Dynasty Warriors 8
Character List
Table:
Wei
Wu
Shu
Jin
Other

Cai Wenji
Daqiao
Bao Sanniang
Deng Ai
Chen Gong**

Cao Cao
Ding Feng
Fa Zheng**
Guo Huai
Diaochan

Cao Pi
Gan Ning
Guan Ping
Jia Chong*
Dong Zhuo

Cao Ren
Han Dang*
Guan Suo
Sima Shi
Lu Bu

Dian Wei
Huang Gai
Guan Xing*
Sima Yi
Lu Lingqi**

Guo Jia
Lianshi
Guan Yinping*
Sima Zhao
Meng Huo

Jia Xu
Ling Tong
Guan Yu
Wang Yuanji
Yuan Shao

Li Dian*
Lu Meng
Huang Zhong
Wen Yang*
Zhang Jiao

Pang De
Lu Su*
Jiang Wei
Xiahou Ba
Zhurong

Wang Yi
Lu Xun
Liu Bei
Zhang Chunhua*
Zuo Ci

Xiahou Dun
Sun Ce
Liu Shan
Zhong Hui

Xiahou Yuan
Sun Jian
Ma Chao
Zhuge Dan

Xu Huang
Sun Quan
Ma Dai

Xu Zhu
Sun Shangxiang
Pang Tong

Xun Yu***
Taishi Ci
Wei Yan

Yu Jin**
Xiaoqiao
Xingcai

Yue Jin*
Zhou Tai
Xu Shu

Zhang He
Zhou Yu
Yueying

Zhang Liao
Zhu Ran**
Zhang Bao*

Zhenji

Zhang Fei

Taking into account the table and the supporting text listed.

Provide an answer to this question: Who was the Jin of the Wei who was a hit by a stray arrow during a battle against Lü Bu in the late 190s ? Respond with the correct answer (omit explanations) in JSON format as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Use only the information given.

