Hu Zhen 胡軫

In Chapter 5 of the Romance, when Sun Jian, Administrator of Changsha, one of the lords who have made Yuan Shao their alliance leader, volunteers for the vanguard and attacks Sishui Pass, Dong Zhuo hastily gathers his generals to deliberate. As Lü Bu is about to step forward, Hua Xiong comes forward from behind him, asking why one should use an ox-cleaver to kill a chicken, and Dong Zhuo, greatly pleased, makes him Colonel of Valiant Cavalry. He then 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 to meet the enemy. Romance, Ch. 5 §17–19

Bao Zhong, whom his elder brother Bao Xin, Chancellor of Jibei, has secretly sent ahead for fear that Sun Jian will take the first merit, is cut down by Hua Xiong's blade, and Dong Zhuo promotes Hua Xiong to Area Commander. Sun Jian, leading four generals, Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, Han Dang and Zu Mao, comes straight to the front of the pass and, clad in silver armor with a red headcloth, points up at the pass and rebukes the defenders: 'You wretches who abet evil, why do you not surrender at once?' Romance, Ch. 5 §20–23

At this point Hua Xiong's lieutenant Hu Zhen leads 5,000 troops out of the pass to meet them. Cheng Pu spurs his horse forward as if flying, levels his spear and charges straight at Hu Zhen, and before they have fought many bouts Cheng Pu stabs Hu Zhen in the throat, and Hu Zhen falls from his horse dead. Sun Jian drives his troops straight up to the front of the pass, but arrows and stones pour down like rain from the top of the pass, and Sun Jian leads his troops back to camp east of Liang and reports the victory to Yuan Shao. These two passages are the only places in the Romance where Hu Zhen's name appears. Romance, Ch. 5 §19 · 23–24