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Bao Tao

BAO TAO (鮑韜)

(? ~ 190)

Bao Tao was from Pingyang County, Taishan Commandery, Yan Province. He is a son of Bao Dan (鮑丹), younger brother of Bao Xin (鮑信) and a descendent of Bao Xuan (鮑宣).

In 189, Bao Tao and Bao Xin raised troops in their homeland on the orders of He Jin (何進), however, Dong Zhuo (董卓) had taken control of the government before they returned. Bao Xin attempted to persuade Yuan Shao (袁紹) to act quickly against Dong Zhuo but Yuan Shao was afraid and did not make a move. 

Bao Tao and Bao Xin once again went back to Taishan to raise more soldiers and with twenty-thousand soldiers, seven-hundred cavalry, and five-thousand wagons of supplies, they joined the quickly forming coalition against Dong Zhuo. Bao Xin and Bao Tao rendezvoused with Cao Cao (曹操) at Chenliu Commandery. Cao Cao and Yuan Shao petitioned for appointing Bao Xin as General Who Smashes Caitiffs and Bao Tao as Major-General. 

Reinforced by Zhang Miao’s (張邈) officer Wei Zi (衛玆), Bao Tao followed Cao Cao to Xingyang. Dong Zhuo’s officer Xu Rong (徐榮) gave battle to this contingent at the Bian River, destroying them. Cao Cao was shot and barely escaped, Bao Xin was injured, Wei Zi and Bao Tao were killed in action.  

SGZ 1, 12, 22, ZZTJ 59

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Shi Jian & Gao Qian

SHI JIAN (石建)

(? ~ ?)

GAO QIAN (高遷)

(? ~ ?)

Shi Jian and Gao Qian were Wei officers.

In about 220, Cao Pi (曹丕) recalled Cao Ren (曹仁), in fear of Wu’s recent conquest of Jing Province. Cao Ren burned down Fan Castle and Xiangyang Castle and stationed himself at Wan. Sun Quan (孫權) sent officer Chen Shao (陳邵) to occupy Xiangyang, and Cao Pi immediately ordered Cao Ren, Xu Huang (徐晃), and General Gao Qian to crush him. Chen Shao was defeated and Cao Ren sent Gao Qian to relocate Wei citizens south of the Han River over to the north.

In late 223, Cao Pi initiated a large-scale campaign against Wu. Gao Qian and General Shi Jian were assigned to the army attacking Jiangling County.

Jiangling, defended by Zhu Ran (朱然), was quickly surrounded, and Wu reinforcements were easily repelled, however, the Wei army could not make significant progress against the castle. As the Changjiang was shallow at the time, Xiahou Shang (夏侯尙), Shi Jian, and Gao Qian encamped in the centre of a river delta and built pontoon bridges that faced north-south. Most of the Wei officers deliberated and concluded that this position would make it easier to assault the castle. 

Only Dong Zhao (董昭) realized how vulnerable Xiahou Shang’s position was. He warned that not only could an attack from the enemy cause a mass defection due to having only one route of retreat, but the river could flood and destroy their entire position. Cao Pi agreed with Dong Zhao’s analysis of the situation and ordered Xiahou Shang to pull out from the delta in haste.

Seeing the Wei forces retreat, the Wu forces sallied out and attacked the delta from two directions. Due to having only one pontoon to retreat with, Xiahou Shang was not able to get his entire army out all at once, and Shi Jian and Gao Qian were barely able to make their escape. They luckily made their escape before Wu officer Pan Zhang (潘璋) released rafts that were to be set alight and adrift into the bridges.

About ten days later, the delta was completely flooded by the river, just as Dong Zhao had warned.

Nothing further is recorded about Shi Jian and Gao Qian.

SGZ 9, 14, 56, ZZTJ 70

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Jie Piao & Gao Zuo

JIE PIAO (解剽)

(? ~ ?)

GAO ZUO (高祚)

(? ~ ?)

Jie Piao and Gao Zuo were Wei officers. 

