Han Hao
韓浩
Central Protector of the Army
(中護軍)
In office
207 (207)–? (?)
MonarchEmperor Xian of Han
Personal details
BornUnknown
Jiaozuo, Henan
DiedUnknown
OccupationMilitary officer
Courtesy nameYuansi (元嗣)
PeerageMarquis of Wansui Village
(萬歲亭侯)

Han Hao (fl. 190s–215), courtesy name Yuansi, he gained a reputation for loyalty and valor, comparable to Shi Huan.[1] A military officer serving under the warlords Wang Kuang, Yuan Shu and Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China, he became a trusted official of Cao Cao.[2][3][4]

Life

Han Hao was from Henei, as the Han's authority declined, Han Hao gathered his followers to defend against bandits who hid in the marshes and hills.[5] Appointed to office by Wang Kuang, the Administrator of Henei Commandery, he took part in the war against Dong Zhuo[6] but Wang Kuang was outmaneuvered and destroyed by Dong Zhuo at Mengjin with Han Hao there.[7] Wang Kuang was soon killed, Dong Zhuo held Han Hao's uncle Du Yang hostage to try to persuade Han Hao to serve but Han Hao rejected it, he took service under Yuan Shu, who had heard of Han Hao's strength, as Cavalry Commandant.[8] Xiahou Dun heard of Han Hao and sought a meeting, impressed Xiahou Dun who had Han Hao follow him as a commander of troops.[9]

In 193, Cao Cao invaded Tao Qian, the Governor of Xu Province, with Han Hao left back at Puyang with Xiahou Dun.[3] Cao Cao's subordinates Zhang Miao and Chen Gong rebelled in Yan Province and invited the warlord Lü Bu to take Yan, Xun Yu realized the danger and wrote to Xiahou Dun for reinforcements[10] to Juancheng County. Xiahou Dun led a lightly armed force towards Juancheng but he encountered Lü Bu's army on the way and engaged the enemy in battle. Lü Bu withdrew his forces and took advantage of Xiahou Dun's absence to conquer Puyang, capturing much of Xiahou's supplies and equipment. Lü Bu later sent his men to pretend to surrender to Xiahou Dun, who fell for the ruse and was taken hostage by the enemy in his own camp. Lü Bu's men demanded a ransom. Xiahou Dun's troops became fearful and confused when they heard that their commander had been taken hostage.[11]

Han Hao had his men occupy the gates of the camp and then gave orders for the other officers to remain in their respective camps and not make any moves. The situation in the other camps became stable. He then headed towards where Xiahou Dun was being held and shouted at the hostage-takers, "You murderous traitors, how dare you take the commander hostage! Do you still expect to live? I've received orders to attack the enemy, so I won't let you have your way just for the sake of one officer." With tears in his eyes, he told Xiahou Dun, "This is the law. I have to follow it." Han Hao then ordered his men to attack the hostage-takers, who were shocked by his response and immediately gave up. The hostage-takers kowtowed and begged for their lives, "We only want to obtain some money for our use and we'll leave after that." Han Hao reprimanded them sternly and had them all executed. Xiahou Dun was saved and the army would soon arrive at Juancheng to settle things there.[12] When Cao Cao heard what Han Hao had done, he held Han Hao as an example for all ages, ordering others to attack any future hostage takers which soon ended such actions[13] while the Jin critic Sun Sheng praised Han Hao for returning to the historical method rather than following the more recent habits that had led to even nobility being kidnapped.[14]

Han Hao was one of the figures, amidst famine and drought, credited for pushing for the establishment of that tuntian policy, started in 196, that proved so critical for Wei's logistics and prosperity.[15][16][17][18][19] Han Hao was promoted to Protector of the Army (護軍), responsible for managing army discipline with Rafe De Crespigny describing Han Hao as a senior and trusted officer.[20] In 207, there was debate within Cao Cao's camp about the plan for a risky march to Liucheng to attack the Yuan remnants and the Wuhuan with Shi Huan seeking Han Hao's support to oppose the long march but Han Hao backed the plan, believing that they were strong and could win while Cao Cao would have plans but if they left their opponents alone it would come back to haunt them. Han Hao joined the march to the Battle of White Wolf Mountain.[21] After the destruction of the Yuan clan, Han Hao was promoted to Central Protector of the Army (中護軍), Major (司馬) and Chief Clerk (長史).[22]

In 213, Han Hao joined a petition calling for Cao Cao to become Duke with the Weishu suggesting he had been enoffed by this point.[23] In 215, Han Hao was part of the campaign against the theocratic warlord Zhang Lu at Hanzhong and after Zhang Lu's surrender, some suggested Han Hao's ability as a strategist would make him useful under Xiahou Yuan in defending the border. Cao Cao refused as he could not do without his Protector of the Army and kept Han Hao with him.[24] Han Hao died around 216[4] with Cao Cao mourning and his adopted son Rong was accepted as heir[25]

Chen Shou, the author of the Records of the Three Kingdoms, commented that Han Hao was a courageous and loyal man who remained collected in any situation.

