Is “Chong'er promised King Cheng of Chu that he would retreat three she if they ever met in battle” true?
According to the Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 39 (The Hereditary House of Jin), when Chong'er was in exile in Chu, King Cheng of Chu asked how he would repay the kindness. Chong'er replied, 'If it comes to that, when I meet your majesty on the battlefield, I will retreat three she.' Later, at the Battle of Chengpu, he indeed retreated ninety li to fulfill his promise. In the Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, Chapter 35, Chong'er answers the King of Chu, 'If it comes to that, when I meet your majesty on the battlefield, I will retreat three she.' Duke Wen of Jin kept his word and retreated, as recorded in the official history.
In the official history, Chong'er, while in exile in Chu, promised to retreat three she (thirty li each) if they ever met in battle; the novel faithfully dramatizes the retreat at the Battle of Chengpu to keep that promise.
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