In 215, they partook in the war against Zhang Lu (張魯). 

In the 7th month, Cao Cao’s (曹操) forces arrived in Mianyang County. Zhang Lu sent his brother, Zhang Wei (張衛), and officers Yang Ang (楊昂) and Yang Ren (楊任) with several tens of thousands of soldiers to defend Yangping Gate as well as to cut across the mountains and construct a fort about ten li away. 

Cao Cao struggled to make progress due to the rugged terrain, and his attacks against Zhang Wei’s camps on the mountains were repulsed. His army suffered great casualties and provisions ran dry. Losing his resolve, Cao Cao began pulling his troops from the mountains. Seeing the enemy retreat, Zhang Wei’s forces relaxed their defenses and the army became disorganized.

At night, Cao Cao's vanguard led by Jie Piao and Gao Zuo went up a small mountain path and they wandered into Yang Ren’s camp, ambushing and killing him in a sudden raid. The rest of Zhang Wei’s camps became alarmed and as Cao Cao resumed his attack, Zhang Wei fled in the night. 

Zhang Lu and Zhang Wei fled to Pa Commandery, but would later surrender to Cao Cao.

Nothing further is recorded about Jie Piao and Gao Zuo.

SGZ 1, ZZTJ 67

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Ying Yu

YING YU (應余) STYLED ZIZHENG (子正)

(? ~ 218)

Ying Yu was a Wei officer. He was from Nanyang Commandery, Jing Province.

He was said to be born with a straight stature, great strength, and an innate sense of benevolence and righteousness.

Ying Yu was serving under Grand Administrator of Nanyang Dongli Gun (東里袞) as an Officer of Merit. Tensions were high between Shu and Wu, and the lands of Jing Province were causes of great worry. 

In the 10th month of 218, officers Hou Yin (侯音) and Wei Kai (衞開), joined by mountain bandits, incited a revolt at Wan. They quickly took over the city and attempted to join forces with Guan Yu (關羽). Dongli Gun and Ying Yu were able to slip out of the castle in the ensuing chaos, however, Hou Yin sent out riders that were able to catch up to Dongli Gun’s party ten li away. The riders attempted to shoot Dongli Gun, but Ying Yu used his body as a shield and he was injured in seven different places. As the rebels captured Dongli Gun, Ying Yu said to them,

“Since Hou Yin is running amuck and committing atrocities, the main army will soon arrive to destroy and kill the rebels. Ought you not to find the good in your hearts, and follow its will? Since I have taken the place of my lord with my body and have become severely wounded, even if I die, please at least leave my lord as is, such that I will not regret it.”

He then faced the sky and wept as the mixture of his tears and blood flowed down his body. Persuaded by Ying Yu’s impassionate speech, the rebels did not bind or harm Dongli Gun, and took him back to Wan. Ying Yu succumbed to his wounds.

Dongli Gun was soon set free with the help of Zong Ziqing (宗子卿), and joining forces with the army at Fan castle, Hou Yin was destroyed. Cao Ren (曹仁) memorialized Ying Yu’s actions and attended his memorial service. Hearing of his actions, Cao Cao (曹操) greatly lamented Ying Yu’s death, and later he built a gate at the entrance of Ying Yu’s home village in his honour. He further bestowed one thousand bushels of grain to the village.

In 258, on the 13th day of the 6th month, in a royal decree, Emperor Cao Mao (曹髦) appointed Ying Yu’s grandson, Ying Lun (應倫), to a government position to repay Ying Yu’s heroic service.

SGZ 2, 4, 18, ZZTJ 68

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Jin Xuan

JIN XUAN (金旋) STYLED YUANJI (元機)

(? ~ 209?)

Jin Xuan was from Jingzhao, Sili Province. He is a descendant of Jin Midi (金日磾).

Jin Xuan was appointed to various positions such as Gentleman of the Yellow Gate, Grand Administrator of Hanyang Commandery, and Court Advisor. When he became a General of the Household, he was appointed as the Grand Administrator of Wuling Commandery in Jing Province.

