started his career as a minor official in the local commandery office. In 186, at the age of 20, he became famous after successfully completing a mission to prevent a letter from the provincial administration from reaching the imperial court in Luoyang first. However, out of fear that the provincial administration would take revenge against him, he went into hiding in Liaodong. After returning from Liaodong, he travelled to Beihai (around present-day Weifang, Shandong) to rescue the warlord Kong Rong, who was besieged by Yellow Turban rebels. By resorting to trickery, he managed to break out of the siege and seek aid from another warlord, Liu Bei. The siege was lifted when Taishi Ci returned to Beihai with reinforcements from Liu Bei. Taishi Ci travelled to Yang Province later to join the warlord Liu Yao, an old acquaintance of his. He fought for Liu Yao in the war between Liu Yao and Sun Ce, once engaging Sun Ce in a one-on-one fight. Following Liu Yao's defeat, Taishi Ci headed to Jing County (north of present-day Jing County, Anhui) and tried to establish his own power base there. However, he was eventually defeated and captured by Sun Ce's forces. Touched by Sun Ce's sincerity and generosity towards him, Taishi Ci agreed to serve Sun Ce and even helped to persuade many former followers of Liu Yao to join Sun Ce as well. Sun Ce appointed him as a Commandant and put him in charge of security around Jianchang County (present-day Fengxin County, Jiangxi). During this time, he drove back Liu Pan (劉磐) and his men, who often raided Sun Ce's territories in that area. After Sun Ce's death, Taishi Ci continued serving under Sun Ce's successor, Sun Quan. Sun Quan deeply mourned Taishi Ci when the latter died in 206.
Taishi Ci's biography in the Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi) described him as seven chi tall (approximately 178–182 cm) and having a shiny and beautiful beard. He was famous for his archery skills.(慈長七尺七寸，美鬚髯，猨臂善射，弦不虛發。) Sanguozhi vol. 49.
Early career in Donglai Commandery Taishi Ci was from Huang County (黃縣), Donglai Commandery (東萊郡), which is in present-day Longkou, Shandong. As a youth, he was known for being studious. He served as a zoucaoshi (奏曹史; a minor official) in the local commandery office. Around 186, the commandery administration had a dispute with their superiors, the provincial administration of Qing Province. Both sides wrote to the imperial court in the capital Luoyang to complain about each other. At the time, since the imperial court often made decisions on a first-come, first-served basis, it meant that the court would tend to rule in favour of the party whose document it received first. Since the provincial administration had already sent a courier to deliver their complaint letter, the Administrator (太守) of Donglai Commandery began to feel anxious and started looking for someone to help him deliver his letter. Taishi Ci, then 20 years old, was chosen for the task.(太史慈字子義，東萊黃人也。少好學，仕郡奏曹史。會郡與州有隙，曲直未分，以先聞者為善。時州章已去，郡守恐後之，求可使者。慈年二十一，以選行， ...) Sanguozhi vol. 49.
When Taishi Ci finally reached Luoyang after travelling day and night, he saw the provincial administration's courier near the city gate. He approached him and asked, "Sir, are you delivering a document?" The courier replied, "Yes." Taishi Ci asked again, "Where is the document?" The courier replied, "In the carriage." Taishi Ci said, "Are you sure there is no mistake in the addressee's details on the document? Let me see it." The courier did not know that Taishi Ci was from Donglai Commandery so he showed him the letter. Taishi Ci took out a knife and destroyed the letter. The courier started shouting, "This man destroyed my document!" Taishi Ci pulled him into the carriage and said, "If you didn't show me the document, I wouldn't have been able to destroy it. Regardless of the consequences, neither of us can say he is not responsible for what happened. I suggest we remain silent and escape. By doing this, we can avoid punishment and keep our heads. Otherwise, both of us will be executed." The courier asked, "Your master sent you to destroy this document. Now that you have accomplished your mission, why do you still need to go on the run?" Taishi Ci replied, "He ordered me to only check whether the document has been delivered. However, I went too far and ended up destroying the document. If I go back, I am afraid that my master will blame me, so I suggest we escape together." The courier was persuaded by Taishi Ci so they fled from Luoyang together.(... 晨夜取道，到洛陽，詣公車門，見州吏始欲求通。慈問曰：「君欲通章邪？」吏曰：「然。」問：「章安在？」曰：「車上。」慈曰：「章題署得無誤邪？取來視之。」吏殊不知其東萊人也，因為取章。慈已先懷刀，便截敗之。吏踴躍大呼，言「人壞我章」！慈將至車間，與語曰：「向使君不以章相與，吾亦無因得敗之，是為吉凶禍福等耳，吾不獨受此罪。豈若默然俱出去，可以存易亡，無事俱就刑辟。」吏言：「君為郡敗吾章，已得如意，欲復亡為？」慈荅曰：「初受郡遣，但來視章通與未耳。吾用意太過，乃相敗章。今還，亦恐以此見譴怒，故俱欲去爾。」吏然慈言，即日俱去。) Sanguozhi vol. 49.
