Ling Tong was born in Yuhang County, Wu Jun. His father, Cao Lin, was quite brave in his frivolous chivalry. When Sun Ce first started, Cao Lin often fought with him in the crusades, and the three armies braved the rain of arrows. As the magistrate of Yongping county, he brought down Shandu, and the cunning people all restrained their hands and feet, and were promoted to thief and captain. When Sun Quan commanded the army, Cao Lin followed Sun Quan to conquer Jiangxia.

When he broke into Xiakou, Cao Lin landed first and defeated the enemy striker. He sailed alone and died with an arrow. Ling Tong was fifteen years old, and many people around Sun Quan praised him. Sun Quan also died because of Cao Lin's service to the country, so he appointed Ling Tong as his Sima, acting as a thief and letting him command Cao Lin's army.

Later, Sun Quan attacked the rebels in the mountains. Sun Quan defeated Bao Tun, returned to Li ahead of schedule, and Ma Tun left ten thousand enemies. Ling Tong and viceroy Zhang Yi stayed behind, continued to attack the city, and set a siege date. Before that, Ling Tong and Chen Qin, the viceroy, drank together. Chen Qin was brave and willful, bullying a table full of people as a viceroy, and disobeying the rules.

Ling Tong hates Chen Qin's bullying, scolds him to his face and doesn't want him as a drink offering. Chen Qin berated Ling Tong and scolded his father, Cao Lin. Ling Tong cried and didn't answer and left. Chen Qin insulted Ling Tong on the road while drinking too much. Ling Tong was more than I could bear. He cut Chen Qin with a knife, and Chen Qin died a few days later.

When he was about to attack Matun, Ling Tong said, "I can't apologize even if I die!" So the governor led the troops to encourage archery, and the attacking party quickly disintegrated, and the generals pursued the victory and defeated the enemy.

A few days later, Chen Qin died. When he was about to attack Matun, Ling Tong said, "I can't apologize even if I die!" So the governor led the troops to encourage archery, and the attacking party quickly disintegrated, and the generals pursued the victory and defeated the enemy. After Li's death, Ling Tong tied himself up and sent him away. Sun Quan was moved by his courage and determination and made him atone.

Later, Sun Quan conquered Jiangxia again, with Ling Tong as the pioneer, and took a boat with dozens of brave soldiers who treated him well at ordinary times, often dozens of miles away from the big army. The ship entered Youjiang, killed Huang Zu's general Zhang Shuo, and captured all the people on the enemy ship. Lingtong met Sun Quan, who led a great army, walking hand in hand with land and water, day and night.

At that time, Lu Meng defeated the enemy water army, and Ling Tong took the city first, so he won a great victory. Sun Quan appointed Ling Tong as a captain of Cheng Lie, and together with Zhou Yu, he resisted and defeated Cao Cao in Wulin, then attacked Cao Ren and was promoted to a captain. Although Ling Tong was in the army, he was kind to scholars, valued wealth and righteousness, and had the demeanor of a national scholar.