Huang Zhong Han-sing

Huang Zhong
The Silver Tiger

Physical Description

Huang Zhong was a magnificent man, tall and straight with a beard of flowing silver. He received his reputation as a mighty warrior only late in life. At sixty, he was still able to bend the three hundred catty bow and was a master archer. His skill was so great, that he was said to be able to pierce a willow leaf at a hundred paces. A man of intense pride and honor, he fit well into the ranks of Shu and became one of the feared Five Tigers.

Offspring

Nothing is said about the offspring of Huang Zhong in the Annals of the Three Kingdoms, but since he only appears in the book at age sixty, it is likely that his children had grown up and lead unremarkable lives.

Brief Summary of His Deeds

Huang Zhong first served Liu Biao at Changsha. When Liu died and his kingdom fragmented, Huang took up service with the new prefect of Changsha, Han Yuan. Han was a cruel and suspicious man, hated by his people, but Huang obeyed his duty as a general and served him faithfully.

When Liu Bei of Shu sent his brother Guan Yu (who elected to take only half a company of swordsmen with him) to liberate Changsha from the cruel reign of Han Yuan, Huan Zhong was sent out to fight Guan Yu in single combat. The two warriors were well matched, fighting over a hundred bouts the first day with neither gaining the advantage. The next day, Guan Yu decided to use a feint (or "Parthian stab") to catch Huang Zhong off-guard. After fifty bouts, Guan turned and Huang followed. Huang Zhong's horse stumbled, throwing him to the ground. Guan Yu raised his sword and spared the old warrior's life, allowing him to remount and change a new horse to fight again. This act of generosity touched Huang Zhong, so when Han Yuan ordered him to shoot Guan Yu on the morrow, Huang spent the night wrestling between his duty as a general to obey his lord and his sense of honor.

When the two warriors met on the third day, Huang fought thirty bouts and then fled as if overcome with Guan Yu in pursuit. Huang then turned and twanged his empty bowstring at Guan Yu. Guan dodged, and then realized that Huang would not shoot him and urged his horse to greater speed. When Huang reached the drawbridge of the castle, he knocked an arrow and fired it at Guan Yu. It struck his helmet at the base of the plume, without harming Guan. The soldiers cheered at such a display of marksmenship. At this time, Guan Yu realized that Huang has the ability of pierce a willow leaf at a hundred paces. He knows that this time Huang deliberately not shooting his head is just a return of not killing him yesterday. So, Guan retreated with new respect for the old warrior.

Han Yuan noticed this insubordination and ordered him put to death. The old warrior was hustled out of the castle, but was saved from the blade by another general with eyes like the Cowherd's star, Wei Yan of Iyang. Wei Yan called for rebellion and despite the opinions of Huang Zhong (who was still faithful to his lord even unto death), the soldiers took Han Yuan's head and surrendered the city to Guan Yu. At first, Huang Zhong keep himself inside his house because he really regret for unable to protect the land he guard and the lord he served. However, when Liu Bei visit him personally and ask him to join the troop. Huang was touched by Liu and finally surrendered to Liu Bei and became the fourth of the Five Tigers, the backbone of the Shu army.

Later, after Liu Bei had occupied Ichow and officially named his kingdom Han, a Chiaming pass on the border was attacked by Zhang He of Wei. Huang Zhong (now nearly seventy) and his friend Yan Yan (well into his sixties) offered to relieve the pass. Zhao Yun sniggered and said that the general was far too old and feeble for such a task. Incensed, Huang Zhong rode out with Yan Yan and their soldiers to prove otherwise. The invading army laughed at the two "old dotards" that Kongming had sent and did not take them seriously. Huang Zhong attacked Zhang He in single combat, and while he was distracted, Yan Yan flanked the enemy position and attacked the Wei army from the rear. Zhang He was beaten back nearly a hundred miles.

Huang Zhong scouted out the country and discovered that the Wei army had stored most of their supplies in a mountain called Tientang. The two veteran generals schemed to capture it. When Zhang He's reinforcements arrived under Xiahou Shang and Han Hao (son of Han Yuan and looking for revenge), the two generals faked defeat and retreated for two straight days, abandoning their camps. Zhang He tried to dissuade the two young generals from pursuing any further fearing a ruse, but they laughed at him and called him a coward. One of Huang Zhong's underlings reported to Liu Bei that Huang Zhong had been defeated and was fleeing, but Kongming explained the ruse. Zhao Yun did not agree and, at his request, Liu Feng (Liu Bei's adopted son) was sent to relieve Huang. That night, Huang led out half a legion of men and crushed the careless men of Wei. Huang re-captured all three camps and much booty and many horses. The Wei army retreated to Tientang and Tingchun where the weapons and grain were stored.

The veteran Xiahou Yuan was guarding Tingchun where the grain was stored and Zhang He held Tientang with Xiahou Shang's brother, Xiahou De. Against the remonstranses of Liu Feng, Huang Zhong pushed his victorious soldiers to attack. Huang Zhong cut down Han Hao in one swipe and his men cheered and raced up the side of Tientang. Zhang He and Xiahou Shang went out to stop Huang's advance. Meanwhile, Yan Yan had been stealthily crawling up the other side of the mountain with his soldiers and they attacked the rear of the position. Xiahou De fell quickly to Yan Yan's blade. Yan Yan's men set brushwood fires and attacked the rear of Zhang He's army. The men of Wei were thrown in disarray and fled to Tingchun and took refuge with Xiahou Yuan. Liu Bei and Kongming arrived with another army which was to attack Hanzhong. Kongming incited Huang Zhong to attack Tingchun Mt. by saying that he could not compare with a brilliant strategist like Xiahou Yuan. Huang Zhong pledged to take the mountain. In the battle, Huang Zhong follow the plan suggested by his army advisor (Yang Yi) and attack Wei's army camp in a sudden while Xiahou Yuan is not defending. As a result, Huang Zhong kill Xiahou Yuan in the camp, successfully take the mountain and contribute to a remarkable victory for Shu's army.

Later, after Guan Yu and Zhang Fei's death, Liu Bei insists to attack and destory "Wu" for revenge. Huang Zhong was then appointed to be the van leader of the troops. During the expedition, Liu Bei said that aged generals are no longer as powerful as before and may be useless in battles. Because of this, Huang Zhong wants to prove that Liu Bei was wrong by saying this and he insists to fight against Wu's army by his own. Liu Bei afraid that Huang might be in danger. And then he sent Guan Xing and Zhang Bao to help him. At first, Hunag Zhong won several rounds in the first two days. However, at the third day, Pan Chang retreat quickly after fighting with Huang for a while, hoping that Huang Zhong will chasing him and then falls into the trap. Since Huang urged to win the battle, so he chased those retreating army and was finally surrounded by Wu's army. They urged him to surrender. Of course, Huang refused to do so and use all his power to fight against them. While he was nearly killed by the enemies, Guan Xing leads an army there and save Huang back to camp. Liu Bei quickly order soldiers to carry Huang to the main camp. Hoping that he will be all right. However, Huang's wounds were so serious. Furthermore, he was more than seventy years old. As a result, he died in the camp beside Liu Bei.

*** Modified from the page written by Anthony Torza. Pictures are copyrighted by KOEI Corporation. ***

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