Romance of the Three Kingdoms often diverges from the history. For instance, in the episode where Guan Yu kills Hua Xiong while warming wine, historical records state that Guan Yu followed Liu Bei, who was then under Gongsun Zan. Gongsun Zan was busy fighting the Wuhuan in the north and did not participate in the Guandong Coalition against Dong Zhuo. So, who was the hero who killed Dong Zhuo’s general Hua Xiong in history? It was none other than Sun Jian, styled Wentai, known as the “Fierce Tiger of Jiangdong.”
Sun Jian rose to prominence early, famously cracking down on pirates alone at the age of seventeen. During the Yellow Turban Rebellion, he repeatedly achieved military merits, excelling in tough battles and tackling tough challenges. When Dong Zhuo rebelled, Sun Jian participated as the Marquis of Wucheng and Governor of Changsha. He later helped Yuan Shu seize Nanyang, and in return, Yuan Shu petitioned for Sun Jian to be appointed General Who Breaks the Lu and acting Governor of Yu Province(Yuzhou).
The Guandong Coalition: Inaction and Exceptions
The Guandong Coalition, led by Yuan Shao, though numerous in troops, spent their days feasting and drinking. Most warlords merely used the pretext of crusading against Dong Zhuo to recruit soldiers, expand their power, seize more territories, and pursue greater self-interests. Among the many warlords, few focused on attacking Dong Zhuo. However, three exceptions stood out: Cao Cao, Bao Xin, and Sun Jian.
Although Cao Cao was not the initiator of the crusade against Dong Zhuo as portrayed in the novel, historically, he actively prepared for battle. Initially, Cao Cao did not seek combat, partly because he had his own calculations to preserve strength, and partly because his forces were small, numbering only three to four thousand. Other warlords, mostly governors and ministers, used government funds to recruit troops, but Cao Cao used his personal wealth, making him more cautious. More importantly, Cao Cao hoped to find the best opportunity to strike Dong Zhuo decisively. Thus, when Dong Zhuo relocated the capital, Cao Cao pursued alone, even without support from other warlords. Unfortunately, the shrewd Cao Cao encountered Li Ru, historically known for his flawless strategies, and suffered heavy losses in an ambush at Xingyang.
Bao Xin was a loyal minister devoted to the Han Dynasty. While most of the world bowed to Yuan Shao, Bao Xin alone saw promise in Cao Cao, believing him to be righteous and capable of restoring the Han. Bao Xin once handed his troops to Cao Cao, only to lose them all in Xingyang. Later, when Cao Cao retreated to Yan Province(Yanzhou), it was Bao Xin who led the effort to welcome him as Governor of Yan.
As for Sun Jian, he was not only the most determined warrior among the warlords to eliminate Dong Zhuo but also the first to achieve a major victory against him.
Dong Zhuo’s fear of Sun Jian
Why did Dong Zhuo move the capital from Luoyang to Chang’an? Although Chang’an was the capital of the Western Han, it had been left in ruins after Wang Mang’s rebellion. Thus, Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han established a new capital in Luoyang. Yet, Dong Zhuo chose to abandon the luxurious Luoyang and rebuild amidst thorns in Chang’an. Why? To avoid the direct confrontation with the Guandong Alliance.
In the history, there was no “killing Hua Xiong while warming wine” or “three heroes fighting Lü Bu.” The allied forces had some minor skirmishes with Dong Zhuo, but all ended in failure for Yuan Shao and others. Dong Zhuo’s army consisted of battle-hardened Liangzhou troops, they are well trained soldiers.
However, solely because of Sun Jian’s presence in the allied forces, Dong Zhuo suffered consecutive major defeats and was forced to retreat and relocate the capital.
Of Sun Jian, Dong Zhuo once remarked: “The Guandong army has been defeated several times. They all fear me and are incapable of action. Only Sun Jian, though somewhat ‘foolish’, is quite capable of employing talents. You should tell all generals to be wary of him.”