After leaving Luoyang, Taishi Ci secretly returned later and delivered the commandery administration's letter to the imperial court. When the provincial administration of Qing Province found out, they sent another letter to the central government again. However, as the second letter contained some discrepancies, the imperial court ruled against the provincial administration in the dispute. Taishi Ci became famous after this incident. However, out of fear that the provincial administration would take revenge against him, he fled from Donglai Commandery and took shelter in Liaodong.(慈旣與出城，因遁還通郡章。州家聞之，更遣吏通章，有司以格章之故不復見理，州受其短。由是知名，而為州家所疾，恐受其禍，乃避之遼東。) Sanguozhi vol. 49.
Saving Kong Rong from the siege of Duchang Kong Rong, the Chancellor (相) of Beihai State (北海國; around present-day Weifang, Shandong), heard about Taishi Ci and regarded him as an extraordinary talent. He sent his subordinates to visit Taishi Ci's mother on multiple occasions and passed her many gifts. In the late 180s or early 190s, when Beihai came under attack by Yellow Turban rebels, Kong Rong led his troops to a fortress at Duchang (都昌; in present-day Weifang, Shandong). The rebels, led by Guan Hai (管亥), besieged the Duchang fortress. After Taishi Ci returned from Liaodong, his mother told him, "You haven't met Kong Rong. He treated me very generously – almost like an old friend – while you were away. Now that he is in trouble, you should quickly go to help him." Three days later, Taishi Ci travelled alone on foot to Duchang.(北海相孔融聞而奇之，數遣人訊問其母，并致餉遺。時融以黃巾寇暴，出屯都昌，為賊管亥所圍。慈從遼東還，母謂慈曰：「汝與孔北海未嘗相見，至汝行後，贍恤殷勤，過於故舊，今為賊所圍，汝宜赴之。」慈留三日，單步徑至都昌。) Sanguozhi vol. 49.
At the time, the rebels had yet to completely surround Duchang, so Taishi Ci managed to sneak past the enemy at night and enter the fortress to meet Kong Rong. He asked Kong Rong to let him lead soldiers to fight their way out, but Kong refused and insisted on waiting for reinforcements. The rebels came closer day by day. Kong Rong wanted to seek help from Liu Bei, the Chancellor of Pingyuan State (平原國), but no one had any idea on how to break out of the siege. Taishi Ci volunteered to fight his way out and seek reinforcements from Liu Bei, but Kong Rong said, "The rebels have completely surrounded the fortress. Everyone thinks it is impossible to break out. It will be very difficult for you to break out no matter how courageous you are." Taishi Ci replied, "When I was away, you treated my mother very generously. She feels grateful, hence she told me to help you. She knew that I know what I am doing, and that I can help you. Now, everyone says it is impossible to break out. If I were to agree with them, I will not be able to repay your kindness. Why, then, did my mother send me here for? We are in a very desperate situation. I hope you won't hesitate any longer." Kong Rong agreed to let him break out of the siege.(時圍尚未密，夜伺間隙，得入見融，因求兵出斫賊。融不聽，欲待外救。外救未有至者，而圍日偪。融欲告急平原相劉備，城中人無由得出，慈自請求行。融曰：「今賊圍甚密，衆人皆言不可，卿意雖壯，無乃實難乎？」慈對曰：「昔府君傾意於老母，老母感遇，遣慈赴府君之急，固以慈有可取，而來必有益也。今衆人言不可，慈亦言不可，豈府君愛顧之義，老母遣慈之意邪？事已急矣，願府君無疑。」融乃然之。) Sanguozhi vol. 49.