In 209, Liu Bei (劉備) appointed Liu Qi (劉琦) as Inspector of Jing Province and went south to subjugate the four commanderies of Wuling, Guiyang, Changsha, and Lingling. It is said that all four commanderies surrendered.

An alternate account from the Sanfu Juelu Zhu states that Jin Xuan resisted Liu Bei’s invasion and was killed in battle.

He had a son, Jin Yi (金禕), who would later revolt against Cao Cao (曹操).

There is some debate over his death, and how it relates to his son. If Jin Xuan was killed by Liu Bei, it seems more unlikely that Jin Yi would revolt in favour of the man who killed his father, Liu Bei, against Cao Cao. Some argue that because of this, the account from the Sanfu Juelu Zhu is incorrect, and Jin Xuan did not die. Some other speculation I have seen is that Jin Yi is a son of Jin Shang (金尙), who was defeated in battle by Cao Cao in the 190s. Jin Shang has one recorded son, Jin Wei (金瑋), and Jin Yi could be either the same person as Jin Wei or another son. To me, it is not out of the realm of possibilities that Jin Yi still revolted against Cao Cao, even after his father was killed by Liu Bei. He could have had many other reasons for revolting that were not recorded.

SGZ 1, 32, ZZTJ 65

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Puhu Chi’er

PUHU CHI’ER (攴胡赤兒)

(? ~ ?)

Puhu Chi’er was a subordinate of Niu Fu (牛輔).

In 192, following Dong Zhuo’s (董卓) assassination, Niu Fu would join other Dong Zhuo loyalists to take back the Emperor. The forces would clash near Chang’an, Niu Fu setting up at Shan County, Hongnong Commandery. 

As Niu Fu’s bodyguard, Puhu Chi’er followed him into battle against Li Su (李肅), who was sent by Lu Bu to attack them. Niu Fu’s forces defeated Li Su forcing him to retreat.

The same night, some men defected from Niu Fu’s camp, spiking his paranoia. Niu Fu got Puhu Chi’er, who he treated generously, and five or six other men, and headed north along with all of Niu Fu’s treasure.

After crossing the Yellow River, Puhu Chi’er and the other men, coveting the treasure, betrayed Niu Fu and killed him. Niu Fu’s head was sent to Chang’an.

There is however a different account of this. The five or six men along with Puhu Chi’er prepared horses at the northern side of the castle they were in, but they needed to climb over the wall to get to them. As they were climbing down the wall with a rope, Niu Fu slipped and fell, breaking his hip. Since Niu Fu became incapacitated, the men decided to steal his treasure, kill him, and then send his head to Chang’an.

There are no further accounts of Puhu Chi��er.

His surname has many variations such as Hu (胡), Zhihu (支胡), and Youhu (友胡). Puhu is the common name used, thus I used it here. Hu appears only in the Romance, and Zhihu appears in the second story about Niu Fu’s death. There is a whole thing about the origins of his surname and a bunch of speculation about the names of northern peoples etc, which I will not delve into. De Crespigny says he believes that all the different surnames were just used to describe him being non-Chinese.

HHS 72, SGZ 6, ZZTJ 60

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Chen Ji

CHEN JI (陳紀)

(? ~ ?)

Chen Ji hailed from Danyang Commandery, Yang Province, and was an officer under Yuan Shu (袁术).

Yuan Shu had appointed Chen Ji as Grand Administrator of Jiujiang Commandery after he had initially promised the position to Sun Ce (孫策). 

When Yuan Shu sent Sun Ce to attack Lujiang Commandery, he said to him,

“Before, there was a misunderstanding and I appointed Chen Ji, I have been regretting constantly and my original wish remains unfulfilled, now if you capture Lu Kang (陸康), Lujiang will surely become yours.

Once Sun Ce defeated Lu Kang and captured Lujiang, Yuan Shu did the same; appointing Liu Xun (劉勳) to be its administrator and not Sun Ce.