Wei ( 220-266 ) , also known as Cao Wei , was one of the three major states that competed for supremacy over China in the Three Kingdoms period ( 220-280 ) . With its capital initially located at Xuchang , and thereafter Luoyang , the state was established by Cao Pi in 220 , based upon the foundations laid by his father , Cao Cao , towards the end of the Eastern Han dynasty . The name Wei first became associated with Cao Cao when he was named the Duke of Wei by the Eastern Han government in 213 , and became the name of the state when Cao Pi proclaimed himself emperor in 220 . Historians often add the prefix Cao to distinguish it from other Chinese states known as Wei , such as Wei of the Warring States period and Northern Wei of the Northern and Southern dynasties . The authority of the ruling Cao family dramatically weakened in the aftermath of the deposal and execution of Cao Shuang and his siblings , the former being one of the regents for the third Wei emperor , Cao Fang , with state authority gradually falling into the hands of Sima Yi , another Wei regent , and his family , from 249 onwards . The last Wei emperors would remain largely as puppet rulers under the control of the Simas until Sima Yi 's grandson , Sima Yan , forced the last Wei ruler , Cao Huan , to abdicate the throne and established the Jin dynasty .
Wu ( 222-280 ) , commonly known as Dong Wu ( Eastern Wu ) or Sun Wu , was one of the three major states that competed for supremacy over China in the Three Kingdoms period ( 220-280 ) . It previously existed from 220-222 as a vassal kingdom nominally under Cao Wei , its rival state , but declared independence from Wei and became a sovereign state in 222 . It became an empire in 229 after its founding ruler , Sun Quan , declared himself emperor . Its name was derived from the place it was based in - the Jiangnan ( Yangtze River Delta ) region , which was also historically known as Wu . It was referred to as Dong Wu ( Eastern Wu ) or Sun Wu by historians to distinguish it from other Chinese historical states with similar names which were also located in that region , such as the Wu state in the Spring and Autumn period and the Wuyue kingdom in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period . It was called Eastern Wu because it occupied most of eastern China in the Three Kingdoms period , and Sun Wu because the family name of its rulers was Sun . During its existence , Wu 's capital was at Jianye ( present-day Nanjing , Jiangsu ) , but at times it was also at Wuchang ( 武昌 ; present-day Ezhou , Hubei ) .
Han ( 漢 ; 221-263 ) , known in historiography as Shu Han ( 蜀漢 ; often shortened to Shu ; [ ʂù xân ] ( listen ) ) or Ji Han ( 季漢 ) , was one of the three major states that competed for supremacy over China in the Three Kingdoms period ( 220-280 ) . The state was based in the area around present-day Sichuan and Chongqing , which was historically known as Shu after an earlier state in Sichuan named Shu . Shu Han 's founder Liu Bei had named his state Han as he considered it the legitimate successor to the Han dynasty , while Shu is added to the name as a geographical prefix to differentiate it from the many Han states throughout Chinese history .
The Jin dynasty or the Jin Empire ( /dʒɪn/ ; Chinese : 晉朝 ; pinyin : Jìn Cháo , sometimes distinguished as the Sima Jin ( 司馬晉 ) or Liang Jin ( 兩晉 , Two Jins ) was a Chinese dynasty traditionally dated from 266 to 420 AD . It was founded by Sima Yan , son of Sima Zhao , who was made the King of Jin and posthumously declared one of the founders of the dynasty , along with Sima Zhao 's older brother Sima Shi and father Sima Yi . It followed the Three Kingdoms period ( 220-280 AD ) , which ended with the conquest of Eastern Wu by Jin , culminating in the reunification of China . There are two main divisions in the history of the dynasty . The Western Jin ( 266-316 ) was established as a successor state to Cao Wei after Sima Yan usurped the throne and had its capital at Luoyang and later Chang'an ( modern Xi'an ) ; Western Jin reunited China in 280 but fairly shortly thereafter fell into a succession crisis , the War of the Eight Princes and suffered from the invasions instigated by the Five Barbarians ( Wu Hu ) . The rebels and invaders began to establish new self-proclaimed states along the Yellow River valley in 304 , inaugurating the Sixteen Kingdoms era . These states immediately began fighting each other and the Jin Empire , leading to the second division of the dynasty , the Eastern Jin ( 317-420 ) , when Sima Rui moved the capital to Jiankang ( modern Nanjing ) . The Eastern Jin dynasty was eventually overthrown by Liu Yu and replaced with the Liu Song in 420 .
Cai Yan ( c. 178 - post 206 ; or c. 170-215 ; or died c. 249 ) , courtesy name Wenji , was a poet and musician who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China . She was the daughter of Cai Yong . Her courtesy name was originally Zhaoji , but was changed to Wenji during the Jin dynasty to avoid naming taboo because the Chinese character for zhao in her courtesy name is the same as that in the name of Sima Zhao , the father of the Jin dynasty 's founding emperor , Sima Yan . She spent part of her life as a captive of the Xiongnu until 207 , when the warlord Cao Cao , who controlled the Han central government in the final years of the Eastern Han dynasty , paid a heavy ransom to bring her back to Han territory .
The Two Qiaos of Jiangdong ( traditional Chinese : 江東二橋 ; simplified Chinese : 江东二桥 ; pinyin : Jiāngdōng èr Qiáo ) were two sisters of the Qiao family who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China .
Bao Sanniang is a possibly fictional character of the Three Kingdoms period of China . She appears primarily in Chinese opera and plays , and is usually portrayed as a brave woman warrior and as the wife of Guan Suo , a possibly fictitious son of Guan Yu . Proud of her warrior training , she refused marriage until he defeated her in a duel . A tomb in Guangyuan , Sichuan , was built for her .
Deng Ai ( 197 - March 264 ) , courtesy name Shizai , was a Chinese military general and politician of the state of Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China . He is best known for his pivotal role in the Wei conquest of its rival state , Shu , in 263 . He was described as a very loyal subject who made great contributions to Wei , but was also noted for his arrogance and audacity , which led to his downfall and death . Born in a peasant family , Deng Ai started his career as a minor agricultural officer . Sometime between 235 and 239 , he met Sima Yi , who recognised his talent and gave him a higher position in the civil service . Around this time , he also wrote a proposal on starting agricultural works in the Huai River region , and received credit for his ideas . Deng Ai gained greater prominence in Wei from 249 onwards after he joined the Wei general Guo Huai in stopping a Shu invasion . He also advised the regent Sima Shi on some issues . In 255 , he participated in the suppression of a rebellion started by the generals Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin , and was promoted to the status of a top general . From 255 to 262 , he defended Wei 's western borders in present-day Gansu from multiple incursions by the Shu forces led by the general Jiang Wei . Deng Ai reached the pinnacle of his career in 263 , when he led Wei forces to conquer Shu . By leading a strike force through a shortcut across dangerous mountainous terrain , Deng Ai showed up in the vicinity of the Shu capital , Chengdu , and took the enemy by surprise .
Chen Gong ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( died 7 February 199 ) , [ a ] courtesy name Gongtai , was an adviser to the warlord Lü Bu in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China . However , he had started his career under another warlord , Cao Cao , before defecting to Lü Bu . He was executed along with Lü Bu after Cao Cao defeated Lü Bu at the Battle of Xiapi . Chen Gong was given a positive makeover in the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms , which romanticises the events before and during the Three Kingdoms period . In the novel , Chen Gong initially held office as a minor magistrate under the Han government , but he gave up his job after deciding to follow Cao Cao , who was then on the run after attempting to assassinate Dong Zhuo , a tyrannical warlord who was holding the Emperor hostage . However , after witnessing Cao Cao killing Lü Boshe , he secretly left Cao Cao and ultimately joined Lü Bu . His eventual fate in the novel is similar to that in history .
Cao Cao ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ; [ tsʰǎu tsʰáu ] ; Chinese : 曹操 ; c. 155 - 15 March 220 ) , courtesy name Mengde , was a Chinese poet and warlord . He was the penultimate Chancellor of the Eastern Han dynasty who rose to great power in the final years of the dynasty . As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period , he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and ultimately the Jin dynasty , and was posthumously honoured as Emperor Wu of Wei . He is often portrayed as a cruel and merciless tyrant in subsequent literature ; however , he has also been praised as a brilliant ruler and military genius who treated his subordinates like his family . During the fall of the Eastern Han dynasty , Cao Cao was able to secure the most populated and prosperous cities of the central plains and northern China . Cao Cao had much success as the Han chancellor , but his handling of the Han Emperor Xian was heavily criticised and resulted in a continued and then escalated civil war . Opposition directly gathered around warlords Liu Bei and Sun Quan , whom Cao Cao was unable to quell . Cao Cao was also skilled in poetry , calligraphy and martial arts and wrote many war journals .
Ding Feng ( died 271 ) , courtesy name Chengyuan , was a military general of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of China .
Fa Zheng ( 176-220 ) , courtesy name Xiaozhi , was a key adviser to the warlord Liu Bei in the late Eastern Han dynasty . Born in a family of high social status and of noble descent , Fa Zheng travelled to Yi Province ( covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing ) in the late 190s and became a subordinate of Liu Zhang , the provincial governor . However , his feelings of alienation and perception of Liu Zhang as an incompetent governor eventually led him to betray Liu Zhang and defect to Liu Bei in 211 . Between 211 and 214 , Fa Zheng assisted Liu Bei in overcoming Liu Zhang and seizing control of Yi Province , and became one of Liu Bei 's most trusted advisers . In 217 , he urged Liu Bei to launch the Hanzhong Campaign to capture the strategic Hanzhong Commandery from a rival warlord , Cao Cao , but died a year after Liu emerged victorious in the campaign . Fa Zheng 's keen foresight and brilliance in formulating strategies earned him praise from his contemporaries such as Zhuge Liang and Chen Shou . In less than a decade serving under Liu , Fa showed an near unmatched sense of timing where military geniuses like Cao Cao and his best advisers fell victim to his schemes . However , he was also notorious for his vindictive personality . When he held office , he abused his power by taking revenge against those who had offended him before , and by killing them without reason . Nevertheless , he was still highly regarded and trusted by Liu Bei - to the point where Zhuge Liang once said that Fa Zheng might have been the only person capable of preventing Liu Bei from starting the disastrous Battle of Xiaoting in 221 if he were still alive .
