Xu Rong 徐榮 was a general who served Dong Zhuo during the Three Kingdoms era.
Biography[]
Xu Rong was originally from Liaodong Commandery of You Province.[1] When Yuan Shao 袁紹 led the Campaign against Dong Zhuo in 190, Sun Jian 孫堅 led a attack on Liangdong, Dong Zhuo sent Xu Rong to defend the area. When Sun Jian arrived, Xu Rong ambushed him, and Sun Jian retreated, but Xu Rong sent forces to pursue him. Sun Jian couldn't lose the pursuing forces, so he changed headgear with Zu Mao 祖茂, tricking Xu Rong's forces into thinking Zu Mao was Sun Jian. The forces then pursued Zu Mao instead of Sun Jian. When Xu Rong's forces came to a pillar, they saw the headgear on it, and realized they had been fooled. Xu Rong and his forces then withdrew. Xu Rong would also defeat Cao Cao during the campaign.
When Dong Zhuo was assassinated by Lü Bu 呂布 and Wang Yun 王允 in 192, Xu Rong went to serve Wang Yun. Later, when Dong Zhuo's former generals Li Jue 李傕 and Guo Si 郭汜 attacked on Chang'an, Xu Rong and Hu Zhen went out to battle their army. During the battle, Xu Rong was captured and killed.
Notes[]
Fact vs. Fiction[]
- Historically survived the battle with Cao Cao and was killed fighting Li Jue’s army.
References[]
- ↑ "同郡徐榮為董卓中郎將，薦度為遼東太守。"Chen Shou, Pei Songzhi. "Biography of Gongsun Du" in the Annotations to the Records of the Three Kingdoms