Sun Ce became increasingly disappointed with Yuan Shu over these incidents.

Nothing else is recorded about Chen Ji other than this one incident.

SGZ 46, ZZTJ 61

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Xi Zhen & Xi Hong

XI ZHEN (習珍)

(? ~ ?)

XI HONG (習宏)

(? ~ ?)

Xi Zhen and Xi Hong were Shu officers from Xiangyang, Nanyang Commandery, Jing Province. Xi Zhen held the position of Commandant of the Northern District of Lingling and later, Major General. Xi Zhen is father to Xi Wen (習溫).

Xi Zhen operated in Lingling Commandery right before Wu’s Invasion of Jing Province. In 220, all of the counties surrendered except for Xi Zhen, who staunchly defended his castle. His younger brother, Xi Hong, said to him, 

“You are trying to meet the enemy who are riding on the momentum of driving away the people, but the armour isn’t well organized, and since the soldiers are not seasoned, it will be difficult to succeed. You should yield to them for now, and repay the Han with distinguished service in the future.” 

Persuaded by Xi Hong’s words, Xi Zhen surrendered to Wu.

Right away, Xi Zhen secretly agreed with Fan Zhou (樊胄/伷), who was operating in Wuling Commandery, to muster an army against Wu and join back with Shu. Xi Zhen took control of seven counties and then proclaimed himself as Grand Administrator of Zhaoling. He stationed his army at Yi. 

Sun Quan (孫權) sent Pan Jun (潘濬) with five-thousand men to deal with them and the Shu forces were destroyed, Fan Zhou was captured and executed. 

Xi Zhen took the few hundred men that were left, went up a mountain, and set up a defensive position. Pan Jun sent a letter asking him to surrender but Xi Zhen did not respond. So Pan Jun, with only a few men by his side, walked to the mountain and requested to negotiate. 

Eventually, Xi Zhen responded, 

“I will surely become a ghost of the Han, and I will not become a citizen of Wu, so do not persecute me.”

He then shot an arrow and shot one of Pan Jun’s aids. Pan Jun returned to his camp and initiated an attack on the mountain. Xi Zhen defended for about a month before his arrows and other supplies ran out. 

He gathered his men that were under him and said, 

“Since you have received the warm grace of the Han, it must be repaid with death. So, what kind of people are you all?”

Xi Zhen then took out his sword and committed suicide. After hearing of Xi Zhen’s death, Liu Bei posthumously appointed him as the Grand Administrator of Zhaoling.

Xi Hong served in the Wu court but never answered any questions asked to him, presumably because he did not wish to serve Wu. Zhang Zhao (張昭) reproached him, saying,

“If the officials of a lost state cannot be consulted on matters, and the officers of a defeated army are not enough to speak of bravery, then Jizi of Shang should have been abandoned in the past, and Gwangwujun of Zhao would be unable to inspire in this generation.”

Nothing further is recorded about Xi Hong.

Xi Zuochi (習鑿齒) recounts that bandits dug up the graves of the Xi clan members that lived at the end of the Han dynasty, turning it into piles of charcoal and causing grief among the people.

SGZ 52, 61, XYJ 1

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Xie Jing

XIE JING (謝旌)

(? ~ ?)

Xie Jing was a Wu officer.

In 219, the invasion of Jing Province was underway, and Lu Xun (陸遜) took over as commander from Lu Meng (呂蒙). Under Lu Xun, Xie Jing and Li Yi (李異) led 3,000 men to attack Shu officers Zhan Yan (詹晏) and Chen Feng (陳鳳). Li Yi led the navy, while Xie Jing led the infantry to cut off the Shu fortress. They promptly defeated the Shu forces and captured Chen Feng. 

He was very successful during the rest of the campaign, defeating Deng Fu (鄧輔) at Fangling Commandery and Guo Mu (郭睦) at Nanxiang Commandery. 