Guo Huai ( died 23 February 255 ) , [ a ] courtesy name Boji , was a military general of the state of Cao Wei ( or Wei ) during the Three Kingdoms period of China . He started his career towards the end of the Eastern Han dynasty under the warlord Cao Cao as a subordinate of Cao Cao 's generals Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He . During the Three Kingdoms period , he served in Wei , the state established by Cao Cao 's son Cao Pi , and lived through the reigns of four Wei emperors ( Cao Pi , Cao Rui , Cao Fang and Cao Mao ) . From the 220s until his death in 255 , he governed and defended Wei 's western borders in Yong and Liang provinces ( covering parts of present-day Gansu , Shaanxi , Ningxia , Qinghai and Inner Mongolia ) . During this time , he resisted multiple invasions by Wei 's rival state , Shu Han , and quelled some rebellions by local Qiang , Di and other non-Han Chinese tribes .
Diaochan was one of the Four Beauties of ancient China . Unlike the other three beauties , however , there is no known evidence for her existence ; she is mostly a fictional character . She is best known for her role in the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms , which romanticises the events in the late Eastern Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period . In the novel , she has a romance with the warrior Lü Bu and causes him to betray and kill his foster father , the tyrannical warlord Dong Zhuo . Chinese historical records indicate that Lü Bu had a secret affair with one of Dong Zhuo 's maids and he constantly feared that Dong Zhuo would find out . This was one of the reasons why he betrayed and assassinated Dong Zhuo in 192 . The maid 's name was not recorded in history , however . The name Diaochan , which literally means sable cicada , is believed to have been derived from the sable tails and jade decorations in the shape of cicadas which adorned the hats of high-ranking officials in the Eastern Han dynasty .
Cao Pi ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( c. 187 - 29 June 226 ) , courtesy name Zihuan , was the first emperor of the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period of China . He was the second son of Cao Cao , a warlord who lived in the late Eastern Han dynasty , but the eldest son among all the children born to Cao Cao by his concubine ( later wife ) , Lady Bian . According to some historical records , he was often in the presence of court officials in order to gain their support . [ citation needed ] He was mostly in charge of defence [ clarification needed ] at the start of his career . After the defeat of Cao Cao 's rival Yuan Shao at the Battle of Guandu , he took Yuan Xi 's widow , Lady Zhen , as a concubine , but in 221 Lady Zhen died and Guo Nüwang became empress . On 25 November 220 , Cao Pi forced Emperor Xian , the last ruler of the Eastern Han dynasty , to abdicate in his favour , after which on 11 December 220 he proclaimed himself emperor and established the state of Cao Wei . Cao Pi continued the wars against the states of Shu Han and Eastern Wu , founded by his father 's rivals Liu Bei and Sun Quan respectively , but did not make significant territorial gain in the battles . Unlike his father , Cao Pi concentrated most of his efforts on internal administration rather than on waging wars against his rivals . During his reign , he formally established Chen Qun 's nine-rank system as the base for civil service nomination , which drew many talents into his government . On the other hand , he drastically reduced the power of princes , stripping off their power to oppose him , but at the same time , rendering them unable to assist the emperor if a crisis arose within the state . After Cao Pi 's death , his successor Cao Rui granted him the posthumous name Emperor Wen and the temple name Shizu . Cao Pi was also an accomplished poet and scholar , just like his father Cao Cao and his younger brother Cao Zhi .
Gan Ning ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( fl . 180s-210s [ a ] ) , courtesy name Xingba , was a military general serving under the warlord Sun Quan in the late Eastern Han dynasty . Originally a notorious pirate , he gave up the life of a marauder in the late 190s and became a subordinate of Huang Zu , the Administrator of a commandery in present-day east-central Hubei . Disheartened by Huang Zu 's indifferent attitude towards him , Gan Ning eventually left Huang and made his way into Wu territory ( present-day eastern and southeastern China ) , where he found his calling and became a military officer under the warlord Sun Quan . Throughout his years of service under Sun Quan until his death , Gan Ning fought in numerous battles for his lord , including the battles of Jiangxia ( 208 ) , Red Cliffs ( 208-209 ) , Xiaoyao Ford ( 214-215 ) and Ruxu ( 217 ) .
Guan Ping ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( died January or February 220 ) [ a ] was a military general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China .
Jia Chong ( 217-282 ) , courtesy name Gonglü , was an official who lived during the late Three Kingdoms period and early Jin dynasty of China . He started his career as an advisor to Sima Shi and Sima Zhao , the regents of the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms era , and subsequently served as an official in the court of Sima Zhao 's son , Sima Yan ( Emperor Wu ) , after the establishment of the Jin dynasty .
Dong Zhuo ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( died 22 May 192 ) , courtesy name Zhongying , [ a ] was a military general and warlord who lived in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China . He seized control of the capital Luoyang in 189 when it entered a state of turmoil following the death of Emperor Ling of Han and a massacre of the eunuch faction by the court officials led by General-in-Chief He Jin . Dong Zhuo subsequently deposed Liu Bian ( Emperor Shao ) and replaced him with the puppet Emperor Xian of Han . Dong Zhuo 's rule was brief and characterized by cruelty and tyranny . In the following year , a coalition of regional officials and warlords launched a campaign against him . Failing to stop the coalition forces , Dong Zhuo sacked Luoyang and relocated further west to Chang'an . He was assassinated soon after in 192 by his subordinate Lü Bu in a plot orchestrated by Interior Minister Wang Yun .
Cao Ren ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( 168 - 6 May 223 ) , [ a ] courtesy name Zixiao , was a military general serving during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China under the warlord Cao Cao , who was also his older second cousin . He continued serving in the state of Cao Wei - founded by Cao Cao 's son and successor , Cao Pi - during the Three Kingdoms period . He played a significant part in assisting Cao Cao in the civil wars leading to the end of the Han dynasty . He was appointed as the Grand Marshal ( 大司馬 ) when Cao Pi ascended the throne , and was also credited by the latter for the establishment of Wei . However , Cao Ren was also once derided as a mediocre commander by Zhu Huan , a general from Wei 's rival state Eastern Wu .
Han Dang ( died 227 ) , courtesy name Yigong , was a military general serving under the warlord Sun Quan during the late Eastern Han dynasty and early Three Kingdoms period of China . He previously served under Sun Quan 's predecessors - Sun Jian ( Sun Quan 's father ) and Sun Ce ( Sun Quan 's elder brother ) .
Guan Suo is a fictional character of the Three Kingdoms period of China . He is often depicted as the third son of the general Guan Yu . He is not mentioned in historical records , and appears only in folk tales and in the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms . He was said to have served in the state of Shu Han as a military general .
Sima Shi ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( 208 - 23 March 255 ) , courtesy name Ziyuan , was a military general and regent of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China . In 249 , he assisted his father Sima Yi in overthrowing the emperor Cao Fang 's regent Cao Shuang , allowing the Sima family to become paramount authority in the state , and he inherited his father 's authority after his father 's death in 251 . He maintained a tight grip on the political scene and , when the emperor , Cao Fang , considered action against him in 254 , had him deposed and replaced with his cousin , Cao Mao . This tight grip eventually allowed him to , at the time of his death in 255 after just having quelled a rebellion , transition his power to his younger brother , Sima Zhao , whose son Sima Yan eventually usurped the throne and established the Jin dynasty . After Sima Yan became emperor , he , recognising Sima Shi 's role in his own imperial status , posthumously honoured his uncle as Emperor Jing of Jin ( 景帝 ) , with the temple name Shizong ( 世宗 ) .
Lü Bu ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( died 7 February 199 ) , [ a ] courtesy name Fengxian , was a military general and warlord who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty of Imperial China . Originally a subordinate of a minor warlord Ding Yuan , he betrayed and murdered Ding and defected to Dong Zhuo , the warlord who controlled the Han central government in the early 190s . In 192 , he turned against Dong Zhuo and killed him after being instigated by Wang Yun and Shisun Rui , but was later defeated and driven away by Dong Zhuo 's followers . From 192 to mid-195 , Lü Bu wandered around central and northern China , consecutively seeking shelter under warlords such as Yuan Shu , Yuan Shao and Zhang Yang . In 194 , he managed to take control of Yan Province from the warlord Cao Cao with help from defectors from Cao 's side , but Cao took back his territories within two years . In 196 , Lü Bu turned against Liu Bei , who had offered him refuge in Xu Province , and seized control of the province from his host . Although he had agreed to an alliance with Yuan Shu earlier , he severed ties with him after Yuan declared himself emperor - treason against Emperor Xian of Han - and joined Cao and others in attacking the pretender . However , in 198 , he sided with Yuan Shu again and came under attack by the combined forces of Cao and Liu , resulting in his defeat at the Battle of Xiapi in 199 . He was captured and executed on Cao 's order . Although Lü Bu is described in historical and fictional sources as an exceptionally mighty warrior , he was also notorious for his temperamental behaviour . He switched allegiances erratically and freely betrayed his allies , and was noted for his poor planning and management skills . He was always suspicious of others and could not control his subordinates .
Dian Wei ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( died February or March 197 ) [ a ] was a military officer serving under the warlord Cao Cao in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China . Famed for his enormous strength , Dian Wei excelled at wielding a pair of jis ( a halberd-like weapon ) , each of which was said to weigh 40 jin . He was killed in action at the Battle of Wancheng while covering Cao Cao 's escape from Zhang Xiu 's forces .
Huang Gai ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( fl . 180s-210s ) , courtesy name Gongfu , was a military general who served under the warlord Sun Quan during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China . He previously served under Sun Quan 's predecessors - Sun Jian ( Sun Quan 's father ) and Sun Ce ( Sun Quan 's elder brother ) .
