Heroes of Shu

Liu Bei (160): First Brother of the Peach Tree Oath, "Imperial Uncle," Last Survivor of the Girdle Edict Conspiracy, Tamer of the Five Tigers and the Sleeping Dragon, First Ruler of Shu

Liu Bei started with no rank or position, but only a great thirst for justice. He attracted the greatest warriors who shared his beliefs, known as the Five Tigers, and he also drew the greatest strategists Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong. Liu Bei was a distant uncle of the Emperor, which led to his nickname. At the outbreak of the Yellow Scarves Rebellion he went to join the volunteer army when he met Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, two complete strangers who also wanted to enlist. They all believed in restoring the Han Dynasty, so under a peach tree they made an oath to become brothers, to save the Empire, and to fight for justice and virtue. They defeated Zhang Jue but they got no official recognition. However, they became great heroes of the people. When Dong Zhuo declared himself Prime Minister, Liu Bei answered Cao Cao's call to arms. They were received poorly by Yuan Shu because they had no titles, but they quickly defeated various forces and there was one great battle where the three brothers beat Lu Bu himself. After the war, Liu Bei proved to be very loyal to his allies; first he helped Gongsun Zan fight against Yuan Shao's first invasion, and then he successfully protected Xu Zhou province and its aging Protector, Tao Qian passed the title to Liu Bei. He received an edict from Cao Cao to fight the pretender Yuan Shu, and he invited Lu Bu to be a general. After Lu Bu betrayed him, he helped Cao Cao to capture him. Liu Bei became friends with Cao Cao, and Cao Cao even remarked that only Liu Bei and him were the great men of the era. The Emperor did not like Cao Cao, and he gave General Dong Cheng the famous Girdle Edict to oust Cao Cao. Dong Cheng gathered the Emperor's few closest allies, and he invited Liu Bei to join the conspiracy. Unfortunately, the plot was leaked. Luckily, Liu Bei was out defeating Yuan Shu. Liu Bei and Ma Teng were the only conspirators to escape the massacre that followed. When he returned to Xu Zhou he was attacked by Cao Cao and was driven out. He sought refuge with Yuan Shao, but it became clear that Yuan Shao was not competent enough to fight Cao Cao. He then went to Liu Biao, the Imperial Protector of Jing Zhuo. The strategist Xu Zhe recommended Pang Tong and Zhuge Liang for Liu Bei. Liu Bei went to Zhuge Liang's house three times, and the first two times he was not home. The third time he went Zhuge Liang was sleeping. Liu Bei patiently waited until he woke up, and then he explained that the people were suffering. Zhuge Liang was impressed and he joined Liu Bei's army. With his help Liu Bei was able to retake Jing Zhou from Cao Cao. Pang Tong then advised him to conquer Shu, Liu Bei's ancestral homeland, so Liu Bei took Huang Zhong, Wei Yan, and Pang Tong and left Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun to defend Jing Zhou. He entered Shu and tried to befriend its Imperial Protector and his relative, Liu Zheng, but Liu Zheng became mistrustful of Liu Bei and attacked him. Liu Bei defeated Liu Zheng and conquered Han Zhou and Yia Zhou. He promised to give Jing Zhou to Sun Qan, but he reneged. Sun Qan seized it for himself and killed Guan Yu. Liu Bei was forced to execute his adopted son Liu Feng for not rescuing Guan Yu. Then Cao Pi in Loyang declared himself Emperor. Liu Bei knew that now the Han dynasty had completely collapsed, so he also declared himself Emperor to oppose Cao Pi. He led an expedition to destroy Sun Quan and avenge Guan Yu, but he was defeated and Zhang Fei was assassinated. Liu Bei returned to Shu and died of old age, without realizing his dream of reuniting the empire. He was succeeded by his son Liu Shan, who unfortunately was a coward and he allowed Shu to be conquered by Jin.

