黃忠

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The very archetype of the ageless veteran. Joining Liu Bei in southern Jing, he "always first up the walls, bravest of the three armies" in the conquest of Yi Province. His summit was Mount Dingjun: charging uphill to cut down Wei’s supreme commander Xiahou Yuan, deciding the war for Hanzhong. The feat raised him to the rank of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei — the original "old but his bow is not."

Key events

1. 209

   Liu Bei Takes the Four Southern Commanderies

   Riding Red Cliffs’ momentum, Liu Bei gathers the four commanderies south of the Yangtze — his first real territory. Huang Zhong and Wei Yan joined around this time.

   Liu BeiWei YanZhao Yun

2. 219

   Battle of Mount Dingjun

   Under Fa Zheng’s direction, the veteran Huang Zhong cuts down Xiahou Yuan, Wei’s western commander — the stroke that won Hanzhong for Liu Bei.

   Xiahou YuanFa ZhengLiu BeiZhao YunZhang He

3. 219

   Liu Bei Becomes King of Hanzhong

   Master of Hanzhong, Liu Bei takes a royal title to match Cao Cao. Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Ma Chao and Huang Zhong became the Five Tiger Generals (the novel’s term).

   Liu BeiGuan YuZhang FeiZhao YunMa Chao

History vs. the novelHistoryvsNovel

The celebrated duel with Guan Yu is the novel’s invention, and even his age is unstated in the histories — the "old general" legend grew from a passing mention. Dingjun, however, is fact.