Guan Xing ( fl . third century ) , courtesy name Anguo , was an official of the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period of China . He was the second son of Guan Yu and a younger brother of Guan Ping . Little information about Guan Xing is found in historical records . The biography of Guan Yu in the Records of the Three Kingdoms contains only a few lines on Guan Xing . In his youth , Guan Xing was knowledgeable , and Zhuge Liang saw him as an exceptional talent . When he reached adulthood ( around 19 years old ) , he served as an official in Shu Han , but died some years later . Guan Xing held the peerage of the Marquis of Hanshou Village ( 漢壽亭侯 ) , which he inherited from his father . His cause of death was not documented . He had two known sons - Guan Tong ( 關統 ) and Guan Yi ( 關彝 ) . Guan Xing appears as a character in the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms , in which he plays a significant role after the death of his father .
Sima Yi ( pronunciation ( help·info ) Chinese : 司馬懿 ; 179 - 7 September 251 ) , courtesy name Zhongda , was a Chinese military general , politician , and regent of the state of Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China . He formally began his political career in 208 under the Han dynasty 's Imperial Chancellor Cao Cao ; [ a ] quickly rising through the ranks . His success in both handling domestic and military affairs , such as in governance and the promotion of agriculture , serving as a capable adviser , repelling incursions and invasions led by Shu and Wu forces , speedily crushing Meng Da 's rebellion , and conquering the Gongsun-led Liaodong commandery , all managed to garner him great prestige over the decades . He is perhaps best known for defending Wei from a series of invasions between 231 and 234 led by Wei 's rival state Shu . In 239 , he was made to preside as a regent for the young Cao Fang - after the latter 's adoptive father , Cao Rui , had died - along with another co-regent , Cao Shuang . Although amicable at first , the relationship soon deteriorated in light of Cao Shuang 's corruption , extravagance , and attempts to curtail Sima Yi 's political influence . In 249 , after carefully planning and building up support , he ousted Cao Shuang from power in a coup d'état and had him and his associates executed . Sima Yi would go on to serve as the de facto primary authority in Wei after this event , although in 251 he faced some opposition in the form of Wang Ling 's rebellion , which he swiftly dealt with . He died later that year , on 7 September 251 , at the age of 71 or ( more likely ) 72 , with his eldest son , Sima Shi , succeeding his position . For the remainder of Wei 's history , state power would increasingly rest in the hands of the Sima clan , which paved the way for the establishment of the Jin dynasty , which was founded by Sima Yi 's grandson , Sima Yan , in 266 . After Sima Yan became emperor , he honoured his grandfather with the posthumous title Emperor Xuan of Jin ( 宣皇帝 ) and the temple name Gaozu ( 高祖 ) .
Lü Bu ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( died 7 February 199 ) , [ a ] courtesy name Fengxian , was a military general and warlord who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty of Imperial China . Originally a subordinate of a minor warlord Ding Yuan , he betrayed and murdered Ding and defected to Dong Zhuo , the warlord who controlled the Han central government in the early 190s . In 192 , he turned against Dong Zhuo and killed him after being instigated by Wang Yun and Shisun Rui , but was later defeated and driven away by Dong Zhuo 's followers . From 192 to mid-195 , Lü Bu wandered around central and northern China , consecutively seeking shelter under warlords such as Yuan Shu , Yuan Shao and Zhang Yang . In 194 , he managed to take control of Yan Province from the warlord Cao Cao with help from defectors from Cao 's side , but Cao took back his territories within two years . In 196 , Lü Bu turned against Liu Bei , who had offered him refuge in Xu Province , and seized control of the province from his host . Although he had agreed to an alliance with Yuan Shu earlier , he severed ties with him after Yuan declared himself emperor - treason against Emperor Xian of Han - and joined Cao and others in attacking the pretender . However , in 198 , he sided with Yuan Shu again and came under attack by the combined forces of Cao and Liu , resulting in his defeat at the Battle of Xiapi in 199 . He was captured and executed on Cao 's order . Although Lü Bu is described in historical and fictional sources as an exceptionally mighty warrior , he was also notorious for his temperamental behaviour . He switched allegiances erratically and freely betrayed his allies , and was noted for his poor planning and management skills . He was always suspicious of others and could not control his subordinates .
Guo Jia ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( 170-207 ) , [ a ] courtesy name Fengxiao , was an adviser to the warlord Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China . Throughout his 11 years of service , Guo Jia aided Cao Cao greatly with his brilliance and foresight , and his strategies were instrumental to Cao Cao 's triumphs over rival warlords such as Lü Bu and Yuan Shao . For example , four years before Cao Cao 's decisive victory over Yuan Shao at the Battle of Guandu , Guo Jia already foresaw that Cao Cao would win when he pointed out ten advantages Cao Cao had over Yuan Shao .
Lady Bu ( died 238 ) , [ a ] personal name Bu Lianshi , was a concubine of Sun Quan , the founding emperor of the state of Eastern Wu in the Three Kingdoms period of China . She has posthumously been honoured as an empress by Sun Quan . She is also known as Empress Bu .
Guan Yu ( [ kwán ỳ ] ( listen ) ; died January or February 220 ) , [ a ] courtesy name Yunchang , was a general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China . Along with Zhang Fei , he shared a brotherly relationship with Liu Bei and accompanied him on most of his early exploits . Guan Yu played a significant role in the events leading up to the end of the Han dynasty and the establishment of Liu Bei 's state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period . While he is remembered for his loyalty towards Liu Bei , he is also known for repaying Cao Cao 's kindness by slaying Yan Liang , a general under Cao Cao 's rival Yuan Shao , at the Battle of Boma . After Liu Bei gained control of Yi Province in 214 , Guan Yu remained in Jing Province to govern and defend the area for about seven years . In 219 , while he was away fighting Cao Cao 's forces at the Battle of Fancheng , Liu Bei 's ally Sun Quan broke the Sun-Liu alliance and sent his general Lü Meng to conquer Liu Bei 's territories in Jing Province . By the time Guan Yu found out about the loss of Jing Province after his defeat at Fancheng , it was too late . He was subsequently captured in an ambush by Sun Quan 's forces and executed . Guan Yu 's life was lionised and his achievements glorified to such an extent after his death that he was deified during the Sui dynasty . Through generations of story telling , culminating in the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms , his deeds and moral qualities have been given immense emphasis , making Guan Yu one of East Asia 's most popular paradigms of loyalty and righteousness . He is still worshipped by many Chinese people today in mainland China , Taiwan , Tibet , Hong Kong and among many overseas Chinese communities . In religious devotion he is reverentially called the Divus Guan ( Guān Dì ) or Lord Guan ( Guān Gōng ) .
Sima Zhao ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( 211 - 6 September 265 ) , courtesy name Zishang , was a Chinese military general , politician , and regent of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China . Sima Zhao capably maintained control of Wei , which had been seized by his father Sima Yi and previously maintained by his older brother Sima Shi , successfully crushing all internal opposition in the form of dissent and rebellion . In 263 , despite opposition , he decided to take advantage of the present weakness in Shu Han to the west and launched an invasion against it , which eventually managed to convince its emperor , Liu Shan , towards formally surrendering , tipping the decades-long established balance of power decisively in Wei 's favor . Towards the end of the campaign , he had himself created the Duke of Jin and accepted the Nine bestowments - a step that put him closer to usurpation of the throne - although he never actually ascended the throne , having further styled himself the King of Jin in 264 , and then died in 265 . His military credit and successful grip on the political scene helped to set up the plot of overthrowing Wei by his son , Sima Yan , who usurped the Wei throne and proclaimed the Jin dynasty with himself as its emperor in 266 . After the establishment of Jin , Sima Yan posthumously honoured his father as Emperor Wen of Jin ( 晉文帝 ) , with the temple name of Taizu ( 太祖 ) . A Chinese idiom involving and inspired by Sima Zhao states that Everyone on the street knows what 's in Sima Zhao 's mind ( 司馬昭之心 , 路人皆知 ) , meaning that a person 's supposed hidden intention ( in this case , usurping the throne ) is so well known that it is not really hidden . It came from a quote by Cao Mao , fourth emperor of Wei , who launched an unsuccessful uprising against Sima Zhao in an attempt to take back imperial power .
Meng Huo was popularly regarded as a local leader representing the gentries of the Nanzhong region during the Three Kingdoms period of China . The Nanzhong region part of the territories of the state of Shu Han . When the Shu Han emperor Liu Bei died in 223 CE , the local people of Nanzhong rebelled against Shu Han , stating that there were three lords claiming to be the legitimate ruler of China and they no longer knew whom they should pledge allegiance to . In retaliation , the Shu Han chancellor Zhuge Liang launched an invasion on the Nanzhong region and successfully quelled the uprising . The Spring and Autumn Annals of the Han and Jin Dynasties ( 漢晉春秋 ) and the Chronicles of Huayang recorded that Zhuge Liang captured and released the local leader seven times until he finally swore allegiance to Shu Han . Meng Huo 's popular image comes from the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms , which romanticises the events before and during the Three Kingdoms period . The novel portrays Meng Huo as a southern barbarian tribal leader . He also marries the fictional Lady Zhurong , who claims descent from the fire deity Zhurong . The Yi consider Meng Huo one of their rulers and call him Mot Hop ( Yi language : ꂽꉼ ) .
