Chang Xi (; died 206 CE), also recorded as Chang Ba (昌霸) or Chang Wu (昌務), was a minor warlord and former member of the “ Taishan bandits’’ who became notorious for repeatedly rebelling against the warlord

Cao Cao Cao Cao (; ; ; 15 March 220), courtesy name Mengde, was a Chinese statesman, warlord, and poet who rose to power during the end of the Han dynasty (), ultimately taking effective control of the Han central government. He laid the foundation f ...

during the waning years of the

Eastern Han The Han dynasty was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China (202 BC9 AD, 25–220 AD) established by Liu Bang and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–206 BC ...

dynasty. Captured twice—first persuaded to surrender by

Zhang Liao Zhang Liao () (169 – late 222), courtesy name Wenyuan, was a Chinese military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He served briefly in the state of Cao Wei, founded by Cao Cao's successor Cao P ...

in 201 and later seized by

Yu Jin Yu Jin (died September 221), courtesy name Wenze, was a Chinese military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He joined Cao Cao in 192 around the start of the civil wars leading to the collapse o ...

in 206—he was executed under Cao Cao’s strict order that any enemy who surrendered after being surrounded was not to be spared.

Background

A native of

Taishan Commandery Taishan Commandery ( zh, 泰山郡) was a historical commandery of China in present-day Shandong province, existing from Han dynasty to Sui dynasty. Taishan Commandery was created in 122 BC, when the king of Jibei offered the land surrounding Moun ...

, Chang Xi followed bandit-chief

Zang Ba Zang Ba ( 162–230s), courtesy name Xuangao, was a military general who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of China. He served the warlord Tao Qian initially, followed by Lü Bu and finally Cao Cao and his succ ...

during the turmoil after the

Yellow Turban Rebellion The Yellow Turban Rebellion, alternatively translated as the Yellow Scarves Rebellion, was a peasant revolt during the late Eastern Han dynasty of ancient China. The uprising broke out in 184 CE, during the reign of Emperor Ling. Although t ...

. He fought under Zang in eastern Xu Province and briefly aligned with

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 betrayed a ...

in 197.

First rebellion and surrender (200–201)

In early 200 CE, lured by

Liu Bei Liu Bei (, ; ; 161 – 10 June 223), courtesy name Xuande (), was a China, Chinese warlord in the late Han dynasty#Eastern Han, Eastern Han dynasty who later became the founding Emperor of China, emperor of Shu Han, one of the Three Kingdoms of ...

, Chang Xi raised “tens of thousands” in Donghai and declared independence. Cao Cao dispatched forces led by

Xiahou Yuan Xiahou Yuan () (died February 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 prese ...

and

. After months of siege and dwindling supplies, Zhang Liao personally entered Chang Xi’s camp and convinced him to lay down arms; Chang Xi surrendered in early 201.''Sanguozhi'' vol. 17, “Zhang Liao zhuan”.

Final revolt and execution (206)

By 206 CE, with Yuan Shao’s heirs defeated, Chang Xi rebelled a second time. Cao Cao ordered General

—an old friend of Chang Xi—to suppress the uprising, later reinforcing him with

and

. Ten-plus rebel stockades fell; pressed hard, Chang Xi surrendered to Yu Jin. When subordinates suggested sending the captive to Cao Cao, Yu Jin refused, citing Cao Cao’s standing rule: “Those who capitulate *after* encirclement are not to be spared.” Yu Jin personally wept as he beheaded Chang Xi.''Sanguozhi'' vol. 17, “Yu Jin zhuan”. Cao Cao, then encamped at Chunyu, remarked: “Was it Heaven’s will that Chang Xi met judgment under Yu Jin rather than me?” and promoted Yu Jin to **General of Tiger’s Might** for upholding discipline.

Assessment

Chang Xi’s repeated defections illustrate the fluid, opportunistic politics of late Han regional leaders. Traditional historians blame personal ambition; modern scholars note the precarious status granted to former bandits under Cao Cao’s frontier administration.

In ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms''

Luo Guanzhong’s 14-century 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 and ...

'' fictionalises Chang Xi as a minor bandit chief who is swiftly executed by Yu Jin; the dramatic confrontation largely follows historical records.

Notes

References

* Chen Shou (3rd c.). ''Sanguozhi'' (Records of the Three Kingdoms). * Pei Songzhi (5th c.). ''Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms''. * Rafe de Crespigny (2016). ''A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms''. 206 deaths Year of birth unknown {{improve categories, date=May 2025 Chinese warlords Han dynasty warlords