The Five Tigers

Guan Yu (161): Second Brother of the Peach Tree Oath, 1st of the Five Tigers

Guan Yu was the most honorable of the Five Tigers, and that is why Liu Bei made him 1st Tiger. He met Liu Bei as a fugitive because he killed an evil thug. After their famous oath under the peach tree, the local villagers gave him the Green Dragon Saber and Zhang Fei the Octane-Serpent Halberd. Guan Yu was the more disciplined of Liu Bei's brothers and he often had to help Liu Bei restrain Zhang Fei. Guan Yu killed Dong Zhuo's great warrior Hua Xiong at the Tiger Trap Pass, establishing credibility for Liu Bei's army. When Cao Cao conquered Xu Zhou and drove off Liu Bei, Guan Yu was trapped in the province with Liu Bei's family. Cao Cao accepted his surrender in return for not harming Liu Bei's family. Cao Cao gave him Chi Tu Ma, recently taken from Lu Bu, and he tried to get Guan Yu to join him. Guan Yu helped Cao Cao by killing Yan Liang and Wen Chou, Yuan Shao's two greatest warriors, but he refused to join Cao Cao. Guan Yu then escaped Cao Cao, killed six of his generals, and rejoined Liu Bei. In Jing Zhou, Guan Yu convinced Huang Zhong to join Liu Bei. He fought many battles, and he was once wounded with a poisoned arrow that struck his bone. When the surgeon scraped his bone to remove the poison, and Guan Yu did not even flinch. Guan Yu remained in Jing Zhou while Liu Bei was conquering Shu, when Sun Qan invaded. Lu Meng tricked Guan Yu's men into deserting him, and he was captured and beheaded with his adopted son Guan Ping. After his death, his ghost appeared to plague Cao Cao and Lu Meng to their deaths. He was succeeded by his son Guan Xing.

Guan Xing (187): son of Guan Yu

Guan Xing succeeded his father Guan Yu well. He originally rivalled Zhang Fei's son Zhang Bao, but Liu Bei made them reconcile and they became brothers on a broken-arrow pledge. He participated in Liu Bei's offensive against Wu to avenge his father and he recovered the Green-Dragon Saber. After Liu Bei's death he helped Zhuge Liang subdue the Mangs. Guan Xing never gained his father's reputation, though, and he was killed in one of Zhuge Liang's expeditions against Wei in 234 A.D.

Zhang Fei (166): Third Brother of the Peach Tree Oath, 2nd of the Five Tigers
Favorite Quote: "Stay, O twice bastard; Zhang Fei of Yan awaits you!"

Zhang Fei was the most volatile and unstable of the Five Tigers, yet he was always loyal to his brothers Liu Bei and Guan Yu. He started as a butcher and a wine-seller, and he wanted to enlist in the army to fight the Yellow Scarves Rebellion. His given weapon was the famous Octane-Serpent Halberd. Zhang Fei was fiercely loyal to Liu Bei, but he had an alcoholic tendency and was very hard on his men. Zhang Fei nearly attacked Dong Zhuo for being rude to Liu Bei after they rescued him from Zhang Jue. He whipped a civil officer for demanding a bribe from Liu Bei. Zhang Fei was a great enemy of Lu Bu; not only were they equally matched in battle but Zhang Fei disliked Lu Bu for his unscrupulousness and ego. He helped ruin Liu Bei's relationship with Lu Bu, first by beating his brother-in-law and later by stealing his horses. After Zhuge Liang joined the army, he was careful to use Zhang Fei's rage to their greatest advantage. After fighting a great battle with Ma Chao he helped to recruit him. Zhang Fei took Guan Yu's death very seriously, and he severely thrashed some soldiers who could not find white mourning clothes. They assassinated him, and Zhang Fei was succeeded by his son Zhang Bao.

Zhang Bao (188): son of Zhang Fei

Zhang Bao, along with Guan Xing was born right about the time of the Yellow Scarves Rebellion. He served as a common soldier under his father until he assumed command upon his father's assassination. He took his father's Octane-Serpent Halberd and served with Guan Xing under Liu Bei and later Zhuge Liang faithfully. He participated in Zhuge Liang's great campaign against Sima Yi, and he died pursuing an enemy in 229 A.D.