Jia Xu ( 147 - 11 August 223 ) , [ a ] courtesy name Wenhe , was an official of the state of Cao Wei during the early Three Kingdoms period of China . He started his career in the late Eastern Han dynasty as a minor official . In 189 , when the warlord Dong Zhuo took control of the Han central government , he assigned Jia Xu to the unit led by Niu Fu , his son-in-law . In 192 , after Dong Zhuo was assassinated by Lü Bu , Jia Xu advised Li Jue , Guo Si and Dong Zhuo 's loyalists to fight back and seize control of the imperial capital , Chang'an , from a new central government headed by Lü Bu and Wang Yun . After Li Jue and the others defeated Lü Bu and occupied Chang'an , Jia Xu served under the central government led by them . During this time , he ensured the safety of the figurehead Han emperor , Emperor Xian , who was being held hostage by Li Jue . He also attempted to prevent internal conflict between Li Jue and Guo Si , but with limited success . After Emperor Xian escaped from Chang'an , Jia Xu left Li Jue and briefly joined the general Duan Wei before becoming a strategist of the warlord Zhang Xiu . While serving under Zhang Xiu , he advised his lord on how to counter invasions by the warlord Cao Cao , who had received Emperor Xian in 196 and taken control of the central government . In 200 , during the Battle of Guandu between Cao Cao and his rival Yuan Shao , Jia Xu urged Zhang Xiu to reject Yuan Shao 's offer to form an alliance and instead surrender to Cao Cao . Zhang Xiu heeded his advice . Jia Xu then became one of Cao Cao 's strategists .
Ling Tong ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( 189-217 ) , [ a ] courtesy name Gongji , was a military general serving under the warlord Sun Quan during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China . He started his service under Sun Quan when he was still a teenager and , throughout his entire life , had been contributing to the foundation and solidification of the state of Eastern Wu , which Sun Quan established in 229 . He fought in numerous battles for his lord , including those against Huang Zu , Liu Bei and the Shanyue tribes , but is best known for his performance in the campaigns against Sun Quan 's rival Cao Cao , in which he displayed great skill in extremely adverse situations . Ling Tong was more than just a military serviceman - he received high praise from the scholar-gentry for his gracious demeanour , bonhomie and generosity . Even though he had achieved fame and glory when he visited his hometown later in his life , he still treated commoners with utmost respect and humanity . Behind the frontline , Ling Tong conceived a strategy for dealing with and pacifying the Shanyue tribes - impressing them with a show of military might and offering them potential rewards - which led to the Wu government successfully recruiting over 10,000 Shanyue soldiers into their army and maintaining relative stability in the region . Known for his integrity and loyalty , Ling Tong , along with Lü Meng , was among Sun Quan 's most valued generals .
Guan Yu ( [ kwán ỳ ] ( listen ) ; died January or February 220 ) , [ a ] courtesy name Yunchang , was a general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China . Along with Zhang Fei , he shared a brotherly relationship with Liu Bei and accompanied him on most of his early exploits . Guan Yu played a significant role in the events leading up to the end of the Han dynasty and the establishment of Liu Bei 's state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period . While he is remembered for his loyalty towards Liu Bei , he is also known for repaying Cao Cao 's kindness by slaying Yan Liang , a general under Cao Cao 's rival Yuan Shao , at the Battle of Boma . After Liu Bei gained control of Yi Province in 214 , Guan Yu remained in Jing Province to govern and defend the area for about seven years . In 219 , while he was away fighting Cao Cao 's forces at the Battle of Fancheng , Liu Bei 's ally Sun Quan broke the Sun-Liu alliance and sent his general Lü Meng to conquer Liu Bei 's territories in Jing Province . By the time Guan Yu found out about the loss of Jing Province after his defeat at Fancheng , it was too late . He was subsequently captured in an ambush by Sun Quan 's forces and executed . Guan Yu 's life was lionised and his achievements glorified to such an extent after his death that he was deified during the Sui dynasty . Through generations of story telling , culminating in the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms , his deeds and moral qualities have been given immense emphasis , making Guan Yu one of East Asia 's most popular paradigms of loyalty and righteousness . He is still worshipped by many Chinese people today in mainland China , Taiwan , Tibet , Hong Kong and among many overseas Chinese communities . In religious devotion he is reverentially called the Divus Guan ( Guān Dì ) or Lord Guan ( Guān Gōng ) .
Wang Yuanji ( 217-268 ) was the wife of Sima Zhao , a regent of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China . She became the empress dowager during the reign of her son Sima Yan , who ended the Wei regime and founded the Jin dynasty . She was posthumously honoured as Empress Wenming ( literally civil and understanding empress ) after her death .
Yuan Shao ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( 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 . 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 .
Li Dian ( c.180 - c.217 ) , courtesy name Mancheng , was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China . He participated in the Battle of Guandu in 200 between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao . He also played a significant role in the defence of Hefei during the Battle of Xiaoyao Ford of 214-215 against the forces of Sun Quan .
Lü Meng ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( 178 - January or February 220 ) , [ a ] courtesy name Ziming , was a military general who served under the warlord Sun Quan during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China . Early in his career , he fought in several battles under the banner of Sun Ce , Sun Quan 's elder brother and predecessor . Although he had been noted for his bravery , he was still deemed as nothing more than a mere warrior for his lack of literacy skills . Later , with encouragement from Sun Quan , Lü Meng took up scholarly pursuits to improve himself , gradually becoming a learned and competent military leader . In 217 , he succeeded Lu Su as the frontline commander of Sun Quan 's forces in Jing Province . Two years later , in a carefully calculated military operation , Lü Meng led an invasion of Liu Bei 's territories in southern Jing Province , swiftly and stealthily capturing all the lands from Liu Bei 's general Guan Yu , who was captured and executed after his defeat . Lü Meng enjoyed his finest hour after the victory but died a few months later because he was already seriously ill before the campaign .
Huang Zhong ( pronunciation ( help·info ) , pinyin : Huáng Zhōng ) ( died 220 ) , courtesy name Hansheng , was a military general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China . He is best known for his victory at the Battle of Mount Dingjun in 219 , in which his force routed that of an enemy general , Xiahou Yuan , who was killed in action during the raid . Huang Zhong is portrayed in the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms and popular culture as an elderly general with youthful vigour and constitution , and as one of the Five Tiger Generals under Liu Bei .
Wen Chu ( 238-291 ) , courtesy name Ciqian , better known as Wen Yang , [ b ] was a military officer of the Jin dynasty of China . He previously served in the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period . In 255 , he participated in a rebellion in Shouchun started by his father , Wen Qin , and another Wei general , Guanqiu Jian . However , the rebellion was suppressed and Wen Qin and his family were forced to defect to Eastern Wu , Wei 's rival state . In 257 , when another rebellion broke out in Shouchun , Wen Qin and his sons led troops from Wu to support the rebel leader , Zhuge Dan . However , by 258 , when the odds were against him , Zhuge Dan became increasingly suspicious of Wen Qin and eventually executed him . Wen Yang and his younger brother , Wen Hu ( 文虎 ) , escaped from Shouchun and surrendered to the Wei regent , Sima Zhao , and assisted him in suppressing the revolt . Wen Yang continued serving under the Jin dynasty , which replaced the Wei regime in 266 , and achieved fame for leading a successful military campaign against Xianbei forces in northern China . In 291 , he was falsely accused of plotting a rebellion with Yang Jun , an ousted regent , and was arrested and executed along with his family .
Zhang Jue ( /ˈdʒɑːŋ dʒuˈeɪ/ ; died 184 ) was the leader of the Yellow Turban Rebellion during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China . He was said to be a follower of Taoism and a sorcerer . His name is sometimes read as Zhang Jiao ( /ˈdʒɑːŋ ˈdʒaʊ/ ) , since the Chinese character of Zhang 's given name can be read as either Jiao or Jue . Jue is the traditional reading , while Jiao is the modern one .
Pang De ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( died 219 ) , courtesy name Lingming , was a military general who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China . He started his career under the warlord Ma Teng , who was based in Liang Province . In 211 , Ma Teng 's son Ma Chao , along with a coalition of warlords from Liang Province , started a rebellion against the Han central government , which was controlled by the warlord Cao Cao . After Cao Cao defeated Ma Chao and the coalition at the Battle of Tong Pass , Ma Chao fled to Hanzhong Commandery and took shelter under the warlord Zhang Lu . Pang De accompanied him to Hanzhong . When Ma Chao defected from Zhang Lu 's side to another warlord Liu Bei , Pang De remained in Hanzhong and eventually came to serve Cao Cao after Cao Cao defeated Zhang Lu at the Battle of Yangping and took over Hanzhong . In 219 , Pang De fought at the Battle of Fancheng under Cao Ren 's command against Liu Bei 's forces led by Guan Yu . Pang De was captured in battle and eventually executed by Guan Yu when he refused to surrender .
Lu Su ( 172-217 ) , [ a ] courtesy name Zijing , was a Chinese military general and politician serving under the warlord Sun Quan during the late Eastern Han dynasty . In the year 200 , when Sun Quan had just taken over the reins of power , his adviser Zhou Yu recommended Lu Su as a talent to Sun Quan . As one of Sun Quan 's most important advisers in the warlord 's early career , Lu Su is best known for making some significant contributions . Firstly , in 200 he drafted a long-term strategy for Sun Quan 's power bloc to emerge as one of three major contending powers in China - a plan similar to Zhuge Liang 's Longzhong Plan , which was proposed about seven years later . Secondly , before the Battle of Red Cliffs in late 208 , he was the first person to persuade Sun Quan to ally with Liu Bei against Cao Cao . Thirdly , he succeeded Zhou Yu as the frontline commander of Sun Quan 's forces in 210 after Zhou 's death and maintained the Sun-Liu alliance . Fourthly , in 215 , he represented Sun Quan at the negotiations with Liu Bei 's general Guan Yu during the Sun-Liu territorial dispute over Jing Province .
