In the vast history of the Three Kingdoms, heroes and heroes have emerged, and countless generals have been brave and fearless. Among these many fierce generals, the duel between Cao Ying's Xu Chu and Ma Chao is undoubtedly one of the good stories. Why do many people say that in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", Cao Cao's brave generals can only play supporting roles for Liu Bei's five tiger generals? And when we re-examine these heroes from a historical perspective, we may find something different. Let's peel back the veil on this history and find out!
In "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", a well-known historical novel, Liu Bei's Five Tigers will be deeply rooted in the hearts of the people with their heroic image. Cao Cao's subordinates, such as Xu Chu and Zhang Liao, although equally brave, always seemed to be in a supporting role. But is that really the case? If we dig deeper, we find a lot of overlooked.
Let's start with the duel between Xu Chu and Ma Chao. The battle took place in Tongguan and was a contest of strength and courage. Ma Chao, as the lion of Xiliang, originally planned to kill Cao Cao when he was out of the camp to talk, but when he saw Xu Chu's ferocity, he was immediately afraid. Xu Chu, the nameless captain, with just a roar and a fierce gaze, was enough to make Ma Chao stop.
Xu Chu's bravery was not only shown to scare off Ma Chao, but their duel was as long as 230 rounds, and the battle was thrilling. Although the final victory was not decided, Xu Chu's courage and strength greatly increased his prestige in Cao Ying, and he was later promoted to the rank of general of Wuwei. In contrast, although Ma Chao was highly skilled, he missed a great opportunity to assassinate Cao Cao because of psychological fear.
Besides, Guan Yu, as a general under Liu Bei, his martial arts are also a good story. In the battle with Xiahoudun and Pang De, Guan Yu failed to achieve an overwhelming victory. Especially in the confrontation with Pang De, the history books record that Pang De once shot Guan Yu, although he was slightly injured in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", but this is enough to show that the victory or defeat on the battlefield is unpredictable. Xiahoudun's tenacity and experience allowed him to retreat in many encounters with Guan Yu, and even if Guan Yu was merciful, it also reflected Xiahoudun's extraordinary combat skills and battlefield survivability.
These heroes are not only a single victory or defeat, but also a comprehensive embodiment of their character, strategy and current situation. For example, Zhang Fei is famous for his bravery, but he is afraid of some of Cao Ying's generals. Legend has it that Zhang Fei once had a certain awe of Xu Chu because of his fame, and this psychological pressure may have affected his combat performance.
The real battlefields in history are far more complex than those described in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms". For example, Zhang He's performance when he fought back against Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition completely subverted the image in the novel. He not only successfully defended against Zhuge Liang's successive offensives, but also showed extraordinary military talent and tactical wisdom in many battles, and his combat record and ability were no less than any of the five tiger generals of Shu Han.
Why are Cao Cao's generals portrayed relatively weakly in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms"? The reason may lie in the author's position and artistic processing. As a literary work, the author tends to exaggerate specific characters in order to enhance the drama and appeal of the story. Although this treatment can increase the artistic charm of the work, it may also lead to the distortion of historical truth.
From a tactical and strategic point of view, Cao Cao's generals were often able to achieve victories in unfavorable circumstances. In the battle of Xiangfan, Xu Huang showed outstanding military talent, and broke through many camps in Guan Yu. This not only shows Xu Huang's personal martial arts and resourcefulness, but also reflects Cao Ying's overall strong combat effectiveness and efficient command system.
From these stories, we can see that whether it is the Romance of the Three Kingdoms or actual history, the achievements of each general are the result of many factors. Their bravery and wisdom, their loyalty and ambition, and their choices in troubled times, together weave a complex historical picture.
By re-examining the heroic stories in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and historical records, it is not difficult for us to find that behind every hero who is praised, there is an unknown side. Whether it is Xu Chu's fearlessness, Guan Yu's pride, or Zhang He's calmness, they all remind us that history is not only a record of the victors, but also a witness to the efforts and sacrifices of every participant. In these complexities and changes, we see the brilliance and darkness of human nature, and we can better appreciate the truth and profundity of that era.