In Dong Zhuo’s heart, the Guandong Coalition was garbage, but Sun Jian was a formidable enemy not to be underestimated, so he specifically ordered the entire army to take note.
Sun Jian’s classic battles that frightened Dong Zhuo
Dong Zhuo himself recounted a past event. Years ago, Dong Zhuo and General Zhou Shen were sent to pacify Liangzhou. At the time, Bian Zhang and Han Sui were rebelling in Liangzhou. General Zhou Shen besieged the rebels in the Jincheng area. Dong Zhuo advised the overall commander Zhang Wen to let him lead his troops as reinforcements for General Zhou Shen to quickly crush the rebels. Unfortunately, Zhang Wen had long held prejudices against Dong Zhuo and would not let him gain merit. Moreover, Zhou Shen already had thirty thousand troops, outnumbering the rebels, so Zhang Wen did not listen.
Later, Zhang Wen dispatched Dong Zhuo to suppress other rebel forces, assuming Bian Zhang and Han Sui could be easily subdued. But Dong Zhuo believed Bian Zhang would be hard to pacify. Forced to obey Zhang Wen’s orders, he switched from offense to defense. At the time, Dong Zhuo specifically left his general Liu Jing with four thousand troops to garrison the Anding area. Dong Zhuo instructed Liu Jing to erect many flags to deceive the enemy about the number of troops in the city. Bian Zhang and Han Sui, unaware that Dong Zhuo’s main force had left, thought tens of thousands of troops were stationed in Anding, allowing Zhou Shen to hold on barely.
Dong Zhuo quickly suppressed the other rebel forces and returned to Anding, again requesting reinforcements for General Zhou Shen from commander Zhang Wen, but was again denied.
At the time, Sun Jian was under General Zhou Shen. Sun Jian believed that since Bian Zhang and Han Sui had held Jincheng for many days, the city must be lacking food. To survive, Bian Zhang and others would have to transport grain from outside. Sun Jian asked Zhou Shen to allocate ten thousand troops for him to cut off the enemy’s supply route. Then, the rebels would be too hungry to fight and could be annihilated or at least suffer heavy losses, pacifying Liangzhou. Unfortunately, Zhou Shen, confident in his numerical advantage and ample supplies, insisted on a frontal assault. As a result, Bian Zhang and Han Sui counterattacked from two directions, cutting off the official army’s supply route and causing a major defeat.
It was because Sun Jian, like himself, could accurately assess military situations that Dong Zhuo had long regarded Sun Jian with special attention.
Sun Jian vs. Dong Zhuo: Key battles
In their first encounter, Sun Jian demonstrated unique general’s composure. At the time, Sun Jian was garrisoning Luoyang City and sent officers to the rear to urge supplies. Sun Jian personally saw them off, setting up tents outside the city where generals drank and chatted. Just as everyone was enjoying themselves, Dong Zhuo appeared near Luoyang with tens of thousands of troops, with dozens of light cavalry already at the city gates. Sun Jian, unruffled, ordered his generals to lead their troops back into Luoyang in an orderly manner while he remained seated in the tent. Only after everyone had retreated did Sun Jian rise and enter the city.
Dong Zhuo, seeing Sun Jian’s troops remain orderly despite the sudden change, knew he faced a formidable enemy. He thus did not attack the city and withdrew.
Later, Sun Jian told his subordinates that he had not risen immediately because he feared that amid a great enemy, panic would cause trampling and prevent a quick entry into the city.
The first round
Later, Sun Jian moved to the Liangdong area, where he encountered Dong Zhuo’s troops. Outnumbered, Sun Jian broke through with a few dozen men. Sun Jian often wore a red turban, which Dong Zhuo’s troops recognized. So, Sun Jian took off his turban and ordered his subordinate Zu Mao (in the novel, Zu Mao volunteered; in history, Sun Jian’s personal morals were average) to wear it as a decoy. Unlike in the novel where Zu Mao was killed by Hua Xiong, in history, Zu Mao hung the turban on a beam and hid in the grass to escape.
