RPut the law of the state before his general to attack the hostage-takers, and was known for loyaltyWei 9 §4Wei 9 §12
NNo direct record — estimated from his following Xiahou Dun in the battle of Bowang SlopeCh. 39 §38
Han Hao 韓浩
| Occupation | RGeneral · Central Protector of the Army | Faction | Wei |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | Book of Wei |
| Born | Native place | Henei Commandery | |
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R9 |
Profile
Han Hao was a man of Henei and an officer under Xiahou Dun. When Zhang Miao rebelled and welcomed Lü Bu, and men who had feigned surrender took Xiahou Dun hostage, Han Hao steadied the camps and then, without regard for the hostage, attacked the captors and beheaded them all. Taizu (Cao Cao) declared that this could serve as a law for ten thousand generations and issued a decree that whenever anyone took a hostage, the troops were to attack together without regard for the hostage. Records, Wei 9 §3–5 · 12
In the 1st year of Jian'an (196) Taizu adopted the proposals of Zao Zhi, Han Hao and others and first established military agricultural colonies (tuntian). Han Hao rose to Central Protector of the Army, in charge of the palace troops, and was enfeoffed as a full marquis. Records, Wei 1 §36 · 40Records, Wei 9 §12
At the end of the biography of Xiahou Dun, Chen Shou recorded him together with Shi Huan, saying that both were known for their loyalty and courage, but he did not treat him in the assessment of Records of Wei 9. In the Romance he appears only in Chapter 39, one of its 120 chapters, as one of Xiahou Dun's lieutenants, and his name is in no chapter title. The Han Hao who goes with Xiahou Shang to attack Huang Zhong in Chapter 70 is a different person, presented as the younger brother of Han Xuan. Records, Wei 9 §12 · 132Romance, Ch. 39 §22Romance, Ch. 70 §30–31
In the Records
Han Hao was a man of Henei. While he was an officer under Xiahou Dun, Zhang Miao rebelled and welcomed Lü Bu. Xiahou Dun was hurrying in a light carriage to the family of Taizu (Cao Cao) at Juancheng when he encountered Lü Bu and fought him, and Lü Bu withdrew into Puyang and seized the baggage of Xiahou Dun's army. Lü Bu also sent officers to feign surrender, and when together they seized Xiahou Dun, held him hostage and demanded treasure, Xiahou Dun's army shook with fear. Records, Wei 9 §12 · 3
Han Hao at once marshaled his soldiers and stationed them at the gate of Xiahou Dun's camp, and he summoned the army officers and generals and ordered them all to keep their armor stowed, hold their own units and not move, whereupon the camps at last settled down. He then went to where Xiahou Dun was and rebuked the captors: 'You vicious rebels dare to seize and threaten a great general, and still hope to live?' He said that he had received orders to attack rebels and could not let them go for the sake of one general. Then, weeping, he said to Xiahou Dun, 'What can be done against the law of the state?' and hastily called his soldiers to attack them. The hostage-takers hurriedly knocked their heads on the ground, saying they had only wanted to get some money for their needs and leave, but Han Hao reproached them for their crimes one by one and beheaded them all. Records, Wei 9 §3–4
After Xiahou Dun was freed, Taizu heard of this and said to Han Hao, 'What you did here can serve as a law for ten thousand generations.' He then issued a decree that from then on, whenever anyone took a hostage, the troops were all to attack together without regard for the hostage, and from this time hostage-taking finally ceased. Records, Wei 9 §5
In the 1st year of Jian'an (196) the Son of Heaven appointed Taizu Minister of Works and Acting General of Chariots and Cavalry. In that year Taizu adopted the proposals of Zao Zhi, Han Hao and others and first established military agricultural colonies. Records, Wei 1 §36 · 40
At the end of the biography of Xiahou Dun, Chen Shou recorded Han Hao together with Shi Huan of Pei State, saying that both were known for their loyalty and courage. Han Hao rose to Central Protector of the Army and Shi Huan to Central Commander of the Army; both were in charge of the palace troops and were enfeoffed as full marquises. Chen Shou's main text does not record the year of Han Hao's death, and the assessment in Records of Wei 9 treats only members of the Xiahou and Cao clans. Records, Wei 9 §12 · 132
In the Romance
In Chapter 39 of the Romance, Cao Cao, having become Chancellor, fills out his ranks of civil officials and then discusses a southern campaign. Following Xiahou Dun's advice to deal early with Liu Bei at Xinye, Cao Cao makes Xiahou Dun commander-in-chief (dudu) and Yu Jin, Li Dian, Xiahou Lan and Han Hao his lieutenants, and has them lead 100,000 troops straight to the city of Bowang to keep watch on Xinye. Romance, Ch. 39 §21–22
