Han Sui
Encyclopedia
Han Sui was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty
period of Chinese history
. For most of his life he was active in Liang Province (涼州, the northwestern frontier of the Han Dynasty) and was involved in several rebellions against the Han Dynasty and against the warlord Cao Cao
.
. He joined forces with others in the area, such as Bian Zhang (邊章), Beigong Yu (北宫玉), and Liwen Hou (李文侯). Despite suffering a defeat by government forces under Dong Zhuo
, Han Sui maintained the support of the Qiang people and maintained his territory in Liang Province. Han Sui is thought to have preferred to remain somewhat behind the scenes, placing someone else in the position of leadership while holding the real power himself. When Bian Zhang and the other leaders passed from the scene, he placed Wang Guo (王國) in power with the help of his ally Ma Teng, whom he pledged a pact of brotherhood with. The arrangement did not last long, however, and Wang Guo was removed from power after being defeated by the senior government official Huangfu Song
. It was at this point that Ma Teng and Han Sui declared themselves co-rulers of the Liang province, now mostly autonomous due to turmoil in the Han dynasty.
Early in 192, the two of them submitted to Dong Zhuo's government, but Dong Zhuo was assassinated by Lü Bu
and Wang Yun
in April, and when Li Jue succeeded in taking power of Dong Zhuo's loyal followers; Han Sui and Ma Teng allied themselves with Liu Yan
and moved their armies toward Chang'an
. With a major defeat 13 miles west to Chang'an, and running short on supplies, the allied forces retreated to Liang Province.
Not long afterward, however, Han Sui and Ma Teng's relationship soured and the two of them battled each other for control of Liang province. Their battle escalated to the point where both were killing each other's wives and children. Cao Cao, having achieved victory at the Battle of Guandu
, sent Zhong Yao
to broker a peace between the two warring sides and to place Liang Province under Cao Cao's authority. After the terms were agreed to, Han Sui and Ma Teng would give assistance to Cao Cao in the remainder of his battles against Yuan Shao
. After this, Ma Teng was forcibly summoned to Ye
and Han Sui placed Ma Teng's son Ma Chao
in charge of the region.
When Cao Cao began gathering armies with the intent of invading Hanzhong
, then under the rule of Zhang Lu, Han Sui and Ma Chao suspected that it was they, and not Zhang Lu who would be attacked. The two of them gathered warlords from the western regions and went to war against Cao Cao. In the course of the conflict, however, Cao Cao managed to turn Ma Chao and Han Sui against each other. Han Sui realized that there was no hope for victory with the forces divided against each other in suspicion, and retreated once again to Liang province. Cao Cao captured and killed Han Sui's son and grandchildren.
When Xiahou Yuan
began his subjugation of the Liang province, Han Sui fought against this, but was ultimately defeated and forced to retreat. He discussed the idea of retreating to Shu
, but his subordinate Cheng Gongying
encouraged him to continue his fight against Cao Cao instead. At this point, he was either murdered by some of his own followers or died of illness. In either case, his head was brought to Cao Cao by Han Sui's generals as they all surrendered. He was believed to have been over 70 years old at the time of his death.
, Han Sui is depicted as a military general under Ma Teng, when in fact he was a warlord of equal footing. Han Sui's preference to remain out of the scenes may have been a reason for this depiction.
According to the story, in the battle against the forces of Cao Cao, Han Sui leads eight loyal generals of Ma Chao's into battle. However, due to Jia Xu
's plot, Ma Chao grew suspicious of Han Sui and in anger cut off his left arm. Han Sui then defected to Cao Cao, and was given a post. Afterwards, the story has him stationed in Liang province with Xiahou Yuan.
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
period of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
. For most of his life he was active in Liang Province (涼州, the northwestern frontier of the Han Dynasty) and was involved in several rebellions against the Han Dynasty and against the warlord Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. 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 was posthumously titled...
.
Biography
With the backing of the Qiang people who populated much of Liang province, Han Sui participated in the Liang Province Rebellion against the Han Dynasty during the rule of Emperor LingEmperor Ling of Han
Emperor Ling of Han, trad. ch. 漢靈帝;, sim. ch. 汉灵帝, py. hàn líng dì, wg. Han Ling-ti, was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty. He was a great-great-grandson of Emperor Zhang. The Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out during Emperor Ling's reign.Emperor Ling's reign saw yet another repetition of...
. He joined forces with others in the area, such as Bian Zhang (邊章), Beigong Yu (北宫玉), and Liwen Hou (李文侯). Despite suffering a defeat by government forces under Dong Zhuo
Dong Zhuo
Dong Zhuo was a politician and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He seized control of the capital city Luoyang in 189 when it was in a state of turmoil following the death of Emperor Ling and a clash between the eunuch faction and some court officials led by...
, Han Sui maintained the support of the Qiang people and maintained his territory in Liang Province. Han Sui is thought to have preferred to remain somewhat behind the scenes, placing someone else in the position of leadership while holding the real power himself. When Bian Zhang and the other leaders passed from the scene, he placed Wang Guo (王國) in power with the help of his ally Ma Teng, whom he pledged a pact of brotherhood with. The arrangement did not last long, however, and Wang Guo was removed from power after being defeated by the senior government official Huangfu Song
Huangfu Song
Huangfu Song , style name Yizhen , was a military general of the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He is best known for helping to suppress the Yellow Turban Rebellion and Liang Province Rebellion. He was one of three imperial commanders when the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, along...