When Wen Bu (文布) and Deng Kai (鄧凱), two barbarian men from Zigui County, rose up to fight the Wu forces, Xie Jing was sent to attack them and he dealt them a decisive defeat. Wen Bu and Deng Kai fled to Yi Province. Lu Xun would later persuade Wen Bu to surrender to Wu. 

Nothing else is recorded about Xie Jing after this.

SGZ 58, ZZTJ 68

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Chen Jiu & Zhang Shuo

CHEN JIU (陳就)

(? ~ 208)

ZHANG SHUO (張碩)

(? ~ 208)

Chen Jiu and Zhang Shuo were officers under Huang Zu (黃祖).

In 208, Sun Quan (孫權) led his forces to Jiangxia Commandery to finish off his clan rival, Huang Zu. 

Sun Quan’s vanguard officer, Ling Tong (凌統), took one ship and detached several tens of li away from the main army to the You River. There he battled with Zhang Shuo, taking his head, and capturing the rest of Zhang Shuo’s men. Ling Tong returned to the main army.

With naval forces, Huang Zu sent Area Commander Chen Jiu as a vanguard to oppose Sun Quan’s army at Miankou. Sun Quan sent Lu Meng (呂蒙) as his vanguard, battle was given to Chen Jiu. Lu Meng personally took Chen Jiu’s head, and riding on the momentum of the victory, the rest of Sun Quan’s army advanced to Huang Zu’s castle. 

Hearing of Chen Jiu’s defeat, Huang Zu attempted to flee, however, he was caught by Sun Quan’s cavalry and killed.

SGZ 54, 55, ZZTJ 65

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Battle of Jiangxia (208)

In the spring of the 13th year of Jian’an (208), Sun Quan (孫權) led an army against Grand Administrator of Jiangxia Huang Zu (黃祖). He left Zhang Zhao (張昭), Zhang Hong (張紘), and Lu Fan (呂範) to defend his realms.

Sun Quan assigned Senior Major Ling Tong (凌統) as the vanguard, and Ling Tong took tens of men on one ship and detached himself tens of li away from the main army. Advancing into the You River, Ling Tong battled with Huang Zu’s officer Zhang Shuo (張碩), gaining victory. Zhang Shuo was executed, and the rest of his men were captured. Ling Tong returned to the main army.

With naval forces, Huang Zu sent Area Commander Chen Jiu (陳就), out to battle. He was met by Sun Quan’s vanguard, entrusted to Commandant Who Pacifies the North Lu Meng (呂蒙). In the ensuing battle, Chen Jiu was personally beheaded by Lu Meng, and the rest of Sun Quan’s army advanced further up the river toward Huang Zu.

Huang Zu had set up two large ships at Miankou, attached by a sturdy rope anchored down by rocks. He also sent a detachment of one-thousand crossbowmen to the above cliffs and set up a crossfire. The arrows and bolts rained down in such numbers that Sun Quan’s forces could not advance. 

Sun Quan thus sent Lieutenant-General Dong Xi (董襲) and Ling Tong as vanguards to attack the heavily fortified position. Dong Xi and Ling Tong took one hundred die-hard soldiers, donned two layers of armor, and with one ship, charged straight into the center of Huang Zu’s two vessels. Dong Xi personally cut the rope attaching the two ships, setting them adrift. Riding on this momentum, the rest of Sun Quan’s army stormed Huang Zu’s castle.

Huang Zu attempted to flee the castle but he was killed by cavalryman Feng Ze (馮則). The remaining tens of thousands of men of Huang Zu’s army and Area Commander Su Fei (蘇飛) were taken prisoner.

Zhou Yu (周瑜) and Zhou Tai (周泰) are also known to have partaken in this battle.

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WEI PING (魏平)

(? ~ ?)

JIA XU (賈栩)

(? ~ ?)

Also recorded as Jia Si (賈嗣) in the Jinshu, but from here on he will be referred to as Jia Xu.

Wei Ping and Jia Xu were Wei officers.

