Overview
Ning Cheng was an official.
IdentityHistorical · Male
Life and dates
Attested activity
References in the histories
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Book of Han, Chapter 69Volume 59: Zhang Tang · 1 passage
Book of Han, Chapter 102Volume 90: Cruel Officials · 14 passages
其後有郅都、甯成之倫。
Men such as Zhi Du and Ning Cheng followed.
甯成，南陽穰人也。
Ning Cheng came from Rang in Nanyang Commandery.
及成往，直凌都出其上。
Ning Cheng strode in and topped even Zhi Du.
久之，都死，後長安左右宗室多犯法，上召成為中尉。
After Zhi Du died, imperial relatives around Chang'an ran riot until the emperor recalled Ning Cheng as metropolitan commandant.
外戚多毀成之短，抵罪髡鉗。
In-laws trumped up charges until he was shorn and fitted with an iron collar.
是時，九卿死即死，少被刑，而成刑極，自以為不復收，及解脫，詐刻傳出關歸家。
High ministers usually faced execution, not mutilation; Ning Cheng's sentence was cruel enough that he assumed his career over—until he forged papers, fled the frontier, and bolted home.
自甯成、周陽由之後，事益多，民巧法，大抵吏治類多成、由等矣。
After Ning Cheng and Zhouyang You, lawsuits multiplied, subjects learned legal dodges, and officials nationwide mimicked their ruthlessness.
甯成家居，上欲以為郡守，御史大夫弘曰：「臣居山東為小吏時，甯成為濟南都尉，其治如狼牧羊，成不可令治民。」
The emperor considered Ning Cheng for a governorship, but Gongsun Hong objected: "As Jinan commandant he shepherded men like a wolf among sheep; do not put him over civilians."
上乃拜成為關都尉。
Ning Cheng was named commandant of the imperial passes instead.
歲餘，關吏稅肄郡國出入關者，號曰：「寧見乳虎，無直甯成之怒。」
Within a year frontier officers taxing travelers coined the saying: "Face a nursing tigress before you brave Ning Cheng's rage."
義縱自河內遷為南陽太守，聞甯成家居南陽，及至關，甯成側行送迎，然縱氣盛，弗為禮。
Yi Zong was transferred from Henei to serve as grand administrator of Nanyang. Hearing that Ning Cheng had retired there, when Yi Zong reached the pass Ning Cheng approached sidelong to greet him; but the new administrator, flushed with authority, showed him no courtesy.
至郡，遂按甯氏，破碎其家。
In office he dismantled the Ning family fortune.
成坐有罪，及孔、暴之屬皆奔亡，南陽吏民重足一跡。
Ning Cheng was convicted, while the Kong and Bao clans and other local magnates all fled; Nanyang's officials and people scarcely dared put one foot before the other.
遷關都尉，聲甚於甯成。
As pass commandant he terrified travelers worse than Ning Cheng.