. It was at this point that Ma Teng and Han Sui declared themselves co-rulers of the Liang province, now mostly autonomous due to turmoil in the Han dynasty.
Early in 192, the two of them submitted to Dong Zhuo's government, but Dong Zhuo was assassinated by Lü Bu
Lü Bu
Lü Bu was a military general and later a minor warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. According to the Records of Three Kingdoms, Lü Bu was highly-skilled in horse-riding and archery, and was thus nicknamed "Flying General"...
and Wang Yun
Wang Yun
Wang Yun was a Minister over the Masses under Emperor Xian during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. During Wang Yun's time, the emperors were mere puppets under the power of eunuchs and warlords. In 192, Wang Yun plotted and successfully staged Lü Bu's assassination of Dong Zhuo, the...
in April, and when Li Jue succeeded in taking power of Dong Zhuo's loyal followers; Han Sui and Ma Teng allied themselves with Liu Yan
Liu Yan (Three Kingdoms)
Liu Yan was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was also a member of the extended family of the Han Dynasty emperors. For most of his career he served as Governor of Yi Province , which he developed into an independent power base...
and moved their armies toward Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
. With a major defeat 13 miles west to Chang'an, and running short on supplies, the allied forces retreated to Liang Province.
Not long afterward, however, Han Sui and Ma Teng's relationship soured and the two of them battled each other for control of Liang province. Their battle escalated to the point where both were killing each other's wives and children. Cao Cao, having achieved victory at the Battle of Guandu
Battle of Guandu
The Battle of Guandu was a military conflict between the warlords Cao Cao and Yuan Shao in 200 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. The battle, which concluded with victory for Cao Cao, was a turning point in the war between the two warlords...
, sent Zhong Yao
Zhong Yao
Zhong Yao was a Chinese calligrapher and politician of Cao Wei during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Born in modern Xuchang, Henan, he was at one time the Grand Administrator of Chang'an....
to broker a peace between the two warring sides and to place Liang Province under Cao Cao's authority. After the terms were agreed to, Han Sui and Ma Teng would give assistance to Cao Cao in the remainder of his battles against Yuan Shao
Yuan Shao
Yuan Shao was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He occupied the northern territories of China during the civil war that occurred towards the end of the Han Dynasty and the beginning of the Three Kingdoms era...
. After this, Ma Teng was forcibly summoned to Ye
Ye, China
Ye or Yecheng was an ancient Chinese city located in what is now Linzhang County, Hebei and the neighbouring Anyang County, Henan....
and Han Sui placed Ma Teng's son Ma Chao
Ma Chao
Ma Chao was the oldest son of Ma Teng and a military general during the late Han Dynasty and early Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. In Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, he received the nickname "Ma Chao the Splendid" due to his elaborate armour and grand skill...
in charge of the region.
When Cao Cao began gathering armies with the intent of invading Hanzhong
Hanzhong
Hanzhong is a municipality in southwest Shaanxi Province, China, occupying a historically significant valley in the mountains between the Xi'an area, home to many Chinese capitals, and the fertile but isolated Sichuan Basin...
, then under the rule of Zhang Lu, Han Sui and Ma Chao suspected that it was they, and not Zhang Lu who would be attacked. The two of them gathered warlords from the western regions and went to war against Cao Cao. In the course of the conflict, however, Cao Cao managed to turn Ma Chao and Han Sui against each other. Han Sui realized that there was no hope for victory with the forces divided against each other in suspicion, and retreated once again to Liang province. Cao Cao captured and killed Han Sui's son and grandchildren.
When Xiahou Yuan
Xiahou Yuan
Xiahou Yuan was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was killed in the Battle of Mount Dingjun against Liu Bei's general Huang Zhong in 219, and was given the posthumous title of Marquis Min , literally meaning "sympathetic...
began his subjugation of the Liang province, Han Sui fought against this, but was ultimately defeated and forced to retreat. He discussed the idea of retreating to Shu
Shu Han
Shu Han was one of the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period, after the fall of the Han Dynasty. The state was based on areas around Sichuan, which was then known as Shu...
, but his subordinate Cheng Gongying
Cheng Gongying
Chenggong Ying was a stategist serving under the warlord Han Sui during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. When Xiahou Yuan came to subdue Han Sui, Chenggong was the one who suggested hiding amongst the Qiang people. Following the death of Han, Chenggong submitted to Cao Cao...
encouraged him to continue his fight against Cao Cao instead. At this point, he was either murdered by some of his own followers or died of illness. In either case, his head was brought to Cao Cao by Han Sui's generals as they all surrendered. He was believed to have been over 70 years old at the time of his death.
In fiction
In the historical novel Romance of the Three KingdomsRomance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based on the events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, starting in 169 and ending with the reunification of the land in...
, Han Sui is depicted as a military general under Ma Teng, when in fact he was a warlord of equal footing. Han Sui's preference to remain out of the scenes may have been a reason for this depiction.
According to the story, in the battle against the forces of Cao Cao, Han Sui leads eight loyal generals of Ma Chao's into battle. However, due to Jia Xu
Jia Xu
Jia Xu , style name Wenhe , was an advisor to the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He previously served Dong Zhuo, Li Jue and Zhang Xiu before finally joining Cao Cao...
's plot, Ma Chao grew suspicious of Han Sui and in anger cut off his left arm. Han Sui then defected to Cao Cao, and was given a post. Afterwards, the story has him stationed in Liang province with Xiahou Yuan.