Xu Huang ([1] courtesy name Gongming, was a Chinese 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.
) (died 227),Xu Huang | |
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![]() A Qing dynasty illustration of Xu Huang | |
General of the Right ( | |
In office 220 –227 | |
Monarch | Cao Pi |
General Who Pacifies Bandits ( | |
In office 214 –220 | |
Monarch | Emperor Xian of Han |
Chancellor | Cao Cao |
General Who Sweeps Across the Wilderness ( | |
In office 207 –214 | |
Monarch | Emperor Xian of Han |
Chancellor | Cao Cao (from 208) |
Personal details | |
Born | Unknown Hongtong County, Shanxi |
Died | 227[1] |
Children | Xu Gai |
Occupation | Military general |
Courtesy name | Gongming ( |
Posthumous name | Marquis Zhuang ( |
Peerage | Marquis of Yangping ( |
Chen Shou, who wrote the third-century historical text Sanguozhi, named Xu Huang as one of the Five Elite Generals of Cao Wei, alongside Yu Jin, Zhang He, Yue Jin and Zhang Liao.[2]
Early life and service under Yang Feng
editXu Huang was born in Yang County (楊縣), Hedong Commandery, which is located southeast of present-day Hongtong County, Shanxi,[3] in the late Eastern Han dynasty. He served as a minor official in the commandery office in his youth. Later, he became a subordinate of Yang Feng, a former White Wave Bandit who later became a general under the Han central government. Xu Huang later followed Yang Feng to attack rebels and was commissioned as a Cavalry Commandant (
Between 192 and 195, Li Jue and Guo Si controlled the Han central government and held the figurehead Emperor Xian hostage in the imperial capital, Chang'an (present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi).[5] In 195, internal conflict broke out between Li Jue and Guo Si, whose respective factions started warring with each other in the streets of Chang'an. Yang Feng and Xu Huang were Li Jue's subordinates at the time. In the same year, Xu Huang managed to convince Yang Feng to escort Emperor Xian from Chang'an back to the old Han imperial capital, Luoyang. After Emperor Xian made it safely to Anyi County (
After they returned to Luoyang with Emperor Xian, internal conflict broke out between the generals Han Xian and Dong Cheng, who were among those who escorted the emperor back to Luoyang. During this time, Xu Huang persuaded Yang Feng to summon the warlord Cao Cao to Luoyang to help them deal with the crisis and protect the emperor. In early 196,[7] Cao Cao and his troops showed up in Luoyang and fetched Emperor Xian to their base in Xu (
In late 196,[7] after Cao Cao defeated Yang Feng in battle at Liang State (
Cao Cao's campaigns in central and northern China
editCao Cao sent Xu Huang with an army to attack rebels at Juan County (
During the battles between Cao Cao and Lü Bu in Xu Province in 198, Xu Huang attacked and defeated Lü Bu's subordinates Zhao Shu (
In the year 200,[12] during the Battle of Guandu between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao, Xu Huang participated in the early skirmishes at Boma (
Yuan Shao had stored his supplies at a depot in Gushi (
A few years later, Xu Huang joined Cao Cao on a campaign against the heirs of Yuan Shao, who had died in 202.[15] In 203,[15] Han Fan (
Before the fall of Yiyang County, Xu Huang went to see Cao Cao and asked him to refrain from massacring the population after Han Fan surrendered. The rationale of their final decision was entirely based on tactical consideration, which was to induce other enemy territories into voluntarily surrendering by setting an example. Cao Cao approved Xu Huang's suggestion.[17]
Xu Huang later set up an ambush and routed the Yuans' forces at Maocheng (
Battle of Jiangling
editIn 208, Xu Huang followed Cao Cao to pacify Jing Province (covering present-day Hubei and Hunan), and participated in the Battle of Red Cliffs in the winter of 208–209. When Cao Cao retreated north after his defeat at Red Cliffs, Xu Huang was ordered to stay behind with Cao Ren in Jiangling County to resist attacks by Sun Quan's forces.[19]
During this time, Xu Huang was stationed at Fancheng (樊城; present-day Fancheng District, Xiangyang, Hubei) and he defeated opposing forces in Zhonglu (
Cao Cao's northwestern campaigns
editIn 210,[21] Xu Huang led his troops to attack rebels in Taiyuan Commandery (
In 211, when Han Sui and Ma Chao led a coalition of northwestern warlords to start an uprising in Liang Province (covering parts of present-day Shaanxi and Gansu), Cao Cao ordered Xu Huang to move to Fenyin County (汾陰
