Huo Jun
Encyclopedia
Huo Jun style name
Zhongmiao (仲邈), was a military general serving under the warlord Liu Biao
during the late Han Dynasty
period of Chinese history
. He served Liu Bei
after Liu Biao's death. In Luo Guanzhong
's historical novel Romance of Three Kingdoms, when Liu Bei began his rule over Jing Province, Huo Jun left Liu Biao and joined under Liu Bei. Huo Jun followed in the defense of Jiameng Pass along with Meng Da
, who recommended Huo Jun to Liu Bei. In reality, however, Huo Jun served with Liu Biao all the way to the end, only after Liu Biao's death, did Huo Jun went to serve under Liu Bei. Also, in reality, Huo Jun was stationed at Jiameng City (Jia Meng Cheng, 葭萌城) at Jiameng Pass for most of the time by himself, it was only much later when he was joined by Meng Da. Since Huo Jun and Meng Da served in different masters and only came in contact with each other after Meng Da had joined Liu Bei, it is highly unlikely that they would know each other well and Meng Da would recommand Huo Jun to Liu Bei, especially when considering Liu Bei would need some one outside who had just came to him to recommand somebody who was already serve under him for long time.
During Liu Bei's conquest of Sichuan
, Huo Jun was tasked to guard the important Jiameng City (Jia Meng Cheng, 葭萌城) at Jiameng Pass by himself with only a few hundred soldiers under his command. When Liu Zhang
joined forces with Zhang Lu, Huo Jun refused to surrender to Zhang Lu when asked and prepared for the upcoming battle. Liu Zhang sent two generals, Fu Jin (扶禁) and Xiang Cun (向存) leading over ten thousand men to attack Huo Jun, but could not take the city after besieging the city for more than a year. Huo Jun then launched a surprise counterattack and soundly defeated Liu Zhang's force, killing Xiang Cun (向存) in the process and Liu Zhang could not launch anymore attacks after the disastrous defeat. Huo Jun subsequently held out against Zhang Lu's general Ma Chao
successfully for another year, checking Zhang Lu's advance to Sichuan.
In the following years, Huo Jun was joined by Meng Da and during the initial stage of the struggles for Hanzhong
, Huo Jun correctly predicted that the right strategy Shu Han
should take must be a defensive one, instead of going out to actively engaging attacking Cao Wei
forces. Meng Da failed to take this warning and went out to engage Zhang He
anyway, and was defeated as a result.
It is also known that Huo Jun was the father of the moderately reputed officer of the Kingdom of Shu
, Huo Yi
. After his death, Huo Jun was buried in Chengdu
and Liu Bei personally attended his funeral, and stay overnight at Huo Jun's tomb.
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...
Zhongmiao (仲邈), was a military general serving under the warlord Liu Biao
Liu Biao
Liu Biao , style name Jingsheng , was a warlord and the governor of Jing Province during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was a member of the extended family of the Han Dynasty emperors...
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 served Liu Bei
Liu Bei
Liu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...
after Liu Biao's death. In Luo Guanzhong
Luo 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 Three Kingdoms, when Liu Bei began his rule over Jing Province, Huo Jun left Liu Biao and joined under Liu Bei. Huo Jun followed in the defense of Jiameng Pass along with Meng Da
Meng Da
Meng Da was a military general who served under Liu Zhang, Liu Bei, Cao Pi, and Cao Rui during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history.-Takeover of Yi Province:...
, who recommended Huo Jun to Liu Bei. In reality, however, Huo Jun served with Liu Biao all the way to the end, only after Liu Biao's death, did Huo Jun went to serve under Liu Bei. Also, in reality, Huo Jun was stationed at Jiameng City (Jia Meng Cheng, 葭萌城) at Jiameng Pass for most of the time by himself, it was only much later when he was joined by Meng Da. Since Huo Jun and Meng Da served in different masters and only came in contact with each other after Meng Da had joined Liu Bei, it is highly unlikely that they would know each other well and Meng Da would recommand Huo Jun to Liu Bei, especially when considering Liu Bei would need some one outside who had just came to him to recommand somebody who was already serve under him for long time.
During Liu Bei's conquest of Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
, Huo Jun was tasked to guard the important Jiameng City (Jia Meng Cheng, 葭萌城) at Jiameng Pass by himself with only a few hundred soldiers under his command. When Liu Zhang
Liu Zhang (warlord)
Liu Zhang was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He became governor of Yi Province , succeeding his father Liu Yan and ruled the region until 214, when he surrendered to Liu Bei...
joined forces with Zhang Lu, Huo Jun refused to surrender to Zhang Lu when asked and prepared for the upcoming battle. Liu Zhang sent two generals, Fu Jin (扶禁) and Xiang Cun (向存) leading over ten thousand men to attack Huo Jun, but could not take the city after besieging the city for more than a year. Huo Jun then launched a surprise counterattack and soundly defeated Liu Zhang's force, killing Xiang Cun (向存) in the process and Liu Zhang could not launch anymore attacks after the disastrous defeat. Huo Jun subsequently held out against Zhang Lu's general 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...
successfully for another year, checking Zhang Lu's advance to Sichuan.
In the following years, Huo Jun was joined by Meng Da and during the initial stage of the struggles for 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...
, Huo Jun correctly predicted that the right strategy Shu Han
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...
should take must be a defensive one, instead of going out to actively engaging attacking Cao Wei
Cao Wei
Cao Wei was one of the states that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period. With the capital at Luoyang, the state was established by Cao Pi in 220, based upon the foundations that his father Cao Cao laid...
forces. Meng Da failed to take this warning and went out to engage Zhang He
Zhang He
Zhang He was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history. He continued serving the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period until his death....
anyway, and was defeated as a result.
It is also known that Huo Jun was the father of the moderately reputed officer of the Kingdom of 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...
, Huo Yi
Huo Yi
Huo Yi, style name Shaoxian , was a military general of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. After Huo heard of Deng Ai's victory over the capital of Shu, Chengdu, he put on mourning attire and began to weep. Huo wept even though he knew that it was inevitable for Shu Han to...
. After his death, Huo Jun was buried in Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
and Liu Bei personally attended his funeral, and stay overnight at Huo Jun's tomb.
Appointments and titles held
- General of the Household (中郎將)
- Administrator of Zitong (梓潼太守)
- Major General (裨將軍)
See also
- List of people of the Three Kingdoms