Jiang Wei ( 202 - 3 March 264 ) , [ a ] courtesy name Boyue , was a military general of the state of Shu during the Three Kingdoms period of China . Born in Ji County ( present-day Gangu County , Gansu ) , Jiang Wei started his career as a military officer in his native Tianshui Commandery , which was a territory of the state of Wei . In 228 , when Wei 's rival state Shu launched an invasion , Jiang Wei had no choice but to defect to Shu due to the circumstances . Zhuge Liang , the Imperial Chancellor and regent of Shu , highly regarded Jiang Wei and allowed him to serve as a general in Shu . After Zhuge Liang 's death in 234 , Jiang Wei continued serving as a general during the regencies of Zhuge Liang 's successors , Jiang Wan and Fei Yi . Between 240 and 262 , he continued Zhuge Liang 's legacy of waging war against Wei by leading another 11 military campaigns . However , Jiang Wei failed to make any significant gains from the campaigns as each was ultimately aborted due to inadequate food supplies , heavy losses on the battlefield , or other reasons . The campaigns also severely depleted Shu 's already limited resources and took a toll on the Shu population ; Jiang Wei also incurred much resentment from the people for his warmongering behaviour . While Jiang Wei was away at the frontline , the palace eunuch Huang Hao , whom the Shu emperor Liu Shan favoured , gradually became more influential in Shu 's internal politics . After the 11th campaign in 262 , Jiang Wei suspected that Huang Hao was plotting to remove him from power so he did not return to the capital Chengdu and instead remained in Tazhong . In 263 , when Wei launched a massive invasion of Shu , Jiang Wei led Shu forces to resist the invaders at Tazhong , Yinping and Jiange , but he was caught off guard when the Wei forces under Deng Ai took a shortcut and showed up at Chengdu unexpectedly . Liu Shan surrendered to Deng Ai without putting up resistance and ordered Jiang Wei to surrender to the Wei general Zhong Hui ; this event marked the end of Shu 's existence .
Xiahou Ba ( died c. 255-259 ) , courtesy name Zhongquan , was a military general of the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period of China . He was the second son of Xiahou Yuan , a prominent general who served under Cao Cao , the warlord who laid the foundation for the state of Cao Wei . Around 249 , Xiahou Ba defected to Wei 's rival state , Shu Han , after the regent Sima Yi seized power in a coup d'état . He was killed in battle sometime between 255 and 259 against Wei forces .
Lady Zhurong , sometimes referred to as Madam Zhurong , is a fictional character in the 14th-century Chinese historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms . She is the wife of the Nanman chieftain Meng Huo , who rules the lands in the Nanzhong region of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China . She claims descent from the Chinese fire deity Zhurong , from whom she acquires her name . Zhurong is the only woman in the novel who participates in fighting and battles against Shu forces alongside her husband .
Wang Yi ( fl . 210s ) was a Chinese female warrior from the Three Kingdoms period . She was the wife of Zhao Ang , an official who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty and was aligned with the faction that would later become the state of Wei during the Three Kingdoms period . She is known as the heroic woman for her morally upright character and for fighting alongside her husband in various conflicts with the warlord Ma Chao in the 210s .
Lu Xun ( 183 - March or April 245 ) , courtesy name Boyan , also sometimes referred to as Lu Yi , was a Chinese military general and politician of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of China . He started his career as an official under the warlord Sun Quan in the 200s during the late Eastern Han dynasty and steadily rising through the ranks . In 219 , he assisted Sun Quan 's general Lü Meng in an invasion of Jing Province , which led to the defeat and death of Liu Bei 's general Guan Yu . In 222 , he served as the field commander of the Wu army in the Battle of Xiaoting against Liu Bei 's forces and scored a decisive victory over the enemy . Lu Xun reached the pinnacle of his career after this battle as Sun Quan regarded him more highly , promoted him to higher positions and bestowed upon him unprecedented honours . Throughout the middle and the later parts of his career , Lu Xun oversaw and managed both civil and military affairs in Wu while participating in some battles against Wu 's rival state , Wei , from time to time . In his final years , Lu Xun was drawn into a succession struggle between Sun Quan 's sons and fell out of Sun Quan 's favour as a consequence . He managed to retain his appointment as Imperial Chancellor - an office he assumed in 244 - but died a year later in frustration . Lu Xun 's role in the Wu government was likened to that of a custos morum as he believed firmly in and upheld Confucian principles and practices . On the one hand , he provided constant and timely advice to Sun Quan to exercise benevolence and consider the welfare of the people . On the other hand , he vehemently objected to Sun Quan 's idea of replacing his legitimate heir apparent in favour of a younger son .
Liu Bei ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ; Mandarin pronunciation : [ ljou pei ] ; 161 - 10 June 223 ) , courtesy name Xuande , was a warlord in the late Eastern Han dynasty who founded the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period and became its first ruler . Despite early failings compared to his rivals and lacking both the material resources and social status they commanded , he gathered support among disheartened Han loyalists who opposed Cao Cao , the warlord who controlled the Han central government and the figurehead Emperor Xian , and led a popular movement to restore the Han dynasty through this support . Liu Bei overcame his many defeats to carve out his own realm , which at its peak spanned present-day Sichuan , Chongqing , Guizhou , Hunan , and parts of Hubei and Gansu . Culturally , due to the popularity of the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms , Liu Bei is widely known as an ideal benevolent , humane ruler who cared for his people and selected good advisers for his government . His fictional counterpart in the novel was a salutary example of a ruler who adhered to the Confucian set of moral values , such as loyalty and compassion . Historically , Liu Bei , like many Han rulers , was greatly influenced by Laozi . He was a brilliant politician and leader whose skill was a remarkable demonstration of Legalism . Liu Bei 's somewhat Confucian tendencies were also dramatized compared to his rival states ' founders , Cao Pi and Sun Quan , who both ruled as pure Legalists . His political philosophy can best be described by the Chinese idiom Confucian in appearance but Legalist in substance ( 儒表法里 ; 儒表法裡 ; rú biǎo fǎ lǐ ; ju2 piao3 fa3 li3 ) , a style of governing which had become the norm after the founding of the Han dynasty . [ a ] [ citation needed ]
Zhang Chunhua ( 189 - May or June 247 ) was the wife of Sima Yi , a prominent military general and regent of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China . She was posthumously honoured as Empress Xuanmu in 266 by her grandson Sima Yan , who ended the Cao Wei state and established the Jin dynasty that year .
Zuo Ci ( Chinese : 左慈 ) , courtesy name Yuanfang , was a legendary personage of the late Eastern Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period ( 169 - 280 AD ) of China . Though he is known to be from Lujiang Commandery ( 盧江郡 ; around present-day Lu'an , Anhui ) , the years of his birth and death are unknown . It is believed that he had existed before the collapse of the Han dynasty , and it is claimed that he lived until the age of 300 . He learned his magic and path to longevity from the Taoist sage Feng Heng ( 封衡 ) , and eventually passed his arts to Ge Xuan .
Xiahou Dun ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( died 13 June 220 ) , [ a ] courtesy name Yuanrang , was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China . He served for a few months under Cao Cao 's successor , Cao Pi , before his death . As one of Cao Cao 's most trusted generals , Xiahou Dun aided the warlord in his campaigns against Lü Bu , Liu Bei , Sun Quan and others . Xiahou Dun lost his left eye when he was a hit by a stray arrow during a battle against Lü Bu in the late 190s , and subsequently became known among the rank and file as One-eyed Xiahou . His image as a one-eyed warrior was popularised by the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms , in which he yanked the arrow out of his eye and devoured his eyeball .
Sun Ce ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( 175-200 ) , [ a ] courtesy name Bofu , was a military general and warlord who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China . He was the eldest child of Sun Jian , who was killed during the Battle of Xiangyang when Sun Ce was only 16 . Sun Ce then broke away from his father 's overlord , Yuan Shu , and headed to the Jiangdong region in southern China to establish his own power base there . With the help of several people , such as Zhang Zhao and Zhou Yu , Sun Ce managed to lay down the foundation of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period . In 200 , when the warlord Cao Cao was at war with his rival Yuan Shao in the Battle of Guandu , Sun Ce was rumoured to be planning an attack on Xuchang , Cao Cao 's base . However , he was assassinated before he could carry out the plan . Sun Ce was posthumously honoured as Prince Huan of Changsha ( 長沙桓王 ) by his younger brother Sun Quan when the latter became the founding emperor of Eastern Wu . Chen Shou 's Records of the Three Kingdoms ( Sanguozhi ) describes Sun Ce as a handsome man who was full of laughter . He was also a generous and receptive man who employed people according to their abilities . As such , his subjects were willing to risk their lives for him . One detractor named Xu Gong , in a letter to Emperor Xian , compared Sun Ce to Xiang Yu , the warrior-king who overthrew the Qin dynasty . As a result , Sun Ce was also referred to as the Little Conqueror in popular culture .
Liu Shan ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( 207-271 ) , courtesy name Gongsi , was the second and last emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period . As he ascended the throne at the age of 16 , Liu Shan was entrusted to the care of the Chancellor Zhuge Liang and Imperial Secretariat Li Yan . His reign of 40 years was the longest of all in the Three Kingdoms era . During Liu Shan 's reign , many campaigns were led against the rival state of Cao Wei , primarily by Zhuge Liang and his successor Jiang Wei , but to little avail . Liu Shan eventually surrendered to Wei in 263 after Deng Ai led a surprise attack on the Shu capital Chengdu . He was quickly relocated to Luoyang , capital of Wei , and enfeoffed as Duke Anle . There he enjoyed his last years peacefully before dying , most probably of natural causes , in 271 . Widely known by his infant name Adou / Edou ( 阿斗 ) , Liu Shan was commonly perceived as an incapable , even mentally handicapped ruler . He was also accused of indulging in pleasures while neglecting state affairs . However , some modern scholars have taken a different opinions on Liu Shan 's capability , as Liu Shan 's long reign in Shu Han was free of bloody court coups and bloodshed and was the only court in the Three Kingdoms era to remain relatively bloodless . Nevertheless , the name Adou is today still commonly used in Chinese to describe incapable people who would not achieve anything even with significant assistance . As Chen Shou , the author of Records of Three Kingdoms , noted , contrary to tradition , Zhuge Liang banned official historians at Liu Shan 's court , and after Zhuge 's death , it appeared Liu did not revive that post .
