31 Facts About Xu Chu

Xu Chu, courtesy name Zhongkang, was a Chinese military general who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period of China.

Xu Chu started his career as a bodyguard to the warlord Cao Cao and later became a general in the state of Wei during the Three Kingdoms period.

Xu Chu was described to be a big and strong man, yet simple minded and honest, so he was nicknamed "Tiger Fool" by his men.

Xu Chu was from Qiao County, Pei State, which is present-day Bozhou, Anhui.

Xu Chu was over eight chi tall with a broad waist.

Xu Chu had an imposing and sturdy look and was known for his great strength and courage.

Towards the end of the Eastern Han dynasty, Xu Chu rallied thousands of his clan members and they constructed a fortress to fend off the Yellow Turban rebels.

Xu Chu then hurled the stones at the enemies, crushing the bones of all those who were hit.

Xu Chu, holding on to the ox's tail, pulled it along for more than a hundred steps.

In 197, when Cao Cao came to the Runan and Huainan area, Xu Chu led his militia to join the warlord.

Xu Chu was promoted to Colonel for his achievement.

In 200, Xu Chu followed Cao Cao to the Battle of Guandu against the northern warlord Yuan Shao.

Xu Chu felt uneasy earlier on, so he had returned to Cao Cao's tent to protect his lord.

Xu Chu participated in the Battle of Ye in 204 and received the title of a Secondary Marquis as a reward for his efforts.

Xu Chu held up a saddle with his left hand to shield Cao Cao from arrows and carried a sword in his right hand, using it to slash enemy soldiers trying to clamber onto the vessel.

Xu Chu killed several enemies and was promoted to Military Guard General of the Household for his achievement.

Cao Cao's soldiers knew that Xu Chu possessed the might of a tiger, but he was simple minded, so they nicknamed him "Tiger Fool".

Xu Chu was known to be a cautious and serious person who did not talk much and was very mindful of rules and regulations.

Cao Cao was still in his personal chambers, with Xu Chu standing guard outside, when Cao Ren arrived.

Cao Ren asked Xu Chu to join him in the side room for a chat.

However, Xu Chu told Cao Ren that Cao Cao was coming out soon, and then turned his back on Cao Ren and entered Cao Cao's chambers.

Cao Ren was very unhappy with Xu Chu for treating him coldly.

Xu Chu lowered himself when he asked to chat with you.

Xu Chu promoted Xu Chu to General of the Military Guards, put him in charge of the palace guards and enfeoffed him as the Marquis of Wansui Village.

The original "Tiger Warriors" under Xu Chu's command were all commissioned as officers, but only slightly more than 10 of them rose through the ranks to become generals and marquises, while only about a hundred were promoted to commandants and colonels.

Xu Chu awarded the peerage of a Secondary Marquis to one of Xu Chu's sons.

Sometime during the Taihe era of Cao Rui's reign, the emperor issued an imperial edict praising Xu Chu and conferring the peerage of a Secondary Marquis on one of Xu Chu's sons and one of his grandsons.

Xu Chu appears as a character in the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which romanticises the historical events before and during the Three Kingdoms period.

Xu Chu is featured as a playable character in Koei's Dynasty Warriors and Warriors Orochi video game series.

Xu Chu's name is erroneously romanised as "Xu Zhu" in the games.

Xu Chu is featured as a guardian spirit alongside Dian Wei of General Cao Yanbing in the anime "Rakshasa Street".