Hua Xiong 華雄

In Chapter 5 of the Romance, the lords make Yuan Shao their alliance leader, and Sun Jian, Administrator of Changsha, takes the vanguard and attacks Sishui Pass. As Lü Bu is about to step forward before Dong Zhuo, a man behind him comes forward asking why one should use an ox-cleaver to kill a chicken. It is Hua Xiong, a man from west of the passes, nine chi tall, with the body of a tiger and the waist of a wolf, the head of a leopard and the arms of an ape. Dong Zhuo, greatly pleased, makes him Colonel of Valiant Cavalry, gives him 50,000 horse and foot, and has him race through the night to the pass together with Li Su, Hu Zhen and Zhao Cen. Romance, Ch. 5 §15–19

Bao Xin, Chancellor of Jibei, fearing that Sun Jian will take the first merit, sends his younger brother Bao Zhong ahead by a side road to challenge the enemy, and Hua Xiong comes down from the pass with 500 armored cavalry, cuts down Bao Zhong and captures many of his officers. Dong Zhuo promotes Hua Xiong to Area Commander. When Sun Jian reaches the front of the pass, Hua Xiong's lieutenant Hu Zhen is killed by Cheng Pu, but when Yuan Shu withholds provisions and Sun Jian's camp falls into disorder, Hua Xiong follows Li Su's plan, comes down from the pass by night and attacks Sun Jian's camp. Romance, Ch. 5 §20–21 · 23 · 25–26

When Hua Xiong pursues the fleeing Sun Jian, Sun Jian shoots two arrows, but Hua Xiong dodges both, and as Sun Jian is about to shoot a third his bow breaks. Zu Mao, who has put on Sun Jian's red headcloth in his place and fled, hangs the headcloth on a half-burnt pillar of a house and hides in the woods, then charges out from behind the trees to cut down Hua Xiong, but is cut from his horse by Hua Xiong's blade. Hearing the news, Yuan Shao is greatly alarmed, saying he never imagined that Sun Wentai would be beaten by Hua Xiong. Romance, Ch. 5 §27–29

When Hua Xiong comes before the camp with Sun Jian's red headcloth hoisted on a long pole and challenges them to fight, Yu She, a general behind Yuan Shu, is cut down in fewer than three bouts, and Pan Feng, Han Fu's senior general, is also cut down by Hua Xiong. As Yuan Shao laments that his senior generals Yan Liang and Wen Chou have not yet arrived, Guan Yu steps forward; Yuan Shu rebukes him as a mere archer, but Cao Cao sends him out and has a cup of hot wine poured for him. Telling them to pour the wine and leave it for now, Guan Yu goes out, returns with Hua Xiong's head and throws it on the ground, and the wine is still warm. Romance, Ch. 5 §31–36

Zhang Fei shouts that they should use this momentum to storm the pass and capture Dong Zhuo, and Yuan Shu angrily says that a mere soldier under a county magistrate is showing off his prowess. On Dong Zhuo's side, Hua Xiong's defeated troops climb the pass to report, Li Su sends an urgent dispatch to Dong Zhuo, and Li Ru, saying that with the loss of their senior general Hua Xiong the enemy's momentum is formidable, proposes first eliminating Yuan Shao's uncle Yuan Wei. Romance, Ch. 5 §38–40