text: courtesy name

text: Eastern Wu

text: Three Kingdoms

text: Eastern Han dynasty

text: Xu Province

text: end of the Eastern Han dynasty

text: Jiangdong

text: Wu

text: Sun Ce

text: Sun Quan

text: Cao Cao

text: Lu Su

text: Zhou Yu

text: Battle of Red Cliffs

text: Imperial Chancellor

text: Eastern Han dynasty

text: Xu Province

text: Xuzhou

text: Jiangsu

text: clerical script

text: calligraphy

text: Zuo zhuan

text: Chunqiu

text: Wang Lang

text: xiaolian

text: taboo names

text: Chen Lin

text: Ying Shao

text: Runan Commandery

text: Henan

text: Tao Qian

text: Xu Province

text: Xu Province

text: Yangtze River

text: Yang Province

text: Jiangdong

text: Sun Ce

text: conquered

text: Guan Zhong

text: chancellor

text: Qi

text: Duke Huan of Qi

text: a hegemon among the feudal lords

text: Sun Quan

text: memorial

text: Sun Quan

text: Jiangdong

text: Sanguozhi

text: Yellow Turban rebels

text: Gan Ning

text: Cao Cao

text: Jing Province

text: Hubei

text: Hunan

text: Jiangdong

text: Wu

text: Liu Biao

text: Wuhan

text: Hubei

text: Huang Zu

text: Xiao He

text: Cao Cao

text: Jing Province

text: Hubei

text: Hunan

text: Liu Cong

text: Jiangdong

text: Qin Song

text: Lu Su

text: Zhou Yu

text: Liu Bei

text: Battle of Red Cliffs

text: attack

text: Jiangling

text: attack

text: Hefei

text: Huai'an

text: Jiangsu

text: Nanchang

text: Jiangxi

text: Cao Cao

text: Cao Pi

text: Emperor Xian

text: Eastern Han dynasty

text: Cao Wei (or Wei)

text: Three Kingdoms

text: Sun Quan

text: vassal

text: Wu

text: Ezhou

text: Hubei

text: Sun Shao

text: Teng Yin

text: Zhou

text: Han

text: Ezhou

text: Hubei

text: Kingdom of Wu

text: era name

text: Imperial Chancellor

text: Sun Shao

text: Gu Yong

text: Wu

text: Cao Cao

text: Battle of Red Cliffs

text: Zhou Yu

text: "hu"

text: Pei Songzhi

text: Sanguozhi

text: Sun Ce

text: Jing Province

text: Han Empire

text: Rafe de Crespigny

text: Three Ducal Ministers

text: Zuo zhuan

text: Analects

text: Yan Jun

text: Classic of Filial Piety

text: Wu

text: Shu

text: Liaodong

text: Gongsun Yuan

text: vassal

text: Wei

text: Jin dynasty

text: Xi Zuochi

text: East Asian age reckoning

text: posthumous title

text: Zhang Cheng

text: Zhang Xiu

text: siege engine

text: Bu Zhi

text: Chen Shou

text: Sun Quan

text: chancellor

text: Sun Ce

text: Liu Biao

text: Jing Province

text: Sun Ce

text: Mi Heng

text: Romance of the Three Kingdoms

text: Zhou Yu

text: Zhang Hong

text: Jiangdong

text: Sun Ce

text: Sun Quan

text: Cao Cao

text: Battle of Red Cliffs

text: Zhuge Liang

text: Lists of people of the Three Kingdoms

text: Chen, Shou

text: Records of the Three Kingdoms

text: Luo, Guanzhong

text: Romance of the Three Kingdoms

text: Pei, Songzhi

text: Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms

categories: Writers from Xuzhou,236 deaths,Sun Ce and associates,Han dynasty calligraphers,Han dynasty politicians from Jiangsu,Eastern Wu generals,Generals from Jiangsu,156 births,Eastern Wu calligraphers,Officials under Sun Quan,Eastern Wu essayists,Eastern Wu politicians

paragraph: Zhang Zhao

paragraph: Zhang Zhao (156–236), courtesy name Zibu, was an official of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of China. Born in the late Eastern Han dynasty, Zhang Zhao started his career as a scholar in his native Xu Province before the chaos towards the end of the Eastern Han dynasty forced him to flee south to the Jiangdong (or Wu) region for shelter. In Jiangdong, Zhang Zhao became an adviser to the rising warlord Sun Ce. After Sun Ce's death in the year 200, Zhang Zhao played a key supporting role to Sun Ce's younger brother and successor, Sun Quan, as he consolidated power and his control over the Jiangdong territories. In 208, Zhang Zhao strongly urged Sun Quan to surrender to Cao Cao, a rival warlord, because he believed that they stood no chance against an impending invasion by Cao Cao. However, Sun Quan refused to listen to Zhang Zhao and instead heeded the advice of Lu Su and Zhou Yu. Sun Quan's forces ultimately scored a decisive victory over Cao Cao at the Battle of Red Cliffs in the winter of 208. From 200 until his death in 236, Zhang Zhao served under Sun Quan through the collapse of the Eastern Han dynasty and into the Three Kingdoms period after Sun Quan became the founding emperor of the Eastern Wu state. Throughout his career, Zhang Zhao was known for being a stern, uncompromising and intimidating figure who commanded respect from both his colleagues and Sun Quan. Despite Zhang Zhao's seniority and experience, Sun Quan passed him over twice as a candidate for the position of Imperial Chancellor in 222 and 225 as he believed that Zhang Zhao was so headstrong and stubborn that he would not be able to effectively lead the administration. Nevertheless, Sun Quan paid his due respects to Zhang Zhao as a mentor-like figure who saw him through his formative years to his accession to the throne.

paragraph: Section::::Early life.

paragraph: Zhang Zhao was born in the late Eastern Han dynasty in the Pengcheng State (彭城國), a principality in Xu Province centred around present-day Xuzhou, Jiangsu. As a youth, he was known for being diligent in his studies and for specialising in the clerical script style of calligraphy. He studied the "Zuo zhuan" and "Chunqiu" under the tutelage of Bohou Zi'an (白侯子安), and was known for being well read in history. He was also a close friend of two other well-known scholars, Zhao Yu (趙昱) and Wang Lang.

paragraph: When Zhang Zhao reached the age of adulthood around 19, he was nominated as a "xiaolian" (civil service candidate) to serve in the government. However, he declined the offer and chose to join Wang Lang in compiling an essay on the ancient use of taboo names. They received praise from other Xu Province scholars, such as Chen Lin, for their work. The essay contradicted the arguments of Ying Shao, another celebrated scholar from Runan Commandery (汝南郡; around present-day central Henan).

paragraph: Sometime later, when Tao Qian, the Governor of Xu Province, nominated Zhang Zhao as a "maocai" (茂才; outstanding candidate) to serve in the government, Zhang Zhao declined the offer again. Tao Qian perceived Zhang Zhao's rejection as an insult, so he ordered the latter's arrest. However, Zhao Yu, who was serving in Tao Qian's administration at the time, managed to convince the governor to pardon Zhang Zhao.

paragraph: Section::::Service under Sun Ce.

paragraph: When chaos broke out throughout China in the 190s, many people living in Xu Province fled their homes and crossed the Yangtze River to take shelter in Yang Province (or the Jiangdong region) in the south. Zhang Zhao followed suit and moved from Pengcheng State to Jiangdong.

paragraph: Between 194 and 199, the warlord Sun Ce conquered the territories in Jiangdong and established his own regime in the region. During this time, he heard of Zhang Zhao and wanted to recruit him as an adviser. After Zhang Zhao agreed and joined him, he was so delighted that he told Zhang Zhao: "Now that I have expanded my domain in all the four corners, I should treat learned and virtuous men with the utmost respect. I won't treat you in any degrading manner." He then appointed Zhang Zhao as a Colonel (校尉) and honoured him like a teacher.

paragraph: Later on, Sun Ce made Zhang Zhao his Chief Clerk (長史) and promoted him from Colonel to General of the Household Who Pacifies the Army (撫軍中郎將). Apart from paying his respects to Zhang Zhao's mother and treating Zhang Zhao like an old friend, Sun Ce also consulted Zhang Zhao on various matters related to civil and military policy.

paragraph: Section::::Service under Sun Ce.:Receiving flattering letters.

paragraph: While serving under Sun Ce, Zhang Zhao received several flattering letters from his fellow literati in the north. He faced a dilemma on how to deal with those letters. On one hand, he was afraid that if he kept quiet about those letters, Sun Ce would start questioning his loyalty. On the other hand, he was also worried that others would scorn him for being boastful if he revealed the letters.

paragraph: When Sun Ce found out, he laughed and told Zhang Zhao: "In the past, when Guan Zhong was the chancellor of Qi, he was called "zhongfu". With his help, Duke Huan of Qi became a hegemon among the feudal lords. Today, as I have a virtuous talent like Zibu to assist me, isn't his glory also mine?"

paragraph: Section::::Service under Sun Ce.:Sun Ce entrusting Sun Quan to Zhang Zhao's care.

paragraph: In the year 200, before Sun Ce died, he entrusted his younger brother and successor, Sun Quan, to Zhang Zhao's care. He told Zhang Zhao: "If Zhongmou turns out to be incompetent, you may replace him. If there is no way to overcome the difficulties, you can gradually retreat back to the west where you will have no worries."

paragraph: After Sun Ce's death, Zhang Zhao led all of Sun Ce's former subjects to support Sun Quan and pledge their allegiance to him. Zhang Zhao also wrote a memorial to the Han central government to inform them about Sun Ce's death and that Sun Quan had succeeded his brother. He also wrote to all the key appointment holders throughout Sun Quan's domain to order them to continue performing their duties as before.

paragraph: Section::::Service under Sun Quan.

paragraph: Section::::Service under Sun Quan.:Assisting Sun Quan in consolidating power.

paragraph: When an 18-year-old Sun Quan first came to power, he was so overwhelmed with grief over his brother's death that he spent his time mourning instead of taking charge of the regime established by his brother in Jiangdong. Zhang Zhao told him:

paragraph: Sun Quan's biography in the "Sanguozhi" recorded that Zhang Zhao told the young Sun Quan:

paragraph: Sun Quan heeded Zhang Zhao's advice. He changed out of his mourning attire, got onto horseback with Zhang Zhao's help, and inspected his troops as they assembled in formation. Sun Ce's former subjects accepted Sun Quan's leadership and pledged their allegiance to him. Sun Quan also appointed Zhang Zhao as his Chief Clerk (長史) and ordered him to perform the same duties as he did under Sun Ce.

paragraph: With Zhang Zhao's assistance, Sun Quan managed to consolidate his control over the unstable Jiangdong regime left behind by Sun Ce. Apart from pacifying and winning over the people, he also recruited many talented and capable persons to serve in his administration. Whenever Sun Quan went into battle, he left Zhang Zhao behind to guard his base and oversee day-to-day affairs in the Jiangdong territories. During this time, Zhang Zhao suppressed an uprising by remnants of the Yellow Turban rebels.

paragraph: Section::::Service under Sun Quan.:Battle of Jiangxia.