At Bowang, when Zhao Yun fights a few bouts and keeps fleeing, Han Hao spurs his horse forward and warns, 'Zhao Yun is luring us on; I fear there is an ambush.' Xiahou Dun refuses to listen, saying he would not fear even an ambush on ten sides, and pursues as far as Bowang Slope. When Liu Bei comes out leading troops himself, Xiahou Dun laughs to Han Hao, 'So this is the ambush!', and vows not to call back his troops until he has reached Xinye that night. Romance, Ch. 39 §37–38
That night, amid a strong wind, the reed beds catch fire, and Cao Cao's troops trample one another, with countless dead. When all the carts of grain and fodder are burned, Xiahou Lan and Han Hao come to save them and run into Zhang Fei, and before they have fought a few bouts Zhang Fei spears Xiahou Lan off his horse with a single thrust. Han Hao forces his way out and escapes. Romance, Ch. 39 §41–43
Where the Romance differs
Who gave the warning at Bowang: In Chapter 39 of the Romance, Han Hao warns of an ambush, saying that Zhao Yun is luring them on. In the biography of Li Dian in the Records, when Liu Bei one morning burned his camp and left, Li Dian tried to stop the pursuit, saying that since the enemy was withdrawing for no reason there must be an ambush, but Xiahou Dun did not listen and pursued with Yu Jin. Han Hao does not appear. Romance, Ch. 39 §38Records, Wei 18 §5–6
How the battle of Bowang ended: In Chapter 39 of the Romance, Cao Cao's army collapses in the fire in the reed beds, Xiahou Lan is killed by Zhang Fei, and Han Hao forces his way out and escapes. The Biography of the First Sovereign in the Records says that the First Sovereign set an ambush, burned his own camp and feigned flight, and that Xiahou Dun and the others pursued and were defeated by the ambush, while the biography of Li Dian records that when Li Dian came to the rescue, Liu Bei scattered and withdrew. The fire in the reed beds, Han Hao, Xiahou Lan and Zhang Fei do not appear. Romance, Ch. 39 §41–43Records, Shu 2 §19Records, Wei 18 §6
The hostage incident: In the biography of Xiahou Dun in the Records, Han Hao attacks and beheads those who took Xiahou Dun hostage without regard for the hostage, and Taizu makes this a decree. In the Romance, Han Hao appears only in Chapter 39, and this episode is absent. Records, Wei 9 §3–5Romance, Ch. 39 §22
Military agricultural colonies: The Annals of Emperor Wu in the Records state that in the 1st year of Jian'an (196) Taizu adopted the proposals of Zao Zhi, Han Hao and others and first established military agricultural colonies. The Romance does not include this deed of Han Hao. Records, Wei 1 §40Romance, Ch. 39 §22
Rank: In Chapter 39 of the Romance, Han Hao appears as one of the lieutenants under Xiahou Dun. In the Records he rose to Central Protector of the Army, in charge of the palace troops, and was enfeoffed as a full marquis. Romance, Ch. 39 §22Records, Wei 9 §12
Written by 3KDEX (not yet reviewed) — The tags at the end of each paragraph link to the exact passage in the Records volume or Romance chapter it is based on.
Abilities
The Records score (Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms, main text) is the baseline. Each ability compares how the Romance redrew the same person, and the evidence from both sources explains the difference.
Records total559 / 1000Rank 143 of 996 · Top 15%Romance total390 / 1000Rank 588 of 1,113 · Top 53%
Romance adaptation index−169Romance total − Records total
- LEA6638−28
- STR5840−18
- INT5050±0
- POL7238−34
- CHA5040−10
- VIR7840−38
- ADP7240−32
- SCH3531−4
- DIP3835−3
- DIS4038−2
Abilities shaped by the Romance — where it differs from the Records Differences of 10 or more
RProposed military agricultural colonies, and his handling of the hostages became a decree, a law for ten thousand generationsWei 1 §40Wei 9 §5
NNo direct recordCh. 39 §22
RIn the crisis of Xiahou Dun's capture, attacked the hostage-takers and saved himWei 9 §3
NNo direct record — estimated from his following Xiahou Dun in the battle of Bowang SlopeCh. 39 §38Ch. 39 §43
RSteadied the camps during the hostage incident and later commanded the palace troops as Central Protector of the ArmyWei 9 §3Wei 9 §12
NFought under Xiahou Dun at Bowang Slope and fled in defeatCh. 39 §42Ch. 39 §43
RKnown for loyalty and courageWei 9 §12
NWent to rescue the provisions at Bowang Slope and forced his way outCh. 39 §42Ch. 39 §43
RNo direct record — estimated from his restoring order in the campsWei 9 §3
NNo direct recordCh. 39 §22
4 similar abilities — show evidence
RNo direct record — estimated from his handling of the hostage incidentWei 9 §4
NAt Bowang warned that Zhao Yun was luring them into an ambush, but Xiahou Dun did not listenCh. 39 §38
RNo direct recordWei 9 §12
NNo direct recordCh. 39 §22
RNo direct recordWei 9 §4
NNo direct recordCh. 39 §38
RNo direct recordWei 9 §12
NNo direct recordCh. 39 §22
Records Romance Unverified No direct record; scored from their actions (evidence grade C)
3KDEX scoring — the Records use the main text of Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms; the Romance uses the 120-chapter Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Click a source tag to open that passage in the reader.
Romance chapters (1)
AppearsNot present Chapter list →
Allegiance history
- Wei · Records · Records vol. 9 「浩至中護軍」