In 220, soon after Cao Cao’s (曹操) death, many commanderies of Liang Province rose up in rebellion. Hao Zhao (郝昭) and Wei Ping were sent to assist the commandery forces in quelling the rebels. 

They stationed themselves in Jincheng Commandery with its Grand Administrator, Su Ze (蘇則). However, they had received an imperial decree that did not allow them to cross the Yellow River, preventing them from assisting the other commanderies. Three barbarian tribes of Wuwei Commandery rose up and the Grand Administrator of Wuwei, Guanqiu Xing (毌丘興), urgently requested aid from Su Ze.

Su Ze held a meeting with Hao Zhao, Wei Ping, and several Qiang leaders, and he said,

“Now the bandits though are flourishing, however, they all are newly gathered, some were coerced to follow, and not necessarily of the same art; taking advantage of quarrel to strike them, the good and evil will certainly separate, the separating will join us, we will increase and they will decrease. We will both benefit from the solidity of increasing numbers, and moreover have the momentum of multi-fold energy, leading to advance and suppress, defeating them is certain. If we wait for the main army, waiting days and drawing out for long, the good people will not return, certainly join with the evil, and when good and evil are joined, the power is difficult to suddenly separate. Though there is Imperial Order command, if violating is in accord with expedience, usurping it is permissible.”

Convinced by Su Ze’s words, Hao Zhao and Wei Ping went to Guanqiu Xing’s aid. The three barbarian tribes surrendered, and the Wei forces continued west to save the other commanderies, and eventually, the rebellion was subdued.

In 231, Zhuge Liang (諸葛亮) led an assault on Mount Qi and Shanggui County in Tianshui Commandery. Defending Mount Qi were Jia Xu and Wei Ping, who became completely surrounded by the Shu forces. 

Sima Yi (司馬懿) left Guo Huai (郭淮), Fei Yao (費曜), and Dai Ling (戴陵) along with 4,000 men to defend Shanggui while he went to Mount Qi. Zhuge Liang acted quickly and defeated the three generals defending Shanggui, making Sima Yi turn around and go back. Niu Jin (牛金) was sent with a small cavalry detachment to Mount Qi to aid the two officers there. 

As Sima Yi returned to Shanggui, Zhuge Liang’s forces retreated to Lu Castle without a fight and began to fortify their position on the hills. Sima Yi set up his camp on a nearby mountain, but looking at the formidable defense of Zhuge Liang, he did not want to risk an attack. Jia Xu and Wei Ping wished to give battle and requested many times, saying to Sima Yi,

“Our lord is fearful of Shu as if they are a tiger, what will you do if you become heaven’s laughingstock?”

Falling under the pressure, Sima Yi ordered Zhang He (張郃) to attack Wang Ping (何平) further south, while he led the main body of troops to Lu Castle. Gao Xiang (高翔), Wei Yan (魏延), and Wu Ban (吳班) sallied out of Lu Castle and defeated Sima Yi, the Wei forces losing around 8,000 soldiers in the battle, along with a trove of supplies. Zhang He also could not make any progress against Wang Ping and retreated.

Wei Ping and Jia Xu do not make any further appearances.

SGZ 16, 35,  ZZTJ 69, 72, JS 1

Huge credit to threestatesrecords.com for the translation of Su Ze’s quote which I shamelessly ripped in its entirety. It can be found here: https://threestatesrecords.com/2022/02/19/16-2-su-ze/

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Zhao Lei & Guan Ping

ZHAO LEI (趙累)

(? ~ 219?)

GUAN PING (關平)

(? ~ 219)

Zhao Lei was a subordinate under the Shu general Guan Yu (關羽).

Guan Ping was a son of Guan Yu, and he is a native of Jie County, Hedong Commandery, Sili.

When Guan Yu first surrounded Fan Castle, he had a dream where a boar bit his foot. He said to Guan Ping, 

“I have become weaker this year, I will not be able to return from this.” 