paragraph: In the spring of 208, Gan Ning, who had recently joined Sun Quan, pointed out to Sun Quan that Cao Cao, the warlord who controlled the Han central government and most of northern China, was planning to attack Jing Province (covering present-day Hubei and Hunan) to the west of the Jiangdong (or Wu) territories. He also noted that Liu Biao, the Governor of Jing Province, was incapable of defending his domain, so it would be better for Sun Quan to seize Jing Province before Cao Cao could do so. The first step in Gan Ning's plan was to attack Jiangxia Commandery (江夏郡; around present-day Wuhan, Hubei), which was guarded by Liu Biao's subordinate Huang Zu.

paragraph: Sun Quan approved Gan Ning's plan, but Zhang Zhao strongly objected and said: "The territories in Wu have not been completely pacified yet. If we proceed with this campaign, I am afraid there will be chaos." Gan Ning rebuked Zhang Zhao: "Our lord has entrusted responsibilities to you as if you were Xiao He. If you can't even be confident that there won't be chaos under your watch, how can you expect to be like Xiao He?"

paragraph: Sun Quan ignored Zhang Zhao and put Gan Ning in charge of planning and leading the campaign. They emerged victorious in the campaign as they killed Huang Zu in battle and conquered Jiangxia Commandery.

paragraph: Section::::Service under Sun Quan.:Battle of Red Cliffs.

paragraph: In the late autumn of 208, Cao Cao launched a military campaign aimed at eliminating all forces in southern China who opposed him. He swiftly conquered Jing Province (covering present-day Hubei and Hunan) after the provincial governor Liu Cong surrendered without a fight. When Sun Quan's subjects heard that Cao Cao had gained control of Jing Province along with its tens of thousands of land and naval troops, they became fearful as they knew that Cao Cao's next target was Sun Quan's territories in the Jiangdong region. Sun Quan summoned them for a meeting and showed them a threatening letter he received from Cao Cao, in which Cao Cao claimed that he had 800,000 troops.

paragraph: Some of Sun Quan's subjects, including Zhang Zhao and Qin Song, suggested that Sun Quan surrender to Cao Cao because, in their opinion, they could not win a battle against Cao Cao. However, Sun Quan ultimately heeded the advice of Lu Su and Zhou Yu and hardened his decision to go to war with Cao Cao. He also told Lu Su and Zhou Yu privately that he was deeply disappointed with Zhang Zhao, Qin Song and those who advised him to surrender to Cao Cao. After making up his mind, he summoned all his subjects, drew his sword, slashed the table in front of him and said: "Any of you who dares to speak of surrendering to Cao Cao shall end up like this table!"

paragraph: In the winter of 208–209, Sun Quan and his ally Liu Bei scored a decisive victory over Cao Cao at the decisive Battle of Red Cliffs. After the Battle of Red Cliffs, while Zhou Yu led Sun Quan's forces to attack Cao Cao's garrison at Jiangling, Sun Quan personally led another army to attack Hefei, a heavily fortified city under Cao Cao's control. During the campaign, he ordered Zhang Zhao to lead a separate detachment of troops to assault Kuangqi (匡琦), another of Cao Cao's fortresses in Guangling Commandery (廣陵郡; around present-day Huai'an, Jiangsu). Sun Quan and Zhang Zhao did not manage to capture Hefei and Kuangqi, while Zhou Yu successfully conquered Jiangling.

paragraph: Zhang Zhao later led Sun Quan's forces to attack and eliminate bandit forces led by Zhou Feng (周鳳) in Yuzhang Commandery (豫章郡; around present-day Nanchang, Jiangxi). After this battle, Zhang Zhao hardly assumed positions of military command again as Sun Quan decided to keep him by his side as a strategist and adviser. Sun Quan also treated him very respectfully because of his senior status in the administration.

paragraph: In late 209 or early 210, after Sun Quan received the appointment of acting General of Chariots and Cavalry (車騎將軍) from the Han central government through Liu Bei's nomination, he appointed Zhang Zhao as his Army Adviser (軍師).

paragraph: Section::::Service under Sun Quan.:Lecturing Sun Quan on hunting excursions.

paragraph: Sun Quan enjoyed going on hunting excursions as a leisure activity. On one occasion, while he was hunting a tiger on horseback with a bow and arrows, the tiger suddenly attacked him and clawed at his saddle.

paragraph: When Zhang Zhao heard about it, he lectured Sun Quan: Sun Quan then apologised to Zhang Zhao: "I am young and lacking in wisdom. Sir, I am sorry for letting you down."

paragraph: Despite being lectured, Sun Quan was unwilling to give up on his favourite pastime so he designed a chariot for his hunting excursions. The chariot had squarish openings but no roof. Accompanied by only a driver to drive the chariot, Sun Quan fired arrows at wild beasts through the openings. When they encountered animals who left their packs/herds and came very close to the chariot, Sun Quan got out and took pleasure in hand-to-hand combat with the animal. When Zhang Zhao found out, he repeatedly urged Sun Quan to stop engaging in such dangerous activities but the latter laughed and ignored him.

paragraph: Section::::Service under Sun Quan.:Service under the King of Wu.

paragraph: In late 220, Cao Cao's son and successor Cao Pi usurped the throne from Emperor Xian, ended the Eastern Han dynasty and established the state of Cao Wei (or Wei) with himself as the emperor. This event marked the beginning of the Three Kingdoms period in China.

paragraph: In September 221, Sun Quan pledged nominal allegiance to Cao Pi and agreed to become a vassal of Wei. In return, Cao Pi sent an emissary, Xing Zhen (邢貞), to confer the title "King of Wu" (吳王) on Sun Quan. On 23 September that year, when Xing Zhen arrived at Wuchang (武昌; present-day Ezhou, Hubei), the capital of Sun Quan's domain, for the conferment ceremony, he did not dismount from his carriage when he reached the city gates. Zhang Zhao told him: Upon hearing what Zhang Zhao said, Xing Zhen immediately got off the carriage and entered the city on foot.

paragraph: After Sun Quan became the King of Wu, he awarded Zhang Zhao the appointment of General Who Pacifies Distant Lands (綏遠將軍) and the peerage of Marquis of Youquan (由拳侯). Zhang Zhao, along with Sun Shao, Teng Yin, Zheng Li (鄭禮) and others, drafted the rules of imperial protocol for the Kingdom of Wu based on those of the Zhou and Han dynasties.

paragraph: Section::::Service under Sun Quan.:Service under the King of Wu.:Lecturing Sun Quan on making merry.

paragraph: When Sun Quan was in Wuchang (武昌; present-day Ezhou, Hubei), he once hosted a drinking party on a terrace and invited all his subjects to attend. He ordered his servants to splash water at everyone, after which he jokingly declared: "The party shall not end until everyone gets dead drunk."

paragraph: Zhang Zhao did not say anything, put on a stern face, walked out of the party, and sat inside his carriage alone. Sun Quan sent someone to ask him to come back, and then asked him: "This is a time for all of us to make merry and be happy. Sir, why are you angry?" Zhang Zhao replied: Sun Quan fell silent and looked embarrassed after hearing Zhang Zhao's words. He then called off the party.

paragraph: Section::::Service under Sun Quan.:Service under the King of Wu.:Not chosen to be Imperial Chancellor.

paragraph: In November 222, Sun Quan broke ties with Cao Pi and declared himself an independent ruler of his Kingdom of Wu by adopting an era name for his reign. After that, he wanted to create the position of Imperial Chancellor (丞相) in his government, so he consulted his subjects on suitable candidates to fill in this post. Although all of them came to the consensus that Zhang Zhao was the best candidate, Sun Quan said: "We are living in times of chaos. Such key appointments are to be filled by persons capable of shouldering great responsibilities; they shouldn't be treated like honorary positions." Sun Quan ultimately selected Sun Shao to be the first Imperial Chancellor of Wu.

paragraph: After Sun Shao died in office in the summer of 225, Sun Quan's subjects nominated Zhang Zhao to succeed Sun Shao as Imperial Chancellor. However, Sun Quan refused again and said: "It's not that I am being unkind towards Zibu (by not choosing him). The person holding the position of Imperial Chancellor has to deal with so many issues on a daily basis. (Zhang Zhao) is too headstrong. If people don't listen to him, there will be a lot of conflicts. It won't be helpful at all." He then chose Gu Yong to be the second Imperial Chancellor of Wu.

paragraph: Section::::Service under Sun Quan.:Service under the Emperor of Wu.

paragraph: In the summer of 229, after Sun Quan declared himself emperor of Wu, Zhang Zhao retired from active service on the grounds of old age and poor health. He resigned from his position as General Who Pacifies Distant Lands (綏遠將軍) and returned command of his troops to the Wu government.

paragraph: Section::::Service under Sun Quan.:Service under the Emperor of Wu.:Sun Quan snubbing Zhang Zhao.

paragraph: According to the "Jiang Biao Zhuan", although Sun Quan highly respected Zhang Zhao for his loyal, bold and forthright character, he never forgot that Zhang Zhao had advised him to surrender to Cao Cao before the Battle of Red Cliffs. After he became emperor, he told all his subjects: "I wouldn't have become an emperor today if there wasn't Zhou Yu to assist me." Just as Zhang Zhao prepared to hold up his "hu" and congratulate Sun Quan, the emperor remarked: "If I had listened to Lord Zhang, I'd be begging for food today." Zhang Zhao felt deeply embarrassed and he broke out in a cold sweat as he sank to his knees.

paragraph: Pei Songzhi, in his annotations to Zhang Zhao's biography in the "Sanguozhi", argued that Zhang Zhao had never intended to help Sun Ce or Sun Quan become rulers in their own right; all he desired was to assist them in bringing peace to the common people living under their control. When he saw that Cao Cao had pacified northern China and conquered Jing Province just before the Battle of Red Cliffs, he advised Sun Quan to surrender to Cao Cao because he saw that as an opportunity for the fragmented Han Empire to be reunified under Cao Cao's control. If the Han Empire were reunified, there would be no more conflicts among the warlords, and the common people would finally be able to live in peace. Pei Songzhi thus concluded that although Zhang Zhao may not be considered loyal towards Sun Quan, he had the greater interests of the common people at heart.

paragraph: The Australian sinologist Rafe de Crespigny believed that this account from the "Jiang Biao Zhuan" is probably false because Sun Quan stood to gain little for his own reputation and authority from making such an extraordinary public insult at Zhang Zhao.

paragraph: Section::::Service under Sun Quan.:Service under the Emperor of Wu.:Life in retirement.

paragraph: Although Zhang Zhao had effectively retired, Sun Quan still gave him an honorary position as General Who Assists Wu (輔吳將軍), whose status was just below the Three Ducal Ministers in the hierarchy of the Eastern Wu government. Sun Quan also changed Zhang Zhao's peerage from the Marquis of Youquan (由拳侯) to the Marquis of Lou (婁侯), and awarded him a marquisate comprising 10,000 taxable households.

paragraph: Zhang Zhao stayed at home after retiring and he spent his time writing a guide to the "Zuo zhuan" and an annotated copy of the "Analects".