When Cao Cao led his forces to Tong Pass to engage the coalition, he became worried that he could not cross the Wei River to attack the enemy so he consulted Xu Huang for advice. Xu Huang suggested to Cao Cao to send him north and cross the Yellow River via Puban Ford to circumvent Tong Pass from the west of the river.[a][25]
Cao Cao approved Xu Huang's plan and sent him and Zhu Ling to lead 4,000 troops across the river. They crossed Puban and started pitching camps, but before the defence fortification was completed, one of the coalition members, Liang Xing (
After Cao Cao's victory at Tong Pass, he sent Xu Huang and Xiahou Yuan to pacify the various Di tribes in Yumi County (隃麋
When Cao Cao embarked on another campaign in western China to attack the warlord Zhang Lu in Hanzhong, he sent Xu Huang with a separate force to pacify the Di tribes living in Du (櫝) and Chouyi (
Hanzhong Campaign
editCao Cao returned to Ye (in present-day Handan, Hebei) after his victory over Zhang Lu at the Battle of Yangping in 215. He left Xu Huang and Xiahou Yuan behind to defend Hanzhong Commandery against attacks by Liu Bei.[30]
During this time, Liu Bei sent Chen Shi to lead troops to cut off Xiahou Yuan's supply routes at Mamingge (
Cao Cao was delighted when he heard of the victory and he gave orders to Xu Huang: "This pass is a crucial gateway into Hanzhong. Liu Bei intends to isolate the pass and then move on to conquer Hanzhong. You have done well in foiling the enemy's attempt." Cao Cao then personally led reinforcements to Hanzhong Commandery to counter Liu Bei's advances.[32]
Battle of Fancheng
editXu Huang's most glorious moment in his military career came at the Battle of Fancheng in 219. When Fancheng (樊城; in present-day Xiangyang, Hubei) and Xiangyang were besieged by Liu Bei's general Guan Yu, Cao Cao first sent Yu Jin to lead a relief force to lift the siege but Yu Jin's seven armies were destroyed by a flood. Cao Cao then ordered Xu Huang to lead a second relief force to lift the siege. Cao Ren, the general defending Fancheng, and Lü Chang (
Knowing that most of his soldiers were composed of new recruits without training, Xu Huang did not go straight into battle but camped behind the enemy at Yanglingbei (
At the time, Guan Yu had set up a camp at Yancheng (偃城; north of present-day Xiangyang, Hubei). When Xu Huang showed up, he ordered his troops to pretend to dig trenches around Yancheng to fool the enemy into thinking that they were trying to cut off the supply routes leading to Yancheng. The enemy fell for his ruse, burnt down their camp and abandoned their position, thus allowing Xu Huang to gain a foothold at Yancheng.[36] After capturing Yancheng, Xu Huang pressed on and set up two linked camps about 30 zhangs away from Guan Yu's encirclement.[37] Before Xu Huang attacked, Cao Cao sent Yin Shu (
Guan Yu's encirclement was made up of five camps – one main camp leading the siege and four supporting camps. Xu Huang deliberately spread news that he was going to attack the main camp to trick Guan Yu into strengthening his defences at the main camp. In the meantime, he secretly sent his forces to attack the four supporting camps[39] and succeeded in destroying them. When Guan Yu saw that the four camps were down, he personally led 5,000 troops to engage the enemy. Xu Huang launched a fierce attack on Guan Yu and succeeded in defeating him and lifting the siege on Fancheng. During Xu Huang's attack, many of Guan Yu's soldiers panicked and fled towards the nearby Han River, where they drowned.[40]
When Cao Cao heard of the victory, he praised Xu Huang: "The enemy formation was very thick, yet you managed to achieve victory and destroyed their camps and killed so many of their men. I have fought in battles for over 30 years, but I have never heard of any person in history who attempted to break a siege by launching a direct attack on the enemy's encirclement. The situation at Fancheng and Xiangyang was much worse than that at Ju and Jimo.[b] Your achievements are comparable to those of Sun Wu and Rangju."[c][41]
The Shu Ji (
Upon Xu Huang's return, Cao Cao went seven li out of Xuchang to greet him, giving him full credit for securing Fancheng and Xiangyang.[43] Throughout the field reception, the soldiers of other commanders shifted about in order to get a better view of Cao Cao, but Xu Huang's men stood stationary in neat files. Seeing this, Cao Cao remarked: "General Xu has truly inherited the style of Zhou Yafu."[44]
Service under Cao Pi and Cao Rui