In the 12th month of 219, during Wu’s Invasion of Jing Province, Guan Yu, Guan Ping, and Area Commander Zhao Lei were escaping from Mai Castle after Guan Yu’s recent defeat at Fan Castle. Wu officer, Ma Zhong (馬忠) ambushed them at Zhangxiang and successfully captured all three.

Although Guan Yu and Guan Ping were executed, Zhao Lei’s fate is unknown.

SGZ 36, 47, 55,  ZZTJ 68

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Ji Yong

JI YONG (季雍)

(? ~ ?)

Ji Yong was from Ganling State, Ji Province.

In the early 190s, Ji Yong served under Yuan Shao (袁紹), but he defected to Gongsun Zan (公孫瓚), taking Shu County with him. Gongsun Zan sent reinforcements to solidify his hold of the county while Yuan Shao quickly sent Zhu Ling (朱靈) to take it back.

Zhu Ling hailed from Shu County, and knowing this, Ji Yong held Zhu Ling’s family hostage. Gongsun Zan ordered Zhu Ling’s mother and younger brother to be brought to the castle wall in order to call upon Zhu Ling.

Zhu Ling, with tears in his eyes, said,

“This man has already come out once, and entrusted himself to another, how could he again look back upon family matters!” 

He then reluctantly attacked the castle — Ji Yong executed his family. The castle eventually fell and Ji Yong was captured. 

Nothing further is recorded about Ji Yong.

SGZ 17

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Duan Wei

DUAN WEI (段煨) STYLED ZHONGMING (忠明)

(? ~ 209)

Duan Wei hailed from Wuwei Commandery, Liang Province, and was a subordinate of Dong Zhuo (董卓). 

In 191, Dong Zhuo pulled out of Luoyang after suffering many defeats from the coalition against him. He left General of the Household Duan Wei, Niu Fu (牛輔). and Dong Yue (董越) to defend Huayin, Anyi, and Mianchi Counties respectively. Even after Dong Zhuo’s demise, Duan Wei continued to rule over Huayin independently as the General Who Guards Distant Lands. He promoted agriculture and generally treated the people well. He and Zhang Chang (張昶) set up a stele commemorating his repair work at a local temple to Mount Hua.

In 195, Emperor Xian along with many of his followers were fleeing from Chang’an to Luoyang. Li Jue (李傕) and Guo Si’s (郭汜) forces were in hot pursuit, leading to the Emperor stumbling into Huayin County. Now the Pacifying General, Duan Wei gave clothes and supplies to the Emperor and requested the Emperor to visit his camp. But Duan Wei quite quickly got into a quarrel with one of the Emperor’s generals, Yang Ding (楊定). Yang Ding, along with Zhong Ji (种輯) claimed that Duan Wei was planning to betray the Emperor, but many officials such as Yang Biao (楊彪) and Yang Shao (梁紹) countered their arguments. Yang Ding attacked Duan Wei’s camp on his own, however, after ten or so days, Duan Wei still held firm. Li Jue and Guo Si offered to reinforce Duan Wei, but he turned the offer down. The Emperor forced Yang Ding and Duan Wei to stop fighting.

As Li Jue and Guo Si began to arrive in Huayin, Dong Cheng (董承), and Yang Feng (楊奉) convinced the Emperor that Duan Wei was in league with Guo Si, and thus, the Emperor’s entourage soon left Huayin. Without any ill intentions, Duan Wei gave food to the imperial entourage and sent them on their way. Yang Ding, cut off from the rest of the entourage due to Guo Si’s forces, fled to Jing Province.

Jia Xu (賈詡) who recently just left Li Jue came to Duan Wei. Even though Duan Wei felt uneasy with Jia Xu, he still looked after him. Jia Xu took the hint of Duan Wei’s uneasiness and left to serve under Zhang Xiu (張繡), Duan Wei looked after his family. 

Dong Yu (董遇) and his brother also took refuge under Duan Wei during the turmoil of the time.