Zhong Hui ( 225 - 3 March 264 ) , [ a ] courtesy name Shiji , was a Chinese calligrapher , essayist , military general , and politician of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China . He was the younger son of Zhong Yao , who served as the Grand Tutor in the Wei imperial court . He was already known for being insightful , intelligent and knowledgeable since he was young . Zhong Hui rose to prominence in the 250s when he became a close aide to Sima Zhao , the regent and de facto ruler of Wei . He advised Sima Zhao on how to deal with the Third Rebellion in Shouchun from 257-258 and was highly regarded by the latter . With Sima Zhao 's help , Zhong Hui steadily moved up the ranks and became one of the key figures in the Wei government . In 263 , the Wei imperial court ordered Zhong Hui , Deng Ai and Zhuge Xu to lead separate armies to attack and conquer Wei 's rival state , Shu Han . During and after the campaign against Shu , Zhong Hui framed Zhuge Xu and Deng Ai for cowardice and treason respectively , and seized command of their troops . By the time Shu surrendered to Wei in 263 , Zhong Hui was in full control of all the Wei military forces in Shu territory . In 264 , with backing from Jiang Wei , a former Shu general , Zhong Hui started a rebellion against Sima Zhao . However , the revolt failed when Zhong Hui 's plan to purge several Wei officers - because he was worried that they would not support him - was leaked out . The officers escaped from custody , regrouped with their men , mutinied against Zhong Hui , and killed him and Jiang Wei .
Xiahou Yuan ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( died 219 ) , courtesy name Miaocai , was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China . He is known for his exploits in western China ( in parts of present-day Gansu , Ningxia and Shaanxi provinces ) in the 210s , during which he defeated Cao Cao 's rivals Ma Chao and Han Sui in Liang Province and the surrounding areas , and forced several Di and Qiang tribal peoples into submission . He was killed in action at the Battle of Mount Dingjun while defending Hanzhong Commandery from attacks by a rival warlord Liu Bei . Xiahou Yuan 's death was highly dramatised in the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms , in which he was slain by Liu Bei 's general Huang Zhong during a surprise raid .
Sun Jian ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( 155-191 ) , courtesy name Wentai , was a military general and warlord who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China . He allied himself with Yuan Shu in 190 when warlords from eastern China formed a coalition to oust Dong Zhuo , a tyrannical warlord who held the puppet Emperor Xian in his power . Although he controlled neither many troops nor much land , Sun Jian 's personal bravery and resourcefulness were feared by Dong Zhuo , who placed him among Yuan Shao , Yuan Shu and Liu Biao as the most influential men at that time . After the coalition disbanded in the next year , China fell into massive civil war . In 191 , Sun Jian was killed in battle during an offensive campaign against Liu Biao . Sun Jian was also the father of Sun Quan , one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms era who eventually established the Eastern Wu state and declared himself its first emperor in 229 , whereupon Sun Jian was given the posthumous title Emperor Wulie ( 武烈皇帝 ) .
Ma Chao ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( 176-222 ) , courtesy name Mengqi , was a military general and warlord who lived in the late Eastern Han dynasty and early Three Kingdoms period of China . A descendant of the general Ma Yuan , Ma Chao was the eldest son of Ma Teng , a prominent warlord in Liang Province ( covering parts of northwestern China ) . In 211 , he formed a coalition with Han Sui and other northwestern warlords and revolted against the Han central government , which was led by the warlord Cao Cao . The coalition broke up after losing the Battle of Tong Pass against Cao Cao 's forces . Ma Chao initially retreated , but later returned to attack and seize control of Liang Province by killing the provincial inspector Wei Kang and forcing Wei Kang 's subordinates to submit to him . About a year after Ma Chao started his uprising , Emperor Xian issued an imperial decree ordering the execution of Ma Chao 's family members , who were in Ye city at the time . In the meantime , Wei Kang 's subordinates , led by Zhao Ang , Yang Fu and others , rebelled against Ma Chao and forced him out of Liang Province . Ma Chao retreated to Hanzhong Commandery , where he borrowed troops from the warlord Zhang Lu , and returned to attack Liang Province but was ultimately defeated and driven back . Ma Chao took shelter under Zhang Lu for a while until around 214 , when he heard that the warlord Liu Bei was fighting for control over Yi Province ( covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing ) with Yi Province 's governor , Liu Zhang . He defected to Liu Bei 's side and assisted Liu Bei in capturing Yi Province from Liu Zhang . Ma Chao had served as a general under Liu Bei since then and participated in the Hanzhong Campaign in 219 . He died in 222 .
Zhuge Dan ( died c. March or April 258 ) , courtesy name Gongxiu , was a Chinese military general and politician of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China . When he held key military appointments throughout his middle to late career , he was involved in all of the three rebellions which broke out in Shouchun ( around present-day Shou County , Anhui ) between 251 and 258 . During the second rebellion , he actively assisted the Wei regent Sima Shi in suppressing the revolt . After the rebellion , the Wei government put him in charge of Shouchun . As the Sima clan became more powerful and established themselves as the de facto rulers of Wei , Zhuge Dan feared that he would end up slain like Wang Ling and Guanqiu Jian - the leaders of the first two rebellions - so he started the third rebellion against Sima Zhao , who succeeded Sima Shi as regent of Wei in 255 . Although he received some support from Wei 's rival state Eastern Wu , his rebellion was eventually suppressed by Wei imperial forces and he met his end at the hands of Hu Fen , a military officer under Sima Zhao .
Xu Huang ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( died 227 ) , courtesy name Gongming , was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China . He later served in the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period under the first two rulers , Cao Pi and Cao Rui , before his death at the start of Cao Rui 's reign . Xu Huang is best noted for breaking the siege at the Battle of Fancheng in 219 by routing the enemy commander Guan Yu on the field . Chen Shou , who wrote the third-century historical text Sanguozhi , named Xu Huang as one of the Five Elite Generals of his time , alongside Yu Jin , Zhang He , Yue Jin and Zhang Liao .
Sun Quan ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( 5 July 182 - 21 May 252 ) , [ a ] courtesy name Zhongmou , formally known as Emperor Da of Wu ( literally Great Emperor of Wu ) , was the founder of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period . He inherited control of the warlord regime established by his elder brother , Sun Ce , in 200 . He declared formal independence and ruled from 222 to 229 as the King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as the Emperor of Wu . Unlike his rivals Cao Cao and Liu Bei , Sun Quan was much younger than they were and governed his state mostly separate of politics and ideology . He is sometimes portrayed as neutral considering he adopted a flexible foreign policy between his two rivals with the goal of pursuing the greatest interests for the country . Sun Quan was born while his father Sun Jian served as the adjutant of Xiapi County . After Sun Jian 's death in the early 190s , he and his family lived at various cities on the lower Yangtze River , until Sun Ce carved out a warlord regime in the Jiangdong region , based on his own followers and a number of local clan allegiances . When Sun Ce was assassinated by the retainers of Xu Gong in 200 , the 18-year-old Sun Quan inherited the lands southeast of the Yangtze River from his brother . His administration proved to be relatively stable in those early years as Sun Jian and Sun Ce 's most senior officers , such as Zhou Yu , Zhang Zhao , Zhang Hong , and Cheng Pu supported the succession . Thus throughout the 200s , Sun Quan , under the tutelage of his able advisers , continued to build up his strength along the Yangtze River . In early 207 , his forces finally won complete victory over Huang Zu , a military leader under Liu Biao , who dominated the middle Yangtze . Huang Zu was killed in battle .
Ma Dai ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( fl . 222-235 ) was a military general of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China . He previously served under his uncle Ma Teng , a warlord in northwestern China , during the late Eastern Han dynasty . After Ma Teng 's death , he followed his cousin Ma Chao ( Ma Teng 's eldest son ) and they joined the warlord Zhang Lu in Hanzhong for a short period of time . Ma Chao later defected to another warlord Liu Bei , and Ma Dai accompanied him . Ma Dai served under Liu Bei and later in the state of Shu Han ( founded by Liu Bei ) . Not much information on Ma Dai is found in historical records . It is known that in 234 , he participated in the fifth Northern Expedition led by Shu 's chancellor Zhuge Liang to attack the Shu 's rival state Cao Wei . Ma Dai was also credited with slaying the Shu general Wei Yan , who was alleged to have turned against Shu after the death of Zhuge Liang .
Xu Chu ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( died c. 230 ) , [ a ] courtesy name Zhongkang , was a military general who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period of China . He started his career as a bodyguard to the warlord Cao Cao and later became a general in the state of Wei during the Three Kingdoms period . He was described to be a big and strong man , yet simple minded and honest , so he was nicknamed Tiger Fool by his men . After his death , he was posthumously honoured with the title Marquis Zhuang , which literally means robust marquis .
Lady Sun , also known as Sun Ren in the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Sun Shangxiang [ a ] in Chinese opera and contemporary culture , was a Chinese noble lady who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty . She was a daughter of the warlord Sun Jian and his wife Lady Wu , and a younger sister of the warlords Sun Ce and Sun Quan , who founded the state of Eastern Wu in the Three Kingdoms period . Sometime in 209 , she married the warlord Liu Bei to strengthen an alliance between Liu Bei and Sun Quan . Around 211 , she returned to Sun Quan 's domain when Liu Bei left Jing Province ( covering present-day Hubei and Hunan ) and settled in Yi Province ( covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing ) .
Pang Tong ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( 179-214 ) , courtesy name Shiyuan , was an adviser to the warlord Liu Bei in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China . Originally a minor official in Nan Commandery in Jing Province , Pang Tong came to serve Liu Bei in 209 after the latter became the provincial governor . In the early 210s , he accompanied Liu Bei on a military campaign to seize control of Yi Province ( covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing ) from the warlord Liu Zhang , but was killed by a stray arrow during a battle at Luo County ( north of present-day Guanghan , Sichuan ) in 214 .
