Xu Huang (simplified: 徐晃, traditional: 徐晃, pinyin: Xú Huǎng), courtesy name Gongming (公明 Gōngmíng), was a general of Cao Wei and one of the Five Elite Generals (五子良将). He was from Yang County in Hedong. He served under Yang Feng, was enfeoffed for escorting the Emperor to Anyi, and advised Yang Feng to join Cao Cao; when Yang Feng and Han Xian tried to seize the Emperor at Liang (196), Cao Cao defeated them and Xu Huang went over to Cao Cao. He took Juan and Yuanwu, fought Lü Bu, and with Shi Huan killed Sui Gu in Henei. At Guandu (200) he fought at Yanjin (killing Wen Chou) and with Shi Huan burned Han Meng’s supply train at Gushi—for which he was made Marquis of Duting. He persuaded Yi Yang’s Han Fan to surrender without sacking the city (204), took Maocheng, and joined the campaigns against the Yuans and the Wuhuan (White Wolf Mountain 207). He held the line at Jiangling against Zhou Yu (208). In 211 he proposed and led the crossing at Puban, securing the bridgehead so Cao Cao could cross and defeat Ma Chao and Han Sui. He pacified the Di in the west (215), held Yangping (218), and at Maminge defeated Chen Shi. In 219 he relieved the siege of Fan: with mostly new troops he advanced to Yanglingpo, feinted at Weitou (围头), and struck Sizhong (四冢), defeating Guan Yu and driving into his camp—Cao Cao praised him for “long drive into the enemy’s siege” and “Zhou Yafu’s style” (disciplined ranks). Under Cao Pi he was General of the Right and Marquis of Yangping; he took Shangyong from Liu Feng (with Xiahou Shang) and helped recover Xiangyang from Chen Shao. He joined the siege of Jiangling (222) without success. He died in 227 (Marquis Zhuang); in 243 he was enshrined in Cao Cao’s temple.
Biography
From Yang Feng to Cao Cao
Xu Huang was a minor clerk in his commandery and followed Yang Feng against bandits; he was made Commandant of Cavalry. After Li Jue and Guo Si took Chang’an (192), Xu Huang persuaded Yang Feng to escort the Emperor east. At Anyi the Emperor enfeoffed Xu Huang as Marquis of Duting. When the Emperor reached Luoyang (196) and Yang Feng was at Daliang, Xu Huang urged him to join Cao Cao. Yang Feng agreed, then under Han Xian’s influence joined Han Xian in trying to seize the Emperor; Cao Cao defeated them at Liang and Xu Huang surrendered to Cao Cao. Cao Cao gave him troops; he took Juan and Yuanwu and was made Associate General. He followed against Lü Bu (subdued Zhao Shu, Li Zou) and with Shi Huan killed Sui Gu in Henei.
Guandu and the north
In 200 Xu Huang followed Cao Cao against Liu Bei, then against Yan Liang (Baima) and Wen Chou (Yanjin); he was made General of the Right. With Cao Hong he defeated the bandit Zhu Bi. Xun You said Yuan Shao’s supply train was coming with Han Meng (brave but careless); Cao Cao sent Xu Huang and Shi Huan to strike it at Gushi—they burned the supplies and Xu Huang was credited most; he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Duting (or a different ting hou). In 204 at Ye, Yi Yang’s magistrate Han Fan pretended to surrender then held; Xu Huang wrote into the city and Han Fan surrendered. Xu Huang advised Cao Cao to accept surrenders to show other cities, so Hebei could be pacified; Cao Cao agreed. He took Maocheng by ambush (three camps), then followed against Yuan Tan and the bandits of Pingyuan. In 207 he joined the campaign against the Wuhuan (White Wolf Mountain under Zhang Liao). In 208 he was at Fan, fought at Zhonglu, Linju, Yicheng, and with Man Chong at Jinzhou against Guan Yu; after Chi Bi he stayed with Cao Ren at Jiangling against Zhou Yu.
Guanzhong and Hanzhong
In 211 Ma Chao and Han Sui held Tong Pass. Cao Cao asked Xu Huang how to cross the Yellow River; Xu Huang said the enemy had not guarded Puban, so give him elite troops to cross there and cut their rear. He led 4,000 across; before the camp was finished Liang Xing attacked by night with 5,000; Xu Huang repelled him and secured the crossing. Cao Cao crossed and eventually broke the关中 army. Xu Huang then with Xiahou Yuan pacified the Di (Yumi, Qian, etc.) and at Fuyang and Xiayang killed Liang Xing and received 3,000 households. In 215 he pacified the mountain Di (Du, Chouyi) and was made General Who Pacifies Bandits; he relieved Zhang Shun and broke Chen Fu and over thirty camps. He and Zhang He guarded Yangping. In 218 Liu Bei attacked Hanzhong; Liu Bei’s Chen Shi attacked Maminge and was defeated by Xu Huang—many Shu troops fell into the valley. Cao Cao gave Xu Huang a tally and praised him. After Xiahou Yuan died at Dingjun (219), Cao Cao withdrew from Hanzhong.