paragraph: Sun Quan once asked Yan Jun to recite something he memorised in his childhood. Yan Jun thus recited "The Scope and Meaning of the Treatise", the opening paragraph of the "Classic of Filial Piety". Zhang Zhao, who was also present, remarked: "Yan Jun is a mediocre scholar. I humbly seek permission to recite for Your Majesty." After Sun Quan approved, Zhang Zhao recited "The Service of the Ruler", another paragraph in the "Classic of Filial Piety". Sun Quan's other subjects agreed that Zhang Zhao had a good understanding of what he should recite in front of the emperor.

paragraph: Section::::Service under Sun Quan.:Service under the Emperor of Wu.:Quarrel with Sun Quan.

paragraph: Zhang Zhao was known for being very outspoken, forthright and blunt in his speech whenever he spoke up in Sun Quan's imperial court. On one occasion, after he openly defied an order from Sun Quan, he was not allowed to enter the imperial court for some time.

paragraph: During this time, Wu's ally state Shu sent an ambassador to Wu for an official visit. The Shu ambassador sang praises about Shu in front of Sun Quan and his imperial court. Some Wu officials tried to challenge the Shu ambassador but failed. Sun Quan sighed: "If Lord Zhang were here, (the Shu ambassador) would feel intimidated before he could even debate with us, much less boast about his state!"

paragraph: The following day, Sun Quan sent a messenger to visit Zhang Zhao at his residence and invite him back to the imperial court. When Zhang Zhao showed up, he apologised to Sun Quan but refused to take his seat, so Sun Quan knelt down and begged him to stop. Zhang Zhao then sat down, with his eyes looking up, and said: Sun Quan apologised to him and left.

paragraph: Section::::Service under Sun Quan.:Service under the Emperor of Wu.:Quarrel with Sun Quan over the Liaodong issue.

paragraph: In 233, the Liaodong-based warlord Gongsun Yuan pledged allegiance to Sun Quan and expressed willingness to become a vassal of Eastern Wu. Sun Quan was delighted as he saw Gongsun Yuan as a potential ally against Wu's rival state, Wei. He then wanted to send Zhang Mi (張彌) and Xu Yan (許晏) as his representatives to Liaodong to meet Gongsun Yuan and grant him the title "King of Yan" (燕王). However, Zhang Zhao strongly objected and said:

paragraph: Sun Quan and Zhang Zhao had a heated quarrel over this issue; Zhang Zhao, adamant that he was right, stubbornly refused to yield. Sun Quan eventually lost his temper, placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, and angrily told Zhang Zhao: "When the people of Wu enter the palace, they pay respects to me. Outside the palace, they pay respects to you. My respect for you has already reached the maximum possible extent, yet you humiliate me in front of everyone. I am really afraid that I will lose control of myself and end up hurting you." Zhang Zhao stared at Sun Quan for some time before replying: He then broke down in tears. Sun Quan dropped his sword and started crying too.

paragraph: When Sun Quan ultimately sent Zhang Mi and Xu Yan to Liaodong, Zhang Zhao felt so frustrated with the emperor for not heeding his advice that he claimed that he was sick and refused to show up in the imperial court. An angry Sun Quan then ordered the entrance of Zhang Zhao's residence to be sealed by piling up earth in front of it to block people from entering or leaving. In response, Zhang Zhao also ordered his servants to pile up earth too and block the entrance from the inside.

paragraph: In the autumn of 233, Gongsun Yuan betrayed Sun Quan and executed Zhang Mi and Xu Yan. When Sun Quan heard about it, he realised that he was in the wrong. After Zhang Zhao ignored his apologies several times, Sun Quan personally went to Zhang Zhao's residence and called him to come out but Zhang Zhao refused and claimed that he was ill. Sun Quan then set fire to the entrance of Zhang Zhao's residence to scare him and force him to come out. His plan backfired as Zhang Zhao not only refused to come out, but also shut all the doors and windows of his residence. Left with no choice, Sun Quan ordered his servants to put out the fire, and he stood at the entrance for a long time. Zhang Zhao's sons then helped their father out, while Sun Quan arranged for a carriage to fetch Zhang Zhao to his palace. At the palace, Sun Quan apologised profusely to Zhang Zhao, who finally forgave him and returned to work.

paragraph: The Jin dynasty historian Xi Zuochi praised Sun Quan for acknowledging his mistake and doing his best to show his remorse and apologise to Zhang Zhao. However, he also criticised Zhang Zhao for his pompous and condescending attitude towards Sun Quan. He argued that Zhang Zhao, as a subject of a ruler, should know his place and refrain from pushing things to such an extreme even if he was right.

paragraph: Section::::Service under Sun Quan.:Death.

paragraph: Throughout his life, Zhang Zhao was known for maintaining a dignified and solemn appearance, and for having an awe-inspiring bearing. His colleagues in the Wu imperial court saw him as an intimidating figure. Sun Quan once said: "When I speak to Lord Zhang, I don't dare to say anything in jest."

paragraph: Zhang Zhao died at the age of 81 (by East Asian age reckoning) in 236 during the Jiahe era (232–238) of Sun Quan's reign. Before he died, he gave instructions that he wanted to be buried in a coffin of simple design and to be dressed in plain clothes. Sun Quan donned mourning garments and attended his funeral in person. He also honoured Zhang Zhao with the posthumous title "Marquis Wen" (文侯).

paragraph: Section::::Family.

paragraph: Zhang Zhao was survived by at least two sons, who both served as military generals in Eastern Wu. His first son, Zhang Cheng, had already received a peerage of his own, so his second son Zhang Xiu inherited his peerage and became the next Marquis of Lou (婁侯).

paragraph: Zhang Zhao's nephew, Zhang Fen (張奮), designed a war chariot to serve as a siege engine when he was only 19. Bu Zhi recognised his talent and recommended him to serve in the Wu army. However, Zhang Zhao disapproved as he told Zhang Fen: "You are still young. Why do you want to put yourself through hardship by serving in the army?" Zhang Fen replied: "In the past, Wang the boy died a hero while Ziqi governed E. I may be untalented but I am no longer young." He then served in the army and rose through the ranks to become a general. The highest appointment he held was Chief Controller of Pingzhou (平州都督). He was also enfeoffed as the Marquis of Lexiang Village (樂鄉亭侯).

paragraph: Section::::Appraisal.

paragraph: Chen Shou, who wrote Zhang Zhao's biography in the "Sanguozhi", appraised him as follows: "Zhang Zhao received a mission to assist (Sun Quan). His contributions were outstanding. He was loyal, outspoken and upright; his actions were not for his own interests. However, he was feared because he was too stern, and he was shunned by others because he liked to assume the moral high ground. He was given neither the role of a chancellor nor an imperial tutor. Instead, he had a rather unimpressive career and spent his old age in retirement. This shows that Sun Quan was not as wise as Sun Ce."

paragraph: The "Dianlue" (典略) recorded that Liu Biao, the governor of Jing Province, once wrote a letter to Sun Ce. Before sending, he showed it to Mi Heng, who disdainfully remarked: "Is this letter for children in Sun Ce's domain to read out? Or is it for Zhang Zibu's perusal?" This remark showed that even the notoriously haughty Mi Heng acknowledged Zhang Zhao's literary talent.

paragraph: Section::::In "Romance of the Three Kingdoms".

paragraph: Zhang Zhao's fictionalised persona in the 14th-century historical novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" is generally similar to its historical counterpart. In the novel, he first appears in Chapter 15 when Zhou Yu recommends him and Zhang Hong (not related to Zhang Zhao), who are collectively referred to as the "Two Zhangs" (二張) of Jiangdong", as talents to assist Sun Ce. Sun Ce then visited them at their homes and succeeded in recruiting them to serve as his advisers. In Chapter 29, when Sun Ce is about to die, he says that if Sun Quan cannot make decisions on domestic and external issues, he can consult Zhang Zhao and Zhou Yu respectively.

paragraph: In chapters 43 to 49, when Sun Quan is discussing with his subjects about how to counter an impending invasion by Cao Cao just before the Battle of Red Cliffs, his subjects are divided into two camps: one advocating surrender to Cao Cao, and the other advocating going to war with Cao Cao. Zhang Zhao is one of the leading figures in the former camp. Chapter 43, in particular, describes a fictitious debate between Zhuge Liang and the various scholar-officials serving under Sun Quan. Zhang Zhao is the first among those scholar-officials to challenge Zhuge Liang, who manages to silence all of them through his eloquent responses to their queries and comments, as well as taunts and insults.

paragraph: Section::::See also.

paragraph: BULLET::::- Lists of people of the Three Kingdoms

paragraph: Section::::References.

paragraph: BULLET::::- Chen, Shou (3rd century). "Records of the Three Kingdoms" ("Sanguozhi").

paragraph: BULLET::::- Luo, Guanzhong (14th century). "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" ("Sanguo Yanyi").

paragraph: BULLET::::- Pei, Songzhi (5th century). "Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms" ("Sanguozhi zhu").

alias:
Zhang Zhao
Cheung Chiu

description: Eastern Wu official

wikidata_label: Zhang Zhao

wikipedia_title: Zhang Zhao


text: Yuan Shao

text: Eastern Han dynasty

text: Guan Yu

text: Battle of Boma

text: Records of the Three Kingdoms

text: Cao Cao

text: Xuchang

text: Yellow River

text: Hua County

text: Henan

text: Ju Shou

text: Guo Tu

text: Chunyu Qiong

text: Zhang Liao

text: Romance of the Three Kingdoms

text: Hua Xiong

text: Xu Huang

text: Cheng Yu

text: Guan Yu

text: Red Hare

text: Lists of people of the Three Kingdoms

text: Chen, Shou

text: Records of the Three Kingdoms

text: Luo, Guanzhong

text: Romance of the Three Kingdoms

text: Pei, Songzhi

categories: 2nd-century births,Generals under Yuan Shao,200 deaths

paragraph: Yan Liang

paragraph: Yan Liang () (died 200) was a military general serving under the warlord Yuan Shao during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He was slain by Guan Yu at the Battle of Boma.

paragraph: Section::::Life.

paragraph: Little is known about Yan's life. The only historical records about him could be found in the "Records of the Three Kingdoms", in the biographies of Yuan Shao, Guan Yu and Cao Cao. It was implied that Yan Liang was one of the higher-ranking military officers under Yuan Shao.

paragraph: In 200, Yuan Shao mustered an army boasting 100,000 in strength and declared to march on Xuchang, the base of his rival, Cao Cao. To ensure a safe crossing of the Yellow River, he intended to send Yan Liang to attack Boma (northeast of present-day Hua County, Henan) and set a foothold on the southern bank of the river, but his adviser Ju Shou warned him that Yan Liang was too frivolous to handle the responsibility alone. Yuan Shao thus sent Guo Tu and Chunyu Qiong to supervise Yan Liang's operation. Before Ju Shou was stripped of power, he was responsible for the whole army. Yuan Shao later divided Ju Shou's command between him, Guo Tu and Chunyu Qiong.

paragraph: In a counter-tactic, Cao Cao moved his main force westwards along the Yellow River, diverting Yuan Shao's army in the same direction, but sent Guan Yu and Zhang Liao east to relieve the attack on Boma. During the ensuing battle, Guan Yu identified Yan Liang in the enemy ranks and killed him.

