Hu Zhen
Encyclopedia
Hu Zhen, style name
Wencai (文才), was a general serving under the warlord Dong Zhuo
during the late Han Dynasty
period of Chinese history
. He was described as a man of influence in Liang Province (涼州).
As Administrator of Chen Commandery (陳郡), he was sent to Yangren (陽人) with 5000 men to resist Sun Jian
's invasion from the south in 191. Hu Zhen and his comrade Lü Bu
, who was in charge of the cavalry, were not on good terms, so Lü Bu spread false rumours confusing the attack. Thus Dong Zhuo's forces under Hu Zhen were heavily defeated by Sun Jian.
After Dong Zhuo's assassination in 192, Hu Zhen served the new government headed by Wang Yun
, but he was displeased at Wang Yun's arrogance. When Dong Zhuo's loyalists Li Jue and Guo Si
rebelled against the new government, Wang sent Hu Zhen with Yang Ding (楊定) and Xu Rong to fight, or perhaps negotiate, with the rebels. However, Hu Zhen and Yang Ding joined the enemy soon after Xu Rong was killed in battle.
When Li Jue and Guo Si took over the capital Chang'an
from Wang Yun, Hu Zhen became the Director of Retainers (司隸校尉) under their command. With his position, he falsely convicted a local officer You Yin (游殷), with whom he quarrelled, and put You Yin to death. A few months later Hu Zhen became ill, saying You Yin's spirit had come for his crime, and died.
's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
, Hu Zhen was slain by Sun Jian
's general Cheng Pu
during the Battle of Sishui Pass
.
Chinese style name
A Chinese style name, sometimes also known as a courtesy name , is a given name to be used later in life. After 20 years of age, the zì is assigned in place of one's given name as a symbol of adulthood and respect...
Wencai (文才), was a general serving under the warlord 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...
during the late Han Dynasty
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...
. He was described as a man of influence in Liang Province (涼州).
As Administrator of Chen Commandery (陳郡), he was sent to Yangren (陽人) with 5000 men to resist Sun Jian
Sun Jian
Sun Jian was a military general and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. 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...
's invasion from the south in 191. Hu Zhen and his comrade 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"...
, who was in charge of the cavalry, were not on good terms, so Lü Bu spread false rumours confusing the attack. Thus Dong Zhuo's forces under Hu Zhen were heavily defeated by Sun Jian.
After Dong Zhuo's assassination in 192, Hu Zhen served the new government headed by 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...
, but he was displeased at Wang Yun's arrogance. When Dong Zhuo's loyalists Li Jue and Guo Si
Guo Si
Guo Si , also known as Guo Duo , was a general serving under the warlord Dong Zhuo during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He assisted Dong in his many campaigns, and was placed under Dong's son-in-law after Dong relocate the imperial capital to Chang'an...
rebelled against the new government, Wang sent Hu Zhen with Yang Ding (楊定) and Xu Rong to fight, or perhaps negotiate, with the rebels. However, Hu Zhen and Yang Ding joined the enemy soon after Xu Rong was killed in battle.
When Li Jue and Guo Si took over the capital 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...
from Wang Yun, Hu Zhen became the Director of Retainers (司隸校尉) under their command. With his position, he falsely convicted a local officer You Yin (游殷), with whom he quarrelled, and put You Yin to death. A few months later Hu Zhen became ill, saying You Yin's spirit had come for his crime, and died.
In fiction
In Luo GuanzhongLuo Guanzhong
Luo Ben , better known by his style name Luo Guanzhong , was a Chinese writer of the early Ming Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was also known as Huhai Sanren...
's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance 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...
, Hu Zhen was slain by Sun Jian
Sun Jian
Sun Jian was a military general and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. 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...
's general Cheng Pu
Cheng Pu
Cheng Pu was a military general serving under the warlord Sun family of Eastern Wu for three generations during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history.-Early service under Sun Jian:...
during the Battle of Sishui Pass
Battle of Sishui Pass
The Battle of Sishui Pass is a fictional battle described in Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The battle was fought between Dong Zhuo and a coalition of regional warlords and officials as part of the Campaign against Dong Zhuo in 190 during the prelude to the Three...
.