Han Hao ( 190s–215),

courtesy name A courtesy name (), also known as a style name, is a name bestowed upon one at adulthood in addition to one's given name. This practice is a tradition in the East Asian cultural sphere, including China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.Ulrich Theo ...

Yuansi, he gained a reputation for loyalty and valor, comparable to

Shi Huan Shi Huan (died 209), courtesy name Gongliu, gained a reputation for valour and loyalty comparable to Han Hao. Shi Huan served the Eastern Han dynasty warlord Cao Cao from early on and was a trusted figure who helped supervise officials. Life ...

. A military officer serving under the warlords

Wang Kuang Wang Kuang (died 191), courtesy name Gongjie, was a government official and minor warlord who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. Life Wang Kuang started his career as a subordinate of the general He Jin during the reign of E ...

Yuan Shu Yuan Shu () (died July or August 199), courtesy name Gonglu, was a Chinese military general, politician, and warlord who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty. He rose to prominence following the collapse of the Han central government in 189 ...

and

Cao Cao Cao Cao () (; 155 – 15 March 220), courtesy name Mengde (), was a Chinese statesman, warlord and poet. He was the penultimate grand chancellor of the Eastern Han dynasty, and he amassed immense power in the dynasty's final years. As one o ...

during the late

Eastern Han dynasty The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by th ...

of China, he became a trusted official of Cao Cao.

Life

Han Hao was from

Henei Henei Commandery ( zh, 河內郡) was a commandery of China from Han dynasty to Tang dynasty, located in modern Henan province, to the north of Yellow River. In ancient China, Henei ("Inside the Yellow River") referred to the land north of the lo ...

, as the Han's authority declined, Han Hao gathered his followers to defend against bandits who hid in the marshes and hills. Appointed to office by

, the Administrator of

Henei Commandery Henei Commandery ( zh, 河內郡) was a commandery of China from Han dynasty to Tang dynasty, located in modern Henan province, to the north of Yellow River. In ancient China, Henei ("Inside the Yellow River") referred to the land north of the low ...

, he took part in the

war War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...

against

Dong Zhuo Dong Zhuo () (died 22 May 192), courtesy name Zhongying, was a Chinese military general, politician, and warlord who lived in the late Eastern Han dynasty. At the end of the reign of the Eastern Han, Dong Zhuo was a general and powerful minist ...

but Wang Kuang was outmaneuvered and destroyed by Dong Zhuo at Mengjin with Han Hao there. Wang Kuang was soon killed, Dong Zhuo held Han Hao's uncle Du Yang hostage to try to persuade Han Hao to serve but Han Hao rejected it, he took service under

, who had heard of Han Hao's strength, as Cavalry Commandant. Xiahou Dun heard of Han Hao and sought a meeting, impressed Xiahou Dun who had Han Hao follow him as a commander of troops. In 193, Cao Cao invaded Tao Qian, the Governor of

Xu Province Xuzhou as a historical toponym refers to varied area in different eras. Ordinarily, it was a reference to the one of the Nine Provinces (China), Nine Provinces which modern Xuzhou inherited. History Pre-Qin era Xuzhou or Xu Province was one ...

, with Han Hao left back at

Puyang Puyang is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Henan province, People's Republic of China. Located on the northern shore of the Yellow River, it borders Anyang in the west, Xinxiang in the southwest, and the provinces of Shandong and Hebei ...

with Xiahou Dun.''Sanguozhi'' vol.9. Cao Cao's subordinates Zhang Miao and

Chen Gong Chen Gong () (died 7 February 199), courtesy name Gongtai, was an adviser to the warlord Lü Bu in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. However, he had started his career under another warlord, Cao Cao, before defecting to Lü Bu. He was execu ...

rebelled in Yan Province and invited the warlord

Lü Bu Lü Bu () (died 7 February 199), courtesy name Fengxian, was a Chinese military general, politician, and warlord who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty of Imperial China. Originally a subordinate of a minor warlord Ding Yuan, he betr ...

to take Yan,

Xun Yu Xun Yu (163–212), courtesy name Wenruo, was a Chinese military official and politician who served as an adviser to the warlord Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. Early life Xun Yu was from Yingchuan Commandery (around p ...

realized the danger and wrote to Xiahou Dun for reinforcements''Sanguozhi'' vol.10. to

Juancheng County Juancheng County falls under the jurisdiction of Heze, in the southwest of Shandong Shandong ( , ; ; Chinese postal romanization, alternately romanized as Shantung) is a coastal Provinces of China, province of the China, People's Republic ...

. Xiahou Dun led a lightly armed force towards Juancheng but he encountered Lü Bu's army on the way and engaged the enemy in battle. Lü Bu withdrew his forces and took advantage of Xiahou Dun's absence to conquer Puyang, capturing much of Xiahou's supplies and equipment. Lü Bu later sent his men to pretend to surrender to Xiahou Dun, who fell for the ruse and was taken hostage by the enemy in his own camp. Lü Bu's men demanded a ransom. Xiahou Dun's troops became fearful and confused when they heard that their commander had been taken hostage. Han Hao had his men occupy the gates of the camp and then gave orders for the other officers to remain in their respective camps and not make any moves. The situation in the other camps became stable. He then headed towards where Xiahou Dun was being held and shouted at the hostage-takers, "You murderous traitors, how dare you take the commander hostage! Do you still expect to live? I've received orders to attack the enemy, so I won't let you have your way just for the sake of one officer." With tears in his eyes, he told Xiahou Dun, "This is the law. I have to follow it." Han Hao then ordered his men to attack the hostage-takers, who were shocked by his response and immediately gave up. The hostage-takers

kowtow A kowtow is the act of deep respect shown by prostration, that is, kneeling and bowing so low as to have one's head touching the ground. In Sinospheric culture, the kowtow is the highest sign of reverence. It was widely used to show reverenc ...