editFollowing Cao Cao's death in March 220, his son Cao Pi succeeded him and inherited his vassal king title as the King of Wei (
In late 220, Cao Pi usurped the throne from Emperor Xian, ended the Eastern Han dynasty, and established the state of Cao Wei (or Wei) with himself as the new emperor.[45] After his coronation, Cao Pi promoted Xu Huang from a district marquis to a county marquis under the title "Marquis of Yang" (楊侯).[47]
Later, Cao Pi ordered Xu Huang and Xiahou Shang to lead an army to attack Shangyong Commandery (
Cao Pi died in 226 and was succeeded by his son Cao Rui as the emperor of Wei.[49] During that time, Xu Huang successfully repelled an invasion on Xiangyang by the Wu general Zhuge Jin. For his contributions, he was awarded another 200 taxable households in his marquisate, bringing the total number to 3,100.[50]
When Xu Huang became seriously ill later, he gave instructions that he was to be given a simple burial after his death. He died in 227 and was granted the posthumous title "Marquis Zhuang" (
Xu Huang's son, Xu Gai (
Appraisal
editChen Shou concluded Xu Huang's biography in the Sanguozhi with a brief appraisal:
"Xu Huang led a humble and simple life and he was very self-disciplined. When he went into battle and realised he could not win, he would still encourage his men to fight on in pursuit of glory and they did not rest or have meals until they had won. He often sighed: 'The people in the past complained that they did not have a chance to meet and serve a wise lord. Now, I am privileged to have encountered one, so I should do my best to serve him instead of seeking to increase my personal fame!' He did not maintain a wide social network throughout his life."[53]
In Romance of the Three Kingdoms
editXu Huang is a character in the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which romanticises the events before and during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He makes his first appearance in Chapter 13 as a subordinate of Yang Feng. Xu Huang and Yang Feng escort Emperor Xian back to Luoyang after the emperor escapes from Li Jue and Guo Si's clutches in Chang'an.
When Cao Cao comes to Luoyang to fetch the emperor to his base in Xuchang, Yang Feng sends Xu Huang to stop him. Cao Cao knows on first sight that Xu Huang is an extraordinary man so he orders Xu Chu to duel with Xu Huang. Neither side can gain an advantage over each other after 50 bouts, and by then, Cao Cao is very impressed by Xu Huang's skill. Not wanting either of the two men to get hurt, Cao Cao calls for Xu Chu to retreat. Man Chong, one of Cao Cao's subordinates, knows that his lord wants to recruit Xu Huang so he volunteers to persuade Xu Huang to defect to their side. That very night, Man Chong disguises himself as a common soldier, sneaks into Xu Huang's tent and manages to convince him to switch allegiance to Cao Cao. Man Chong then suggests that Xu Huang slays Yang Feng to prove his loyalty to Cao Cao, but Xu Huang refuses to kill his former superior out of respect for him.[54]
In the novel, Xu Huang meets his end during the Xincheng Rebellion when he is struck by an arrow in the forehead fired by the rebel leader Meng Da. His men immediately take him back to camp, where the physician removes the arrow and tries to heal him, but Xu Huang eventually dies later that night. The novel states that he is 59 years old at the time of his death. This figure, however, is not supported by any evidence from historical records.[55]
In popular culture
editXu Huang is featured as a playable character in Koei's Dynasty Warriors and Warriors Orochi video game series. He also appears in all instalments of Koei's Romance of the Three Kingdoms strategy game series.
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ Pei Songzhi pointed out that Chen Shou made a mistake when he quoted Xu Huang referring to himself as "your subject" (
臣 ) in front of Cao Cao because Cao Cao was not a vassal king yet at the time.[24] - ^ Cao Cao was referring to the military exploits of Tian Dan, a general of the Qi state in the Spring and Autumn period. In 284 BCE, Tian Dan successfully defended the city of Ju (莒; formerly the Ju state, which was annexed by Qi) from an attack by the Yan state. He defeated Yan forces again later in 279 BCE at the siege of Jimo (
即 墨 ) by using the "Fire Cattle Columns" strategy. - ^ "Rangju" refers to Tian Rangju, a general of the Qi state in the Spring and Autumn period who was famous for his military discipline.