Xun Yu ( 163-212 ) , courtesy name Wenruo , was a prominent military official and politician who served as an adviser to the warlord Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China .
Taishi Ci ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( 166-206 ) , courtesy name Ziyi , was a military general who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China . A native of Donglai Commandery , he started his career as a minor official in the local commandery office . In 186 , at the age of 20 , he became famous after successfully completing a mission to prevent a letter from the provincial administration from reaching the imperial court in Luoyang first . However , out of fear that the provincial administration would take revenge against him , he went into hiding in Liaodong . After returning from Liaodong , he travelled to Beihai ( around present-day Weifang , Shandong ) to rescue the warlord Kong Rong , who was besieged by Yellow Turban rebels . By resorting to trickery , he managed to break out of the siege and seek aid from another warlord , Liu Bei . The siege was lifted when Taishi Ci returned to Beihai with reinforcements from Liu Bei . Taishi Ci travelled to Yang Province later to join the warlord Liu Yao , an old acquaintance of his . However , he got caught up in a war between Liu Yao and another warlord , Sun Ce . He fought on Liu Yao 's side and once engaged Sun Ce in a one-on-one fight . Following Liu Yao 's defeat and death , Taishi Ci headed to Jing County ( north of present-day Jing County , Anhui ) and tried to establish his own power base there . However , he was eventually defeated and captured by Sun Ce 's forces .
Wei Yan ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( died 234 ) , courtesy name Wenchang , was a military general of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China . Originally a subordinate of the warlord Liu Bei in the late Eastern Han dynasty , Wei Yan rose through the ranks and became a general when Liu Bei seized control of Yi Province ( covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing ) in 214 . His performance in battle helped him to become a prominent figure in the Shu military in a short period of time . He was later appointed as the Administrator of Hanzhong Commandery and as an Area Commander in 219 . Between 228 and 234 , he participated actively in the Northern Expeditions led by the Shu regent Zhuge Liang against Shu 's rival state , Cao Wei . After Zhuge Liang 's death in 234 , Wei Yan was killed by another Shu general , Ma Dai , for alleged treason .
Yu Jin ( died 221 ) , courtesy name Wenze , was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China . He joined Cao Cao in 192 around the start of the civil wars leading to the collapse of the dynasty , and fought in many of the campaigns which established the warlord 's position as a central figure in that period . In 219 , Yu Jin was tasked with leading forces to relief Cao Cao 's general Cao Ren , who was being besieged in Fancheng by Liu Bei 's general Guan Yu , but his armies were destroyed in a flood due to heavy rains . Yu Jin surrendered to Guan Yu and became a prisoner-of-war , but was transferred to the custody of another warlord , Sun Quan , after Sun Quan 's forces captured Guan Yu 's bases in late 219 . Sun Quan treated Yu Jin like a guest and in 221 sent him back to the state of Cao Wei , which was founded in late 220 by Cao Cao 's successor , Cao Pi , who ended the Eastern Han dynasty . Cao Pi pardoned Yu Jin and restored him to the position of a general . However , Yu Jin died later that year in regret after visiting Cao Cao 's tomb , where he saw illustrations of the Battle of Fancheng depicting his surrender to Guan Yu . Chen Shou , who wrote the third-century historical text Sanguozhi , named Yu Jin as one of the Five Elite Generals of his time , alongside Zhang He , Yue Jin , Zhang Liao and Xu Huang .
Yue Jin ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( died 218 ) , courtesy name Wenqian , was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China . He was noted as much for his short stature as for his valour and ferocity on the battlefield . Yue Jin participated in most of Cao Cao 's early military exploits , and gained multiple successes in the campaigns against Lü Bu , Liu Bei , remnants of the Yellow Turban rebels , and Yuan Shao and his associates . He was particularly praised as a capable vanguard , but his most famed accomplishment came with his supporting role in the defence of Hefei against Sun Quan 's forces at the Battle of Xiaoyao Ford of 214-215 . Chen Shou , who wrote the third-century historical text Sanguozhi , named Yue Jin as one of the Five Elite Generals of his time , alongside Yu Jin , Zhang He , Zhang Liao and Xu Huang .
Zhou Tai ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( died c. 223 ) , courtesy name Youping , was a military general serving under the warlord Sun Quan during the late Eastern Han dynasty and early Three Kingdoms period of China . He previously served under Sun Ce , Sun Quan 's elder brother and predecessor .
Xu Shu ( fl . 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 . Xu Shu 's defection from Liu Bei to Cao Cao was fictionalised in the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms .
Zhang He ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( died July or August 231 ) , [ a ] courtesy name Junyi , was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China . He continued serving in the state of Cao Wei under its first two rulers , Cao Pi and Cao Rui , during the Three Kingdoms period until his death . Zhang He began his career under Han Fu , the governor of Ji Province , in the 180s when he joined the Han imperial forces in suppressing the Yellow Turban Rebellion . He became a subordinate of the warlord Yuan Shao in 191 after Yuan Shao seized the governorship of Ji Province from Han Fu . Throughout the 190s , Zhang He fought in the battles against Yuan Shao 's northern rival , Gongsun Zan . In 200 , Zhang He initially fought on Yuan Shao 's side at the Battle of Guandu against Cao Cao , a warlord who controlled the Han central government . However , he defected to Cao Cao after Yuan Shao 's defeat at Guandu in the same year . [ b ] Since then , he had fought in several wars under Cao Cao 's banner , including the campaigns against Yuan Shao 's heirs and allies ( 201-207 ) , the expeditions in northwestern China ( 211-214 ) , and the battles around Hanzhong ( 215-219 ) . After Cao Cao 's death in 220 , Zhang He served in Wei and fought in battles against Wei 's rival states , Shu Han and Eastern Wu . His best known victory was at the Battle of Jieting in 228 , in which he defeated the Shu general Ma Su by cutting off the enemy 's access to water supplies and then attacking them . In 231 , he was killed in an ambush laid by Shu forces during the Battle of Mount Qi while he was reluctantly pursuing a retreating enemy force . Chen Shou , who wrote the third-century historical text Sanguozhi , named Zhang He as one of the Five Elite Generals of his time , alongside Yu Jin , Yue Jin , Zhang Liao and Xu Huang .
Zhou Yu ( pronunciation ) ( 175-210 ) , [ a ] courtesy name Gongjin , was a Chinese military general and strategist serving under the warlord Sun Ce in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China . After Sun Ce died in the year 200 , he continued serving under Sun Quan , Sun Ce 's younger brother and successor . Zhou Yu is primarily known for his leading role in defeating the numerically superior forces of the northern warlord Cao Cao at the Battle of Red Cliffs in late 208 , and again at the Battle of Jiangling in 209 . Zhou Yu 's victories served as the bedrock of Sun Quan 's regime , which in 222 became Eastern Wu , one of the Three Kingdoms . Zhou Yu did not live to see Sun Quan 's enthronement , however , as he died at the age of 35 in 210 while preparing to invade Yi Province ( modern Sichuan and Chongqing ) . According to the Records of the Three Kingdoms , Zhou Yu was described as tall , physically strong and having a beautiful appearance . He was also referred to as Zhou the Youth ( zhoulang 周郎 ) . However , his popular moniker Zhou the Beautiful Youth ( meizhoulang 美周郎 ) does not appear in either the Records or the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms . Some Japanese literary scholars such as Yoshikawa Eiji and Koide Fumihiko believe that this was a later invention by Japanese storytellers .
Lady Huang , also known in fiction and folklore as Huang Yueying , was the wife of Zhuge Liang , the chancellor and regent of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China . Her name was not recorded in history ; Huang Yueying is simply a fictional name .
Zhang Liao ( pronunciation ( help·info ) ) ( 169-222 ) , [ a ] courtesy name Wenyuan , was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China . He served briefly in the state of Cao Wei , founded by Cao Cao 's successor Cao Pi , in the early Three Kingdoms period before his death . Formerly a subordinate of other warlords such as Ding Yuan , Dong Zhuo and Lü Bu , Zhang Liao joined Cao Cao around 198 after Lü Bu 's downfall at the Battle of Xiapi . Since then , he participated in many of Cao Cao 's military campaigns , including those against Yuan Shao 's heirs and the Wuhuan tribes from 201-207 . He is best known for his pivotal role in the Battle of Xiaoyao Ford in 214-215 , in which he successfully defended Hefei from the forces of the warlord Sun Quan . Chen Shou , who wrote the third-century historical text Sanguozhi , named Zhang Liao as one of the Five Elite Generals of his time , alongside Yu Jin , Zhang He , Yue Jin and Xu Huang .
Zhu Ran ( 182 - March or April 249 ) , born Shi Ran , courtesy name Yifeng , was a military general of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of China . Despite being a childhood friend of Wu 's founding emperor , Sun Quan , he was never tasked with important position nor assignment before Lü Meng 's invasion of southern Jing Province in 219 , wherein he assisted in capturing the enemy commander Guan Yu . Following the Battle of Xiaoting , Wu 's rival state , Cao Wei , launched a three-pronged strike on Wu 's northwestern , middle , and eastern borders . Zhu Ran was sent to the northwestern border , where he defended the city of Jiangling with only 5,000 troops against an enemy force about ten times greater . He rose to fame and became feared throughout Wei . He then participated in a series of military operations against Wei , during which he defeated several enemy units , but the overall objectives were never met . Before his death , Zhu Ran was granted authority to oversee matters within the army .
Zhang Bao ( fl . third century ) was the eldest son of Zhang Fei , a general who served the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty and the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China . Little is known about Zhang Bao 's life because Zhang Fei 's biography in the historical text Records of the Three Kingdoms only mentioned that he was Zhang Fei 's eldest son and that he died early . Zhang Bao had a son , Zhang Zun ( 張遵 ) , who served as a Master of Writing ( 尚書 ) in the Shu government and was killed in battle at Mianzhu in 263 during the Conquest of Shu by Wei . Zhang Bao also had a younger brother , Zhang Shao ( 張紹 ) , who inherited their father 's peerage and served as a Supervisor of the Masters of Writing ( 尚書僕射 ) in the Shu government . After the fall of Shu in 263 , Zhang Shao was enfeoffed as a marquis by the Wei government along with many other former Shu officials who surrendered .