ed and begged for their lives, "We only want to obtain some money for our use and we'll leave after that." Han Hao reprimanded them sternly and had them all executed. Xiahou Dun was saved and the army would soon arrive at Juancheng to settle things there. When Cao Cao heard what Han Hao had done, he held Han Hao as an example for all ages, ordering others to attack any future hostage takers which soon ended such actions while the Jin critic Sun Sheng praised Han Hao for returning to the historical method rather then following the more recent habits that had led to even nobility being kidnapped. Han Hao was one of the figures, amidst famine and drought, credited for pushing for the establishment of that '' tuntian'' policy, started in 196, that proved so critical for Wei's logistics and prosperity. Han Hao was promoted to Protector of the Army (護軍), responsible for managing army discipline with Rafe De Crespigny describing Han Hao as a senior and trusted officer. In 207, there was debate within Cao Cao's camp about the plan for a risky march to Liucheng to attack the Yuan remnants and the

Wuhuan The Wuhuan (, < Eastern Han Chinese: *''ʔɑ-ɣuɑn'', <

with Shi Huan seeking Han Hao's support to oppose the long march but Han Hao backed the plan, believing that they were strong and could win while Cao Cao would have plans but if they left their opponents alone it would come back to haunt them. Han Hao joined the march to the

Battle of White Wolf Mountain The Battle of White Wolf Mountain was a battle fought in 207 in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. The battle took place in northern China, beyond the frontiers of the ruling Eastern Han dynasty. It was fought between the warlord Cao Cao ...

. After the destruction of the Yuan clan, Han Hao was promoted to Central Protector of the Army (中護軍), Major (司馬) and Chief Clerk (長史). In 213, Han Hao joined a petition calling for Cao Cao to become Duke with the Weishu suggesting he had been enoffed by this point. In 215, Han Hao was part of the camapign against the theocratic warlord Zhang Lu at

Hanzhong Hanzhong (; abbreviation: Han) is a prefecture-level city in the southwest of Shaanxi province, China, bordering the provinces of Sichuan to the south and Gansu to the west. The founder of the Han dynasty, Liu Bang, was once enfeoffed as ...

and after Zhang Lu's surrender, some suggested Han Hao's ability as a strategist would make him useful under

Xiahou Yuan Xiahou Yuan () (died 219), courtesy name Miaocai, was a Chinese military general and politician serving under the warlord Cao Cao in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He is known for his exploits in western China (in parts of present-day G ...

in defending the border. Cao Cao refused as he could not do without his Protector of the Army and kept Han Hao with him. Han Hao died around 216 with Cao Cao mourning and his adopted son Rong was accepted as heir及薨，太祖愍惜之。無子，以養子榮嗣。 ''Weishu in Sanguozhi'' vol.9.

Chen Shou Chen Shou (; 233–297), courtesy name Chengzuo (), was a Chinese historian, politician, and writer who lived during the Three Kingdoms period and Jin dynasty of China. Chen Shou is most known for his most celebrated work, the '' Records of ...

, the author of the ''

Records of the Three Kingdoms The ''Records or History of the Three Kingdoms'', also known by its Chinese name as the Sanguo Zhi, is a Chinese historical text which covers the history of the late Eastern Han dynasty (c. 184–220 AD) and the Three Kingdoms period (220� ...

'', commented that Han Hao was a courageous and loyal man who remained collected in any situation.

In ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms''

In the 14th-century historical novel ''

Romance of the Three Kingdoms ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms'' () is a 14th-century historical novel attributed to Luo Guanzhong. It is set in the turbulent years towards the end of the Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period in Chinese history, starting in 184 AD ...

'', Han Hao is the brother of

Han Xuan Han Xuan ( 200s–210) was a government official who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He served as the Administrator () of Changsha Commandery (長沙郡; around present-day Changsha, Hunan). After Liu Biao's death in 208, th ...

, the Administrator of Changsha. After Han Xuan is slain by

Wei Yan Wei Yan () (died October 234), courtesy name Wenchang, was a Chinese military general and politician of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China. Originally a subordinate of the warlord Liu Bei in the late Eastern Han dyna ...

, Han Hao wants to take revenge and volunteers to lead an attack with Xiahou De on

Liu Bei Liu Bei (, ; ; 161 – 10 June 223), courtesy name Xuande (), was a warlord in the late Eastern Han dynasty who founded the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period and became its first ruler. Although he was a distant relative of the ...

's general

Huang Zhong Huang Zhong (, ) (died 220), courtesy name Hansheng, was a Chinese military general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He is best known for his victory at the Battle of Mount Dingjun in 219, in which ...

at Mount Tiandang. In the battle, Han Hao is slain by Huang Zhong and while Xiahou De is killed by Yan Yan.

References

* Chen, Shou (3rd century). ''

'' (''Sanguozhi''). * Pei, Songzhi (5th century). ''

Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms () by Pei Songzhi (372-451) is an annotation completed in the 5th century of the 3rd century historical text ''Records of the Three Kingdoms'', compiled by Chen Shou. After leaving his native land, Pei ...

'' (''Sanguozhi zhu''). {{DEFAULTSORT:Han, Hao Yuan Shu and associates Generals under Cao Cao Han dynasty generals from Henan People during the end of the Han dynasty Cao Cao and associates

Life

In ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms''

See also

References