paragraph: In the 14th-century historical novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", Yuan Shao praises Yan Liang's prowess in battle when he laments, while under attack by Hua Xiong, that "If I had either Yan Liang or Wen Chou here, I would have nothing to fear."

paragraph: This comment foreshadows Yan Liang's first appearance in Chapter 25, where Yuan Shao deploys him as the commander of a vanguard force to take Boma in a conflict with rival warlord Cao Cao. Cao Cao quickly leads a lightly armed force and come to Boma's defence. True to his lord's compliments, Yan Liang slays two of Cao Cao's warriors, Song Xian (宋憲) and Wei Xu (魏續), and injures Xu Huang in the first encounter.

paragraph: Following Cheng Yu's advice, Cao Cao then summons Guan Yu to the frontline to deal with Yan Liang. The next day, as Yan Liang's troops line up on the battlefield, Guan Yu sits beside Cao Cao on a hilltop to observe the enemy. From afar, Guan Yu sees Yan Liang in a chariot under a banner. Leaping onto the Red Hare, Guan Yu charges right through the enemy ranks towards Yan Liang, decapitates him in a swift stroke and returns to Cao Cao's camp in triumph with Yan Liang's head.

paragraph: Section::::See also.

paragraph: Section::::References.

alias:
颜良
顔良
Yán Liáng
Yen Liang
Ngan Leung

description: military general under warlord Yuan Shao during the late Han Dynasty

wikidata_label: Yan Liang

wikipedia_title: Yan Liang


text: Yuan Shao

text: Eastern Han dynasty

text: Cao Cao

text: Battle of Yan Ford

text: Records of the Three Kingdoms

text: Xun Yu

text: Xun You

text: Yan Liang

text: Battle of Boma

text: Yellow River

text: Liu Bei

text: Romance of the Three Kingdoms

text: xiezhi

text: Hua Xiong

text: Zhang Liao

text: Xu Huang

text: Guan Yu

text: Red Hare

text: Lists of people of the Three Kingdoms

text: Chen, Shou

text: Records of the Three Kingdoms

text: Luo, Guanzhong

text: Romance of the Three Kingdoms

text: Pei, Songzhi

paragraph: Wen Chou

paragraph: Wen Chou () (died 200) was a military general serving under the warlord Yuan Shao during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. His force was defeated by that of rival warlord Cao Cao in the Battle of Yan Ford and he was killed in the midst of battle.

paragraph: Section::::Life.

paragraph: Historical records pertaining to Wen Chou are scarce. References to him could be found in the "Records of the Three Kingdoms" in the biographies of Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, Xun Yu and Xun You, from where it could be gathered that Wen Chou was a fierce warrior whose prowess in battle matched that of his counterpart, Yan Liang.

paragraph: In 200, after Yan Liang was killed in the Battle of Boma, Yuan Shao brought his main army south of the Yellow River and launched a full-fledged attack on Cao Cao. Wen Chou and Liu Bei were sent forth with a vanguard force of more than 5,000 riders to pursue Cao Cao's retreating forces. Making a stand atop a knoll, Cao Cao retained less than 600 cavalry and let loose the remaining horses.

paragraph: As Wen Chou's troops arrived, many broke ranks to loot the horses and other supplies. Cao Cao then gave order for a counterattack. The small but elite cavalry force scored a brilliant victory over the disorganised enemy and killed Wen Chou in battle.

paragraph: In the 14th-century historical novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", Wen Chou is said to have a face like that of the "xiezhi". In Chapter 5, Yuan Shao praises Wen Chou's prowess in battle when he laments, while under attack by Hua Xiong, that "If I had either Yan Liang or Wen Chou here, I would have nothing to fear."

paragraph: This comment foreshadows the appearance of Wen Chou in chapter 26, where he volunteers to avenge his close friend Yan Liang, who is killed in the Battle of Boma. Given 70,000 troops, Wen Chou crosses the Yellow River and heads straight towards Cao Cao's camp. In an unusual move, Cao Cao turns his entire formation around, placing the supplies in front. While Wen Chou's soldiers are busy looting the supplies, Cao Cao directs his men south onto a knoll, from where they allow their horses to graze. Wen Chou's soldiers pounce upon the horses as they approach the knoll and become disorganised. Cao Cao then gives the order for a counterattack, forcing the enemy to retreat.

paragraph: Zhang Liao and Xu Huang, two of Cao Cao's best generals, give chase. Wen Chou fires two arrows from atop his horse, one of which slices off the feather on Zhang Liao's helmet and the other hits his horse in the face. Brandishing his poleaxe, Xu Huang charges towards Wen Chou but has to retreat when a band of enemy soldiers come to their commander's rescue.

paragraph: Leading a dozen riders, Guan Yu then cuts off Wen Chou's escape and engaged him in a duel. Within three bouts, Wen Chou withdraws and attempts to evade. However, Guan Yu's horse, the Red Hare, is of a superior breed and soon catches up with him. Guan Yu then kills Wen Chou from behind.

paragraph: Section::::See also.

paragraph: Section::::References.

description: general

wikidata_label: Wen Chou

wikipedia_title: Wen Chou


text: courtesy name

text: Cao Cao

text: Eastern Han dynasty

text: Yingchuan Commandery

text: Xuchang

text: Henan

text: Xun Shuang

text: Three Ducal Ministers

text: He Yong

text: xiaolian

text: Dong Zhuo

text: Luoyang

text: Ji Province

text: Hebei

text: Yuan Shao

text: Ji Province

text: Cao Cao

text: Zifang

text: Xun You

text: second cousin-nephew

text: Chen Qun

text: Zhong Yao

text: Guo Jia

text: Sima Yi

text: campaign

text: Tao Qian

text: Xu Province

text: Yan Province

text: Lü Bu

text: Chen Gong

text: Zhang Miao

text: Tao Qian

text: Emperor Xian

text: Luoyang

text: Xuchang

text: Romance of the Three Kingdoms

text: Yuan Shao

text: Battle of Guandu

text: Dong Zhao

text: chancellor

text: Sun Quan

text: Shou County

text: Anhui

text: Xun Shuang

text: Xun Chen

text: Yuan Shao

text: Han Fu

text: Battle of Guandu

text: Xun Yi

text: Xun Can

text: xuanxue

text: Cao Hong

text: Chen Qun

text: nine-rank system

text: Xun You

text: Chen Tai

text: Xun Guan

text: Liu Song dynasty

text: Koei

text: Dynasty Warriors 7: Empires

text: Facebook

text: Twitter

text: Koei

text: Kessen II

text: Cao Cao

text: visual novel

text: anime

text: Koihime Musō

text: huge crush

text: Lists of people of the Three Kingdoms

text: Chen, Shou

text: Records of the Three Kingdoms

text: Pei, Songzhi

categories: 212 deaths,2nd-century Chinese people,Officials under Yuan Shao,Officials under Cao Cao,163 births

paragraph: Xun Yu

paragraph: Xun Yu (163–212), courtesy name Wenruo, was a strategist and statesman who served as an adviser to the warlord Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China.

paragraph: Section::::Early life.

paragraph: Xun Yu was from Yingchuan Commandery (around present-day Xuchang, Henan), and was born in a family of government officials. He was described in historical records as a tall and handsome gentleman. His grandfather, Xun Shu, served as a local governor and had eight sons who were nicknamed the "Eight Dragons of the Xun Family"; an uncle of Xun Yu, Xun Shuang, served as one of the Three Ducal Ministers, while Xun Yu's father Xun Fan was the chancellor of the feudal principality of Jibei.

paragraph: Xun Yu proved to be a talented youth, and was evaluated by the scholar He Yong as "someone capable of assisting kings" (王佐之才). In 189, he was nominated as a "xiaolian" (civil service candidate) and began his career in the civil service. When the warlord Dong Zhuo seized control of the capital Luoyang, Xun Yu feared for his safety and resigned, returning to Ji Province (present day Hebei).

paragraph: In the subsequent years, warlords quickly rose in each region; Xun Yu first served Yuan Shao, whose power base was in Ji Province, but later left him and went to serve Cao Cao in 191. Cao Cao recognised Xun Yu's talent and he exclaimed, "Here comes my Zifang!" when Xun Yu arrived, and he appointed Xun as an army commandant.

paragraph: Section::::Service under Cao Cao.

paragraph: Xun Yu's contributions to Cao Cao's forces and administration are immense. On one hand he recommended many other men of calibre to Cao Cao, including Xun You (his second cousin-nephew), Chen Qun, Zhong Yao, Guo Jia and Sima Yi, creating a body of advisors around Cao; at the same time he participated in several battles and major events of the era, often giving timely advice to his lord. Cao Cao, in turn, respected Xun Yu greatly and placed great store in his advice.

paragraph: In 194, as Cao Cao led a campaign against Tao Qian in Xu Province, his home base at Yan Province was suddenly attacked by Lü Bu, and two of Cao's officials, Chen Gong and Zhang Miao, chose to defect to Lü Bu. At that time Xun Yu was in charge of the defences of Juancheng (鄄城), and his firm actions saved the city from capture, allowing Cao Cao's armies to return and drive away Lü Bu. Subsequently, on the death of Tao Qian, Cao Cao was tempted to turn around and move on Xu Province before returning to deal with Lü Bu; it was Xun Yu who dissuaded him from this, reminding him that Yan Province was his heartland and power base and should be secured first before launching campaigns abroad.

paragraph: It was also at Xun Yu's suggestion that Cao Cao chose to escort Emperor Xian, who was then living in the ruins of Luoyang, to his own base at Xu (present-day Xuchang, Henan) in 196, taking on the role of protecting the emperor. Xun Yu's plan was to "control the rebellious in the name of the emperor" (奉天子以令不臣); the 14th-century historical novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" subtly distorts this to "hold the emperor hostage to control the warlords" (挾天子以令諸侯). In the long run, this strategy would give Cao Cao a considerable political advantage over his rivals, allowing him to legitimise his actions by taking them in the name of the emperor.

paragraph: In 200, Cao Cao was locked in a stalemate against Yuan Shao at the Battle of Guandu for months, eventually exhausting his food supply; while contemplating retreat he sent a letter to Xun Yu (who was then defending Xu) for advice. Xun Yu dissuaded Cao Cao with a letter, highlighting several advantages that his army held over Yuan Shao's forces and urging him to stand fast; the eventual result was a decisive victory for Cao Cao, which was crucial to his domination of northern China.

paragraph: Section::::Death.

paragraph: In 211, Dong Zhao and a group of Cao Cao loyalists submitted a memorial to Emperor Xian proposing that Cao should be granted the title of a duke. This proposal was significant as it would allow Cao Cao to set up a self-contained feudal state within the Han dynasty. Up to this point, Cao Cao's political legitimacy was only underpinned by his position as the chancellor. Xun Yu, whose ideals were for Cao Cao to continue being the protector of the Han dynasty, opposed Dong Zhao's proposal.