The second round
After the great defeat, Sun Jian did not lose heart but gathered his remaining troops and took the initiative to attack at Yangren, where he crushed Dong Zhuo’s army, decapitating over ten thousand soldiers and killing Dong Zhuo’s commander Hua Xiong and other generals, achieving the greatest victory of the Guandong Coalition against Dong Zhuo.
The third round
After the great victory, Sun Jian immediately pursued.
As for Dong Zhuo, after this major defeat, he dared not face Sun Jian head-on and sent his general Li Jue to Sun Jian’s camp, hoping to form a marriage alliance by marrying Dong Zhuo’s daughter to Sun Jian’s son. He also stated that if Sun Jian agreed, Sun Jian could list any relatives or disciples to serve as governors or ministers, and Dong Zhuo would petition the emperor for formal appointment.
It can be said that Dong Zhuo’s offer was very generous. Though defeated, Dong Zhuo still held great power as the Chancellor, and his decrees were effective in most of the country. If Sun Jian agreed, the Sun family’s influence could expand rapidly.
But Sun Jian sternly refused. Sun Jian said:
“Dong Zhuo defies heaven and lacks morality, overthrowing the royal house. If I do not exterminate your three clans and display your head to the world, I will not rest in death. How could I agree to a marriage alliance?”
In official history, Sun Jian was still a loyal minister of the Han at this time, unlike the two Yuans (Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu), who had selfish motives.
After refusing Dong Zhuo, Sun Jian advanced to attack Luoyang.
Then, someone persuaded Yuan Shu to withhold Sun Jian’s military supplies.
At the time, though powerful, Sun Jian was still under Yuan Shu, who had appointed him Governor of Yu Province(Yuzhou). Yuan Shu was responsible for the supply transport of the Guandong Coalition, holding significant power.
Someone told Yuan Shu that if Sun Jian continued winning and entered Luoyang, he could coerce the emperor and control the court, which would be disastrous. Dong Zhuo was like a wolf—fierce but incapable of employing men or winning hearts—while Sun Jian was a fierce tiger who, once empowered, would be uncontrollable.
Thus, Yuan Shu deliberately withheld supplies, leaving Sun Jian’s troops without food. Enraged, Sun Jian personally went to Yuan Shu, telling him that he had no personal grudge against Dong Zhuo but was fighting solely to avenge the Yuan family (Yuan Shu’s family in Chang’an had been killed by Dong Zhuo). He hoped Yuan Shu would not mistake his goodwill.
Yuan Shu, embarrassed, reluctantly resumed supply deliveries.
Historical records do not clearly state who this persuader was, but from his words, Dong Zhuo benefited the most. Perhaps it was a plot by Dong Zhuo.
Dong Zhuo’s assessment of his adversaries
When discussing the warlords, Dong Zhuo had his own evaluation. In the heart of the treacherous Dong Zhuo, who was his formidable enemy?
Dong Zhuo once said:
“Just kill the two Yuans (Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu), Liu Biao, and Sun Jian, and the world will submit to me.”
The world was in turmoil, but only the two Yuans had strong forces. Yuan Shao, as leader of the Guandong Coalition, was naturally Dong Zhuo’s greatest enemy. Yuan Shu occupied Nanyang, the largest commandery of the Eastern Han, with a million households, abundant resources and wealth. Liu Biao had already pacified Jing Province(Jingzhou), owning nine commanderies of fertile land and a hundred thousand elite troops. But what did Sun Jian have?
Compared to the other three vassals, Sun Jian’s imperial inspector of Yuzhou, but he never had his own territory, merely a second-tier warlord under Yuan Shu, with only twenty or thirty warriors. Yet, even so Sun Jian was regarded by Dong Zhuo as equal to warlords with heavy troops
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