Chen Lin (Three Kingdoms)

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This is a Chinese name; the family name is Chen.

Chen Lin (Simplified Chinese: 陈琳), styled Kongzhang (Simplified Chinese: 孔璋) was a minister during the Three Kingdoms Period of China. Chen Lin was one of the seven masters of the Jian An period (196AD-220AD), and originally served under He Jin in the court of Han. According to the Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms he attempted to persuade He Jin not to gather a massive army outside of Luoyang to threaten the Ten Regular Attendants, eunuchs who wielded great political power, saying famously that: "To act in this fashion, it is no different from lighting a furnace to burn a hair" (以此行事，无异于鼓洪炉以燎毛发). Jin did not heed his advice and Lin was obliged to flee to Jizhou (sc.: 冀州) during the ensuing chaos where he worked as a secretary to Yuan Shao. Chen Lin became very well known during the Three Kingdoms period as a result of a declaration he wrote for Yuan Shao demanding the execution of Cao Cao (which was over 10 pages in length). Chen Lin was later captured by Cao Cao. However, he ended up being appointed to a good position because of his high level of writing skill.