paragraph: Knowing that Dong Zhao was probably a conduit for Cao Cao, when approached by the former for his support, Xun Yu told Dong that Cao's personal mission was one of restoring the Han dynasty and would not approve of such a move – thus possibly hinting to Cao that he should abandon the idea. Xun Yu's remarks greatly displeased Cao Cao.

paragraph: Following this, Xun Yu was sent to Qiao to reward the soldiers who took part in a military campaign against Sun Quan. While there, Xun Yu was said to have fallen sick and brought to Shouchun (寿春; present-day Shou County, Anhui) for treatment and recuperation. He died in the following year in 212. The circumstances of his death aroused great suspicion and is a matter of debate as it came closely after his opposition towards Cao Cao's ascension to duke.

paragraph: Section::::Family.

paragraph: BULLET::::- Grandfather: Xun Shu (荀淑), served as Prefect of Langling

paragraph: BULLET::::- Father: Xun Gun (緄), served as Chancellor of Jinan

paragraph: BULLET::::- Uncles:

paragraph: BULLET::::- Xun Jian (荀儉)

paragraph: BULLET::::- Xun Jing (荀靖)

paragraph: BULLET::::- Xun Dao (荀燾)

paragraph: BULLET::::- Xun Wang (荀汪)

paragraph: BULLET::::- Xun Shuang (荀爽), served as Chancellor of Pingyuan, Minister of the Household, and Excellency of Works

paragraph: BULLET::::- Xun Su (荀肅)

paragraph: BULLET::::- Xun Fu (荀旉)

paragraph: BULLET::::- Siblings:

paragraph: BULLET::::- Xun Yan (荀衍), third brother

paragraph: BULLET::::- Xun Chen, fourth brother, served Yuan Shao, persuaded Han Fu to surrender, fate unknown after the Battle of Guandu

paragraph: BULLET::::- Spouse: Lady Tang (唐氏), daughter of Tang Heng (唐衡)

paragraph: BULLET::::- Sons:

paragraph: BULLET::::- Xun Yun (荀惲), served as Rapid as Tigers General of the Household, married Cao Cao's daughter Princess Anyang, died at a young age

paragraph: BULLET::::- Xun Yu (荀俁), served as Palace Assistant Imperial Clerk

paragraph: BULLET::::- Xun Shen (荀詵), served as General-in-Chief's Assistant Officer, died at a young age

paragraph: BULLET::::- Xun Yi (荀顗), rose to the position of Grand Commandant during the Jin dynasty, posthumously honoured as Duke Kang of Linhuai

paragraph: BULLET::::- Xun Can (荀粲), a scholar and "xuanxue" philosopher, married Cao Hong's daughter

paragraph: BULLET::::- Son-in-law: Chen Qun, served the state of Wei, initiator of the nine-rank system

paragraph: BULLET::::- Second cousin-nephew: Xun You, one of Cao Cao's advisors

paragraph: BULLET::::- Grandsons:

paragraph: BULLET::::- Xun Han (荀甝), oldest son of Xun Yun, granted title of Marquis of Guangyangxiang, died at the age of 30

paragraph: BULLET::::- Xun Yi (荀霬), second son of Xun Yun, married Sima Yi's daughter Princess Nanyang (南陽公主), served as a general, posthumously granted title of Marquis of Zhen

paragraph: BULLET::::- Xun Yu (荀寓), son of Xun Yu (荀俁), served as Imperial Secretary during the Jin Dynasty

paragraph: BULLET::::- Chen Tai (陳泰), son of Chen Qun, participated in counterattackst Jiang Wei's campaigns

paragraph: BULLET::::- Great-grandsons:

paragraph: BULLET::::- Xun Jun (荀頵), son of Xun Han, served as Right Inspector of the Feathered Forest Imperial Guard, died at a young age

paragraph: BULLET::::- Xun Dan (荀憺), oldest son of Xun Yi (荀霬), served as Minister Steward

paragraph: BULLET::::- Xun Kai (荀愷), second son of Xun Yi (荀霬), served as General Who Conquers the West during the Jin Dynasty

paragraph: BULLET::::- Xun Kui (荀悝), third son of Xun Yi (荀霬), served as Protector General of the Army, posthumously appointed General of Chariots and Cavalry

paragraph: BULLET::::- Xun Yu (荀羽), son of Xun Yu (荀寓), served as Imperial Secretary

paragraph: BULLET::::- Descendants:

paragraph: BULLET::::- Xun Song (荀崧), son of Xun Jun, served as a Household Counsellor

paragraph: BULLET::::- Xun Guan (荀灌), daughter of Xun Song

paragraph: BULLET::::- Xun Xian (荀羨), son of Xun Song, served as North General of the Household, and Governor of Xu and Yan provinces

paragraph: BULLET::::- Xun Bozi (荀伯子), grandson of Xun Xian, served as a Palace Assistant Imperial Clerk during the Liu Song dynasty, author of the "Xun Family Records" (荀氏家傳)

paragraph: Section::::In popular culture.

paragraph: In Koei's video game "Dynasty Warriors 7: Empires", fans voted in the Facebook and Twitter poll for one of the new officers to have the name Xun Yu. Xun Yu became a playable character in Koei's "".

paragraph: In Koei's "Kessen II", Xun Yu plays a prominent role, although the character is portrayed as a woman who harbours a requited love for Cao Cao. In the visual novel and anime series "Koihime Musō", Jun'iku (Xun Yu's Japanese name) also serves as a strategist to Sōsō (Cao Cao) and has a huge crush on her.

paragraph: Section::::See also.

paragraph: BULLET::::- Lists of people of the Three Kingdoms

paragraph: Section::::References.

paragraph: BULLET::::- Chen, Shou (3rd century). "Records of the Three Kingdoms" ("Sanguozhi"), Volume 10.

description: Han Dynasty statesman

wikidata_label: Xun Yu

wikipedia_title: Xun Yu


text: courtesy name

text: Eastern Han dynasty

text: end of the Han dynasty

text: Yuan Shu

text: Huai River

text: coalition of warlords

text: Dong Zhuo

text: Emperor Xian

text: Luoyang

text: Cao Cao

text: Battle of Guandu

text: Ye

text: Handan

text: Hebei

text: Runan Commandery

text: Shangshui County

text: Henan

text: Yuan An

text: Emperor Zhang

text: Yuan Shu

text: Wang Shen

text: Records of the Three Kingdoms

text: Cao Cao

text: Zhang Miao

text: Disasters of Partisan Prohibitions

text: He Jin

text: Emperor Ling

text: eunuch faction

text: Empress Dowager He

text: Dong Zhuo

text: Luoyang

text: Emperor Shao

text: Emperor Xian

text: Ji Province

text: Hebei

text: Zhou Bi

text: Wu Qiong

text: He Yong

text: Bohai Commandery

text: Cangzhou

text: Han Fu

text: Zhang Miao

text: Bao Xin

text: Yellow River

text: Hu Zhen

text: Lü Bu

text: Hua Xiong

text: Sun Jian

text: Chang'an

text: Liang Province

text: Xu Rong

text: Liu Yu

text: You Province

text: Pang Ji

text: Gongsun Zan

text: Ji Province

text: Gao Gan

text: Xun Chen

text: Ye

text: Zhou Yu

text: Yu Province

text: Tao Qian

text: Battle of Yangcheng

text: Yingchuan Commandery

text: Battle of Jieqiao

text: North China Plain

text: Liu Biao

text: Battle of Jieqiao

text: Heishan bandits

text: Lü Bu

text: Ju Shou

text: Yuan Tan

text: Qing Province

text: Shandong

text: Tian Kai

text: Kong Rong

text: Guo Tu

text: Chunyu Qiong

text: Cao Cao

text: Xuchang

text: Xiongxian County

text: Battle of Yijing

text: Wuhuan

text: Xun County

text: Guandu

text: Zhongmu County

text: Henan

text: Liu Bei

text: Xu Province

text: Tian Feng

text: Yu Jin

text: defeated Yuan Shao's detachments

text: Chen Lin

text: declaration of war

text: Xun Yu

text: Xu You

text: Yue Jin

text: Zhang He

text: Gao Lan

text: Battle of Cangting

text: Yanggu County, Shandong

text: status quo ante bellum

text: Yuan Shang

text: Shen Pei

text: Pang Ji

text: conquering Ye city

text: Yuan An

text: Yuan Shu

text: Yuan Tan

text: Cao Cao

text: Yuan Xi

text: Gongsun Kang

text: Yuan Shang

text: Yuan Yi

text: Gao Gan

text: Koei

text: Dynasty Warriors

text: Warriors Orochi

text: Romance of the Three Kingdoms

text: Kessen II

text: Creative Assembly

text: Three Kingdoms (TV series)

text: Lists of people of the Three Kingdoms

text: Chen, Shou

text: Records of the Three Kingdoms

text: Fan, Ye

text: Book of the Later Han

text: Pei, Songzhi

text: Sima, Guang

text: Zizhi Tongjian

categories: Yuan Shao and associates,Politicians from Luoyang,Political office-holders in Hebei,Han dynasty politicians from Henan,202 deaths,Year of birth unknown,Han dynasty warlords,Political office-holders in Henan

paragraph: Yuan Shao

paragraph: Yuan Shao () (died 28 June 202), courtesy name Benchu, was a warlord who lived in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He occupied the northern territories of China during the civil wars that occurred towards the end of the Han dynasty. He was also an elder half-brother of Yuan Shu, a warlord who controlled the Huai River region, though the two were not on good terms with each other.

paragraph: One of the most powerful warlords of his time, Yuan Shao spearheaded a coalition of warlords against Dong Zhuo, who held Emperor Xian hostage in the imperial capital, Luoyang, but failed due to internal disunity. In 200, he launched a campaign against his rival Cao Cao but was defeated at the Battle of Guandu. He died of illness two years later in Ye (in present-day Handan, Hebei). His eventual failure despite his illustrious family background and geographical advantages was commonly blamed on his indecisiveness and inability to heed the advice of his advisers.

paragraph: Section::::Family background.

paragraph: Yuan Shao was from Ruyang County (汝陽縣), Runan Commandery (汝南郡), which is in present-day Shangshui County, Henan. His family had for over four generations been a prominent force in the Han civil service, having produced numerous members in high positions since the first century CE. Descended from Yuan An, who served during the reign of Emperor Zhang, Yuan Shao's exact parentage was the source of some controversy, being one of the primary points of contention between himself and his half-brother, or cousin, Yuan Shu. Yuan Shao was a son of Yuan Feng (袁逢) and the eldest sibling, supposedly to the ire of Yuan Shu. Both Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu are recognised as great-grandsons of Yuan An, as recorded in Wang Shen's "Book of Wei" (魏書).

paragraph: Yuan Shao's mother was originally a servant of Yuan Feng. Since Yuan Feng lacked male heirs, the birth of Yuan Shao elevated his mother to the status of a concubine. The "Records of the Three Kingdoms" contend that Yuan Shao was in fact an older cousin of Yuan Shu, and was adopted by the elder brother of Yuan Feng, Yuan Cheng, who also lacked male heirs. The act of adopting Yuan Shao would have infuriated Yuan Shu, because his own mother, a concubine of Yuan Feng, held a higher status than that of Yuan Shao's mother; however, by Yuan Cheng's adoption of Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu was no longer the eldest son of the Yuan family. Yuan Shao enjoyed more privileges than Yuan Shu, despite the latter being a blood-related member of the clan.