Zhao Yun (155): 3rd and last surviving of the Five Tigers

Zhao Yun was the only Tiger to die from old age, and he was the most resourceful of them. His weapon was the Blue Blade, which was Cao Cao's own sword until Zhao Yun slew his sword-bearer and took it for himself. He originally served Yuan Shao but left after discovering that Yuan Shao was greedy and power-hungry. He joined Gongsun Zan, and when Liu Bei came to help defend against Yuan Shao they immediately were drawn to each other. He later helped Liu Bei defend his friend Kong Rong from Yellow Scarf bandits. After Gongsun Zan was destroyed by Yuan Shao, Zhao Yun went looking for Liu Bei and found him after he was driven from Xu Zhou by Cao Cao. When Liu Bei was again separated from his family when Cao Cao invaded Jing Zhou, Zhao Yun rescued his son and broke through Cao Cao's million-man line. Like Guan Yu he was an cool-headed warrior, and Zhuge Liang used him for missions requiring patience and decisiveness. Zhao Yun outlived the other Five Tigers and died of old age at seventy.

Ma Chao (178): 4th of the Five Tigers

Ma Chao was the last Tiger to join Liu Bei, and he was the only one descended from a noble family. He was the most driven to kill Cao Cao because the Prime Minister murdered his family. Ma Chao's father was Ma Teng, the only other member of the Girdle Edict Conspiracy to survive Cao Cao's purge besides Liu Bei. Whereas Liu Bei was driven into exile after that unfortunate episode, Ma Teng return to his city Xiliang and entrenched. Later Cao Cao lured Ma Teng to Loyang on the pretense of negotiating for a truce, and there Ma Teng was murdered. In retaliation Ma Chao gathered all of his father's remaining allies and launched an attack on Cao Cao. Cao Cao came out to lead his men himself and was sorely defeated. When Ma Chao searched for him, Cao Cao had to discard his robe and cut his beard to escape detection. Ma Chao once even fought Tiger Guard Commander Xu Zhu to a standstill. Ma Chao was so successful that he even occupied the western capital Changan for a while. Cao Cao then cunningly dissolved Ma Chao's alliance and he was defeated. Ma Chao escaped, but Cao Cao then proceeded to kill every member of his family. Ma Chao joined Zhang Lu's army and they were preparing to fight Liu Zheng when Liu Bei showed up. Zhang Lu sent Ma Chao to fight while Liu Bei sent Zhang Fei. The two were evenly matched, but Zhuge Liang was able to trick Zhang Lu into discarding Ma Chao. Ma Chao then joined Liu Bei and later served Zhuge Liang until he died of disease after Zhuge Liang defeated the Mangs.

Huang Zhong (147): 5th of the Five Tigers

Huang Zhong was considered to be the least of the Tigers because of his old age, but he was still a powerful warrior, strong enough even to fight Guan Yu. His weapon of choice was a heavy longbow. He served Liu Biao until the Protector died, and then he went to Changsha and enlisted in Governor Han Xuan's army. He was over sixty years old when Liu Bei's army came to bring order to the region. Guan Yu was the warrior assigned to conquer Changsha, and he had a rough time fighting Huang Zhong. Neither warrior wanted to kill the other, and finally Huang Zhong was captured. Guan Yu convinced him to join Liu Bei's army and he served faithfully. He accompanied Liu Bei and Pang Tong to conquer Shu. Zhuge Liang knew that Huang Zhong was a great fighter, but he would nevertheless chide him about his age to get him riled up to fight. Huang Zhong's greatest victory was over Xiahou Yuan in Han Zhou. When Liu Bei launched his offensive against Sun Qan for killing Guan Yu, Huang Zhong was at the forefront of battle, but he died of an arrow wound and his age.

The Strategists of Shu

Xu Zhe was one of the great wise men of the time. When he was young he killed a man to avenge a friend, and so he went into hiding and changed his name to Dan Fu. He joined Liu Bei after he was cast out of Xu Zhou province. He developed the strategy that defeated Cao Cao's first invasion into Jing Zhou, but then Cao Cao tricked him by writing him a letter saying his mother was ill in the city of Loyang. Xu Zhe left Liu Bei for Loyang, promising never to help Cao Cao. Before he left though, he told Liu Bei to search for Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong, who were the great military minds of the day. When he arrived at Loyang, he discovered that his mother was indeed very healthy. Unfortunately, his mother raged at him for being tricked by Cao Cao, and in her anger she hanged himself. Out of shame, Xu Zhe retired from being an active strategist.