In 198, Duan Wei and Pei Mao (裴茂) were sent by Cao Cao (曹操) to attack Li Jue. They had him, along with his entire clan killed. Duan Wei was appointed to General Who Pacifies the South, and he became the Marquis of Wenxiang.

Duan Wei continued service in the Han court, serving as Minister Herald. He died due to illness in 209.

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"South-eastern winds! Zhuge Liang, he is a devil!"

Were fire tactics common in the Three Kingdoms era? The novel makes it seem so, but the novel isn't a 100% historical account. And what did they use for fire tactics? Torches? Oil pots? I see a lot of "uses bomb" and "use combustibles" mentioned as well and I'm just curious as to what they are specifically.

Fire was a very common weapon. Although a few battles are famous for its use, it was involved in a lot of them. Although it should be clarified that the intention of these attacks wasn’t to burn a bunch of people alive - that would be impractical. Instead, fires were set to destroy camps and supplies (can’t fight without those) and deny access to a given area (hard to advance through fire).

I’m not sure exactly what the Han used in these circumstances. Pitch, oil, tar, napthalene, etc. were commonly used in the ancient world for this purpose. But dry grass would do in a pinch. I’m not sure what the Han custom was, though.

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RIP Cao Cao, Wu-di of Wei

When first I was recommended Filial and Incorrupt, I realized I had no reputation as a scholar recluse. I was afraid men would look upon me as someone of no more than ordinary ability, so I sought to make a name for myself by good work in government.

In Ji'nan, therefore, I destroyed oppression and drove out evil, and I believe that all the recommendations I made for appointment or promotion were justified. Because of this, however, I made enemies of powerful men. I was afraid I would bring misfortune to my family, and so I pleaded sick and went back home.

I was, at that, time still young. I built a fine house fifty leagues east of Qiao, and I proposed to read books in autumn and summer, and shoot and hunt in winter and spring. That was my plan for twenty years: to wait until the empire was reformed, then come out from retirement to accept some appointment.

But things did not work out that way, and I was called to the capital and appointed Colonel Who Arranges the Army. Again I changed my ideas, and now sought to work for the nation, to destroy rebels and gain some achievement. I would have had the stone tablet at the gate of my tomb inscribed with the words, ‘The former General Who Subdues the West, Marquis Cao of the Han.’ This was my whole ambition.

Then came the trouble with Dong Zhuo, and I raised loyal troops. And later I took over in Yan province; and I destroyed or brought to surrender three hundred thousand Yellow Turbans; and I attacked the rebel Yuan Shu and caused him to die poor and ruined; and I destroyed Yuan Shao and exposed the heads of his two sons; and I also dealt with Liu Biao.

So I have pacified the empire. I am the chief. I have the utmost honor a subject can hold, far beyond my former hopes. Supposing I had not been here, who can say how many men would have claimed the imperial title or how many would have sought to rule as kings?

It may be, however, that as some people see how my power has grown, and recognize that I am not the sort of man to trust indefinitely on the favor of Heaven. I am concerned lest they misjudge me, and say I have ambitions for the throne.

So I now reveal my true feelings, with words from the bottom of my heart.

On the other hand, should anyone suggest that I give up my army, hand over my power, and retire to my fief at Wuping, then that just cannot be. Quite simply, I am afraid I should be harmed as soon as I left the protection of my troops; and I want to arrange that even my children and grandchildren shall be secure.

Should I be destroyed, moreover, the whole realm will be in danger. I am not prepared to give up my life for a meaningless reputation.

All the same, at present I hold a fief of four counties with a pension from thirty thousand households; what have I done to deserve so much? Since the rivers and lake-lands of the south are not yet settled, I cannot leave my post, but I can certainly give up my cities and lands. I therefore hand back the three counties of Yangxia, Zhe and Ku, with twenty thousand households, keeping only the income from ten thousand households in Wuping. This way, I reduce opportunity for rumor and slander, and I relieve myself of some responsibilities.