Comrade | Guevara
The Three Kingdoms at the end of the Han Dynasty were a super chaotic world, and along with the turmoil and turmoil, there were endless strange people and strangers, who were like shooting stars, drawing dazzling brilliance in the sky of history. Among these strange people and strangers, Tian Yu, who once worked as a small soldier around Liu Bang, and then defected to Cao Cao and soared into the sky, can be called a typical representative.
Tian Yu
Tian Yu was born in the fourth year (171) of the Han Ling Emperor Jianning, a native of Yongnu County, Yuyang County. After the Yellow Turban Army revolted, Tian Yu, who was not yet weak, joined the army and served in the army of the great warlord Gongsun Zhan of Youzhou, but because of his young age, there was not much room for play. During the Reign of Emperor Zhongping of Han (184-190), Liu Bei defected to his friend Gongsun Zhan (公孙瓒) and was appointed Sima of the Other Department. At this time, Tian Yu found that Liu Bei was a personal master, so he asked himself to be transferred to his account to do things, and got the approval of Gongsun Zhan.
Although Tian Yu was very young and only a small soldier, he often showed maturity, stability, foresight and determination that far exceeded ordinary people, which often amazed Liu Bei and had the heart to promote him. In the first year of Xingping (194), Liu Bei led an army to aid Xuzhou, helped The Prefecture Mu Tao Qian resist the attack of Yanzhou Mu Cao Cao, and garrisoned Yu Xiaopei. In order to win over Liu Bei, Tao Qian recommended him to the imperial court as the Assassin of Yuzhou, but at this time, Tian Yu left Liu Bei and left.
Liu Bei
It turned out that Tian Yu did not change his heart and betrayed, but remembered that his mother was old and sick and had no one to take care of, so he endured the pain and returned home with Liu Bei. At the moment of parting, Liu Bei tearfully said to Tian Yu: "Hate does not become a big thing with Jun." After Tian Yu listened, he also whimpered ("Liu Beizhi Ben Gongsun Zhanye, Yu Shi was young, self-entrusted to bei, bei is very strange. Preparing for the history of Yuzhou, Yu asked for the return of his mother and old man, and prepared to weep and say goodbye, saying: "Hate does not become a big thing with the king." See Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Vol. XXVI).
After bidding farewell to Liu Bei, Tian Yu returned to Gongsun Zhan and served as the commander of Shoudong Prefecture. Soon, Gongsun Zhan's general Wang Men led an army to rebel and attack Dongzhou, and Tian Yu only relied on a sharp mouth to make him retreat in shame. In the fourth year of Jian'an (199), Gongsun Zhan repeatedly defeated Yuan Shao and set himself on fire when he was unable to return to heaven. After Gongsun Zhan's defeat, Tian Yu was reluctant to surrender to Yuan Shao, so he turned to Beiping Taishou Xianyufu and was appointed as Changshi.
Cao Cao
At that time, the crowd rose up, and Xian Yufu did not know who to follow, and after careful consideration, Tian Yu persuaded him to surrender to Cao Cao, who had "blackmailed the Son of Heaven to order the princes" at this time, and was accepted by Xian Yufu. After Xian Yufu led the people to surrender, he was appointed by Cao Cao as the general of Jianzhong and the military governor of youzhou, and Tian Yu was also promoted. After Cao Cao defeated Yuan Shao's father and son and occupied Hebei, Tian Yu was again requisitioned as a military strategist for the Cheng Xiang Prefecture, and then successively served as Yingyin Ling, Lang Ling Ling, and Yiyang Taishou, and achieved remarkable results everywhere he went.
In the twenty-third year of Jian'an (218), when Northern Wuhuan and Xianbei rebelled, Cao Cao sent his second son Cao Zhang to suppress it, and ordered Tian Yu, who was familiar with the habits of the various ethnic groups in northern Sai, to serve as a staff officer in the army. Under Tian Yu's strategizing, Cao Zhang broke the combined forces of Wuhuan and Xianbei on the north bank of Yishui, forcing the Wuhuan leader Kebi Neng to go far away, and then did not dare to attack the border again. After the war, Tian Yu was promoted to Nanyang Taishou for his merits, and more than 500 death row prisoners were wronged for their leniency during his tenure, thus receiving Cao Cao's commendation.
Cao Pi
After Emperor Cao Pi of Wei ascended the throne, he appointed Tian Yu as the lieutenant of Wujie and Wu maru, and together with lieutenants Of Xianbei and Xie Jun, he guarded northern Xinjiang to defend Wuhuan and Xianbei. During his 9 years in office, Tian Yu vigorously carried out the strategy of "divide and rule" within Wuhuan, helping the young and weak tribes and suppressing the strong and prosperous tribes, and once he found that there was a potential enemy, he must eliminate it at the first time. Therefore, although there were many tribes that invaded by Wuhuan's internal conspiracy, under Tian Yu's plan, it could not be implemented in the end.
Tian Yu shoubian had great merits and deserved to be commended and promoted by the imperial court, but Wang Xiong, the assassin of Youzhou, out of jealousy, often slandered him for disturbing the border and causing trouble for the country. Therefore, although Tian Yu had great merits, he was only transferred to the posts of General Taishou of Runan, And did not raise his rank. After that, Tian Yu was mainly active in the southeast battlefield, participated in many battles against Eastern Wu, and also made good achievements. During the reign of Emperor Cao Fang of Wei, Tian Yu was reappointed as an envoy and a general who protected the Xiongnu, led the history of the state assassin, and added the title of zhenwei general, and also made great contributions to the defense of the Xiongnu in hezhou.
Tian Yu in his later years
Tian Yu guarded northern Xinjiang for Cao Wei for many years, effectively preventing the invasion of the Central Plains by wuhuan, Xianbei, Xiongnu and other ethnic groups, and could be called the backbone of the country. However, because Tian Yu was arrogant and arrogant, had little communication, and never befriended his superiors, he could not be promoted for a long time, and he was only a thorn and a general all his life. In his later years, Tian Yu served as the Grand Master of Taizhong, befriended Zhongshu Ling Sun Zi, and was taken care of by the latter many times. In the fourth year of Jiaping (252), Tian Yu died of old age at the age of 82.
Looking back on Tian Yu's extraordinary life, one can't help but speculate: If Tian Yu consistently followed Liu Bei, with his talents and achievements, he might have reached a height alongside the "Five Tiger Generals", rather than just being a assassin and general. History, though not hypothetical, is always so intriguing.
Historical sources: "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", "Zizhi Tongjian"