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms

In the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Han Hao is the brother of Han Xuan, the Administrator of Changsha. After Han Xuan is slain by Wei Yan, Han Hao wants to take revenge and volunteers to lead an attack with Xiahou De on Liu Bei's general Huang Zhong at Mount Tiandang. In the battle, Han Hao is slain by Huang Zhong and while Xiahou De is killed by Yan Yan.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 韓浩者，河內人。（及）沛國史渙與浩俱以忠勇顯。 Sanguozhi vol.9
  2. ↑ Weishu in Sanguozhi vol.9.
  3. 1 2 Sanguozhi vol.9.
  4. 1 2 De Crespigny, Rafe (2007). A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms 23–220 AD. Boston: Brill. p. 296. ISBN 978-90-04-15605-0.
  5. ↑ 漢末起兵，縣近山藪，多寇，浩聚徒眾為縣藩衛。太守王匡以為從事，將兵拒董卓于盟津 Weishu in Sanguozhi vol.9.
  6. ↑ 太守王匡以為從事，將兵拒董卓于盟津 Weishu in Sanguozhi vol.9.
  7. ↑ 河內太守王匡，遣泰山兵屯河陽津，將以圖卓。卓遣疑兵若將於平陰渡者，潛遣銳眾從小平北渡，繞擊其後，大破之津北，死者略盡。 Sanguozhi vol.6.
  8. ↑ 時浩舅杜陽為河陰令，卓執之，使招浩，浩不從。袁術聞而壯之，以為騎都尉 Weishu in Sanguozhi vol.9.
  9. ↑ 夏侯惇聞其名，請與相見，大奇之，使領兵從征伐 Weishu in Sanguozhi vol.9
  10. ↑ Sanguozhi vol.10.
  11. ↑ (張邈叛迎呂布，太祖家在鄄城，惇輕軍往赴，適與布會，交戰。布退還，遂入濮陽，襲得惇軍輜重。遣將偽降，共執持惇，責以寶貨，惇軍中震恐。) Sanguozhi vol. 9.
  12. ↑ (惇將韓浩乃勒兵屯惇營門，召軍吏諸將，皆案甲當部不得動，諸營乃定。遂詣惇所，叱持質者曰：「汝等凶逆，乃敢執劫大將軍，復欲望生邪！且吾受命討賊，寧能以一將軍之故，而縱汝乎？」因涕泣謂惇曰：「當柰國法何！」促召兵擊持質者。持質者惶遽叩頭，言「我但欲乞資用去耳」！浩數責，皆斬之。惇旣免，太祖聞之，謂浩曰：「卿此可為萬世法。」乃著令，自今已後有持質者，皆當并擊，勿顧質。由是劫質者遂絕。) Sanguozhi vol. 9.
  13. ↑ 惇既免，太祖聞之，謂浩曰：「卿此可為萬世法。」乃著令，自今已後有持質者，皆當并擊，勿顧質。由是劫質者遂絕 Sanguozhi vol.9.
  14. ↑ 案光武紀，建武九年，盜劫陰貴人母弟，吏以不得拘質迫盜，盜遂殺之也。然則合擊者，乃古制也。自安、順已降，政教陵遲，勢質不避王公，而有司莫能遵奉國憲者，浩始復斬之，故魏武嘉焉。 Sun Sheng commentary recorded in Sanguozhi vol.9.
  15. ↑ Sanguozhi vol.1.
  16. ↑ 是時歲飢旱，軍食不足，羽林監潁川棗祗建置屯田，太祖以峻為典農中 郎將，〔募百姓屯田於許下，得穀百萬斛，郡國列置田官〕，數年中所在積粟，倉廩皆滿。 Sanguozhi vol.16.
  17. ↑ De Crespigny, Rafe (18 August 2010). Imperial Warlord: A biography of Cao Cao 155-220 AD. Leiden: Brill. pp. 89–92. ISBN 9789004188303.
  18. ↑ De Crespigny, Rafe (2010). Imperial Warlord A Biography of Cao Cao 155-220 AD. Boston: Brill. p. 126. ISBN 9789004188303.
  19. ↑ Leban, Carl (1971). Ts'ao Ts'ao and the Rise of Wei: The Early Years. Columbia University. pp. 267–273.
  20. ↑ De Crespigny, Rafe (2010). Imperial Warlord: A biography of Cao Cao 155-220 AD. Leiden: Brill. p. 98. ISBN 9789004188303.
  21. ↑ 太祖欲討柳城，領軍史渙以為道遠深入，非完計也，欲與浩共諫。浩曰：「今兵勢彊盛，威加四海，戰勝攻取，無不如志，不以此時遂除天下之患，將為後憂。且公神武，舉無遺策，吾與君為中軍主，不宜沮眾。」 Weishu in Sanguozhi vol.9.
  22. ↑ 遂從破柳城，改其官為中護軍，置長史、司馬。 Weishu in Sanguozhi vol.9.
  23. ↑ Weishu in Sanguozhi vol.1.
  24. ↑ 從討張魯，魯降。議者以浩智略足以綏邊，欲留使都督諸軍，鎮漢中。太祖曰：「吾安可以無護軍？」乃與俱還。 Weishu in Sanguozhi vol.9.
  25. ↑ 及薨，太祖愍惜之。無子，以養子榮嗣。 Weishu in Sanguozhi vol.9.
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