Taishi Ci packed his equipment and had a full meal. At dawn, he brought his bow and a quiver of arrows with him, and rode out of the fortress. He was accompanied by two riders, each carrying a target stand for archery practice. When the rebels saw Taishi Ci coming out of the fortress, they immediately readied themselves for battle. To their surprise, Taishi Ci took the two stands, placed them in the ditch around the fortress, fired some arrows at them, and then returned to the fortress. The following day, he repeated the entire process. Some of the rebels stood up and prepared for battle upon seeing him, while others ignored him and remained relaxed. On the third day, when Taishi Ci came out again, the rebels thought that he was going to practise archery again, so they paid no attention to him. Taishi Ci then seized the opportunity to break out of the siege. By the time the rebels realised what was going on, Taishi Ci had already escaped and killed several rebels along the way. None of them dared to pursue him.(於是嚴行蓐食，須明，便帶鞬攝弓上馬，將兩騎自隨，各作一的持之，開門直出。外圍下左右人並驚駭，兵馬互出。慈引馬至城下塹內，植所持的各一，出射之，射之畢，徑入門。明晨復如此，圍下人或起或卧，慈復植的，射之畢，復入門。明晨復出如此，無復起者，於是下鞭馬直突圍中馳去。比賊覺知，慈行已過，又射殺數人，皆應弦而倒，故無敢追者。) Sanguozhi vol. 49.
When Taishi Ci arrived at Pingyuan, he told Liu Bei, "I, (Taishi) Ci, am a commoner from Donglai. I am neither a relative nor an acquaintance of Kong Rong. But I have heard of him and we not only share similar beliefs, but also experienced difficult times together. Now, Guan Hai and the rebels have besieged Kong Rong; he is desperately in need of help. You are known for your kindness, righteousness, and willingness to help those in need. Kong Rong admires you and has placed his hopes in you, hence he sent me to fight my way out of the siege to seek help from you. Only you can save him." Liu Bei's facial expression turned serious and he said, "So Kong Rong knows that Liu Bei exists in this world!" He then sent 3,000 troops to follow Taishi Ci back to Duchang. When the rebels heard that reinforcements had arrived, they fled and the siege of Duchang was automatically lifted. Kong Rong regarded Taishi Ci even more highly after this event. He told Taishi Ci, "You are a young friend of mine." When Taishi Ci returned home and told his mother about it, she said, "I am very happy that you can repay Kong Rong's kindness in this way."(遂到平原，說備曰：「慈，東萊之鄙人也，與孔北海親非骨肉，比非鄉黨，特以名志相好，有分災共患之義。今管亥暴亂，北海被圍，孤窮無援，危在旦夕。以君有仁義之名，能救人之急，故北海區區，延頸恃仰，使慈冒白刃，突重圍，從萬死之中自託於君，惟君所以存之。」備斂容荅曰：「孔北海知世間有劉備邪！」即遣精兵三千人隨慈。賊聞兵至，解圍散走。融旣得濟，益奇貴慈，曰：「卿吾之少友也。」事畢，還啟其母，母曰：「我喜汝有以報孔北海也。」) Sanguozhi vol. 49.
Coming to serve Sun Ce
Liu Yao, the Inspector (刺史) of Yang Province, was not only also from Donglai Commandery like Taishi Ci, but also an old acquaintance of Taishi Ci. Taishi Ci had not met Liu Yao since his return from Liaodong, so he crossed the Yangtze River and travelled to Qu'e County (曲阿縣; present-day Danyang, Jiangsu) to find Liu Yao. Before he left, the warlord Sun Ce led his forces to attack Liu Yao's territories. Someone advised Liu Yao to appoint Taishi Ci as a general to lead his troops to counter Sun Ce, but Liu Yao said, "If I appoint Taishi Ci, Xu Zijiang will laugh at me." He then sent Taishi Ci on a reconnaissance mission to assess the strength of Sun Ce's forces.(楊州刺史劉繇與慈同郡，慈自遼東還，未與相見，暫渡江到曲阿見繇，未去，會孫策至。或勸繇可以慈為大將軍，繇曰：「我若用子義，許子將不當笑我邪？」但使慈偵視輕重。) Sanguozhi vol. 49.