Zhuge Liang (181): "Sleeping-Dragon," Directing Instructor of Liu Bei's Army, Prime Minister of Shu, Regent Marshal of Shu

Zhuge Liang, also known as "Sleeping-Dragon" was the greatest military strategist in this period of history. He was a farmer before Xu Zhe recommended him to Liu Bei. Zhuge Liang did not join until he was sure that Liu Bei was working for the common man's welfare, and Liu Bei made him Directing Instructor of the Army. Zhuge Liang knew that the only way to defeat Cao Cao was for the Three Kingdoms to appear, and to make an alliance with the kingdom of Wu. He went to the South Land and became friends with Lu Su. He successfully debated against the leading scholars in Wu, including Zhang Zhao for Wu to make an alliance. He worked with Zhou Yu, Wu's supreme admiral and Pang Tong, who was pretending to serve Cao Cao to defeat him at the Red Hills. After repulsing Cao Cao, Zhuge Liang advised Liu Bei to reclaim the land of Shu for the Han Dynasty. Zhuge Liang became a legend because no one could fight against his strategies. Not only did he understand his enemies but he also understood his own men, and he knew whom to send for the appropriate mission. Only Sima Yi was able to understand his ruses and defend against them, which prevented Liu Bei from destroying the Wei dynasty. Zhuge Liang was made Prime Minister of Shu after Liu Bei declared himself Emperor, and he became Regent Marshal after the deaths of Liu Bei and the Five Tigers. He defeated the rebellious king of the Mangs seven times to secure his loyalty. He then continued to fight against Wei and recruited his protege, Jiang Wei. He continually tried to trick Sima Yi to no avail, because Sima Yi knew Zhuge Liang was getting old at it was simply a matter of time before he died. Zhuge Liang also failed because his liege Liu Shan was a incompetent king, and Zhuge Liang had to return to Shu on too many occasions. Zhuge Liang handed his titles to Jiang Wei on his deathbed and urged him to continue the fight against Wei. He died in 234 A.D.

Pang Tong (178): "Blooming-Phoenix," Vice Directing Instructor of Liu Bei's Army

Pang Tong was supposed to be an ugly man, but he was nearly the equal of Zhuge Liang in strategic capability. When Zhuge Liang went to enlist the help of Wu against Wei, Pang Tong pretended to join Cao Cao. He advised Cao Cao to bind all the ships of the Wei navy together, and at the Battle of the Red Hills the Wu navy was able to burn all their ships at once. After Sun Qan repulsed Cao Cao, Pang Tong tried to join him but he insulted Sun Qan and was dismissed. Lu Su then recommended that he join Liu Bei. Liu Bei made him the Vice Directing Instructor and when Pang Tong suggested that Shu be taken, Liu Bei asked him to be his advisor. Unfortunately, Pang Tong secretly believed Zhuge Liang was jealous of him, and when he received a letter from him urging him not to make a certain attack he disregarded it, which led to his defeat and death.

Jiang Wei: last great warrior of the Three Kingdoms

Jiang Wei was the last effective warrior to face the power of the Jin dynasty which eventually swept away the Three Kingdoms. Not only was he a great warrior, but he was enough of a strategist to be chosen Zhuge Liang's protege. He originally served as a strategist of Wei, and not only did he see through Zhuge Liang's ruses but he fought the Tiger Zhao Yun to a draw. Zhuge Liang later captured him and Jiang Wei offered to join Shu. On his deathbed, Zhuge Liang gave him the impossible task of defeating the Jin dynasty, which had already overcome Wei and was now threatening Shu and Wu. While Jiang Wei was nearly the equal of Zhuge Liang as a strategist and any one of the Five Tigers as a warrior, he was unfortunately only one man. Sadly, he did not have the resources of many specialized and gifted warriors and strategists as Liu Bei did. His lord, Liu Shan was a weakling and a simpleton, which made his task much more difficult. Jiang Wei fought Sima Yi and later his sons, even though he was not succeeding and the land was suffering from constant war. After Liu Shan surrendered to Jin, Jiang Wei refused to give up and he continued fighting. He was finally surrounded and he committed suicide rather than to be captured. After his death, Sima Yan had no difficulty subduing the two remaining kingdoms and reuniting the empire.

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