Relief of Fan and later career
In 219 Guan Yu besieged Cao Ren at Fan; Yu Jin’s seven armies were lost in the flood and Guan Yu surrounded Fan and Xiangyang. Xu Huang was at Wan with mostly new troops; he advanced to Yanglingpo. Cao Cao sent Xu Shang and Lü Jian with orders to wait for full concentration. Guan Yu’s vanguard was at Yancheng; Xu Huang made a long trench as if to cut their rear, so they burned the camp and withdrew; Xu Huang took Yancheng and pushed forward (three zhang from the siege). Cao Cao sent Yin Shu, Zhu Gai and others (twelve camps) to Xu Huang. Guan Yu had one camp at Weitou and one at Sizhong. Xu Huang announced an attack on Weitou but secretly struck Sizhong; when Sizhong was about to fall Guan Yu led 5,000 out and was defeated; Xu Huang pursued into the siege and broke it—many drowned in the Mian. Fan was relieved. Cao Cao met Xu Huang seven li from Mopi and toasted him; inspecting the camps, only Xu Huang’s remained orderly and unmoving—“General Xu has Zhou Yafu’s style.”
Under Cao Pi (220) Xu Huang was General of the Right and Marquis of Luting, then Marquis of Yang; with Xiahou Shang he took Shangyong from Liu Feng and was enfeoffed at Yangping. He and Cao Ren retook Xiangyang from Chen Shao. In 222 he joined the siege of Jiangling (with Cao Zhen, Xiahou Shang, Zhang He) but could not take it. In 226 Wu attacked Xiangyang; Xu Huang repelled them and received 200 more households (3,100 total). He fell ill; the Emperor sent for prescriptions. He died in 227 (Marquis Zhuang); Xu Gai succeeded. In 243 he was enshrined in the Temple of Taizu.
Personality and traits
Xu Huang was frugal and cautious; he kept scouts far out and “first made himself invincible, then fought.” He did not cultivate many connections (said to stem from his past under Yang Feng) but was close to Guan Yu (same commandery). Before Fan the two spoke of old times; then Xu Huang announced: “Whoever takes Guan Yunchang’s head gets a thousand jin of gold”—“This is the state’s business.” Chen Shou ranked him with Zhang Liao, Yue Jin, Yu Jin, and Zhang He as the “five foremost” of Cao Cao’s generals.
Military achievements
Key actions: Gushi (200, burn Han Meng’s supply); Yi Yang (204, letter and surrender); Maocheng (204); White Wolf (207); Puban crossing (211); Maminge (218); relief of Fan (219, feint at Weitou, strike Sizhong, “Zhou Yafu’s style”); Shangyong (220); Xiangyang vs Chen Shao; defence of Xiangyang (226).
Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 192–196 | Under Yang Feng; Commandant of Cavalry; persuaded escort of Emperor; Marquis of Duting at Anyi |
| 196 | Advised Yang Feng to join Cao Cao; Yang Feng turned, defeated at Liang; Xu Huang joined Cao Cao; Associate General; Juan, Yuanwu; Lü Bu; killed Sui Gu |
| 200 | Yanjin (Wen Chou); Gushi (Han Meng supply); Marquis of Duting |
| 204 | Ye campaign; Yi Yang (Han Fan); Maocheng; Yuan Tan, Pingyuan |
| 207 | White Wolf Mountain |
| 208 | Fan, Hanjin vs Guan Yu; Jiangling with Cao Ren |
| 211 | Puban crossing; Ma Chao, Han Sui defeated |
| 215 | Pacified Di; General Who Pacifies Bandits; Yangping |
| 218 | Maminge (Chen Shi) |
| 219 | Relief of Fan; feint at Weitou, strike Sizhong; “Zhou Yafu’s style” |
| 220 | General of the Right; Luting → Yang → Yangping; Shangyong; Xiangyang |
| 222 | Siege of Jiangling (no capture) |
| 226–227 | Defended Xiangyang; died (Marquis Zhuang) |