Cheng Pu, courtesy name Demou, is one of the most senior commanders of Eastern Wu in Romance of the Three Kingdoms. He serves three generations of the Sun family—Sun Jian, Sun Ce, and Sun Quan—and belongs to the veteran military core that helps establish Jiangdong power.
Cheng Pu is already campaigning under Sun Jian during the family’s early rise. After Sun Jian’s death, he continues under Sun Ce and participates in the fighting that secures the Jiangdong territories and builds the foundations of the future Wu state.
When Sun Ce dies and Sun Quan succeeds him, Cheng Pu remains one of the regime’s experienced commanders. As Cao Cao advances south before the Battle of Red Cliffs, Cheng Pu joins Zhou Yu and others in preparing resistance. His seniority initially creates some tension with the younger Zhou Yu, but both ultimately serve the same war effort.
Cheng Pu continues in Eastern Wu service after Red Cliffs. His importance lies less in a single spectacular episode than in the continuity of his service across three generations, making him one of the clearest representatives of the old military guard behind the rise of the Sun family.