paragraph: When Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu became involved in disputes later, Yuan Shu used Yuan Shao's mother as an excuse to claim that he was not a "true son" of the Yuan family. When compared to Yuan Shu, Yuan Shao had a more serious appearance and respected men of talent regardless of their background; as such, he was welcomed by many since his childhood, including Cao Cao and Zhang Miao.

paragraph: Section::::Service under the Han dynasty (–189).

paragraph: When Yuan Shao was young, he participated in saving some of the "partisans" from death or other terrible fates during the second of the Disasters of Partisan Prohibitions. After he entered the civil service, Yuan Shao initially served as an aide to General-in-Chief He Jin, who deeply trusted him.

paragraph: After the death of Emperor Ling in 189, He Jin and Yuan Shao plotted to eliminate the eunuch faction, but Empress Dowager He was against their idea. He Jin then summoned Dong Zhuo to lead troops into the imperial capital, Luoyang, to pressure the empress dowager. The eunuchs became fearful and they forged an edict in the empress dowager's name, summoning He Jin into the inner palace. Yuan Shao cautioned He Jin, reminding him that he should order an attack on the eunuchs instead of entering the palace. After He Jin refused to accept his advice thrice, Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu led 200 elite troops to wait outside. On 22 September 189, inside the palace, He Jin was ambushed and assassinated by the eunuchs, who tossed his severed head over the wall. He Jin's angered followers set fire to the palace and charged in, slaughtering every person (except females) without facial hair; to the extreme that many young men without facial hair had to show their genitals to avoid being mistaken for eunuchs and killed. Over 2,000 people were killed in the massacre, while the young Emperor Shao and Prince of Chenliu (future Emperor Xian) escaped during the chaos. The resulting power vacuum provided Dong Zhuo, who found and rescued the emperor and prince, with an opportunity to seize control of the imperial capital when he arrived.

paragraph: Dong Zhuo then discussed with Yuan Shao about his plan to depose Emperor Shao and replace him with the Prince of Chenliu, but Yuan Shao disagreed. Relations between the two deteriorated and Yuan Shao fled from Luoyang to Ji Province (present day southern Hebei). At the time, Yuan Shao just got out through the city gates of Luoyang, Dong Zhuo thought about sending men after him, but Zhou Bi, Wu Qiong and He Yong secretly helped Yuan Shao by convincing Dong Zhuo to let him go. As suggested by the three men, Dong Zhuo appointed Yuan Shao as the Administrator of Bohai Commandery (near present-day Cangzhou, Hebei) in a bid to appease him.

paragraph: Section::::Coalition against Dong Zhuo (190–191).:Sun Jian's advancement.

paragraph: By early 190, however, Yuan became openly hostile. A coalition of regional officials and commanders from the eastern provinces, including Cao Cao, Yuan Shu, Han Fu, Zhang Miao and Bao Xin, formed up behind him in a campaign to oust Dong Zhuo. Yuan Shao declared himself General of Chariots and Cavalry (車騎將軍) and camped at Henei (河內), near a ford on the Yellow River just north of Luoyang. Dong Zhuo ordered the execution of all members of the Yuan clan in Luoyang, and sent out emissaries with imperial edicts ordering the regional officials to disband. However, members of the coalition listened to Yuan Shao, and had all the emissaries executed instead (except Han Rong). Dong Zhuo then sent Hu Zhen, Lü Bu and Hua Xiong to deter the coalition vanguard led by Sun Jian. Despite initial success, Sun was able to capitalise on the internal conflict between Hu Zhen and Lü Bu and defeated them at Yangren. After that loss, Dong Zhuo decided to move the imperial capital to Chang'an, where his home base of Liang Province was nearby. A year later, Dong Zhuo burnt Luoyang to the ground and withdrew to the west with the mass of refugees. Although lacking a logistical base, Sun Jian and Cao Cao requested to pursue Dong Zhuo's retreating force, but Yuan Shao and other members largely disagreed with their opinion. Sun Jian was ordered to rendezvous with Yuan Shu, so Cao Cao led his own men to go on the pursuit alone, and was soundly defeated by Dong Zhuo's subordinate, Xu Rong.

paragraph: Section::::Coalition against Dong Zhuo (190–191).:Dissolution.

paragraph: During this time, Yuan Shao and Han Fu had intended to establish the legitimacy of the coalition by declaring Liu Yu, the governor of You Province (present day northern Hebei), the new emperor to replace Emperor Xian. However, believing that it would be faithless to Emperor Xian for him to accept, Liu Yu declined the offer. When the scene of the ruined capital coming into their eyes, the disunited leaders of the coalition realised that the Han dynasty was coming to an end, and started planning on strengthening their position, and soon returned to their respective home bases.

paragraph: Section::::Unifying northern China (191–199).:Acquisition and consolidation of Ji Province (191).

paragraph: As many volunteers from different provinces had flocked to join Yuan Shao, Bohai Commandery would be far from sufficient to supply his army. Thus, Pang Ji suggested to Yuan Shao to form a secret alliance with the warlord Gongsun Zan and incite the latter to attack Han Fu's Ji Province. Facing an imminent attack from Gongsun Zan, Han Fu was terrified so he listened to Yuan Shao's lobbyists, Gao Gan (Yuan Shao's nephew) and Xun Chen, to give up the governorship of Ji Province to Yuan Shao in order to drive back Gongsun Zan. Yuan Shao then began to build a warlord state from Ye, the capital of Ji Province. In order to curtail Yuan Shu's sphere of influence, Yuan Shao formed an alliance with Cao Cao and Zhang Miao, and named his follower, Zhou Yu (周喁) as the Inspector of Yu Province, a title to which Sun Jian had already been entitled, and sent him to attack Sun Jian's territories in Yu Province while the latter was on his way back from Luoyang. In response, Yuan Shu allied with Gongsun Zan and Tao Qian, and ordered Sun Jian to fight his half-brother.

paragraph: Although Zhou Yu managed to defeat the forces of Sun Jian in the Battle of Yangcheng, he lost to Sun Jian in the following battles. The first battles between the brothers ended in Yuan Shu's favour: he had engaged and defeated Yuan Shao's forces in both Yangcheng and Jiujiang, restored the position in Yingchuan Commandery under Sun Jian, and eliminated Zhou Yu as a threat once and for all although Jiujiang was not yet conquered. For Yuan Shao, on the other hand, the situation was extremely difficult: besides the failure in the south, he was also under threat from Gongsun Zan, who held Yuan Shao responsible for the death of his cousin Gongsun Yue (公孫越) in battle and formally declared war against him, rejecting all of Yuan Shao's protestations of goodwill. This led to the clash between Yuan Shao and Gongsun in the Battle of Jieqiao.

paragraph: The Battle of Yangcheng, being the first move in the struggle between the two Yuans, marked the beginning of a new stage in the confusion of wars which brought about the end of the Han dynasty. This internecine struggle confirmed the undoing of the alliance against Dong Zhuo as the warlords of the North China Plain started to battle each other for the ultimate dominion of China.

paragraph: In order to focus on the conflicts with Gongsun Zan, Yuan Shao entered into a general alliance with Liu Biao against Yuan Shu. In the winter of that year, Yuan Shao defeated Gongsun Zan's elite cavalry at the Battle of Jieqiao with the use of massed crossbowmen. The Han imperial court issued an edict ordering Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan to cease fire. Yuan Shao then returned to Ye and started targeting the Heishan bandits, who had been causing trouble in Ji Province. With temporary aid from Lü Bu, Yuan Shao managed to defeat the Heishan bandits despite suffering heavy casualties. In any case, Yuan Shao succeeded in drastically reducing the threat posed by the Heishan bandits to his western flank.

paragraph: Section::::Unifying northern China (191–199).:Conquest of Qing Province (192–196).

paragraph: Despite warnings from Ju Shou that the move could sow seeds for future trouble, Yuan Shao insisted on sending his first-born son, Yuan Tan, away to "govern" Qing Province (present-day eastern Shandong).

paragraph: In subsequent years, Yuan Shao achieved considerable success in consolidating his domain. At the same time, Yuan Tan also achieved exceptional success on expanding his territories in Qing Province, driving out Gongsun Zan's general Tian Kai in 193 and defeating Beihai chancellor Kong Rong in 196.

paragraph: Section::::Unifying northern China (191–199).:Refusal to host the emperor (195–196).

paragraph: In 195, Ju Shou suggested to Yuan Shao to welcome Emperor Xian to Ji Province so he could effectively control the Han central government and use the emperor as a figurehead to enhance his legitimacy. However, Guo Tu and Chunyu Qiong opposed this move under the faulty logic that if Yuan Shao were to do so, he would have to yield to Emperor Xian on key decisions. Yuan Shao, valuing his autonomy, listened to Guo Tu and Chunyu Qiong and let the opportunity pass by. In contrast, his would-be rival, Cao Cao used the opportunity to welcome Emperor Xian to his base in Xuchang, where the new imperial capital was established.

paragraph: In 196, the Han imperial court, under Cao Cao's control, awarded Yuan Shao the appointment of Grand Commandant. However, Yuan Shao rejected the appointment because Grand Commandant ranked below General-in-Chief, the position held by Cao Cao. As a result, Cao Cao gave up his position and offered it to Yuan Shao, who readily accepted it. Yuan Shao was also enfeoffed as the Marquis of Ye.

paragraph: Section::::Unifying northern China (191–199).:Annihilation of Gongsun Zan (198–199).

paragraph: In 198, Yuan Shao advanced against Gongsun Zan and encircled his remaining force at Yijing (present-day Xiongxian County, Hebei). By early 199, Yuan Shao had completely defeated Gongsun Zan at the Battle of Yijing and held absolute power over the four provinces north of the Yellow River. Then, after establishing an alliance with the Wuhuan tribes on the northern frontier, Yuan Shao turned his attention to Cao Cao, who had consolidated his own power base to the south of the Yellow River.

paragraph: Section::::Guandu Campaign (199–201).

paragraph: Both sides made preparations for a decisive battle. Towards the end of 199, both sides had already engaged in skirmishes at Liyang (northwest of present-day Xun County, Henan), a major crossing point of the Yellow River. Cao Cao prepared his defences around Guandu (northeast of present-day Zhongmu County, Henan), slightly south of the river. When Liu Bei defected from Cao Cao in the first month of 200 and planted a foothold in Xu Province, Cao Cao left his northern front exposed to Yuan Shao and turned east to deal with Liu Bei. Tian Feng urged Yuan Shao to seize the opportunity to attack Cao Cao while he was away, but Yuan Shao refused to launch an all-out offensive. Instead, he sent small detachments to harass his enemy. Yu Jin, the general appointed by Cao Cao to defend Yan Ford, defeated Yuan Shao's detachments.

