Han De 韓德

In Chapter 92 of the Romance, when Zhuge Liang reaches Mianyang, Cao Rui, the ruler of Wei, sends the imperial son-in-law Xiahou Mao to gather the troops and horses of the various routes of Guanzhong to resist him. While Xiahou Mao is gathering troops at Chang'an, Han De, a great general of Xiliang who wields a mountain-splitting great axe with the courage of one whom ten thousand men cannot withstand, arrives leading 80,000 troops from the various routes of the Western Qiang. Xiahou Mao rewards him generously and at once makes him vanguard. Romance, Ch. 92 §1 · 4

Han De had four sons, all thoroughly versed in martial arts and surpassing others in archery and horsemanship: the eldest Han Ying, the second Han Yao, the third Han Qiong and the fourth Han Qi. Leading his four sons and 80,000 Western Qiang troops, Han De reaches Mount Fengming and meets the Shu army; riding out, he loudly berates them: 'Rebel traitors to the state, how dare you invade our borders!' Romance, Ch. 92 §5

When Zhao Yun singles out Han De for combat, the eldest son Han Ying meets him and is speared to death in fewer than three bouts. Han Yao, Han Qiong and Han Qi charge in one after another and surround Zhao Yun, but Han Qi is struck by the spear, falls from his horse and is rescued by a subordinate general from the Han ranks; Han Qiong, pursuing and shooting arrows, is killed by an arrow Zhao Yun shoots into the middle of his face; and Han Yao is captured alive. Seeing that all four sons have fallen at Zhao Yun's hands, Han De, his courage shattered, is the first to flee back into his lines. Romance, Ch. 92 §6–8

The Romance celebrates this fight with a poem by a later writer that runs 'Alone he slew four generals and charged the enemy ranks.' When Deng Zhi leads the Shu army in a sweeping attack, the Xiliang troops are badly defeated, and Han De, nearly captured by Zhao Yun, throws off his armor and escapes on foot. Romance, Ch. 92 §10–11

Returning with his defeated troops, Han De goes before Xiahou Mao and tearfully reports what happened, and Xiahou Mao personally leads troops out to meet Zhao Yun. In front of Mount Fengming, when Xiahou Mao is about to fight in person, Han De says, 'How can I not take revenge on the enemy who killed my four sons?' and, swinging his mountain-splitting great axe, charges straight at Zhao Yun. But in fewer than three bouts he is speared by Zhao Yun and dies beneath his horse. Romance, Ch. 92 §12–13