References
edit- ^ a b (
太 和 元年 薨, ...) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
評 曰:太 祖 建 茲武功 ,而時之 良 將 ,五 子 為 先 。于禁最 號 毅 重 ,然 弗 克 其終。張 郃以巧 變 為 稱 ,樂 進 以驍果 顯 名 ,而鑒其行事 ,未 副 所 聞。或 注記 有 遺漏 ,未 如張 遼 、徐 晃 之 備詳也。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
徐 晃 字 公明 ,河東 楊人也。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
為 郡 吏,從 車 騎 將軍 楊奉討賊有功 ,拜 騎 都 尉 。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ Sima (1084), vols. 60-61.
- ^ (
李 傕、郭 汜之亂 長安 也,晃 說 奉 ,令 與 天子 還 洛陽 ,奉 從 其計。天子 渡河 至 安 邑,封 晃 都 亭 侯 。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ a b Sima (1084), vol. 62.
- ^ (及到
洛陽 ,韓 暹、董 承 日 爭 鬬,晃 說 奉 令 歸 太 祖 ;奉 欲 從 之 ,後悔 。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
太 祖 討奉於梁,晃 遂 歸 太 祖 。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
太 祖 授晃兵 ,使 擊 卷 、原武 賊 ,破 之 ,拜 裨將軍 。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
從 征 呂 布 ,別 降 布 將 趙 庶、李 鄒等。與 史 渙 斬 眭固於河內。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ Sima (1084), vol. 63.
- ^ (
從 破 劉 備,又 從 破顏 良 ,拔白馬 ,進 至 延 津 ,破 文 醜 ,拜 偏 將軍 。與 曹洪擊 []彊 賊 祝 臂 ,破 之 , ...) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (...
又 與 史 渙 擊 袁紹運 車 於故市 ,功 最多 ,封 都 亭 侯 。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ a b Sima (1084), vol. 64.
- ^ (
太 祖 旣 圍 鄴,破 邯鄲 ,易 陽 令 韓 範 偽 以城降 而拒守 ,太 祖 遣 晃 攻 之 。晃 至 ,飛 矢 城 中 ,為 陳 成敗 。范悔,晃 輒降之 。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
既 而言於太祖 曰:「二 袁未破 ,諸 城 未 下 者 傾 耳 而聽,今日 滅 易 陽 ,明日 皆 以死守 ,恐 河北 無 定時 也。原 公 降 易 陽 以示諸 城 ,則 莫不望 風 。」太 祖 善之 。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
別 討毛城 ,設 伏兵 掩擊,破 三 屯 。從 破 袁譚於南皮 ,討平原 叛賊,克之 。從 征 蹋頓,拜 橫野 將軍 。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ Sima (1084), vol. 65.
- ^ (
從 征 荊州,別 屯 樊,討中廬 、臨沮、宜 城 賊 。又 與 滿 寵 討關羽 於漢津 ,與 曹仁擊 周 瑜於江 陵 。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ Sima (1084), vol. 66.
- ^ ([
建 安 ]十 五 年 ,討太原 反 者 ,圍 大 陵 ,拔之,斬 賊 帥 商 曜。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
韓 遂 、馬 超 等 反 關 右 ,遣 晃 屯 汾陰以撫河東 ,賜 牛 酒 ,令 上 先人 墓 。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
臣 松 之 云 :案 晃 于時未 應 稱 臣 ,傳寫 者 誤 也。) Pei Songzhi's annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
太 祖 至 潼關,恐 不 得 渡 ,召問晃 。晃 曰:「公 盛 兵 於此,而賊不 復 別 守 蒲 阪 ,知 其無謀 也。今 假 臣 精兵 渡 蒲 阪 津 ,為 軍 先 置 ,以截其裏,賊 可 擒 也。」) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
太 祖 曰:「善 。」使 晃 以步騎 四 千 人 渡津 。作 塹柵未成 ,賊 梁 興 夜 將 步 騎 五 千 餘人 攻 晃 ,晃 擊 走 之 ,太 祖 軍 得 渡 。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
遂 破 超 等 ,使 晃 與 夏 侯 淵 平 隃麋、汧諸氐,與太 祖 會 安定 。太 祖 還 鄴,使 晃 與 夏 侯 淵 平 鄜、夏 陽 餘 賊 ,斬 梁 興 ,降 三 千 餘 戶 。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