paragraph: Shortly after Cao Cao returned to Guandu, Yuan Shao had Chen Lin draft a document condemning Cao Cao in what was essentially a declaration of war. He then marched his main army towards the forward base of Liyang north of the Yellow River. At the time, Yuan Shao's main veteran army boasted of numbers over 100,000, supplemented with hundreds of thousands of less skilled militia units. Heavily outnumbering Cao Cao and holding large cavalry force, Yuan Shao's initial attacks almost overwhelmed his enemy's positions. It is recorded in the "Records of the Three Kingdoms" that Cao Cao on several occasions considered relinquishing his position, and consulted his chief strategist, Xun Yu on that decision, which Xun strongly opposed and further encouraged Cao to hold on. Following an unexpected defection of one of Yuan Shao's strategists and personal friends, Xu You, Cao Cao received confidential information on the whereabouts of Yuan Shao's food storage. In late 200, Cao Cao and Yue Jin led a strike force to attack Yuan Shao's supply depot at Wuchao and burnt it down, inflicting severe damage on the morale of Yuan Shao's army. Two of Yuan Shao's officers, Zhang He and Gao Lan, immediately defected to Cao Cao's side once they got wind of what happened in Wuchao, and many others followed suit. Yuan Shao was unable to stop the trend and fled north across the Yellow River with only hundreds of loyalists.

paragraph: Yuan Shao's first major defeat was also a decisive one. Thereafter, he lost the advantage over Cao Cao and never regained it. In 201, Cao Cao defeated him again at the Battle of Cangting (in present-day Yanggu County, Shandong) and proceeded to capture several of Yuan Shao's territories in Ji Province.

paragraph: Section::::Futile effort to turn the tide and death (201–202).

paragraph: After the Battle of Cangting, Cao Cao's exhausted troops returned to the south for a rest. Meanwhile, Yuan Shao was able to reorganise his defeated armies to settle the rebellions in his own domain, soon reestablishing order and restored the status quo ante bellum. Yuan Shao had three sons, and he favoured his third son, Yuan Shang, due to his good looks, and both Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang were his choice for succession. However, Yuan was never able to finalise his decision regarding who should succeed him before he died in on 28 June 202, leaving his domain to be contested by his sons and Cao Cao.

paragraph: Immediately after Yuan Shao's death, Shen Pei and Pang Ji, two influential advisers, supported Yuan Shang and pushed for him to succeed Yuan Shao, despite opposition from Yuan Tan. Yuan Shao's wife, Lady Liu, supported Yuan Shang, and Yuan Tan could not do anything to change the outcome when he rushed back from Qing Province. Then, Lady Liu, being in control of the Yuan household after her husband's death, killed Yuan Shao's other five consorts out of jealousy and disfigured them. True to Ju Shou's previous warning, chaos ensued within Yuan Shao's forces. Cao Cao exploited the internal turmoil within the Yuan family to his advantage and completely eliminated Yuan Shao's heirs and remnants by 207.

paragraph: Cao Cao paid his respects at Yuan Shao's tomb after conquering Ye city in 204. He wept bitterly for his old friend in front of his followers and gave Yuan Shao's family consolatory gifts and a government pension.

paragraph: Section::::Family.

paragraph: BULLET::::- Ancestors:

paragraph: BULLET::::- Yuan An, great-great-grandfather, served as Excellency over the Masses, and Excellency of Works

paragraph: BULLET::::- Yuan Jing (袁京), great-grandfather, served as Excellency of Works

paragraph: BULLET::::- Yuan Tang (袁湯), grandfather, served as Excellency over the Masses, Excellency of Works, and Grand Commandant

paragraph: BULLET::::- Father: Yuan Feng (袁逢), served as Excellency of Works

paragraph: BULLET::::- Siblings:

paragraph: BULLET::::- Yuan Ji (袁基), elder half-brother, served as Minister Coachman

paragraph: BULLET::::- Yuan Shu, younger half-brother, warlord, declared himself Emperor of Zhong later

paragraph: BULLET::::- Spouses:

paragraph: BULLET::::- Principal wife, bore Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi

paragraph: BULLET::::- Lady Liu (劉夫人), bore Yuan Shang

paragraph: BULLET::::- Five other concubines, all killed by Lady Liu

paragraph: BULLET::::- Children:

paragraph: BULLET::::- Yuan Tan, eldest son, waged war on Yuan Shang after his father's death, killed by Cao Cao

paragraph: BULLET::::- Yuan Xi, second son, moved to You Province after Yuan Shao's death, later fled to Liaodong with Yuan Shang, killed by Gongsun Kang

paragraph: BULLET::::- Yuan Shang, third son, Yuan Shao's successor, waged war on Yuan Tan after his father's death, fled to Liaodong with Yuan Xi, killed by Gongsun Kang

paragraph: BULLET::::- Relatives:

paragraph: BULLET::::- Yuan Wei (袁隗), uncle, served as Excellency over the Masses, and Grand Tutor

paragraph: BULLET::::- Yuan Cheng (袁成), uncle

paragraph: BULLET::::- Yuan Yi, elder cousin, served as Prefect of Chang'an, and Inspector of Yang Province

paragraph: BULLET::::- Yuan Xu (袁敘), younger cousin

paragraph: BULLET::::- Yuan Yin (袁胤), younger cousin, served as Administrator of Danyang

paragraph: BULLET::::- Yuan Manlai (袁滿來), cousin

paragraph: BULLET::::- Yuan Yida (袁懿達), cousin

paragraph: BULLET::::- Yuan Renda (袁仁達), cousin

paragraph: BULLET::::- Gao Gan, nephew

paragraph: Section::::In popular culture.

paragraph: Yuan Shao is featured as a playable character in Koei's "Dynasty Warriors" and "Warriors Orochi" video game series. He also appears in all instalments of Koei's "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" strategy game series. He also has a minor role in Koei's "Kessen II". Yuan Shao also appears as a playable faction leader in the Creative Assembly title . He plays a major role in the "Three Kingdoms (TV series)" as a reappearing character.

paragraph: Section::::See also.

paragraph: Section::::References.

paragraph: BULLET::::- Chen, Shou (3rd century). "Records of the Three Kingdoms" ("Sanguozhi").

paragraph: BULLET::::- Fan, Ye (5th century). "Book of the Later Han" ("Houhanshu").

paragraph: BULLET::::- Pei, Songzhi (5th century). "Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms" ("Sanguozhi zhu").

paragraph: BULLET::::- Sima, Guang (1084). "Zizhi Tongjian".

alias:
Yuen Siu
Yuen Shiu

description: Han Dynasty warlord

enwikiquote_title: Yuan Shao

wikidata_label: Yuan Shao

wikipedia_title: Yuan Shao


text: courtesy name

text: Eastern Han dynasty

text: Liang Province

text: Shaanxi

text: Gansu

text: Cao Cao

text: Qiang people

text: Liang Province

text: Liang Province Rebellion

text: Emperor Ling

text: Bian Zhang

text: Beigong Yu

text: Liwen Hou

text: Dong Zhuo

text: Ma Teng

text: Huangfu Song

text: Dong Zhuo

text: Lü Bu

text: Wang Yun

text: Li Jue

text: Guo Si

text: Liu Yan

text: Chang'an

text: Battle of Guandu

text: Zhong Yao

text: Yuan Shao

text: Ye

text: Ma Chao

text: Hanzhong Commandery

text: Zhang Lu

text: Xiahou Yuan

text: Yi Province

text: Sichuan

text: Chongqing

text: Cheng Gongying

text: Romance of the Three Kingdoms

text: Xiahou Yuan

text: Lists of people of the Three Kingdoms

text: Chen, Shou

text: Records of the Three Kingdoms

text: Pei, Songzhi

text: Sima, Guang

text: Zizhi Tongjian

categories: 2nd-century births,215 deaths,Cao Cao and associates,Han Sui and associates,Ma Teng and associates

paragraph: Han Sui

paragraph: Han Sui () (died 215), courtesy name Wenyue, was a military general and minor warlord who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. For most of his life, he was active in Liang Province (涼州; covering parts of present-day Shaanxi and Gansu) and was involved in several rebellions against the Han government and the warlord Cao Cao.

paragraph: Section::::Life.

paragraph: With the backing of the Qiang people who populated much of Liang Province, Han Sui participated in the Liang Province Rebellion against the Han dynasty during the rule of Emperor Ling. He joined forces with others in the area, such as Bian Zhang, Beigong Yu (北宫玉) and Liwen Hou (李文侯). Despite suffering a defeat by government forces under Dong Zhuo, Han Sui maintained the support of the Qiang people and maintained his territory in Liang Province. Han Sui is thought to have preferred to remain somewhat behind the scenes, placing someone else in the position of leadership while holding real power himself. When Bian Zhang and the other leaders passed from the scene, he placed Wang Guo (王國) in power with the help of his ally Ma Teng, whom he pledged a pact of brotherhood with. The arrangement did not last long, however, and Wang Guo was removed from power after being defeated by the Han general Huangfu Song. It was at this point that Ma Teng and Han Sui declared themselves co-rulers of Liang Province, now mostly autonomous due to turmoil in the Han dynasty.

paragraph: Early in 192, the two of them submitted to the Han central government, then under Dong Zhuo's control, but Dong Zhuo was assassinated by Lü Bu and Wang Yun in April. After Li Jue, Guo Si and other former followers of Dong Zhuo seized control of the Han central government later that year, Han Sui and Ma Teng allied themselves with Liu Yan and led their armies to attack the Han imperial capital, Chang'an. After suffering a major defeat 13 miles west of Chang'an, and running short on supplies, the warlords retreated back to Liang Province.

paragraph: Not long afterward, however, Han Sui and Ma Teng's relationship soured and the two of them battled each other for control of Liang Province. Their battle escalated to the point where both were killing each other's wives and children. Cao Cao, having achieved victory at the Battle of Guandu in 200CE, sent Zhong Yao to broker a peace between the two sides and to place Liang Province under Cao Cao's authority. After the terms were agreed to, Han Sui and Ma Teng would give assistance to Cao Cao in the remainder of his battles against Yuan Shao. After this, Ma Teng was forcibly summoned to Ye and Han Sui placed Ma Teng's son Ma Chao in charge of Liang Province.

paragraph: When Cao Cao began gathering armies with the intent of invading Hanzhong Commandery, then under the rule of Zhang Lu, Han Sui and Ma Chao suspected that it was they, and not Zhang Lu who would be attacked. The two of them gathered warlords from the western regions and went to war against Cao Cao. In the course of the conflict, however, Cao Cao managed to turn Ma Chao and Han Sui against each other. Han Sui realised that there was no hope for victory with the forces divided against each other in suspicion, and retreated once again to Liang Province. Cao Cao captured and killed Han Sui's children and grandchildren.

paragraph: When Xiahou Yuan began his subjugation of Liang Province, Han Sui fought against this, but was ultimately defeated and forced to retreat. He discussed the idea of retreating to Yi Province (covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing), but his subordinate Cheng Gongying encouraged him to continue his fight against Cao Cao instead. At this point, he was either murdered by some of his own followers or died of illness. In either case, his head was brought to Cao Cao by Han Sui's subordinates as they all surrendered. He was believed to have been over 70 years old at the time of his death.

paragraph: Section::::In "Romance of the Three Kingdoms".

