14 Facts About Huang Zu

Huang Zu was a Chinese military general and politician during the late Eastern Han dynasty.

Huang Zu served as the Administrator of Jiangxia Commandery under Liu Biao, the Governor of Jing Province.

Huang Zu is best known for killing the warlord Sun Jian in an ambush during the Battle of Xiangyang and resisting an invasion by the warlord Sun Quan at the Battle of Xiakou.

Huang Zu was defeated and killed at the Battle of Jiangxia in 208 against Sun Quan's forces.

Under such arrangements, even though Huang Zu was nominally a subordinate of Liu Biao, he maintained much autonomy over Jiangxia Commandery.

Liu Biao assigned Huang Zu to defend Fancheng and Dengzhou from Sun Jian's attacks.

However, Huang Zu lost to Sun Jian in battle and realised that he could not defeat the enemy on flat and open terrain, so he retreated to Xiangyang Commandery, the capital of Jing Province, and holed up behind the city walls.

One night, Huang Zu led a group of soldiers to launch a sneak attack on Sun Jian's camp but failed to catch the enemy by surprise.

Huang Zu is captured by Sun Jian's eldest son, Sun Ce, but is later released in exchange for Sun Jian's dead body.

Historically Sun Ce never captured Huang Zu, who was given full credit in historical records for defeating and killing Sun Jian.

Huang Zu was thus able to retreat safely back to Jiangxia Commandery.

Unlike the previous battle, Huang Zu did not put himself at the frontline and instead remained behind the walls of Jiangxia Commandery while his subordinates led his troops into battle.

Huang Zu encountered Ling Tong, who was checking out the area with only tens of soldiers on a light vessel.

Huang Zu attempted to flee after his defeat but was killed by Feng Ze, a soldier in Sun Quan's army.