從 征 張 魯。別 遣 晃 討攻櫝、仇 夷 諸山 氐,皆 降 之 。遷平寇將軍 。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
解 將軍 張 順 圍 。擊 賊 陳 福 等 三 十 餘 屯 ,皆 破 之 。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
太 祖 還 鄴,留 晃 與 夏 侯 淵 拒 劉 備於陽平 。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (備遣
陳 式 等 十餘營絕馬鳴閣道,晃 別 征 破 之 ,賊 自 投 山谷 ,多 死者 。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
太 祖 聞,甚喜,假 晃 節 ,令 曰:「此閣道 ,漢 中之 險要 咽喉 也。劉 備欲斷絕 外 內,以取漢 中 。將軍 一 舉,克 奪 賊 計 ,善之 善 者 也。」太 祖 遂 自 至 陽平 ,引出漢 中 諸 軍 。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
復 遣 晃 助 曹仁討關羽 ,屯 宛 。會 漢 水 暴隘,于禁等 沒 。羽 圍 仁 於樊,又 圍 將軍 呂 常 於襄陽 。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
晃 所 將 多 新卒 ,以羽難 與 爭 鋒 ,遂 前 至 陽 陵 陂屯。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
太 祖 復 還 ,遣 將軍 徐 商 、呂 建 等 詣 晃 ,令 曰:「須兵馬 集 至 ,乃俱前 。」) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
賊 屯 偃城。晃 到 ,詭道作 都 塹,示 欲 截其後 ,賊 燒 屯 走 。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
晃 得 偃城,兩面 連 營,稍 前 ,去 賊 圍 三 丈 所 。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
未 攻 ,太 祖 前後 遣 殷 署 、朱 蓋 等 凡十 二 營詣晃 。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
賊 圍 頭 有 屯 ,又 別 屯 四 冢。晃 揚 聲 當 攻圍 頭 屯 ,而密攻 四 冢。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
羽 見 四 冢欲壞,自 將 步 騎 五 千 出 戰 ,晃 擊 之 ,退 走 ,遂 追 陷 與 俱入圍 ,破 之 ,或 自 投 沔水死 。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
太 祖 令 曰:「賊 圍 塹鹿角 十 重 ,將軍 致戰全勝 ,遂 陷 賊 圍 ,多 斬首 虜 。吾 用兵 三 十 餘 年 ,及所聞古之 善用 兵 者 ,未 有 長驅 徑 入 敵 圍 者 也。且樊、襄 陽 之 在 圍 ,過 於莒、即 墨 ,將軍 之 功 ,踰孫武 、穰 苴。」) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
蜀 記 曰:羽 與 晃 宿 相愛 ,遙 共 語 ,但 說 平生 ,不 及軍事 。須臾 ,晃 下馬 宣 令 :「得 關 雲 長 頭 ,賞金 千 斤 。」羽 驚 怖 ,謂 晃 曰:「大兄 ,是 何 言 邪 !」晃 曰:「此國之 事 耳 。」) Shu Ji annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 36. - ^ (
晃 振 旅 還 摩 陂,太 祖 迎 晃 七 里 ,置 酒 大會 。太 祖 舉巵酒 勸 晃 ,且勞之 曰:「全 樊、襄 陽 ,將軍 之 功 也。」) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
時 諸 軍 皆 集 ,太 祖 案 行 諸 營,士卒 咸離陣 觀 ,而晃軍營 整齊 ,將士 駐 陣 不動 。太 祖 歎曰:「徐 將軍 可 謂 有 周 亞 夫 之 風 矣。」) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ a b Sima (1084), vol. 69.
- ^ (
文 帝 即 王位 ,以晃為 右 將軍 ,進 封 逯鄉侯 。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (及踐阼,
進 封 楊侯。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
與 夏 侯 尚 討劉備於上 庸 ,破 之 。以晃鎮陽平 ,徙封陽平 侯 。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ Sima (1084), vol. 70.
- ^ (
明 帝 即位 ,拒 吳 將 諸 葛 瑾於襄 陽 。增 邑二 百 ,并前三 千 一 百 戶 。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
病 篤 ,遺 令 歛以時服 。 ...太 和 元年 薨,謚曰壯 侯 。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
子 蓋 嗣。蓋 薨,子 霸嗣。明 帝 分 晃 戶 ,封 晃 子孫 二 人 列侯 。) Sanguozhi vol. 17. - ^ (
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