paragraph: In the 14th-century historical novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", Han Sui is depicted as Ma Teng's sworn brother and subordinate, when historically he was actually a warlord of equal footing as Ma Teng. Han Sui's preference to remain out of the scenes may have been a reason for this depiction.

paragraph: In the novel, during Ma Chao's battles against Cao Cao's forces, Han Sui has eight elite officers serving under him. After Cao Cao successfully used a scheme to turn Ma Chao and Han Sui against each other, Ma Chao grew suspicious of Han Sui and attacked him, cutting off his left arm in the process. Han Sui managed to escape and defect to Cao Cao, who accepted his surrender and allowed him to continue serving as a general in Liang Province alongside Xiahou Yuan.

paragraph: Section::::See also.

paragraph: BULLET::::- Lists of people of the Three Kingdoms

paragraph: Section::::References.

description: Han Dynasty warlord

wikidata_label: Han Sui

wikipedia_title: Han Sui


text: courtesy name

text: Cao Wei

text: Three Kingdoms

text: Eastern Han dynasty

text: Jing Province

text: Hubei

text: Hunan

text: Zhuge Liang

text: Liu Bei

text: Battle of Changban

text: Cao Cao

text: Cao Pi

text: Romance of the Three Kingdoms

text: Cao Ren

text: Yingchuan Commandery

text: Yu Province

text: Henan

text: Shan

text: Jing Province

text: Hubei

text: Hunan

text: Zhuge Liang

text: Liu Bei

text: Xinye County

text: Liu Biao

text: Liu Cong

text: Cao Cao

text: Wuhan

text: Hubei

text: Liu Qi

text: Battle of Changban

text: Cao Wei

text: Cao Pi

text: fall of the Han dynasty

text: Three Kingdoms

text: Cao Rui

text: chancellor

text: Shu Han

text: a series of campaigns

text: Xuzhou

text: Jiangsu

text: Romance of the Three Kingdoms

text: Three Kingdoms

text: Liu Bei

text: Zhuge Liang

text: Xinye

text: Sima Hui

text: Cao Cao

text: Cao Ren

text: Eight Gates Golden Locks Formation

text: Zhao Yun

text: Cheng Yu

text: Xuchang

text: Henan

text: Zhuge Liang

text: (Cao) Cao

text: Han (dynasty)

text: another story

text: Guan Yu

text: Koei

text: Dynasty Warriors

text: Lists of people of the Three Kingdoms

text: Chen, Shou

text: Records of Three Kingdoms

text: Luo, Guanzhong

text: Romance of the Three Kingdoms

text: Pei, Songzhi

categories: Cao Wei politicians,2nd-century births,Han dynasty politicians from Henan,Officials under Cao Cao

paragraph: Xu Shu

paragraph: Xu Shu ( 207–220s), courtesy name Yuanzhi, originally named Shan Fu, was an official of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was born in the late Eastern Han dynasty and used to be a vigilante swordsman in his early life. However, after running into trouble with the authorities, he renounced his old ways and took up scholarly pursuits. He lived a reclusive life from the 190s to mid-200s in Jing Province (covering present-day Hubei and Hunan provinces), where he met and befriended Zhuge Liang. In late 207, he became an adviser to the warlord Liu Bei and served under Liu for about a year. He also recommended Zhuge Liang to Liu Bei during this period of time. In late 208, Liu Bei was defeated at the Battle of Changban by his rival Cao Cao. Xu Shu's mother was captured by Cao Cao's forces during the battle. Feeling lost and without a sense of direction, Xu Shu eventually left Liu Bei and joined Cao Cao. He continued serving in the state of Cao Wei – founded by Cao Cao's son and successor, Cao Pi, who ended the Eastern Han dynasty – and died of illness in office.

paragraph: Xu Shu's defection from Liu Bei to Cao Cao was fictionalised in the historical novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms". In the novel, he was Liu Bei's chief strategist before Zhuge Liang came along, and he once helped Liu Bei repel two attacks from Cao Cao's general Cao Ren. He was eventually tricked into leaving Liu Bei and joining Cao Cao, but he recommended Zhuge Liang to Liu Bei before leaving and swore never to give advice to Cao Cao.

paragraph: Section::::Early life.

paragraph: Xu Shu was from Yingchuan Commandery (潁川郡), Yu Province, which is in present-day central Henan. His original family name was Shan (單) and his original given name was Fu (福). He was a swordsman in his early life and he once helped someone take revenge by killing another person. To avoid being recognised, he covered his face with white chalk and let his hair run wild. He was later arrested by an official, who asked him for his name, but he did not reply. The official tied him to a cart, paraded him through the streets, and asked for any person who could identify him. No one came forth. Xu Shu's fellows rescued him later. He was so grateful to be saved that he gave up his life as a swordsman and became a scholar.

paragraph: When Xu Shu first attended school, his mates ostracised him because of his background, but he remained humble and hardworking. He woke up early, cleaned the school alone, and paid great attention to his studies. He met Shi Tao (石韜; also known as Shi Guangyuan 石廣元) and became close friends with him. In the early 190s, when wars broke out in central China, Xu Shu and Shi Tao moved south to Jing Province (covering present-day Hubei and Hunan), where they met Zhuge Liang and befriended him. During his time in Jing Province from the late 190s to the early 200s (decade), Xu Shu maintained close friendships with Zhuge Liang, Shi Tao and Meng Gongwei (孟公威). They travelled and studied together.

paragraph: Section::::Serving Liu Bei.

paragraph: When the warlord Liu Bei was stationed at Xinye County, Xu Shu visited him and received a warm reception. Xu Shu recommended Zhuge Liang as an adviser to Liu Bei and told him that he must visit Zhuge Liang in person (i.e., he cannot invite Zhuge Liang to visit him). Zhuge Liang later came to serve Liu Bei after the latter visited him thrice and consulted him on the affairs of their time.

paragraph: In 208, Liu Biao, the Governor of Jing Province, died and was succeeded by his younger son, Liu Cong. Later that year, when the warlord Cao Cao invaded Jing Province, Liu Cong surrendered and much of northern Jing Province came under Cao Cao's control. Liu Bei led his forces and a large number of civilians south to Xiakou (夏口; in present-day Wuhan, Hubei), which was independent of Cao Cao's control and where Liu Biao's elder son, Liu Qi, was based. Xu Shu accompanied Liu Bei on his journey towards Xiakou. Cao Cao sent 5,000 riders to pursue Liu Bei. They caught up with him and defeated him at the Battle of Changban. Cao Cao's men captured Xu Shu's mother during the battle, so Xu Shu decided to leave Liu Bei to reunite with his mother. Before leaving, he pointed at his heart and told Liu Bei, "I wanted to join you, General, in making great achievements. This is my purpose in life. Now that I've lost my mother, I've also lost my sense of direction. This isn't going to be helpful. Now I bid farewell to you." He went to join Cao Cao. Shi Tao also followed him and both of them came to serve Cao Cao.

paragraph: Section::::Service in Cao Wei.

paragraph: Xu Shu continued serving in the state of Cao Wei – founded by Cao Cao's son and successor, Cao Pi – after the fall of the Han dynasty and the start of the Three Kingdoms period. In the 220s, during the reign of Cao Pi, Xu Shu served as a Right General of the Household (右中郎將) and a Palace Assistant Imperial Clerk (御史中丞).

paragraph: During the reign of Cao Rui (Cao Pi's successor), Zhuge Liang – who was then the chancellor-regent of the state of Shu Han, which Liu Bei founded in 221 – led a series of campaigns to attack the state of Cao Wei. When Zhuge Liang heard about the ranks of Xu Shu and Shi Tao in Wei, he remarked, "Are there so some many talents in Wei? Why aren't the talents of these two men put to good use?" Xu Shu died of illness in Wei several years later. A tombstone with his name on it was found in Pengcheng (present-day Xuzhou, Jiangsu).

paragraph: Xu Shu is featured as a fairly prominent character in the historical novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", which romanticises the historical events before and during the Three Kingdoms period. He appeared mainly in chapters 35–36, in which he served as Liu Bei's strategist before Zhuge Liang came along.

paragraph: Xu Shu was singing on the streets of Xinye when Liu Bei noticed him and asked him if he was either the "Crouching Dragon" or the "Young Phoenix" that Sima Hui spoke of. However, Xu Shu told Liu Bei that he was neither of them. He agreed to become Liu Bei's strategist and helped Liu counter an invading army led by Cao Cao's general Cao Ren. Cao Ren deployed his troops in an "Eight Gates Golden Locks Formation" (八門金鎖陣) outside Xinye, but Xu Shu pointed out the weaknesses in the formation and instructed Liu's general Zhao Yun on how to break it. Zhao Yun led his men to attack the formation and succeeded in breaking it and defeating Cao Ren. Xu Shu also accurately predicted that Cao Ren would launch a surprise attack that night after his defeat. Liu Bei defeated Cao Ren again in the night battle and forced Cao Ren to retreat.

paragraph: Cao Cao was impressed when he heard about Xu Shu and was eager to recruit Xu as an adviser. He invited Xu Shu's mother to meet him and asked her to write a letter to her son, requesting that her son come to join him. Xu Shu's mother refused, denounced Cao Cao as a treacherous villain, and threw an ink stone at him. The furious Cao Cao ordered Xu Shu's mother to be executed but changed his mind when Cheng Yu reminded him that Xu Shu would be more determined to help Liu Bei oppose him if he killed his mother. Cao Cao then had Xu Shu's mother detained and asked Cheng Yu to pretend to be Xu Shu's sworn brother to win the trust of Xu's mother. After some time, Cheng Yu got close to Xu Shu's mother and learnt to mimic her handwriting. He wrote a letter to Xu Shu in the handwriting of Xu's mother, telling Xu that she was in trouble and urging him to come to the imperial capital Xu (許; present-day Xuchang, Henan) quickly. Xu Shu was a filial son so he immediately left for Xu after reading the letter.

paragraph: Xu Shu was in a hurry when he sped off on horseback. On the way, he suddenly remembered something and immediately turned back to meet Liu Bei and recommend Zhuge Liang to him. He then resumed his journey to Xu. When he arrived at his destination, he was shocked to discover that he had been tricked. His mother was furious with her son's failure to discern between truth and deception, and ashamed by the fact that her son joined Cao Cao instead of Liu Bei. She committed suicide. Xu Shu remained with Cao Cao, but he swore never to give advice to Cao.

paragraph: The Chinese saying "His body is in (Cao) Cao's camp, but his heart is actually with the Han (dynasty)" () is derived from this story about Xu Shu and another story about Guan Yu in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms". It is used to describe a situation where a person who ostensibly works for a "bad" organisation is actually loyal towards another "good" organisation.

paragraph: Section::::In popular culture.

paragraph: Xu Shu is first introduced as a playable character in "" of Koei's "Dynasty Warriors" video game series.

paragraph: Section::::See also.

paragraph: Section::::References.

paragraph: BULLET::::- Chen, Shou (3rd century). "Records of Three Kingdoms" ("Sanguozhi").

paragraph: BULLET::::- Luo, Guanzhong (14th century). "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" ("Sanguo Yanyi").

wikidata_label: Xu Shu

wikipedia_title: Xu Shu